Business telegraph january 2018

Tuesday, 19, 2012 Tuesday, August 2012 Thursday, Januar y June 18,21, 2018

www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/business www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/business www.humberbusiness.com

Major moulds Firm’sdeal focus on a bright for MFP futurefuture finances

page seesee page 2 3

Engineering Cooking up abuy-out treat: breeds expansion Young’s goes gastro seepage page165 see

Offices are final piece of potato empire puzzle

Don’t Will leave Maryyour approve success locked away high street leases?

seepage page22 2 see

Land ahoy!

by Dave Laister Business Editor

dave.laister@gsmg.co.uk

N

early £3-million has been invested into making northern Lincolnshire a central hub for the needs of some of the UK’s biggest potato sellers.

Elsham Wold has just become the new headquarters for AKP Group, supplier to supermarket giant Morrisons and major chip manufacturer McCain.

A state-of-the-art office block, temperature controlled potato storage facility and grading line, together with extensions to existing handling areas have just been completed, with the 13-year-old firm headed by Richard Arundel moving the whole administration back into the area from York.

The son of Grimsby town centre and Freeman Street markets

by David grocer DavidLaister Arundel, who also used to act Editor as a potato merchant to Business the area’s fish and chip shops, dave.laister@gsmg.co.uk joined forces with Suffolk businessman Bruce Kerr in 1999.

USINESS failures in the The former KP potato storage area are at a near facility which hasrunning now been record low according to substantially developed, was headwhen of the region’s acquiredthe in 2007, a project began to grow skin finished leading industrial auctioneering potatoes firm. on the Isle of Axholme.

“We show we that couldthe Andwanted there’sto a warning produce required quality analysisthe may not be quite as locally that were positive as supermarkets it initially sounds. buying in from Herefordshire, Charles managing he Scotland orMoses, even importing,” director of CJM Asset said.

“Morrisons backed us with it Management, “We’ve seen a and we went to said: Yorkshire Forward significant (the scrappeddownturn regional in what was already a low level ofputting insolvency development agency) work over the past 12 months. together a plan.

We then tied the “Fewer companies arethe going supply chain up and got under in the Lincolnshire and funding.”

Humber area. to £700,000. With That equated “Howeverrapid the big question is Morrisons’ growth in the whether that’s are retail world, thebecause businessfirms has been actually doing better it’s a propelled quickly, and or working warning sign thatLfewer local & with Eastoft-based Harrison entrepreneurs are prepared take Co, the infrastructure to allowtofor

A HUGE parcel of land is being released to the market just north of Scunthorpe, as demand continues to rise for industrial space.

The 60 acre plot on Normanby Enterprise TRANSFORMATION Park, highlighted, COMPLETE: Richard Arundel, managing left, has been director of potato brought forward by processor AKP. North Lincolnshire Picture: CouncilJon as Corken part of a final phase of the busy site. It comes as place marketing is re-energised by the authority and partners.

Full story, page 25.

Failure rate at a record low while start-ups slow B

the economy and Brexit, fewer people are willing to take the plunge and launch new companies.

“That could spell bad news for future employment prospects and the local economy.”

It was the failure flagship of two on Grimsby’s further increases has now been put employed, handling 120,000 tonnes Park well-established companies in place.

Europarc development, will that be of potatoes a year. Of that, 35,000 really caught thethis attention in 2017. tonnes are self-grown, with a officially opened week by “We have taken two years to get G r i m s by ’s John Pettit and Sons Agriculture and Horticulture to this,” said Mr Arundel. “We got growing group in this region and and Scunthorpe’s CR Parrott Development Board chairman around another site in Suffolk, the grant funding for storage and Consultancy closed, John Godfreywere CBE,both himself a contributing the balance. grading operations in 2009, and with 125 years in thefarmer. meat trade North Lincolnshire built the storage throughout 2010, Recently 15 employees were and thanadded: two decades to be open for that harvest. We Mr more Arundel “We’re as a added, with three graduate valuableforward partnertotoopening many major have had potatoes in from 2010 and trainees also part of the company, looking the construction lost. facility ECONOMIC Charles Moses, Simon Smith and Mark Webb.

2011, and the IMPACT: whole project has new cold storeprojects and grading specialising in growing, logistics On uncharacteristic the prospects for weather the economy been finishedand with the offices and technical elements,situation includingin – the the gamble launch new just seemingly topsy-turvy in 2018, Mrhave Moses said: “I’m now. agronomy . The remaining brought us anot so businesses.” which when the economy is doing conditions confident. The issues surrounding year, but the opening investment fleet of sixis challenging “Our desire is to have more reasonably has wellseen and aconfidence Start-ups are the most prone to Brexit, of a serious plan to event is the justlack rewards for everyone’s Mercedes rigsare brought in totodeliver quality potato producers local to high, people prepared take a failure, six in ten not seeing encourage the potatoes to customers, with the hard work. economic growth, the this site. with It would cut down on chance – and failure inevitably out five years, those working problem of low productivity, wage primary route Morrisons’ packing transport costs.and There is still a lot “The new facility will not only rise. withitthem believe stagnation the rest make it operations near Harrogate. ofclosely potential, will help thetheir is enable us toand meet the demand of certainly a more cautious “In ato downturn are verybiggest difficult to be enthusiastic environmental footprint and this Keen cultivatepeople a prosperous our customers, but we’ve ap p ro a ch . unwilling to take the risk and about prospects.” part of the world has the ability to future for Lincolnshire potato also successfully improved the overall failure rates fall.

“It some is a fact of life that new in CJM had instructed grow of the best potatoes farmers, the 32,000sq ft storage quality and been freshness of ourby Grimsbyby ’s Kingsbridge Corporate ventures arethat most vulnerable “My gut is sq that of the country, is what we arein potatoes reducing facility andfeel 4,000 ft because two storey Solutions to handle the sale the majoring on.”or three years,” Mr the first two the uncertainties consumer transportation, handling andofusing office developmentabout – which drew Moses produces spending, the future direction ● Turn page 4 technologies.” the latesttocold store inspiration from Genesis Officeof A totalsaid. of 44“That people are nowthe

EXPERTS in Commercial Property and Leases Contact us on

01472 699599

64 St Peters Avenue Cleethorpes N.E. Lincolnshire SPEAKERS: Sir Roger Carr, left, DN35 and Gavin 8HPEsler.

Top table is set for CBI dinner HUMBER

www.rjsolicitors.co.uk

Sir Roger Carr, president of the CBI and Gavin Esler, best known for his role as a presenter on BBC Newsnight, have been confirmed as the guest speakers at one of the region’s leading business gatheringsconnecting later this business year. across the region The CBI Yorkshire and Humber Annual Dinner takes place at Leeds University on October 10.

It will be one of the first events with John Fitzgerald, port director for Grimsby and Immingham, as chairman of the region.

Mr Esler is an award-winning television and radio broadcaster, novelist and journalist.

His latest book, due to hit the shelves next month, focuses on lessons that can be gleaned from leaders in how they tell stories, and will be the subject of his speech to the area’s business bosses, and their guests.

For more information about the dinner, which is frequently well represented by the South Bank and features a drinks reception within Parkinson Court, home to the famous Marks & Spencer archive and art gallery, e-mail katya.menhennet@cbi.org.uk or visit http://yorkshire-annual-dinner.eventbrite.com

business.com

CELEBRATING

OUR SECOND

YEAR

£20m milestone passed

A FURTHER £4-million of investment across the region this last quarter has seen the total funds issued by Finance Yorkshire climb to £23-million.

The money, available to firms in northern Lincolnshire in seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments – ranging from £15,000 to £2-million – is there to help small and medium sized businesses meet their growth and development requirements.

The figure amounts 224 investments in 183 YOUR business newsto website is celebrating its small and medium sized enterprises since August second anniversary.

2010, leading to more than 4,600 jobs created and Humberbusiness.com unites thelast three majoralone, news safeguarded in the region.

In the quarter organisations on both of the Humber, 30 the venture capital andbanks loan fund completed bringing you totalling a comprehensive what is investments more thanguide £4.3 to million. happening, and who is doing it. of Finance Alex McWhirter, chief executive Growing said: at a pace of knots, it isforward reaching Yorkshire, “We are looking to more building on thesemore figures and helping more companies people, regularly, as it becomes an established achieve in the coming months. platformgrowth alongside your favourite print products, “Weas urge established and early stage companies such this. toToday continue to speak to us to see if Finance we chart the success so far, with inspiring Yorkshire can help turn their ambitions into a reality.” stories from the some of the supporting member Supported by the European Union, it has attracted companies who have helped make our vision a £30-million investment from the European Regional re a l i t y.

Development Fund, £15-million from Yorkshire See the special pull-out within this edition formatch more Forward’s Single Programme, and £45-million funding fromand the how European Investment Bank. information, you can get the daily For information visitdirect www.finance-yorkshire.com newsletter delivered to your inbox.

‘HB’ enters the terrific twos...

CONTENTS:Energy P6 Energy 8 Food 10P8 Chemicals/Process 1910 Ports & Logistics 20 12 Business Support 22 TraiSolutions ning 23 C15 areeFood rs 2416 Commercial Vehicles 25 Commercial Property Word Property 21 CONTENTS: P6 Chemicals Ports and Logistics Business Support Careers 14 Business Training 17 Commercial Vehicles 18 Diary 28 20 Last Commercial

PROFESSIONAL PROVIDER OF Safety, Health & Environmental Training LEVEL 3 & 5 LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATIONS GTE-E01-S3 STE-E01-S7

COURSES AVAILABLE IN: E K^, EĂƟŽŶĂů ŝƉůŽŵĂ ͻ E K^, EĂƟŽŶĂů ĞƌƟĮĐĂƚĞ ͻ /K^, DĂŶĂŐŝŶŐ ^ĂĨĞůLJ

We offer awards, certificates, diplomas and apprenticeships in leadership and management. To find out more contact cath.jackson@northlindsey.ac.uk or call See Page 3 for more details...

01724 281111. These programmes are being delivered at CATCH, Redwood Park Estate, Stallingborough, Grimsby DN41 8TH

2

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

News contacts Editorial David Laister Direct line: 01472 806972 Mobile:

07730 639525

BE OUR GUEST: Richard Askam and Helen Fospero will host the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards 2018.

dave.laister@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

General Advertising Angie Atkinson Direct line: 01472 806963 Mobile:

07920 823544

angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Property Advertising Sharon Cameron Direct line: 01472 807031 sharon.cameron@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Motors Advertising Andy Bannister Direct line: 01472 806962 Mobile:

07799 626752

andrew.bannister@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Next month’s edition: Grimsby Tues, February 20 Scunthorpe Tues, February 22

...Enter before the last petal falls - or March 6!

Y

OU don’t have time to be timid, be bold and get your nomination in – as the 2018 Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards embraces Beauty and the Beast.

Entries have opened for the 17th annual bash celebrating all that is good on the South Bank.

The locking up of the business community’s shining stars will take place at Grimsby Auditorium, for the night of May 18 transformed into The Beast’s Castle, when Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce will invite you to be their guest.

Current Wilkin Chapman Business Person of the Year, Lincolnshire Chef Steven Bennett, has again been lined up to cater – as after-all, ‘if

you’re stressed it is fine dining we suggest’.

New start-ups and businesses with a tale as old as time are encouraged to enter the 11 awards open to nominations, as Phillips 66 once again steps in as main sponsor.

Last year also saw GS Kelsey recognised as the winner of the Forrester Boyd Business Excellence Award with Steve Norton, former chief executive of Grimsby Fish Merchants’ Association, taking the Grimsby & Scunthorpe Telegraph’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Anne Tate, pictured below, organiser of the event, which annually pulls in more than 400 guests, has paid tribute to those who continue to allow the event to thrive, while calling on more people to enter.

She said: “Many sponsors have been with us from day one, and with the awards now in their 17th year, it shows the continued popularity as people want to be involved and help with promoting the area and the amazing businesses we have got here.

“We now want to encourage as many businesses as possible to enter. There is something for every successful business to look at, regardless of age or scale, and we are particularly keen to see entries from those that have demonstrated innovation and show they are putting training at the heart of their organisation.”

It isn’t just the backing of the gala dinner event that remains popular, but so too the chance to secure an award.

“Since we moved to entering online, applications have gone up year-on-year,” Anne said.

Grimsby entrepreneur and public speaker Richard Askam will join perennial host Helen Fospero on stage this year, with seven professionals from the West End working with Grimsby Institute students to put on a fusion of the Beauty and the Beast from animation, musical and film. The latter, starring Emma Watson, was breaking records at the cinema as judges analysed entries ahead of The Baths Hall bash last May. This year, the awards entry deadline is March 6, with shortlist anticipated later that month ahead of unveiling on the night, when in the words of Beauty and the Beast, “it will turn out all right in the end - you’ll see”.

And with Business Telegraph and Humberbusiness.com once again a media partner, you will, here.

For a full breakdown of the awards criteria, see www.humberbusiness.com, where there’s also a review of 2017’s celebrations too.

Search commercial properties for sale or to rent Visit

www.humberbusiness.com/ commercialproperty

WINNERS: Last year’s big winners. Left, Matthew Robinson of GS Kelsey and Steve Norton, with Steven Bennett, above, second left.

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

3

News

Timely expansion for MFP with win

Month in Review

A

MAJOR contract win with the NHS will see a new warehouse transformed into further production space as Moulded Fibre Products surpasses all initial expectations.

The northern Lincolnshire business, which only started manufacturing in 2013, will next month ramp up to serve the prestigious client, as it looks forward to adding further capacity with new machinery in April.

It means by year end, 500 million pulp-derived units will be heading out of the Flixborough base annually, with turnover anticipated to hit £10 million.

“We have just been awarded a contract as a supplier of 200 million pieces, that’s 65 per cent of the overall volume used in the NHS,” James Gallacher, managing director said.

“I want to thank them for having the confidence in Moulded Fibre Products and creating jobs. We are now at over 100 employees, and growing, and we really value the relationship we have with them.

“We are a new business, a new supplier, and they have shown great faith in us, and we are thankful for that.”

The contract starts next month, having been confirmed in November. It is for general purpose bowls, measuring jugs, urine sample cups and medicine pots.

A total of 20 pulp products enter hospitals and other facilities, with Mr Gallacher keen to demonstrate the capability of MFP, located less than 50 miles away from a major NHS Supply Chain distribution centre at Normanton, West Yorkshire.

“We are continuing to invest, we’ve just built the new factory, we’ll have three new machines in there, they will be machines five, six and seven. We still have big plans here. We are still investing, we are going to continue investing, and the board is delighted with the progress.”

Young’s Seafood goes Stateside to start 2018 FOOD: More than 5,000 stores in the US are now stocking Young’s Seafood products.

Major multiple retailers Walmart, Sam’s Club and a number of brands operated by global giant Ahold are now selling the frozen fish dishes processed by the Grimsby giant, in a milestone first step for significant plans to build on the UK market-leading position in new regions.

Europe and China could follow for the company, after achieving national distribution status in the US with the Signature range.

The big splash Stateside has been secured through a close working relationship between Young’s executives at Ross House and The Fishin’ Company, one of the largest US-based seafood suppliers, operational in 47 states.

Nisa’s merry Christmas GROWTH-READY: James Gallacher inside the new factory, left.

Recent highlighting of the harm plastics can do if not managed has helped MFP’s marketing too, as it grows work with retailers and consumer goods manufacturers to become an ethical choice for packaging.

