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REFINERY’S ROLE IN THE ‘EV’ REVOLUTION OIL GIANT’S PREMIUM GRADE PRODUCT COULD HELP FORGE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY CHAIN AS THE ENERGY ESTUARY’S REMIT WIDENS... OIL major Phillips 66 is putting itself forward as a cornerstone for the Humber to build an electric vehicle supply chain. The past five years have seen the South Bank refinery grow its supply of high grade graphite coke – used in batteries – from zero to being able to put 500,000 new cars on the road. It is formulated by the dedicated team, working alongside the company’s US-based research and development operations in Oklahoma, with the premium product a core part of lithium iron batteries. As well as electric vehicles, they are also used in smartphones and other consumer devices. It also offers the potential for large scale applications such as grid-linked storage to ease the peaks and troughs associated with the burgeoning offshore wind sector. It is the only refinery in Europe to do it, with the South Killingholme plant renowned as one of the most complex and efficient in the world, adding a further string to the Energy Estuary bow. Heading it up is Darren Cunningham, who believes the foothold in the sector could act as a stepping stone for a strong role for his Humber own region. Chinese manufacturer BYD has already committed to a North Bank energy park, with
By David Laister Business Editor dave.laister@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk Twitter: @davelaister
high growth micro-generation and charging solution provider MyEnergi looking to expand into North East Lincolnshire too, with financial backing from some of Britain’s brightest business brains, including former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy. At the refinery, where 700 staff and up to 400 contractors produce 20 per cent of the UK’s fuel, enough to keep 500,000 cars on the road each day, Mr Cunningham said: “We are now a major supplier in the lithium iron battery market, and electric vehicles is where the growth is, and it is big growth for us. The Government announced last year it wants to phase out conventional internal combustion engines by 2040, and it also stated in its Industrial Strategy that it wants to promote an EV supply chain in the UK, be it vehicle manufacture or battery manufacture. “We sell to a manufacturer of anodes, who sell to battery manufactures, it is a small part, but we are a major player.” Phillips 66 Humber Refinery. Inset, general manager and UK lead executive Darren Cunningham. ■ continued on page two
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Business AN OIL EV-OLUTION FOR PHILLIPS 66
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Helping to power cars for a new generation THE Humber Refinery is unique in the UK as the only coking refinery, enhancing its position in the battery market. Most of the oil majors re-work the “relatively low value bottom of the barrel” crude, but P66 converts it into high value products, including speciality coke. One type is used primarily for electric arc steelmaking, with Phillips 66 a leading producer, and another is for aluminium smelting. Mr Cunningham explained: “The team became aware that people in China were using the premium coke in the manufacture of lithium iron batteries. It formed the anode, with the material being displaced, natural graphite, mined from the ground. Our coke is a superior graphite. “We began with small quantities, and have worked with the battery and EV supply chain, one that
is well developed in China and quite considerably in advance of markets elsewhere, working with customers to see what properties they are looking for. “It is very technical, we use research and development teams in the US, to develop a range for different types of applications for consumer electrics, be it smartphones or EVs. “Both markets are growing rapidly, and the EV market is growing explosively, 25 to 50 per cent a year. “Different markets require different properties. If you charge a smartphone, you don’t care if it takes a long time – typically overnight, but if you are driving a Tesla you want it to charge very rapidly, you want it to deliver a lot of power and good range. A milk float is somewhere between the two. “As such we manufacture several
bespoke grades for different applications. It has gone from very small quantities in 2013 to very significant quantities now. “We are a major supplier in to the electric vehicle lithium iron
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Humber is one of the most efficient and complex refineries and I’m hugely proud of what we do, Darren Cunningham
batteries, and that’s where the growth is. It is big growth for us.” It is part of a refinery for the future strategy, pertinent as 50th anniversary celebrations are just over the horizon in 2019.
On this, Mr Cunningham said: “Our company makes no apology for manufacturing fossil fuels. We will still need petrol and diesel for a long, long time. EVs are rapidly growing, but are a very small part of an overall solution. Most forecasts show world wide demand for petrol, diesel and kerosene to grow to 2030 and only then level off. We need all forms of power. What we supply matters, and we are very efficient at doing it. Humber is one of the most efficient and complex refineries and I’m hugely proud of what we do, and also recognise additional markets we can serve. “The coke into lithium iron batteries is something completely different. We are ready, willing and able to play a part in promoting that and if we can promote the region at the same time that is a win-win.”
Smartphones and tablets featuring Killingholme coke ■ continued from page one He has written to BEIS ministers to flag up the potential, and has since become an exemplar in ‘The Road to Zero’ – the Westminster push. P66 will also feature in a government-led Electric Vehicle Summit next month. “We have a piece of the value chain here, exporting 100 per cent of what it makes, and now we are starting to get some traction,” he said. “We will be trying to promote the development of an electric vehicle value chain.” A prominent director of Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, he said: “As a board we see a region developing, with industrial sites, the largest enterprise zones in the
country, local government open to industry and four local authorities very co-operative and all speaking to each other. “We have the largest port by tonnage and all the players around the table, two of the
five oil refineries in the country and one of the steel works. There’s the rapidly growing offshore wind with Siemens in Hull and operations and maintenance in Grimsby, and it is the beginning of something quit exciting. “We are all calling it the Energy Estuary, there is lots going for this area, and we have one component of the supply chain government wants. “Coming from the region I am keen to promote this area as a great place to do business. It would be great for the region and great for businesses in the region. “We are one small part in the supply chain, for which we are a significant player, and we would be interested in helping promote inward investment.”
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Waste oils addition to further green ambition RENEWABLE FUEL OBLIGATION BOOST FOR REFINERY A MULTI-MILLION pound investment in biofuel capabilities is being made at Phillips 66 as another shade of green emerges at the refinery. The US-owned giant has been working with waste oil on a trial basis, to see if it can be added to the end product. Now a team is on site with pre-construction work underway to provide facilities to pre-treat and re-use oils previously disposed of. Darren Cunningham, refinery general manager and UK lead executive, said: “The plan is to process certified waste oil and make it into biofuel, commencing in early 2019. “We are very close to making that happen.” Legislation insists on a level within road fuel, with many pushing to double the percentage from five per cent to 10, as is proposed for 2020. It can be quite aggressive, however, with the impact on the massively expensive refining complex being carefully tested. “All manufacturers of fuels have to have a blend, and is either ethanol or fatty acid methyl ester,” Mr Cunningham said. “We do that, and will continue to do that, and in addition we have worked with Department of Transport, BEIS and the Environment Agency to process certified waste oil, and because it is a waste, we can treat it and process it through part of the refinery that just makes petrol and diesel. “It has been done on trial, now
Business Month in Review
Concrete plans for Scunthorpe MANUFACTURING: Plans have been revealed for a new manufacturing plant which could create 200 jobs in Scunthorpe. Heavy duty concrete specialist ABM Precast Solutions is looking to build a facility on an 18.8-acre site at Normanby Enterprise Park. The Nottinghamshire-based company has submitted a planning application to North Lincolnshire Council and has earmarked a site off Moat Road. It designs and manufactures a wide range of precast concrete products and is the largest independent producer of pre-stressed bridge beams in Britain.
Post EU queue space secured Phillips 66 Humber Refinery, and Darren Cunningham, inset. we are investing in pre-treatment to run on an ongoing basis.” Recent months have seen Cleethorpes and Immingham MP Martin Vickers presd the Government on renewable content in road fuel, with hundreds of millions of pounds of investment riding on enforcing a commitment. His constituency features both South Bank oil refineries and Greenergy’s plant on Port of Immingham, as well as three of the four proposed South Bank plants that have yet to be realised.
In the wider Humber, producer Vivergo’s £350 million Saltend plant had a four month shut-down earlier this year. Mr Vickers, together with other regional MPs, has taken bosses from there to the DfT to meet successive ministers. Major plans for further refineries have been mooted for a decade, with this region seen as a key zone with traditional refining, rich arable land and port access. Bioethanol Ltd had an application for a 100,000-tonne plant to the north west of Immingham;
Spanish environmental giant Abengoa announced it was looking to build a massive operation at Hobson Way, Stallingborough; Vireol had eyed up some of the former Courtaulds site and Green Spirit Fuels was looking at the former Huntsman Tioxide site. All expired without any build, with the legislative process, twinned with the deep recession, blamed. It had been anticipated then that the market would be twice the size now.
PORTS: Shipping giant DFDS Seaways has increased its footprint on Port of Immingham by nearly 10 per cent as it takes proactive steps ahead of a potential hard Brexit. The company is one of the largest roll-on roll-off operators in Europe, with daily sailings across the North Sea bringing food, consumer goods, manufacturing components and materials to the UK, while playing just as vital a role for UK exports. Headquartered on the docks, with 600 employees, a further 20 acres of land has been committed to in a deal with Associated British Ports, as it looks at the potential impact border controls could have on the movement of the hundreds of North Sea-crossing lorries a day.
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Business
Our Emma is in the top 50 female engineers in the UK DRAMATIC CAREER CHANGE LED GRIMSBY WOMAN ON PRESTIGIOUS PATH GEOGRAPHY, not science, has propelled Grimsby woman Emma Browning to the forefront of engineering, and she wants to see more town schoolgirls follow her lead. Earlier this summer the offshore wind farm environment manager was named in the top 50 women in the industry, but despite Grimsby’s emergence to lead the UK in the past decade, she isn’t operating out of her home town – as yet! Now, working for Scottish Power Renewables on East Anglia One off the Suffolk coast, she reflects with a smile on the fact that the closest she came to the docks on a daily basis was the view of The Riverhead from Imperial House. Before career two came calling she spent the first 12 years of her working life with HM Revenue and Customs in Grimsby town centre. “As an environment manager working with Scottish Power Renewables’ new £2.5 billion offshore wind farm, I lead a team on one of the UK’s biggest and most exciting engineering projects – but my route into the sector has hardly been traditional,” she had told the Sunday Telegraph for a high-profile supplement that revealed engineering’s exemplars, with a focus on returning or transferring candidates for 2018. Her career path took her up to Glasgow and then to London – via Kenya and Sheffield – now
Emma Browning with her award, main picture, and in Kenya above. Below, offshore construction of ‘her’ East Anglia One offshore wind farm begins.
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People growing up in Grimsby now should be quite excited about what is happening in the town and nearby, and should grab the opportunities with both hands Emma Browning
with frequent visits to Ipswich and back home thrown in. And it was two interests exposed to during her time at Whitgift School – teaching then geography – that led to a career change as she approached 30, having gone from personal assistant in the VAT office to specialist criminal investigator. “It was a dual thing – my parents were always keen for me to appreciate the environment,” she said. “A lot of holidays were spent in the UK, walking, I never went abroad until I was 17. “It gave me an appreciation for nature, understanding why things are the way they are. That made me naturally eager at geography.” She took it as a GCSE option, but had to further it herself later in her career to open up the new path. “I didn’t do anything with geography, I did business studies at college, but before I changed direction I taught myself A-level geography to get in to university. “Looking back it was one of the most engaging classes I had at school.” It has clearly been East Anglia One’s benefit, as the top ranking bachelor of science degree was added to the CV. But first, before uni-
versity, and that first in physical geography, came a four-month sabbatical to Kenya to teach English, fulfilling a “schoolgirl ambition” to take on the role at the front of the class. Graduating in 2011, environmental management came calling. She headed to Glasgow, joining SP Energy Networks, before entering an industry that has also made Grimsby its home. She said: “It seems bizarre me not working there now because it is all coming out of Grimsby, so maybe one day, who knows! I am working on the east coast, in the North Sea, just further south. Hopefully this will inspire other people to think about it. “As much as the recognition is nice, the idea behind it was to inspire other people who may think ‘it is not for me’ that it can be if they are interested. You don’t have to be an engineer to work in engineering either, as working on a wind farm like I do shows. That’s the hope behind it, to promote diversity. “We have all been given a set of circumstances in life, then there’s the layer of oppor-
tunity too. I think people growing up in Grimsby now should be quite excited about what is happening in the town and nearby, and should grab the opportunities with both hands. It is bringing a lot of interest into the town, and a lot of contractors. People from oil and gas have a lot of transferable skills, it may be they have never thought about it before. They may have let their tickets expire, but hopefully they can get them reissued and there is great opportunity there.” So what is her role, which has seen praise pour down from the chief executive of the major utility company? “My responsibility is for environmental management of East Anglia One. That’s a project with 37km of onshore cabling, an onshore substation, 87km of offshore cable to an offshore substation, then 102 turbines connecting to that substation. I have to make sure we comply with environmental legislation, with the consent conditions put in place by the local authorities and with marine policies.” Construction is in full-flow now, with completion anticipated for 2020. It will be served
out of Lowestoft, with power connecting to the National Grid near Ipswich. “There is also responsibility for us preparing to go operational, and when you look at what environmental requirements are needed, that is looking a good 20-plus years ahead,” she said. “We have a team of environmental advisers working offshore and onshore, doing inspections, it is a huge remit, and environmental risk can be very different onshore and offshore, but also very similar. “We don’t want oil spillages or plant equipment leaking, then when it comes to wildlife it can be harbour porpoises – making sure we protect them – down to onshore, and the usual suspects of badgers and water voles, which are really prevalent. “Then there are air quality, emissions and noise concerns, stakeholder management – all key things we get involved in. It is pretty diverse, every day is different, every day is a school day, and I can work with a lot of different people, so it can be manic.”
