Business Telegraph November 2017

1 STE-E01-S7

Tuesday, June 21, 19, 2012 2012 Tuesday, August

www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/business www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/business

Long term Firm’s focusadmirer on nets logistics team future finances

page seesee page 2 5

Outlook good for Cooking up a treat: more offshore wind Young’s goes gastro

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Restaurateur neigpiece hbours Offices are final arepotato ready empire for ‘steak-off ’ of puzzle

by David Laister by Dave Laister Business Editor

TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE: Richard Arundel, managing director of potato processor AKP. Picture: Jon Corken

Business Editor dave.laister@gsmg.co.uk

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dave.laister@gsmg.co.uk

RIENDLY neighbours have united to launch an early has been iconic£3-million restaurant at invested into making northern Lincolnshire’s northern newest hotel. Lincolnshire a for the needs Craigcentral Darley hub and Steve Dawson ofaresome of the UK’sBar biggest delivering Propeller and Grill, located potato sellers.at the Hampton by Hilton Humberside ElshamatWold has just Airport. become the A headquarters first venture for pair, they new forthe AKP Group, are combining catering giant supplier to supermarket knowledgeand with strong business Morrisons major chip acumen to deliver the 118-seat manufacturer McCain. ve e.

A nu state-of-the-art office block, Mr Darleycontrolled has worked on the temperature potato Kirmington site forgrading the pastline, seven storage facility and years with 365 Catering, to first at together with extensions Nightel,handling and latterly within existing areas have the just terminal itself. with the been completed, 13-year-old firm headed

by Richard “I have always been familiar Arundel moving theon, whole with what is going and when administration back into area the opportunity came upthe with the from York. space being put on the hotel, I could seeof the opportunity do The son Grimsby town to centre something inStreet there,” he said. and Freeman markets The David major Arundel, fit-out of the grocer whounit, also added franchisedto used to to actthe as branded a potato merchant hotel by site Paul Green, is the area’s fishowner and chip shops, well-underway, asSuffolk it targets an joined forces with early January launch. businessman Bruce Kerr in 1999.

“Weformer are concentrating on The KP potato storage ensuring the fit-out is been absolutely facility which has now right,” Mr Darley said. “It substantially developed, wasis of absolutein importance it acquired 2007, whenwhen a project comestotogrow attracting the type of began skin finished clienteleon wethe envisage.” potatoes Isle of Axholme.

They are conscious of ensuring “We wanted to show we could the right balance between produce the required quality business leisure markets, locally thatand supermarkets were to maximise appeal, aware of the buying in from Herefordshire, gatewayor role forimporting,” the region, he Scotland even frequent offshorebacked operations from said.

“Morrisons us with it thewe location, well as the and went toasYorkshire Forward equi-distant (the scrapped location regionalbetween Grimsby andagency) Scunthorpe. development putting Mr Dawson from a the together a plan.comes We then tied background in hazardous supply chain up and got thewaste to the venture, but was enthused by funding.” his neighbour’s appraisal, That equated toinitial £700,000.

With which has rapid subsequently been Morrisons’ growth in the tested out in the market. retail world, the business has been “We arequickly, friendsand andworking propelled neigEastoft-based hbours,” he said.

“Craig & with L Harrison heard of the opportunity with for his Co, the infrastructure to allow

Seafood industry’s Will Mary approve Icelandic high streetalliance leases?

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

Top table is set for CBI dinner

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 gatherings later this year.

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

your daily port of call £20m milestone passed further increases has now been put employed, handling 120,000 tonnes Park on Grimsby’s flagship inNEW place. of potatoes year. Ofthe that, Europarc will be YEAR LAUNCH: Diwakar Joshi, right, who willa assume role35,000 of restaurant general development, manager, with Craig tonnes are self-grown, with a officially opened this week by “We have two years to get Darley, left,taken and Steve Dawson.

Agriculture and Horticulture to this,” said Mr Arundel. “We got growing group in this region and Development Boardand chairman another site injoins Suffolk, the grant funding storage and connections, and for I bought into it. around The Brigg resident from terms of training what they Godfrey CBE, himself a balance. grading operations in research 2009, andand contributing can offer prospective employees, 365 Catering,the having worked with John “We have done our North farmer. built the storage throughout Recently employees were and itLincolnshire will be a great place to Mr Darley15for five years, competitive analysis and the2010, tofeedback be open was for that We Mrrk Arundel added: “We’re added, with hospitality three graduate wo .” managing operations to goharvest. for a bar and have looking opening thespan also part of the company, in the airport. grill.had potatoes in from 2010 and trainees Fromforward Beverley,toMr Dawson 2011, andunique the whole project store Check and grading facility specialising in growing, his cold business, Working across hotelslogistics and retail new “The selling pointhas will been finished withthat’s the offices – Environmental, the uncharacteristic and technical elements, including out ofweather the railway he has amassed 15 years of be on the steaks, wherejust we now. agronomy . The experience remaining in the conditions have brought us a but industry, selling that element international want to be, with a bar and grill challenging year, opening investment has seen a fleet six concentrating onbut thethe asbestos “Our desire to have moreand a sector, starting in five star of hotel. menu as you is would expect, event is just rewards for everyone’s Mercedes rigs brought in to deliver handling. quality local to level ofpotato fit outproducers and feel that will Mr Dawson added: “These guys work. potatoes customers, withis the hard this It would cut down set site. us apart.

We want to beon known the The plan for the venue, like a know their to stuff, what I bring primary route Morrisons’ transport is still a lot for great costs. steak There in northern propeller, to offer three “The newis facility will notstrands, only more marketing, more thepacking operations near Harrogate. ofLpotential, it will help the incolnshire.” general lounge enable usrestaurant, to meet thedrinks demand of business aspect. My background environmental footprint and andbiggest VIP dining.

Therebut willwe’ve also be Keen to cultivate a prosperous our customers, is hazardous waste, asbestos, but A total of 18 people will be this part of the world thebeing ability to future a nod to the RAFimproved heritage,the but not takingfor certain principals, it is a also successfully Lincolnshire potato employed, with ahas team the extent would beofconsidered grow some of the best in service business, andftall the effort quality farmers, the 32,000sq storage and it freshness our assembled under the potatoes first a themeby bar, with Wellingtons and the country,Diwakar that is what wewho are is in meeting and the employee, Joshi, potatoes reducing facility and 4,000 sqexceeding ft two storey Lancasters hinted at. Co-ordinates majoring on.”restaurant bar and expectations of the–clients.

I have transportation, will become handling and using office development which drew seen what they deliver in mana ger. ● Continued on page 11. the latest cold store technologies.” inspiration from can Genesis Office A total of 44 people are now

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 northern for the latest andinbreaking Lincolnshire in seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments – ranging from £15,000 to £2-million business news around the – is there to help small and medium sized businesses Humber regionrequirements. meet their growth and development The figure amounts to 224 investments in 183 small and medium sized enterprises since August 2010, leading to more than 4,600 jobs created and visit humberbusiness.com safeguarded in the region. In the last quarter alone, the venture capital and loan fund completed 30 investments totalling more than £4.3 million.

Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire, said: “We are looking forward to building on these figures and helping more companies achieve growth in the coming months.

“We urge established and early stage companies to continue to speak to us to see if Finance Yorkshire can help turn their ambitions into a reality.”

Supported by the European Union, it has attracted £30-million investment from the European Regional Development Fund, £15-million from Yorkshire Forward’s Single Programme, and £45-million match funding from the European Investment Bank.

For information visit www.finance-yorkshire.com

CONTENTS:Energy P6 Energy 8 Food 10P8 Process / Chemicals & Logistics 14 Business Support 16 16 TraiTraining ning 17 17 Care ers 18 Commercial 1920 Commercial Property 2421 Last Word CONTENTS: P6 Chemicals Ports and Logistics12 10Business BusinessSupport Support12 12Ports Careers 14 Business Solutions 15 Food Commercial Vehicles Vehicles 18 Diary Commercial Property

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

STE-E01-S7

News COLLABORATION: Thor Sigfusson, left, shakes hands with Simon Dwyer, watched by Thor Thordarson and Michael Nevin.

contacts Editorial David Laister Direct line: 01472 806972 Mobile:

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Clusters unite for trade and innovation

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Seafood Grimsby & Humber and The Iceland Ocean Cluster have signed Memorandum of Understanding to develop a joint network to share knowledge and boost the use of fish, establishing dialogue on trade relations.

It began over the weekend, as Simon Dwyer, representing the town’s primary industry, addressed the annual Icelandic Seafood Conference on the thorny subject of leaving the EU. Attending the signing of the MoU were Berta Danielsdottir, chief executive of Icelandic Ocean Cluster and Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, as well as the UK’s Ambassador to Iceland, Michael Nevin.

Mr Nevin said: “We welcome this initiative from both parties. There is a strong historical and current trading relationship between Iceland and Grimsby and Humber. The MoU signing is evidence of a desire to further strengthen that relationship in advance of the

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GROUND-breaking collaboration has been forged between Grimsby’s seafood cluster and its Icelandic counterpart, just a month after Reykjavik’s UK ambassador called for free trade post-Brexit between the UK and its vital supply partner.

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UK leaving the EU.” His Icelandic counterpart, Thordur Aegir Oskarsson, was guest of honour at the opening reception of Humber Seafood Summit last month, and told of the strong desire harboured by the North Atlantic nation to build even better links as the UK prepares to leave the EU. Mr Thordarson said: “I welcome the co-operation of these important clusters related to fisheries and trade. The co-operation between the British and Icelanders is very good and is important to promote it further. The focus of this collaboration on innovation and start-ups is an interesting opportunity for both nations.”

The Iceland Ocean Cluster is a marine business incubator located in Reykjavik that builds and supports a network of entrepreneurs in the marine science industries to facilitate the creation of new business, ideas, and research that will ultimately add value to the industry. More than 10 start-ups have been created in the incubator over the past five years. These start-ups are creating valuable products for the high value health care, skin care and nutraceutical markets.

Thor Sigfusson, founder of Iceland Ocean Cluster, added: “Our mission is to create value by connecting together entrepreneurs, businesses and knowledge in the marine

industries. Therefore, we’re delighted to see Seafood Grimsby & Humber join our global network that stretches into Norway and eastern United States.”

The organisation already has a similar agreement with Bedford Massachusetts, an area Grimsby has also signed an MoU with when it comes to offshore wind development, having been united in the spring by Team Humber Marine Alliance.

Mr Dwyer said: “This is a new, exciting and significant step for our organisation. Seeing the Iceland Ocean Cluster vision and set-up in Reykjavik is inspiring. Their outreach into other seafood clusters complements Grimsby & the Humber, especially, Bedford, Massachusetts, where the Humber already has links with its offshore wind sector.

“We’re looking forward to this collaboration particularly when it comes to partnering on developing trade post-Brexit.”

He told how Seafood Grimsby & Humber is a representative group established by Grimsby Fish Merchants’ Association to focus on the competitiveness of a cluster that boasts 70 processing facilities, 5,000 employees and a further 10,000-plus jobs in the wider supply chain.

IT team acquires tech as turnover hits £2m LEADING IT automation specialist PowerON has seen its turnover almost double to more than £2 million.

Launched two years ago, with Grimsby’s Steve Beaumont as co-founder, has offices on Europarc, where a third of the team is based.

It has now recruited 11 new team members during the past year, taking its total headcount to 27.

The company, which also has a presence in York and Surrey, provides powerful IT management and cloud automation solutions to organisations of all sizes.

It also became one of only a few firms in the world to be invited to join Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) Elite Partner Team, and now assists the world’s largest software maker in developing both

new and existing products.

PowerON has also recently acquired the intellectual property rights for cloud-based IT infrastructure monitoring product, Tibana from Nubigenus, which has now been incorporated into its product suite.

“This will support our continued drive to bring our product business to the fore, with several very innovative subscription based products that we have developed coming to market this year,” Phil Mercer, Mr Beaumont’s co-founder, said.

“The last 12 months have been hugely successful and we completely outstripped expectations following notable contract wins across both the public and private sectors.”

DIRECTORS: Phil Mercer, left, and Steve Beaumont, of PowerON.

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, November 23, 2017

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

3

News

Thirst for growth sees drinks firm join group G

RIMSBY-headquartered wholesaler Dee Bee has acquired a Hull drinks business as it builds up its pan-Humber presence.

Members back Co-op’s £137m Nisa buy-out

Kingston Beer Supplies, based at Mount Pleasant, was established in 2008 by licence trade entrepreneur Milan Tojagic, and has grown to become one of the driving forces in the on-trade drinks sector in this region.

The business will be incorporated into Dee Bee’s 70,000 sq ft Hull depot on Leads Road.

Managing director Nick Ramsden said the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, was yet another key step forward for the Hull depot, which opened in April last year.

RETAIL: Nisa Retail members have voted three to one to accept The Co-op Group’s offer to buy-out the business in a £137.5 million deal.

A total of 75.79 per cent voted in favour, with the board having unanimously recommended it back in October.

It now requires clearance from the Competition and Markets Authority, which is expected around the end of March next year.

Nisa shareholders will receive an equal initial payment, a deferred share payment payable over three years, as well as additional rebates payable over four years.

A total of 1,100 people are employed in Scunthorpe, with Nisa Retail directly at the head office on Waldo Way and via the distribution and logistics partner DHL, in the huge neighbouring warehouse.

The two companies might be very different in size but they have some important synergies

Seachill deal completes FOOD: A top 10 UK food manufacturing business has been created as Hilton Food Group’s buy-out of Grimsby’s Icelandic Seachill completed.

Shareholders in the FTSE-listed meat specialist overwhelmingly backed the £80.8 million deal, and the ultimate surf and turf union has now been formalised, having been agreed in October.

Robert Watson OBE, chief executive at Huntingdon-based Hilton, said: “We are excited about the opportunities the Seachill acquisition will bring to Hilton and see considerable potential to build the business alongside our existing meat offering.”

Nick Ramsden Since then, it has developed a wide customer base across the North Bank and into North Yorkshire, and recently took over some of the delivered business from the Dee Bee operation in Grimsby’s Adam Smith Street, a stated aim when it was opened as it sought to balance the business and open up further growth opportunities from both sites.

Mr Ramsden said: “Milan has a wealth of experience in the on-trade and the integration of Kingston Beer Supplies into our Dee Bee operation will significantly strengthen our business.

“The two companies might be very different in size but they have some important synergies which will no doubt result in a smooth transition.”

Month in Review

DRINK TO A DEAL: From left, Stan Harrison-Frean, Dee Bee on-trade sales director, Brian Miller, operations director for Dee Bee Hull, and Milan Tojagic of Kingston Beer Supplies. Inset, Nick Ramsden.

Almost 40 new jobs were created when the Ramsden Group returned the Dee Bee brand to Hull after an absence of more than 25 years.

Located in the original unit it had let out when it decided to consolidate back into North East Lincolnshire in 1991, it carries 6,000 different products.

Mr Tojagic, who lives in Beverley, said he had taken the business from a standing start to an annual turnover of more than £1 million.

