Business Intelligence Jan Feb 24

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January/February 2024

Business

Intelligence The Magazine of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce

Prosperity and further growth is bottled up!

Pattesons Glass founder shares story at networking event

Big Interview

Focus On

Motoring

Talking to Marcus Walker, Development Director at Able UK

Business leaders lobby for better transport across the Hull & Humber region

Nissan Ariya hits right note for style, choosing new tyres and winter driving tips

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Contents January/February 2024

Business

Intelligence COVER PHOTO: David Mann (centre) with Chamber President Albert Weatherill and North East Lincolnshire Area Chair Irene Keal See page 10

President’s Message 5

Chamber president Albert Weatherill looks to a New Year and a prosperous 2024

Big Interview 6

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16

Marcus Walker, Development Director of Able UK

On The Record 8

Angus Young on the benefits of devolution

Policy 10 Glass maker shares inspiring story of business success

Focus On 14 Lobbying for Humber Transport

Member News 16 Goole Business Awards open for entries 18 Free music festival makes return

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20 City Hall enjoys night of festive folk music

Spotlight Features 22 Green Business & Renewable Energy Unlocking sustainable success 24 Energy efficiency trends and tech for 2023 26 Apprenticeships, Skills & Training Is in-house training right for your business?

24 The apprentice advantage

Focus On 30 Devolution Deals Agreed

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36

Sector Focus 35 International Trade Chamber role for trade expert 36 Legal & Finance Law firm secures high ranking 37 Skills & Training HEY LSIP makes important progress 38 Manufacturing Heald appointment to lead overseas sales 40 Motoring David Hooper tests the Nissan Ariya 42 ContiSportContact 5 tyres under review

New Members 44 The Chamber welcomes new members

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Member News Xtra 46 Holiday park raises vital funds for charity January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 3

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Business Intelligence ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

The stand-out commercial property team that 'gets the job done'

L-R: Steve Davidson, Sam Pollard and Andrew Cooney

Are you in the know about this highly skilled and dynamic property trio? ith genuine commercial acumen and decades of experience, the team at Williamsons Solicitors comprises two of the region’s best-known solicitors in the field, Steve Davidson and Andrew Cooney. With support from their colleague Sam Pollard, they are providing an efficient and exemplary service to clients with diverse requirements.

Covering the Hull and East Yorkshire region as well as further afield, Steve works from Williamsons’ Driffield office, looking after clients in rural communities and market towns, while Andrew focuses on the urban centre of Hull and surrounding areas. From agricultural and retail, to industrial and landlord, they have the requisite skills along with sound knowledge of current legislation and the economic climate to provide insightful counsel.

Whether working on high value, complex commercial property matters or everyday transactions, their commitment to getting the job done and getting it right, has led to a host of loyal clients who regard them as a trusted partner.

According to Andrew, their approach is focused on steering a transaction painlessly without getting ‘bogged down’. He said: “We

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like to get from A to B as quickly as possible while understanding what is important. We can put ourselves in a client’s shoes, problem solve and get them to where they need to be with minimum fuss.”

Keen to emphasise how they add value, Andrew adds that their work is ‘far more than purely transactional’. “We have our clients’ backs and understand how a transaction affects broader business and personal interests, which may include how it impacts a wealth management strategy or succession and tax planning.”

“We truly value helping our clients to understand the legal implications and build their knowledge for future business health and growth.”

The department works on many commercial property matters including leases and licences, acquisitions and disposals, financing and refinancing, option agreements, contracts conditional on planning, and investment sales and purchases of tenanted properties.

Add the strength of their local networks to their knowledge and approachability, and this trio really stands out in the regional commercial property scene.

Andrew added: “Steve and I have done commercial property work for around 35 years each. It’s in our blood. And with the support of Sam, we are providing a seamless service.”

Williamsons Solicitors employs more than 120 staff across its Hull head office and Bridlington and Driffield branches, carrying out expert work in most areas of private client law including family and childcare, wills and probate, defence advocacy, civil litigation, conveyancing and commercial property, personal injury, and clinical negligence.

For more information, see: www.williamsons-solicitors.co.uk

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Growing your business, building our economy

President’s Message

HEAD OFFICE Hull & East Yorkshire (Head Office) 34/38 Beverley Road, Hull HU3 1YE T: 01482 324976 NORTHERN LINCOLNSHIRE OFFICE Port Offices, Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby North East Lincolnshire DN31 3LL T: 01472 342981 WEBSITE www.hull-humber-chamber.co.uk EMAIL To help us deal with your message more quickly, please select the most appropriate address from below: GENERAL: info@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk International Trade: itc@hull-humberchamber.co.uk PRESS RELEASES: press@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk WEBSITE COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS webmaster@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk PUBLISHED BY:

Kemps Publishing Ltd 8, The Courtyard, 707 Warwick Road, Solihull, B91 3DA T: 0121 765 4144 W: www.kempspublishing.co.uk MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Blake DESIGNER: Lloyd Hollingworth ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES T: 0121 765 4144 E: jon.jones@kempspublishing.co.uk PRINTERS Buxton Press W: www.buxtonpress.com

Firstly, I would like to send you all the very best wishes for the New Year and I hope that you were able to enjoy the festivities just passed.

As we bid farewell to the old and usher in the new, the turning of the calendar prompts reflection and resolution. For me and my business it was always the beginning of a new job book, full of empty pages as we waited for the call to attend the next ship in distress.

There was always that fear that that call may not come but that usually didn’t last long and we’d be quickly up and running again.

The seas around the UK will forever be rough, making transport of goods at sea both hazardous and occasionally dangerous.

Just as we always seem to set personal resolutions and goals for the coming year, perhaps we should extend that spirit of renewal to our businesses.

The heavy weather that our businesses can face as they try to navigate through the choppy seas ahead can be challenging, sometimes uncomfortable, but not insurmountable. Like skilled and weather beaten sailors charting their course, let us infuse our businesses with that essence of the maritime spirit.

In that canvas of resolutions, let us hoist sails of innovation, collaboration, and adaptability, capturing the wind that will propel your enterprise forward.

Challenge your crew to explore uncharted waters, embrace emerging currents, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Let this year be a voyage filled with discovery and success. Set your compasses to new aspirations and you will navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Wishing you all fair winds and a New Year filled with prosperous journeys.

Albert Weatherill President, Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce

DISCLAIMER Business Intelligence is produced on behalf of the Chamber by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed to members and leading businesses without charge. The Chamber and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither the Chamber nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Chamber or the publisher. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without prior written permission of Kemps Publishing Ltd.

PRIVACY NOTICE Kemps Publishing Ltd process personal information for certain legitimate interest purposes, which includes the following: To provide postal copies of this publication to chamber members and Kemps' customers; and to offer marketing and promotional opportunities within this publication to Chamber members and prospects. Whenever we process data for these purposes, we always ensure we treat your Personal Data rights in high regard.

If you wish to, you can visit www.kempspublishing.co.uk to view our full Privacy Notice and to learn more about our legitimate interests and your rights in this regard.

Chamber Patrons As a not-for-profit organisation, the Chamber is very grateful to our Patrons, who support us in our aim to help our Members develop their businesses.

• AA Global Language Services Ltd – Gold • Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP • ARUP • ASM Global • Clugston Distribution Services Ltd • Drax • East Riding of Yorkshire Council • ELLGIA Ltd • Equinor New Energy Ltd – Gold • Hatfields Jaguar Land Rover

• KCOM • Kevin Greene Photography • My… Group • OLG • Orsted • SPS Group of Companies • Streets Chartered Accountants • University of Hull • Wilkin Chapman LLP Solicitors

January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 5

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Big Interview

Big Interview Phil Ascough of Ascough Associates talks to Marcus Walker, Development Director of Able UK.

A lifelong ambition to bring about change

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hen John Major suggested it would be ridiculous to think about Len Hutton walking out to bat for Humberside he could almost have meant Marcus Walker.

The Development Director of Able UK grew up near Winterton, but was born in Bridlington, on the insistence of his grandfather in the days when only true natives of Yorkshire could play cricket for the county.

With that birthright in place the only thing that stopped Marcus playing for Yorkshire was not being good enough. An all-rounder and fast bowler, he had trials for Lincolnshire, but now drives his son to matches and takes in games as a spectator when his hectic schedule permits.

Apparently another attribute inherited from his birthplace was the status of Burlington Jackdaw.

“It’s the Bridlington equivalent of a cockney,” Marcus reveals.

