DECEMBER 2024£3.50 YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk VOLUME 39 ISSUE 12 The future of transportSuccess in the stormsStress testingProfessional, short and online courses for adults •Upskill staff •Gain accredited qualifications •CPD opportunities •Flexible around other work commitments New courses starting January 2025 Contact us: 0800 781 3020 employers@kirkleescollege.ac.uk ADULT COURSES FOR EMPLOYERS Precision Engineering SpecialistsFrom the Editor Merry Christmas! Tis the season to be jolly – but tis also the season to rush to get everything in order before the Christmas break. December is always a hectic rush for many businesses, and magazines is certainly no exception when all January issues need to be written before people break up. You may have your own affairs to set in order but spare a thought for accountants and financial businesses having to process criminally late tax returns. Something to keep in mind about the Christmas break is how many people look for new jobs over it. Time away from work gives employees a chance to reflect and ask themselves big questions about their future. This is why so many employers choose to invest in Christmas parties and gifts for their staff – not because they’re full of Christmas spirit (though they may be) but because it’s a tried and tested method of keeping loyalty high. The last thing a business needs is its staff handing in their notices come January because all their friends had big business parties and they didn’t. It’s enough to make someone question how much their employers really care. Do be careful when it comes to gifts, however. The tax around them can be iffy and it’s always best to spare a thought for what is and what isn’t tax-deductible. Don’t be caught on the wrong side of the divide. Good reading, and merry Christmas! 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.com Watch this space for exciting updatesDECEMBER 2024 6 News The latest business news and success stories from around our region. 10 Commercial property Across Yorkshire cities are embracing regeneration, with myriad schemes set to provide residents with a brighter future. 14 End of year success stories 2024 has been another bumpy year for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire businesses, but there have also been bright spots. 18 Invoice and finance solutions With late payments rife, businesses are left on the brink of closure. 22 Engineering The engineering and manufacturing industries in the region have been undergoing significant transformations in recent years. 25 Logistics and transport AI is still in its infancy and prone to mistakes, but that doesn’t mean the industry isn’t looking at how best to incorporate it. 28 Health and safety When it comes to health and safety, we’re all aware of the need to protect physical health, but mental health can be just as bad for productivity, so protecting against that could be just as important. 32 Meet the experts Everyone claims to be an expert when, in truth, they’re often making use of local experts in our region. 34 Corporate hospitality Giving gifts may be in the Christmas spirit but HMRC aren’t known for their good cheer. How much is tax deductible and how does it work? 36 AutoLink All we want for Christmas is new cars, new technology and new advancements. These cars all bring it in spades. • We take a look at the Ferrari Purosangue 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 14 22 25Group 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 Angela Cooper (a.cooper@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 - JESON • NATALLIA • DC STUDIO • JADON BESTER/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM • PROSTOSVET 10Leeds period building welcomes five new firms following major refurbishment Five businesses spanning accountancy to healthcare can now call No.1 King Street in the heart of Leeds city centre their home, after the Victorian building underwent a significant refurbishment. Strategic property and construction advisors, Fox Lloyd Jones and joint agents WSB have received high levels of interest in the contemporary workspace spanning 14,118 sq ft in total across lower ground, ground and three upper floors, situated in the professional district of Leeds on the corner of King Street and Wellington Street. The five firms acquiring offices to take advantage of its prominent location and open plan working environment are chartered surveyors Walker Singleton, Aysgarth Chartered Accountants, engineering consultants Joseph Gallagher, sleep aid app developer Sleepiest, and law firm Ison Harrison Solicitors, who have expanded from the neighbouring building. No.1 King Street has a rich historical legacy, with the building originally a textile warehouse before transitioning in the mid-20th century to accommodate a broader mix of businesses. 