He added: “We have been supplying pubs, restaurants and hotels throughout Hull and East Yorkshire and we are delighted to see the business move into the excellent hands of Dee Bee, a very professional and ambitious company that will continue to provide a top-flight service to our customer base.

“I will be working with Dee Bee as a consultant to oversee a smooth transition and my two drivers are

also being taken into the Dee Bee business.”

A click and deliver service was launched earlier this year by DeeBee, having attracted more than 3,000 customers in the first 12 months, while as reported in Business Telegraph last month, it has just invested in a state-of-the-art voice-directed Warehouse Management System for order picking and intelligent routing, to improve efficiencies.

Huge contract awarded ENGINEERING: Grimsby’s Engie Fabricom has been named as the principal contractor on a pioneering £58 million Humber project.

The Europarc-headquartered firm will deliver the design and build of a state-of-the-art wood chip plant, having been appointed as the main engineering, procurement and construction contractor by Tricoya Ventures UK Ltd. It is to be built at Saltend Chemicals Park, and a total of 130 jobs will be created throughout the construction.

A project team has been assembled, based at Fabricom’s Immingham facility.

The team has also appointed Scunthorpe’s Clugston Construction to undertake the civils.

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

STE-E01-S7

News

‘The brightest minds will flock to the most challenging of tasks’ Could hydrogen save our Queens?

Materials Processing Institute chief executive Chris McDonald has told how the most rewarding innovation can be found in the most demanding of environments. David Laister heard him address Lincolnshire Iron and Steel Institute and focus on steel’s emerging carbon reduction requirements.

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TEELMAKING’S complexities and continuous advancements make it an industry to “turn on” scientific minds with “sexy innovation” opportunities, a Scunthorpe audience has heard.

Chris McDonald, chief executive of the Materials Processing Institute, returned to his old stomping ground, having been a manager on the works in the Corus days a decade ago, describing a “real affinity” with long products and Scunthorpe itself.

Underlining how steel remains the second highest used construction material behind concrete, by some distance from the rest, he talked up an often down-trodden industry, going on to credit British Steel executive chairman Roland Junck with doing a vital job in Whitehall to return steelmaking to the national agenda.

“The primacy in all applications makes it essential for human life, be it for transport, for medical, for housing and so on,” he told the latest meeting of Lincolnshire Iron and Steel Institute. “It shows we are working in an incredibly vital industry, and one that needs to be financially self-sufficient.

“That’s where innovation comes in. Despite a lot of processes we work with having been around for so long, there is still tremendous scope for innovation, step changes in

“You may imagine the sexy innovation is done in Rolls Royce, Siemens or Jaguar Land Rover. Our experience is that we have really fascinating problems that turn people on and they really want to get involved

FURNACE FUTURE FOCUS: Chris Vaughan welcomes Chris McDonald back to Scunthorpe, with Queen Anne, above, and Roland Junck, whose work on behalf of the wider industry was praised.

people on and they really want to get involved.

“We can be at the forefront of providing really exciting problems and challenges.”

Linking in to the wider industrial landscape, he said: “When we talk about the fourth industrial revolution – automisation and digitisation – ‘Industry 4.0’ – the steel industry has been doing it for quite a long time. There are really exciting applications for this in the steel industry, much more than in a factory.

Steel has some of the most exciting problems that we can work with.

“It is the kind of stuff we have always been Chris McDonald doing – understanding what we are doing from a data management perspective, putting a control system around that, an advice system around innovation.” that, automating some of the advice system, and Having led what was formerly Teesside they can apply big data technology as well to Laboratories for nearly four years, he said: “There is a big demand for what we do, based on generate an extra level of foresight. It is an opportunity to showcase some of the things we track record and the research assets we have.” are doing and put our hands up and say ‘we are Stating key drivers are the development of already at the frontier of that’.” advanced materials, recycling and low carbon He warned that dividing up product and energy, with a strong emphasis on the latter as process innovation wasn’t the best way forward, such a carbon footprint becomes unacceptable, with a marriage of both required for the best Mr McDonald explained how such huge results, and he also told how lessons from The challenges were also a draw for the brightest of Apprentice or business text books would not minds. hold in steel when it came to choosing between “One advantage in the steel industry is we high quality or low cost. tend to do ourselves down a bit in terms of just “In the steel industry we have to do both,” he how interesting and exciting the problems are said. “If you try to be purely a differentiator or we have,” he said. “You may imagine the sexy purely low cost then you will be out of the innovation is done in Rolls Royce, Siemens or market altogether. We need to develop products Jaguar Land Rover. Our experience – when we and improve processes continually. We can’t get out and talk to researchers, instrumentation stop we have to keep doing it.” companies or universities, and talk to them Mr McDonald described industry networks as about the problems, the opportunities for key, and, turning to British Steel, he said: “This innovation, challenges and threats – is that we business has been very good at it. It is the have really fascinating problems that turn conduit that forms knowledge, assembles it, and

solves a problem, and that is a skill in itself. It is about connecting that knowledge together, getting that opportunity to develop and deliver.

Identifying, managing and bringing other partners in too.”

One partner is potentially government, when it comes to ensuring a playing field where steelmaking can thrive.

Asked about that relationship between works and Whitehall, he praised British Steel’s approach since coming into being 17 months ago.

Stating recognition was now being received, he told of times when ministers barely acknowledged it. Now Prime Minister Theresa May has even been on site at Scunthorpe – albeit during an election campaign. “What we would really like is a very engaged government and strong officers who are really engaged and want to do the right thing,” he said. “Roland Junck is an incredibly powerful voice of the industry. He has put a lot of work in on the steel sector deal; he is a credible person, who has come from overseas and explained to government how other countries do it.

“There is still a really long way to go, but it is absolutely achievable. If you look at automotive, it was written off as a basket case in the Eighties, now it is up there as a flagship industry with aerospace.

“It is about making the case and then confidence. It has taken two years to get it recognised that the steel industry is important, and it may take a generation for that to become the default position because it is what people have grown up with.

“The work Roland Junck and the senior team have done is vital to the steel industry, and you are well represented from what I have seen.”

HYDROGEN potential and carbon capture necessity were highlighted as low carbon steelmaking was brought into focus.

Mr McDonald said it can only be achieved by the decarbonising of blast furnaces or a switch to electric arc production.

With the four proud queens dominating Scunthorpe’s skyline, he gave an insight into what could be done, in one of the three core areas his organisation is being challenged on.

Having stated we are “reaching a point of unacceptability” around the carbon footprint in steelmaking, he has written papers on both potential solutions.

“Both have big financial implication and both are fairly challenging,” he said. “To extend the life of blast furnace into a low carbon age, you need blast furnace technology that is both financially and environmentally sustainable.

“What is important to consider is none of these technologies can deliver a significant reduction on carbon without carbon capture and storage or carbon capture and utilisation.

We need to understand how we can attach it.”

Plans have previously been explored for a regional system linking up the works and the refineries with Drax Power Station at one extent and depleted North Sea gas fields. Mr McDonald also mentioned the possibility of attracting chemical processing usage to the site, warning that “process integration creates challenges – it is manageable, but it is complex”.

He said: “If Scunthorpe is thinking ‘this is our future around this technology’ then there needs to be thinking starting now about how you manage this.”

He said CCS could take the business so far, and that biomass and charcoal as feedstocks were further possibilities.

Another option is hydrogen injection, acting as a reductant to coke. “These are not easy technologies to work,” he said, adding that all the incremental steps could bring down the carbon footprint, but not totally.

“The best we can get down to is 10 per cent, and these are technologies that could take a decade or more to realise.”

He forecast that CCS or CCU could bring 60 per cent of the reduction, with biomass and hydrogen cutting a further 30 per cent.”

It isn’t all one-way though.

“There is capability for a steel plant to generate hydrogen,” he said, stating it needs a joined up approach from multiple industries to work.

“Hydrogen as a battery, looks on the face of it, an incredibly expensive thing to do, until you attach that to a high load intermittent energy user like a rolling mill,” he said.

“The challenge is integrating these activities together,” Mr McDonald said.

He said the Austrians had a demonstrator project underway, and that work was being done here. “We are making a similar proposal for the UK, with big industrial partners, household names in energy and engineering, big industrial users coming together to try and look at some of these challenges,” he said.

“Together there could be a solution that would drive the hydrogen economy forward.

“There is a great role for steel to play as a user, as a hydrogen generator. It is a massive steel development and it is about thinking big, and it can only be achieved by real collaboration across industry and being prepared for the long term.”

Turning to younger members of the audience, of which there were several, he added: “Our responsibility is to really drive to zero carbon future, otherwise there won’t be an industry for us to work within in the future.”

STE-E01-S7

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, November 23, 2017

5

News DEAL AGREED: DFDS is to buy-out Alphatrans. Pictured after addressing staff are, from left, Eddie Green, executive vice president of logistics DFDS, Michael Edwards, head of UK operations for Alphatrans and Allan Bell, vice president of DFDS Logistics.

Picture: Jon Corken.

Warning to directors of non-profit making companies

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High and wide, but deal hits the mark!

A

BNORMAL load specialist Alphatrans will be adopted under the DFDS brand, with expansion and opportunity at the fore, should a major logistics acquisition be approved by the relevant authorities in the coming months.

While the two businesses involved in the undisclosed deal announced last week may be headquartered in Holland and Denmark respectively, the South Bank of the Humber is a substantial operating base for both, underlined by DFDS executive vice president Eddie Green meeting the South Killingholme team on Friday, just days after the agreement.

Michael Edwards, who heads up the UK operations, welcomed him in to the base, bought three years ago as the business stepped up from an office location in Hessle.

And Mr Green, a leading figure in the deal to buy Grimsby’s Quayside Distribution three years ago, has assured the 43-strong team it will be a positive step to drive to drive the combined businesses forward.

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 has 197 employees and a fleet of 720 trailers and 125 trucks. Like DFDS, as well as the UK, it also operates in Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Ireland, with further locations in Hungary, Portugal and Romania, welcome additions for those based in Nordic House on Port of Immingham’s Western Access Road.

Allan Bell, vice president for DFDS Logistics there, said: “We have 10,000 customers and many will have will have a need for the services Alphatrans

can supply, I’m looking forward to it.”

DFDS now employs 1,000 people across Grimsby and Immingham.

At Alphatrans Mr Edwards was brought in by Mr Bos 12 years ago to lead UK expansion, having overseen the acquisition of what was the H&L Garages site on the prominent junction of Eastfield Road and the A160. He said: “I have known Eddie for years and I think it was the right time, and it seems a logical step.

“I believe the opportunities it 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.”

Reflecting on the growth, he said: “We started off in 1994. It was just a one-man office in Hessle. I had a business, and I had moved it on, but Martin asked if I fancied the challenge of growing this business with him. We grew it to the size it is today.

“We had just over 100 trailers when I joined, now well, I’ve lost count, but it makes us a fairly big player in the flatbed market.”

Racehorse owners rate Market Rasen MARKET Rasen Racecourse has been named as one of the top tracks in Britain by the 8,000-strong Racehorse Owners Association.

It is the third year in a row that the venue has received the Gold Standard award, now run on a competitive basis among the 61 British racecourses.

Just 12 receive the accolade annually.

Representatives of racehorse owners visit

every track to assess all aspects of the race-day experience.

In addition, feedback was provided by hundreds of members.

It could now win Small Racecourse of the Year at the annual ROA Horseracing Awards, to be held in London on December 7.

Nadia Powell, pictured, Rasen’s general manager, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to retain the

ROA Gold Standard for a third year. We place huge importance on our relationship with Britain’s racehorse owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff.

“We’ve always had a strong reputation for excellent ground conditions and a varied race programme – and we provide the best possible race-day experience for owners.”

The decision will make uncomfortable reading for some as it sets out the directors’ responsibilities of such enterprises – and those responsibilities may be more than many believe.

The case involved a community project that went into liquidation for non-payment of VAT. The company behind the project was not registered for VAT when it was incorporated in 2004 and only did so in 2011, when it was alerted to the issue. By then the bill was too high and the company folded.

But this was not the end of the issue. The liquidator took proceedings against the directors, suggesting that they failed in their duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence.

The directors argued that they were ‘non-specialist’ volunteers who had to rely on accountants’ advice and should accept no responsibility. They also said they had not been the original directors when the company was formed.

But their arguments did not wash with the Court, which decided the new directors should have formed their own opinion and not relied on advice.

The Court added it felt it was “incumbent on the directors to have sufficient knowledge of the company’s business and understanding of its operations to be compliant with all statutory requirements”.

This decision certainly suggests that, while directors are not required to have specialist knowledge, they are required to ask questions rather than rely on the position of previous advice to the company. Failure to act in this way could mean they are liable to pay compensation where the company enters into insolvency.

Furthermore, the case demonstrates the importance of taking legal advice as soon as possible in circumstances where a company is faced with potential insolvency, in order to be prepared.

For further information, please contact Chris Grocock on 01472 262626, email chris.grocock@wilkinchapman.co.uk or visit www.wilkinchapman.co.uk

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Energy in association with

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Britain’s offshore wind capacity could increase T

HE Crown Estate is to consider leasing more of the UK’s territorial seabed for offshore wind projects.

It will be working with the sector and stakeholders to consider making new rights available to developers.

The announcement follows the Gover nment’s backing for offshore wind in the Clean Growth Strategy and recognises the industry’s ongoing development of an ambitious sector deal.

It comes after the recent ‘Contracts for Difference’ auction which demonstrated significant cost reduction, played out here with Hornsea Project Two wowing industry with its £57.50 strike price – halving costs in just two years.

Huub den Rooijen, director of energy, minerals and infrastructure at The Crown Estate – who has previously described Grimsby as the poster child for the industrialisation – said: “Offshore wind is a fantastic UK success story. We have some of the best resources in the world and the sector is on course to meet 10 per cent of the UK’s electricity demand by 2020.

“With costs continuing to come down at a pace and Government looking at further opportunities for additional offshore wind deployment in the 2020s, it is the right time to consider what additional seabed rights may be needed to help secure the UK’s clean energy future.”

All eyes will be on where these areas will be, but an increased focus on the North Sea as projects get larger, the Humber looks likely to be well set. It has been said recently that the North Sea could

“With costs continuing to come down at a pace and Government looking at further opportunities for additional offshore wind deployment, it is the right time to consider what additional seabed rights may be needed to help secure the UK’s clean energy future.”

ALL EYES ON WHERE: Huub den Rooijen, director of energy for The Crown Estate. meet all of Europe’s needs. Ørsted, what was until earlier this month Dong Energy, has established its East Coast Hub in Grimsby, and with Able Marine Energy Park at North Killingholme and further land at Hull and Paull, capacity to cope is there.

Energy Minister, Richard Harrington, said: “The offshore wind sector in the UK has shown

great ambition and is bringing forward clean energy projects that could power more than three million homes, at half the cost achieved in previous auctions.