“You have to be born in the Old Town. There are very few left because the maternity ward at the Avenue Hospital shut down not long after I was born. From the age of six I was put on the ferry at New Holland, collected by my grandparents at Hull and taken to Bridlington or other relatives’ farms in the Yorkshire Wolds to spend most school holidays helping with harvests.”

So he grew up batting for both sides of the estuary and he still does, both in his role at Able UK and as a board member of the Humber Freeport. There’s an almost uncontrollable excitement in Marcus’ voice as he talks about his work and the opportunities which are now within reach for our region.

‘I always wanted to come back after university to make a difference’ It’s driven by a passion sparked by watching his hometown hit hard by industrial decline. He tells how as a teenager he was advised to escape the misery and that’s what he did, but only because he wanted to return later and do something about it.

“Growing up in the Scunthorpe area you really only had one occupation and that was steel,” Marcus recalled.

“If you were a grafter, you got an apprenticeship and 6 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

if you were very clever you made it to the top, but your future was always in steel. When I was at school in 1976 there were 26,000 people employed in steel in Scunthorpe. When I left in 1982 it had gone down to about 10,000. It had been a very prosperous town but that was all skewed by steelworkers’ wages. When I was 16, one in every two adult males in some parts of the town didn’t have jobs. They were hard-working people abandoned by the Government and that’s really what motivated me. I always wanted to come back after university to make a difference.”

That awareness of the impact of economic decline was sharpened by Marcus’ years working with various local authorities in North Lincolnshire after gaining a degree in sociology from the University of Leeds and a diploma and MA in planning at Sheffield Hallam University.

The ideas of how to tackle the problems came from the innovative environment of Coolsilk, where Marcus spent six years working on often lavish property investment projects, and from his move to Able UK just over a year ago.

He said: “I had met Able while I was at North Lincolnshire Council. The steelworks then, as they are

TOP: A visualisation of the Able Humber Port.

ABOVE: The vast area of the Able Humber Port and Able Energy Park combined site.

ABOVE LEFT: Marcus Walker INSET RIGHT: Marcus Walker with Able UK Executive Chairman Peter Stephenson.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Marcus Walker with the Humber Freeport brochure.

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now, were on the brink. The big thing we had on the south bank was the deep-water estuary. This was a council project at the time and I always thought we had the wherewithal to make it happen but we had no idea where to get the money from.”

But unbeknown to Marcus, Able were ready and waiting to implement the findings of a study commissioned in 1999 to identify a site for a brand new port. Buoyed by the Crown Estate announcing a £100bn offshore wind programme in 2009, they were ready to act. Now, the numbers are impressive.

Able Humber Port (AHP) provides an area of 704 acres of development land with a further 108 acres of new quayside. Access roads and two-thirds of land side works are developed and there is around 975 acres of ecological compensation and mitigation land across both banks. Able Energy Park (AEP) covers some 1,212 acres immediately north of AHP and offers a further 846-acres of development land for electricity production, hydrogen production, battery, manufacturing, energy, storage, and similar activities related to carbon zero and renewable energy.

The next phase of AHP works would see the development of 235 acres of land and the construction of heavy-duty, deep-water quays as part of a £500m investment programme.

It all adds up to a facility which is seen as vital in helping Europe meet the escalating demand for offshore wind energy, with the UK Government also committed.

Marcus said: “Ten years ago we used to say Government needed Able Humber Port to deliver its offshore wind targets – they probably need three AHPs now and we are a shovel-ready project. They understand even more now that they must have a centre for offshore

wind manufacturing with port facilities in the UK if they are going to meet their energy targets.”

The autumn statement confirmed an extension of Freeport benefits for a further five years beyond 2026, with the potential in the Humber to generate more than £400m in retained business rates over 25 years.

Marcus said: “It is vital the wider private sector are engaged in how this should be spent going forward – the Chamber is in a great position to have a say in how that money is spent.”

The private sector has already responded positively, with Marcus reporting around £3bn of inward investment enquiries in AEP during the last year.

He said: “They all came because we are surrounded by an almost embarrassment of riches, adjacent to the Phillips 66 and Prax refineries, the VPI and Uniper power plants and the Exolum tank farm. We also have the low hydrogen and carbon capture and storage pipelines that are attracting decarbonising industries onto our sites. You can’t decarbonise the UK unless you decarbonise the Humber.

“What developing all this is about is bringing brand new, 21st century, state of the art net zero jobs which make us the envy of the UK if not Europe. And that’s the Humber, not just North Lincolnshire.

“It’s been a lifelong ambition to change the place and put back that prosperity which we lost. We are not there yet but things are falling into place. For the Humber to be at the centre of these emerging technologies is exciting beyond anything.”

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Business Intelligence

On the record With Angus Young These are the author’s views and not necessarily those of the Chamber.

une 2025 might seem a long way off but by then the region’s first ever directly-elected mayors could be settling into their respective new roles on either side of the Humber.

Devolution appears to be finally heading our way but there’s still plenty of debate yet to be had over whether or not it’s actually going to make much of a difference in the long run.

There’s certainly a case for arguing the promised pot of gold being offered by the Government pales in comparison with Government funding removed from local councils over the last decade.

Even the idea of 30-year deals for mayor-led combined authorities is hard to take seriously when Ministers currently struggle to give councils enough funding to cover 12 months.

However, assuming it does happen, what would you like to see among the new mayoral priorities? For me, the use of enhanced compulsory purchase powers is a must to tackle some of the long-standing eyesores littering our towns and cities.

In Hull, there is no shortage of empty properties crying out for a much-needed change of ownership. Take the former Portland Hotel in Paragon Street in the city centre. Once a thriving venue, the six-storey building is now a derelict shadow of its former self with crumbling masonry an ever-present threat to passing pedestrians.

Behind the hotel’s boarded-up doors lies a complex story of overseas investors being sold buy-to-let apartments which have never materialised by a company holding a longterm lease which has changed its name six times since 2018.

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The former Portland Hotel 8 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

During all those changes, businessman Khalid Bhatti remained as a director until last year when his partner Aisha Arshad took over as sole director.

‘In Hull, there is no shortage of empty properties crying out for a much-needed change of ownership’ Earlier this year, Bhatti was disqualified from being a company director for 13 years after an Insolvency Service investigation found several firms run by him had improperly secured Covid Bounce Back loans worth a total of £550,000.

Most involved promised facelift work in buildings which never happened.

The disqualification also covered a specific case in Manchester where leases for 107 flats had been sold by one of Bhatti’s companies in an advertised £50m redevelopment of a former council high-rise site. However, investors were unaware the council had refused to transfer the freehold of the land in a dispute over planning conditions not being met. As a result, no work was ever carried out.

The Insolvency Service report says the development was eventually abandoned leaving a neighbouring property a “derelict shell” and leaving investors at least £5.4m out of pocket following the company’s eventual compulsory liquidation.

Meanwhile, litigation experts are handling claims by hundreds of other disgruntled investors involved in around a dozen schemes around the country involving companies in Bhatti’s Daniel Johns Group.

In Scarborough, the local council recently stepped in to demolish a derelict fire-damaged

hotel on safety grounds after it took a battering from Storm Babet. Forty-three long leaseholds inside the property had previously been sold to investors by a Bhatti company between 2016 and 2020. Similarly, there are believed to be around 33 different leaseholders with a financial stake in empty rooms inside the crumbling Portland Hotel. At the moment, Hull City Council has limited powers to intervene.

A new directly-elected mayor with enhanced compulsory purchase powers needs to be able to use them in situations like this.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham recently announced he was pushing for a more streamlined process to take properties out of the hands of unscrupulous landlords and owners. He wants them to be re-used for social housing. Let’s hope the new mayors on each bank of the Humber match Burnham both in ambition and delivery when it comes to dealing with blots on the landscape like the Portland Hotel.

Our high streets have been taking a battering for several years. In tough times, retailers need to pull out all the stops to keep customers coming through the doors.

You might think a customer loyalty card scheme is one way to do that. However, even with such a scheme in place, some appear to be unwilling to promote it.

I came across a good example the other day in one of Dove House Hospice’s many charity shops when a staff member asked if I had a loyalty card. It was the first time I’d heard about it - there weren’t any posters advertising it and subsequent visits to some of the charity’s other shops revealed a similar story.

I’ll keep supporting Dove House with my newly-acquired card but they and others need to be better if only to ensure they keep trading.