“Blue Planet has really done a The win led to a change of initial plan, with the 20,000 sq ft addition sterling job for us,” Mr Gallacher to the site, a £500,000 build by Rase said. “Our products are fully biodegradable, compostable, not Steels, to be used as another harmful in any way. We are fully production hall, with space for established, we are ready for those three more lines, having initially looking to switch. We like the been brought forward for whole plastic off supermarket warehousing. shelves initiative, we can help with A further £1.3 million has been that.” committed for the next machine, It is already the European now being built in Cape Town, supplier to Yankee Candle, with South Africa, ahead of installation fresh produce – part of the in April, taking total investment on reasoning behind the Lincolnshire location – also growing strongly. site to £7 million.

“We only planned to have three machines in the factory, now we are on factory two. It is going to be pretty spectacular.”

As that fills up the search will switch to more off-site storage. “We are grateful for all the help North Lincolnshire Council has given us, in terms of Regional Growth Fund support,” Mr Gallacher added. “We have more than delivered on every promise we made, which shows such support works both ways.”

It is thought it could have a headcount of 150 to 160 once fully developed. “Our industry is booming, we’re predicting growth for the next 20 years,” he added, stating Brexit would only underline the domestic nature of it, with most business in the UK and materials all sourced locally.

RETAIL: Nisa has reported huge sales growth over the Christmas period as it swelled stores served in the wake of the high-profile collapse of wholesale rival Palmer and Harvey.

Costcutter’s partial return to its long-term former supply partner helped post a 17.7 per cent increase in sales in the final 10 weeks of 2017, up more than £40 million to £277.2 million.

Like-for-like sales were also up 1.7 per cent, with fresh produce sales up to 23.1 per cent too, following a major push in the past year.

A total of 269 new outlets were added with Costcutter alone responsible for 140, after the Scunthorpe giant stepped in to ensure shelves were stocked at the start of December.

Solar park proposal ENERGY: A huge new solar park is being proposed for the Scunthorpe area.

INRG Solar is behind the plan for a 220 hectare site east of the British Steel works, behind woodland off the B1207 near Broughton, north of Forest Pines.

The park would provide enough electricity to power approximately 36,000 households. Public consultation is underway.

LEVEL 3 & 5 LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATIONS Invest in the management of your business We offer awards, certificates, diplomas and apprenticeships in leadership and management.

Dependent on your business size, training could be free of charge or as little as £500 per person.

To find out more contact cath.jackson@northlindsey.ac.uk or call 01724 281111.

These programmes are being delivered at CATCH, Redwood Park Estate, Stallingborough, Grimsby DN41 8TH

4 Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

STE-E01-S7

News

‘There’s plenty of mileage left for steel in car manufacturing’ S

TEEL will continue to be a vital component in car manufacturing for decades to come, one of the automotive industry’s leading lights has assured.

“What we will see is a more mixed material car and a flow down (of innovation) from luxury models. Large trucks, large SUVs and large EVs are the target markets, everything else will be steel.�

Dr Mark White, a former chief engineer with And it is the scale of the market, that breeds Jaguar Land Rover, was a high profile guest of confidence.

Lincolnshire Iron and Steel Institute, and told “Globally we make 80 million cars today,� said how demand will actually increase in coming Dr White, who has recently launched his own years, despite the rise of electric vehicles, and consultancy, while primarily continuing to work with it the need to lightweight. with JLR, suppliers, and others. “From now Now a consultant, he has been a champion of until 2030 it is going to go from 80 million cars aluminium bodies in his time at the forefront of to over 120 million cars. That’s over 50 per cent British luxury design, using the material to growth. It may be a mature and stable market in boost performance and, increasingly, to drive Europe and the US, but elsewhere, substantial down carbon emissions. growth in Chian and Asia will drive the demand With the sector an important end customer of for more steel. the many varied supply chains that begin in “That’s a huge market and it is predominantly Scunthorpe, his words from the forefront of the a steel market. There will be aluminium design process – he led a team of 600 in the body growth, but the main growth will complete business unit – were welcomed by the predominantly be steel. gathering at British Steel’s conference centre. “Today we are at 97.5 to 98 per cent steel for Having outlined how the more expensive car body production. Even with best alternative had played such a part in his career, predictions, aluminium growth will be five to 10 he said: “Don’t get too disheartened. The world per cent in the next decade, and growth in the isn’t going to go all aluminium with steel as the car industry outstrips growth in aluminium. poor relation. The A, B and C groups of cars will There is plenty of mileage left to do.� stay with steel until at least 2030, and that is a Dr White joined the West Midlands team 30 large band of mass produced cars that will years ago as a graduate engineer, having been inspired by Jaguar Le Mans victories in his remain steel.

Steel will always be the benchmark for material cost Dr Mark White

Design

Manufacturing 6DOHV 6HUYLFH

5RDG 7LPH 07% 7ULDO 3DUWV &ORWKLQJ $FFHVVRULHV

%HVSRNH %XLOG 3URJUDP 3DLQW JUDSKLFV IDFLOLW\ Discounts

&\FOH

Insurance

%

)LQDQFH &\FOHVFKHPH

$YDLODEOH

% $% % # # '# % ( www.paragon-cycles.uk enquiries@paragon-cycles.uk & % #!

SPECIAL GUEST: Dr Mark White, left, is welcomed to Lincolnshire Iron and Steel Institute by president Chris Vaughan. Top and right, XK production. childhood. “As a boy these were the cars of your dreams,� he said, with his thoughts resonating in the audience. “I was born in 1960, and in the early Sixties Jaguar sports cars were the cars to have.

Enzo Ferrari said the only thing wrong with the E-Type was it didn’t have a Ferrari badge on it.�

However, before he was in long trousers, under British Leyland in 1967, all development work stopped on sports cars and aluminium. “I had a burning passion, I always wanted to join Jaguar, and when I came along in 1986, there was a feeling within the company that we should go back to our roots and do something exciting.�

Excitement emerged in the shape of the XJ220.

His first aluminium car project was the XJ in 2002, followed by the XK in 2006. “I didn’t get to

work on the XJ220, but I followed it enthusiastically,� he said. “All sports cars used it for performance. We could take 200kg out of a steel car just by putting an aluminium body on it.�

Now it is about lowering CO2 and emissions, with measurements halved. For example, the Jaguar XE Performance E emits only 99g/km, compared to upwards of 300g/km from vehicle in the late Nineties.

The weight-saving technology comes at a price though, with aluminium up to double the material cost of a steel body, and carbon fibre considerably more. “Steel will always be the benchmark for material cost,� Dr White added. “It is about how you get the lowest weight for the lowest cost increase. It is important to understand that and work to it.�

Business failures close in on record low â—? continued from page one. the hiring company. It is very kind of robust business.

town centre butcher’s assets.

Associate director at the Dudley Street firm, Simon Smith, said: “The market place is still quite patchy, though as a firm we have maintained quite a level of business over the last few months.�

He said changing business models could be adding to the picture seen across northern Lincolnshire. “A lot of companies that go out of business own very little in physical assets,� he said. “A lot are people businesses, may contract operations in with little of substance required, which would be seen by the likes of CJM. “To be competitive firms need to invest in new equipment, and often it is afforded via a hire agreement. “If a company folds, ownership is still often with

much a trend increasing, many firms invest through borrowing rather than historically acquired profits.�

Caution from entrepreneurs could breed better business in the long run though, with gambles more calculated.

In North East Lincolnshire, Mark Webb heads up E-Factor, the business support organisation.

He said: “We have seen a lot more caution in terms of when people start their businesses – an air of uncertainty is not without its penalties. “People tread more carefully, take a little more time to start a business before launching into it, and while there is lots of cash available, it is expensive, so people are less inclined to borrow, which is a requirement to start up any

“The upshot is, when businesses do start, they have put a lot more thought in to it, they are a lot more robust and there is now a lot more support than ever before.�

This has included investment and skills backing too, with Mr Webb praising the joined-up approach from organisations.

For CJM, work outside of the area, and indeed the country, has made it a strong year, despite the stagnation on a local front. A number of multi-million pound asset valuations have been completed, while assisting in mergers and takeovers, and the closure of an Essex dairy for Arla Foods.

It has continued to consolidate its position as Europe’s leading specialist asset management adviser in the steel industry sector too. “The steel market is

reasonably buoyant at the moment and that has created a knock-on increase in demand for used steel processing equipment,� he said. “The highlight of our year was completing the multi-million dollar disposal of assets at the Outokumpu stainless steel factory at Langshyttan in Sweden to a consortium of steel companies in Vietnam. “It has been a challenging job that has taken two years but not only did we get that deal over the line but it led to one of the Vietnamese companies asking us to sell a plate mill on their behalf. We sold that to an Iranian Steel company.�

Looking ahead, he added: “We have major ongoing projects in Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey and Montenegro, so this year is looking very promising too.�

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

5

News

Buy-out puts new base on track for engineers A

SOUTH Bank engineering firm has been acquired by a long-standing client, with a strong appetite for expansion.

Collingwood Engineering, based in Barton, has been taken over by Trainload, the North Lincolnshire-based rail loading and rail shunting specialist, in an undisclosed deal.

Now plans are with the local authority to build a new premises in the town for both businesses to jointly occupy, with a plot of land recently purchased.

The new build premises close to Collingwood’s current location off Dam Road, in Humber Road, feature a 272 sq m workshop and 140 sq m office suite.

The vast majority of what we do as Trainload can now be done in house, and we want to progress what Collingwood offers too.

Jason Dear It is hoped work can begin in the next six months.

Jason Dear, who has headed up Trainload for more than 20 years, said: “Collingwood used to manufacture 30 to 40 per cent of our work and has done for many, many years. “We have had a very good relationship with them, and the opportunity was there to see if they would sell it to me.�

Services include machining, turning, boring, milling, drilling and welding. “We have taken on a new

Month in Review Brussels calls in Cristal £1.27b takeover deal CHEMICALS: US giant Tronox’s troubled takeover of major chemical processor Cristal faces further examination this side of the Atlantic, after the European Commission called in the proposed £1.27 billion deal.

It comes after a last-minute intervention by authorities in the States, which it has vowed to fight as it seeks to add Stallingborough and seven other titanium dioxide manufacturing plants around the globe to its portfolio.

Chief executive Jeffry N Quinn said Tronox will continue to work with Brussels officials as they seek to establish whether the deal would “significantly impede effective competition� of production on the continent.

Fish high on trade agenda SECTOR: Fish has been highlighted by the British Retail Consortium as one of the key imports that underlines how essential it is to maintain trade deals brokered by the EU globally.

New evidence has been published by the influential organisation, underlining the vast benefit brought to UK consumers by zero or low rate tariffs with third party countries.

A ‘starting 11’ of key relationships has been drawn up, and it includes Iceland and Norway – responsible for more than 75 per cent of imports into Grimsby, where 70 per cent of the UK’s seafood is handled.

UNITED: Jason Dear, who has brought together Trainload and Collingwood Engineering in Barton. senior design engineer, for the research and development of new shunting machines and loading equipment, while being able to design equipment for Collingwood’s existing and new clients, and have invested in the latest Solidworks software to undertake this next step forward,�

Mr Dear said. “The vast majority of what we do as Trainload can now be done in house, and we want to progress what Collingwood offers too. “The plan is for the expansion to take the company forward with local engineering for local companies, serving their needs with the machine shop, with Trainload expanding and using the expertise in the workshop to manufacture more new shunting equipment as well as undertaking existing project

work and older systems.�

Both businesses have strong histories stretching back more than 50 years, and Collingwood has done a lot of work in the food, manufacturing and petro-chemical industries. “We are the only engineering company and machine shop in this area, until you get to either Grimsby or Scunthorpe, and it is our aim to attract new customers, to increase work in the machine shop. We have already taken on another machinist in the workshop due to recent increase in our services,� Mr Dear said.

Trainload’s bespoke work has recently seen two new overseas projects completed, one for rail loading arms in Turkey, and for a winching system in Bulgaria for LUK Oil. It followed a significant order from Mexico late last year.

& $( -"+! "$$ & *+"& '- )* ' ++')& . r -BTUJOH 1PXFST PG "UUPSOFZ r &TUBUF "ENJOJTUSBUJPO r 5SVTUT BOE 5BY 1MBOOJOH 0VS 5FBN BU #( 4PMJDJUPST DBOw 4BWF ZPVS MPWFE POFT UIF IFBSUBDIF PG B DPNQMJDBUFE JOUFTUBDZ CZ ESBXJOH VQ B RVJDL BOE TJNQMF 8JMM UP NBLF TVSF UIBU ZPVS GBNJMZ JT QSPWJEFE GPS BOE DBO BCJEF CZ ZPVS XJTIFT BGUFS ZPV BSF HPOF %SBX VQ B -BTUJOH 1PXFS PG "UUPSOFZ UP FOBCMF TPNFPOF ZPV USVTU UP BENJOJTUFS ZPVS Ă OBODJBM BGGBJST TIPVME ZPV CFDPNF VOBCMF UP EP TP ZPVSTFMG "WPJE DPTUMZ $PVSU PG 1SPUFDUJPO QSPDFFEJOHT CZ UBLJOH UIJT JNQPSUBOU TUFQ OPX GPS DPNQMFUF QFBDF PG NJOE -FU VT IFMQ ZPV XJUI UIF BENJOJTUSBUJPO PG BOZ FTUBUF GSPN UIF TNBMMFTU BOE RVJDLFTU 1SPCBUF BQQMJDBUJPOT UP UIF NPTU DPNQMJDBUFE *OIFSJUBODF 5BY DBMDVMBUJPOT -FU PVS 1SJWBUF $MJFOU UFBN PG TPMJDJUPST IFMQ ZPV UPEBZ HJWF VT B DBMM 5BML UP VT BCPVU PVS OFX NPOFZ TBWJOH PGGFST PO 8JMMT BOE -BTUJOH 1PXFST PG "UUPSOFZ

)"%* .

,&+!')(

',+!

)# + $ )+'& ,('& ,% ) ')+! "& '$&*!")

$ '

GRAND DESIGNS: An artist’s impression of the new Collingwood Engineering / Trainload premises.

--- *'$" "+')* '%

6

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Energy in association with

Tel: 01469 577698 www.onloanrecruitment.co.uk

www.andrewjackson.co.uk

01472 889200 www.blackrow.co.uk

New crew transfer vessel operator sails in to port A

NEW offshore wind vessel operator is sailing into Grimsby, having won the tender to serve Lynn and Inner Dowsing for Siemens.

Iceni Marine has taken over the crew transfer provision for the first wind farms to emerge out of the town.

A total of 12 jobs are anticipated to be created, with two vessels and back-up cover allocated to the dual locations, just off the coast at Skegness.

Richard Thurlow, operations director, said: “Working with Siemens we will be running technicians to Lynn and Inner Dowsing project from Grimsby every day. The contract is for a year, with some options, and we are looking forward to it.

“There are three clear areas in the UK for this, with Grimsby being one of the biggest. Liverpool Bay, the Wash an the Humber, and we now have them covered off. We have done some smaller jobs from Grimsby, in 2011, but it was for a little while. and nothing as significant as this.”

Launched in 2009 by Mr Thurlow, who had four years of experience with a competitor having worked on Scroby Sands, the business was bought out in 2013 by Scotland’s Turner Group. Headquartered in

Lowestoft, it will operate from the North Quay base first established by original wind farm owner Centrica.