“Our Clean Growth Strategy sets out that the UK could support another 10GW of offshore wind in the 2020s, with the opportunity for more if it’s cost effective. This announcement is an important step

towards these future projects.”

The Crown Estate will work with sector stakeholders throughout next year to “shape potential new offshore leasing activity”. This will consider the scale, form and location of new rights to enable sustainable deployment to 2030 and beyond.

Further details are expected early next year.

Global backing for Ørsted’s green energy vision

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We owe it to the planet and to the future generations to transform our energy systems from black to green Henrik Poulsen

OVERWHELMING backing for green energy has been revealed as a key part of the sector’s tipping point plays out from Grimsby.

Inward investor Ørsted’s stated intent to see the globe powered by renewables has the clear backing of the public, results from the largest survey of attitudes ever conducted has revealed.

UK appetite for green generation matches the world’s average of 82 per cent favouring it.

The extensive survey by the company formerly known as Dong Energy – which is leading the offshore wind charge out of Grimsby – took in a cross-section of ages, political standpoints, education and geographies, with 26,000 people interviewed.

Henrik Poulsen, chief executive, said: “We’re at a tipping point. Green energy has become cheaper than black, and the newly released Green Energy Barometer shows overwhelming public support for a shift from black to green. We owe it to

HEARTS AND MINDS: Grimsby’s first cohort of Ørsted apprentices with Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers, third left, and Matthew Wright, Ørsted UK managing director, right, as part of a reception embracing Tomorrow’s Engineers Week in Westminster. Bottom left, Henrik Poulsen. the planet and to future generations to transform our energy systems from black to green. And with the economics and public opinion now supporting a shift to renewable energy, there’s no reason not to speed up the transfor mation.”

The UK analysis mirrors the global take, from the work conducted by Edelman Intelligence across 13

countries.

“Our vision is to help create a world that runs entirely on green energy, and this survey reveals that this ambition has overwhelming support, irrespective of age, nationality and political viewpoint,” UK managing director Matthew Wright said. “There is a pressing need to take green action and it is encouraging to see

we are united in this goal.

Renewable energy is green, independent and economically viable and, as demonstrated by the Green Energy Barometer, has public support from all demographics in the UK. “The barriers have been removed; green energy is now cheaper than black, so we are in a better position than ever to take action against climate change.”

While climate change is the major driver, backing for renewables is also heavily rooted in economic benefits.

More than 70 per cent of those surveyed believe that it will boost economic growth and create new jobs if their respective countries were to build and produce more green energy. Ørsted is creating 500 jobs in Grimsby in long-term operations and maintenance of the wind farm cluster, while also receiving blades from Hull’s Siemens Gamesa plant, where 850 people are now employed.

It is one of four developers to embrace the Humber, bringing a supply chain too, while opening up opportunities for local businesses.

The ramping up of generation from new offshore wind farms – including Grimsby’s Race Bank – helped Ørsted increase earnings by 39 per cent, as it posted an operating profit of £212 million for the quarter.

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News ON THE MAP: North Lincolnshire Council Place Marketing Board: Seated, from left, Mick Lochran, principal, North Lindsey College; Chris Greig, Nina Stobart, Rob Waltham, Alan Ross. Back, from left, Anthony Hubbard, David Clugston, director, Clugston Construction and Adam Lovell.

Month in Review

£190m plans could bring more than 100 jobs here

Ambassadors sought as area seeks to shine

B

USINESS and education leaders have joined forces with North Lincolnshire Council’s economic development team to promote the region and help attract greater inward investment.

am looking forward to working with the businesses to put us firmly on the regional, national and international map as a destination of choice.”

The scheme will launch at a business breakfast on January 18 at Forest Pines Hotel.

The recently created Place Marketing Board Nina Stobart, communications and external includes senior council officials and affairs lead at South Killingholme refinery representatives from a range of sectors.

Phillips 66, is to chair it. She said: “North Central to the plan will be the launch of a Lincolnshire Ambassadors are just that, a North Lincolnshire Ambassador programme, group of people who are fed up with the area where businesses are asked to sign up to we all live and work in being knocked; we want collectively celebrate and champion the to show what a wonderful place it is. strength and depth of the economy, skills and “We are surrounded by areas of outstanding investment-supporting infrastructure. natural beauty, we have strong businesses from Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire family-run butchers to global industrial giants, Council, said: “I’m delighted businesses have education which we should be shouting from come together to take on the role of positioning the roof tops about and most of all we have a North Lincolnshire as one of the best places in diverse and passionate population. the UK for economic success and enterprise, as “The Northern Powerhouse movement has well as a great place for families to live and been focussed so far on the cities in the north. grow.

They are important but now it is time to “The fact we have a very lively and engaged celebrate what we have so we can build for an businesses means it is not a hard sell to make. I even stronger future – key to that is showing

the rest of the country just what our role in the building of the Northern Powerhouse is and how important we are to a successful and growing UK.” North Lindsey College and Humber UTC are both represented by their principals too.

As part of the programme the economic development team will be reshaping North Lincolnshire Business Networking events and creating an online depository of marketing material and literature to promote the area.

Further board members include Michael Lavizani, general manager, Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort; Paul Martin, managing director, British Steel; Deborah Zost, managing director, Humberside Airport and David Aunins, centre manager, The Foundry Shopping Centre.

Council officers Simon Green, executive director commercial; Lesley Potts, head of economy and growth and Denise Hyde, executive director, people and transformation and head of paid service, are also on the board.

ENERGY: TWO huge industrial developments looking to generate energy and fuel from waste have been revealed for North East Lincolnshire.

Australian company Integrated Green Energy Solutions is looking to create a plastics reprocessing facility and European HQ on part of the former Courtaulds plant in Grimsby, with 80 jobs and £20 million of investment behind it.

Illustrated with a generic vision, above, it could turn 65,000 tonnes of plastic into 69 million litres of fuel annually.

And North Beck Energy wants to build a £170 million waste-to-energy plant, capable of delivering nearly 50MW to the grid while creating 40 jobs at land off Queen’s Road, Immingham.

The first is currently with North East Lincolnshire Council for an environmental impact assessment scoping report, while the latter, illustrated below, has just launched its public consultation ahead of a planning application, envisaged early in the new year.

North Beck chief executive Ray Tucker is making a return to the area, having tried to bring similar scale biomass to Port of Immingham in 2011.

PROUD TO BE

RENEWING THE HUMBER

Why ‘the place’ matters so much to businesses Anthony Hubbard, head of business development, Overhall Contractors, Thealby: “We want to shine a spotlight on all of the great things North Lincolnshire currently has to offer, both to businesses and residents. This will lead to encouraging growth of the outstanding business we already have in the region and helping to attract further investment. We have been too negative for too long and it’s time to start taking positive steps to celebrate all that is good about North Lincolnshire – that will lead to the change in mindset we need.”

Alan Ross, managing director, Stylex Auto Products, Foxhills Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe: “Participation in the North Lincolnshire Place Marketing Board is an invitation I have been

delighted to accept. As someone who moved to North Lincolnshire ten years ago I have been bemused as to why it isn’t recognised more widely for the significant infrastructural benefits that it offers.

“On a personal level it offers open spaces and incredible tranquillity; while for business there is access to some of the better road, rail, sea and air services available in the country.

There is substantial space and energy to develop and I see this as an ideal opportunity to promote all the positives. I look forward to being part of this ambitious initiative.”

Adam Lovell, development director, Pepperells, Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe: “The chance for economic growth, fundamentally

linked to the creation of more well-paid, highly-skilled, sustainable jobs, is now more real than ever before for the whole of the northern economy. North Lincolnshire is an integral part of this and we hope this renewed vigour in promoting ourselves will give a greater confidence both internally and to potential investors. We hope that we can begin to get the voice of North Lincolnshire heard across the UK. We need to stake our place in the Northern Powerhouse, we need to demonstrate better the investment opportunities and we need to work better together to help create a more prosperous region.”

Chris Greig, director, CG Advertising, Winterton: “The nature of my work means I tend to work outside North Lincolnshire. Whenever I am

asked where I live, the majority of people tend to look blankly at me or say directly, ‘where’s that?’

“I have been in the area for 20 years and I know what the area has to offer but clearly most other people don’t, and that is the reason why I want to help promote the region.

“We have really good transport links, particularly road, we have some great companies and we have a ready and willing workforce and plenty of available land ready for business to develop on – what we don’t have is a voice to promote it. This is where the scheme comes in and this is why we need as many local businesses to step up and help us shout about the positives.”

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Food

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Soaring family business welcomes next generation

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Grimsby-based Sylvester Keal has been shortlisted for a major industry award – Catering Insight Distributor of the Year – as it enjoys a flying year with strong growth ambition. The recognition has earned it strong profile too, with the cover slot on the latest edition of the sponsoring industry magazine.

Here we publish an abridged version of the in-depth feature.

01472 889200 www.blackrow.co.uk

HE “family” part of “family business” Sylvester Keal just got a little larger, as MD Martyn Keal and marketing director Irene Keal’s son Ben has joined as an electrical engineer.

Manufacturers of Industrial Hygienic Doors

01472 352998

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

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EVEN KEAL: Irene, Martyn, Derek and Ben, outside the unit on South Humberside Industrial Estate, Grimsby.

T

This marks a third generation in the Grimsby-based distributor, founded by Martyn’s father Derek in 1987.

Originally a microwave repair company which he began following a spell in Kuwait as an electrical engineer, Martyn soon joined to sell ancillary catering equipment supplies, having had the entrepreneurial bug from his school days. Over the next five years he drove the widening of the range of equipment sold to add to the repair offering, and then took the next step into kitchen design and construction, as well as laundry equipment sales and servicing.

Martyn stepped up as MD when Derek retired five years ago.

Now is certainly a busy time to come onboard the Sylvester Keal business, as over the last few years the full project offering has stepped up a gear. “We are doing more larger project work now, including recently converting Bransby horse sanctuary in Lincoln and outfitting a new care home in Scarborough,” said Irene. “We still deal with smaller clients as well because we can be flexible and tailor everything to suit.”

Son Ben did not get a free pass to enter the family firm, as his parents wanted to ensure that he was there on merit. “When he left school we said he needed to get out there and get a trade,” Irene recalled. “We told him if he wanted to come and work for us, he had to bring something to the table.”

He gained his electrical engineering qualifications while working at an electrical company for four years. But the lure of the family company was still there, so he “applied” again.

His parents still wanted to make sure he

would be an asset, and asked service manager Ashley Grant to interview him. He passed with flying colours and joined last month. “It’s exciting for us because it’s another set of skills in the company that we can offer to our customers,” Irene

between service and projects and ancillary products supply, with the proportion of project work steadily increasing. Ancillary supplies has always performed well, being in the company’s DNA – so much so that it even has its own SK-brand.

Turnover overall has increased every year since the company’s inception, and this year the steady growth is once again in evidence with a said.

10 per cent year on year increase which looks to The 28-strong staff help the firm to build a be taking this year’s total to £3 million. long working relationship with its customers, seeing the design and install as just the According to Martyn: “My plan is to take it up beginning of an alliance, with emphasis placed to £5 million within the next couple of years and on service and investment in training at their then to £10 million in five years, thanks to fore. growth in project design and installation.”

“We pride ourselves on understanding Recent investments include in IT and software customers’ needs and giving them exactly what to help the distributor work smarter and more they want – we don’t upsell,” said Martyn. efficiently. “This year alone all the engineers’ Sylvester Keal operates from a 10,000sq ft worksheets have just gone electronic, as we put premises, and as well as taking on a new operations manager to ensure proceedings move in a software package for service and repairs and projects, following one last year for sales smoothly, it is about to bring in a projects and delivery,” said Irene. manager to help Martyn with the design and installation. He said: “Pulling all of the Furthermore a fleet of at least eight new vans contractors together is one of our main project arrived this year too. management challenges. As we are a specialist With a new website in the offing and a we have to send our own people to do the marketing agency helping to grow the business installation as well as the contractors, to make sure the quality control is in place. But that can further, the pace of Sylvester Keal’s expansion tie up resource from our everyday service work. shows no signs of stopping. Martyn predicted: “In the next few years we’ll have a bigger The new project manager will help us in our projects team in place.” While Irene revealed: transition period from doing smaller to larger projects.”

“We’d like to set up another dealership down The firm’s income is now an even balance south too for project design and installation.”

Seafood success takes in Cleethorpes, Cambridge and the capital SEAFOOD Week has been heralded a success once more, with businesses the length and breadth of the country coming together to celebrate.

While the Humber Seafood Summit formed a focal point of the Grimsby-area’s activity – as reported last month from Cleethorpes Pier – there were many other events.

Businesses were given the opportunity to sign up as partners, and hundreds seized the chance be a part of the eight-day celebration of seafood. They put on special menus, dressed

premises and worked together to encourage us all to eat more seafood, using marketing materials provided.

Praising the innovation, Heather Middleton, Seafish’s marketing manager, said: “We are delighted with another fantastic Seafood Week.

“Independent high street and online businesses, right the way to major brands including Hilton and retailer Morrisons, all played a part in Seafood Week and we thank them for all their support and help in getting more

seafood into the mouths and minds of consumers.”

Partner Hilton Worldwide created special dishes and menus throughout the whole of the UK hotel portfolio, with a showcase event also held in Cambridge.

Debbie Tsao, Hilton’s senior manager for European food and beverage operations, said: “Seafood week provides a great possibility to increase the consumption of fish and it is a great opportunity to showcase the creativity of our chefs and emphasise Hilton’s

sustainable sourcing of seafood.”

In London, Billingsgate Seafood School staff visited schools and informing them of the importance of eating fish and giving them a hands-on experience with different species.

Billingsgate chief executive CJ Jackson said: “Seafood Week was an excellent opportunity for us to engage with industry and consumers, and we are delighted with how successful it was once again.”

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News ANNIVERSARY SPEECHES: The Investment Hub NEL team and speakers. From left, Heidi Dodson, Tony White, Sarah Brattan, Richard Askam, Anthony Winn, Ian Girdley, Sharon Wroot and Rob Walsh.

Innovative fund finders now wanted elsewhere!

A

FUNDING signpost service launched in North East Lincolnshire has been revealed to be a sought-after model, as more than £9 million is tapped into by 83 businesses, aiding the creation of 131 new jobs.

The snapshot of initial success was given as Investment Hub NEL celebrated its first birthday, having been brought forward by the local authority as a niche answer to an identified need from the SME community.

Sharon Wroot, director of finance at North East Lincolnshire Council, provided the back-story to how it came about, telling how her council Jobs created peers are keen to adopt.

She said: “I have been involved in the Investment Hub since the start.

I was fairly new in post and my boss, (NELC chief executive) Rob Walsh, asked me to create a finance strategy. The role of the council was starting to change, we were starting to recognise the role of a local authority needed to change if we were to achieve any ambition for growth, and a big part of that was creating relationships. These were not just public, but across the private sector too.”

Explaining how she was a local woman with lots of local contacts, she had frequently heard people calling for support, with many not

131

understanding why the local authority couldn’t directly lend.