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Business Intelligence

January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 9

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Chamber Policy

Chamber Policy Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is the collective ‘voice’ of business across the Humber region representing the views and interests of our Members at local, regional and national levels.

Inspiring story, helped by Chamber he Chamber’s Speed Networking and Lunch events are back in full swing with the guest speaker for our November lunch at Healing Manor being David Mann, of Pattesons Glass.

David has built up one of Grimsby’s most successful businesses from small beginnings to become one of the leading wholesalers and distributors of jars and bottles, thanks to his can-do attitude and willingness to say yes – and then worry about how he was going to deliver the goods on time!

He thanked the Chamber for playing a big part in getting his business off the ground as he explained how one of the first jobs they got from an overseas client was from a Jamaican company to supply a jar for one of their products. David said: “The company had never heard of my business, so they rang the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce and spoke to Anne Tate, asking if we were a real company. Anne gave us such a ringing endorsement in vouching for us, we got the order. That gave us so much confidence – Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce really got us on our way internationally and I can’t thank the Chamber enough for that.”

An enthralled audience heard how the business started in 2004 with two partners.

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David Mann (centre) pictured with Chamber President Albert Weatherill and North East Lincolnshire Area Chair Irene Keal at the networking lunch held at Healing Manor

The original Pattesons Pickles business was eventually sold to a man who later turned out to be the inventor of Pot Noodles.

The glass business was built on the back of that as they bought glass from plants in Yorkshire, but it was in 2007 when things really started moving for David and his team, working with McRae Foods in Fraserburgh, Scotland. They turned over £51,000 in their first year, but that quickly grew as they started exporting in 2008. They sent a container of goods from Portugal to the Alaskan Mountains, and it actually arrived, so they realised that if they could make that happen, they could do just about anything!

‘The original Pattesons Pickles business was eventually sold to a man who later turned out to be the inventor of Pot Noodles’ The business began to expand, taking on staff and as their success grew, they received approaches from Lakeland and then Sainsbury’s to supply them with bottles and jars of various types. 12 years later, they were working with huge brands such as Kingfisher, Heineken and Brewdog and now supply all the craft breweries in Ireland with up to 22million bottles a year.

The business moved to its current premises on Grimsby’s Estate Road 8 in 2011, but has 10 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

expanded several times since then, upwards and outwards and is now in the process of building new facilities on land in Humberston near to the motor dealers, which will bring all of their warehouses under one roof.

In 2017, with two partners looking to retire, 80 per cent of the firm was sold to a Belgian businessman, with David keeping the remaining 20 per cent, and he told his audience “things are still going very well.”

However, Covid presented new challenges, but thanks to their Belgian connections, and with Belgium shutting down for Covid two weeks before the UK did, they realised what was coming and restructured the business so people could work from home, and for those that couldn’t, they rearranged shift patterns.

The planning worked, and as people started making jams and pickles at home, their online business exploded to £1.2m.

Last year they were approached by Brewdog to do spirit bottles, with another challengingly short deadline for three products, vodka, gin and rum. David said: “Our Chinese glassmakers really pulled trees up to get it done for us and as a result we won the Glass Pack of the Year: Spirits award at the UK Packaging Awards 2023.

“This year our turnover has hit £16m, next year it will be £20m. It’s really great to have a good team in a town like Grimsby. People come back here and now we’ve got the offshore windfarms which are great for the town.”

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Business Intelligence

Freeport tax site to unlock opportunities he footprint for Goole’s freeport tax site has been submitted to Government, with the aim of unlocking prime inward investment opportunities.

The 200-hectares Goole freeport site, which is split into two plots separated by the M62 motorway, offers investors a range of highlyattractive benefits.

In recent years, Goole has established itself as an investment hotspot, attracting major developments by blue chip businesses including train builder Siemens Mobility and FTSE-listed chemicals specialist Croda.

It is expected confirmation of the Goole freeport tax site – one of three within the Humber Freeport area – will spark further significant investment in the East Yorkshire town.

Goole benefits from excellent transport links via road, rail and sea, with access within minutes to the M62 and onward to Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, and across the UK via the national motorway network. It is also connected to global shipping opportunities via the Humber Estuary.

Humber Freeport launched officially in July with a special event held at Associated British Ports’ Pump House at the Port of Hull. The next phase of Humber Freeport is now underway, with the boundary footprint for the Goole tax site submitted to Government.

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Simon Bird (pictured), Chair of Humber Freeport, said: “Submitting the footprint for the Goole tax site represents an exciting and significant milestone for Humber Freeport.

“Each of our three tax sites – in Hull, Goole and Immingham – offers something completely unique. The Goole tax site benefits from a strategically significant location, suitable for advanced manufacturing and other sectors, with easy access to the M62 motorway, excellent rail connections and port links to the Humber Estuary.

“Goole has seen major investment from global companies who have already seen the huge opportunity it presents. Freeport status further enhances that opportunity, opening up new corridors of development and economic growth.”

Humber Freeport’s mission is to drive hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and generate at least 7,000 new jobs. The freeport will harness the unique potential and location of the Humber to stimulate economic growth, skills development and inward investment in both established and emerging industries.

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Chamber Policy

Taking a closer look at HETA training facility he November meeting of the Chamber’s main Council was hosted by Iain Elliott at HETA’s new £5.5m engineering training facility at Stallingborough.

Several members enjoyed a tour of the new facilities and chatted to enthusiastic students who explained how they were enjoying learning fabrication and welding, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. They also saw the IT suite, classrooms, meetings rooms and canteen areas.

The site sits on North East Lincolnshire’s South Humber Industrial Investment Programme (SHIIP) area.

Iain was proud to show off the new facilities which have taken around nine years to develop, giving him plenty of sleepless nights – especially after the war started in Ukraine and material costs soared, but he told the meeting that they were only two weeks late and completed the project on budget.

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Iain said: “We now have training centres which provide the best learning and working environments for young people, and also for adults who want to reskill, which is important.

“This new centre is for people coming out of school who want to take engineering as a career

‘Our young people are keen to learn and never fail to impress me’ for employers who are always telling us they need skilled labour because there is a lack of it in this area.

“Our young people are keen to learn and never fail to impress me.”

The speaker for the meeting was Catherine Darby-Roberts, who is Arup’s Science, Industry and Technology Business Leader, who gave members a private sector perspective on the regeneration opportunities in the Humber.

Catherine said: “As an engineer myself, I am

MAIN PHOTO: Chamber members chat with students during their tour of HETA’s new facilities at Stallingborough INSET LEFT: Students at work on a conveyor ABOVE TOP: Engineering and welding students discuss their courses and ambitions for the future

delighted to see such brilliant training facilities here at HETA which will help to inspire and train the next generations of engineers and technicians for the Humber.”

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Chamber Policy

Chamber reacts to Autumn Statement he Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, along with the wider Chamber network under the British Chambers of Commerce umbrella, has welcomed the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

Hull & Humber Chamber Chief Executive, Dr Ian Kelly (pictured), said: “We are pleased the Chancellor has listened to our calls to help businesses deal with the current economic challenges. Our Chamber network called on Jeremy Hunt to offer ‘much needed solutions to Britain’s investment problem’.

“The statement provided some welcome remedies at a time when businesses of all sizes need certainty and security from the Government in the difficult months ahead.

“We also welcome the two devolution deals which have been given go-ahead today for Hull and East Riding, and Greater Lincolnshire, which is testament to the vision

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and hard work of Council leaders and colleagues across the Humber.”

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “The decision to make full expensing permanent will be a boost to companies wanting to invest. Our research shows that 34% of businesses have already benefited from the policy, rising to 47% for manufacturers.

“We have long called for the electricity grid to be upgraded to help companies transition to net-zero. In our recent net-zero survey, more than a third (37%) of businesses told us they were not getting what they needed from the grid, in terms of energy supply and connectivity. If we can we reduce grid connection times it will make a big difference.

“The Government’s plans to support people back into work have the potential to help grow the economy. There are just under a million unfilled vacancies in the UK and three

quarters of businesses tell us they cannot get the staff they need.

“Business investment is the lifeblood of local economies, creating jobs and supporting public services. The Chancellor has taken a step in the right direction, but nothing can be taken for granted and we must all continue to focus on encouraging companies to grow.”

Humber Energy Board sparks into action Leading businesses operating in the Humber have presented a united front to a Government Minister calling for transformational investment enabling the region to lead the UK’s drive to net zero.

