< PreviousCONFERENCING30Business Link www.blmforum.netSweaty palms, a dry throat, afaltering voice… these are often thefeelings when taking to the stage andeven the most confident publicspeaker feels it from time to time.Even if you are confident in speakingto a room full of delegates, eventscan conspire against you. Perhaps you have the firstspeaking slot of the day and youraudience isn’t quite as wide-eyed asyou’d first hoped. Perhaps it the finalslot of the day and your previouslyexciting and engaging ideas havemoved to a secondary concern asthoughts of journeys home enteryour listeners’ minds. Whatever thesituation there’s ways around it.Using visual assistance in the formof powerpoint presentations orvideos is fine, but overload youraudience with screen after screen ofresearch, no matter how interestingit may seem and their attention willstart to wander. One cardinal sin many speakersfall foul of is simply reading out whatappears on the screen. What youshow your audience should besimply to further illustrate pointsgiven in your address, talking aboutresults of a study or the points raisedfrom recent research. By all meansshow a graph or a set of figures, butdon’t read them out - wadingthrough this is disengaging and canturn an audience off immediately.Instead, let the audience see theseresults for themselves. By doing so,you are crediting them with a littleimagination and intelligence andgenerally, this will be appreciated. Similarly, do not fall into abulletpoint trap. These may be goodfor supporting literature, but makefor pretty lousy speech features.Audiences will be gauging yourspeech for originality and a passionfor the subject you are speaking on.By condensing things to a regimentalsentence, you take any personalenthusiasm out of the experienceand appear to be brushing over whatyou have been asked to come andspeak on.It seems obvious to say, but runthrough your speech beforehand.Elementary errors such as font sizeor photos not translating well todigital projection can hamper aspeech and even ruin one. Thatamazing font you have spent timepicking for its unique style may endup as illegible on a big screen.Remember even the short-sightedand the far-away audience memberneeds to be able to read, if what youhave to say is important. Similarly, avoid wacky or strangefonts, comic styles or overlyhandwritten-looking scripts. If youare making serious points, a seriousand professional style is called for.Avoid dated elements such ascartoon or clipart too. Bold, sleekgraphics work well and incorporatingactual photos illustrates your pointmuch more effectively. If you havethe means to include video clips too,all the better - these will break upyour speech to make it more variedand engaging to a captive audience.One great piece of advice is not tolabel any section of your speechonscreen. If delegates see any hint ofthe end of the presentation, they willbegin to gather together belongings,Being asked to give a speech at a conference or businesssymposium can be daunting for some, the expectation tobe entertaining and witty as well as relevant andinformative can be intimidating, but often beingadequately prepared can work wonders.Don’t let itget to you30-32:Layout 1 26/11/12 09:05 Page 1Business Link 31www.blmforum.netCONFERENCINGUse of visual aidsis always helpful,but simply readingout what youraudience can seeis never engaging.Use projections tocomplement yourpresentationGiving a speechneed not be astressful situationto put yourself inif given enoughtime to preparestart talking to each other, or evenleave the venue entirely. This couldspell disaster if your final pointstruly sum up your aim or research’sresults. Placing the words‘conclusion’ or ‘…and finally’ on anending screen is a signal things arewrapping up. If people are stilllistening up to the final word, youstand a better chance of themwalking away with your messageunderstood effectively.The use of smartphones seems32 30-32:Layout 1 26/11/12 09:05 Page 2CONFERENCING32Business Link www.blmforum.netnow to be accepted during speeches.At one time the message used to be‘turn it off’, but several speeches wehave attended recently have urgeddelegates to ‘leave it on’. Thisencourages comment and outsideexposure of your speech to a wideraudience, most likely via Twitter. Theposting of pictures, key points andopinions on your speech are often nowbeing sent worldwide and your speechis no longer contained within the fourwalls in which you speak. If youmention you are encouraging Twitteruse during your speech, it could godown a storm. Most events nowemploy a hashtag specific to the daysevents. For example the recent MercuryExpo in Gainsborough used the hash#mercuryexpo, meaning those inattendance could gauge reaction or seehow popular some speeches were at aglance and could well have encouragedinteraction between delegates. It alsomeans if delegates haven’t got time tovisit every stand at an event, there is aneasily-accessed feed of interactions tolook through and find who they need tospeak to.One mortal sin is the unplannedQuestions