“We tried to understand the issues, and part of it was that small and medium sized businesses, don’t necessarily know where to go and what help there is for growth.

“We are quite unique in terms of numbers of SMEs, they just operate under the radar and often their success is phenomenal. There was a perception that lenders didn’t want to lend, austerity had hit and that no-one wanted to know. Through our wider network we knew that wasn’t the issue, it was the support and enabling a connection between the two, to allow them to achieve their growth ambition, create more jobs, create wealth and confidence in the local economy, giving us more chance of realising our growth ambition.”

She was introduced to the recently retired and vastly experienced Barclays and Handelsbanken manager, Anthony Winn, who had also just completed a stint as chair of the North East Lincolnshire area council of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce.

“It is very unique this model, and we are a little bit competitive in the public sector and a lot of colleagues want to borrow this model in the region,” she said. “They haven’t got an Anthony or a Sarah though, so I’m winning,” she added, referring also to Hub manager Sarah Brattan.

Praising Mr Walsh and Mrs Wroot for “the foresight to create this, support and sponsor it

with incredible enthusiasm,” Mr Winn said: “When we started up in 2016 we strongly felt there was a big, big need for it. It is an absolute minefield for business. There can be dozens and dozens of potential sources, but they may not do the sector, may be for start-ups or mature business only.”

He told how he feared struggling businesses may take of their time, but said: “The great majority of businesses we spoke to are progressive, expanding or looking to relocate, looking to build the business and take more employees on.

We have helped with expansion, business relocation, and found grants out there that weren’t previously known about in Invested North East Lincolnshire. We have also found a number of funders who are really keen to do business in the area and have seen it as a positive area that they have struggled to get a foothold. They are keen to assist, they have got funding available.

“It has been a really, really great success and we feel it has offered quite an insight into business economy in North East Lincolnshire.

As well as businesses, we have talked to funders and local professionals, and our conclusion is the business economy is in great shape. This leads us to have a good degree of optimism for the future.”

£9m

First year success stories put smiles on faces TESTIMONIALS were given by Tony White, of Grimsby’s Fast Form Systems; Cleethorpes jeweller Karen Webb-Meek, the In The Pink owner who set up her own brand, Dollie, and Adrian Rowlands of Enviro Gy. Mr White, who launched in late 2014, taking a construction aid concept to market in spectacular fashion, said: “Any local business should tap into this. A lot of resources are out there that we wouldn’t necessarily know about.

Invoice finance has given us the funding for the next stage of growth.”

He has taken on new premises, pictured, and 14 staff in the past 18 months, sending his form-work product securing £400,000 of exports to the US and hopeful he has just doubled that on a recent visit.

“They are an enormous help, We are a mature start-up now but we

would have struggled in the early days. If we hadn’t had the support we would still be scraping around looking for finance.”

Finance Yorkshire helped him initially, and now Investment Hub NEL has introduced him to NatWest’s financing.

Grimsby-area businessman turned inspirational speaker, Richard Askam, was invited to address the celebration of achievement with more than 100 guests. He said: “It is wonderful to

be in an environment like this in a little town. I am a Grimsby lad born and bred, I live here still, and to see a room full of people celebrating opportunity and possibility in front of us is fantastic.”

Mr Askam took on his father’s wine business, transforming it from off licence to catering wholesale delivery, before embarking on gifting and personalisation of products.

“I have been asked before ‘what

does Grimsby need?’ It needs belief, and that is in this room,” he said. “I can see it happening.

Stuff like this puts the grease on the wheels, and it is something I wish I had in my working life!”

Explaining how he took some investment from venture capitalists “which turned out to be a really bad move,” he added: “Where were you in 2013?”

Closing the event, Mr Walsh said the area had moved beyond the cusp of something happening, and now it was about a genuine sense of belief.

He said: “Success of the Investment Hub is part and parcel of the realisation of strength and opportunities in the economy. It is great to see it grow. It epitomises what a council should be about, enabling, intervening when we should, and getting out of the way when the time is right too.”

Month in Review US giant Aon swoops for broker Henderson INSURANCE: US giant Aon has swooped for Henderson Insurance Broking Group.

Terms have been agreed on an undisclosed deal between the company, founded in northern Lincolnshire by chief executive Joe Henderson, and the New York Stock Exchange-listed global professional services firm.

The buy-out is expected to complete next month.

From humble beginnings Henderson has grown to employ more than 400 people across 16 offices, predominantly in the north of England, but with clients and business across the UK. Last year it celebrated 30 years of trading, hitting £30 million of revenues.

The main administrative centre is at Humberside Airport Business Park in Kirmington and Aon has confirmed that there are “no plans to make significant changes to the business”.

Mr Henderson, originally from Manchester, founded the business in 1986 in a small office in Scunthorpe, having realised there was a gap in the market while working in construction for Peter Birse at Barton.

St Barnabas brewery?

FOOD & DRINK: Grimsby could soon have its own brewery as the team behind the popular Cleethorpes Pale Ale look to convert a former town church to cater for demand drummed up.

Five years after launching, Axholme Brewing Co has outgrown its rural northern Lincolnshire base, with the flagship ale flourishing after three friends jumped on board the once-struggling husband and wife venture.

Space is desperately required to unleash further business growth, and with pride in the town up there with the passion for the produce, the Grimsby-based trio want to tap into the wider regeneration proposals.

Permission is being sought to change the use of

what was St Barnabas Church on King Edward Street, bringing the capacity to quadruple current output.

More than 100 trade customers have been added since Will Douglas, Charles Lumley and Shahram Shadan joined Mike and Jules Richards in Crowle.

Mr Lumley was an early customer with his Cleethorpes craft beer shop Message in a Bottle, and rallied round when he heard it was being scaled down.

Now the entrepreneurial pals are fully immersed, and looking to take it on to a new level.

Eastern’s revenues up AVIATION: Second quarter revenues at Eastern Airways are up slightly year-on-year, owner Bristow Group has revealed.

For the three month period to September, the Kirmington-based operations – which include Humberside Airport and the resident airline – contributed £23.2 million, up from £22.6 million in September 2016, a rise of 2.6 per cent.

Earnings were down 49 per cent however, at £152,280 compared to £228,390, with a decrease in oil and gas revenues – on which both strongly depend – continuing in the UK. There was less of a negative impact from foreign currency exchange rate reported, and Eastern is back in the black after significant losses in the previous financial year saw it go from £10 million in profit to -£3.3 million.

It comes as this quarter has seen a new franchise arrangement with the UK’s largest regional airline, Flybe, commence for Eastern, as well as the arrival of the first of two new leased 72-seat ATR 72-600 planes, described as a “significant commitment for Bristow Group” last month.

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Chemicals / Process

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Major contract wins sow seeds for growth A

STRONG year featuring diverse projects has seen North Killingholme-based construction company Cube3 turn over a record £12 million.

It is a £2 million uplift on the previous 12 months, as the team swells to 25 with the addition of senior site managers and an apprentice engineer.

Nationally active, it has been a project close to home which has helped deliver the goods for the seven year old firm.

Graham Marshall, director, said: “The major effect this year has been the Knauf project for us, which we have just finished. It has been a successful delivery, having worked closely throughout.”

The award of the project management and civils work for a calcination plant at the plasterboard manufacturer, was the biggest contract so far, having assisted the German giant since launching.

As reported in February, the investment on Queen’s Road focuses on the recycling of gypsum products to increase production.

“We have had another good year, we have been very busy,” said fellow director Tony Quirke, as he looked forward to the next 12 months, with a team already on site at another project in northern Lincolnshire. “Having delivered the first phase, we are now on site for a

PRACTICAL AND PRESTIGE: Cube3 projects, New Holland Extraction, above, and two executive homes.

the Co-op in Ulceby and two neighbouring executive homes in Wressle, underlining capabilities in commercial, industrial and domestic sectors.

And having recently completed a project for Gusbourne Estate in Kent, home of a winery, more work with the client is looming for the Lancaster Approach team.

David Coombe, who makes up the trio of directors behind Cube3, said: phase two warehouse expansion for centre there.”

“We are currently looking at New Holland Extraction, further work down south too, A further contract in the North continuing our good relationship through the consultants we worked West saw silo bases and with the client and project manager warehousing delivered at with on Gusbourne.

CR Parrott,” he said.

Liverpool’s Canada Dock, while in “We are involved in design and “We have just been awarded that, Sheffield a retail development off planning, as well as negotiating an and we are also in Greater Manchester with Howarth Timber the Parkway city entrance has also interesting deal. It has been a really been handed over. good year and we are looking doing a new extension and Other projects concluding include positively ahead too.” refurbishment of a distribution

BJB on the right ‘IPAF’ with training milestone

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

BJB Lift Trucks Ltd is celebrating the successful delivery of its 100th International Powered Access Federation course, a remarkable achievement considering it is just 12 months since the IPAF accreditation was attained.

The training team, headed by training and marketing manager Nikki Hale, has seen significant growth in both enquiry and course delivery following the 2015 investment in new premises.

“IPAF candidate numbers have exceeded all expectation with more than 350 completing internationally recognised training covering boom, scissor and harness courses, the majority completed here in Grimsby at our centre,” she said.

To support this increased business, additional instructors have joined BJB’s team alongside a £50,000 investment in new plant and equipment. The expansive South Humberside Industrial Estate base also offers sufficient capacity to conduct simultaneous training across a variety of equipment and awarding bodies, a huge advantage for the company and its customers, particularly when challenged to meet complicated training

TRAINING: A busy yard at BJB, left, while Peter Harvey, right, welcomes the candidates from Jordans Dorest Ryveta. requirements within limited time frames.

Candidates recently visited from Jordans Dorset Ryvita ahead of its new plant opening on the site formally occupied by British Sugar at Bardney.

“As part of securing the new business we were asked to train a large number of candidates on a variety of equipment over a five day period and we successfully accommodated everyone,” Nikki enthused.

BJB is also playing a key role in training the Energy Estuary’s emerging workforce. Both existing employees and new recruits in offshore wind energy have taken advantage of the facilities and training. “We are working directly with several key players in the

renewables sector and we are constantly evolving to support their training requirements,” director Philip Flowers said. “This is a particularly exciting time for us.”

This summer saw the 10th anniversary of Phil, and fellow director Peter Harvey’s ownership of BJB. Both have been instrumental in driving sustained growth regionally, and increasingly, nationally.

“Our continued success is a direct reflection of the effort and enthusiasm from the team here,” Peter said. “Our absolute priority is to ensure we provide our customers across the country with the highest standard of service and support, and we deliver that service thanks to the

passion of our people.”

Another indicator of BJB’s increasing success is the recent awarding of national preferred materials handling equipment provider status with modular accommodation specialist Elliott Group UK Ltd. The company has more than 30 depots across the UK with BJB now responsible for the supply and maintenance of a variety of new equipment, from the goliath Kalmar range of trucks, to medium and smaller sized equipment.

BJB’s Ian Roden said: “The Elliott Group business has increased our UK exposure substantially and as a consequence of the excellent service provided

by BJB, and indeed positive

customer feedback, our national customer base continues to show significant growth.

“Our £90,000 investment in additional engineering equipment and vans complements our ability to support our customers promptly and efficiently, wherever they may be in the UK.” The company also recognises the importance of investing in its people.

Four apprentices are part of the team with Tim Flowers and Sam Harvey in engineering and Beth Cope together with Lucy Harrison undertaking Kaplan AAT qualifications.

“We are always keen to strengthen the team across all areas of the business,” added Peter.

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

11

News

Month in Review Young’s adds to frozen seafood’s peak appeal

SAY CHEESE: Mary and Michael Davenport at the Great British Cheese Awards. Above, Cote Hill Blue in production at the family farm.

Blue is the colour as cheese pleases judges T

he only blue cheese made in Lincolnshire has been named as one of the best in the UK at the Great British Cheese Awards

members of the public think,” said Michael. “People are invited to vote for their favourite cheeses and those which receive the most votes form a shortlist of cheeses.

“These are judged by food Cote Hill Blue, made by Mary and industry experts before the Michael Davenport of Cote Hill winners are announced across a Cheese, at their family farm near variety of categories.

Osgodby, was named as runner-up “Our cheese made it through to in the ‘artisan’ category of the the final seven in the artisan awards, which are decided in a cheese category and we were just public vote. pipped to the top prize by Fen The family say the cheese’s Farm Dairy in Bungay. success is down to its creamy “Winning recognition in this texture and buttery sweetness – as prestigious competition, which is well as their full control of the now in its second year means our cheesemaking process, right from cheese is being seen as amongst the delivery of the morning milk the cream of the crop when it through to the maturing and comes to the best of British wrapping of their cheeses. produce made and distributed by And the wider distribution of independent cheesemakers and Cote Hill Blue, to pubs, restaurants distributors.” and other outlets around the This year’s awards, presented at country, has boosted its popularity. the Gilbert Scott restaurant and “It was fantastic to do so well in bar within London’s St Pancras the awards.

Renaissance Hotel, attracted a record 9,000 voters.

“What is so very special about this competition is that the Falling milk prices prompted the finalists are decided based on what family to explore cheese making in

2004 and Michael learned the skills on a course at Nantwich Agriculture College.

Today two of Michael and Mary’s four sons, Joe and Ross – along with Joe’s wife Laura – also play their part in the business, and even Joe and Laura’s daughter Edith, three, has been known to get in on the act.

Last year Edith appeared on CBeebies making cheese with her dad and Granny Mary.

“Joe helps with me with the cheesemaking process, and little Edith loves to see what her daddy is up to, while Ross helps Michael to look after the cattle and the farming side of the business,” said Mary.

Cote Hill Cheese has many awards under its belt.

Its highly-popular Cote Hill Blue has won Gold Medals at the British Cheese Awards, Nantwich International Cheese Show and The Great Yorkshire Show, as well as a Great Taste 2-star Gold.

The Great British Cheese Awards were organised by Great British

Chefs, the UK’s fastest growing food website, and Peter’s Yard, whose crispbread was named as “the best biscuit for cheese out there”.

Co-founder of Peter’s Yard, Wendy Wilson-Bett said: “We feel this is a fantastic initiative to be involved with, especially as there is such a positive involvement by the public.

“We hope these awards will also encourage more people to seek out and buy great British cheese like Cote Hill Blue.”

SEAFOOD: Three new shellfish lines are being launched by Grimsby’s Young’s Seafood as it brings a further boost to the frozen seafood category, currently enjoying a seven-year high.

Analysts tracking the sector are seeing a growth of nearly 10 per cent in value and more than five per cent in volume.

Young’s is bringing its 200-year heritage to the fore, having started out in shellfish back in 1805, with Elizabeth Young selling prawns and whitebait in Greenwich.

Now shoppers in Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose will be able to choose from a succulent scallop dish and Fruits de Mer products complemented with restaurant-inspired butters, or juicy, sweet jumbo tiger prawns.

Brexit exemption call SEAFOOD: Seafood should be given special free trade status after Brexit to ensure Grimsby’s industry is not damaged, MPs have been told.