Members of the Humber Energy Board and MPs from the region met with Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, to push the case for game-changing investment to decarbonise the region and provide a huge stimulus to the economy.

The Humber Energy Board is the collaboration of private sector businesses and public sector organisations leading on the energy strategy for the region and behind the Humber 2030 Vision, which is a prospectus of major decarbonisation projects that represent a potential £15bn investment in the Humber.

These include: • BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) at Drax Power Station, which would be the world’s largest engineered carbon removals project • Humber Zero, a world-scale CO2 reduction project to support the decarbonisation of critical UK industry, involving post combustion carbon capture, led by Phillips 66 and VPI Immingham

Lord Callanan meeting with members of the Humber Energy Board, Council Leaders and MPs

• H2H Saltend, Zero Carbon Humber’s low carbon hydrogen production facility with carbon capture at Saltend Chemicals Park, one of a number of major hydrogen projects in the region • Refinery of the Future – large-scale investment at the Phillips 66 Humber Refinery, the only producer of speciality graphite coke used in lithium-ion batteries in Europe and the only UK refinery to make and supply sustainable aviation fuel at scale.

The Humber 2030 Vision details how, with Government support, these projects can establish the UK’s first low carbon industrial cluster in the region by that year, stimulating unprecedented private sector investment and creating and retaining tens of thousands of jobs.

Members of the Humber Energy Board and MPs from the north and south banks of the Humber made the case to Lord Callanan during a roundtable event at the Port of Immingham.

The event was chaired jointly by Richard Gwilliam, Chair of the Humber Energy Board and UK BECCS Programme Director at the renewable energy business Drax Group, and Hull North MP Dame Diana Johnson. It was attended by representatives from Humber Energy Board member companies Equinor, Harbour Energy, Humber Freeport, Phillips 66, Prax, RWE, SSE Thermal and Uniper.

Members of the board and the region’s MPs are focused on working with the Government to find a solution to unlocking the £15bn investment in the Humber, as a strategically important national asset.

Mr Gwilliam said: “Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, compelling us to decarbonise our economy, develop energy resilience and invest in new green technologies. The Humber Energy Board is determined to make the Humber the world’s leading net zero industrial cluster. By working together under the shared banner of the Humber 2030 Vision, we’re ready to grasp this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and deliver the UK’s green revolution.

“The simple fact is that now is the time to deliver.”

January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 13

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Focus on: Lobbying for Humber Transport

The pantomime of trans-Pennine rail travel is on track to continue high-level meeting with Transport for the North, TransPennine Express, Humber MPs, stakeholders, councillors and business leaders focusing on rail services to the Hull and Humber region ended with no commitments to improved services, but a warning that things would get worse in 2024 before they got better.

The only firm promises came from TransPennine’s Managing Director, Chris Jackson, who said after pressure from MPs Diana Johnson and Emma Hardy that they could hold him to account for refurbishing the toilets, repairing the multi-faced clock and improving the ticket machines and barriers at Hull’s Paragon Station, which he heralded as TPE’s flagship.

The meeting, hosted by the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, got off to a lighthearted start as Chamber President Albert Weatherill opened proceedings, warning that the pantomime season would soon be upon us, which Hull MP Diana Johnson said caused her slight concern as the only Dame around the table!

Diana highlighted that transport had been a key feature during her 18 years of being an MP. She said: “We have finally got a Devolution deal announced for Hull and East Yorkshire in the Autumn Statement, but we still need to get the infrastructure sorted out so this area can punch above its weight. It’s two years since Lord McLoughlin’s last visit to the Chamber and I want to hear about the progress that has been made.”

It soon became clear there hadn’t been much progress as rail consultant David Walford highlighted numerous issues including the lack of electrified lines with no confirmed schemes and the loss of our direct

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14 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

airport services on both banks of the Humber.

He said: “The route from Hull to Leeds is seeing more stops being added, the Hull to Liverpool route, or the Hullapool line, will terminate in December and TPE will be adding seven further stops beyond Leeds on the route across the Pennines and there will be no express service on the trans-Pennine routes from Hull at all. All the slowing down of routes has been inflicted on the Hull services.”

David then highlighted the cost of rail travel in the Humber compared to other areas. “We are paying twice as much per mile to travel on trains across the region. A journey of less than four miles costs £6.10 off peak from Paragon Station to Cottingham.”

‘We have to deal with what is in front of us today and we are doing our genuine very best for everyone’ The Chamber’s President raised issues around freight and moving goods on rail, highlighting biomass coming in at Immingham and Liverpool and the disproportionate time it takes to transfer it to Drax. Castle Street, now HS2 has been cancelled, is the most expensive infrastructure project in the UK for a mile of road, and the inland waterways are underused and that needs to be addressed in places like Goole.

Lord McLoughlin confirmed he felt the cancellation of HS2 was a big mistake, but that was a decision that had been taken. He added: “However, that has released some money for other schemes and hopefully some progress will be made on electrification and other pinch-points on the line.” He accepted the points made about Drax but reminded the meeting that TfN was working with a 100-

year-old railway. He felt smart ticketing would make a fundamental difference, adding that the rail industry is a £9bn fare box and when you start to alter it, the Treasury gets very nervous, as he knows from his time as Secretary of State.

Darren Oldham, the Deputy Chief Executive at TfN, insisted the organisation was really committed to doing its best for people in the North, but the problem that they have is the transport networks are aged, very expensive to upgrade and there is only so much funding available. He said: “The reality is we can never give everyone what we would like to because the funding isn’t there. We want to treble the amount of freight on rail over the next plan period. Regarding connectivity between Hull and Leeds, we have no commitment on electrification but are strongly making the case for enhancements to line speeds and connectivity which we see as really important.

“Not everyone can have connectivity to Manchester Airport as the capacity doesn’t exist. Some schemes could be taken underground but they cost in excess of £10bn to dig tunnels.”

He also noted that Northern’s performance was now the best it had been for a long time and that the Department for Transport was now more receptive to TfN. Train operating companies were doing well, but he highlighted there will be problems next year onwards with the trans-Pennine upgrade but that work will eventually improve services.

“We have to deal with what is in front of us today and we are doing our genuine very best for everyone,” he added.

Chris Jackson, Managing Director of TransPennine Express, said he would never sign off on things that wouldn’t work, and journey times would increase, but he stressed

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Focus on: Lobbying for Humber Transport

Pictured after the meeting in the House of Commons with Rail Minister Huw Merriman (centre) are (from left) David Walford, Ian Kelly, David Hooper and Emma Hardy. Diana Johnson had to leave straight after the meeting for another session she was chairing

Pictured at Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce are (from left) Ian Kelly, Chris Jackson, Emma Hardy MP, Lord McLoughlin, Dame Diana Johnson MP and Albert Weatherill

that these step backs were temporary step backs, they have to clear driver training days and he had given a commitment to reinstate all the services which are affected

by December 2024.

He said: “I have been doing a deep dive to find out what is wrong with the business and how to fix it, and we now have tangible, funded improvements which will deliver benefits across the North for customers. Hull will benefit from new trains by the end of the decade.”

The President asked about Hull’s Paragon Station. Chris Jackson said it is TPE’s flagship station and he is very proud of it. There are investments in the pipeline, refurbishing the toilets, a safeguarding hub is a trailblazing national scheme and there are exciting announcements to come.

Chamber Chief Executive Ian Kelly highlighted that he appreciated Lord McLoughlin’s strategic knowledge as a former Secretary of State and he hoped he would take on the strategic importance of Hull and the Humber. He said: “We have huge opportunities for inward investment, Llandudno has a direct link to Manchester Airport, and now even Cleethorpes has lost its direct link to the airport.”

Lord McLoughlin added: “I have moved things around to be able to attend this meeting before Christmas. I understand the issues around the station which I hope Chris and his team will work on.

“I promise to come back in another 12 months and do this again,” he pledged.

Former Chamber President Mike Whitehead gave the vote of thanks, noting that Hull station has the longest platform in the United Kingdom, and thanked Lord McLoughlin and Chris Jackson for joining us in Hull to hear our concerns first hand.

Electrification will happen... but when? he Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce visited the House of Commons to see Rail Minister Huw Merriman in a meeting organised by MPs Dame Diana Johnson and Emma Hardy, following the cancellation of the northern legs of HS2.

Beverley MP Graham Stuart also attended the meeting, along with local rail expert David Walford who highlighted the technical issues as the Humber’s rail services once again face being downgraded. Local Council Leaders Mike Ross from Hull and Anne Handley from the East Riding dialled in to the meeting.