and Answers session thatmany seminars and conferences oftenneglect to foresee problems with. Oftenspeakers cover pretty much the wholesubject during the previous speechesand while it’s a chance to get somefeedback and for delegates to makeenquiries, many often remain tight-lipped. Too often we have seen theorganiser ask “Any more questions?”only to be faced with a deadly silenceand a lack of any interaction. One trick to keep up your sleeve is tomake sure your compere or organiserintroducing you has a fall backquestion. This can be something youcan suggest or could be one they’vethought of while listening to thespeech. Often picking out a certainelement of your speech and asking toexpand upon it is all that is requiredand in turn this can encourage morequestions. Also, brief and unhelpful answers aretoo often given, one word or a simplesentence can seem brusque and rude,but equally a five-minute repetition ofthe content of your speech will not godown well with delegates that havealready heard all your salient points.Finding the right balance here is crucialso be aware this is also something toplan for. Looking unprepared duringthis section of proceedings can undoall your other hard work!Giving a speech need not be themother of all daunting tasks, but someinnovative thinking should provide youwith all the tools you need to perform.Getting over the nerves is another ballgame altogether, but as they say,practice makes perfect…Increased use of smartphones has led to more seminarsand expos gaining a wider audience instantly online! Beaware what you say might not stay in the room.One trick to keep up your sleeve is to make sureyour compere or organiser introducing you has afall back question.30-32:Layout 1 26/11/12 09:05 Page 3environmentalwww.blmforum.netBLMGROUPBLMGROUPPHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KHENG GUAN TOHFor businesses that areserious about reducing theircarbon footprint33:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:20 Page 134www.blmforum.netENVIRONMENTAL - NEWSVeolia signs new waste management contractwith LeedsVeolia Environmental Services has signed a 25-year PFI contractwith Leeds City Council for residual municipal waste treatmentand energy recovery.Veolia Environmental Services was selected as the preferredbidder in January for this contract worth around £460 million. Itincludes the installation of a high-tech recycling and energyrecovery facility that will save Leeds City Council £200 millionover the term of the contract compared with the cost oflandfilling its residual municipal waste.Subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents, the facilitywill be built in the East Leeds Cross Green Industrial Area. It willsupply the National Grid with enough electricity to power 20,000households. In cooperation with Leeds City Council, VeoliaEnvironmental Services is also planning to develop a cogenerationplant able to supply heat to local users.Three hundred people will be recruited to work on the construction due to start in summer 2013, and 45 permanent positions will be created, making asignificant contribution to the local economy. The recycling and energy recovery plant is scheduled to open in spring 2016.Wakefield businesstalks energy withSaudi Arabiam2r, Wakefield District’s International Business of the Year,are taking part in a high level trade mission, meeting withSaudi Ministers and major Saudi companies during Saudi-British Energy Week.Saudi Arabia has overtaken Russia as the world’s largest oilproducer and current Red Sea oil field development costcould be around $25 billion. It is becoming an importantmarket for UK businesses to target and this event is takingplace at the start of December in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.m2r have been dealing with companies in Saudi Arabia forover four years and have won some lucrative and high profilecontracts within a variety of sectors. They are joining adelegation of companies who either currently work in theSaudi energy sector or those that wish to break into thishuge market.After the visit, m2r will be attending an awards ceremonyin London where they have been nominated among fivecompanies across the UK in the International BusinessAwards.SMart Futures in BartonThe third year of the SMart Futurescompetition saw teams from twelveschools tackling a challenge aimed athelping the offshore construction giantA2Sea make more efficient use of theirfleet of ‘jack up ships’.The winning teams at the event inBarton go through to the prestigiousnaming round where further projects onthe Hornsea Zone will be named by localschools. Project One (Heron Wind &Njord) & Project Two (Optimus Wind & Breesea) have been named in the previous two rounds.In 2010, HETA agreed a contract with SMart Wind to deliver the SMart Futures competition,an educational project related to a major wind farm development off the east coast. HETA isrunning SMart Futures through its STEM team and will eventually be delivering it to over fiftysecondary schools throughout the Humber region. HETA