Key figures from the wider Lincolnshire food industry were in Westminster this past month to provide the Government with their vision for meeting the challenges presented by the UK leaving the European Union.

Grimsby’s seafood processing industry faces a number of Brexit-related issues – from a potential 20 per cent labour shortfall to delays in fresh fish reaching the town’s factories, as well as import fees.

The industry and its big name producers, such as Young’s and Icelandic Seachill, imports 90 per cent of the fish it processes for retailers, restaurants and fish and chip shops.

Teeing off new outlet RETAIL: Europe’s largest golf retailer, American Golf, has officially opened in Grimsby.

The store, which stocks some of the sport’s biggest brands, has moved into the premises of the former Swingtime site on Cromwell Road.

The major golf retailer has invested more than £80,000 into the store, equipping it with a state-of-the-art fitting studio and complementing the investment with six new appointments to the staff team and more to come.

Airport restaurant ready for steak-off!

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.

FITTING OUT: Shaun Hodgins, left, director of Ark Interiors checks on plans for the new restaurant with the management trio. ● continued from page one. will play a part in the branding too, with the option to add new ones should it take off.

Mr Dawson said: “I’d like to think we could roll this out, there is certainly the option there with the co-ordinates, that can be changed to suit.

“We are looking purely at the airport now, we can see the

business, the corporate side there now.

“We have the world’s biggest offshore wind farm coming at the moment, and we know what these investments mean to the area.

“We don’t just want to be the airport restaurant though, we want to reach out to the local community, to couples looking where to go for a meal.”

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

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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.

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

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

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Ports & Logistics

in association with

Humber Work Boats

Marine Contracting, Dredging and Boat Building www.humberworkboats.co.uk Tel: 01469 540156 GUTEN TAG: The new product, Alzon Neo-N, is imported by Gleadell Agriculture to Port of Immingham.

For the latest and breaking business news around the Humber region

Immingham welcomes a fertiliser first for UK I

MMINGHAM’S bulk expertise has seen a UK first, with the world’s most advanced stabilised nitrogen fertiliser unloaded at the port.

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

angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk TUG WITH A TITLE: SMS Towage’s new vessel, Superman, is named at Albert Dock, Hull.

Inset, The Rev Neal Barnes, with Amanda Pannett and Paul Escreet, conduct the ceremony.

The 3,200t shipment of Alzon Neo-N was imported by Gleadell Agriculture in the past month.

It was manufactured by SKW Piesteritz, Germany’s largest producer of ammonia and urea and a specialist manufacturer of stabilised urea products.

The cargo is the first of five booked to the end of January to meet rising demand for stabilised urea in the UK. “Growers are turning to the

product to cut rising losses to the environment and improve fertilisation efficiency,” said Gleadell fertiliser manager Calum Findlay.

It is the world’s first integrated all-weather fertiliser, and takes stabilisation technology to a new level, containing two inhibitors to reduce both ammonium and nitrate losses.

“These losses are an increasing problem, driven by increasing temperatures and moisture extremes during the growing season,” Mr Findlay said.

Trials have shown hit can reduce nitrate leaching by up to 50 per cent and nitrous oxide emissions by up

to 75 per cent, and prevent ammonia losses almost completely.

The UK has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the EU’s National Emissions Ceiling Directive, updated in December 2016, the country has signed up to reducing five key pollutants, including ammonia.

“Detailed within this, the Air Pollution Action Plan, due to be published in 2019, will include an ammonia code, which will contain advice on how farmers can reduce emissions.

“Although voluntary, it will be

important that high levels of take-up are seen to help the UK to meet its commitments, otherwise regulation may result,” Mr Findley said.

In Germany, legislation is already agreed. From 2020 farmers must either inject urea-based fertilisers or use ones that include an inhibitor to reduce ammonia emissions.

Manufacture began in early summer. Sales have and will remain mainly focused on Germany, but Gleadell is one of a small number of selected partners in a few other countries where it will be marketed.

...as ‘Superman’ heads to the super-port SMS Towage has unveiled one of its most powerful tugboats yet.

The newly built £5.8m Superman, operating out of Immingham, was officially named at a ceremony at Hull’s Albert Dock, after being delivered from the Sanmar shipyard, near Istanbul.

With twin 2000hp Rolls-Royce engines, generating 72 tonnes bollard pull, Superman will go into service on the South Bank to meet growing demand in the tanker and bulk carrier sector.

The Hessle-based firm, which is the UK’s largest independent tugboat operator, now has seven Sanmar-built tugs working on the Humber or at other UK ports as part of its 15-strong fleet.

Director Gareth Escreet said the acquisition was in line with the

company’s invest and renew programme, enabling it to maintain a modern fleet, as well as reflecting the strength of the Humber economy.

“The current outlook is very positive,” he said.

“Business is vibrant for us on the Humber and we see this as an upward trajectory.

“Since starting out in 2003 we have aimed to be responsive and cost-effective which has enabled us to grow on the Humber and expand into the Bristol Channel and Belfast Harbour. Our fleet can take on virtually any challenge whether in port or offshore.”

Amanda Pannett, wife of master mariner Phil Pannett, who spent 11 years with Associated British Ports on the Humber, named the new tug.

The Rev Canon Dr Neil

Barnes, vicar of Hull Minster, then carried out what was his fifth blessing of an SMS tug over the last few years.

SMS’s other Sanmar-built boats are the Statesman, Scotsman, Yorkshireman, Masterman, Englishman and Merchantman.

SMS chairman Paul Escreet said: “The previous Superman is now with new owners in Murmansk who were so impressed with her name that they have decided to keep it.

“The new Superman is chunkier, giving extra room on board, and more manoeuvrable. She is destined for Immingham and other south bank jetties.”

He added that the first Superman to sail on the Humber was in 1923, many years before the comic book hero’s arrival on the scene.

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

13

News

50 years of accountancy marked with make-over H

ALF a century of accounting has been totted up by Cleethorpes’ Blow Abbott & Co, as the partners continue to follow the founder’s appreciation of technology to provide a broadened service to their clients.

A permanent fixture on the resort’s High Street for 50 years, Denis Blow – who remains in the business – first examined companies’ books from there in 1967.

Now completely rebranded inside and out, with an impressive reception area, Denis’ grandson Elliot Beaumont and Graham Dawson are the partners at the helm of the 24-employee firm.

Cloud accounting, business and financial advice, and a raft of allied services including legal and payroll are now propelling Blow Abbott onwards.

Mr Beaumont, who joined the firm in 2009, said: “We have taken a step back over the last year to see what the business model is and what we want it to look like going forward. Being around for so many years, businesses can get stuck in their ways, and that can make change more difficult.

“We have embarked on that journey, and while there is still plenty to do, we are evolving into a firm of the future.

“From the punch card computing through to the original BBC computers and latest typewriters, Denis was always involved in that sort of thing, so we are continuing a theme in that respect.”

The transformation from handling hoards of receipts and invoices to a paperless system that links with clients’ book-keeping has been quite a step, but it is also enabling the company to help clients get on the front foot.

Stuart Leafe, business development manager at Blow Abbott, who ran with the rebranding, said: “We are trying to introduce a new concept of accounting to clients,” he said. “HMRC is pushing making tax digital, and that is a lead into cloud accounting for people, and also changes how people see tax advice.

We are looking at a use of software and investing in software that can pull out tax planning in an all-encompassing manner.

“Now we are looking at developing the advisory side of our role.

Book-keeping has been commoditised by the arrival of cloud accounting and

Pettit butchery business closes with £230k debts RETAIL: Renowned Grimsby butcher John Pettit Ltd has closed.

The 125-year-old business blamed the loss of catering contracts, with liquidators now working through £230,000 of debts.

A dozen jobs were lost when the Bethlehem Street business closed overnight.

Sarah Burge, of Kingsbridge Corporate Solutions, has been appointed to oversee the liquidation, warning creditors it could be a lengthy process, with any returns uncertain.

The award-winning butcher ran a Christmas saving scheme, leaving some customer out of pocket too. An outlet in Cleethorpes had closed in early October.

Auto-awards hat-trick LOGISTICS: Grimsby-headquartered GBA Group was in the driving seat at the Automotive Global Supply Chain Awards, with a hat-trick of accolades brought back to the Alexandra Dock base.

The family-run business won the prestigious Terminals and Ports Operator and Logistics Quality categories, with personal recognition for managing director Captain Sam Judah MBE. He was recognised with the Outstanding Achievement award in appreciation of his service as a pioneer of the automotive logistics industry over the past 35 years.

TEAM: Graham Dawson, Ellie Bridge, Sophie Vines, Stuart Leafe and Elliot Beaumont outside the Cleethorpes High Street office. we want to develop stronger relationships with clients so we can have real-time conversations to allow them to make informed decisions. A lot of this is about how we dissect information, and that is a far more interesting and exciting side of accounting for me, for Elliot and for others in the firm.

“We want to feel like we have done a good job, and we want the client to feel that we have done a good job. The movement to cloud accounting will bring that in to focus more.”

It has also been at the forefront of additional services.

While Mr Dawson provides financial advice on areas such as pensions and advice, three years ago Blow Abbott was one of the first accountancy practices in the region to offer selected legal services, having taken advantage

of the ICAEW becoming a regulator and licensing authority for member firms. It was a step that saw areas of law opened up to alternative business structures.

“That has grown quite a lot in the last three years,” said Sophie Vines, who is a qualified barrister intermediary with the Legal Services Guild, and is a director of Blow Abbott Legal Services.

“It is a big area for us, with probate and estate administration,” she said.

Like accountancy, software has played a big part in the development of a dedicated payroll bureau too, headed by Ellie Bridge.

“We vetted the industry, we went to several conferences to make sure we got the right software and some clear winners came out on top,” Mr Beaumont said, having opted for Xero.

Rapid and Ramsden rock the regionals!

TWO Grimsby-area firms are in the running for national recognition from the British Chambers of Commerce.

Ramsden International and Rapid Accommodation have been declared regional winners; Ramsden for Export Business of the Year and Rapid for High Growth.

Ramsden – which specialises in sending British groceries to foreign markets – is almost a fixture at the event, having won before too, but it is a first for Rapid, the business stay specialist based at Willow Lakes, Ashby-cum-Fenby.

Launched in 2012, the company’s rise has been

Month in Review

as quick as the name suggests, providing solutions to businesses across the UK. It recently secured 2 million of new work with renowned organisations in the renewables and petrochemical industries, and has gone from three directors to a team of 11.

Both were presented with certificates at the recent meeting of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce’s North East Lincolnshire area council.

National winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner on Thursday, November 30, at The Brewery, London.

ACCOLADES: Left, Linda Anderson-Smith and Karl Hedison, directors of Rapid Accommodation, with Richard Collins, trading and marketing director at Ramsden International,right, flank area chair Kevin Hopper, who made the presentations at The Discovery Centre, Cleethorpes.

14

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Business Support

in association with

www.wilkinchapman.co.uk

01472 311711 bmcf.co.uk

T: 01652 680888 www.hibl.co.uk

t: 01472 350601 Scunthorpe t: 01724 863105 Grimsby

www.forrester-boyd.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

angie.atkinson@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Decade of new faces is a delight for FB’s Paul M

ANY business owners in the Humber region have met Paul Gray of Forrester Boyd during his ten years as head of business development there – 1,235 to be precise.

Mr Gray joined the area’s largest independent chartered accountancy practice back in October 2007, from a career in business banking.

“New client recruitment has progressed very well for the firm throughout the last ten years largely down to Paul’s work,” partner Kevin Hopper said. “He quickly adapted to the change from banking and with a personable approach of probing for what makes business owners tick he gets to show prospective clients tangible benefits of engaging the Forrester Boyd advisory approach. “Long gone are the days where an accountant is expected to merely summarise the annual results and calculate the tax before presenting a bill.”

In the decade he has spanned, the firm has seen 410 new business clients join the practice through his involvement. Mr Gray said: “It has been such a satisfying job, not only have I enjoyed the success in helping to bring on new clients but by spending the majority of my time meeting mainly owner-managed business people I get a buzz through having conversations that many say they have never experienced previously.

“It is usually the important stuff that isn’t urgent and so it often doesn’t get covered,” he said.

CELEBRATORY GIFT: Paul Gray, second left, and Ros Hatton, present Steve Laird, left, and John McArthur, right, with hampers.

“Many who don’t decide to become a client straight away usually benefit from tangible gains from our discussion. Providing such goodwill holds us in good stead for when people later find the time is right to make a change.”

While the numbers are impressive everyone is treated individually and personally. Befitting the anniversary and to mark the occasion a presentation was recently made to Steve Laird,

director of The Online Group at Immingham – the first client that Mr Gray helped bring on board back in October 2007 – alongside with one of their newest clients in John McArthur, director of McArthur Agriculture Ltd of Flixborough.

Mr Lairs said: “Paul was just leaving the role of our bank manager at the time and we were not getting good value with one of the national firms. Thanks to his

introduction we have enjoyed a long and valued relationship with FB which has aided our strategy as well as tax planning.”

Mr McArthur added: “We were impressed by the depth of the advice on offer at FB which has come at the right time for our expanding business. FB has already helped us improve our day-to-day reporting and develop our strategic plan. We look forward to working with them going forward.”

Ursula inspires the ‘sisterhood’ at annual lunch THE third Women @ One and Pro-Six annual lunch saw Ursula Lidbetter MBE address a strong gathering at The Ashbourne Hotel, North Killingholme.

The guest speaker, chief executive of Lincolnshire Co-operative, attracted an 80-strong crowd of local businesswomen, eager to learn more on her journey through the ranks.

She heads a society with more than 250,000 members and 2,800 employees.

Awarded an MBE in 2012, she is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and holds a number of community roles.

Mel Sharpe, marketing manager for The Ashbourne Hotel and Oak Ridge Group, and a Women @ One core member, said: “It was another great event, and we are delighted that the Ashbourne Hotel was once again the venue for this lunch. The Oak Room is such a fantastic venue for all kinds of events, and is a great location for all the businesses in and around the Humber bank, and I’m always particularly proud of this event.

“Ursula Lidbetter was a great speaker, very inspiring to the rest of us

LISTEN OVER LUNCH: Members welcome speaker Ursula Lidbetter MBE, centre, to the event.From left, Michelle Lalor, South Bank PR; Mel Sharpe, Oakridge Hotels; Teresa Thomas, Wilkin Chapman; Claire Phillips, CK Jefferson; Jo Moorhouse, Beetenson & Gibbon; Anne Tate, Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce; Julie Cook, Handelsbanken and Sarah Bainbridge, AP Robinson. businesswomen. These events are such a positive opportunity for like-minded women to support one another and widen their network, in a relaxed and informal setting. I can’t wait to see who is invited to speak at the next event!”

The networking lunch event, organised annually

by both the Women @ One and Pro-6, is an opportunity to not only glean information from an influential female key note speaker, but also to network informally with other women in business from around the Humber region.

Anne Tate, Northern Lincolnshire manager for

Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: “This has become an eagerly anticipated event in the local business calendar and one the Chamber as a member of both groups is pleased to support.