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Business Bytron's executive team, with managing director Shane Spencer, centre, flanked by Simon Clayton, left, technical director, and Dave Craig, commercial director at the Kirmington base which is braced for lift-off.
Month in Review
Offshore wind’s long term plan ENERGY: Long term certainty for offshore wind has been welcomed by the Humber’s biggest players in the burgeoning industry. Energy Minister Claire Perry has revealed a framework of subsidy auctions which will allow the UK’s capacity to nearly double over the next decade, bringing further job creation and security – and major investment. Grimsby is already home to 1.5GW of offshore-installed green energy, with arrays under construction to take that to 5GW as the new potential pipeline emerges. The Crown Estate is already considering new seabed leasing rounds to enable expansion, with the Humber once again at the fore of potential investment.
Bytron’s international Docks brewing ambition is taking off AVIATION SOFTWARE TEAM IS READY TO GO GLOBAL AVIATION software specialist Bytron is setting a course for rapid growth as it prepares for a partnership with Boeing business Jeppesen to take-off, opening up a world of opportunity. The team behind the Kirmington company, established by an entrepreneurial pilot 34 years ago, wants to raise the profile in northern Lincolnshire, as it also looks at international expansion to cross time zones as easy as those it supports. Thriving in the hands of two developers following a management buy-out four years ago, staff numbers have doubled to 30, with growth showing no sign of slowing. It follows the deal brokered with navigation specialist Jeppesen last May, with the two combining software to help “maximise operational efficiency” in a joint venture that wowed the industry. A complete crew-briefing and flight dispatch solution has been brought forward with flight planning data provided through the award-winning Bytron Skybook software system, which is now being distributed by the global partner. This has led to the need for significant expansion, with a commercial director bolstering the management team as the entire business is enlarged. Shane Spencer, managing director since 2014, said: “We are a UK-based company in leafy Lin-
colnshire, working with some of the biggest names in aviation. We have clients across the globe, we have received excellent recognition, and have new products and solutions to come, helping aviation clients become more profitable and more efficient. “We want to raise awareness that we’re from the local area, we are trying to rapidly expand the team over the next two to five years – potentially expanding
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We are a UK-based company in leafy Lincolnshire, working with some of the biggest names in aviation. Shane Spencer
even further – to the extent there may be an international office. We want to have a queue of people, knowing about what we do as a business, which is exciting stuff within the aviation industry. “The technology we use is bleeding edge stuff, so we want people, graduates, to think about what we do.” Located in the picturesque village, it and Keyzo – a sister business providing optimisation software – now occupies five units on
the business park. Of the international venture, Mr Spencer said: “Jeppesen went to look for a product solution to complement their product portfolio and selected us as a perfect partner. “We are quite good at pre-empting the future, we put a lot of effort in to checking our products. We operate 24/7 support but the future vision is an international office, covering more time zones, and that will help with the recruitment aspect too.” Launched by long-haul pilot Richard Harris and his wife Irene as he sought a more efficient way to plan flights, he diversified into air traffic control systems, before coming back to the ‘Skybook’ solution, for which technical director Simon Clayton wrote the first version, launching in 1990. “We have evolved ever since,” said Mr Spencer, himself joining in 2001 as a developer, working up to project manager before buying out his predecessor and Mrs Harris in 2014, with Mr Harris having passed away a decade earlier. Dave Craig, who has known Mr Spencer for decades, is now on board in the commercial role. He arrived from a private equity backed group working in the construction sector. “I had been monitoring Bytron, and with the Jeppesen deal, opportunity within the company, and personal circumstances, it felt the right time
to reach out. I come from a managerial background with a sales team of 20, a multi-million pound company, I’m well versed in how the commercial world works. “We want people coming out of university to see us as one of the top tech companies coming forward. Economically, with Brexit, as a business a lot of our client base is unaffected, we are in quite a confident position, and we want people to come out and say ‘these are the guys we want to do our apprenticeships, our learning, with’. “The product we provide leads the industry in terms of an electronic flight bag. It is all done from a leafy office in a little village.” Skybook is completely digital which allows flight crews to access the information anywhere and anytime. It was named as Best Software Innovation at the Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, rubbing shoulders with the likes of National History Museum and Laterooms. “We are not just looking for technical staff, developers sat in darkened rooms... it is a whole set of different people, be it sales and marketing, quality assurance, administration,” Mr Clayton added. “Our big ethos is customer service and as we expand that has to too.”
FOOD & DRINK: Grimsby’s first commercial beer brew in 50 years is underway. Axholme Brewing Co’s flagship Cleethorpes Pale Ale is the drink of choice to test the new Docks Beers set up, a brewery created in a former church on King Edward Street. The initial run of 4,000 bottles got underway on Friday, with a mash of 375kg of malted barley to set the process off. It comes after three Grimsby-based investors jumped on board as directors, having seen the potential in the craft, that originated in Crowle.
Smoker’s pride FOOD & DRINK: Alfred Enderby’s Traditionally Smoked Salmon has secured a spectacular three star rating in the 2018 Great Taste Awards. The Grimsby premium dish is flying the flag and leading the pack when it comes to quality and provenance in the Humber region according to the Guild of Fine Food. The high profile billing puts it in the top three per cent nationwide. Enderby’s Traditionally Smoked Haddock has also netted a two star rating, making it a phenomenal first time double for the docks-based business, taken on by Patrick Salmon in December 2016 from the retiring son of Alfred, Richard Enderby.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
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Energy In association with
Tel: 01469 577698 www.onloanrecruitment.co.uk
GRIMSBY ENGINEERING FIRM’S PRESTIGIOUS CONTRACT www.andrewjackson.co.uk
01472 889200 www.blackrow.co.uk
For support in raising your company’s profile in this sector call Angie Atkinson on 01472 806963 or 07920 823544
£5.5m ‘tick’ to build new Flyleather UK facility A GRIMSBY engineering firm has won a contract worth more than £5.5 million to build a new production facility for global sportswear giant Nike’s new wonder material. Blackrow Engineering has been signed up by ELeather, a UK firm that has entered into a long-term strategic innovation partnership with the US corporation, to introduce Nike Flyleather. The performance-grade engineered leather is made from at least 50 per cent recycled fibres, and is now featuring in the latest footwear, from tennis shoes to baseball boots. Reconstituted with synthetic materials, it is a process that will use 90 per cent less water, with an 80 per cent reduction in carbon footprint. ELeather exports to more than 40 countries, with a blue-chip global customer base. It also supplies upholstery and cladding for airlines, vehicles and trains. Darren Broughton, chairman,
said: “This is a completely new industry for us and a high profile contract win. We will be mechanically and electrically installing all the production machinery and associated equipment. The contract also involves manufacturing large mezzanine platforms and lots of pipework. It is a new client, they were very impressed with Blackrow’s facilities and the professionalism and response of the project team during the tendering process.” A squad of 60 or more, working on manufacture at the sprawling Grimsby site and installation in Peterborough, will be assembled, with the South Humberside Industrial Estate team currently working through materials orders. Already a major employer in the town with a very healthy order book, the win means the team is looking to add to its headcount, across sheet metal, pipefitting, welding, electrical, site installation and design disciplines. “A total of 180 people are now
Darren Broughton, left, and Tony Booker.
employed, we have added 20 in recent months and we are looking to increase even further,” Mr Broughton said. In its traditional sector, food, Blackrow has recently secured other large projects with Haith Group – installing potato handling equipment for a well-known oven chip producer, Moy Park Poultry – installation of new production lines, Greggs and other leading bakeries – for various factory improvements around the UK, as well as Tate & Lyle, Walkers Crisps and a leading salad producer. Other industry sectors Blackrow is also busy in include waste to energy, petrochemicals and power generation. “This is in addition to our normal ‘running work’ which includes us servicing the engineering needs of clients all over the UK and even abroad,” Mr Broughton said. “We are not just busy for a couple of months, this is long term work we are building,” he added, underlining how there are currently 12
Law firm acts in huge Louth-area hotel and estate sale ANDREW Jackson Solicitors’ head of corporate, Andrew Funnell, has wished client the Flynn family all the best for the future after acting on their behalf to sell the Kenwick Park Estate at Louth. The prime developer of the hotel, spa and golf site over
the past 30 years, have sold their shareholdings to Sheffield-based Coppergreen for an undisclosed sum. Mr Funnell, pictured, said: “We are delighted that the team at Andrew Jackson has helped to advise on such a significant transaction for the region and the holiday
lodge industry. We wish Stuart and his family a long and happy retirement.” Mr Funnell, Jonathan Fisher and Nick Scott provided corporate advice, working alongside Geoff Phillips and Yasmin Fenton in Andrew Jackson’s
property department. The Andrew Jackson team worked closely with David Everatt and Lindsay Taylor from Forrester Boyd chartered accountants of Grimsby, who provided accounting and tax advice throughout the process. Mr Flynn gave his thanks
to his professional advisors “for their expert help”, including David Everatt of Forrester Boyd, Grimsby, and Mr Funnell. It follows several significant deals for the law firm, which operates from offices in Grimsby, Hull, York and Scarborough.
apprentices on the books, and a further six in this year’s intake. A significant increase in turnover is anticipated on the back of the winning the latest order, with more in the pipeline. To complement the work, the Blackrow team has also invested in new machinery, including a large CNC lathe and horizontal borer. Tony Booker, projects director, said: “This is equipment that is larger than we have ever had, it increases our capacity. The borer is something we have never had before and allows us to do more in-house. It improves our skilled machining capability. “There is a real feel-good factor around the business, all of the staff at Blackrow have contributed in some way to this ongoing success and we are trying to recruit even more people from the local area as we have a substantial amount of work for months in advance.”
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Business
Power giant with major South Bank sites is sold for £216m
Month in Review
Waitrose win for Seachill SEAFOOD: Major investment in a Grimsby seafood processor is in full swing after a £20 million contract win. Seachill’s highly visible coating plant by the A180 entrance to Grimsby is being expanded in order to handle the major coup with upmarket retailer Waitrose. Already home to a large portion of the company’s Tesco own label work – the bedrock of the business – and the branded Saucy Fish Co fishcake range, the past year has seen 154 jobs created as work has ramped up, 140 of which are permanent positions.