One of the key asks, and one initially promised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the HS2 announcement, was the electrification of the Selby to Hull line.

Huw Merriman said that following the cancellation of the Northern legs of HS2,

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£36bn was available for other projects and that the electrification of that section of line would happen, although when pressed by the MPs and the Chamber he said he wouldn’t put any timescales on when work was likely to start.

He said: “I’m sick and tired of railways not being done properly and I don’t want to throw dates out and then not deliver. We just need to pause for a while and have a bit of breathing space before we commit to more projects.”

Chamber Chief Executive, Dr Ian Kelly, said: “We had a detailed and candid discussion with Rail Minister Huw Merriman.

“He promised us the money which was being saved by the cancellation of the HS2 Project would be available for electrification work on the Hull to Selby line and other rail improvements locally. However he was at this stage unable to commit to any timescales for work to begin.”

Ticket office closures scrapped The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce welcomed the announcement by Transport Secretary Mark Harper that plans to close rail ticket offices in England have been scrapped.

Train operators had come up with the plans as a way of saving money after the Government told them to cut costs after they had been financially supported through the pandemic.

Unions, passenger groups and the public complained loudly about the plans which would have left people largely reliant on ticket machines and reduced staffing levels at stations.

The Chamber added the business voice to the chorus of complaints, with Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly (pictured) writing to

Rail Minister Huw Merriman to urge him to reconsider the proposals.

He wrote: “These ticket office closure proposals appear to be very badly thought through, discriminatory towards older people and variously disabled people who currently use these services.”

Commenting on today’s announcement, Dr Kelly said: “This was never a good idea and is one of the issues we raised when we met with the Rail Minister in the House of Commons a recently.

“I am pleased the Government has now cancelled these proposals and people will still be able to buy their rail tickets from a person, rather than having to battle with a ticket machine or an app.”

January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 15

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Member News

Member News The latest news, success stories and updates from members of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.

Your chance to shout about your success he Chamber's Goole and Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards are now officially open for entry!

Now in its 13th year, the organising committee which is made up of volunteers from the local business community, is urging businesses of all sizes and from all sectors to shout about their successes by completing the quick and easy entry form.

For 2024, there are 11 different categories for businesses to enter. As in previous years, the independent judging panel will also be asked to select an Overall Business of the Year Award from the entrants, and the organising committee will nominate someone to receive the Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Historically, the Chamber’s Goole and Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards ceremony was held in February each year but,

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The Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award Philip Parkin

in 2023, it was moved to April to allow building work at Goole Academy, the venue for the event, to be completed. The date switch proved popular with guests, and the date for the awards has been set for Friday 5 April.

The committee’s Chair, local businessman Garrey Haase, said: “Businesses have from now until the end of January to get their entries in and we’ve tried to keep things as simple as possible for people by giving the website a refresh and creating a really userfriendly entry form that’s surprisingly quick and easy to complete. There’s a category for every business to enter, regardless of size, the sector it operates in or the length of time it has been established, so don’t be afraid to put your business forward.”

For more information and to enter, visit: www.goolebusinessawards.co.uk

Raising a glass with help from Hotham’s Chamber Patrons were presented with a special festive treat as they gathered at the Guildhall for their annual lunch.

As a thank you for their support during the year the Chamber sprung a surprise by unveiling branded bottles of gin created by member business Hotham’s Ltd. The gift came with a message from Emma and Simon Pownall, founders of Hotham’s, that there’s plenty more gin where that came from – nearly six years after setting up they have now put the business on the market.

Simon said: “We’ve had a great time. We were interviewed on BBC TV, we were on Four in a Bed on Channel 4 and we’ve had all sorts of other media coverage. We have won three REYTAs and got a highly commended. We also got a silver in the Visit England New Tourism Business Awards and we are one of the top hospitality businesses in the UK based on our TripAdvsor reviews and three consecutive years based in the top 10 per cent of hospitality businesses in the world.

“But it was always part of the plan to build something up to the point where we could sell it on as a whole package .”

Up for grabs is the exciting variety of products, which now include rum and vodka, and training in how to deliver the lessons in the gin school which sets Hotham’s apart from the competition.

16 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

Pictured with some of the branded bottles are Emma Pownall (right) and Chloe Pellatt, Marketing and Communications Manager at Hotham’s David Hooper, the Chamber’s External Affairs & Membership Director, said: “Hotham’s helped us out at Chamber Expo this year by putting on a gin tasting event at the end of the exhibition.

“Following the Expo, Hotham’s joined the Chamber, and as a thank you for helping us with the show, we promised to source our gift for our Patrons’ Lunch through them.”

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Member News

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Member News

Thank HullBID for the music as free festival makes return

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Tymisha after her performance in the Scale & Feather in November

free festival which is proving a big crowdpuller for pubs in Hull city centre is heading into its third weekend with demand increasing from venues and performers.

Trinity Festival Rebooted, which is part of the HullBID live events programme, presented more than 100 free gigs in pubs throughout the city centre during two weekends during the autumn.

The action will resume on Saturday 27 January with the HullBID team currently putting the finishing touches to a programme.

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said: “The feedback from the first two rounds of Trinity Festival Rebooted has been excellent, not

Pictured in the Scale & Feather are the Hull Trinity Festival Rebooted promotion team, Mike Ward, director of Pure Events, and his brand ambassadors Nadine Boyce (right) and Leanne Hobbins

just because people have enjoyed it so much but also because we’re picking up a lot of exciting new ideas which will help us keep the event fresh. There were wholesale changes to the list of performers in November because we want to showcase as many of our talented local performers as we can, and there will be more changes again for our first event of 2024 with more newcomers and some familiar faces. We’ve also got more venues asking how they can get involved so word is clearly getting round that the festival is pulling in the crowds. All our events are geared up to bring more people into the city centre to boost business for our members.”

Trinity Festival Rebooted has its roots in the HullBID Trinity Festival, which from 2012 until 2017 gave local bands the chance to play support slots to big-name headliners in a series of free outdoor gigs. The new version, which is supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, takes the live performances into bars across the city centre.

HullBID is producing and distributing brochures, posters, pop-up banners and media content, as well as working with partners on event management.

The events are being programmed

by Mark Page and Daniel Mawer from the weekly Sesh night, Trinity Live and Humber Street Sesh.

‘Deep’ dive into new way of managing stress A business audience of around 70 emptied their heads and bared their souls as they embraced a breathwork experience designed to help them release their emotions to deal with personal and professional stress.

The Deep in Hull partnered with the organisers by providing the venue, with its calming atmosphere considered ideal for the immersive experience led by resilience coach and mental health advocate Josh Connolly.

Participants were guided through a series of breathing exercises to promote relaxation and enable recall of people and events from their distant past. Afterwards they told how much they enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to applying the technique as they tackle the stress in life and at work.

Martin Stead, who spent 30 years in construction and facilities management before setting up Loom Consultancy earlier this year,

Josh Connolly walking between the participants in The Deep and taking them through the breathwork techniques

18 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

said: “Anything that helps people stay fit and well mentally and emotionally can only be a good thing and this is another tool to help that. The general mood was that we didn’t really know what we had let ourselves in for, but I would go back and I would recommend it to others.”

The feedback was typical of other participants in Breathe to Succeed: Empowering You to Thrive in Life & Business, which raised awareness of the increasingly popular technique and also raised funds for Andy’s Man Club and the National Association for the Children of Alcoholics.

Josh, a certified breathwork coach, said: “It’s a growing practice and we are probably at the stage now where yoga was 10 or 15 years ago.

“People really have to be shut off from the chatter of their mind. Breathwork brings you down into your body so you are not thinking, thinking, thinking all the time. I always aim to use an interesting venue because you are trying to create an experience. The music, the venue and the lighting all play a part.”

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Member News

Chamber membership now includes five new advice lines – HR, Legal, H&S, tax and VAT Three document libraries – HR, H&S and legal – almost 800 template documents plus lots more information. he Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has invested in its membership offer and has recently launched four important new services to support Humber businesses which are now included as part of the Chamber package.

Chamber HR, Chamber H&S, Chamber Legal and Chamber Tax are all now available to members and are free to use as often as they like.

Chamber members also have access to a huge library of around 800 downloadable documents and templates covering employment, health and safety, tax and legal matters.