“It is always inspiring to learn of business success and the paths others have

travelled. We all need role models and Ursula certainly fits that bill!

“Big thanks must go to Lindsay Rubie and her team from Wilkin Chapman for taking on the lion’s share of the organisation this year and to Teresa Thomas, also from Wilkin Chapman, for hosting the event.”

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

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15

Business Support in association with

Architecture Project Management Structural Engineering

T. 01724 278155 • 01472 268485 www.crparrott.co.uk

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

01724 854362 G.S. Kelsey Construction Ltd

Kelsey in the community as project is explained GS KELSEY Construction director Matthew Robinson found himself front of class at Oasis Academy Parkwood as he showed new plans for the area’s community centre to pupils.

The company is working with Ongo Homes to deliver what he

said will form a “community hub” for the new-look Westcliff estate, with retail units alongside the centre.

It is part of a £9 million regeneration.

The overall development includes 41 new homes as well as a new

precinct with community centre and shops.

Mr Robinson, director of GS Kelsey Construction, said: “GS Kelsey Construction Ltd was delighted to join Ongo Homes’ efforts in ‘Raising Aspirations’ on the Westcliffe Estate.”

The additions will be delivered by February next year.

Children at Key Stage Two, together with staff, were shown artists’ impressions, with Mr Robinson explaining that facilities and activities will be on offer.

Professional recognition for area’s top lawyers G

RIMSBY’S leading law firms have been recognised within the prestigious 2017 Legal 500 publication.

The profession’s ‘bible,’ it gives advice on the performance of practices, citing strengths and ranking in tiers of expertise.

Both Wilkin Chapman and Bridge McFarland feature.

For Wilkin Chapman, it has been ranked in 16 practice areas, four of which are Tier One – the very highest you can get.

It includes the firm’s family department, with partners Mark Carlton and Lisa Boileau singled out for leading the team with a ‘solid track record’.

The commercial property department is named for its ‘thorough and knowledgeable’ team, with debt recovery also cited – as an area that displays ‘strength, innovation and experience’.

Agriculture is also a strong area, with the Legal 500 noting how it provides ‘outstanding’ support in a number of areas, including farm diversification and in the renewables sector.

Partners Catherine Harris, Flora Bennett, James Lloyd and Jonty Pearson are all mentioned in the Tier One accreditation.

Other individuals mentioned include senior solicitor, Jonathan Baker, who is in the personal injury and clinical negligence team, and praised for combining a ‘sharp, analytical mind with an excellent eye for detail’.

Just last year, Mr Baker was one of the youngest law professionals in the country to be awarded Law Society accreditation, aged just 28.

He said: “There is no doubt the work of our team can be complex and challenging. However the rewards are most certainly there, when we

Bridge McFarland has 11 of its specialist lawyers recognised across five practice areas, with two second tier, a third tier and two fourth tier ratings.

The survey recommends it for its work on behalf of clinical negligence and personal injury claimants. There are individual references to department head Ian Sprakes, Danielle Barney, Stephen Lambert, Lorraine Taylor, Lynsey Furley, as well as Leanne Keating for claims involving industrial accidents and diseases, and for Kathryn Hudson, singled out for her expertise in claims involving injured seafarers and in handling serious and fatal injuries arising from motorcycle accidents. James Burrell is recommended for work on cases involving brain and spinal cord injury and amputation. The guide highlights their LEGAL 500: Des Mannion, left, and Rob Ripley. efficiency in assisting people with “maximum help people to seek some answers and closure severity” clinical negligence and personal for what can have been a devastating time in injury claims. their lives. A lot of people also come to us with It reports: “Bridge McFarland’s clinical the determination to act to ensure what they negligence clients recommend the practice have been through is not experienced by anyone without hesitation. It provides an excellent level else. Policies can be changed and while it does of service and support, and timely and not alter what has happened to that individual, appropriate advice throughout the case’s it can change the future for others.” lifecycle.”

Chief executive Des Mannion said: “These Lorraine is praised for her “combination of rankings are based on totally independent client professionalism and ability to make the client research and as a result this news is further feel valued.” testament to the fantastic work carried out by Senior partner, Stephen Lambert, said: all at the firm.

“Bridge McFarland has a strong reputation in “Coming on the back of yet another clinical negligence, personal injury, appearance in the UK Top 200 (ranked 106th) employment law and litigation. Our team have proves the ability of all within Wilkin Chapman specialist accreditations in their particular field to provide excellent client service, while and this prestigious accolade properly reflects developing to support the changing needs of their dedication to achieving the very best for businesses both regionally and nationally,” he our clients who are always put at the centre of added. the process.”

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 Bridge McFarland is recognised in Hull and East Yorkshire for dispute resolution in the area of commercial litigation and for human resources in the employment field.

Specifically, there are recommendations for Rob Ripley in dispute resolution and for Lee Whiting and Nicola Barrass in human resources.

The guide says Rob is “highly regarded” as head of a dispute resolution practice which “has a strong team that inspires confidence in clients.” It adds that the employment law practice “covers the full spectrum of employment law matters, including handling team moves, restrictive covenants and trade union and industrial action issues.”

TUPE transfer issues are described as a “particular strength” of the team, with Lee, as department head, recommended for sector expertise in transport and logistics, healthcare and construction, and Nicola described as a “key figure” with a strong track record handling multi-party litigation around TUPE. Rob Ripley said: “I’m incredibly proud of our commercial team, many of whom have been personally named in the Legal 500 for their work at Bridge McFarland. The fact that we are already being ranked alongside firms who have been around for well over 100 years and that we have been recognised by our clients and the local business and professional communities in this way is a remarkable achievement.”

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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

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

The recruitment and training of young engineers is crucial to the future of UK industry, particularly to our area Nic Dakin

MPs underline how vital engineering is to the area S

OUTH Bank MPs promoted the opportunities for young people to pursue careers in engineering as they joined a leading training provider for its annual awards.

Grimsby’s Melanie Onn and Scunthorpe’s Nic Dakin drew on the first-hand experience of their visits to Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) to praise the achievements of the company, its apprentices and its partner employers.

Ms Onn recalled her visit to Catch, Stallingborough, where Heta is one provider, and highlighted its status as a venue for the engineering heats in the Worldskills challenge.

She said: “It is fantastic to have an established and respected training provider like HETA on our doorstep. Young people, boys and girls, are more aware than ever of the importance of their education and the need to get the right skills and training to prepare them for the world of work.

“HETA gives them the chance to qualify in their chosen field while earning at the same time. Many young people are worried about incurring high levels of student debt if they decide to go to university. Opting for an apprenticeship is a way of getting the qualifications, with real-life work

JUST REWARDS: Gregory Mell and Matthew Dale with their awards, flanked by Nic Dakin, left, and Iain Elliott and Melanie Onn, right. experience and without stacking up the debt.

“Through having excellent relationships across business, HETA helps to open up all those engineering opportunities that exist in the local area in the petro-chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, port operations and offshore wind industries.”

Mr Dakin, who has visited HETA’s own Foxhills site at Scunthorpe, added: “I was very impressed by the

commitment and enthusiasm of the apprentices I met. The recruitment and training of young engineers is crucial to the future of UK industry, particularly to our area, which has a proud history of engineering through steel and ports and is on the crest of an exciting future as the Energy Estuary where these skills will be equally important.”

Malcolm Joslin, chair of the HETA Trustees, congratulated the

apprentices on completing their first year with the organisation and urged them to spread the word about opportunities in engineering.

He said: “Please tell others about the benefits and opportunities that apprenticeships can provide. HETA works very hard with schools and colleges but it is important that young people get a clear picture of all possible options, and family and friends can help with that.”

Scunthorpe award winners Most Improved Electrical: Laura Codlin.

Overall Electrical: Harry Wall.

Most Improved Mechanical: William Slowen.

Overall Mechanical: Luke Grundy.

Most Improved Machining: Justin Pargeter.

Overall Machining: Marley Palmer.

Overall Apprentice: Gregory Mell.

Excellence in Health & Safety: Lewis Hirst.

Stallingborough award winners Most Improved Electrical: Gregg Cook.

Overall Electrical: Daniel Cook.

Most Improved Mechanical: Callum Teanby.

Overall Mechanical: Benjamin Palmer.

Most Improved Wind Turbine: Callum Ely. Overall Wind Turbine: Jack Kershaw.

Most Improved Fabrication: George Patchett.

Overall Fabrication: Christopher Hodge.

Most Improved Instrumentation: Connor Rymell-Tuff.

Overall Instrumentation: Joshua Plaskitt.

Overall Apprentice: Matthew Dale.

Excellence in Health & Safety: Oliver Franklin.

Additional recognition awards Outstanding Achievement Award: Joe Smith.

IMechE Award of Excellence: Gregory Mell.

New firm aims to ensure children’s safety while surfing the web A NEW Scunthorpe company is aiming to be at the forefront of educational awareness of digital dangers.

National Online Safety provides online safety training, consultancy and audits for schools across the UK, and has been delivering free lessons to primary schools in the North Lincolnshire area.

They have been developed in response to a proposed new government initiative to make the internet a safer place. The recently published Internet Safety Strategy green paper has outlined the crucial role that education will play in raising such awareness.

The talks consist of online safety specialists reading a new engaging children’s storybook The Adventures of an Online Explorer, which demonstrates different scenarios that children may encounter as they surf the internet, including payment fraud, cyber bullying and sharing inappropriate material.

Co-founder James Southworth, who is also behind the town’s award-winning On Marketing, based on Oswald Road, said “We already support schools by training school staff on the increasing dangers online and audit their current systems and policies to ensure pupils are effectively safeguarded in line with Ofsted guidelines.

“However, we found that the resources that actually engaged with the children on a grass roots level were extremely

BADGE OF HONOUR: National Online Safety’s logo, and right, James Southworth. limited, so we have been working hard on developing this resource.”

“As our home is in North Lincolnshire, we thought that we should offer it to primary schools in the local area free of charge to help them protect their children more effectively.”

The lessons have already been delivered to a number of schools, including Holme Valley Primary School and Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue with highly positive feedback.

Leah Stoney, teacher at Holme Valley Primary School, said: “The interactive nature of the story enables children to discuss their own experiences and their suggested actions. All children in my

class thoroughly enjoyed the story and it maintained important messages about how to tackle online safety throughout. I would highly recommend this to be shown to all primary school children.”

Phillipa Marshall, ICT teacher at Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue, said: “National Online Safety came to us to deliver workshops to showcase the importance of internet safety to over 90 Year 6 children.

“Not only was the class beneficial at the time for the children but it also had a lasting impact on them too. I would highly recommend NOS Online Safety to anybody who would like to highlight in an interesting, memorable way, the dangers of the internet and ways to overcome them.”

National Online Safety’s offering is developed in line with Ofsted, UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) and Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command information, and has accreditation and membership including that of the Anti-Bullying Association, Cyber Essentials and Information Commissioner’s Office.

For more information call 0800 368 8061 or visit www.nationalonlinesafety.com

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17

Careers

Customer service key for new food laboratory chief R

ICHARD Shepherd has been appointed as general manager of the Grimsby site of Eurofins Food and Water Testing UK, following the retirement of Harry Hellam earlier this year.

The 38-year-old will now head up one of the busiest sites in the company’s nine-laboratory portfolio, boasting large microbiology and chemical facilities, with ambition to grow further.

He joined Eurofins in May, after 16 years with ALcontrol Laboratories, working up to regional operations director.

Mr Shepherd said his immediate objective was to put customer service “front and centre” of the operation, while furthering the integration of a business, itself brought into the fold just over a year ago.

“We need to do this so that absolutely everyone understands its importance and in order for it to breed customer loyalty,” he said.

“There will be under the bonnet changes to ensure robust business infrastructure and enhanced processes, which will then lead to first-rate customer service.

in 2008. This summer a £200,000 investment was revealed that increased testing capacity and capability, with clients from across the north of England and southern Scotland served by a team of more than 100.

Mr Shepherd said he saw a bright future for the site, SUCCESSION PLAN: Phil Coles, left, with potential to and Harry Hellam. boost numbers.

“The job creation “Ultimately I want to grow what angle is linked to we have in Grimsby, and to better integrate the site into the Eurofins getting customer service right,” he said. model to diversify the offer to the “We need to move the customers in the region, utilising business forward and bring the reach of the Eurofins labs the right contracts in and then be across the UK and Europe. ready and ahead of the curve, “If we can’t offer the testing at managing the growth by having Grimsby, can we offer it elsewhere? effective recruitment plans.

What else can we add to our testing “If we can further improve the scope and what new markets we core infrastructure and enhance should be in?” the customer service culture, then Eurofins, the European market that will bode well for growth and leader in its field, bought out what job creation.” was Exova in June last year. It has He arrives having just overseen served the fish processing industry the consolidation of the Eurofins and wider “Food Town” needs for NewTec site in Billingham. more than a quarter of a century, Phil Coles, himself from Grimsby, having previously operated as Allied Labs before the first buy-out managing director of Eurofins

TAKING OVER: Richard Shepherd.

Engineering, Design, Project Management Recruitment and Construction Services

Recruiter puts herself forward

Food Testing UK and Ireland, said: “Richard’s appointment and his immediate priorities are deliberate in order to meet our growth objectives and to meet and exceed our clients’ requirements.

“Grimsby is a key site for us and so having strong commercial relationships there will be crucial to the future performance of the business and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to attract someone of Richard’s ability and reputation.”

Insurance broker welcomes former Chamber president as firm builds on its spring buy-out IMMEDIATE past president of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, Steve Eastwood, has joined Alan Boswell Group as an account executive.

The company expanded into Lincolnshire with the acquisition of Sutcliffe Solloway & Company insurance brokers in April, with Mr Eastwood arriving in the Laceby office to boost the team.

He is described as bringing a high level of local knowledge to the group, having been active within the community in his role, and worked in insurance on the North Bank for several years.

Mr Eastwood said: “As immediate past president of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, I know the area well and the benefits of being part of the local business community. We’re looking forward to helping other organisations in the area with their insurance requirements and ensuring they are fully compliant.”

Of the business, renamed Alan Boswell Insurance Advisers following the buy-out, Mr Eastwood said: “It is a strong local broker that has been around for 40 years, and now in this day and age, in insurance broking, you need some real buying power. It is best to be part of a bigger group.

“It has been bought by a company that has similar aspirations and similar ethics. It makes it a significant player in the market. It is quite a big group with more scope.”

The 30-strong team across the Laceby and Boston offices have swelled the ranks in the Norfolk business to more than 300, having been launched in 1982. It is seen as one of few staying local to its core areas, as others are bought up and then sucked into cities such as Leeds and Manchester.

PRESIDENTIAL WELCOME: Steve Eastwood, left, is welcomed to Alan Boswell Insurance Advisers, by managing director, Mike Kirman and account executive John Ramsden.

It places £90 million of premiums annually, and rather than centralising from what is a pushing of the geographical boundaries, the accounts team in North East Lincolnshire have seen more work come in, with extra responsibilities from other branches.