Japanese stake
IMMINGHAM’S DUAL PLANTS ARE PORTFOLIO’S LARGEST THE company behind the 48MW of flexible power generation capacity in Immingham has been bought out. UK Power Reserve, which has its largest assets in North East Lincolnshire, has been acquired by Sembcorp Industries for £216 million. Based in Solihull, it is Britain’s biggest generator of its type, with 533MW spread across 32 locations and a further 480MW in construction and development. Teesside-based Semcorp currently supplies energy, centralised utilities and services to industrial firms in the North East. It currently has 210MW of generation capacity at Wilton International Industrial Site in Teesside, comprising combined heat and power, steam power and renewable generation to service energy-intensive industrial and commercial customers. It is also seeking planning approval to develop two combined cycle gas turbine units of up to 1,700 MW in that area. At Immingham, the small-scale,
fast-ramping power generation units are located by the eastern access road to the port, and connect to the same Northern Power Grid primary substation. They book-end a 50 acre greenfield site acquired late last year by Associated British Ports from Brocklesby Estate. UK Power Reserve is also behind the development of 120MW of rapid response battery storage – one of the biggest portfolios in Europe. Half of the sites have been confirmed so far, at Bolton, Warrington and Melton Mowbray, with a further 60MW to be decided. Nomi Ahmad, head of Sembcorp’s UK utilities business, said: “Sembcorp is delighted to have secured this exciting business, which deepens our presence in the UK considerably and provides major opportunities for further expansion. UKPR and Sembcorp’s existing Teesside business will form a strong integrated energy business in the UK, combining centralised services at Wilton with multiple flexible assets across the country along with expertise across the full spectrum
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Nic Dakin, right, is shown around one of the Immingham plants. of UK energy markets. “We are committed to supporting the UK’s power needs in line with Government policy and the acquisition of UKPR does exactly that, as would our proposed new power station on Teesside if approved. In addition, UKPR complements our existing operations on Teesside superbly and set us firmly on track for further growth in the UK.” Connected at the distribution level close to customer need, UKPR’s assets help supplement renewable power supplies and add resilience to the national grid by providing high-value rapid response ancillary services to balance the system. This role is increasingly needed in the UK power market today given the closure of older thermal plants and the growth of renewable energy sources, which face intermittency. Tim Emrich, who is stepping
down as chief executive of UKPR, said: “This is an exciting new chapter – Sembcorp’s investment underlines not only the value of the UK’s distributed energy market, but also the strong position that UKPR has built up. The next phase of development is already well underway and integration with Sembcorp opens up huge possibilities for the future.” Sam Wither, UKPR’s current chief commercial officer, who is taking over from Mr Emrich as head of UKPR, said: “Sembcorp’s coming on board as UKPR’s key shareholder is a vote of confidence in our company and team. Moving ahead, UKPR looks forward to growing as part of the Sembcorp Group’s integrated energy business in the UK. We will also look to continue the close working relationships we have built with our existing commercial partners over the years.”
WIND: Two Japanese energy firms have swooped for a share of the £2 billion Triton Knoll offshore wind farm, as Innogy reduces its stake in the Lincolnshire coast development. J-Power has taken 25 per cent and Kansai Electric Power 16 per cent, with the closure and financial decision anticipated before the end of next month. Commissioning of the Round Two development is anticipated to start in 2021, with the Humber set to be a key location once more.
PROUD TO BE
RENEWING THE HUMBER
MP visit to find out about changing generation times NORTH Lincolnshire MP Nic Dakin paid a visit to the Immingham site in order to gain a greater insight into how Britain keeps the grid resilient. Mr Dakin, who represents Scunthorpe, visited UKPR’s Kings Road site at Immingham as part of an Industry and Parliament Trust fellowship programme aimed at giving MPs, MEPs and civil servants a better understanding of business and industry. This visit followed time at the Solihull office, where he and two colleagues were shown the Virtual Power Plant used to remotely monitor the sites. Mr Wither, head of UKPR, said: “We were delighted to welcome the MPs. The volume of distributed generation on the grid has risen steeply over the last few years, but its value and significance hasn’t been
understood as quickly. “These visits have shone a light on the UK’s fastest growing energy sector and highlighted the need for a diverse energy mix and generation which is able to respond rapidly to changes on the system.” Mr Dakin was taken through the process, shown where the gas comes in, how the engines work and how UKPR exports to the grid. He saw how quickly units can be brought into action and witnessed different run profiles. Mr Wither added: “We’re keen to do more of these engagement visits and show MPs of all parties how we are playing a critical role in the energy mix in the UK. Visits such as these should help MPs make decisions that are more informed and recognise how decisions taken in other areas can affect this sector.”
The two Immingham sites, just off the roundabout giving access to Port of Immingham, and past the Queen’s Road built up section, closer to the eastern entrance gate, close to the landfill site.
E N V I R O N M E N TA L LY A W A R E • SKIP HIRE • WASTE TRANSFER STATION
• PLANT • HAULAGE • AGGREGATES • EARTHWORKS
Email: waste@brianplant.com
Email: info@brianplant.com
TEL: 01472 241342
TEL: 01472 341499
www.brianplant.com
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Food In association with
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Shotblasting addition for industrial painter
Manufacturers of Industrial Hygienic Doors
01472 311057 www.lincsdoors.co.uk
01472 889200 www.blackrow.co.uk
01472 210343 www.centralltd.com
SHOTBLASTING has been added to the services provided by Lincs Industrial Painters. The South Humberside Industrial Estate operation’s first 18 months have seen a large volume of work won with the strong cluster of food-focused engineering firms, helping them to support blue chip clients nationwide. Headed up by Jamie Bunten, it is built on years of experience in the automotive sector, with the slogan ‘if you can make it, we can paint it’. And that is exactly the model rolled out. Now the 9m by 5m by 3.5m spray booth has been complemented by shotblasting facilities, with further plans for the large yard, ideally located close to several key clients. Mr Bunten said: “Shotblasting is a new area for us and it is going well. It is a far more labour efficient way of preparing steelwork. We will soon be opening another shot blasting area.” Work doesn’t stop at the gates though. “We also offer on-site paint-
Work underway in the sizeable spray booth at Lincs Industrial Painters. ing for clients. A lot more companies are looking for this,” Mr Bunten said. “We are getting enquiries from all over the country.” The team has been expanded since opening, after Mr Bunten sold his Scratch Match business to Marshall Motor Group. “I am looking to take on an apprentice in the
next few weeks,” he added. All interested parties are more than welcome to visit the business and see the facilities and the painting services on offer. For more information, email jamie@lincs industrialpainters.com or visit www.lincs industrialpainters.com.
Investment shows no sign of cooling at Rick Bestwick 01472 352 998 www.carreraeng.co.uk
01472 340938 Jamie@lincsindustrialpainters.com
For support in raising your company’s profile in this sector call Angie Atkinson on 01472 806963 or 07920 823544
SCUNTHORPE’S major cold storage operation could be set for further investment after the firm behind the major complex announced a first phase in a growth strategy. Rick Bestwick, the controlled food holding specialist, is emerging from a transformational period with chief executive of the owning Magnavale Group, Colin Taylor, coming up to a year at the helm, having formed a strong partnership with founder and co-owner, Stuart Hancock. It has just added 30 more permanent staff to its Chesterfield headquarters, as it wins several major export contracts and more than doubles its already substantial blast freezing capacity. Mr Taylor said: “As our
client base expands, our staff has to expand with it to guarantee our high service standards, and we are delighted to welcome our new colleagues on board. It’s an exciting time at Rick Bestwick, and as we continue to grow, we look forward to a bright future together. “While this is a period of rapid growth, this is only the start of our ambitions, not just in Chesterfield, but also at our sites in Scunthorpe, Liverpool and Warrington.” Via Coldstores, on Celsius Parc was brought into the group as one of several similar businesses was unified by Magnavale, under the Rick Bestwick brand. It was previously operated by Innovate Logistics, which went into administration in 2008.
sq ft of warehouse space. The site is described as being “ideally located for the import and export of goods from Grimsby and Hull docks and an area renowned for growing some of the best produce in the country”. The new positions include 27 warehouse operatives which became essential due to rapid increases in demand for blast freezing and Colin Taylor, in his first year as chief executive. microwave tempering – Rick Bestwick, initially as services Rick Bestwick specialise in. Via, took it on in 2011, The company claims to acquiring three stores have the largest blast from Innovate Logistics, freezing capacity in the and then a further three UK, a 1,200 tonne per week from Yearsley in 2015, microwave capability, as after Magnavale acquired well as plans to further Rick Bestwick. automate and expand this It is now the company’s offering in the near largest site with six future. purpose-built, stand-alone Mr Taylor added: “The coldstores offering 650,000 increased demand for
these technologies and services runs in parallel with the demand for proper end to end logistics necessary for modern companies to scale, grow and simplify their operations, and it’s something our customers know we can provide.” The company enjoys a long term logistics partnership with Grimsby and Immingham shipping and transport operator DFDS Mr Taylor has more than 30 years’ experience in the food industry with major manufacturers such as Bernard Matthews, Moy Park, Pinguin and Vion – and prior to joining Magnavale was chief operating office of Middle East food and logistics business, Mezzan.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
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Business CLEETHORPES PUPILS PILOT AWARD-NOMINATED KIT
Month in Review
Personalised pack-up is a hit with children
Seafood tie-up
GRIMSBY’S Ultimate Digital has made unique designs child’s play as it brings its innovative packaging work to packed lunches. The Europarc team has launched Kids Ink, a web to print platform that has allowed pupils to design their own lunch bags, using the same software that saw it deliver the huge Kit Kat campaign for Nestle, putting consumers’ faces on the famous red and white wrappers. And within a few weeks of launch, the new project has been shortlisted for two industry awards. Chris Tonge, executive director of Ultimate Group, said: “Kids Ink is unique because it is a really easy to use online drawing tool which our Smartflow system turns into print ready digital artwork. Kids Ink is a world first as every other personalised campaign has used part of the design as a template but our platform enables the whole design to be totally unique to each child. The Kids Ink platform can also be used on every other pack formats as well, for example cartons and bottles.” Ultimate’s close partner B&G converts the digitally printed film and attaches the handles to produce unique kid’s lunch bags. The bags are also lined with in-built Biomaster antimicrobial protection which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. This means that the lunch bags can be reused time and time again. The team anticipate it taking the
SHIPPING: The parent company of a growing Grimsby seafood firm has bought a 25 per cent share in the shipping company that brings the fish to the town. Icelandic-headquartered Samherji Holding has acquired all the shares held by US investment fund Yucauipa in Eimskip, for a figure of around £77 million. A vertically integrated seafood company, it owns Ice Fresh Seafood in Grimsby, which last year expanded significantly on South Humberside Industrial Estate, taking the former deli and meals site of Seachill on Estate Road Five.
Petrol not pints CONSTRUCTION: Plans to build a new family pub and restaurant in North Lincolnshire have been scrapped. Proposals would have seen the pub constructed on an area of Barton known as Top Field, where Lidl is building a new super market. However, the inclusion of a pub on the development has now been dropped and instead, a planning application for a petrol station and drive-through coffee shop has been submitted. Forecourt operator EG Group says the proposals would deliver modern roadside services adjacent to the A15 junction on the edge of the town, at the Humber Bridge approach.
new school year by storm, giving schools a tool to produce fun and interactive lessons, with early users describing the bags as “cool” , “amazing” and “extravagant”. It is now in the running for Innovation of the Year and Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year at the 2018 UK Packaging Awards.
During the lunch, Ultimate invited Cleethorpes’ Middlethorpe Primary Academy school children to participate in a fun interactive day of learning, and to watch their very own unique Kid’s Ink designs being digitally printed. Pupils participated in a trial run ahead of the full launch this month. A class of 31 saw their own designs printed, taking part in interactive workshops and learning about the new exciting technologies that digital print can
offer the market place, as well as sustainability and packaging. The children also got to play with new interactive concepts that are not even launched on the market yet. “The children have had a really good day, and an appreciation of how things are made from design to product. Also being able to do design and technology and promote healthy schools outside the classroom, is really valuable for lear ning,” Michael Elliott, assistant head at Middlethorpe Primary Academy, said.
FOOD FACTORIES CO N S T R U C T I O N
& MAINTENANCE
ALL ACROSS THE UK
£2m printing press keeps the team at the forefront A £2 million new print press has boosted capacity at one of “the most premium press halls in the UK”. Ultimate Packaging, the UK’s leading flexible packaging manufacturer, has invested in a new BOBST 20SIX CS unit, with further plans to invest in an additional laser perforation machine in the new year. The new press will allow Ultimate to continue to be reactive and deliver to customers with responsive lead times. The new eight colour press features a downstream unit for film coating with a web width of 1,300 mm and speed of 500m per minute, delivering consistency across a large range of substrates and applications. The press also allows Ultimate to print using water-based inks opening up new markets. “We are delighted to be putting our fourth Bobst 20SIX eight colour flexo press into full production, following handover by the manufacturers installation team,” Jeremy Hodson, managing director of Ultimate Packaging said. “Over the years, since our first 20SIX investment in 2012, followed by a further two presses in 2015, one with a
down-stream unit, we have seen excellent improvements in both press efficiency and material waste reduction. Print quality and colour consistency have been excellent too. “The new press also has a down-stream unit, which along with other specified options, gives us even more flexibility with the previous investments to continue to efficiently produce great quality work for our customers to sometimes extremely tight deadlines.”