All the new services can be accessed by one phone number which gives members immediate advice and support via five advice lines – HR, H&S, Legal, Tax and VAT These new services represent a major investment by the Chamber in its membership offer. The services are part of a national scheme provided by Quest with 45,000 UK Chamber of Commerce users.

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David Hooper, The Chamber’s External Affairs Director, said: “Businesses are facing challenging times at the moment and these new services offer excellent support to all businesses, whatever size they may be. I believe these new services will protect our members, help them stay compliant, particularly with issues around Covid-19 like HR and H&S requirements, and give them peace of mind.

“Our new services are employer focused, so the HR line for example, can help businesses deal with redundancy procedures, appraisals or disciplinary procedures and comes with access to experienced advisors for hand-holding support when they need it, or provide access to documents which are regularly updated to reflect the latest rules and regulations.

“The Health and Safety package offers unlimited advice and access to documents like H&S policies, risk assessment templates and the offer of free One2One reviews. Chamber Legal provides unlimited access to experienced

legal advisors and a library of documents, while Chamber Tax provides access to tax and VAT advisors who can be a great help at tax return time!”

Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly said: “We are delighted to be able to include these excellent new benefits as part of our membership package. They provide expert advice and support on many key aspects of running a business and I would encourage our members to make good use of these new, premium services.”

Members only can call 01455 852037 for immediate support and assistance.

For more information, contact the Hull and East Yorkshire office: 01482 324976 or email j.harrison@hull-humberchamber.co.uk, or the Northern Lincolnshire Office: 01472 342981 or email a.tate@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk

January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 19

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Member News

A festive night of fairytales and folk music at City Hall n enchanting evening of music and dance was enjoyed by more than 30 Chamber members when they attended the Fairytale of New York show at Hull’s City Hall.

The exclusive VIP evening was planned as a prelude to Christmas, and the Chamber even arranged appropriately frosty weather to set the mood.

Guests were treated to a glass of fizz and a mince pie in a private reception area before the show, and returned to finish off the mince pies during the interval!

The show, featuring famous Irish folk music and a cast of musicians and dancers, had everyone out of their seats, clapping and dancing, as a big screen showed evocative scenes of Ireland, which made some feel homesick and others making a Christmas wish to visit the Emerald Isle.

The evening finished with the song from which the show takes its name, and coming days after the death at 65 of The Pogues’ front man Shane MacGowan, was all the more poignant, especially as he would have celebrated his 66th birthday on Christmas Day.

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20 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

Having reached number two in the charts originally when it was launched in 1987, many in Hull were left wishing for it to be a chart topper for 2023’s festivities.

The Chamber’s Membership and Marketing Executive, Kay Hudson, who organised the event, thanked everyone for supporting something a bit different from the Chamber, and urged members to keep an eye on our Events Diary for 2024.

Kay said: “The production had a whistle stop tour with only one night at Hull’s City Hall.

Tickets for the performance were a complete sell out weeks before the event. Luckily we managed to secure some for our members and there was not a spare seat in the house.

“The uplifting show then moved on to London and Manchester before the performers had a well deserved rest over the Christmas period.

“We are getting the New Year off to a flying start with a Speed Networking Breakfast event at The Hampton by Hilton Hotel at Humberside Airport, on January 18, and I’m looking forward to meeting some more of our members!”

Keep an eye on the Chamber’s Events Diary for more of next year’s events and activities.

ABOVE: Some of the Chamber members who attended the Fairytale of New York show at Hull City Hall

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Member News ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Remember the pain of dialing up AOL? Is that time approaching again…? magine how congested roads get when they’re overcrowded by traffic. It flows faster when there are fewer bottlenecks, less diversions and everything can move at a steady continuous flow.

The internet is similar. No matter how fast the service you’ve installed, the signal gets stalled by the amount of data (traffic) on the network. It can start with the construction of your property, the distance from the router, the number of devices trying to access the system.

Once it gets out of the house consider what type of journey is it going on – is it straight onto a dedicated motorway (FTTP, 5G or satellite) or does it get stuck on a side road (FTTC) or even worse, a single-track country lane (copper wire - ADSL)?

Sadly, no matter how local the journey, or from how far away, your message will get routed via various exchange points – this is why your film will start buffering. It’s not necessarily your home internet – it will be the amount of traffic and the way it’s routed, known as latency.

As businesses and individuals crave greater access to the internet and indeed are being driven to it by commercial and government policy, how do we strike the right balance?

Quite apart from businesses utilising the cloud for banking, e-commerce, accounting, video conferencing, design and a plethora of other services, public agencies e.g. NHS, DWP and local authorities are also driving the change by requiring the community to access services via apps or online portals. All of this comes on top of the demand for social media, streaming, gaming, email, remote control doorbells, heating controllers and the use of multiple devices in the home, workplace and social settings.

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• Fixed line fibre services (Fibre to the Premise - FTTP) • Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) or SOGEA (a version of Fibre) • Alternatives such as 5G and satellite that are rapidly becoming the future option of choice. These will enable automated IOT (Internet of Things) services and allow freedom of roaming so you can access services anywhere.

“Thank you, Genius Technology Solutions. It's a huge relief to have such a reliable and fast service, and being able to offer guest Wi-Fi and utilise a VOIP system will be a big boost to our customer service. Booked and installed in no time - thank you!!”

Sadly headlines like these below are becoming more regular as local communities complain about the disruption caused by roadworks or new telegraph poles being deployed to meet the rising demand for improved broadband, especially across the rural areas surrounding the Humber such as East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Make Buffering A Thing Of The Past Always Stay Connected with Genius Technology Solutions If you want help to future proof your business or home please contact us for a no obligation chat.

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They can advise on the availability of a range of services and recommend the best approach to tackle the issues you’re facing. You don’t have to take the only option on offer from a particular supplier, either. There are choices of suppliers and services in all areas, such as:

services that can be tailored to suit your situation. From offering support and guidance to communities to enabling larger regeneration projects or supporting small business across the UK, we’re here to help.

As one of our recent customers who went from a broadband speed of 3mbps to 400mbps, said, after we provided 5G broadband, hosted phone and guest Wi-Fi:

T: 0333 0110 512 E: sales@geniustechnologysolutions.com W: geniustechnologysolutions.com

With extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, a comprehensive portfolio and working with an array of national partners, Genius Technology Solutions can provide a range of connectivity solutions for phone, broadband and network January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 21

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Spotlight Feature: Green Business & Renewable Energy

Spotlight Feature In this issue we take a look at the Green Business & Renewable Energy and Apprenticeships, Skills & Training sectors.

Unlocking sustainable success Dr. Vicky Dunn CEnv looks at the seven key insights for businesses of every size n a recent presentation, Dr. Dunn (pictured) from Grimsby Community Energy Ltd shared seven invaluable sustainability lessons applicable to businesses of all sizes. These insights not only help manage risks associated with long-term energy and material decisions but also enhance a company's reputation with both customers and suppliers, boost staff morale, and create a more pleasant working environment. Find Grimsby Community Energy on Facebook or LinkedIn to join one of their upcoming business events to delve deeper into these principles firsthand.

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Takeaway #2 – leverage smart meter data Create a spreadsheet and an alyse your smart meter data beyond just the financial aspects. Investigate questions like overnight energy consumption percentages, the impact of solar panels, or the cost of air conditioning on hot days.

Takeaway #1 – harness fully funded energy audits Explore available schemes across the Humber and Lincolnshire that offer expert auditors to identify potential energy savings for your business. These initiatives also guide you toward grants for upgrades, with many businesses already benefiting from transitions to LED lighting or the installation of solar panels. If you're in North East Lincolnshire, you might even have the opportunity to work with Dr. Dunn in her role as a Low Carbon Business Advisor.

Takeaway #4 – avoid greenwash Maintain honesty in your environmental communications to build trust. Greenwashing can be detected, so be transparent in your sustainability efforts.

22 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

Takeaway #3 – embrace green accreditations Stay informed about green accreditations discussed by your competitors and major customers. Consider participating in a "pledge and badge" scheme or pursuing a full ISO 14001 environmental management system, emphasizing that the business benefits justify the time investment.

Takeaway #5 – advocate for sustainable practices Initiate conversations with suppliers about preferences for recycled or refillable options. Be proactive in providing evidence that supports the shift toward a circular economy, reinforcing your commitment to sustainability.

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Spotlight Feature: Green Business & Renewable Energy

‘Treat sustainability as an integral part of every job, just like health and safety’ Takeaway #6 – integrate sustainability into every role Treat sustainability as an integral part of every job, just like health and safety. Include it in job adverts, descriptions, and staff appraisals to attract and retain the right talent.