Education Links Manager Mike Cargillsays, “This is a great way to get young people engaged in the development of offshore wind. Thefuture success of the industry depends on driving down costs and efficient construction has alarge part to play in that.”Planning go ahead for Hull’s RealityEnergy CentrePlanning permission has been grantedfor building the Reality Energy Centre atKing George Dock in the Port of Hull, a£130 million project producing 49MW ofgreen electricity. The new plant willprovide up to 250 construction jobopportunities during the two year buildperiod and will employ around 35 peopleduring its 25-year operational lifespan.This is the second of two such projects to receive planning permission on the River Humberthis year. The Real Ventures project development team were given approval for a similar 49MWplant in the Port of Immingham in April.Ray Tucker, Chief Executive Officer of Real Ventures says, “We are proud to be taking a keyrole in the green energy revolution that is taking place in the Humber region. We have beenvery pleased with the encouragement from local government and economic regeneration staffon both sides of the river.”Completion and commissioning of both plants is expected during 2015.34-35:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:29 Page 1Tel: 0113 244 6100www.wrigleys.co.ukWhatever your involvement in renewables, our specialist team can give you the legal advice and support to take it forward. Our project experience embraces wind power, hydro schemes, biogas, anaerobic digesters, biomass, landfill gas and solar schemes. Not only do we have experience in a range of technologies, but also in a range of client interests - acting for landowners, tenants, developers, consultants and utility companies through to social enterprise groups including charities and schools.Our multidisciplinary team has specialist solicitors in the areas of property, social economy, tax planning and trusts and we can advise on:t-FUUJOHMBOEGPSFOFSHZQSPKFDUTBDUJOHGPSMBOEPXOFSTEFWFMPQFST and tenantst%FBMJOHXJUIFBTFNFOUTBOEXBZMFBWFTGPSSPBETDBCMJOHQJQFMJOFTt0XOFSTIJQTUSVDUVSFTFHDPNQBOJFTKPJOUWFOUVSFTBOEESBGUJOH shareholders’ rights in Articles of Associationt$PNNVOJUZ'VOETTQPOTPSFECZEFWFMPQFSTt'VOEJOHTDIFNFTUISPVHITIBSFJTTVFTNPSUHBHFTEFCFOUVSFTBOE guaranteest5BYBOEFTUBUFQMBOOJOHt"HSJDVMUVSBMUFOBODJFTOur expertise has been in demand at the highest level - we have VOEFSUBLFOTUVEJFTGPSUIF&VSPQFBO$PNNJTTJPOBOE6,HPWFSONFOUBHFODJFT$POUBDU+POBUIBO"UUFZGPSBOJOJUJBMEJTDVTTJPOBCPVUZPVSproject on 0113 244 6100 or email jonathan.attey@wrigleys.co.uk.$PPLSJEHF4USFFU-FFET-4"(Our advice helped power the successof the first community-owned wind farm.www.blmforum.net35ENVIRONMENTAL - NEWSEducation pays dividends forLeeds surveyors Land and building surveyors Met Geo Environmentalare benefiting from the upturn in education investment.Met has seen a significant increase in business fromeducation estates seeking to have refurbishment andnew build projects commissioned and funded based onthe firm’s survey data. The upturn is reflected in the Yorkshire educationsector with several of the county’s leading providerscommissioning major new projects. Notably, Met GeoEnvironmental is contributing to a bespoke geographicinformation system that will underpin the University ofYork’s long term development plans.The system is being built on source datacaptured by 3D topographical and utilitymapping surveys performed by the firm. Met was also instructed to undertakemeasured surveys of the Leeds Collegeof Technology multi storey building, aswell as the Leeds College of Building andthe Askham Bryan College campus atYork. Property disposal by educationestates is also fuelling an upturn indemand for Met’s surveying services.As a result, Met Geo Environmental has been able to employ four additional surveyorsin the last quarter, including the creation of two new full-time apprenticeships bringing itsworkforce to a total of thirty staff.Grant will explore ‘fuelfrom CO2’ possibilitiesSheffield-based ITMPower is leading aconsortium includingSSE, Scotia GasNetworks, LoganEnergy and KiwaGastec at CRE toreview the feasibility ofproducing syntheticmethane using carbondioxide from industrial processes and hydrogen produced byelectrolysis.The process will convert waste carbon dioxide and renewablehydrogen to produce pure methane for injection into the gas gridand other natural gas substitution applications. The potential of theprocess for managing renewable power curtailment and exploitingonshore wind power assets will also be assessed.Synthetic natural gas can be produced by a process known asmethanation which is the reaction of carbon dioxide with hydrogen.The carbon dioxide can be sourced from industrial processesincluding CCS and the hydrogen can be produced from theelectrolysis of water using renewable energy sources. This has thepotential to reduce the cost of CCS by creating revenue streamsfrom the sale of methane, while the electrolysis plant offers gridbalancing, stabilisation and energy storage