The previous contract was served

by Windcat, which also has its UK

base in Lowestoft. It remains operational in town, serving Lincs, which is in the final stages of handover from Centrica to Orsted.

For the new operator, vessels Iceni Courage and Iceni Defiant

will head to town, at 15m and 17.5m respectively. Both were built by South Boats of Isle of Wight, in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and have capacity for 12 passengers and two crew.

No damsons in distress following orchard advice

To further raise the profile of your company call Angie Atkinson on

01472 806963

angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Search commercial properties for sale or to rent Visit

www.humberbusiness.com/ commercialproperty

NOT everyone associates power stations with the environment and nature conservation but that is exactly what is happening at Stallingborough.

In addition to the ponds, hedges, meadows and woodland managed especially for wildlife at the South Humber Bank Power Station, as well as a rare breed of sheep grazing on the land, new owners EP UK laid on a special training course for conservationists involved with managing the traditional orchards of the area to show exactly how it should be done!

Orchards are hotspots for biodiversity in the countryside, supporting a wide range of wildlife and including an array of nationally rare and nationally scarce species.

The traditional orchard with local varieties of apples, pears, damsons and cherries was planted 12 years ago at the site and desperately needed its first pruning as it has grown so well.

This included repairing trees whose branches had snapped through the weight of fruit in some years.

Enter Marc Richmond, an orchard specialist who trained with the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley, who came to pass on his skills to more than a dozen local conservationists involved with the Greater Lincolnshire Nature Strategy, where traditional orchards are one of the priority habitats.

GAS-POWERED ORCHARD: From left, Dave Parkin, Humber Conservation Volunteers; Rachel Graham, ecology officer apprentice at North East Lincolnshire Council; Sarah Baker, Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership; Brian Wall, Humber Conservation Volunteers; Ben Burgess, Creative Nature UK Ltd; Helen Gamble, Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service; Alan Linnegar and Ann Hindley, Apple of Your Isle Project; Paul Schofield, landscape project manager, North Lincolnshire Council; Colin Horton, East Lindsey Council; Dave Heinrich, Creative Nature UK Ltd; Wally Grice, Forestry Commission; Matt Davey, North Lincs Council; Karen Bullock, Associated British Ports; Marc Richmond tutor, Barry Walker, beekeeper, and Paul Kelk of EP UK Ltd. Right, Alan Linnegar and Ann Hindley with Marc Richmond.

His students included tree officers and other countryside specialists, volunteers involved with conservation, a

beekeeper and volunteers from a fruit harvesting project, coming from all across northern Lincolnshire.

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

7

News BACKING: An angel investment group has launched in Grimsby, with high net worth individuals keen to back local businesses.

Inset, Martin Avison, founder.

Read motors on with a sixth dealership See page 24

7HAT S IN A NAME

) # $$ "# " $ $ " $" " # $ $ " ' $ " !% #$# $ "") %$ $ )# ' " + ( $ " %# # # " " $ $ " # %"# $ '" ' $ $ $ $ % # $ %# $ " & " # " $ " # " $$) # %$# ) $ " & # # " $ $ " $ ' $ ' # $ "# & & & "#$ ) " % $%" %# ## $ % ' " # " $ " #$ " $" " ' ) #% " " $ $ " # "$ & #$ $ $ " $ $ $ #% " " $ & " %# $ # " $"

%" $# " ' $" " ' #$ # * " & $ $ #$ $ #% " " $ # " $ " % # %# $ " $" $ ' # #% ## % $ #% " " $ $ " $ $ $ $ $ & ) #$" %$ $ " " $# $ " #$ " "

) ' $ " " $ %# ## ' " $ " " " $ $# $ "$% $ ) $ ' # $ # # $ $ %# ) %# " # $ " $ $ $ " " %" $# " $" " # ' # ' $ $ $ " " $ $ ) + $ ' $ $ ( #$ " #$" $ %$ # " # $ $ $ & ) $ " ' # $$ %# %# " # "& $ $ $ $ $ $ " % # # " $) $ $# ( #$ ' " " #$ " $" " %# $ ' %" $ #$ *" $ " % $ $ " $ %# " " $# # $ $ % $ & ( # ' " #% ## % $ # ## $ " %# ## ' "# $ " % " # $" " " $ ( # &

" $ & ) ( # & #$ # $ $ #%" $ $ ' %# ## & $%" # $ $ " #

Angel investors look local for opportunity A

NGELS descending as Christmas arrived may be nothing new for nativity-focused primary schools across the South Bank, but investors looking for business opportunities made for a novel visit that looks set to be the first of many.

Angelgroups, a connected network of high worth individuals across northern England, has launched a Grimsby group, in association with Wilkin Chapman, Forrester Boyd and Investment Hub NEL. Martin Avison, founder, said: “I am delighted to bring such opportunities to the region and welcome the support of our associates. We are a peer network of high net worth and sophisticated investors who provide much more than simply investment. It is about providing smart money, whereby our angel investors also provide mentoring and support, realising significant benefit to the business.�

Angelgroups is now established in Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and York, with Grimsby part of the plan to further grow the network across England. Last year it ran 30 events to bring investment and opportunity together.

Working with the two professional firms, nearly 50 potential investors have initially been identified, with Wilkin Chapman hosting the first event at the Cartergate HQ. “There is a huge amount of money out there, with huge tax incentives to help investors too,�

Mr Avison said. “Angels tend to look within 40 miles of where they live, and most angels say the same thing, they are looking for local businesses to help and support.

They want to help and see the area flourish.�

Of the model, he said: “We run regular pitching sessions for the businesses to get in front of active

angels as well as an online platform for our members to review opportunities,� he explained. “It is more than a simple pitching session though, it’s about running educational sessions for individuals who would like to know more about being an angel; covering such topics as shareholder agreements, minority shareholder rights, the latest research from the UK Business Angel Association, how to be a lead angel and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme tax relief – all delivered by our associates.�

It was timed well too, with the Gover nment’s Industrial Strategy, published in November, outlining how the British Business Bank is looking to support developing clusters of business angels outside London. Feedback was described as fantastic from the inaugural gathering.

Paul Gray, head of business development at Forrester Boyd, said: “This is a great opportunity for businesses in northern Lincolnshire with the potential for fast growth, not only to secure funding but with the expertise of investors on board to help them deliver their business plan.�

Mr Avison is now reaching out across the region and looking for more potential angels and businesses who are looking for investment and support.

Adam Ottley, corporate and commercial solicitor at Wilkin Chapman, added: “Grimsby offers some attractive opportunities for those businesses willing to engage in its future and I see the arrival of Angelgroups to the region as another strong indication of its attractiveness to potential investors from the area.�

The next event takes place on February 20. For more information contact Martin Avison at info@financialpulse. co.uk.

PROUD TO BE

RENEWING THE HUMBER

)*-0+ +/+/+/ adam.aisthorpe@wilkinchapman. co.uk www.wilkinchapman.co.uk 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

8

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Food

in association with

First lady of seafood’s epic ocean challenge O

Manufacturers of Industrial Hygienic Doors

www.lincsdoors.co.uk

01472 889200 www.blackrow.co.uk

01472 352998

Tel: 01472 269121 www.acbnorth.com Of¿ce 5 Business Hive 13 Dudley Street - Grimsby North East Lincolnshire

Without the support of these companies this page would not be possible To further raise the profile of your company call Angie Atkinson on

01472 806963 angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

NE of the seafood industry’s leading lights is readying her own sea legs as she faces up to an epic ocean challenge.

Julie Snowden, Seafish’s Grimsby-based English account manager, is to take part in the Atlantic Homecoming leg of the Clipper Round the World yacht race as part of Team GB. Setting sail from New York in June, she was inspired by the accounts of fishermen who braved the conditions to land the town’s favourite export when putting herself forward.

The organiser behind Humber Seafood Summit, and many other activities involving the cluster, said: “I wanted to get out there and see what the fishermen endure to catch our seafood and bring it back to us. It was the reason. You can watch Deadliest Catch and talk to the professionals, but to go and experience it yourself will give me so much more respect and appreciation.

It is anticipated to take three to three and a half weeks, sailing first to Londonderry then Liverpool, where it began back in August.

She has already hit initial fundraising targets for the Fishermen’s Mission and Yorkshire Air Ambulance, with more than £1,500 pledged.

“Everyone is really supportive, and a lot of the Grimsby guys are right behind me,” she said.

Having never set foot on a yacht two years ago, she now has her day skipper’s certificate and competent crew badges, and has been taken on by a team sailing out of Scarborough, racing in summer and autumn series events, albeit in a 28ft vessel rather than the 70ft clipper yacht.

Julie has also met her partner, Guy Waites, as a result of her exploits. He is something of a sailing legend, having crossed the Atlantic single-handedly four times, including in the smallest sail boat ever. “It is great to have expertise support,” she said.

Official training complete, she watched the vessel set off from Liverpool to Uruguay on the first leg, then flew out to South Africa for the arrival at the end of the Southern Atlantic second leg in October.

“I went out to Cape Town to meet the boat and welcome them in. I helped with the deep clean and the build up for the next leg, as part of the sail maintenance team. It is an incredibly close team, and we were topping the leaderboard after

SEA LEGS: Julie Snowden, English account manager for Seafish, at Cleethorpes Pier. race one.”

The most dangerous yacht race in the world, it claimed the life of crew member Simon Speirs, 18 days after departing South Africa for Australia. The 60-year-old retired solicitor was on the foredeck, helping change a sail, when he was washed off the vessel in rough conditions.

A sea burial was held after he was recovered, with efforts to revive him by the on-board medical team, which includes a doctor, unsuccessful.

“Not only have we lost a crew member but a friend too,” she said. “It hasn’t put me off, it has actually made me more determined, and I actually went out from Scarborough to race the Sunday after. I was really glad I did, it was like getting back on a horse after something horrible has happened.

“It is a risk, I have always known that. I only learned to sail a year ago, and that feels like an achievement, so what it will be like if we achieve the crossing, I don’t know.”

The Future of Food event is back again for 2018 A HUGELY successful event that debuted last year is to make a return in 2018.

The Future of Food was hosted by Grimsby Institute and Seafish, the industry authority, with more than 1,000 young adults and students attending as they looked at potential career paths.

With exhibitors and a networking lunch for businesses, the vibrant event had many bases covered, with organisers planning to serve up a similar dish next month.

Karen Galloway, former head of marketing at Seafish has been lined up to speak, having served the organisation for more than a decade, first in a consumer marketing role, before heading up the full portfolio. She remains a trustee of Billingsgate Training School, and prior to seafood worked with cheese, chocolate and alcohol. She now runs her own consultancy Pink Shoe Thinking.

She will be joined by

works for Tesco in Stoke, but despite the in-land base is a huge advocate of what happens in the Grimsby area, having been at Humber Seafood Summit this summer.

A spokesperson for Grimsby Institute said: “Grimsby Institute is extremely proud to be working with Seafish to KEY NOTES: Amanda Perry, left, host such an exciting and and Karen Galloway, who will address the second Future of Food engaging event for our students. event at Grimsby Institute on “The event offers our February 22. students an invaluable Prince’s Trust.

Amanda Perry, a successful staff and turning over a opportunity to network Julie Snowden, English entrepreneur who started million pounds. However, with some of the industry’s her first business Fancie fast-growth saw it account manager for most influential employers. from her kitchen table in over-stretched and it ceased Seafish, said: “I think they “The Future of Food will 2008, armed with nothing trading, only for her to start will really inspire students showcase a wide variety of a new online retail business in attendance as they tell but a domestic mixer, a career opportunities their stories of getting into available to young people book of recipes and a blank ‘Bakes Box’. It is now a the industry, and what they and aims to link employers refusal to listen to the word high-end supplier to have done.

Fenwicks, Selfridges and ‘no’. with the talent of As a child she had a John Lewis, with thousands “We also have exhibitors, tomorrow.” with Young’s Seafood on passion for baking and as of consumers enjoying her The event takes place on she grew older she knew monthly baking box board, and live February 22, from 10am to demonstrations again. We that she wanted to turn this subscription online.

4pm. also have Emma McKeating, great love of cake into her In addition she runs a For more information or successful agency coaching who will deliver a big fish career. After forging a to register interest, email counter.” career as a pastry chef, she and mentoring businesses tatec@grimsby.ac.uk or if The Gold Merit trained founded Fancie, taking it to in growth and marketing seafood-related, email and is a mentor for The award-winning fishmonger julie.snowden@seafish.co.uk. a chain of seven shops, 70

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

9

News

Month in Review Grand Central’s capital proposal is on track TRANSPORT: Direct trains from the South Bank to London could become a reality within two years after a rail operator confirmed it plans to bid for the service.

Grand Central Railway runs direct routes from the capital to Sunderland and Bradford and now the Arriva-owned operator wants to expand to cover northern Lincolnshire.

It has confirmed it plans to submit a bid to the rail regulator – the Office of Rail and Road – early this year, with trains up and running by 2020 if the application is successful.

The company’s ambition is to run ten-carriage trains from London to Doncaster, with five of those carriages splitting at the South Yorkshire rail hub to travel on to Scunthorpe, Barnetby, Habrough, Grimsby and then Cleethorpes.

Steel chief exec resigns

Egg-citing expansion as investment bid granted M

ORE than £70,000 is being invested in an award-winning egg business.

bakers, hotels, restaurants and chefs around Lincolnshire and beyond, using eggs from farm hens and third parties, having previously purely supplied other Scaman’s Eggs, launched after distributors. the Little Grimsby farming “We started from scratch with business was offered a basic grading machine for £50 five years £50,” Mrs Scaman, an experienced sales and marketing ago, is now looking towards significant commercial capability, businesswoman recalled, having as it massively expands capacity. married into the farming family based just north of Louth.

To aid the move, within the existing farm, has been awarded a “Someone offered us a grading significant grant through Lindsey machine for £50, we went for it Action Zone Local Action Group and put it in a Portakabin, and to match-fund investment from the decided to sell a few eggs locally.” team, enabling it to prepare new It progressed well enough for her premises, buy the equipment and to give up her job and concentrate boost employment. on growing the brand, which Simone Scaman, who established brought accolades, notably in and runs the business, said: “After October, with the People’s Choice a tough application process over Award in the 2017 Select the last nine months, we are so Lincolnshire Food & Drink excited to finally announce that Awards, following Producer of the we have been successful in being Year in 2016. awarded a grant.

Two new jobs will be created “2017 was a great year for us and when the expansion completes. we couldn't be happier to receive The grader will be the second this news to start this year on expansion since the initial such a positive note.” machine, with a £20,000 Launched back in 2012, selling investment paving the way to the locally on market stalls, the team now supplies between 180,000 and new level, with enhanced productivity at the core.

200,000 eggs a week to cafes,

Safety awards dinner NORTH Lincs Health and Safety Group’s annual safety awards and dinner event will be held at Forest Pines Hotel on Friday, February 23.

Ahead of the black tie gala dinner, members can apply for two awards in recognition of their efforts over the past year.

There is the Annual Safety Award for those achieving an accident rate below the industry standard, and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health and Safety Improvement, which is judged by a committee panel, and presented on the

night.

Entertainment will be provided by Mash, with Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance the chosen charity for the evening.

For more information about the event, or the awards, email contact.nlhsg@ gmail.com

FAMILY BUSINESS: Scaman’s Eggs, with Simone Scaman above, with the joys of rural life forming a key part of the brand.