“I am convinced Grimsby is being looked at as a step outside the normal boundaries,” Mr Eastwood said. “We are at the outer limits,

Sponsored by

and it is quite clear the objective is for us to grow.”

Welcoming him to Laceby was fellow account executive John Ramsden.

“It is nice to have Steve on board, as we can now push on,” he said. “It is an investment by Alan Boswell Group to support him, and bringing in business helps us to grow the branch.”

NEWBY NEWBIE: Jose Stewart, sales manager at Newby Leisure Ltd. NEWBY Leisure has a new sales manager, after the recruitment specialist approached to find one was bowled over by the passion and the products the Humberston firm offers.

Jose Stewart has taken the role with the expanding children’s play equipment provider, changing roles after 20 years in the position-filling business.

The Wilton Road Industrial Estate team has grown substantially in 17 years of operations, and now employs 25 people in installation and manufacturing, with further growth targeted.

It has seen a key position created, alongside sales and marketing manager Ashley Spink, who joined three years ago.

Ms Stewart said: “The passion that Neil and Alistair have for the business is great, and the products are so impressive.

“You have to believe in a product when you are selling it. I had a tour round the business units and I found the passion was there with the whole team.

“It is interesting, exciting and a lot of young people have been brought in from Grimsby Institute on apprenticeships.

“I was really impressed with how it has grown.

“I am very proud of local businesses and what we do, I like to shout about it.

“Neil asked it I would find a sales person, I came out so passionate about the business and what it does, I asked if he would consider me.”

The company recently added a fifth unit at Bradley’s Corner, as work with he education sector flourishes, providing not just play equipment but entire environments, while an off-the-shelf e-commerce site also brings in sales.

“We have a lot of business in Lincolnshire, a lot is based on relationships built over the years, and I would like to be able to expand what has been achieved across Yorkshire, into Doncaster, Rotherham and Hull,” added Ms Stewart.

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

STE-E01-S7

Commercial Vehicles in association with

Fleet expansion as order book swells for Technica G

RIMSBY-based specialist engineering business Technica has increased the size of its fleet as it responds to a growing order book.

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

Three new vehicles have been added, with Cherry Tree Business Park neighbour Great Coates Motors supplying them.

Signs Express, just a few hundred yards away, was also used for the signwriting.

John Davison, managing director and owner, said: “This is part of our commitment to provide the best environment and tools for our staff.

Our ambition is to grow the business by delivering excellence and we recognise that this can only be achieved if we provide our staff with the means to do so.

“They have already been flying the Technica flag around the country as our team support our customers up and down the UK.” He said using the ultra-local businesses fitted with a corporate social responsibility policy. “We are dedicated to trying to work with local companies; as long as they can help us provide excellent service and value to our customers,” he said.

“It is exciting times at Technica as we continue to use our success

It comes on the back of the successful completion of a contract FLYING THE to replace the fire and gas detection FLAG: John systems at Huntingdon Compressor Davson, left, for National Grid Capital Delivery, and the new which completed five weeks early. additions to The team has now been awarded a the Technica further project to complete similar fleet outside works at Peterborough Compressor the base.

Station.

Set to be delivered throughout the to reinvest in the business and early part of 2018, it is worth more attract high-calibre additions to the than £1 million and calls for the team. design, build, installation and “We firmly believe in generating commissioning of a replacement fire and gas system. an upward spiral of success.”

Mr Davison said: “This further contract award is testament to the positive and growing relationship we have with National Grid Capital Delivery Team which is underpinned by our core values of honesty, openness and passion.”

Colleague Richard Law, business development director, added: “We are grateful to National Grid for placing their trust in Technica to deliver a further contract. We look forward to delivering a positive experience and an excellent level of customer service.”

your daily port of call for the latest and breaking business news around the Humber region visit humberbusiness.com

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

19

Construction &

Web growth demands dedicated base for boutique’s back-office C

LEETHORPES fashion retailer Tillett’s is taking its online business to the next level, as it prepares for a new year in a new location.

The Sea View Street outlet’s digital sales continue to soar, and now a unit within a new build development has been taken on Humberston’s Wilton Road Industrial Estate.

While the shop will remain in the popular resort location, the back-office operations that have outgrown the first floor of the premises – as well as separate storage units in Grimsby – will relocate.

It will also enable Tillett’s to meet requests to supply stock to other boutiques, diversifying the business even further, while serving its Louth store and potential new locations.

“This is purely for online and wholesale, as we are going to be supplying other independent retailers,” director Mel Tillett said as she took a look at how the work within the 3,000sq ft facility was progressing.

“Wholesale will happen, we keep getting approached on a regular basis by other shop owners, so we thought if they want it, let them have it.”

A mezzanine floor will separate the picking and packaging operations from offices, meeting room and a dedicated photographic studio to bolster online activity.

“We got to a stage where we were at capacity,” Mrs Tillett said. “We are now taking it to a new level, we have identified what we need to do and we are implementing it.”

Two significant appointments have been made to bolster the team as it builds, while notice has been given on the easy-in easy-out units at E-Factor’s Enterprise Village on Prince Albert Gardens.

Online operations manager Jessica Tutill has joined to “help drive the business” while store manager Katie Moulds, who brings 14 years of retail experience with national brands to Tillett’s, will also free up the mother and daughters director team to work purely on strategic and creative direction.

NEW BASE: Team Tillet take a look inside the new unit on Wilton Road Industrial Estate, Humberston, which will be a dedicated online base. From left are, Nancy Tillett, Katie Moulds, Jess Tutill, Melanie Tillett and Grace Tillett. Right, work progresses, with the mezzanine floor being installed.

Pictures: Jon Corken.

A total of 20 staff are now employed, with room to grow built into the design of the digital operation area at Wilton Road, as well as new store locations.

“We haven’t settled on anywhere yet, but there are plans for more stores,” Mrs Tillett said. “Katie will be key, she will bring those forward, so we have lots going on. Digital is

the area we have identified as the biggest for growth, but we are seeing niches where we can open stores as well. We will do our research and due diligence to make sure everything is as it should be before we do.”

Customer experience is at the core of the high street strategy, with personal shopping also being mooted.

Search for commercial properties at www.humberbusiness.com/commercialproperty

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Construction

A decade’s desire turns into a for passionate town property A

GRIMSBY-born property developer is behind the multi-million-pound transformation of an 18th century building into one of the region’s most prestigious housing developments.

Dean Draper is one of three businessmen who have taken on the historic Bailgate Court, in the heart of Lincoln’s Cathedral quarter – a unique site, offering unparalleled views of the city, its most historic buildings and across the rural hinterland.

With a year left to completion, eight of the 12 luxury apartments – starting from a cool half a million pounds – have already been snapped up, showing the desirability of the site, which is the last of its kind in the historic area.

For the developers behind the renovation of Bailgate Court, on the corner of Steep Hill and Wordsworth Street, their ability to create something truly special takes precedence over anything else. Known locally as the old Chad Varah House, it was built as an infirmary in 1776 – treating patients for almost a century until 1874 when it became a theological college, before being used by the university - with degree students reading conservation and

There is no doubt we have the opportunity here to create something very, very special Dean Draper restoration part of the cohort based there.

Mr Draper had been keeping a close eye on the building, and when it came on the market an offer was made at first viewing. Along with partners, Colin Holden and Philip Good, Bailgate Court Ltd was born and the hard but rewarding work began.

“I first spotted it back in 2006 and I had been the chasing the building ever since – there really is nothing else like it left in the city, it is truly spectacular,” said Mr Draper, who moved from Grimsby to London five years ago, but has kept Lincolnshire close to his heart.

He began his career in property development in the town where his father Barry and mum Gillian ran a successful cargo services business on the docks. And success certainly runs in the family – Mr Draper’s niece Daniella is the jewellery designer, who opened her first shop in Cleethorpes, and now has a portfolio of four, including down the hill from the project in Lincoln.

Following the purchase, there have been weekly trips from London back to the county for Mr Draper, with Holton-le-Clay firm Jonathan

WORK UNDERWAY: Dean Draper and Jonty Pearson outside Bailgate Court.

Hendry Architects brought in to create spectacular plans for the building. He has worked with the practice before, notably on Museum Court in Lincoln, a 19-apartment Georgian development reworking, which contributed to the eponymous practice’s head, being named Young Architect of the Year in 2010, while also collecting a RIBA Award.

“With its listed status, we are restricted to the ‘light touch’ approach on the majority of the building, it is a sympathetic restoration to make the most of the building’s charming original features,” Mr Draper said.

While light touch is the approach for the historic elements of the structure, the dramatic change will come when a vast glass façade takes the place of an old 1960s extension with fantastic views of both the cathedral and castle.

Mr Draper said: “There is no doubt we have the opportunity here to create something very, very special that will only enhance the city while preserving a fantastic old building with a great new future.”

A team of more than 20 are undertaking the work.

Plasterer Bruce Randall is using materials

containing lime and horse hair – taking methods back to the 1700s.

He said: “It is getting used to these products, and patience is everything as a job that would take two hours can take four – but it is all worth it when you see the finished result.”

They are adding mezzanine floors, while retaining the high ceilings and vast room sizes to create open-plan living with light flooding in from the floor to ceiling windows.

Each apartment has great views, with the majority having private gardens or outdoor terraces. Outside, the grounds encompass the

NEW FACADE: The rear elevation of Bailgate Court, with an extension that had been added removed and reworked by Jonathan Hendry, with, above, a flavour of how inside could look. Right, how it is now.

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

21

Commercial Property

takes new mechanical labour of love Patrick and engineering specialist role developer Dean IN-HOUSE expertise at Scunthorpe-headquartered building and civil engineering business Britcon has been enhanced with the creation of a mechanical and electrical position.

Patrick Kenworthy has joined in the role, bringing more than 30 years’ experience in building services management to the Midland Road base.

A qualified energy assessor, he has an extensive track record in delivering complex projects across both the public and private sectors with particular knowledge in education, health and renewable energy. He joins from Centrica Distributed Energy & Power where he recently completed a 20MW generation plant in Scunthorpe.

Paul Clarkson, managing director at Britcon, said, “We are delighted to have Patrick on board for this newly-created role. We have expanded our remit for mechanical and electrical installations in a major way and this often accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the brief on many projects.

“It makes perfect sense for us now to create an in-house

IN-HOUSE EXPERTISE: Patrick Kenworthy.

role with immediate capacity to offer direct energy assessment and dialogue with our subcontract supply chain.”

The appointments reflect continuous growth for the £45-million turnover business, in particular on highly complex projects where bespoke and specialist

FOR SALE INCOME PRODUCING INVESTMENT 158 HIGH STREET SCUNTHORPE,

WORK UNDERWAY: Pictures by Sarah Washbourn of www.yellowbellyphotos.com.

●

Fully income producing investment property.

expertise is required. These include a new £14 million product line for Kemira Chemicals and the recently completed £30 million anaerobic digestion plan for ReFood in Dagenham.

It now directly employs more than 100 people on its project sites across the UK.

TO LET OFFICES/RETAIL MARKET PLACE CROWLE, ●

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site of a Roman fortress, which will remain untouched, although Mr Draper is keen to work with the relevant organisations to see what can be done in the future.

Joining him on a recent tour was Jonty Pearson, partner at Wilkin Chapman solicitors, who was brought in to assist with the purchase.

“What a great project to be a part of, a fantastic development for the city with the involvement of many local people,” he said, stating that was a passion of his and the law firm’s. “I take great pride in seeing projects coming together in this way,” he added.

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Prominent corner position in Scunthorpe town centre.

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Full depth display windows to two elevations.

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Ground floor retail.

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Well maintained first floor flat.

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Situated in Crowle which is a draw for the Isle of Axholme.

Tesco, Co-op and High Street retail close by.

Directly adjacent to the refurbished Market Place and High Street.

Market Place now includes bus parking, seating and fountains.

Former offices approx. 115.22 sqm (1234 sq ft).

Ideal for offices but would also suit retail subject to planning.

PRICE £129,500 FREEHOLD

RENT £8,250 PER ANNUM

FOR SALE CONVENIENCE STORE & POST OFFICE POPULAR VILLAGE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE

FOR SALE/TO LET RETAIL UNIT 152-154 HIGH STREET SCUNTHORPE,

Popular village in North Lincolnshire. Frontage to the main road.

Convenience store & post office along with lottery & newspaper round.

Approx 148 sqm 1592 sq ft.

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Present owner 10 years plus trading.

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Leasehold tenure with new lease available. Possible freehold sale.

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Wide frontage to High Street.

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Full depth display windows.

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Ground floor sales 188 sqm (2027 sq ft).

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First & second floors 368 sqm (3959 sq ft).

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Ideal bulk goods.

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Competitive rent.

£25,000 FOR BUSINESS F&F - SAV

FREEHOLD POA RENT £14,000 PER ANNUM

FOR SALE RETAIL/WORKSHOP R/O 251 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE

TO LET RETAIL ROWLAND ROAD SCUNTHORPE,

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Situated central to Scunthorpe.

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Very popular trading location.

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Over 100 retail outlets.

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National, regional and local traders.

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Two retail areas.

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Approx size 30.80 sqm 330 sq ft

PRICE £35,000 FREEHOLD Large selection of further properties available

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Prominent corner location on Rowland Road.

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Fully refurbished large retail unit.

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Ideal for general retail/supermarket and bulky items.

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Would suit alternative uses i.e. restaurant due to open space.

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Approx gf 174 sqm (1871 sq ft) plus cellar.

RENT £15,750 PER ANNUM

Contact John Knight Tel: 01724 870520 32 Oswald Road, Scunthorpe

All aspects of commercial property dealt with

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

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Commercial Property

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY EXPERTISE ACROSS THE HUMBER REGION Lancaster Approach, North Killingholme • Well presented office suite TO LET in shared building

• Mixture of open plan work areas and individual offices • Ample on site car parking • Convenient location close to ports and A180 motorway link road

£13,000 pa

Lancaster Approach, North Killingholme • Good quality modern TO LET warehouse • 915.7 sq m (9,853 sq ft) • 6.3m to eaves • Three loading doors

£25,000 pa

Unit 6, Acorn Business Park, Grimsby • Detached offices of FOR SALE 315.5 sq m (3,394 sq ft) • Providing mix of open plan & individual offices • Aircon to part • 16 car parking spaces

£295,000

2 Alexandra Road, Haven Mill, Grimsby interest to owner occupiers ALL ENQUIRIES • Of/ tenants / developers • Office / industrial / workshop premises • Extending to 361.7 sq m (3,892 sq ft) • Prominent town centre location

£150,000 / £15,000 pa

The Gallery, 15 George Street, Barton • Business / Investment FOR SALE Opportunity • Freehold shop with self contained flat above • Income generated from shared space in shop • Additional rent from flat of £320 pcm

£225,000 To find out more and search for available property please visit

www.clarkweightman.co.uk or call 01482 645522

NEW BRANCH: Bennetts Timber director Robert Bennett, left, with Craig Limb, retail counter manager, managing director Edward Bennett and Eddie Nisbett operations manager, at the Atherton Way site.