The new press is fitted with a state of the art Graphic Positioning System that allows reduced set up times, produces less waste and will allow Ultimate Packaging to continue to be at the forefront of flexographic printing, making them one of the most premium print halls in the UK. Ultimate has further plans to invest in another new laser perforation machine in January 2019. It will work alongside Ultimate’s very own Adapt Map, which tailor makes unique laser perforation designs to specifically suit fresh produce respiration rates, allowing them to achieve optimal results in extending shelf-life and freshness. In conjunction with this technology Ultimate have their very own mobile Adapt Map Respiration Chamber, which enables customers to carry out real-time testing on fresh produce onsite which gives results in a four hour time frame. The data is then sent to Ultimate for analysis. This allows the company to be responsive to the needs of sensitive crop throughout the season, making sure customers get the best out of their products.
Factory Refurbishment Office Upgrade Canteens Locker Rooms Development Kitchens
www.fscl.co.uk
01472 355 454 Unit 7 – 8 Pegasus Square, Innovation way, Europarc, DN37 9TJ
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Chemical & Process In association with
www.cube3construction.co.uk T: 01469 541737
Chemical/Process - Marine - Food Renewable’s - Pharmaceutical - Precision General enquiries: 01472 351313 www.baconengineering.com
Hire / Sales / Service Parts / Training / Access Platforms www.bjblifttrucks.co.uk
For support in raising your company’s profile in this sector call Angie Atkinson on 01472 806963 or 07920 823544
Special products now under the Birch brand PLASTICS and rubber industry supplier Innovo has been renamed Birch Chemicals to reflect the company’s continued growth and plans for expansion. Innovo is best known for its Innovox product range, a high-performing drying agent which is used globally in a variety of applications, including car and aeroplane manufacture. As such, the Innovox name is being retained under the Birch Chemicals umbrella, with new branding expected to be rolled out later this year. The change to Birch Chemicals reflects the business’s connections to parent company, Singleton Birch, the North Lincolnshire quarrying giant, which was established in 1815. Singleton Birch is an historic lime firm which began supplying quicklime to Innovo when it was formed in 2000 in Surrey. It then acquired Innovo in 2009, after the company relocated to its Melton Ross site. Steve Foster, managing director of Birch Chemicals, said: “Singleton Birch has more than two centuries of experience and expertise. “We are proud to be part of the Singleton Birch family and I am delighted that our new name shows this link. “As well as building on our heritage, becoming Birch Chemicals is also about moving forward towards exciting developments for the business in the future.” Rapid growth has seen Birch Chemicals’ turnover increase significantly from 2012 to 2017 with ambitions to boost this further over the coming years. Birch Chemicals’ Innovox is part of a range sold worldwide, mainly through a distribution network, and is a premium product which delivers excellent availability and consistency.
Richard Stansfield, front centre, managing director of Singleton Birch, with clockwise from back left, Martyn Gardiner, trustee of the Katherine Martin Trust and non-executive director; Steve Foster, director of Birch Chemicals; Martin Haworth, director of Birch Solutions; Ellen Tatterton, finance director of Singleton Birch and Stuart Counsell, chairman of Singleton Birch and trustee of the Katherine Martin Trust. A key element of the success is the direct link to the raw material, allowing constant supply while reducing downstream costs. There is full traceability and assurance and the superior British-made product, an advantage in a market where there is a low tolerance and high penalties for failures. Mr Foster said: “Our product is very well regarded and as Innovo, we have had a good reputation for customer service to match this.
“This will be maintained with both distributors and end users as we become Birch Chemicals and will be enhanced as we seek to recruit in order to fulfil our expansion plans. “We have also invested in new technology to further improve our capabilities and funded a significant amount of research and training to advance knowledge as we continue to develop cutting-edge solutions for our customers.”
Singleton Birch’s largest shareholder is a charitable trust named after Katherine Martin, the wife of founder William Singleton Birch’s grandson, Lionel Martin. Lionel used the family business to help him fund his passion for cars and went on to found the Aston Martin car company which still bears his name today. The three main beneficiaries of the Katherine Martin Trust are the NSPCC, RSPCA and Barnardo’s.
New look reflects a rich heritage that is not relied on BIRCH Chemicals’ introduction comes as new branding has been revealed for Singleton Birch. The move also brings the Innovo business into line with Birch Solutions, another recent re-naming, which builds on the acquisition of renewable energy firm, PlanET Biogas UK. Like Innovo was nine years ago, it has been brought to Melton Ross alongside the existing services already provided by the team’s technical department in relation to anaerobic digestion.
move successfully into areas such as renewable energy and specialist chemicals. “Our new design matches our ambitions for the future while also linking to the raw material that we have North Lincolnshire site Founded in 1815 and been getting out of the although it has diversified where company founder ground since the days of William Singleton Birch into a number of sectors, William Singleton Birch.” first leased land to set-up a The new logo is inspired including the speciality quarry in 1815. chemical business and by a coccolith, a Richard Stansfield, anaerobic digestion, microscopic shell which managing director, said: Singleton Birch’s core forms the chalk found at “We are very proud of our Singleton Birch’s Melton business remains chalk heritage but we don’t rely Ross quarry. and lime products. on our past. A global supplier, the The logo was designed “We continue to innovate by Pace Communications, lime products are and this has led us to produced from the same a creative agency based in
Hull. Pace also advised on a new company structure and new names for the elements of the Singleton Birch family of businesses. Mr Stansfield said: “At Singleton Birch, we have built an exceptional reputation for quality and service and our customers know they can trust us to deliver in all areas of our business. “Our new branding complements our core values and helps us demonstrate that we are a forward-thinking company.”
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11
Business Month in Review
Sky’s the limit
Working hard to deliver... Inset, president and chief executive Jeffry N Quinn.
European blessing for Tronox’s Cristal deal US giant Tronox has received final approval from the European Commission to complete its acquisition of Cristal, the Saudi-owned titanium dioxide producer with a huge Stallingborough operation. It follows an agreement to sell a Dutch facility, with Venator Materials Plc, the proposed buyer, deemed suitable in Brussels. The arrangement centres on a paper-laminate product grade of titanium dioxide, produced in Botlek.
A sale will happen should the US regulatory authorities grant approval. Tronox’s home country is the only objector to the huge deal now, with the go-ahead given by competition watchdogs in Australia, China, New Zealand, Turkey, South Korea, Colombia and Saudi Arabia. Tronox is vigorously pursuing the approval in the US District Court, after objections were filed by the Federal Trade Commission. It alleges the £1.27 billion deal
would violate antitrust laws by significantly reducing competition in the North American market for chloride-process TiO2. Jeffry N Quinn, Tronox president and chief executive, said: “We are pleased to receive the European Commission’s final approval and look forward to consummating this highly synergistic combination designed to increase asset utilisation, lower our cost position, unlock incremental product volumes to serve
7ITH THE RIGHT LEGAL ADVICE BUSINESS SUCCESS IS ASSURED
! # ! " ! 4HERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT ONLINE CONSUMERS ARE A REASON FOR THIS DEMISE HOWEVER WHAT WE MAY ALSO BE WITNESSING IS A RISE OF THE INDEPENDENT ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS 7HILE CREATIVE BUSINESS OWNERSHIP IS NOTHING NEW ITS PRESENCE SEEMS MORE PREVALENT NOW THAN AT ANY TIME IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO 4HIS ASSUMPTION IS SUPPORTED WHEN YOU LOOK AT RESEARCH CARRIED OUT IN BY THE 'OVERNMENT BACKED 3TART 5P ,OANS #OMPANY )T FORECAST THAT ALMOST PER CENT OF ALL START UPS EXPECTED SALES GROWTH IN 4HIS DESIRE TO ESTABLISH OR GROW A BUSINESS IS TO BE APPLAUDED n BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE SUCCESS ONLY COMES WITH HARD WORK ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT )T IS THE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT ) WISH TO STRESS TODAY n THE WAY IN
growing global markets, and create significant long-term value for our customers and shareholders. “With the post-trial briefing in the administrative proceeding before the US Federal Trade Commission and the preliminary injunction hearing in US District Court recently completed, we are focused on securing approval to complete the acquisition and transforming Tronox into the industry’s premier TiO2 company.�
PROPERTY: The skyline of Cleethorpes could be transformed by three new high-rise apartment blocks. Derelict land on Grant Street is the proposed site for 99 apartments and eight ground-floor retail units. The development, split between three towers climbing up to 13 storeys, would dominate the resort’s seafront and be visible from miles around. If approved, the towers would become Cleethorpes’ tallest residential buildings – pulling way ahead of the The Point on Sea View Street and The Waterfront on Kingsway. London-based developer Cielo Realty Limited has submitted detailed proposals to planners.
Dee Bee depot
PROPERTY: Grimsby’s Ramsden Group has swooped for the depot of former competitor to its Dee Bee Wholesale business, AF Blakemore & Son – but it won’t be reinstating the Humberston facility. The West Midlands firm has exited the sector, deciding to focus on its giant Spar franchise . It operated on Wilton Road Industrial Estate, where 26 jobs were lost earlier this month. Stock was bought as part of the undisclosed deal and trade accounts will now be served by Dee Bee from Adam Smith Street in a significant win. The site will now be redeveloped.
WHICH A GOOD IDEA CAN BE EXECUTED WELL FROM THE OUTSET WITH THE RIGHT ADVICE &OR EXAMPLE IF FAMILY MEMBERS OR INVESTORS ARE INVOLVED HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT THE FUTURE IS FAIR FOR ALL !GREED BOUNDARIES WILL ELIMINATE ANY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING ISSUES SURROUNDING SUCH THINGS AS INHERITANCE TAX /R ARE YOU ESTABLISHING A NEW JOINT VENTURE COMPANY BE IT FUNDED BY BANKS OR PRIVATE WEALTH /R YOU MAY BE EXPANDING USING ASSETS HELD BY ANOTHER n AGAIN IT IS VITAL THAT YOU ENGAGE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
7ITH A DETAILED UNDERSTANDING OF THE SECTORS IN WHICH WE WORK WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE AND SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE ACROSS THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF LEGAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE DEDICATED ADVICE THAT YOU NEED
4O DISCUSS THIS FURTHER PLEASE CONTACT !DAM /TTLEY AT 7ILKIN #HAPMAN ON EMAIL ADAM OTTLEY WILKINCHAPMAN CO UK
4HE CORRECT ADVISOR WILL ALSO UNDERSTAND INCENTIVES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST &OR INSTANCE WHILE NO LONGER OPEN FOR CERTAIN VENTURES SUCH AS HOTELS %)3 THE %NTERPRISE )NVESTMENT 3CHEME IS A SERIES OF 5+ TAX RELIEFS THAT COULD HELP YOU 4HE ABOVE OFFERS AN INSIGHT INTO THE ADVICE YOU MAY NEED TO MAXIMISE ANY NEW BUSINESS SUCCESS
WILKINCHAPMAN CO UK
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Ports & Logistics PD Ports staff celebrate the Rospa Gold award.
In association with
GLOBAL RESOURCE SERVICES LTD Tel 01469 550607 www.globalresourceservices.co.uk
Humber Work Boats
Marine Contracting, Dredging and Boat Building www.humberworkboats.co.uk Tel: 01469 540156
For support in raising your company’s profile in this sector call Angie Atkinson on 01472 806963 or 07920 823544
Behavioural training elevates safety status PD Ports, one of the UK’s major port groups, has achieved gold status in the internationally-renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK. Awarded silver last year, the higher accolade recognises continued commitment to improving health and safety standards across all of the company’s sites, including Immingham, Keadby and Scunthorpe. The introduction of behavioural safety training has been highlighted as key to the success. Over the past five years safety ‘champions’ and site behavioural improvement plans have been
implemented to not only improve the standard of health and safety, but to help grow and evolve the culture of the business. As a direct result of the success of these initiatives, the safety champions have begun to widen their scope of activity to include process and productivity improvements, bringing further added value to the company and its employees. Russell McCallion, PD Ports’ HR director, said: “Health and safety is our number one core value at PD Ports. It informs every decision we make and every action we take. It’s vital to us that everyone who comes in contact with our business walks away in the same state of health in which they arrived.
A splashing time was had at port’s event PORT of Immingham opened its gates to allow the public to enjoy a rare glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes. Blustery weather didn’t put off more than 500 people attending the UK’s largest port. Guests arriving at the Civic Centre in Immingham received a warm welcome from port manager Mark Frith. He gave the groups background information on the port, its cargoes and its size. With special site visits having been organised for the coaches, the guests were treated to a special look inside ABP’s
world-class facilities and were able to find out a little more about the inner workings of the port operations. Svitzer tugs gave a traditional salute to the visitors as they showed off their firefighting prowess by blasting out water through their high-pressure hoses. Cranes and grabs were set to work, scooping up dock water and splashing it back into the quay, much to the amusement of the younger audiences who cheered throughout the displays. Mr Frith said: “This is the first open weekend we’ve hosted in a long time at the port and the
feedback has been phenomenal. “A bus tour which enabled our visitors to see the whole of the port estate, which meant that those who had worked on the port in the Sixties and Seventies were able to reminisce and find out about how the port has transformed. It was great to give people the opportunity to find out about ABP’s past, present and future in such an engaging way.” Careers information was also distributed. “Throughout the successful event, the most common question asked by the public was ‘when can we come again?’,” Mr Frith added.