Meeting your Business Requirements So whether your company is involved in property development, purchasing commercial property or leasing commercial premises we have the expertise to help secure the deal within your timescales and budget.

• Business set up • Property Development • Sale & Purchase • Employment

• Landlord & Tenant • Business Succession • Auction Packs • Planning Advice

In these and many other areas we are here to help For more information or to talk to our commercial team call Grimsby on 01472 240 251, Louth on 01507 600 610, Barton on 01652 632215 or Scunthorpe on 01724 847888.

Keep it local - local Lawyers with a Nationwide reach

William.king@bgsolicitors.com James.clarke@bgsolicitors.com Or find us at www.bgsolicitors.com

SECTOR: The chief executive of British Steel, Peter Bernscher, has resigned from his role at the helm of the Scunthorpe giant, with “differences in perspective and direction,” cited for the split.

An Austrian national, he brought 30 years of industry experience to the position, and only took up the job in May 2017 after a thorough recruitment process.

Roland Junck has resumed the role of executive chairman, having guided the business back to profit in the first year under Greybull, following the buy-out for a nominal £1 from Tata Steel.

He had been about to relinquish the executive element after an extensive handover period.

10

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Chemicals/Process

In association with

Wood’s warm welcome as major contract starts

LAUNCH: Darren Arnold, centre left, maintenance superintendent for Wood, and Steve Henry, centre right, business manager for Wood, with staff as the team officially became the main contractor at Total Lindsey Oil Refinery.

J

ANUARY 1 marked the start of the multi-million pound maintenance contract with Wood for Total Lindsey Oil Refinery.

The five-year contract, awarded in October, will see the British company head up mechanical, electrical and instrumentation work as part of the overall plan to continue the strong performance of the North Killingholme refinery.

Jean-Marc Durand, general manager at TLOR, said: “2017 was an excellent year for the refinery and I thank everyone on the site for their hard work and commitment to our business.

“We can now look forward to

www.cube3construction.co.uk T: 01469 541737

Hire / Sales / Service Parts / Training / Access Platforms www.bjblifttrucks.co.uk

To further raise the profile of your company call Angie Atkinson on 01472 806963 angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

further investment projects at the refinery which will continue to build upon our competitiveness.

“Our partnership with Wood will provide strength of maintenance for the site.”

The transition to the new contract started at the end of last year where 88 staff were transferred to Wood.

Jerome Arnaud, maintenance manager at TLOR, said: “We wanted to maintain the on-site experience and knowledge that we have on our site while challenging ourselves to different ways of working. We are pleased that the transition phase has been completed successfully and Wood are now integrating into our business.”

Wood brings an experienced team, which is now based on the site.

Steve Henry, business manager for Wood, said: “Our employees are working on site providing fresh guidance and support. The team will be ensuring that planning, scheduling and execution of works all run smoothly while keeping our number one focus on safety and assurance.”

Wood has already worked extensively with Total. In 2015 the Aberdeen-based company secured a five year contract to deliver engineering procurement, constructions and commissioning services to four of Total’s offshore assets and two onshore facilities.

INVESTMENT: Jean-Marc Durand.

Changes on BASF’s board Awards for Jacobs

BASF has announced that Martin Brudermüller is to succeed Kurt Bock as chairman of the board of executive directors later this year.

The German giant, which operates a polymer plant on the outskirts of Grimsby, confirmed the move, which will take place at the end of the annual shareholders’ meeting on May 4.

The change will allow Dr Bock, who has chaired BASF since 2011, and has been a board director since 2003, to be elected as a member and chair of BASF’s Supervisory Board in 2020 after the end of the statutory two-year cooling-off period.

As a result, Hans-Ulrich Engel will become vice chairman, and remains chief financial officer. The board will also reduce from eight to seven members.

The South Bank site is one of nine BASF production units in the UK, having been added to the portfolio following the

purchase from Ciba Specialty Chemicals in 2009, which included the much larger site in Bradford A standalone facility employing around 50 people, it manufactures products used to enhance processing in the oilfield and mining industries.

In total BASF employs 1,400 people in the UK, with production of polyurethane systems at Alfreton, Derbyshire; omega-three fatty acids on the Isle of Lewis, biopesticides at Littlehampton, West Sussex; flooring systems at Redditch, Worcestershire; concrete ad-mixtures at Swinton, Greater Manchester; and rodenticides at Widnes, Cheshire; as well as recycling auto-catalysts in Cinderford, Gloucestershire.

BASF is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, between Frankfurt and Stuttgart, on the Rhine, with the UK division operating from offices in Cheadle, Cheshire.

Jacobs Engineering Group, in partnership with its clients, received four awards from leading industry organisations in the transportation and construction sectors as 2017 closed.

The UK team, which has a field services base in Grimsby, won a National Transport Award, two British Construction Industry Awards and an Institution of Structural Engineers award.

“These awards are a testament to the strong commitment of our people to performance excellence, which is one of Jacobs’ main competitive advantages,” said Jacobs’ buildings and

infrastructure president Bob Pragada. “Our people are focused on providing our clients the best, most innovative and cost-effective solutions to help them meet their goals. These winning projects highlight our leadership in the transportation and construction industry.”

For the National Transport Award was in partnership with Essex County Council, with British Construction Industry 2017 Awards in recognition of the Heysham to M6 Link Road and British Airways i360 projects, for which The Institution of Structural Engineers also recognised Jacobs.

STE-E01-S7

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

HUMBER business.com

connecting business across the region

CELEBRATING

OUR SECOND

YEAR

Your business news website’s milestone Y

OUR daily port of call for busi- viewed on the site since launch. ness news is celebrating two We have 4,100 Twitter followers, up 24 years of providing you with per cent year-on-year, with hundreds more across LinkedIn and Facebook the latest breaking stories.

An incredibly busy period, politically too. and economically, we’ve served up the And one of the best elements of the best the area has had to offer since whole package is its ability to come to January 2016.

Well aware of the overriding status of the Humber as the economic driver for the region, and how the north and south banks are intrinsically linked when it comes to trade, energy, chemical processing and the like, we brought the business desks of the Grimsby Telegraph, Scunthorpe Telegraph and Hull Daily Mail together. One single site to provide all you want to know about how the area is faring, who is doing what, and why.

We have embraced technology and used innovative digital solutions to provide thousands of readers with the only daily service of its kind – not only in this region, but in the UK. It has one main focus – to connect all our Humber businesses quickly and easily, to keep them up-to-date with the very latest news across both banks and to facilitate the ease in which they can do business and talk to each other, with information on events and vital advice.

Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Hull have their very own news sections where reports are uploaded daily, and NEWSLETTERS: How we hit your inbox. breaking news is added as it happens, with separate sections for individual business sectors too.

So how are we faring?

A total of 20,000 browsers are viewing more than 50,000 pages a month, with a Pages read since site launch staggering 750,000 pages of content

750,000

you. The free daily newsletter is dispatched to inboxes around the region and beyond – and we know we have some far flung followers out there too – with 679 subscribers to the service, up 69 per cent on the first year.

We aim to provide you with a key rundown on the day’s highlights before noon, allowing you to give yourself the ideal lunch briefing before powering into your afternoon.

The beauty of a web platform is we can continually add to it too, not limited by page space or supplement size. That means more detail on more of the stories that matter to you, more background information, and immediate links to previous developments within the same narrative.

We’ve also established dedicated commercial property and recruitment platforms within the edition, working with our key partners to provide a service they felt was needed.

More than 800 properties can now be browsed on Humberbusiness.com, while the latest career opportunities are listed alongside news of appointments and further job creation.

Roles posted have included production directors, management accountants, tool room technicians, quantity surveyors, systems engineers and many more.

All this, and lots more – including an archive of this publication – online at www.humberbusiness.com.

CLEAN AND CRISP: Humberbusiness.com screenshots, with the top three articles on the main panel, and links to the individual areas on the right.

your daily port of call for the latest and breaking business news around the Humber region

11

12

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Transformational year as pilot town deal and funding secured N

ORTH East Lincolnshire Council leader Ray Oxby has told of his pride at helping secure the pilot town deal for Greater Grimsby, as meetings loom to thrash out the detail of the innovative alternative to devolution.

The status was revealed in November as the Industrial Strategy was published, building on extensive work over the past year by public and private partners, as well as high profile individuals including distinguished ‘sons’ David Ross and Norman Lamont.

“It has been, in my opinion, a transformational year,” North East Lincolnshire Council’s senior figure said, reflecting on how the local authority quickly moved on in 2017 when desires for a regional powerbase fell by the wayside.

“The devolution deal for Lincolnshire was ultimately not a success, but it allowed us to get some strong contacts with government ministers and senior civil servants in Whitehall and Westminster. At the same time we cemented our ambitions through our economic strategy and draft local plan, to raise aspirations, grow business and improve skill levels as we look what opportunities the Energy Estuary is now offering.”

ABP and Ørsted were brought on board, as well as others, leading to a proposition that was lapped up by the likes of Business Secretary Greg Clark and other senior figures.

“The hugely momentous and significant announcement of us being a pilot in the Industrial Strategy white paper is the first time ever that this place has been recognised in a formal legislative setting as a model,” Cllr Oxby said. “Since then we have been approached by authorities across the country who want to see how we are making it happen.”

It is a pivotal moment in a 12 month period that has seen more than £30 million injected into the borough, while the profile is boosted too.

The Kazbah, often a focus when national media look for industrial northern abandon, is part of it, so too the surrounds of Alexandra Dock as town and port are harmonised.

Cllr Oxby was a guest at a launch by Ørsted at the Natural History Museum in London in December and UK managing director Matthew Wright referenced Grimsby four times, as it committed to support scientific work there, while basing its East Coast operations and maintenance hub – and with it 500 jobs – here. “Ørsted putting its business here, and the relationship we have with them is so important, while our relationship with ABP has got to the level where we are strong partners for the renaissance of the town and the port,” the

FUTURE BUILT ON HERITAGE: Grimsby’s Alexandra Dock, with icons Ross Tiger, Victoria Mills, and Corporation Road Bridge. Inset, Cllr Ray Oxby, left, and David Ross, with the Industrial Strategy which confirmed the pilot Town Deal status.

retired senior officer turned councillor said.

“Through our efforts and leadership, and recognising our role as a council as more of an enabler, our ambition remains undiluted, with a real sense of passion for the place, and partnerships based on trust and integrity.

“All of these things gelled together, and came at a time when David Ross was able to recognise our profile and ambition, and decided the direction was right for him to support growth in the town.

“He is already a partner in education through his academy chain, and he recognised the authority’s leadership was very credible. He has seen a direction, talent and leadership he wants to work with.”

Not just high profile civic figures and company partners, but civil servants too on

board, with strong relationships with the LEPs as well, and MPs playing a key role. Pragmatism above politics is the order of the day.

This momentum will now be harnessed, with Cllr Oxby keen to ensure it is delivered, working alongside NELC chief executive Rob Walsh, who he praised for his passion and deter mination.

“Rob and I are actively involved, and have met with Permanent Secretary to the Department for Communities and Local Government, Melanie Dawes, and we are meeting civil servants again to cement the formal deal,” Cllr Oxby said. “Hopefully we will get a Government minister to come up here to finalise it.

“In terms of reputation and profile, we are now finding success in bids we have not had before, be it Heritage Lottery or Coastal

Communities. We’ve brought in £32 million this past year into this area, an unprecedented amount of money, and it comes with credibility for delivering and managing in true partnership.”

Cleethorpes, Grimsby town centre, and the South Bank with the industrial development realisation are all very live programmes.

Garth Lane, with ABP “could be developed in the short to medium term,” with proposals for the prime town centre site. “That would be great if we can get this done in the next couple of years,” he said. “Investors and developers are working with us.”

“Now we have got to make sure we keep the momentum going. We need to have a programme of activity, that is sustained. That is very important to the structure.”

Funding for North East Lincolnshire HOW the ‘unprecedented’ cash has flowed into the borough or has been secured this year: ● £7.7m: South Humber Industrial Investment Programme, including £2.6m for Stallingborough Business Park from Humber Local Enterprise Partnership; £4m from Greater Lincolnshire LEP; £1.1m from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). ● £500,000: Heritage Action Zone funding, including NELC match ● £3.7m: Humber LEP funding match with £45,000 NELC for Town Centre Deal ● £570,000: Estates Regeneration Funding to accelerate housing

development on brownfield sites ● £9m: Energy programme, (ERDF) in partnership with Engie and Northamptonshire County Council ● £4m: Cleethorpes Townscape Heritage Project, with £1.9m Discover Cleethorpes Townscape Heritage Project from Heritage Lottery Fund, plus £1m match funding from NELC. Potential of £1.9m private sector match ● £3.8m: Coastal Communities Fund, with match £160,000 Local Transport Plan funds ● £500,000: Cycle Hub in Cleethorpes ● £1.5m: Environment Agency funding for terminal groynes

PLANS: How some of the investment may be spent in Cleethorpes.

WIND FARM WINDFALL: A first decade of offshore wind energy generation is upon is, with the new industry boosting the area’s economy.

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

SPADES IN THE GROUND: Work underway in Scunthorpe town centre.

Cllr Rob Waltham, third left, with Iain Lloyd, British Steel UK accounts manager, Ongo chief executive Andy Orrey, and Britcon director Shaun Hunt, on the first part of a £60 million investment for Ongo to relocate to new offices in Church Square. Right, Cllr Waltham with Clugston Group chief executive Bob Vickers, left, and project manager Jon Isle at the sod cutting of the first Lincolnshire Lakes site, with impressions below.

Building a future in the urban centre and rural hinterland...

House extension. This is a major scheme to help bring more people into the town – residents, visitors and businesses.

Through a council fund generated to encourage investment in Scunthorpe town broadband with more homes and centre, 14 properties have been businesses due to have it by either brought back into use, summer this year.

Work to investment £1 million to converted from commercial to residential or have been improved. transform the library into a The council is managing a Leader programme which has already helped 13 businesses and created 19.5 new jobs. There is still money available to support more rural businesses.

The council continues to support apprentices by creating opportunities within the council and encouraging other businesses to do the same.

We have great schools in North Lincolnshire – the vast majority (88 per cent) are rated good or outstanding, which is higher than the regional and national average.

We announced recently that we will invest £14 million to improve school buildings to create a better learning environment.

And we have excellent children’s services, having been rated Cllr Rob Waltham ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted (one of only three in the country to multi-use community hub is well achieve this). underway.

Last year, the council sold almost And earlier this month, work started on the new Church Square 22 acres of industrial development land in order to create

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council take a look back over a very productive period in his first 12 months at the helm.

S

uccesses that have provided more homes, leisure facilities, created jobs and led to more investment have been highlights in North Lincolnshire’s year.

Working with the Government through the local enterprise partnerships we are delivering many projects and making a real difference and generating prosperity.

Our role as a council is to encourage business expansion and start-ups in order for our residents to secure better paid jobs.

There is a commitment to partnership with business and particularly where housing is concer ned.

Following a government grant of £3 million there has been a huge success in creating more than 400 new jobs through the British Steel Support Fund Improvements to broadband services is continuing to develop.

Phase one and two of the Northern Lincolnshire Broadband Project are completed with 97 per cent of businesses and residents now benefiting from superfast

We are keen to encourage people to come and invest in North Lincolnshire, We have established a business-led marketing board with an Ambassador programme to raise the profile of the area

employment and deliver new business growth in North Lincolnshire.