Bennetts’ Brigg deal is first out-of-town move in rich 213-year history A

FTER 213 years of serving construction needs from Grimsby, specialist Bennetts Timber is opening a new branch in Brigg.

The site, in Atherton Way, is set to open in the new year, and is a first venture out of the town by the six-generation family business, although products have been sent nationwide for years.

A deal has been agreed for occupation of the unit, and the coming weeks will be spent getting the premises ready for launch early in the new year.

Bennetts’ Brigg outlet, which will create one full-time job initially, will be based on the successful trade counter operation at the South Humberside Industrial Estate site.

“We have been looking to expand by opening a new branch in North Lincolnshire for some time,” managing director Edward Bennett said.

“The site at Atherton Way fits the bill completely.

“Brigg is a vibrant place, always busy and with lots of development on the way this is the obvious place to open to and will enable us to provide greater coverage for the area.

“It will complement our main site in Grimsby very well.”

The unit will stock a full range of timber products including planed timber, constructional and graded timber, CLS,

skirtings and architraves, mouldings, MDF products, treated timber, decking, fencing and timber cladding. The latter has become a particular specialism.

In addition to this a large range of DIY products will also be available including ironmongery, nails and screws, silicones, glues and adhesives, treatments, hand tools and much more, with customers able to tap into the vast knowledge of the timber trade, with support from the team with technical issues and advice.

Fellow director Robert Bennett said: “The site at Atherton Way in Brigg is perfect for us and we are looking forward to opening in the new year to our new customers, trade and public.”

It is an exciting time for the business, which supplies timber to large projects all over the UK, such as the recent extension of the Bicester Village retail park in Oxfordshire, as reported last month.

Commercial property specialist Clark Weightman handled the letting.

Director Carl Bradley, pictured inset, said: “We’ve enjoyed working with the directors of Bennetts in negotiating this letting and wish them well for the future.”

Bennetts has had several locations in Grimsby, and prior to the move to South Humberside Industrial Estate occupied the site where Shoreline Housing Partnership’s

Trainee surveyor Sam joins Scunthorpe team PPH Commercial has expanded its operations on the South Bank with the appointment of a trainee surveyor.

Sam Fallowfield, pictured, is currently undertaking a distance learning course with the University College of Estate Management at Reading to qualify as a RICS Chartered

Surveyor. It involves him studying for 12 assignments and exams each year for four years.

He is now working in PPH’s Scunthorpe office, assisting chartered surveyors Duncan Willey and Charles Atkinson.

From Hull, he is a former student of Hessle High School.

headquarters now sits, off Charlton Street and Adam Smith Street. Earlier operations were based in Victoria Street, with founder William Bennett, who started as a chemist, initially working from what is now Market Place.

Set to open on January 8, early timber exports out of Grimsby headed west too, for the business – which retains its own saw mill – cut the sleepers for the laying of the first railway, opening up the docks and helping boost the town’s fishing fortunes.

More recently it supplied Siberian larch timber cladding for Brigg’s Tesco.

Looking for new premises?

Search over 700 properties in the Humber region Visit humberbusiness.com/commercialproperty

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PARTNERS:

STE-E01-S7

Thursday, November 23, 2017

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

23

Construction

Complex flood site store build won by Britcon

IMPRESSION: Britcon has been awarded a £3 million retail build by Stokers for a flood-hit site in Halifax.

Left, work underway.

tes turner evans stevens

ENERGY SURVEYS COMMERCIAL

GRIMSBY

N

ATIONAL furniture retailer Stokers has awarded a £3 million contract to Scunthorpe-based building and civil engineering firm Britcon to build a new store.

“We have applied value engineering techniques to keep the project within budget and expect to complete the project for trading in spring 2018.”

Britcon remains in close liaison with the Canals & River Trust since the project is on Following irreversible damage caused by piled foundations due to the variability of the severe floods on Boxing Day of 2015, Stokers ground and backs onto the canal which was forced to close its 16,000sq ft Russell Dean effectively sits at the first-floor level of the outlet in Halifax, West Yorkshire. store. This presented its own challenges in The store had traded since 1960 as one of its getting a piling rig to site, which had to be most successful outlets. delivered at night under a special movement While insurance covered the loss, as it did for order. previous floods in 2012, a third incident would It has successfully completed multiple retail not be recoverable. projects for clients including Aldi, Lidl, Skoda Stokers is a family business operating ten and Staples but its extensive civil engineering stores across the UK, including the 80,000sq ft experience on complex industrial and flagship Christopher Pratts in Leeds. infrastructure schemes have proved invaluable Managing director Jonathan Stoker said: in tackling the challenges in the substructure “Since Russell Dean is located adjacent to the on this particular project.

River Calder the probability of further floods will always remain and so we had to consider relocating. However, given the heritage of the store and our loyal customer based we decided to buy the freehold and build a new store that could withstand future incidents.

“We appointed Britcon to design and build a flood resistant structure and they came back with a concept that was effectively a store on stilts with car parking in the under croft of two display floors. With the new design, we were able to almost double display capacity to 30,000sq ft making our investment more viable and also providing a new light and airy customer experience.”

Britcon is currently on site with demolition and groundworks underway. The company is no stranger to challenging sites given its particular expertise in projects with restricted access and weather exposed locations.

Managing director Paul Clarkson said: “We are working closely with the environment agency and various local groups to avoid any disruption to the high street and adjacent SALES & LETTINGS | LEASE ADVISORY | VALUATIONS canal side towpaths.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT | BUSINESS RATES “This involves working within very tight parameters to prepare the site and ground anchoring the existing stone built retaining wall while the building is being demolished.

01482 645522 “We are building a new retaining wall which Chartered Surveyors and climbs steeply to the north-west boundary of Commercial Property Consultants the site with the new building elevation right against the rear of the existing footpath and www.clarkweightman.co.uk thereafter constructing a new building on three levels.

Commercial property expertise across the Humber Region

A full property search is available on our website

LOUTH 01507 602264 GRIMSBY 01472 362020 LINCOLN 01522 511665 MABLETHORPE 01507 473476 SKEGNESS 01754 766061 SPILSBY 01790 752151 SUTTON ON SEA 01507 441166 WOODHALL SPA 01526 354111 www.tes-property.co.uk www.rightmove.co.uk

CHARTERED SURVEYORS & COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS

SCUNTHORPE

MARSHCHAPEL

1, Railway Street

Land at Yaddlethorpe

Marshchapel Butcher's Shop, Sea Dyke Way

* Workshop approx. 1432 sqft/133 sqm with 2 sets of loading doors and office * First floor office/stores approx. 356 sqft/33.3 sqm, Yard approx. 4900 sqm with circulation and palisade fenced/gates for in the order of 40 cars * Suit alternative uses (STP), Freehold, EPC Rating E

* Approx. 11.1 acres/4.5 hectares (STSS) * Undulating grass land * Vacant possession * Freehold

* Comprising former butcher's shop, garage and detached bake house/store * 3 bed accommodation, Investment income from let fish & chip shop, * Significant potential subject to planning consent, EPC: Butcher's shop EPC; E, Accommodation EPC F, Fish & Chip shop - C

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

O/A £175,000/£12,000 p.a.

FOR SALE

PRICE O/A £85,000

PRICE: O/A £190,000

GRIMSBY

LOUTH

GRIMSBY

7B, East St. Marys Gate

Unit 26, Nottingham Court

Unit 20, Garden Street

* Niche retail/office use (stpc), Approx. 81.57sqm/878sqft, L shaped former sales area approx. 74 sqm/796 sqft * Suit alternative uses subject to app. consents and approvals * New lease available, EPC Rating TBA

* Highly visual corner unit now available * Approx. 946 sqft/88 sqm * Eaves approx. 4.25/14ft * Suit factors, or similar, subject to consents

* Retail premises, Approx. 297 sqm/3000 sqft; on 2 floors * Ground floor sales approx. 176sqm/1894sqft, Suit alternative uses (subject to consents), * EPC Rating C

TO LET

Rental Proposals Required

TO LET

TO LET

RENT £5,500 p.a. exclusive

RENT: £25,000 p.a.x.

GRIMSBY

CLEETHORPES

GRIMSBY

Prince Albert Gardens

13 St Peter's Avenue

Unit 2/3 Bull Ring Lane

FOR SALE

TO LET

TO LET

* Modern purpose built office accommodation, Approx. 2691 sqft/250 sqm * Highly visual location, lockup retail premises, approx 870 sqft/80.8 sqm * Retail/office premises, Approx. 1272 sqf;/118 sqm (NUFA) with security shutter * Deep return frontage to Market, Wide frontage * flexible accommodation, Common areas/reception/WCs, Large car park * Ground floor WCs, first floor sales/storage approx 920 sqft*/86 sqm* * High pedestrianised footfall, New lease available, * Overall site approx. 0.42 acres/0.16 hectare/1700 sqm (STSS), EPC Rating C * Incentives available by negotiation, EPC Rating C EPC Rating D

PRICE: £225,000

GRIMSBY

RENT: £16,500 p.a.

RENT: £16,000 p.a.

GRIMSBY Units 1a & 1b Railway Street FOR SALE/TO LET

The Cooperage, East St TO LET/FOR SALE

* Industrial site approx. 360 sqm/3875 sqft (STSS) * Frontage approx. 30m * Adjoining raised section of Cleethorpe Road * Planning approval for 2 x B1 units * 62.4 sqm/672 sqft overall * Freehold

* Short term lease available * Storage/parking available (STP) * Reduced repairing liability * Discounted rental proposals required, EPC Rating G

Rent by negotiation RENT £6,000 p.a. excl outgoings

LINCOLNSHIRE’S LEADING ESTATE AGENCY GROUP

24

www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/business

Thursday, November 23, 2017

STE-E01-S7

LAISTER’S Last Word

News

BY DAVE LAISTER

Plastics, Blue Planet II and the planning application...

STRONG MESSAGES: This-ability speakers at Glandford Park, Scunthorpe. Pictured, from left, Nic Dakin MP, Andy Green, Phil Adams, group partnership manager for Department of Work and Pensions in North East England, Craig Philips and Carolyn Woolway, head of human resources for Siemens Gamesa. Below, guests listen to the speakers.

A focus on abilities is the clear winner B

USINESSES in northern Lincolnshire have been urged to give people with disabilities the best possible opportunities, after hearing amazing case studies of achievement over adversity.

Original Big Brother winner Craig Philips was the special guest, having himself over come dyslexia to build a successful business prior to his time in one of the world’s most famous houses.

And the practicalities of such a stance was also highlighted by Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin, who hosted the event at Scunthorpe United’s Glanford Park.

It was one of several This-Ability sessions held nationwide, urging a open mind to great potential, backed up with support and actions to enable ease of working.

Welcoming all comers to a strong breakfast event, Mr Dakin said: “I know going round businesses in the area, most people locally are pretty committed to getting the best out of their people.

“As we find we are pretty close to full employment, we need to tap into the skills of those who aren’t in employment, and some of these people have disabilities.”

While Mr Philips’ tale of achievement from butcher’s boy to

construction leader, then via the TV exposure to healthcare champion and philanthropist, had the audience enthralled, it was New Waltham businessman Andy Green who stole the show. The web and software developer has cerebral palsy, having been starved of oxygen for eight minutes at birth.

Just standing up and speaking in

A personal saying of mine is ‘winning is not about how many hurdles you jump, it is about how many times you get back up and try again’ Andy Green front of an audience was defying medical experts who battled to save his life.

He said: “Some people struggle to understand the way I talk, and some people still talk down to me like a two-year-old, not the MD of a company. I am still not the fastest typer in he world and I struggle to use a traditional computer mouse, I even struggle with buttons and brushing my teeth – two important things for

any self-respecting businessman.

“They are all things I can learn and get better at. I find ways to get around this. I have taught myself all the keyboard shortcuts you can imagine!

“I may not do things the same way as everyone else does them, but that doesn’t matter, the important thing is I do them and I do not let anything stop me achieving what I set out to achieve, and I give myself some pretty big goals, admittedly.

Not only do I walk and talk, despite doctors’ predictions, I also teach PE lessons, I speak publicly and I move at 70mph. That’s a bit of cheating, but in fairness, I passed my driving test five years ago in an unadopted automatic car with only one minor. I don’t think it is anything impressive.

I may not do things the same way as other people do, but that’s fine.

“Everyone is different and that’s what makes us the same. A personal saying of mine is ‘winning is not about how many hurdles you jump, it is about how many times you get back up and try again.”

Following his speech, Mr Philips, said: “I think it is wonderful everyone pulling together like this. These systems, all joining up here, giving employers more support and tools to be able to help individuals who need that little bit of special education, special adaption or special assistance.

I didn’t get that.”

Turning to Andy’s presentation, he said: “I can only imagine how difficult it was to learn the day-to-day things most of us do. What he has built up, socially and professionally, is amazing. It shows, whatever level of disability now, there is help and support and communities and businesses are starting to recognise and understand they can play a really good, strong role in it.

“I want to support companies and individuals in any way I can by shouting about problems.”

For more information about This-Ability, visit www.this-ability.org.uk.

PLASTIC PARASITE: Blue Planet II. Picture: BBC. LAST week I was reading extensively about the plight of our oceans, and how plastics are causing such an issue.

This was some background research behind a major inward investment that looks to be heading to the South Bank.

In a £20 million scheme, Integrated Green Energy Solutions wants to build a plastics reprocessing plant, taking in non-recyclable packaging and returning it to its crude form, quite literally.

Building on a brown-field site that was once part of Courtaulds, it would add to a refining cluster in northern Lincolnshire, creating 80 jobs as not just the process, but the European head office is located in Grimsby.

The firm is Australian, and the passion is clear from the team, located on the way north from Sydney up towards the Gold Coast.

With funding channels found, it looks like a ‘no brainer,’ and then over the weekend – having as ever been run close to an

emotional wreck by Children in Need – came the absolute reasoning for such advances, via Blue Planet II. The forever-wonderful David Attenborough, who has brought to our attention the amazing, the spectacular – and now – the devastating, made the case better than any consultant, expert or industry scientist.

Explaining how we dump an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic in the ocean annually, the tear-jerking footage of a pilot whale carrying her dead newborn filled out screens.

“She’s reluctant to let it go... it has been dead for many days,” he softly explains, adding that the water levels had likely become so toxic the mother’s own milk had been contaminated.

Suddenly the arguments for the adaptation and integration of this technology are abundantly clear.

We’re playing a role in cleaning up energy, why not a tiny one with the seas too!

SAD SIGHT: The pilot whale and the newborn calf. Picture: BBC.

Free simple reminder I’m a big fan of the flow chart, and after yet another month where festivities, and multi-million pound advertising campains launched BEFORE Armistice Day, let alone December 1, I’m happy to share this if it erases any shred of doubt in the public mind. So here we go, a simple flow chart to work out whether it is Christmas:

Is it November?

I v

Yes I v

It is not Christmas