“We’re extremely proud that our commitment to ensuring a safe work environment has been awarded with Gold status. Our employees work tirelessly to correct issues, identify new processes and innovate our current practices to improve health and safety.” The first came as Inter Terminals Immingham East Terminal achieved a Patron’s Award for 25 consecutive golds. Robert Cullum, safety representative, received the award on the ter minal’s behalf. At the same event Inter Terminals Immingham West achieved the RoSPA Order of Distinction for 24 consecutive golds, with Dean Boon, safety representative, col-
lecting. The RoSPA Awards, which receives entries from organisations around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement. Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of qualifications, awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards are the most highly-respected in the health and safety arena, with almost 2,000 entrants every year, and allow organisations to prove excellence in the workplace, demonstrating a commitment to the wellbeing of not only employees but all those who interact with it.”
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Ellgia sweeps up at national awards bash RECYCLING FIRM’S SCUNTHORPE-FOCUSED GROWTH BRINGS HOME TOP REWARD FOR SIX YEAR OLD TEAM WASTE recycling company Ellgia has been named Independent Operator of the Year at the National Recycling Awards. The company, which acquired Scunthorpe’s Bell Waste, has expanded from Cambrideshire, with North Lincolnshire now the flagship operation. The award recognises exceptional customer service, market innovation, growth and high perfor mance. To see off 11 other nominations, Ellgia was able to demonstrate improvement of resource management and show practical awareness of its role in driving resource management up the waste hierarchy. The judges said it “shows innovative ideas, a great holistic approach, good focus on maxim-
Jack Lavington, operations director, centre, as Ellgia wins. ising resource value, and gain very positive customer feedback”. Jack Lavington, operations director, said: “We have enjoyed
remarkable growth at Ellgia since our establishment in 2012. That growth has bought opportunities to develop our business and allowed us to evolve our pro-
cessing capabilities, infrastructure and the services we provide to our customers. “This also brings its own challenges and throughout we have maintained commitment to our core values by providing differentiated customer service excellence. The Independent Operator of the Year Award is a wonderful achievement and recognises that we have continued to drive value, invest in our business, develop new ideas and above all keep, customers at the front of all our decisions. I am proud to be part of this team and look forward to what we can achieve in the future.” A total of 70 people are employed on the 14-acre site at Pit Bottom, Winterton Road.
Farm machinery dealership is bought out FARM machinery dealer The Burdens Group has acquired Lincolnshire Motors, broadening its county-wide coverage, in an undisclosed deal. Burdens, a fellow New Holland dealer, currently operates from three depots in Sutterton, North Kyme and Wrangle, all close to Boston. The former Lincolnshire Motors territory, which spans the South Bank, will be managed from the existing three acre site at Louth, and a further Brigg depot, with both continuing to use the Lincolnshire Motors trading name. Praising the reputation for sales and service, John Southern, managing director of Burdens, said: “The addition of Lincolnshire Motors to The Burdens Group brings new opportunities to our business in a competitive industry. Customers across Lincolnshire will benefit from an expanded product range and continued excellent customer service. All staff at both businesses will be retained, and all are excited by the opportunity that this expansion brings.” Kevin Bell, previously managing director at Lincolnshire Motors, has joined Burdens as a director, and will continue his involvement in the business. He said: “The Lincolnshire Motors business was 99 years old this year and becoming part of The Burdens Group marks the next chapter in its history. The move will provide security to staff and customers in North Lincolnshire and allow us to benefit from the scale of a much larger combined business. “We expect the Lincolnshire
Star product, a New Holland tractor. Below, Kevin Bell. Motors depots to be able to supply customers with a fuller range of New Holland products, particularly tractors, including the T8 Smarttrax, and a larger range of combines, telehandlers and baler products.” In Brigg it operates from Atherton Way, with the Louth site on Windsor Road. Pat Smith, managing director at New Holland UK and Ireland, took
the opportunity to praise the management and staff at Lincolnshire Motors. He said: “We offer our thanks to Eric Bell for his 61 years service to Lincolnshire Motors, and his son, Kevin Bell, who has managed Lincolnshire Motors for the past 15 years. We look forward to the enlarged team at Burdens continuing the successful partnership between New Holland, The Burdens Group, Lincolnshire Motors and all our customers across Lincolnshire.” Burdens was established in 1972, originally in Swineshead, before moving to a purpose-built headquarters at Sutterton.
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Business Month in Review
Praise at 65 CHEMICALS: Cristal’s Stallingborough site director Rob Sarracini has praised his South Bank workforce as they “work very hard on the journey to ‘world class’ to set the site up for the next 65 years”. The titanium dioxide producer is in the midst of a drawn-out acquisition process, having agreed a major buy-out deal with US giant Tronox. Urging the 300-plus team to “get excited about what lies ahead” at a special ceremony to mark the 65th anniversary, Reflecting on the generations of families that have worked at the plant, and how others want their children to follow, Mr Sarracini said: “What makes Stallingborough truly amazing is each and every one here.”
Energy support
ENERGY: The Smarter Energy Greater Lincolnshire programme is making £9.2 million available for small businesses and building owners to save money through energy efficiency. Launched this past month, it will help small and medium businesses to make changes through information, training and grants over the next three years. The aim of the North East Lincolnshire Council campaign is to prevent the release of thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions into the environment while reducing businesses’ energy costs.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Business
Steel chief’s strong belief despite Brexit uncertainty and the wider impacts of Trump tariffs SECOND ANNUAL RESULTS ANALYSIS STRONG belief in British Steel as a business is being shown by bosses in Scunthorpe, as it invests heavily and continues to commit, despite ongoing uncertainty over Brexit and the direct and indirect implications of US steel tariff issues. Paul Martin, deputy chief executive, underlined the exact position the company is in, with absolute confidence in what the company is doing strategically, while having eyes and ears across the North Sea and Atlantic, as well as a voice in Westminster. Revealing a profit of £21 million for the past year, he welcomed moves from Brussels to take action against dumping dangers exacerbated by US tariffs, announced as British Steel’s annual results were published. The European Commission has tabled a quota and tariff package to ease pressure on markets, set on average imports over the past three years, with a 25 per cent tariff for anything above. Mr Martin, who together with executive chairman Roland Junck is at the helm of a now £1.4 billion turnover operation, said: “We have a couple of key critical customers in the US and we continue to supply at the moment. They are still having to pay a tariff. we are working with them,
and if they want to apply for exemption we will work with them to see if that is possible. “The bigger risk of tariffs is what happens to steel that would have traditionally gone in to the States. We are in regular dialogue with the Government and EU, who are going to put in safeguarding measures to make sure we don’t become a dumping ground, and that we don’t have a repeat of the crisis in 2015. We continue to work with them. If we cannot get exemptions on products, the bigger picture is ensuring we don’t become a dumping ground for cheaper, substandard steel that creates all sorts of problems. I was delighted to see what was announced, and that the EU is looking at safeguarding measures.” On Brexit, like many in business on the Humber, he wants frictionless borders and open market access. Investments in capacity have already have been made to gain access to the German rail market, with more coming down the line, and the wire rod investment also has uses, particularly in car-manufacturing. “We are in regular dialogue,” said Mr Martin, with British Steel having welcomed Prime Minister Theresa May on her ill-fated election campaign in 2017. “We have plants in France and the Netherlands,
where steel made in Scunthorpe is finished, and we would like to have access to EU as a market, and want frictionless borders. We don’t want lots of problems putting material from Scunthorpe to France, or Scunthorpe to The Netherlands. We don’t know what the outcome will be, but we have regular dialogue and Government knows what our asks are.” While some companies are threatening to pull out of Britain should it be hard Brexit, the company carrying the country’s name categorically won’t. “Our operation of primary steel making is here,” Mr Martin said. “It would be impossible to pick up and move it. As a board we could sit and not make decisions, but you have got to have a belief that our business will be in a good position regardless of the outcome. It could be negative, it could be positive, we have got to work it. When you take a look at our results, we are making steady progress, and we are seeing no stalling of orders from Europe.” A £50 million commitment to Scunthorpe Rod Mill was the headline act of the results, and it front ends a £500 million wish list. “We have got to make sure we have got a cost effective and up-to-date primary end where
Paul Martin, deputy chief executive of British Steel. we make steel, and also in our downstream businesses in the high value added products,” Mr Martin said. A blast furnace relining at a cool £70 million is on the horizon, while the rod mill follows other specialist additions for Scunthorpe. “We have seen some of that already in our investment in rail,” he continued. “We have got to 120m rail, which allows us to go to the German market, and we are finalising a coated materials facility. “It is balancing future investment in maintaining our base, but also going up market in downstream businesses.” That is a clear reference to the stated desire to service specialist rather than commodity markets. “There are steel companies that make small margin, huge volume, and there are smaller steel companies with differentiators. That’s our strategy, to make steel for the differentiator market. The rod mill is part of that, it will allow for a better product range, with higher quality, and this market tends to be higher price,
higher value.” Taking check of what has happened within the business since the British Steel flag was hoisted up on June 1, 2016, and acknowledging a “much higher sense of job security, not only security for people in the rod mill, but the 5,000 employees across British Steel,” Mr Martin added: “For me, from a loss of £80 million then to a first quarter profit of £21 million now is good progress. We are reasonably pleased that the transformation is on track, and when we talk of future £500 million of investment, it shows the growth we need for the plan to be achieved. Not only do we want to be sustainable and profitable, we want to be in the top quartile of profitable steel companies in Europe. We are not there today, we have made lots of progress, but there is definitely more to do. Today is a good day, it is good for employees, it is a good news story, but we don’t lack ambition to develop further.”
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Cleaning up the supply chain! A MAJOR overhaul of British Steel workwear completed as the new company behind the supply picked up the Best New Entrant Award at the Scunthorpe giant’s Supplier Recognition Event, while the overall winner helped deliver a £1 million saving. Lincolnshire-based Micronclean was awarded the multi-million pound contract late last year, and a four-month process involving 21,000 new garments for 4,000 employees based across 50 locations has now been completed. It is now responsible for soiled garment collection, routine laundry operations, garment repairs and redistribution, and came up sparkling at the inaugural awards. Robert Parker, managing director at Micronclean, said: “When we were awarded this major contract in October 2017, we were determined to build a successful partnership with British Steel. This award recognises the efforts that all of our staff have
NEW GARMENT TEAM’S ACCOLADE IS FITTING put in to understanding British Steel as a customer and working with them to start to develop a true partnership that benefits both parties.” One of the largest privately-owned laundry companies in the UK, Micronclean has been owned by one family since 1929, tracing its heritage back to the Skegness Steam Laundry in 1883. It employs over 400 people and operates three laundry sites and two manufacturing cleanrooms in the county. While it is proud of its history, Mr Parker said the company’s passion is to be the first to develop new technological solutions that change the shape of the markets it serves, creating quality and efficiency for customers. Paul Martin, British Steel’s deputy chief executive, said: “We’re delighted to be working with
Micronclean, recognised by their success in our supplier recognition awards. “The safety and comfort of our employees is of paramount importance to us and we’re extremely pleased with the standard of workwear and service Micronclean is delivering.” A total of 40 top suppliers attended, with FUCHS Lubricants winning Supplier of the Year. It has improved availability and use of one of the site’s most important tools, delivering the seven-figure saving. Chris Morris, regional manager in the industrial division at FUCHS, said: “It’s a great honour to have received two awards from British Steel – a company we’re extremely proud to work with.