In addition, a further 26 sales are progressing, eight more sales have since been agreed and seven other sites agreed for residential development through Government support to build rent to buy properties.

On the tourism front, we saw some major events take place in 2017 – North Lincolnshire hosted the Tour of Britain cycle race that attracted 200,000 visitors and brought £3.5m into the local economy. The event was screened live in almost 130 countries.

March this year will see the region’s first Go Ape open in TOUR-ISM: Tour of Britain 2017 and Go-Ape. North Lincolnshire at our fantastic Normanby Hall Country Park.

We are keen to encourage people to come and invest in North Lincolnshire, We have established a business-led marketing board with an Ambassador programme to raise the profile of the area to attract more investment, jobs, visitors and residents.

Looking back, we have achieved a great deal and I am proud that our business community have supported further investment in North Lincolnshire.

I intend to continue working to create a vibrant and thriving North Lincolnshire.

13

14

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Keeping the Humber trading W

ITH 95 per cent of all the UK’s trade being seaborne, the importance of a stable economy during Brexit for Britain is imperative.

infrastructure to meet customer needs. Immingham alone currently handles 175,000 boxes a year and aims to increase this number over the next 12 months.

ABP’s ongoing partnership with British Steel sees the cargo, manufactured locally Throughout 2017, ABP on the Humber has seen that the in Scunthorpe, being general state of trade across exported to countries in North Africa such as Algeria the country is healthy and and Egypt direct from the the company plans to port in Immingham. consolidate the successes As the country takes from the 12 months into another step towards a 2018’s plans for further greener UK, the import of growth. biomass or wood pellet, For example, in October, continues to steadily ABP acquired a 50-acre site increase. The commodity, in Immingham, within which is brought into close proximity of the UK’s Immingham from North largest port, to further America, is then distributed support and develop growth across to Drax Power within the region, to give Station where it is converted businesses a regional base, into lower carbon electricity. while nurturing local talent With the company’s by providing job business plan for future opportunities. growth and investment With specific areas of shortly due to be distributed targeted growth, such as the across the regions, the handling of containerised country’s largest port cargo, ABP continues to complex, the Humber, invest in its terminal areas, strives to increase its in order to improve and contribution towards provide effective economic growth.

INVESTING: The container terminal, left, where significant growth has triggered expansion, with Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminal above, and the recently acquired land to the right, close to the eastern entrance to Port of Immingham.

Humber Work Boats International and UK Marine and Dredging Contractors Vessel Construction and Repairs PROUD TO BE

RENEWING THE HUMBER View our website via the ports page on humberbusiness.com

www.humberworkboats.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1469 540156 sales@humberworkboats.co.uk

AGGREGATES

WASTE MANAGEMANT

CONTRACT EARTHWORKS

PLANT HIRE

HAULAGE

RECYCLING

/Skip Hire /Waste Transfer Station Tel: 01472 241342

/Plant /Haulage /Aggregates /Eathworks Tel: 01472 341499

waste@brianplant.com

info@brianplant.com

www.brianplant.com

STE-E01-S7

STE-E01-S7

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

15

Why GDPR affects you W

hy GDPR affects YOU. Jonathan Goolden, partner and regulatory law specialist at Wilkin Chapman LLP solicitors, tackles an emerging issue.

ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY: Wilkin Chapman has completed a first year in Cartergate House.

Commissioner is keen to point out that for over 17,000 cases investigated over the last year, only 16 have resulted in fines.

Do you think it won’t affect you? Then think again.

If you keep any sort of GDPR – one of those words ‘personal data’ the that has been floating around regulations WILL affect you. for a couple of years, a bit like Do you employ staff ? You store personal data.

Brexit. We know it’s happening, but what effect is Do you have customers that it really going to have on you you invoice? You store and your business? personal data.

Do you have a website? Does Well, unlike Brexit, which it have a contact form? You will take a number of years store personal data. before we finally start to feel the changes, the Do you have a CCTV European General Data system? You will be storing Protection Regulation the personal data of the people you film.

(GDPR) is happening on May 25, 2018, so you What should you be doing to don’t have long to ensure prepare for GDPR now? your business is GDPR Businesses need to compliant. understand the potential GDPR relates to all impact on their business. organisations that handle They need advice, they need EU citizens’ data and failure to audit their business, understand the potential to comply could, in extreme risks and deal with securing cases, lead to fines of 20 the ‘personal data’ they hold million euros or 4 per cent now. of a company’s annual turnover for data breaches, Wilkin Chapman is running though the UK’s Information four GDPR seminars for

businesses across the region.

They will be covering all areas of GDPR from both the HR and employment law aspects – what your HR teams need to know to how to handle data loss, what information you need to give to customers and suppliers and whether you need to appoint a data protection officer.

The vast majority of businesses we talk to, particularly the smaller ones, are simply not prepared for GDPR. They either think it’s not happening until May so there is no need to worry or that it does not affect them, but it does and they need to be preparing for it now.

It is no good ignoring GDPR and hoping it will go way because it will not. GDPR is happening.

To book onto an event, visit wilkinchapman.co.uk/events or for further information, contact Jonathan Goolden on 01472 262626 or email jonathan.goolden@ wilkinchapman.co.uk

GOOD ADVICE: Wilkin Chapman’s Jonathan Goolden.

/LVW Recruitment

!

16

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Gearing up for the digital era T

HE past year has been an exciting one for AP Robinson & Co, with the acquisition of Cooke Webster & Co, an investment in a rebrand, new website and an app for smartphones marking 23 years in business.

“With the rapid advances in technology it is now more important than ever that clients can manage their accounts on the go,” Andrew Robinson, managing partner said.

“We wanted to make our services as flexible as possible and this was the perfect way to do this. The world of accountancy is changing beyond recognition.

“With Making Tax Digital coming in and all the cloud-based services being offered, small business will look to accountants like ourselves for advice more than

EXCITING YEAR: AP Robinson and Co acquired Cooke, Webster & Co of Barton. Left, Andrew Robinson, second left, shakes hands with Andrew Cooke, flanked by Garry Stanley and Sarah Bainbridge outside the Barton office. Above, the Grimsby base on Riby Square. ever.” Commenting on how businesses can prepare for the upcoming changes, Andrew said: “For businesses to be prepared for Making Tax Digital we advise them to review their internal accounting systems to ensure they are in a position to feed relevant, accurate and timely

data directly into the HMRC system. This makes it an ideal opportunity to review their current accounting setup now. I think it would be fair to say that many sole traders are still very paper-focused and in anticipation of Making Tax Digital, now would be a good time to look how IT can help

their business.

“For many this will be daunting, however the good news is that MTD will ultimately save our clients time, and give them better information about the performance of their business, helping them earn more money.

Community matters.

We Proudly Support the Local Community Cristal Pigment UK Ltd (Cristal) has been part of the Stallingborough community for 60 years and is committed to giving back to the community in which we work, live and play. Through our Cristal Community Team, we work with local charities, schools, colleges and many other community organisations. Our employees are actively encouraged to participate in charity work and volunteering, and within our long-serving and loyal workforce, we have many club leaders and volunteers who provide services to local organisations.

Cristal is the world’s second-largest producer of TiO2, a bright white powder made from titanium ore that has the ability to pigment virtually any material. TiO2 makes possible the opacity, brightness and durability in paint and plastics that have made many consumer products more cost efficient, easier to use and friendlier to the environment.

www.cristal.com

“Our commitment to providing ‘cloud-based’ solutions will smooth this process putting us in a good position to help family businesses and SMEs of all sizes navigate their way through these changes.

“Our aim is to make the transition to digital as

straightforward as possible for our clients.

“It is our belief that the accounting profession needs to keep up with technological advances if we are to empower change, and inspire confidence in a future increasingly marked by rapid change.”

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

17

Humber team bolstered as new office opened in Birmingham D

UE to its continued success and in line with the On Line Group development and growth plans, On Line People is expanding its team in the Humber region, while also opening a new office in Birmingham city centre.

From the Pelham Road base, On Line People has continued to grow year-on-year and has increased its market share by offering a solid recruitment solution to some of the region’s leading organisations.

Due to that success, and while striving to ensure it meets and exceeds client expectations in what has become a candidate-driven market within the process engineering sector – particularly in and around the Humber region – the team has been further strengthened with the appointment of two new staff members who will be supporting with the business development and administration.

New recruitment software is also being brought in, to ensure it offers clients a continued level of professional and personalised service, while developing systems to support the business through this time of growth.

Managing director Richard Palin said: “By maintaining our current service

levels and continuing our investment in new software, we will ensure our existing and new clients will receive the levels of service and support expected as one of the region’s leading ‘professional staffing’ companies.”

Based in Brindley Place in the centre of one of Birmingham’s key business areas, the new office will provide an extension of the current professional and technical engineering services provided by the Immingham office.

The West Midlands base will be typically offering temporary, contract and permanent recruitment solutions within automotive, aerospace, building services, process engineering and industrial automation, to match and suit the client needs. The team comprises of three new recruiters in the Birmingham office that will have the support, and utilise the experience of the business and administration support teams based in Immingham.

To find out more about the growth of On Line People, and the roles currently available, visit their website www.olpeople.co.uk. If you are currently recruiting and would like to find out more on how On Line People can benefit your business, make contact through the portal on the website, or call Richard on 07710 726622.

GROWTH: The On Line People Immingham office team, with Richard Palin, centre.

Business Hive is a ‘fantastic mix of great ambition and growth’

TEAMWORK: The Business Hive team.

Front, from left, Jo Taylor and Sam Burgess. Back, Carrie Cordell, Jenny Niblock and Emma Cox.

A UNIQUE club for businesses of all sizes with more than 300 local members is a “fantastic” platform to grow, expand and explore new business opportunities.

The not-for-profit Grimsby-based Business Hive Club, is a bespoke community of businesses small and large and has been described as a platform that offers “meaningful support and real prospects”.

Launched in 2014, the club’s 300-plus members pay £25 a month for support, networking opportunities and a wealth of other services provided at the Dudley Street hub.

By joining the ever-expanding club, businesses can more easily work together through networking in a productive and collaborative working environment that can boost the growth of business in North East Lincolnshire.

Sam Burgess, Business Hive manager, said that the “really diverse” mix of businesses already signed up to the club can provide “big benefits” for all members.

Business Hive for hot-desking or meetings, free access and enrolment to a business directory and a chance to see some of the best business speakers in the country.

Alan Horton, account executive for Henderson Insurance said: “Six months into our membership, myself and colleague Joe Francis have established and HAPPY MEMBERS: Alan Horton, left, and Adam Lovell. developed some fantastic relationships from Business She said: “The thing we are and do business.”

Adam Lovell, development Hive introductions, and in most proud of is that we addition the variety of events bring businesses together of director at Pepperells and support would all sizes, we have a fantastic Solicitors corroborates encourage me to recommend mix of small businesses with Sam’s words. He said: “The Hive has proven to be just as The Hive to anyone looking great ambition, to medium its name suggests, busy, to enhance their business.” companies that are buzzing and ultimately very Also included in the experiencing amazing productive. We have had a Business Hive Club package growth, right through to base in Grimsby for more is free access to a vast range high end international than a year now and the Hive of business events, businesses - which means has been integral in helping workshops, expos and master that there’s a lot of us build solid, long-term, classes, which will see a host networking and lots of strategic partnerships which of business experts deliver opportunities to grow. had justified our continued “I know that businesses investment into the region.” talks showcasing their ideas have been able to expand and Businesses that are signed on how to flourish to develop since joining us. members. Details are up benefit from access to “We are at the heart of the trained advisers, free HR and available and updated on community and are simply website health and safety support, the friendliest place to come access to the Dudley Street www.businesshive.net

18

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Couple’s driving force is clear D

RIVER Hire Grimsby and Scunthorpe is heading into its third year under the ownership of directors Jayne Anne and Michael O’Flynn.

indeed we will know you, and we are on hand to deliver the best possible service to you at all times. Continuity is a key component in our business.

Our services are offered seamlessly throughout the year, even on They are part of a network of owned Christmas Day!” businesses that makes up the UK’s largest specialist transport and As well as training and recruitment, logistics recruitment company, with Driver Hire provides clients with the more than 30 years’ experience confidence of being serious about supporting fleet operators and the compliance checks on all the logistics business throughout the UK. fully-vetted candidates. Driver Hire This year has seen it move to a Grimsby and Scunthorpe takes bigger office on Grimsby’s Europarc, training very seriously and since the having taken on a new member of staff O’Flynn’s took over the business, they to help with the expansion of the have engaged in a programme of business.

It was also named Best HGV Provider upskilling drivers through CPC Training. at the Yorkshire and the Humber The team also believes strongly in Enterprise Awards 2017, while being playing a key part in the community it nominated for the Grimsby Institute Training Excellence Award at the serves and thrives within.

Northern Lincolnshire Business Mrs O’Flynn said: “Driver Hire Awards 2017.

Grimsby and Scunthorpe is focused on Mr O’Flynn said: “Our team offers giving back to the community. Our golf temporary and permanent driving day was such a success in 2017, we are jobs, non-driving work and Driver CPC organising an even bigger event this training, supplying staff to companies year, in support of When You Wish in northern Lincolnshire.

Upon a Star at the fabulous Laceby “Established on the South Bank in Manor Golf Club.”

1998, we are a business that delivers a To find out more call Driver Hire very professional and personal service Grimsby & Scunthorpe on 01472 357171 to our clients 24/7. or email grimsby@driverhire.co.uk “You deal with staff you know and

TEAM: Driver Hire Grimsby and Scunthorpe operations manager, Tom Hall, left, and directors, Jayne Anne O’Flynn and Michael O’Flynn.

18th century charm is fused with contemporary culinary excellence THE picturesque Stallingborough Grange Hotel and Restaurant, in Riby Road, Stallingborough, dates back to the 18th century and offers not only a warm welcome but comfortable surroundings and quality service.

Newly-renovated in 2013, the thatched roof is a feature which gives the premises a real, country feel and is the perfect choice for business meetings, awards dinners, weddings, countryside stays and cosy dining.

Menus offer a wide selection of traditional and modern cuisine all carefully prepared by head chef Daniel Blow and his team. The hotel has been awarded the coveted AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence for the last three years and a delightful ‘Round the World’ wine list also accompanies their menus; which changes seasonally using the highest quality ingredients and local suppliers.

Whether it’s dining with friends or colleagues, enjoy a drink in the lounge bar or in their beautiful gardens. The relaxed and intimate restaurant, which is open daily, features oak panelling and beautiful fireplaces overlook the koi pond. The bar and restaurant is open to non-residents and children are welcome.

And if you prefer a more informal dining experience with a pot of tea, coffee, or a hand

pulled ale, then Thatcher’s Inn offers a relaxed atmosphere.

Complimentary wi-fi enables you to stay connected to the wider world, while you stay at the hotel which offers a 24 hour reception and free parking.

If you are making a night of it or attending a wedding, then Stallingborough Grange offers elegance with traditional furnishings and modern comforts.

Many rooms have views out across the gardens or to the surrounding countryside.

A selection of rooms are available including standard classic rooms to superior. Family rooms sleep up to two children and easy access rooms are also available.

And should you choose the venue for your wedding day or honeymoon, a dedicated team can help to make your dreams come true.

For more than 25 years, the venue has been a much sought-after place for couples.