services to the electricityindustry.34-35:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:29 Page 236www.blmforum.netENVIRONMENTAL - OFFSHORE AND ONSHORE WIND FARMINGPHOTO: MATTHIAS IBELER, ALPHA VENTUS36-38:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:30 Page 1www.blmforum.net37ENVIRONMENTAL - OFFSHORE AND ONSHORE WIND FARMING‘Of course it can’ seemed to be themessage recently as the renewable energysector on the Humber Bank gathered atGrimsby’s Humber Seafood Institute for aseminar organised by the World Trade CentreHull and Humber on the region’s greatpotential for expansion abroad. In particular,the seminar focused on doing business withGermany, which is racing ahead with offshoreuptake in particular and remains one of themost exciting places in which to do business.It currently stands in second place behind theUK in Europe for offshore, but this is beingimproved on constantly. Indeed it’s growing byaround 7% every year.The seminar threw light on doing businesswith large companies and presented the casefor even the smallest outfit to risk investment,or at least look into the possibilities as theopportunities are so vast at the moment.Comparisons were made between whatGerman staff are paid compared to that of theUK equivalents and it made for fascinatingdebate. If companies over here can provideservices or contracts to the same standard asthe Germans, they are very likely to pick upwork over there. Simon Dwyer, the Chairman for North EastLincolnshire Trade Corridor Group, said,“Northern Germany in particular is ahead ofthe game and that is why we have a trademission planned next year, which is reciprocal.We’re bringing German businesses over heretoo as it’s been very successful in the past.”He stated the trips were potentiallyreceiving funding from the UKTI too. Theirsenior trade adviser Kerstin Rath said, “Wehave some real success stories within thisarea. The UKTI has three posts in Germany, inDusseldorf, Berlin and Munich and we arehere to guide you through the process.”Due to there being around sixteen differentfederal areas in Germany, there are oftenmany differences in legislation between themso embarking on trade missions with guidanceis a great idea. The potential is there as thecountry faces a huge cut to nuclear power,with the south in particular shutting downmany operations over the next few years oversafety concerns after the Fukushima disasterin Japan. Kerstin highlighted the fact that the Germanmarket is more open these days tointernational purchasing, with firms open tonon-domestic companies and products. Inparticular, niche products and highly innovativecomponents seem to be popular. Germanfirms are also becoming more enthusiastic forjoint project development and in the windenergy sector, this can be anything fromturbine housing to lightweight components forthe gearboxes. With three major electricalhighways planned and grid expansionannounced, Kerstin said this presents a great38 Far left: Simon Dwyer of NorthEast Lincolnshire Trade CorridorGroup at the recent ‘DoingBusiness in Germany: OffshoreWind’ talk at the HumberSeafood Institute.Left: Kerstin Rath of the UKTItalked about the myriadopportunities Humber Bankcompanies can take advantage ofin Germany.TAKINGWINDFURTHERThe Humber is an area now almost synonymous withinthe renewables sector and onshore and offshore windenergy has played a distinct part in affirming this. Canthe region extend further?36-38:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:30 Page 238www.blmforum.netset of opportunities, not just formanufacturers, but for a whole supplychain too.Germany’s problems seem to be thesame as they are over here. A skillsshortage in mechanics and engineersmeans that growth, while happening swiftly,could be stalled soon. With an equallyaging population and workforce as wehave, it seems that Europe’s purportedsuperpower has some of the flawsinherent in our business make-up too. Ouroil and gas industry experience, however,can be easily converted into therenewables industry, which is less commonin Germany, so the potential for takingadvantage of this is great. With the Husum Wind, E-World Energy,Wind Energy Hamburg, EWEA Offshore,Hanover Fair and Baltic Future eventstaking up diary space in the industry’s yearit seems the German supply chain meansbusiness in this sector as keenly as it doesin the UK and elsewhere, showing realoptimism.With speeches on expansion inGermany from Andrew Fox of turbinemanufacturers Areva Wind and advice ondealing with German business culturefrom David Craft of construction giantsHochtief, the Grimsby seminar covered awhole breadth of optimistic vision for theindustry. What is clear is that there are araft of opportunities for the wind industry,not only in the immediate area, butabroad too. The idea was even mooted atthe seminar that perhaps aiming initially atthe German market before a UK base hasbeen established might be wise. Bravewords indeed, but if the potential is thisgreat, who’s to argue?Testing timesWith courses being developed acrossthe region to