“When we first took on the contract for supplying all lubricants, a lot of people said it couldn’t be done. We’ve not only proved them wrong but brought substantial cost savings with it too, and there’s still more I believe we can do. The warmth and depth of relationship we have with British Steel is a breath of fresh air – long may it continue.” Mr Martin and chief finance officer Gerald Reichmann shared priorities and plans for the coming months and years. Lorraine Sawyer, procurement director, said: “We’re fortunate to work with many suppliers that are committed to delivering reliable and innovative solutions for us. We wanted to use the event to not only update them on our business performance and plans for the year
ahead, but to also shine a spotlight on the suppliers that go the extra mile.” Chas Goldring, British Steel’s continuous improvement manager told representatives at the event how we’re not only embedding continuous improvement to help drive business performance, but also how we can work with our them on projects and how they can get involved with some of our training. The awards were the first supplier-specific recognition event held. Highly commended in the Supplier of the Year category were Harsco and Tennant Metallurgical Group. Other winners were humberside Fire Service’s HFR Solutions for health and safety, with P&O Ferrymasters highly commended; Heraeus Electro-Nite UK Ltd for innovation, with it joining FUCHS in the collaboration category, in which TCS was highly commended.
Innovation and ability in rail to be showcased GUTEN Tag InnoTrans! British Steel will be promoting its premium rail products and services at the leading global exhibition in Germany next month. The bi-annual event is the world’s largest trade fair for the rail transport industry, and it comes with major ongoing investment in the sector by the Scunthorpe giant, ensuring it can produce its innovative track for the entire continental market. The spend was revealed in the annual results this past month, with the team now capable of producing 120m runs, while a coating facility to cope with that additional capacity is also finalised. British Steel will be in Hall 21, Stand 208 for the three-day Berlin event from September 18, “showcasing the range of high performance rail products, designed to address specific industry needs and
respond to customers’ needs for extended track life and reduced life cycle costs”. InnoTrans features 200,000 sq m of exhibition space and 3,500 m of running track. On show from Scunthorpe will be: ■ SF350 – British Steel’s ‘stress-free’ heat-treated rail offers exceptional wear resistance with the lowest residual stress available, minimising the risk of foot fatigue ■ ML330 – The premium grooved rail offers enhanced wear resistance and is weld-restorable for multiple lives ■ Zinoco – British Steel’s first product in the new era, a coated rail that offers the most durable solution available to combat rail corrosion in aggressive environments
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Alternative lending provider is settling in FOR nearly 35 years, Finance For Enterprise has been helping business owners to overcome barriers to growth. The alternative lending provider expanded into a dedicated office aimed at supporting businesses in North East Lincolnshire and the Humber in 2017, and since that time it has helped more than 300 businesses in the region to secure the vital funds to fuel growth. In economically trying times securing financial support from traditional high street lenders can be difficult. When the banks refuse lending, it can prevent entrepreneurs from realising their full potential, or even force them to place growth plans on hold. Based in Grimsby’s Enterprise Village, Prince Albert Gardens, the not-for-profit company helps start-up and established businesses to acquire the funding they need to grow and develop in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Business lending is supported by a team of experienced and knowledgeable investment managers, who provide specialist advice when preparing businesses for lending, as well as helping to access the right form of lending. Led by experienced investment managers Tim Daniels and Jane
Tim Daniels, Finance For Enterprise’s senior investment manager; Jane Cusse, investment manager and Paula Foreman, operations director, at The Enterprise Village.
Cusse, Finance For Enterprise offers specialist lending support aimed at helping new and growing SME businesses. Loans are available up to £150,000 with repayment terms of up to five years. The loans can be used for business purposes, ranging from investing in new
equipment, to assisting with cashflow or staff recruitment. Finance For Enterprise acts as an official delivery partner for the Government backed Start Up Loans Company and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, a specialist lending programme aimed at fuelling busi-
ness growth in Northern England and backed by the British Business Bank. To find out more about the help and support available for your business, call the Finance For Enterprise Team on 0333 014 3455 or visit: http://finance-forenterprise.co.uk/
Business Live is back in Lincolnshire for 2018 Chartered Accountants in Grimsby - T: 01472 355215 Scunthorpe - T: 01724 844876 www.hwca.com
For support in raising your company’s profile in this sector call Angie Atkinson on 01472 806963 or 07920 823544
BUSINESS Live – Greater Lincolnshire’s essential business to business, exhibition, conference and networking event – is taking place again this October following last year’s success. The 2018 event – which is part of Lincolnshire Business Week – will take place at the Lincolnshire Showground from 8.30am to 1pm on October 19. And there is still time to exhibit your business at the event, but be quick as spaces are limited to 60 stands. Exhibitors so far include recruitment agencies, land agents, consultants and more. Last year saw guests entertained by Titan the Robot, motivated by polar explorer Ann Daniels and given the opportunity to network with nearly 400 people. This year’s event, hosted with associate sponsors, growth hub provider Business Lincolnshire and industrial garment handler Micronclean, is set to be bigger and better than before with crowds expected to attend from across the
International Business School networking business to business event, a mock tribunal hosted by Wilkin Chapman solicitors and a formal business lunch hosted by Streets Accountants, Andrew and Co solicitors, NatWest and Business Lincolnshire. Limited exhibitor packages are available for Business Live with stands starting from £175 + VAT. To book your stand contact Laura Bateson on 01522 804328 or email laura.bateson@reachplc.com Delegates are invited to attend the event for free, however they must pre-register via www.eventbrite.co.uk Tickets for the VIP lunch are £20 + VAT for exhibitors Titan the robot provided an entertaining start to the 2017 event. and £25 + VAT for county. 1pm to 3pm. 15 to October 19, where non-exhibitors. To book It will again feature It will have a relaxed events and opportunities for tickets to the lunch, contact award-winning industry atmosphere while people firms to showcase what Laura Bateson on 01522 experts and high profile enjoy the carvery lunch, they have to offer will take 804328 or email keynote speakers. with the final hour place across the county. And new on the providing a more structured Some of the events already laura.bateson@reachplc.com For more information on programme is a VIP networking opportunity. planned for Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Business Week networking lunch that will Business Live is part of Business Week include the visit www.lincsbizweek.co take place immediately Lincolnshire Business Week Lincolnshire Business .uk or follow #BusinessLive after Business Live from taking place from October Awards, A Lincolnshire
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01724 854362 Business Hive Challenge winners Team Henderson, with other participants and organisers.
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Henderson has Hive’s gold medals ‘covered’ RIVALRY was the theme of the day at the biggest, most competitive Business Hive Challenge yet. But it was Team Henderson of Henderson Insurance Brokers that were named champions at the fourth annual event, beating 130 business people across over 30 teams in skill-testing activities including archery, biathlon shooting and laser clay pigeon shooting. Jack Genney of Henderson Insurance Brokers said: “It has been great fun, we’ve really enjoyed it, and we did come here to win so we’re very happy.” Tom Coome, also of Team Hende-
rson added: “We’ll be back next year to retain the title, because if we do, we’ll be the first business to retain it.” The Challenge Day, which is organised by the Grimsby-based enterprise support club, The Business Hive, welcomes big names and larger companies from the area as well as SMEs with their all-star teams. Activities on the day are provided by Positive Activities, a non-profit social enterprise working with young people aged 11 to 25. Jo Taylor, deputy manager at the Business Hive said: “We are abso-
lutely delighted with how the event went. Our aim is to bring different organisations together from across northern Lincolnshire and provide a fun, friendly day, where teams can compete against each other and build solid business relationships in a fun way. We’ve certainly achieved that!” In between practice sessions and the main competition, teams had the opportunity to catch up and network over food and drinks provided by the The Lincolnshire Chef and his team at Healing Manor Hotel, the host venue. This year’s event was sponsored
by business travel and accommodation specialists, Rapid Accommodation. Linda Anderson-Smith, director at Laceby-based Rapid Accommodation, said: “We’ve enjoyed the afternoon very much, the atmosphere has been brilliant. It is such a great event for businesses. “There are so many varied businesses taking part, large and small, and we’re proud to be supporting them in a fun way. “We’re so happy to be supporting the Hive too, we work very well together and this has definitely been the best year yet.”
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Remember, remember it is nearly Cycle September BUSINESSES in North East Lincolnshire are being urged to enter a workplace competition to see who can get the most staff to try riding a bike. Individuals can win bikes, gear, vouchers and holidays and the winning organisations will receive money to spend on supporting their staff to cycle. The United Nations recently recognised the humble bicycle, which celebrated its 200th birthday last year, with World Bike Day. It wants to celebrate and promote the bicycle because it is increasingly being seen as a ‘silver bullet’ to solve several 21st century problems, including air pollution, congestion, obesity and heart disease. To help unlock the many benefits of the bicycle in North East Lincolnshire, the local authority and regeneration partner Engie, have teamed up with Love to Ride to run a fun, free competition to get more people
cycling. A special launch event is being held a Humber Royal Hotel between noon and 2pm on Thursday, with a free buffet following the presentation, including a case study with Novartis. Cycle September, as the name suggests, runs throughout next month. It’s completely free for everyone who lives or works in North East Lincolnshire – and their workplaces – to take part and everyone is invited to join in. Based on a Workplace Cycle Challenge format that Love to Ride have developed over the last 10 years and that has engaged 373,000 people worldwide, it has run in the UK for the past two years, with 24,000 people taking part in 2017, but this year it’s going global. Workplaces with the highest percentage of staff riding a bike in September will win their category – and individuals will be
eligible for prizes for riding and encouraging others. There will be holidays, bikes, unique, upcycled, UK-made cycling bags from UPSO and lots of other prizes up for grabs. To enter the draw, individuals just need to register on the Love to Ride website – which only takes 30 seconds – and enter their rides manually or by linking cycling app Ride Report, Strava, MapMyRide or Endomondo. The site enables members to set themselves goals, track their mileage, earn badges, share photos and encourage others to ride, as well as allowing workplaces to incentivise their staff to ride and monitor cycling participation at their sites. The aim of Cycle September is to help people to enjoy the fun and freedom of cycling and help them to access the support they need to ride for transport. Find out more and register at lovetoride.net/nelincs
www.ashbournehotel.co.uk T: 01469 541010
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Hat-trick of firsts for Forrester trainee trio
GUILDHALL GRADUATIONS AND SOUTH BANK SUCCESS
THREE trainee accountants at Forrester Boyd have been awarded first class degrees in accounting and finance. Luke Cottam, Will Watson and Alex Sawden have all taken top honours at BPP University in London. The degree is combined with the regular ACA papers which means that the three students will leave the programme with both their first class degree and the full ACA certificate. They will sit their advanced ACA For support in raising your papers in November, with results company’s profile in this sector due in January. call: Angie Atkinson Luke studied maths, law and psyon 01472 806963 chology at John Leggott College in Scunthorpe prior to joining the firm in September 2013. He completed Level Three AAT during his first year with Forrester Boyd and then moved on to the combined degree programme. Trainees Will Watson, Alex Sawden and Luke Cottam, with Mike Hall and Mike Powell, right. He said: “It can be difficult balput in a tremendous amount of to have so many success stories ancing work and study at times gramme.” NIGEL Saxby has been appointed as a The hat-trick of firsts came as work into the qualification and from our trainee accountants. but receiving a first has made it all manager at Forrester Boyd’s Scunthorpe worthwhile, and I am very happy Mike Hall and Mike Powell both have been rewarded with this first Well done to all. branch. passed their final paper of the class qualification – well done to “It was a gamble trialling these with the achievement.” Having joined the firm this summer, he Will, another former John Leg- Association of Chartered Certified all three. students on this new training prolooks after a variety of clients from large gott student, agreed. He began his Accountants. The pair attended “We will now be looking to con- gramme and we are pleased that audits to sole-trader businesses. He joined the chartered accountancy practice from the training with the firm in August Franklin College together, joining tinue to develop Mike and Mike’s Will, Luke and Alex have done so 2014. He said: “It has been difficult in 2012. Mike Hall is based at the skills to benefit their career devel- well as to have achieved a first education sector, after six years as head of to find time for a social life while Grimsby office and specialises in opment and the level of service class degree. I have no doubt that finance at one of the country’s largest juggling full time work and a the academy sector, with Mike provided to our clients.” multi-academy trusts. Prior to that he by January they will all hold the worked in accountancy practices in Grimsby degree, the results put it all in Powell based at Louth with a gen- Phoebe Cranmer, Ellie Robinson, prestigious ACA qualification too, eral portfolio of clients. George Blake and James Dierking, p e r s p e c t ive. ” and Louth and has 21 years of experience in Alex joined Forrester Boyd in Kevin Hopper, Forrester Boyd’s all based at the Grimsby office, and then they can finally get their providing advice to clients on various November 2014 having studied at partner responsible for training, Emma De Halle (Louth) and Chloe social lives back!” aspects, including internal control processes, Franklin College. Thanking their said “I am delighted that the com- Lynaugh and Tom White (Scun- The firm currently has more business and tax employer, she said: “The grades bination of hard work by our stu- thorpe), have also recently than 30 trainees studying various advice, cash flow that we all achieved is reflective of dents and the support from achieved their AAT qualification. accountancy, tax and financial serforecasting and qualifications, in a Head of human resources, vices the support that the partners gave ourselves continues to pay off. management us throughout the degree pro- “Luke, Will and Alex have had to Chantelle Rogers, said “It is great 160-strong team. accounts. A keen cyclist, he is a member of the TGCC Cycling Club and recently took part in the GREATER Lincolnshire LEP both job creation and gross having formerly served subsequent integration CWIND managing 100 mile is calling for business director Mark Preece as executive vice value added growth. of the Global Offshore RideLondon-Surrey leaders to join its board of has been appointed to chairman at PDi Ltd, team and the formation “We want to help our alongside 25,000 directors, employment and the board of directors of chief executive of of CWind Taiwan, it is business sectors increase others. skills board and finance and productivity and innovation, owner company Global Ceona Offshore and now the right time to Mr Saxby said Marine Group, market chief executive of Reef audit committee. add strength to our create new employment he chose to move leader in offshore Candidates, who have a Subsea. board to further enable opportunities and develop back into public engineering services to passion for area and want to Joining him are Ian our future growth. infrastructure that supports practice to utilise the help drive its economy Bryan, managing “We have a robust not only the our growth. We are working telecommunications, forward, must be strategic director of group business model which knowledge he had hard within the Midlands renewables and oil and thinkers and be able to take operations and Mike brings innovative gained in the first Engine, the Humber Estuary gas a broad view across the full Daniel, managing 21 years of his offshore engineering industries and the Northern range of issues affecting the director of Global career, but also to capabilities to multiple He joined the offshore Offshore. They join area. Potential candidates Powerhouse to deliver for apply the experiences he acquired while sectors. renewables firm, in the are also required to live or Greater Lincolnshire. chairman Dick working in education. “I’m delighted that process of bringing a work in Greater “We ’re looking for new Fagerstal, chief Forrester Boyd was his preferred choice we ’ve added these three permanent base of its Lincolnshire. executive Ian Douglas, board members who can add due to “the size of the firm, the excellent accomplished business Ursula Lidbetter MBE, own to Grimsby, in chief financial officer value to the wider work of reputation and the results of the recent client chair of the LEP, said: “We leaders to the board, I 2017. Richard Fraser-Smith the LEP. We are particularly survey”. have a strong and ambitious Mr Preece has worked and managing director am confident that they keen to hear from female Scunthorpe partner, Neil Williams, wished vision to develop a bigger will add great value extensively in the Bruce Neilson-Watts. Nigel every success on his appointment, business leaders and those and stronger private sector. and that the business offshore and maritime Mr Douglas said which further strengthens the senior We are making great strides with a knowledge of skills.” sectors, building a solid “Following the Group’s will benefit from their management team across the practice. He For more information visit on delivering our Strategic insights, commercial reputation for recent successes, in said “Nigel will not only bring technical www.greaterlincolnshire Economic Plan and acumen and delivering complex, particular the expertise to the role but will also continue exceeding our targets for lep.co.uk high value projects, gover nance.” acquisition and the firm’s emphasis on personal service.”