For those looking to conduct their ceremony at Stallingborough Grange, both civil marriages and civil partnerships are held in the Buttercross Suite for up to 65 guests.

Mindful of attention to detail, staff are on For a wedding breakfast it can welcome 120 hand to tend to every need, ensuring a day to guests, and for an evening celebration, up to 150 remember. guests.

Plans to construct a state-of-the-art wedding venue, catering for up to 200 guests, are also being brought forward this year.

your daily port of call for the latest and breaking business news around the Humber region

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

19

Ports & Logistics

in association with

GREAT NEWS: From left, Eddie Green, executive vice president logistics division at DFDS, Michael Edwards, Alphatrans, Allan Bell, vice president of DFDS logistics.

Picture: Jon Corken

Humber Work Boats

Marine Contracting, Dredging and Boat Building www.humberworkboats.co.uk Tel: 01469 540156

Specialist haulier deal completes for DFDS G

ERMAN authorities have approved DFDS’ takeover of specialist logistics provider Alphatrans.

The go-ahead from Berlin led to the immediate completion of the deal, and while the two businesses were headquartered in Denmark and Holland respectively, the South Bank of the Humber is a substantial operating base for both.

DFDS, which has its UK headquarters in Immingham, has now acquired all shares in Alphatrans, which will retain the significant facility off the A160 at South Killingholme.

The abnormal load specialist will now be adopted under the DFDS brand, with both companies having spoken optimistically about expansion opportunities when the deal was announced in November.

As reported, DFDS executive vice president Eddie Green, who played a key role in the acquisition of Grimsby’s Quayside Distribution three years earlier, met with many of the 43 staff at the base days after it was made public.

Speaking at the time, he said: “We have looked at Alphatrans for a long time as a

potential acquisition target, they do a lot of good things and we see opportunities to expand the business because of the network we have as DFDS. It is quite a specialist business, people have a lot of knowledge and if we can spread that in to DFDS it will be good for the people here, good for the existing business and good for the port as well. We hope to facilitate growth, it is really about expansion.

“People do get nervous about change, about

redundancy or relocation, but we have no plans for that. This is about making sure all the business will thrive.

“For us, in the area, we are keen to expand and employ more people, particularly to develop a driving force.”

Europe-wide, Alphatrans – established in 1994 – has 197 employees and a fleet of 720 trailers and 125 trucks to be consolidated into the DFDS business. Like DFDS, as well as the UK, where it first began in Hessle before moving to the former H&L Garages site at the Eastfield Road junction, it also operates in Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Ireland, with further locations in Hungary, Portugal and Romania.

The latter are welcome additions for the DFDS team, based in Nordic House on Port of Immingham’s Western Access Road.

Michael Edwards, who heads up the UK operation for Alphatrans, said: “I believe the opportunities this gives us under the DFDS banner are great.

“They have got a lot of people that we can tap in to and we have the specialist knowledge in long, wide, high and low movements, that I’m sure DFDS has clients for.”

App eases ordering of deliveries for Nisa members NISA has developed a new mobile app to help its members place their orders more easily.

The specialist delivered wholesaler’s software is designed as a simple tool which enables retailers to build and place orders, price check products and promotions and view deliveries on tablets and smartphones.

Peter Walker, head of business systems at the Scunthorpe giant, said: “The app has been created to help our members and make their lives that little bit easier. It allows retailers to check products, promotional offers, place orders and check deliveries while they are on the move.”

The app has a scanning function which allows retailers to quickly

create orders and search for products in-store using the device camera.

Mr Walker said: “It is a simple, no-cost option for retailers to quickly create and place orders.

Stand-alone hand-held ordering units have, to date, been a costly piece of equipment and often restrictive to use. With this app, the full Nisa range can now be easily searched regardless of location, and with the quick order function utilising the mobile devices existing camera to read barcodes, ordering is now simpler and faster than ever.”

A utilities function has also been developed which allows retailers to quickly calculate any combination of margin, cost or sell

to help maximise profits in store.

And members can also use the app to quickly check their Nisa deliveries and see presells, substitutions and amendments to orders.

The app has now been launched to all members following a trial period which was well received by retailers involved in the pilot.

Mr Walher added: “The members who have been trialling the app have been very complimentary and they are finding it a very simple and efficient process.

“I’m confident it will make a big difference to our members as they get on board in the coming weeks.”

For the latest and breaking business news around the Humber region

To further raise the profile of your company call Angie Atkinson on 01472 806963

angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Month in Review Triton Knoll leader role ENERGY: Triton Knoll project director James Cotter has stepped down, having successfully steered the offshore wind farm development to its final investment decision, with consents and subsidy in place.

The leading figure presented at several regional events, including conferences held by Grimsby Renewables Partnership and Team Humber Marine Alliance, and championed the use of Able Marine Energy Park at North Killingholme for the 860MW Round Two project.

Mr Cotter – who is likely to emerge in a senior role with Shell as the oil giant embraces renewables – underlined the need for a strong strategy for offshore wind as he announced his departure.

Julian Garnsey will now head up the project. He is described as a highly experienced offshore construction manager.

Airport schedule boost SECTOR: Humberside Airport has landed eight new short break destinations for 2018.

Working with Super Break, and building on the sell-out success of flights heading to northern Iceland next month and Seville in the summer, Malta, Verona, Florence, Madiera, Montenegro, and Gibraltar tours have been added, as well as returns to Iceland, for both Midnight Sun and North Lights experiences.

20

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Business Support

in association with

Key reminder as end of January deadline looms D

on’t forget to file your tax return by January 31!

That’s the message from Nolan Gooch, head of tax advisory at Haines Watts, as we fast approach the annual deadline.

01472 311711 bmcf.co.uk

T: 01652 680888 www.hibl.co.uk

Grimsby t: 01472 350601 Scunthorpe t: 01724 863105 www.fb-digital.co.uk

Chartered Accountants in Grimsby - T: 01472 355215 Scunthorpe - T: 01724 844876 www.hwca.com

Without the support of these companies this page would not be possible.

For your company to included contact Angie Atkinson on

01472 806963 angle.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

But while this is a particularly busy time of the year for accountants, Nolan is keen to explain that there are lots of other issues and changes which business owners and the self employed need to be fully aware of in 2018.

He said: “We have been going through a period where there have been numerous changes to a variety of different tax and compliance matters affecting businesses. It has been hard for people to keep track of all the new rules.

“This comes at a time when business confidence has fallen significantly with 31 per cent of businesses surveyed by the Federation of Small Businesses expecting trade to worsen in the coming months.”

Added to this are recent changes as a result of November’s budget.

David Richardson, senior manager at Haines Watts, said: “It seems that we are all now used to the fact that we have to carry on with business through uncertain times as we await the affects that Brexit may have on the way we trade.

“Business owners have been hit hard in the last 12 months with lots of changes potentially harming the bottom line profit.

“Many local company owners will just be feeling the pinch for the first time in respect of the effect of the increased personal tax rates on dividends as they make their final income tax payments for 2016/17 this month.

“This follows on closely from recent hikes in the percentage rates used by many small businesses under the VAT Flat Rate Scheme last year, and the

ON-LINE RETURNS: Senior manager David Richardson, left, and head of tax advisory services, Nolan Gooch, at Haines Watts chartered accountants, Grimsby, who are reminding people that time is running out for completing their annual tax return online. fact that employer pension contributions under auto enrolment are set to increase by 1 per cent from April 6.

“We also have all the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of Making Tax Digital by HM Revenue & Customs plus the introduction of GDPR from May 25, which will further increase business red tape.”

Against a backdrop of uncertainty and rate rises, the real opportunity for many local companies during this time has been the qualification for enhanced tax relief under the Research and Development Tax Credit scheme. Nolan said: “Lots of local companies have made successful claims but there are many more that haven’t as they probably think it will not apply to

them. We would urge anybody who is unsure to take professional advice so that they do not lose out on what they are entitled to.”

For help with how all the changes will affect you or if you would like to know more about R&D Tax credits, contact Haines Watts in Grimsby 01472 355215 grimsby@hwca.com or Scunthorpe 01724 844876 scunthorpe@hwca.com

Funding support event takes place next month Successful entrepreneurs and business leaders will highlight opportunities for North Lincolnshire business to secure finance at a major event in Scunthorpe.

Guests at The Baths Hall will be told how to access Government cash through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund which has more than £400-million to invest, ranging from £25,000 to £2 million.

The event, which starts at 8am, has been brought together by North Lincolnshire Council through the Place Marketing Board in partnership with the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Hub and Pepperells Solicitors.

The speakers will include North Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Rob Waltham MBE, Humber LEP chair Lord Haskins; Mark Wilcockson, senior relationship manager at the British Business Bank and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund; Sam Latus, director, Latus Training and Whey Box; and Ash Lewis, chief executive of AshTV. Nina Stobart, pictured, chair of the North Lincolnshire Place Marketing Board, said: “Access to finance is often cited as the most significant barrier to business growth. This event will demonstrate that there are options available that can help you expand your

business.

“We will hear from businesses which have taken investment from the Norther n Powerhouse Investment Fund and the team leading the charge to make further investments across the wider Humber region.”

It follows this week’s launch of the Ambassador Programme in North Lincolnshire, with a major breakfast event at Forest Pines Hotel.

Cllr Waltham said: “We are creating a place that is attractive to potential investors and helping to showcase the excellent workforce that our employers have access to in North Lincolnshire and this event is confirmation of that.

“It will give local businesses the chance to find out how they can get their hands on vital growth capital funds, being made available through the Government’s Northern Powerhouse initiative.

“The council is working with our partners, including the Humber LEP, to create opportunities for existing firms or those aspiring entrepreneurs.

“This event will kick-start ideas that create significant investment in North Lincolnshire and the jobs that go with that. In addition our advisors will work with business to support them to start or grow.”

The breakfast meeting on February 13 will explain how the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund distributes cash through micro-finance, debt finance and equity finance.

It uses funding from the Government, European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

To book tickets for The Baths Hall breakfast event, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/funding-businessgrowth-tickets-41751653319 For more details about North Lincolnshire’s Ambassador Programme, email businessinfo@northlincs.gov.uk or call 01724 297330.

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Business Support in association with

FREE OF CHARGE: Diners and residents can top up the EVs.

Relax and recharge...

T

info@gskelsey.co.uk www.gskelsey.co.uk

01724 854362 G.S. Kelsey Construction Ltd

HE Oak Ridge Group is delighted to announce its commitment to low carbon emissions with a new service now available for all guests and residents to

Taking it a step further, the Oak Ridge Group is also assessing other services they offer the business traveller. Conscious of the growing demands on the corporate world, where ever more needs to be squeezed into each working enjoy. day, the Oak Ridge Group has devised a Both the Ashbourne Hotel in North convenient service.

Killingholme, and the Brackenborough Hotel in The “Express Service” at both hotels, mainly Louth have become Tesla Destination Charging targeting people dining on their lunch breaks, Partners, joining only a handful of other has been met with an enthusiastic response by properties in Lincolnshire offering the facility. local business clientele. A simple idea in The Tesla Wall Connector is a complimentary essence, addressing a vital need for anyone who amenity for all guests, allowing Tesla owners to needs to keep an eye on the time. By simply charge their vehicles, while either dining in the emailing through a lunch order on the day of restaurant or staying overnight. Not only do the dining, with details of meal choices, numbers RELAXING: The Ashbourne Hotel at North hotels offer the facility as a benefit for Tesla and timings, this ensures that your meal will be Killingholme. vehicle owners, there are also second charging ready to leave the kitchen upon arrival. points available at each property – suitable for “In the most recent budget, the Government Mr Lidgard said: “We’ve all been out for lunch other electric vehicle models. allocated around £500 million to encourage on a one-hour break, only to anxiously watch The dedicated Tesla charging points are motorists to buy electric vehicles, and to the clock all the way through, wondering when visible in the car’s navigation system, and the improve the infrastructure for motorists who the food will arrive. Even if it comes fairly service allows the driver the option of relaxing drive them. Therefore, it is important that as an swiftly, it isn’t guaranteed, and defeats the with a quick lunch while the car tops up on industry, we embrace this green initiative. object of that one-hour period of peace, leisure power.

Following feedback from our guests, we felt this and relaxation that you were hoping to achieve Electric vehicles are continuing to grow at a by leaving the office in the first place!” rapid rate with car manufacturers such as Tesla was a no brainer.

“We go to great lengths to add value to the To obtain a copy of the Express Service order Motors producing revolutionary, eco-friendly experience and hospitality we provide at our vehicles. form, or to see the lunchtime menus, visit hotels, and this seemed like a logical step, in a www.oakridgehotels.co.uk, or contact the Oak Ridge Group chairman, Ashley Lidgard, time when more and more people are looking to Ashbourne on 01469 541010, or the said: “We are delighted to be a Tesla Charging Brackenborough on 01507 609169.

Partner in Lincolnshire. switch over to a ‘cleaner’ type of vehicle.”

A leader in the field!

NFU praises law firm Delighted representatives from law firm Wilkin Chapman have been presented with the NFU’s first ever award for legal excellence.

As part of the NFU Legal Assistance Scheme’s 30th birthday celebrations during 2017, it was decided to create an NFU Legal Panel Excellence Award.

Audits judged each legal firm based on a set of criteria – and Wilkin Chapman, which is the NFU’s Legal Panel firm for Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire – scored the highest.

With seven offices across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Wilkin Chapman is the region’s largest law firm, and serves a national client base as well as local.

Partner Andrew Holt and colleague Eloise Tuplin were guests at a special event to mark the Legal Assistance Scheme’s anniversary and were presented with the award by the director general of the NFU, Terry Jones

and the chairman of the panel, Trevor Foss.

Mr Holt said: “We are honoured to receive this inaugural award ahead of 15 other legal panel firms. This was so unexpected but we are absolutely delighted to have received this recognition from the NFU. We work very hard to ensure that we provide the best possible service to the NFU and legal advice to its members.”

NFU East Midlands regional director, Gordon Corner, said: “We are very proud that Wilkin Chapman has been awarded the first Legal Panel Excellence Award – it shows the commitment and hard work they put into the relationship, one that the NFU enjoys with all three of the region’s legal panel firms.

“Members benefit from our close working relationship on many issues connected with their farming businesses, from contracts and tenancy issues to renewable energy, employment and insolvency. Well done to all at Wilkin Chapman on winning this inaugural award."

Housing Management Property Development Community Investment 01724 279900 | www.ongo.co.uk

www.ashbournehotel.co.uk T: 01469 541010 Without the support of these companies this page would not be possible For you company to be included contact

Angie Atkinson on

01472 806963

angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Search commercial properties for sale or to rent Visit

www.humberbusiness.com/ commercialproperty

21

22

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Training

in association with

Redwood Park Estate, Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire, DN41 8TH www.hcfcatch.com Tel: 01469 552843

For the latest and breaking business news around the Humber region

UTC has a role to play in year of engineering, says its head H

umber University Technical College is looking to play a key part in the 2018 Year of Engineering, as it gears up for its next open day.

To further profile your training company contact Angie Atkinson 01472 806963 angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Engineers have been at the forefront of the technology-led transformation that has changed the way we live over the past half-century and we are at the forefront of creating the next generation of innovative thinkers to work in this fast-moving world Marc Doyle

as a conditional offer from education associate, the University of Hull.