6 Business Link www.blmforum.net NEWS Cosmetic Repair Company sold to property services group Sam Moore, Managing Director of Cosmetic Repair Company (Northern) (CRC), envisages a bright future as part of integrated property services company MA Group after selling 76% of the business’s share capital. Based in Halifax, CRC, which began trading in 2016, provides a wide range of specialist property cosmetic services including damage repairs; brick and stone tinting and cleaning; UPVC, wood and aluminium spraying; and mastic sealant services. Operating in sectors which include housebuilding, general construction, commercial and retail buildings, and hotel and leisure, CRC will enhance the range of products and services MA Group can provide to insurers and their intermediaries, housebuilders, housing associations and build-to-rent specialists. In a speedily executed transaction, led by Jacob Lord, KBS Corporate Deal Executive, a sale to MA Group was facilitated – and Sam is remaining involved in the business with strikingly positive plans to continue scaling and developing CRC. Ideal Heating secures Government funding to accelerate heat pump production Ideal Heating has received significant Government funding to accelerate production of heat pumps in the UK. The funding will enable increased production capacity of monobloc heat pump units and controls at the firm’s site in Hull as well as hot water cylinders at the Gledhill manufacturing facility in Blackpool. It is the first funding award from the Government’s Heat Pump Investment Accelerator competition, which aims to unlock significant private sector investment in the UK heat pump market. Ideal Heating and Gledhill, the cylinder manufacturer, are both part of the UK operations of Groupe Atlantic, which has a long-standing history of manufacturing heat pumps. The two businesses have been awarded almost £5.2m and have pledged a further investment of over £6.8m in heat pump production, taking the total to just over £12m. It represents a major boost for British manufacturing, as the Government works with leading companies in the UK heating sector to kickstart a homegrown heat pump industry, boost the UK’s energy security and support hundreds of low carbon jobs. Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, with Ideal Heating Chief Operations Officer Jason Speedy, left, and Chief Financial Officer Steve Hairsine, in the heat pump production area at the company’s Hull headquarters. © Hull News & Pictures www.blmforum.net Business Link 7 NEWS Chameleon Business Interiors acquires furniture company Hull-based Chameleon Business Interiors, the design-led interiors firm, has made a significant move in its growth strategy by acquiring Hunters Contracts North, a Cheshire-based office furniture specialist with over 20 years of experience in the North West. This acquisition not only enhances Chameleon’s portfolio but also brings in key members of the Hunters North team – including managing director Sarah Morriss and head of customer services Pip Bennett – to strengthen its presence in the region. Shaun Watts, Chameleon’s chairman, highlighted the strong synergy between the two companies, emphasising how Morriss and her team’s extensive experience and expertise aligns with Chameleon’s vision for development and brand enhancement. This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for Chameleon – which has been designing and delivering workspace interiors for 25 years – as it continues to expand its global footprint. Sarah Morriss, managing director of Hunters North, added: “Our clients include McDonald’s, TT Games, First Response Finance, Canal & River Trust and CBRE. They trust us to deliver projects that meet their needs and now, with Chameleon, we can offer even more comprehensive interior design, fit out and refurbishment solutions.” Funding secured for £8m second phase of business park in Rotherham South Yorkshire property company EV Waddington has secured part funding for the £8m second phase of a business park in Rotherham. Construction of three new blocks of speculative industrial buildings and warehouses totalling 91,010 sq ft, which can be split into 13 units, has begun at Kingsforth Business Park, part of the established Thurcroft Industrial Estate. The most recent phase is part funded by the SY JESSICA Fund (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) with a First Loss Loan together with a Development Loan Facility. The Fund is designed to promote sustainable investment, growth and jobs in urban areas through providing development support in the form of traditional loans and intervention funding. Units in phase two have been designed for flexibility and can be combined to offer a range of unit sizes from 5,440 up to 10,980 sq ft. Sheffield-headquartered training provider secures