Education role an aid to accountant
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Left, Peter Atterby, managing director of Luxus, recognises Paul Laking’s 50 year service. Above, Peter Laking, who has worked at Luxus for 50 years.
A fantastic 50 years in plastics production PETER Laking is celebrating clocking up 50 years’ service with Louth-based technical plastics recycler and compounder Luxus. In 1968 when The Beatles single Hey Jude was topping the charts and the Ford Escort had just replaced the Anglia, he started as a factory worker. The firm had just seven employees, and was recovering unwanted waste plastic and re-engineering material that would have otherwise been destined for landfill. A new industry in the late-1960s, the mantra ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ has only just gained in popularity, it was the start of a new sustainable ethos. Peter, now 65, recalled: “The work was very hands-on at the time, one of my very first jobs was working on a granulation machine grinding polystyrene shoe heels and then bagging the reground polystyrene from an auger. “There were no forklift trucks
then, so we took each polystyrene filled bag off the machine, weighed it, (around 56 lbs), then fitted a wire tie around it like you would a potato sack, so it could then be carried over your shoulder to be stacked in piles, five bags in a layer, eight bags high – a total of 40 weighing a tonne! “In my generation, once you found employment you didn’t think the ‘grass was always greener’ somewhere else. If you liked the people, the job prospects and the money you just gone on with it. The opportunities for growth were great, as they still are today for young people wanting to join the industry.” In the late Seventies when Luxus purchased its first lorry, Peter became a HGV driver helping with deliveries, but his real passion was fixing things. So when Luxus’ new factory was built in 1982 he helped to install and maintain its new machinery. His career was also supported with practical
training, learning how to weld, turn metal on a lathe and acquire other new engineering skills too. He was later promoted to assistant factory manager in the firm’s plastics compounding division as well as running a small engineering team. Then in the early Nineties Luxus purchased a new recycling factory also on Fairfield Industrial Estate, where he became factory manager while still managing his now rapidly growing team. Five decades later, he is still working as a maintenance and project engineering manager. He not only manages his engineering team, but is constantly found re-engineering machinery to help provide bespoke solutions where needed to facilitate the smooth running of its technical recycling facility. Even on holiday plastics are never far away from Peter’s thoughts. While eating dinner out with friends he decided to burn
the plastic knives and forks to entertain them, being able to recognise the exact plastic type simply from its smell and the way it bends. As it wasn’t the first time, his friends decided to reward him his very own ‘plastic is fantastic’ t-shirt. Luxus managing director, Peter Atterby, said: “Throughout his 50 year career, Peter’s support has been instrumental to our growth every step of the way, from a burgeoning plastics recycler to a UK leading technical innovator at the very forefront of numerous markets. “Not only is Peter’s knowledge of plastics recycling second to none, he also has an energy that leaves younger men trailing behind breathless. As we move into a new era, with demand for sustainable polymers is an urgent priority for many producers, Peter is sharing his 50 years of expertise with the next generation of plastics pioneers – he is true asset!”
Former trainee takes over from an early mentor BRIDGE McFarland partner Paul Dimbleby has taken over from his former mentor as head of the firm’s Louth private client department. Patrick Purves, who was made partner in 1981, has retired to spend more time with his family. Mr Dimbleby, who rejoined Bridge McFarland earlier this year, in Grimsby, worked closely with Patrick when he undertook his original training contract. He said “I am delighted and privileged to return to our Louth office and take over from Patrick. I was lucky enough to train and qualify under him some 12 years ago. “His knowledge, personality and humour will be missed throughout the office. However, I look forward to meeting clients, both old and new, and following on in his footsteps.
“We have an exceptional team in Louth and I look forward immensely to building on what we have already achieved and taking the firm forward in the future.” Patrick is well known for his charitable work and friendly demeanour. Private client work is a broad area of law; it includes the drafting of wills and powers of attorney, financial planning and the establishment of trusts, as well as the carrying out probate work when someone passes away. Paul specialises in complex international probate law, this involves helping to settle affairs across complex international jurisdictions. He graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2004 with a first class honours Law degree, following which he graduated from the College of Law, York in 2005 having completed the Post Graduate
Diploma in Legal Practice. Stephen Lambert, senior partner based in Louth, said: “I’m very glad that Paul has come back to work with us in Louth, he has proven himself to be an extremely competent and valuable team member. “Bridge McFarland has grown so much in the 12 years since Paul first undertook his training contract with us, and we are always growing and looking to the future. I am confident that with Paul at the helm our Louth team will flourish.” Practice manager Adele Collis added her congratulations to Paul, with the firm thanking Patrick for his years of dedication. “Paul is great to work with, he is a friendly and affable individual with a natural talent for putting people at ease – I know that our clients will enjoy working with him in the future”.
Operations lead SEAFOOD: A new head of operations has been appointed to lead the expansion of Young’s Seafood in Grimsby. Billy Storer will take responsibility for manufacturing at Humberstone Road, which is set to become the sector-leading UK business’s largest site, after the neighbouring processor and cold storage operation was acquired. The Ross House team swooped for the former XPO Logistics facility on Ladysmith Road earlier this year, and is now in the process of merging the adjoining complexes. It will feature the company’s natural salmon centre of excellence, with lines to cater for the new contract wins with Marks and Spencer, a new coated facility for the high street giant which is set to open in October, as well as the existing fish finger factory and further coated operations. Mr Storer joins Young’s from Two Sisters Food Group where he was site director for the company’s Ready to Eat and Ready to Cook factories in Derby. He brings more than 30 years of experience across food and drink manufacturing, having previously held senior operational roles at Premier Foods, ABF, United Biscuits, Kraft Foods and Molson Coors. The holder of a masters in Lean Six Sigma and Operational Excellence, Mr Storer – who will report to Duncan McIntyre, group operations director, will also head up the Annan Port Street site in Scotland.
Paul Dimbleby at Bridge McFarland's Louth office.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Motoring In association with
Grimsby: 01472 355801 Lincoln: 01522 544700 Scunthorpe: 01724 271800 Hull: 01482 330660 For support in raising your company’s profile in this sector call: Andrew Bannister on 01472 806962
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Strong new frontal design
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Proace’s performance TOYOTA has extended customer choice and is opening up a completely new market proposition with its all-new range of Proace vans. A choice of two grades, three body sizes and two wheelbase lengths are available, together with different body styles that take Proace van into all areas of the medium duty van segment for the first time. The line-up introduces the first Proace van compact, which provides the cargo capacity of a medium-size van within the footprint of a compact van. A combi version seating up to nine and a platform cab ready for conversions will be available in a range that greatly extends Proace’s established market reach. The Crew Cab provides a useful balance of extra seating – a rear three-seat bench – plus practical load space. From launch the UK range features 94bhp/70kW and 114bhp/85kW 1.6-litre diesel engines – the latter with stop and start fuel and emissions-saving technology and a six-speed manual transmission – and a 121bhp/ 90kW 2.0-litre diesel. Specification highlights include
three front seats (including Compact) and the availability of a new Smart Cargo system, which features an opening bulkhead and lifting front passenger seat base to increase load length capacity by 1.16m and overall load volume by an extra half a cubic metre. Proace Van’s strong new frontal design clearly marks it out as a member of the contemporary Toyota family. It is available in a choice of three body sizes: Compact, Medium and Long. The Compact is the shortest model in the MDV segment – shorter even than some CDV models.
On the Medium and Long versions the side door aperture is wide enough for Euro pallets to be loaded. The cabin is robust, functional and spacious, designed to meet the needs of both commercial and private owners. The dashboard features clear instrumentation and analogue dials with ergonomic switchgear. The driving position is car-like and affords excellent visibility, with a short-throw gear lever mounted close to the steering wheel. Proace Van is available in two
equipment grades: Base and Comfort, with the Combi nineseater (classed as a passenger vehicle in the UK) offered solely in Comfort specification. The Base grade provides central remote locking with deadlocks, cruise control with speed limiter, fabric seat upholstery, driver and front passenger airbags, power windows and door mirrors, audio system with radio, DAB, USB port and Bluetooth and a tyre pressure monitor. Comfort grade adds more sophisticated cabin acoustic treatments for a quieter environment, including an acoustic windscreen, driver’s seat height adjustment, air conditioning, a cooled and illuminated glovebox and additional 12V power outlets in the glovebox and cargo area. Smart Cargo system, body colour-matched bumpers and door mirrors, front fog lamps, full wheel covers and a dashboard information display are also included in the specification. ■To find out more about the Proace, or any of the Toyota range, contact your local John Roe Toyota dealership in Grimsby or Scunthorpe.