The open day, on January 30, follows a successful event in November when 60 people visited to A nationwide campaign has been meet students and staff and explore instigated to plug a skills gap in the the £12 million facilities in vital sector, which feeds into so Scunthorpe town centre, which many of the key drivers of the local include a computer lab, electronics economy that it has become one. and wind tunnel.

There is an estimated shortfall of Humber UTC principal, Marc 20,000 engineering graduates Doyle, said: “Our most recent open annually in the UK, and the day was a fantastic event and we campaign will work with industry were delighted that 100 per cent of partners to offer one million direct people who visited said they were experiences of engineering to interested in joining the UTC. young people with the aim of “We also had excellent support inspiring the next generation to from our employer partners with begin a career in the sector. nine companies attending on the The move closely follows the evening. approach already taken at the “Everyone who attended also Humber UTC, which has strong rated the event as ‘excellent’ which links with leading local, regional, shows that our approach of national and multi-national allowing students to take visitors engineering companies. on tours and answer questions to These include British Steel, give a true picture of life at the UTC Cristal and Phillips 66 Humber works.”

Refinery.

Humber UTC was recently named All students who successfully the UK’s best performing for the complete their studies are progress of 14 to 16-year-olds. To guaranteed an interview with one mirror the world of work, an extended school day from Monday of these employer partners as well

LOOKING AHEAD: Humber UTC principal Marc Doyle with students. to Thursday with an earlier finish on Fridays operates at Church Square.

Students wear business dress as part of the employer-inspired setting and as days are longer, there is limited homework.

The UTC is open to pupils from years 10 to 13 and offers a specialist curriculum based around the skills gaps identified locally, as well as core subjects.

Students at the UTC, which opened in 2015, also work on real tasks which reflect the challenges employers face on a day-to-day basis.

Mr Doyle said: “Our next open day falls at the start of the Year of Engineering and I want to

encourage young people and their friends and families to come and see us, even if they have not thought about a career in engineering before.

“Engineers have been at the forefront of the technology-led transformation that has changed the way we live over the past half-century and we are at the forefront of creating the next generation of innovative thinkers to work in this fast-moving world,” A small number of places are still available for the 2017 intake for years 10 and 12 with applications for all years starting next September now open.

The open event takes place from 5pm and 8pm.

Responsible Fishing Ports Scheme now being rolled out by Seafish A certification scheme is being developed to promote good practice in UK fishing ports and give seafood buyers added confidence in the quality and sustainability of the seafood landed there.

In a move to assure buyers of a fishing port’s good practice, Seafish is currently running a Responsible Fishing Ports Scheme pilot programme and is seeking input and feedback from the seafood industry and other interested parties, as part of a public consultation which was published last month.

The scheme aims to promote responsible operating practices in UK fishing ports and is focusing on five core elements: ● Food safety and structural integrity ● Port and the working environment ● Care for the environment ● Care of the catch ● Traceability Pilot audits at four fishing ports across the country have just been completed by Acoura Marine, an independent third party appointed as the certification body to carry out the trials.

Feedback from the pilot audits has been used to further develop the standard to ensure it is fit for

purpose. Responses to the public consultation, which is open for 60 days, will also generate useful feedback to inform further changes to the draft standard.

The project is being driven by the British Ports Association Fishing Ports Group in an effort to develop consistency, and improve standards and transparency across UK fishing ports, while providing a guarantee of good practice to buyers and the wider supply chain.

The current standard has been developed for large ports but future development of the standard will include a separate version to suit small ports and harbours.

RFPS project manager at Seafish, Marcus Jacklin, said: “The vast majority of UK fishing ports are already acting in a responsible manner and working to a high standard. This scheme will give assurances to buyers that these high standards are being adhered to.

“The five core elements we are focusing on reflect the main priorities of seafood buyers and by assessing these, we can assure all parts of the supply chain that certified fishing ports and auctions are acting responsibly and following good practice.”

DANGEROUS WORK: Just what would today’s working practices make of this undated scene on Grimsby Fish Docks?

Ice-covered planks, fish baskets strewn everywhere and not a safety helmet in sight. Lumpers were hardy men who took the job in their stride.

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

23

Careers

Partner status for duo

Sponsored by

T

HE region’s largest law firm has welcomed two new partners as it strengthens its commitment to attracting and retaining talent in the area.

Joshua Briggs and Steve Hennegan are delighted to take up their new positions at Wilkin Chapman.

At 32, Joshua is the youngest of the firm’s 44-strong team of partners. A former pupil at Waltham Leas, Tollbar Academy and Franklin College in Grimsby, he was at a crossroads when he left his studies with three A-levels.

“While my results were good, I am the first one to say they were not fantastic,” he said. “I did not let this hold me back. It just demonstrated to me that more resolute determination needed to be applied.”

He was accepted for the role as trainee legal executive at the firm in 2004 – beginning his legal training a year later. After nine years of working and studying simultaneously he qualified as a solicitor. Now, three years on from then, he has made partner, working within the commercial litigation department.

“Looking back, it would have been very easy for me to have given in. Working and studying at the same time was incredibly hard work, but I never lost sight of my goal,” said Joshua.

Now living in Cleethorpes with wife Phillippa, Joshua is a governor at Franklin College and returns there and to Tollbar Academy to tell his story to today’s students.

Steve, 44, is another example of a professional who has grown within Wilkin Chapman, having relocated to the Lincoln area after meeting his wife Claire.

Engineering, Design, Project Management Recruitment and Construction Services

Property specialist joins

NEW PARTNERS: Wilkin Chapman’s Steve Hennegan, left, and Joshua Briggs.

An experienced legal executive, he worked for a number of leading Manchester firms as well as a large regional firm in the Kent area.

Steve, who read history in Bolton, joined Wilkin Chapman’s personal injury team in 2008 from a firm in Altrincham, Cheshire where he was head of the personal injury department.

He went on to complete the graduate diploma in Law in 2013,

Geoff ’s a Catch for AIS AIS Training has appointed a new business development manager to support key clients across the region and raise awareness of its services in the Humber, Midlands and South of England.

Geoff Croft, from Scotter, near Scunthorpe, will be based at the company’s facilities at Catch in Stallingborough, and will be responsible for promoting the extensive portfolio of wind, oil and gas and industrial courses to regional businesses and those further afield to help them develop a highly skilled, safe and competent workforce.

Originally from Liverpool, the 43-year-old is married with two children, and has a solid background in sales having worked in senior business development roles for the past 10 years with organisations such as Grimsby Institute, security specialist Orbis and Ingeus.

Geoff said: “Joining AIS Training really excites me. The company has a unique and highly innovative approach to business, which explains why it has grown so phenomenally since its inception ten years ago. AIS Training works very closely with its clients to truly understand their needs and provides everything from online training management to free finance, accommodation and tailored training solutions to help improve

safety and productivity. I’m really looking forward to talking to regional businesses to find out how we can help them now and in the future. My aim is for AIS Training at Catch to become the place to go for GWO wind training in the region.”

Prior to sales, he had a career in the forces and worked abroad in places like Marbella and Egypt.

His first priority will be to get to grips with AIS Training’s extensive product range, which includes more than 400 training and competency courses approved by the world’s leading accreditation and standard setting bodies.

These courses are delivered at AIS’s state-of-the-art training centres based at strategic locations around the UK including Newcastle, Aberdeen and Stallingborough, where AIS is located at Catch. It provides world-class training and competency courses for the energy, engineering and renewables industries.

Gavin Taylor, commercial director at AIS, said: “We are delighted to welcome Geoff and to our expanding business development team. He has a fantastic track record of building strong client relationships and we’re confident he’ll become a great asset for the business community across Lincolnshire.”

and the Legal Practice Course in 2015, before qualifying as a solicitor in 2016.

Working in the firm’s Grimsby and Lincoln offices, he said: “It is a delight to be involved in the future here at Wilkin Chapman and I am immensely proud of the work we do in helping many deserving people.”

As a senior professional who is passionate about personal injury

law, he holds the true values and reputation of the firm extremely highly.

“There is no doubt that our work is highly regarded in an area of law that can be both sensitive and complex. Using the full range of skills we have here, we are able to collaborate to ensure the best possible outcome for all those involved,” added Steve.

A solicitor specialising in residential property has joined regional law firm, Bridge McFarland.

Stephen Watson has been welcomed into the fir m’s Louth office as an assistant solicitor. In his new role he will focus on residential conveyancing, the area of law he most enjoys.

Originally from Lincolnshire, and having also worked for North East Lincolnshire Council – where he gained a good understanding of the planning process – he completed his training contract in Dorset at Trethowans LLP, previously studying in York for both his Law LLB degree and Legal Practice Course.

He moved back to the area in 2016, initially joining Wilkin Chapman’s commercial property department.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the residential property team at Bridge McFarland. I am aware of the fantastic reputation that the team already holds throughout the region and beyond. I hope to contribute to this and be a great asset to this team and the firm as a whole for many years to come.”

Chris Hubbard who leads the residential conveyancing team at Bridge McFarland, told how Stephen arrives at the firm with “excellent experience in both commercial and residential property transactions”.

“We are absolutely delighted that Stephen has chosen this firm for the next stage of his career,” he said. “After impressing my partners Stephen Oldridge and Michael Searle at interview we were really focused on adding Stephen to our excellent team.”

Place your advertisment online recruiter.fish4.co.uk phone 0333 406 0268 email jobs@localworld.co.uk

follow us: Fish4jobs.co.uk

24

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Motoring in association with

Read accelerates growth as sixth dealership opens

be part of the family

Grimsby: 01472 355801 Lincoln: 01522 544700 Scunthorpe: 01724 271800 Hull: 01482 330660

Without the support of these companies this page would not be possible ©LW

To further raise the profile of your company call Andy Bannister on 01472 806962 andrew.bannister@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

GROWTH PLAN: Mike Read, owner and managing director of Read Motor Group. Below, the new dealership in Boston.

R

EAD Motor Group has expanded again, opening a sixth dealership in eight years, and with it ensuring blanket coverage across the county for Hyundai.

NEW MODEL: Hyundai i30N.

NEW MODEL: Suzuki Swift.

NEW MODEL: Hyundai Kona.

our expansion strategy, to have continuous territories, each joining each other.”

From the Grimsby-area to King’s Lynn, then across to Lincoln and Worksop, the strategic fit of the Boston addition is clear.

Now the team is looking forward to a good This month has seen Hyundai Boston open, first quarter, and some redevelopment works in with the Humberston-headquartered operation late spring to bring the 1.5 acre site up to the taking on a large former Volkswagen outlet to specification that will be welcomed by serve the town and surrounding areas of Hyundai’s global brand design roll-out. It will Spalding, Sleaford and Skegness. also become one of the marque’s largest The 10-car showroom also includes a six bay showrooms in the UK. workshop for service and MoT, with the group And while after five years of solid growth 2017 also securing Volkswagen authorised repairer saw the first sales reverses across the status, to ensure former customers receive automotive industry in the UK, Read has continued support. motored on.

Mike Read, owner and managing director, “We are very fortunate with what we have said: “It is a great opportunity to strengthen our seen across both franchises,” said Mr Read, representation in Lincolnshire. with the group behind Suzuki in Grimsby too.

“We saw the opportunity, the dealership is “While the industry has gone backwards, the on a roundabout just off the A16, a great market share for both brands has increased. We location. are fortunate with the new product, the two “It was an open territory and we have filled it, franchises are very much focused on bringing and are really pleased to have as it works with new models out, with a raft of additions over the

coming 12 months. The new Kona SUV and the hot-hatch i30N are attracting real rave reviews from industry petrol heads, while the Ioniq hybrid is going from strength to strength, particularly in full EV. It is a real family of models behind the badge.

“With Suzuki launching the new Swift last year we have brands that have the right infrastructure in place and the right model selection too.”

Having added Worksop only last year, this latest addition takes the number of employees to more than 100 within the group.

“The plan from the very beginning was always that with Hyundai, and the right steps, we could create a small group,” he said. “We are certainly further on than we would have projected back in 2010.

“We are very fortunate, we have a great team across the sites, and that’s been a big part of our success.

“Each site’s success adds to the other, to future developments and further expansion. That’s what has happened here, with Boston.”

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

25

Construction &

Strategic development land is brought forward at Normanby T

HE remaining 60 acres of Normanby Enterprise Park are being brought to market by North Lincolnshire Council.

largest, stretching to the rear of Skippingdale Retail Park.

It is already the major cluster for distribution and manufacturing, with the area’s favourable land and property One of few remaining prices giving businesses a brownfield sites of the size in significant competitive the region, those behind the advantage from the outset. development state it offers These crucial bottom line favourable land prices close numbers are aided by the and with easy access to the South Bank’s locational motorway network, ports and advantages include extensive airports. transport infrastructure Occupying more than 95 acres via road, rail, sea, and air, on the northern edge of coupled with supply chain Scunthorpe, Normanby efficiencies.

Enterprise Park has capacity For those considering remaining for more than two expansion or relocation, leader million square feet of high of North Lincolnshire Council, quality business space for use Rob Waltham MBE, said: as offices, manufacturing and “North Lincolnshire has distribution. traditionally been This remaining land economically resilient and comprises plots ranging in size robust. The depth of culture from 2.88 to, as of now, the 60.88 has nurtured a dynamic acre ‘NEP 7’ which is the workforce that is skilled,

NEW GROUND TO BREAK: Councillor Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, left, and Nisa chief executive, Arnu Misra.

talented, passionate and flexible.

“Here in North Lincolnshire, you’ll find experience, a history to build on and new ground to break. We’ve made business our culture, and lifestyle a priority.

“With the space to grow, and the level of planned investment in the area now being realised, North Lincolnshire is on track to becoming the best place to live, work, invest and visit.

“It is a place where opportunities for growth are

limited only by imagination and where imagination is unlimited. A place where quality of life is high and the cost of living is low. A place where you can grow faster, stronger and better. And a place where the infrastructure, supplier base, and – most importantly – the people are ready to help you get growing.”

Last September, the local authority received almost £1 million of government funding via the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Northern Powerhouse Fund for infrastructure works and associated services for industrial and commercial use.

Having completed Phase One of the infrastructure project on NEP7, the off-site drainage, it is now available for development.

Companies currently occupying Normanby

Enterprise Park include Nisa Retail, CorrBoard UK Ltd and Bulten Ltd. The site is also home to Normanby Gateway; 30,000 sq ft of council-owned and managed workspace.

Arnu Misra, chief executive of Nisa Retail Ltd, was happy to endorse the opportunity it offers. He said: “The area has gifted us a location with outstanding infrastructure and a wealth of local resource, in terms of both workforce and services. The local authority is a progressive and forward thinking one, encouraging growth in the county and we feel well supported and have done historically as we’ve invested in the area to develop the Nisa business.”

For more information about NEP 7 call the economic development team on 01724 297330.

26

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Commercial Property

Major school project completed by Britcon Building and engineering company Britcon has completed major refurbishment works for Goole Academy.

The project, valued at close to £1 million, was awarded to the Scunthorpe firm by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, working with Arcadis LLP. It is part of the Government’s £4.4 billion Priority School Building Programme which is addressing those in the very worst condition across the country.

Britcon has replaced all drainage around the complex of buildings on Centenary Road originally built in the early 1900s. It has also completed major external works which include new hard and soft landscaping, as well as an extensive new multi-use games area, roads, paving, planting and irrigation and fixtures such as lighting.

John Whitmore, pictured, director at Britcon, said: “The project was complex in that we have to replace critical facilities while in a live school environment where more than 1,000 pupils and teaching staff are circulating.