Professional development opportunities through organisations like the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment can further enhance your team's capabilities.

Takeaway #7 – align with UN Sustainable Development Goals Examine the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and identify those relevant to your business. This approach connects global issues to local activities, emphasising the impact of individual actions. Displaying these goals on your business website and stationery can enhance recognition and credibility.

As a bonus, Grimsby Community Energy has recently launched the Business Angels scheme. By becoming a Business Angel, you not only contribute to community projects like solar PV installations but also gain visibility through our website, social media, and video content. The success stories of recent solar projects at the CATCH apprentice training centre and YMCA Humber showcase the positive environmental and community impact of these initiatives.

January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 23

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Spotlight Feature: Green Business & Renewable Energy

Energy efficiency trends and technology

By Ranya Metwalli Shields, Managing Director at Regeneros Ltd

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ith spiralling energy costs and many businesses setting up a road map towards net zero and putting strategies in place to reduce their carbon emissions, it is challenging to achieve net zero objectives on a limited budget.

Buildings are significant consumers of energy, with the Government’s 10-point plan explicitly including a point dedicated to the built environment.

From my background as an energy auditor, working with new construction and building retrofits, it's always best to reach for the “low hanging” energy efficiency savings first.

Every business looking to reduce its carbon footprint, here are some of the most overlooked low cost measures as well as some new products showcased at EMEX (the energy management Expo) in London last year.

Energy saving heat additives With many of us using heating systems utilising hot water, energy saving additives can produce efficiency of improvements of eight to 15%, for an investment of less than £50 per container, giving a truly impressive “bang for the buck”.

When dosed at a one per cent concentration of system volume in wet heating systems, the products works by changing the physical & thermal properties of water to improve the water’s responsiveness & heat transfer, improving the energy efficiency and performance of heating systems. It does this on a number of different levels: 1. The inclusion of heat saving additives reduces the impact of steam bubbles restricting heat transfer sites, so allowing water to heat up quicker.

2. Improving heat transfer efficiency, helping systems reach the thermostatically set temperature quicker, which ultimately reduces the boiler operation time for each cycle.

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3. Extended heat retention – testing on the dosed systems shows they cool down over a longer time period.

While relatively unknown to the general population, one of these products has won the CIBSE product of the year award in 2016 and was a finalist in the 2022 national energy efficiency awards, and these products were also featured in EMEX (energy management Expo in London in 2023.

Task lighting Whilst many of us already have or are in the process of switching inefficient lighting over to LED, the importance of task lighting and controls is sometimes overlooked.

Most modern offices incorporate task lighting. IES illuminance standards set forward lighting level requirements based on space type and task (e.g. an office space would require a larger amount of lighting compared to say a storage room). The other important thing to bear in mind is not only how much lighting is needed in the space but how that lighting is distributed (where it is concentrated). For example, lighting in a draftsman's office at the desk surface is what is most important for them to comfortably do their job.

Using task lighting means that a relatively inexpensive desk lamp costing under £25 may be used to deliver the required light levels directly to the desk. Task lighting is especially useful for seeing small objects or objects of low contrast, e.g. when sewing. Use of task lighting not only means the work environment for the occupant is greatly improved because they have sufficient lighting and control over it, but it also presents opportunities for energy savings for two reasons: first is that it is much easier to then utilise this light only when the person is present/desk is occupied and also because this then provides opportunities in say open plan offices where the general overhead lighting levels (ambient lighting) can themselves be reduced.

“It’s always best to reach for the ‘low hanging’ energy efficiency savings first”

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Spotlight Feature: Green Business & Renewable Energy

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Spotlight Feature: Apprenticeships, Skills & Training

Is

in-house training

right

for your business?

Choosing an effective training course for your managers and employees can be difficult – and one of the first issues is deciding whether to send your employees to an external course, or organising in-house training. Business Intelligence explores some of the benefits of bringing the trainer to you.

Access the best To deliver the best training, you need the best trainers.

And, while your senior managers will undoubtedly know your business inside out, they might not have the most up-to-date information and training tools to hand in order to deliver the best possible experience. Not only will an external trainer be qualified, they will also have all the latest knowledge at their disposal, as well as the hands-on experience needed to facilitate an engaging and successful training course.

Your trainer will bring all the necessary supplies your staff will need to take part, and you won’t have to come up with any ideas, tasks or activities. Your trainer will be able to draw upon their experience working with other companies; content and activities that have proven successful elsewhere can be replicated for you.

In order to get the most out of your investment, check testimonials and read reviews. Find out how effective the content and techniques were – after all, you want to make sure the training sticks.

26 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

Convenient and cost-effective When it comes to training your employees, few business owners would disagree that an in-house course is the most convenient option for everyone involved. Not only will it minimise the hassle of travel, it will completely eliminate expensive travel costs.

Additionally, in-house training is cheaper per head than sending your staff on a training course, and it will reduce the amount of time your staff will have to spend away from their usual, day-to-day tasks, decreasing the chance of them falling behind with their work.

In-house training will also allow your staff to learn in a familiar environment, which should put them at ease and more open to absorbing new information.

A tailored fit You’re considering sending your staff off on a training course – but some aspects of the course aren’t relevant to your business, while other aspects don’t go into the level of detail that you require. This can be frustrating, especially when you know exactly what you want your staff to get out of a training session (and considering how much a training course can cost) – but a good

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Spotlight Feature: Apprenticeships, Skills & Training in-house trainer will be happy to tailor a course to your business’ unique needs. Before the session, you will have the opportunity to discuss the company’s history, goals, and, most importantly, your expectations of the course, and your trainer can make the sessions as relevant and specific as you need them to be. Your staff won’t have to waste time covering things that aren’t relevant and you can get the most out of your investment.

Fresh ideas In-house training can breathe a breath of fresh air to your business. An internal trainer might know the company well – but they might also be blinkered by old ideas and the old ways of doing things. An external trainer will shake things up. They might suggest new ideas and techniques that haven’t been explored before, which will encourage your staff to challenge themselves, develop new ways of thinking and discover better ways to tackle tasks. Innovative new ideas can help motivate staff to strive for excellence and be the best they can be.

Skills for the future Since the pandemic, many business owners have identified skills gaps in their workforce. The word of work has rapidly evolved over the past three years, and technology has shifted to keep pace with the rise in home and hybrid working. Upskilling could teach staff new skills (or enhance their current ones) in order to adapt for the future, while reskilling would equip employees with brand new to enable them to work in a different part of the business if their role no longer exists. An in-house trainer would help you identify if your staff need upskilling or reskilling, and best of all, conduct a tailored training session over Zoom!

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Spotlight Feature: Apprenticeships, Skills & Training

The apprentice advantage - how hiring apprentices can boost your business Apprenticeships have long been a valuable way for individuals to gain practical skills and knowledge in various industries. They can also help future-proof a business and bring new skills to your workforce. As we enter a new year, many firms are looking to the future and how they can secure growth – and Business Intelligence looks at how taking on an apprentice may help you achieve your goals for 2024.

Tackling the skills shortage All across the UK, firms have been experiencing a significant skills shortage across a wide variety of industries for a number of years now. This shortage can be attributed to several factors, including an aging workforce, lack of interest in certain fields, and a disconnect between education and industry requirements. As a result, businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit skilled workers, which has a detrimental impact on their productivity and growth.

If your business has been impacted by the skills shortage, one solution is hiring apprentices. By embracing apprenticeships, businesses can tap into a pool of motivated individuals who are eager to learn and contribute. Moreover, apprenticeships offer the opportunity to shape and mold talent according to the specific needs of the organisation, ensuring you have the skilled workforce you need to take your business into the future.

Fresh ideas and cost-effective talent Apprenticeships offer a cost-effective way to recruit and train new talent. While apprentices earn a wage, their salaries are typically lower than that of fully qualified workers, making them an affordable option for businesses looking to expand their workforce.

Additionally, apprentices can bring a fresh perspective and innovative ideas to your business. As apprentices are often young individuals starting their careers, they bring a level of enthusiasm and creativity that can breathe new life into established processes.

Their fresh insights can help businesses stay competitive and adapt to an ever-changing market landscape.