PROACE %$6( 0(',80 £209+VAT* £1,296
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
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Property & Construction SPECIALIST TEAMS WILL MANAGE KEY SECTORS AFTER BUSIEST YEAR EVER
Clugston’s construction arm restructure builds on growth CLUGSTON Group’s new structure for growth has been revealed following the busiest year in its history. As reported this past month, turnover increased by virtually 50 per cent to £176 million, but the 80-year-old business didn’t deliver a profit. Now, having anticipated the position, the board has implemented a restructuring programme to ensure it remains focused on “providing an exceptional level of service to its customers, while positioning the businesses for further projected strategic growth”. A new Energy Waste and Renewables division has been created to focus on these, and similar, complex civil engineering projects, having established a market-leading position in the sector, with a 15th project now being embarked upon. This new division, an integral part of the Clugston growth plan according to chief executive Bob Vickers, sees Steve Radcliffe, managing director of Clugston Construction, focus on developing it, supported by Richard Greenwood and Jon Howsam, who have been appointed divisional construction director and commercial director respectively. The move, which includes several new senior management appointments and promotions, will allow for greater focus on customers’ needs, provide opportunity for innovation
and ensure its dedicated teams have project continuity in this complex arena. Currently the EWR division has three major projects on site in Kent, North Wales and Avonmouth, as well as a strong pipeline of multi-million-pound projects across the UK. Rod Fry, a long-standing experienced Clugston Construction director, will oversee and develop the existing regional and national construction businesses in conjunction with Mike McCarthy as divisional commercial director. Clugston has plans to grow its exist-
ing building and civil engineering services in both the private and public sectors, delivering projects through a network of regional offices. Further investment in people and resources in other areas of the group include a new leader for the Facilities Management division with the appointment of Nick Blackstock, who has recently joined at St Vincent House. He brings a wealth of experience in the sector to further develop its existing portfolio of long-term contracts for both existing and new customers across a range of sectors.
Mr Vickers said: “Despite the challenging conditions in several of our key markets, together with investment in the restructuring, we have delivered another credible financial performance. With substantial growth in revenue, as well as accumulated cash balances of £30 million and no bank debt, we continue to invest for the future and look to further develop our business by investing in our teams across all our divisions. “Finally, whilst the markets in which we operate remain challenging and we believe this will remain
Steve Radcliffe, left, and Rod Fry, with one of Clugston’s energy from waste plants and the Sheffield Ikea. They will manage the respective divisions. so for the foreseeable future, I am sure that the restructuring we have undertaken, particularly within the construction area of our business, will create the focus and drive to enable us to continue to deliver successful projects and satisfy our customers and partners.” As reported, the investment in restructuring the group as well as supply chain challenges in some localised areas, and wider macro-economic factors which led to delays to the commencement of a couple of large contracts, contributed to a small pre-tax loss of £500,000.
Tech-savvy surveyor brings technology to the fore as he fills a niche Kurt Grantham, director of RTK Surveys.
SURVEYOR Kurt Grantham has the region’s robust economy in his laser sights as he launches his own business. The Cleethorpes professional has gone solo after five years with the South Bank giant Clugston Group, having worked for the Scunthorpe firm since obtaining a first class degree in Construction Management at Leeds Metropolitan University. And he is bring cutting edge technology in his field, to fields and developments in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, providing a vital service for the sector. Mr Grantham, who went to Lindsey and then Franklin College, said: “I work quite closely with some professionals in the industry, particularly the architectural element, and speaking to them there seemed to be a gap in the market for a local surveyor and civil engineer. Having approached more, I saw it as a great opportunity to set the business up and go from there. “The client portfolio is growing and it is going great.” Working form home and office facilities in Vickers Lane, Louth – having recently seen “a lot of work done with the agricultural industry and house-building industry in Lincolnshire,” – he is more than happy to pitch up at clients’ offices too. RTK Surveys offers topographical, land,
underground utility and measured building surveys, setting out and civil engineering, and 3D laser scanning. “It is non-intrusive and big in oil and gas,” Mr Grantham enthused, of the latest offering, having got himself ticketed up to work, and manage, on high hazard sites. Armed with Leica GPS equipment and Robotic Total Station, he is embracing developments, surveying to Ordnance Survey datum and grade, then taking it much further. “Surveying can be very technical, but these are processes making it more and more efficient and more accurate. It is ever-changing and something I really like to use. The industry is always pushing new equipment forward.” Referencing Daniel Hyde, Dieter Nelson, Hodson Architects, Lincs Design Consultancy, Jonathan Hendry and ID Architecture, he said the professional community “has been very supportive,” as RTK Surveys sets out. And there are plans for growth too. “I would like to bring in a junior if the work continues to grow as it has,” he said. “It would really help, particularly through the busy summer months.”
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
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Property & Construction
Unique property’s potential will be a labour of love for ID ENABLING their award-winning visions to become a reality for others is their forte, now the directors of Grimsby-based ID Architecture are gearing up to put their utmost into a project of their own. The trio have taken on the former base of building contractor James Bratton and Co Ltd in the town centre. Fronting Alexandra Road, the entrance to Garth Lane and overlooking the River Freshney, the 700sq m building is to be transformed into a studio for the rapidly growing team, featuring gallery, meeting and modelling space, as well as a suite of units to let.
Currently a mix of wide open space resembling a warehouse attic, a labyrinth of tight offices and workshop areas with large access doors, it offers huge potential and a canvas on which to demonstrate their capabilities. It will see the team move from construction firm JemBuild’s prestigious saw-tooth larch-clad office on Humberston’s Wilton Road. “We have been open to the idea,” co-founding director Andy Inch said of the move. “We have been really happy where we are, JemBuild has been a really good landlord, and we have loved being in that space. It helped us grow to a point where we began looking
for opportunities for ourselves. It has always been the plan, from day one, to have our own building.” Rapidly heading towards a team of 12, growth has necessitated a move, with positive conversations about funding and the proposals. James Lockwood saw the building was on the market when passing. He said: “It has happened sooner than we expected. When we moved to JemBuild we were five, now we are at 10, and while it was a good space it was not enough. “This gives us the capacity to grow more in the future, and hopefully find similar businesses with similar ethos, to make it something of a hub. We
have taken on a fair bit of work, and it has given us the confidence to take the next step.” The plan is to move across soon, using the existing office space, then focus on the refurbishment of the upstairs. It will form an open plan studio, with meeting room, then potential for a large balcony where the flat roof element and walls can be scraped back, forming a generous space to overlook the river. The next phase would be developing the rest of the building, and plans for a higher education campus – revealed after the deal was done – whetting appetites for what the additional space could be used for.
ID Architecture directors, from left, Tom Williams, James Lockwood and Andy Inch, in what will become the open plan studio. Below, the view from what could become a balcony area.
Bottom left, the exterior from Frederick Ward Way. Middle, a section fronting Garth Lane that could be transformed into a unit to let out. Bottom right, the planned meeting room which could open out to a balcony overlooking the river where the signage currently is.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
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Property & Construction
Ongo’s roofing and plumbing businesses hit gold standard
BOUGHT-OUT BUSINESSES ARE EXCELLING SCUNTHORPE firms Hales & Coultas and Ashbridge Roofing have both achieved Gold in Constructionline, the UK industry’s largest register of contractors, consultants and material suppliers. The pair are part of the Ongo partnership, having been acquired by the social housing specialist in recent years. Both firms have previously been silver accredited in Constructionline, and achieved gold in their latest audit. There are just 27 companies in the North Lincolnshire region that are gold accredited, and Ashbridge Roofing is the only one in its industry in the area. Being gold accredited means that both Hales & Coultas and Ashbridge Roofing meet higher levels of criteria in the standard of service they provide. Both were subject to high levels of scrutiny and have now demonstrated that they meet strict industry and government stand-
ards, including criteria associated with health and safety legislation. Plumbing and heating specialist Hales & Coultas is the result of Ongo uniting two private companies in a merger and takeover. Manager of the Northampton Road organisation, Andy Hales, said: “It is a fantastic achievement to be gold accredited with Constructionline, and it really shows how committed we are to providing the best possible service to our customers.” Ashbridge manager, Graham Alcock, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the gold accreditation, it shows the big steps we’ve taken in increasing the professional standards at Ashbridge and this will definitely help us to grow our business in order to meet our ambitious targets.” It too was taken over by Ongo, in February 2015, having been established in 1984.
Hales and Coultas staff, above, and Ashbridge, below.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018
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Property & Construction
Revenues hit £45m at Britcon as rapid growth is consolidated SCUNTHORPE-based building, civil engineering and structural steelwork contractor Britcon has announced a turnover of £45 million for 2017, with a 4.5 per cent increase year on year. It consolidates the near 30 per cent growth in turnover seen the previous year, and has produced a 67 per cent increase in net profits. The business, which has been established nearly 30 years and directly employs 110 people, attributes much of its ongoing success to growth in the energy and renewables sectors. This is supported strongly by the traditional markets of industrial and commercial construction, as well as infrastructure through rail, roads, ports and airports works. Paul Clarkson, managing director at Britcon said: “We are pleased to report that Britcon Britcon's completed ReFood contract at Dagenham. Inset, Paul Clarkson. continues to maintain steady growth in turnover despite the uncertain economic cliKey projects for sion and refurbishment to existing council BASF and its long-standing relationship with mate. Into 2018 we continue to see increasing Network Rail through its programme of infraBritcon in 2017 offices now underway. profitability in the business as we consolidate include the comple- Mr Clarkson added: “We have made con- structure investment.” and invest further with deliberate focus on tion of a £32 million siderable improvements to operational sys- As well as energy and renewables and infrakey growth areas including renewables, anaerobic digestion tems and staff development and training over structure, Britcon continues to secure sizeable energy, and infrastructure whilst maintainplant in Dagenham the last three years including a health and contracts across education, commercial, ing our traditional markets. for ReFood and a safety behavioural change programme, men- transport and industrial sectors, including “We have a healthy forward order book for £2 million Marine tal health awareness and extensive digital chemical manufacturing, steelwork and food 2018/19 and forecast an increase in turnover where it maintains a reputation for considControl Centre in construction training around BIM. for 2018 at around 6 per cent with further net “Growth of the team at our regional office in erable expertise. Grimsby for ABP. profit growth. We will continue our investIt has also delivered Wakefield has contributed significantly to con- Britcon was recently awarded Constructionment programme to support business growth as Britcon consolidates and benefits from a a new £4.2 million state of the art office tract successes and our structural steel divi- line Gold Status, and has achieved notable deeper knowledge of its repeat business mar- building for North Lincolnshire Council and sion, Britcon Engineering Services, maintains framework wins with Yorcivil and the North kets” Ongo Homes with a further £5 million exten- steady trading with notable contract wins for East Purchasing Organisation (NEPO).
UK firm wins major onshore building contract for Hornsea Project Two
Aerial shot of the North Killingholme site showing the Hornsea Project One substation and the adjacent land where preparatory works for Hornsea Project Two’s substation have already begun, as seen right, in April. UK INFRASTRUCTURE giant Balfour Beatty has been awarded the multi-million pound contract to build the onshore substation for Ørsted’s latest offshore wind farm – Hornsea Project Two. When operational in 2022, the wind farm will supply clean electricity to over 1.3 million homes, and surpass its sister project Hornsea Project One, as the world’s largest offshore wind farm. This contract continues the collaboration between Ørsted and Balfour Beatty, who also constructed the onshore substation for Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm, on the adjacent site at North Killingholme.
The multi-million pound addition’s main role is to transform the power produced before connecting to the National Grid. Additionally, Balfour Beatty will utilise its leading mechanical and electrical capability, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick, to deliver the mechanical and electrical services for the new state-of-the-art facility. Duncan Clark, programme director for Hornsea Projects One and Two, said: “We’re delighted that Balfour Beatty will continue to work with us on these huge offshore wind farm projects. Having already constructed onshore substations for three of our other projects, this contract continues
the long-term partnership between Ørsted and Balfour Beatty. “The team is already on site having nearly finished Hornsea Project One’s substation, and having this continuity of the team will ensure optimum efficiencies. We’re committed to investing in the UK and we’re very pleased to be working with a UK firm that we have confidence will deliver a good quality build, on time and most importantly, with a continued high focus on safety.” Following successful collaboration during the enabling works phase earlier this year, Balfour Beatty will now commence works to the main
build with completion expected in 2020. Thomas Edgcumbe, Balfour Beatty managing director for its north and midlands regional business, said: “Having recently completed works to Hornsea Project One, this award is testament to the long-standing relationship we have built with Ørsted over the past few years. “We’re proud to continue this momentum, and look forward to successfully and safely delivering the substation; providing clean power to millions of homes across the UK.” Hornsea Project Two won a Contract for Difference in
September 2017, and will be built at the lowest ever price for offshore wind seen in the UK – £57.40 per MWh. The 1.4 GW project will be located 89 kilometres off the East Yorkshire coast. Ørsted has confirmed it will use 165 Siemens Gamesa turbines for the project. The majority of the blades are expected to be manufactured in Hull, where pre-assembly work will also be carried out. Once operational, Hornsea Project Two will be run and maintained from Port of Grimsby, where the developer’s East Coast Hub is being created by regional builder Hobson and Porter.