“The academy has a listed element and due to the age of the buildings the draining needed renewing. The external works also provide for a more productive environment with new class-leading sports facilities and enhanced wayfinding.”

The £50 million turnover firm has extensive expertise in the education sector, employing 90 people directly. As well as the Goole Academy it has completed major building and refurbishment projects for Royds Hall School in Huddersfield, Roundhay Primary School in Leeds and Ward Green School in Barnsley.

Other projects include the University of York, University of Bradford, University of Huddersfield and Queen Ethelberga’s Collegiate, again in York.

As a business Britcon also actively engages with all the education establishments with whom it works to support learning practices in the construction sector, setting coursework around its projects, and providing educational site visits and placement opportunities.

Commercial property expertise across the Humber Region

SALES & LETTINGS | LEASE ADVISORY | VALUATIONS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT | BUSINESS RATES

01482 645522 0 Chartered Surveyors and C Commercial Property Consultants

www.clarkweightman.co.uk A full property search is available on our website

SWIFT ACTION: Managing partner at Scotts, Lawrence Brown, right, and the leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Ray Oxby, outside New Oxford House. Inset, Cartergate House, the new addition to the town centre, and the pair with Purple Emperor director, John Whittome.

Emperor’s new tenant ‘a boost to confidence’

T

HE £1.8-million redevelopment of one of Grimsby town centre’s most prominent buildings provides more evidence of a new dawn breaking in North East Lincolnshire, according to those involved in the deal.

The major works currently underway at New Oxford House, on the town centre’s Osborne Street, are given as another example of the economic vibrancy that is emerging, with the borough securing a pilot Town Deal status as part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, released late last year.

Guided by regional commercial property specialist Scotts, the building’s owner southern-based Purple Emperor, has had the confidence to fund the transformation of the former Wilkin Chapman headquarters, vacated a year ago as the regional law firm outgrew the office block, and nearby premises in South St Mary’s Gate.

Set for a spring completion, it will be let to North East Lincolnshire Council, for occupation by its development and delivery partner Engie, expanding the town’s civic quarter. Engie will be transferring 170 staff into the town centre – a major boost to retailers and businesses – from offices currently occupied at Europarc. Two ground-floor retail units complete the project and are currently being marketed.

Managing partner at Scotts, Lawrence Brown, is optimistic, having also been heavily involved in a number of successful grant applications to revitalise both Grimsby and Cleethorpes, as chairman of the Visitor Economy Services and Retail group, the private-sector led board that feeds into the authority’s wider strategic development.

“This is certainly one of the largest lettings in the town centre for some years and we have 170 people moving in to work here. They will be going out to buy a sandwich, sit down for lunch or even purchasing birthday cards or making impulse buys.

“If we want a healthy town centre then both

public and private sector must lead by example, and this is what has been done here. I am hopeful for our future, but we must keep pushing things forward, while showing commitment to our own town – if we don’t then how can we expect others to?”

The redevelopment itself is being undertaken

by Lincolnshire firm John Martin-Hoyes Ltd, with 25 construction workers employed. On a tour to take in the progress of the refurbishment and redevelopment, North East Lincolnshire Council leader, Cllr Ray Oxby shares Mr Brown’s optimism.

While ruing the missed opportunities of the past, he believes the time is right for change.

“We had, but missed, the opportunity to change back in the days of Yorkshire Forward (the former regional development agency), with a lack of will to work in partnership with others and push out the vision that was needed for change,” he said.

“However, austerity has brought with it a

YOU CAN SEE THE TOWN HALL FROM HERE: Lawrence Brown and Ray Oxby inside New Oxford House.

need for us all to lead creative change and look at innovate ways to move forward, with the private, public and voluntary sectors working in partnership.

“There is an appetite and an enthusiasm for change, which I have not seen before,” he said.

“We have the eyes and ears of those who matter and have established a new credibility – we have the potential to make this happen,” added Cllr Oxby, reflecting on the recent granting of the town deal pilot status.

That vision is shared not only by local politicians and business leaders, but national companies that are seeing the worth in putting their money back into Grimsby, as evidenced by the work being surveyed.

Mike Whittome, director of Purple Emperor, said: “We are certainly more than happy to re-invest here. Grimsby, to some, does not have a high reputation and that is a shame. But I am always really impressed – indeed it is a nice surprise when you get here.”

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, January 18, 2018

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

27

Commercial Property

Why new development could prove valuable to property landlords A

little-known change in the national planning regulations could mean commercial property has new and highly lucrative development potential.

In the final quarter of last year a new class of permitted development rights came into place to enable the conversion of light industrial units – use class B1c – to residential use.

This form of permitted development will benefit those small to medium sized businesses which can operate successfully in residential areas without being a detriment to the neighbouring area.

Examples of these types of business include small workshops, repair workshops and similar non-intensive enterprises.

Kevin Ellis, founder of the Land & New Homes Network, highlighted the opportunities.

He said: “The recent regulation change offers owners of these light industry units an opportunity to explore the residential potential of their building, which for many would not have previously been possible.�

Lincolnshire agency Pygott & Crone, is a member of the national Land & New Homes Network, and has recognised this as an opportunity for many commercial property owners to benefit from. “Landowners may wish to take advantage of exploring the value of a building within the framework of the new permitted development rights and that’s something that Pygott & Crone can help with,� new homes manager Craig Stones said.

The new PD rights won’t apply to all light industrial buildings. Those located in certain protected areas, or that form part of a protected curtilage, are unlikely to be eligible for residential conversion under Class PA. Sites which are exempt include: � The existing floor space of the building exceeds 500 square metres. � The site forms part of a site of special scientific interest � The site is occupied under an agricultural tenancy, unless consent is given by both landlord and tenant.

There are several other elements which need

OPPORTUNITY: Craig Stones.

considering and permitted development rights only apply where no external alterations are required to the building.

Mr Stones added: “If external alterations are required to enable the conversion, ie window positions, cladding etc, planning permission will be required for those works. “Pygott & Crone has a team of expert

consultants, with experience in all areas of development and planning regulations, waiting to help land owners throughout the region.� “If you think you have a site that falls into this category and would like to explore the development potential, then please get in touch.�

Bank still on the market for investors

RESERVE PRICE NOT MET: Barclays Bank on Victoria Street, Grimsby.

GRIMSBY’S Barclays Bank failed to meet the reserve price when it went under the hammer at a recent auction.

The Grade II-listed branch, located in Victoria Street, close to the central Freshney Place entrance, was being sold by receivers.

A guide price of ÂŁ1 million had been issued by John Pye Property, the company handling the auction, but staff there have confirmed expectations were not met.

Hayley Riley, of John Pye, said: “It didn’t sell. Bidding didn’t meet the reserve price. There is still a lot of interest in the building though, and we are looking at tying something up post-auction. Hopefully it will be sold very shortly.�

The neo-classical building covers 716 sq m across three floors. It had been bought by private investors back in December 2006 for ÂŁ1.79 million, ahead of the financial crash that saw property prices decimated.

It was again being sold as an investment by the lender to the last purchase, with the bank remaining open with business as usual, and with an annual yield of 9.5 per cent, albeit based on the guide price, it had appeared to be one of the most attractive in the sale, as well as the cheapest in the category.

The £95,000 a year lease to the UK’s second largest high street bank expires in 2026, with a potential break in 2021, although confidence in the occupier was abundant. While there have been a spate of secondary location branch closures from some of the big lenders, the main operations have been seen to consolidate.

Last year 43-45 Victoria Street – TSB and Boots on the adjacent corner, flanking the precinct’s approach – was sold by Garness Jones on behalf of a London-based company to an investor for £950,000, providing a net yield of 7.31 per cent.

Last call for temporary traveller stopping sites SUGGESTIONS for locations of designated stopping places for members of the travelling community must be in by the end of the week.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s recent call for sites expires on Friday.

Commercial property agents and landlords have been asked to participate with appropriate suggestions for land that could accommodate up to 30 caravans.

By law the local authority must assess and meet the need for both permanent and temporary gypsy and traveller pitches, as a duty under both the Housing Act 2004 and The National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, both published in 2012.

It is also a key requirement of the Local Plan, the framework for the area’s future growth.

The call reads; “North East Lincolnshire, in comparison to other areas, has a low amount of gypsy and traveller visits and illegal encampments. “It was identified that we meet their needs by providing a minimal and temporary designated stopping place. “This will allow us to lessen the impact of illegal sites on the local area with the aim of reducing the amount and also enabling the police’s powers of ‘move on’. The police can’t do this if we don’t provide somewhere for them to move visitors on to.�

A designated stopping place is an authorised site that can be used as a temporary stopping place for members of the community who are travelling through North East Lincolnshire.

Guidance given to those with suggestions is that the site should be between 0.14 Ha and 0.25 Ha, be level with no steep slopes, and preferably not in a flood risk area, though it can be considered if there is no alternative.

The road access route should be suitable for caravans, emergency vehicles and waste disposal trucks, with a surface suitable for the movement of caravans and large service vehicles.

Reasonable access to connect to a mains water supply is desired, so too the provision of sewage disposal on site, as well as adequate parking for towing and associated vehicles.

It must not be located on contaminated land, beneath pylons, near to heavy industry, waterways or railway lines, with particular consideration given to the health and safety of children who are part of the travelling group.

Suggestions should also take into account the use of neighbouring land and the impact to and from neighbours, with reasonable access to medical services, shops, and public transport also seen as an aid.

Suggestions should be made via the official form on the council’s website, www.nelincs.gov.uk

/DQFDVWHU $SSURDFK 1RUWK .LOOLQJKROPH Ĺ˜ :HOO SUHVHQWHG RIILFH 72 /(7 VXLWH LQ VKDUHG EXLOGLQJ

Ĺ˜ 0L[WXUH RI RSHQ SODQ ZRUN DUHDV DQG LQGLYLGXDO RIILFHV Ĺ˜ $PSOH RQ VLWH FDU SDUNLQJ Ĺ˜ &RQYHQLHQW ORFDWLRQ FORVH WR SRUWV DQG $ PRWRUZD\ OLQN URDG

e SD

$OH[DQGUD 5RDG +DYHQ 0LOO *ULPVE\ $// (148,5,(6 Ĺ˜ 2I LQWHUHVW WR RZQHU RFFXSLHUV WHQDQWV GHYHORSHUV Ĺ˜ 2IILFH LQGXVWULDO ZRUNVKRS SUHPLVHV Ĺ˜ ([WHQGLQJ WR VT P VT IW

Ĺ˜ 3URPLQHQW WRZQ FHQWUH ORFDWLRQ

e e SD

www.clarkweightman.co.uk

28

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, January 18, 2018

STE-E01-S7

Commercial Property

LAISTER’S Last Word

BY DAVE LAISTER

Contractor moving in after 25 years of lighting up the area E

LECTRICAL engineering firm J M McCann & Co Ltd is planning to build a new office and yard on Humberston’s Wilton Road Industrial Estate.

The move comes after winning the tender to continue to maintain North East Lincolnshire’s street lighting and illuminated traffic signs, while adding North Lincolnshire as a client too.

McCann, headquartered in Nottingham, has worked with NELC for more than 25 years, successfully winning contracts every five to seven years as they come up for renewal.

“Our tender successes demonstrate our dedication to the area and exemplary working practices over a prolonged period of time, and we are hugely proud of this achievement,” said operations director, Carl Lancaster.

“For at least the next three years, our teams will be responsible for keeping over 20,000 street lighting units fully functional, and over 3,500 traffic signs illuminated and operational. This will help to ensure the safety and security of people and businesses in North East Lincolnshire, and it’s a role we’ve always taken incredibly seriously.”

This continuation of McCann’s work in North East Lincolnshire – worth around £800,000 to £1 million per year to the company – has seen McCann make major investments in order to carry out the ongoing work.

More than £300,000 worth of new equipment, including a new Hiab lorry and two new pick-ups, have been added, while it is currently going through the planning process to build a new office and yard.

A team of 12 operatives, a manager and an administrative assistant deliver the works required under the contract,

INVESTING: A new Hiab truck, which will be despatched to serve the contract in North East Lincolnshire. with additional resources supplied if required.

Mr Lancaster added: “We’ve also invested in the latest technology to demonstrate our ‘green credentials’ and commitment to our ISO 14001 accreditation.

“Our aim is to create a paperless environment in North East Lincolnshire, and we’ve bought seven tablets, uploaded compatible software and we’re currently providing training to our staff to ensure they’re up to speed.”

McCann enters North Lincolnshire for the first time too.

“We will be supporting North Lincolnshire Council’s in-house team on an ad hoc basis for maintenance

works, and we’ll also be replacing over 14,000 street lighting units with LED lanterns as part of our new role,” Mr Lancaster said.

“We are delighted to be adding the North Lincolnshire area to our portfolio and we’re confident our work will help the council make significant energy savings in the long-term.

“It’s hugely satisfying to deploy our street lighting and illuminated traffic signs expertise to a part of the UK we know so well.”

McCann was behind the recent major project to install more than 20,000 low energy LED lights in a major overhaul of North East Lincolnshire’s street lighting.

Raise aspirations and share your successes HAPPY new year! So we’re off, and that means nominations are open for the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards 2018.

While my sides have only just recovered from the splitting they received at the Christmas panto, I’m already looking forward to a more professional return to Grimsby Auditorium in May. Yes the highlight of the business calendar heads east on the A180 after the Scunthorpe spectacle of 2017, and I’m sure there must be many reading who have something sensational to shout about... oh yes you have!

It should be a resolution for all to make the most out of business success, to help raise aspirations in northern Lincolnshire, to try and drown out negativity and – if nothing else – we have more than Brexit to write about in the next 12 months.

Often it can seem like business as usual, but we want to hear of your highs, because you can guarantee someone will spread your lows for you.

Whether its a record deal, a record year, a new product or service, a merger or acquisition, a key recruit, we are keen to help you celebrate. Let’s cover the fake news with great news, and embrace all that is happening with the Energy Estuary and beyond.

And what we can do isn’t limited to the news pages either. Working with your clients and customers our commercial team can put together features to celebrate milestone

moments, be it a first year, decade or 50.

We’ve gone big today on Humberbusiness.com, the dedicated website that has made a big difference to my work this past two years. The level of engagement with the business community is a delight to see, and is another example of how we listen, adapt and deliver. With a daily page in Grimsby, weekly in Scunthorpe, this monthly edition and the omni-present website, we have the platform for you.

So don’t be shy, drop us a line.

With ambassador programmes and a new place marketing concept being rolled out by North Lincolnshire Council and partners, the Great Grimsby Town Deal pilot status and the over-arching work of the likes of the Bondholders, the Chamber, Team Humber Marine Alliance, Catch and the like, there’s a strong story to tell. Make sure in 2018, you get a paragraph or two!

Back to the awards, and it is thinking caps time for many. And having featured the launch on page two, it got me thinking too... The theme is Beauty and Beast, and for the first time in my 13 years of covering it, we have two comperes.

Grimsby’s very own Helen Fospero and Richard Askam. If I were the latter I’d be reading the small print very carefully when it comes to the live entertainment section of what is bound to be another spellbinding night courtesy of Anne Tate and Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce!

Search for commercial properties at www.humberbusiness.com/commercialproperty WE CAN COVER IT: The business portfolio from the Grimsby Telegraph and Scunthorpe Telegraph.