address the UK’s skillsshortage, a sense of competition isemerging among training providers andeducational establishments. Oneinteresting result of this is the Universityof Hull’s new ‘wind cave’. This is a trainingfacility with a difference, a 3D virtualreality ‘cave’ is to be created which willgive people working or training for rolesin the green power industry the chance toexperience the hostile, dangerous andcomplex conditions that they will face onan almost daily basis.The 3D cave, to be installed in the HullImmersive Visualisation Environment atthe University’s Department of ComputerScience, is part of a multimillion-poundinvestment in renewables led by CASS,the University’s renewable energy and lowcarbon hub. HIVE has been awarded £240,000Higher Education Funding Council forEngland cash through CASS to developthe two-year project, which will also seethe strengthening of the partnershipsbetween the University and industry witha view to commercialisation andgenerating income.HIVE Coordinator Emma-JaneAlexander says: “The aim is to offer atraining service to industry and wind farmengineers to equip people with skills andsupport continuing professionaldevelopment in the sector with greatlyreduced risks and costs. “The main aspect of the project is the3D cave which will place people in anenclosed, constrained environment inwhich they have screens in front, to theirsides and below them. “This allows us to simulate the journeyto an offshore platform via specialistvessel or prepare people for the feeling ofstanding on top of a wind turbine in theopen sea and experiencing what can be avery hostile environment. We will also beable to simulate weather conditions andsea states that engineers and transportoperators will face.”As well as using a 3D cave, the projectwill also seek to simulate the winchingexperience to and from turbine byhelicopter, using a head mounted display.The cave will also be used to provideyoung people with an insight into this typeof engineering.Emma-Jane adds, “This is excitingtechnology and will be an inspiringexperience. In addition to training forindustry we will be able to showschoolchildren what it’s like to be windturbine engineer.“The offshore environment is notsuitable for a work experience studentsand this solution will allow users topractise and play without the dangersfaced in the real world.”This level of practical and innovativetraining is both cost effective and will nodoubt aid those new to such workingconditions. It is sometimes hard to believewhat potential rewards will be on the wayin this area at the start of such apromising time for wind energy.ENVIRONMENTAL - OFFSHORE AND ONSHORE WIND FARMINGEmma-Jane Alexander ofthe University of Hullwhich will be pioneering anew virtual training facility36-38:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:30 Page 3www.blmforum.net39ENVIRONMENTAL - NUCLEAR POWERThere have been few issues as divisive andcontroversial over the years as nuclearpower. In the early eighties, the “NuclearPower? No Thanks!” slogan was as familiar a sight asthe Walkman and the Betamax video, and aroundtwo hundred local authorities across the UKproclaimed that they were a nuclear free zone.Undoubtedly some high profile disasters badlyaffected the public’s confidence in the safety of thefuel as well.In recent years, the debate has become somewhatless heated and it seems to have been accepted bymost people that nuclear energy is an importantpart of the overall energy mix required in the UK.Yet it remains an emotive subject and the disaster atFukushima in Japan last year – though clearly theresult of a freak occurrence – was a salient reminderof the safety issues that continue to remain aconcern. The challenge is therefore to continuallyinvest in research and development to ensure safetyis paramount, and companies in Yorkshire andLincolnshire are certainly creating innovativesolutions for the sector.While nuclear remains on the agenda as a majorcontributor to the UK’s energy requirements, thereis an obvious need for investment in the sector asmany of the existing nuclear power stations are tobe decommissioned in the next few years, andtherefore need replacing. To this end, Hitachi havenow signed a £700 million deal that will enable it tostart building the next generation of power plants.The facilities, which could be contributing to thenational grid by the start of the next decade, areexpected to generate power for up to fourteenmillion homes over sixty years.In 2011 the government confirmed the eight sitesit considers suitable for new power stations, all ofwhich are adjacent to existing sites. Although noneare in our region – the nearest are at Hartlepooland Sizewell in Suffolk – there are obviousAtomicADVANCESNuclear energyremains emotive,but Yorkshire andLincolnshire areat the forefrontof newdevelopments insafety andinnovation40 Nuclear power plants such as Sizewell Bare coming to the end of their lives andnew developments are required tomaintain the UK’s energy mixAtomicADVANCES39-41:Layout 1 23/11/12 13:42 Page 1Next >