funding to deliver expansion strategy Realise, the Sheffield- headquartered training provider, has reinforced its strategy for future expansion through acquisition by entering a partnership with a digital bank which specialises in helping organisations grow. Supporting more than 16,500 learners a year across the UK through apprenticeships and adult education programmes, Realise has enjoyed a period of major growth since being the subject of a management buy-out in 2020. It has now utilised its strong financial position to finalise a multi- million pound loan agreement with OakNorth, a digital bank designed to empower SMEs to support growth and innovation. Realise employs more than 500 people across England and focuses its apprenticeship offering around early years and education, health and social care, business skills and transport. In addition, it provides adult education training programmes in numerous locations, including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands, to support local authorities in their quest to upskill residents. Gregg Scott, CEO of Realise Shaun Watts and Sarah Morriss 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/KAWINNINGSYorkshire yarn manufacturer passes control of business to workforce A yarn manufacturer has become an employee-owned business to preserve the company’s Yorkshire heritage and drive long-term growth. Founded in 1907 by George Laxton and Gordon Holmes, Laxtons Specialist Yarns has become one of Europe’s leading yarn manufacturers. Headquartered in Baildon, the company has expanded to supply yarns to clients across the UK and over 20 overseas markets. James Laxton (and his family), fourth generation Owner and Managing Director have passed on full control of the business to its workforce thanks to the creation of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Management hope the transition into employee ownership will drive the business forward, retaining its culture and Yorkshire identity while putting all 30 employees at the heart of decision making. The EOT also means employees will now hold an indirect stake in the business. James Laxton, Managing Director since 2001 will continue in his role under the new model, ensuring a smooth transition to employee ownership. Carly Smith (Sales and Marketing Director Designate) and Paulius Ramanauskas (Operations Director Designate) have also been appointed director designates to lead Laxton’s new direction. www.blmforum.net Business Link 9 NEWS Major Lincolnshire industrial unit sold for £3.3m Watling Real Estate has completed on the sale of a substantial industrial unit in Lincolnshire for £3.3m. Ben Holyhead and Chris Davies in the Birmingham office of Watling Real Estate were instructed by Elizabeth Welch and Matthew Ingram of Kroll, who were appointed joint administrators of Cartwright Bros (Haulage) Ltd in June this year. A sale of the 78,733 sq ft unit on Freeman Road, North Hykeham, Lincoln was secured to a local occupier. Ben Holyhead said: “Given the critical shortage of standing freehold industrial stock within Lincolnshire and the wider East Midlands, and with the cost of developing new accommodation exceeding £100 per sq ft, we anticipated strong interest in this unit. “We were pleased to achieve the asking price of £3.3 million following a competitive bidding process and to conclude the sale in a timely fashion. It’s great to see this unit acquired by a local occupier, providing them with much needed space to expand their business, as well as providing valuable employment opportunities for the local economy.” Harleyford Capital to upgrade Sheffield trade scheme Harleyford Logistics Partnership, the joint venture between Tristan Capital Partners and Harleyford Capital, is to reposition part of the recently completed estate on Greenland Road in Sheffield. As one of the premier trade parks in the region, rebranded as Sheffield Trade Park, it offers rare opportunities for more occupiers to take space. Harleyford Capital has already commenced a programme of works to enhance roadside visibility, with landscaping improvements, larger signage zones and large illuminated totem signage alongside other on- site changes. The highly prominent scheme enjoys substantial high profile frontage to the busy A6102 Greenland Road, with over 29,000 vehicles passing daily, and is already home to Costa Coffee, Wolseley, Formula One, Auto Windscreens and Headlam Flooring. Destination operators such as Edmundson Electrical, Kwik-Fit, Lidl, McDonalds and Shell PFS are also close by. Four additional trade units, capable of accommodating requirements from 3,031 to 12,334 sq ft, are available on the scheme with Knight Frank and Ogle Property appointed by Harleyford to market the scheme to national and regional operators, post upgrade and rebranding. © stock.adobe.com/ronstikNext >