28 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

Improve retention rates and staff satisfaction One of the notable benefits of hiring apprentices is their higher retention rate compared to other employees. Apprenticeship programmes encourage apprentices to view their job as a long-term career opportunity, fostering a sense of loyalty and commitment to the company. This reduces recruitment costs and improves staff retention in the lo ng run. Additionally, apprenticeships offer structured progression and development opportunities, which contribute to increased job satisfaction among apprentices.

How to find an apprentice You’ve made the decision to take on an apprentice. What next? Your first step should be to establish partnerships with local education providers, such as colleges and universities and tap into their talent pool. These in stitutions often have dedicated career services or apprenticeship programmes that can connect you with potential apprentices.

Look to engage with online platforms and job boards that cater specifically to apprenticeship opportunities. These platforms provide a targeted audience of individuals actively seeking apprenticeship positions, increasing the chances of finding the right fit for your business.

It is also essential to showcase your company’s commitment to apprenticeships and the benefits they offer, as there is a lot of competition out there. Highlight your training and development programmes and the longterm career prospects within your organisation, as this will attract individuals who are genuinely interested in learning and growing with your business.

Government incentives and support for hiring a pprentices The Government has recognised the importance of apprenticeships and offers various incentives and support for businesses that hire apprentices. One such incentive is the Apprenticeship Levy, which requires businesses with an annual wage bill over a certain threshold to invest in apprenticeships.

This levy can then be used to fund apprenticeship training and development within the organization.

Furthermore, the Government provides financial support to businesses that hire apprentices aged 16 to 24. This support includes wage subsidies and grants, making apprenticeships an even more affordable option for businesses looking to invest in their workforce.

The Government also works closely with businesses and educational institutions to promote apprenticeships and ensure that they align with industry needs. They provide guidance and resources to help businesses navigate the apprenticeship landscape and make informed decisions about their workforce development strategies, making sure that you have the support you need every step of the way.

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Spotlight Feature: Apprenticeships, Skills & Training

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Focus on: Devolution Deals Agreed

Another step towards growth reater Lincolnshire Devolution moves a step further as the Proposal and consultation was approved at North East Lincolnshire’s Full Council meeting, (pictured) at Grimsby Town Hall.

People across North East Lincolnshire are to be asked for their views on Greater Lincolnshire devolution following a Full Council.

Members of North East Lincolnshire Council voted to accept the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Proposal and that it be put out to residents for their views and comments for an eight-week formal consultation period.

The other two lead authorities – Lincolnshire County Council and North Lincolnshire Council – voted the same way so the consultations began straight away.

North East Lincolnshire Council Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, who has led the devolution process with hi s counterparts in Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire, said: “The decision here at Full Council is another important step

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in our journey towards devolution, which is set to drive forward the right decisions and growth for the people of North East Lincolnshire and the greater county.”

‘The decision here at Full Council is another important step in our journey towards devolution’ As reported, the agreed Proposal was announced in the Government’s autumn statement – followed by a ceremonial signing by the Leaders of the three lead authorities and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Jacob Young.

The Proposal sets out a devolution deal that moves important choices about local investment, infrastructure, and training from Government to local decision makers.

The report to Full Council said: “Coun cils in Greater Lincolnshire have been working collaboratively to secure devolution for our

area, to deliver the leadership required to address unique long-term challenges across Greater Lincolnshire, maximise the area’s opportunities to deliver future prosperity and to ensure that Greater Lincolnshire’s residents and businesses do not miss out or fall behind other areas.”

The Proposal outlines the benefits to Greater Lincolnshire that devolution will bring, which include: • A Mayoral Investment Fund of £24m per annum for 30 years to invest in infrastructure and skills development totalling £720m • A one off £28.4m capital investment in Greater Lincolnshire’s priorities • £2m capacity funding over three years; • £1m skills for job funding • Local control over the Adult Education Budget from 2026 • A consolidat ed, multi-year transport fund, providing increased financial certainty.

The consultation will run until the end of January 2024.

Extra funding and a new Mayor to level up Lincolnshire Councillors across North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire County Council voted to accept the proposed Greater Lincolnshire Devolution deal at Full Council meetings and the three leaders (Lincolnshire's Leader Cllr Martin Hill OBE, left; Cllr Rob Waltham MBE the Leader at North Lincolnshire second right, and North East Lincolnshire Leader Cllr Philip Jackson) joined Parliamentary Secretary of State for Levelling Up Jacob Young for a ceremonial signing of the proposed deal.

Parliamentary Secretary of State for Levelling Up Jacob Young met the three Greater Lincolnshire Council Leaders as they united to sign the greater county’s proposed devolution deal.

Mr Young joined North East Lincolnshire Council Leader Cllr Philip Jackson, along with Cllr Martin Hill OBE from Lincolnshire County Council and Cllr Rob Waltham MBE from North Lincolnshire for the ceremonial event held at Scunthorpe’s 20-21 Visual Arts Centre.

Parliamentary Secretary of State for Levelling Up Jacob Young said: “It’s fantastic to be here in Lincolnshire announcing our devolution deal for the Greater Lincolnshire area. It comes alongside extra funding, more powers and a new directly elected mayor for the Lincolnshire area. I know it’s going to have a dramatic impact across the whole of the Lincolnshire County.”

30 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

MAIN PICTURE: Council Leaders and officials at the signing of the devolution deal. Inset: Lincolnshire's Leader Cllr Martin Hill OBE, left; Cllr Rob Waltham MBE the Leader at North Lincolnshire second right, and North East Lincolnshire Leader Cllr Philip Jackson (right) joined Parliamentary Secretary of State for Levelling Up Jacob Young for a ceremonial signing of the proposed deal.

North East Lincolnshire Council Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, said: “This is a deal which will be fantastic for Greater Lincolnshire, from the Humber down to the Wash. It gives us a lot of extra spending power over the next 30 years, £24m a year for the next 30 years, and some additional money straight away that we can spend on our priority areas. But importantly it will give us extra powers as well to make sure that we can direct that spending in areas that we know local people need it, around infrastructure, around transport, around housing, flood defence and various other areas where we know we’ve got need in the county. We know it’s going to be great for us in determining the future direction of Greater Lincolnshire.”

Following the speeches and with fellow councillors and dignitaries looking, the agreed Greater Lincolnshire proposed deal was then signed.

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Focus on: Devolution Deals Agreed

Chamber celebrates HEY devolution deal hamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly joined local leaders and national politicians to witness the signing of the proposed devolution deal for Hull and East Yorkshire, which would give the region powers to invest in areas such as transport, skills and housing and provide an additional £400m of funding over the next 30 years.

The deal was announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement, paving the way for the establishment of a Hull and East Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, led by a directly elected mayor, who could be in post by May 2025.

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‘Our focus is and always will be what matters to our residents’ Cllr Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Cllr Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council and Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young signed the proposed deal at Ergo Business Centre near the Humber Bridge.

The Hull and East Yorkshire deal includes £400m (£13.34m per year) investment funding over 30 years, to drive growth and deliver local priorities. This includes up to £15m in 2024/25 to support transport, flood and coastal erosion programmes across the area, including a coastal regeneration programme in the East Riding; £5m in 2024/25 to support local economic growth priorities, including any further expansion of Siemens Gamesa at Alexandra Dock in Hull; and £4.6m for the building of new homes on brownfield land in 2024/25. A commitment has also been made to rail electrification between Hull and Sheffield, and Hull and Leeds, integrating East Yorkshire into the Northern Powerhouse Rail network.

The region would rec eive new powers to shape local skills provision, drive regeneration and build more affordable homes, and improve and integrate the regional transport network.

Cllr Handley said: “I am thrilled to finally put pen to paper on this deal, marking the next step in our devolution journey. I’m so proud of the hard work that has got us to this point, and I'm excited about the positive changes this deal will bring to East Yorkshire.

“With a £400m investment fund and new powers in key areas like transport, housing and adult education, this deal offers us a seat at the top table and the opportunity to truly level up our region.

“Our focus is and always will be what matters to our residents, and I encourage everyone to get involved and take part in the upcoming public consultation. This is our chance to shape the future of East Yorkshire.”

Cllr Ross said: “This is a significant moment for the city as the proposed deal has the potential to be a game changer for Hull and the East Riding in terms of jobs, investment and growth. Local people could see real, positive change in their lives.

“Now we have a deal, it is vitally important people have their final say. We are committed to listening to what the residents and others think about this proposed deal, though we believe it is something that will help make a big difference across Hull and all of East Yorkshire.”

Jacob Young said: "This ground-breaking devolution deal between the Government and Hull and East Yorkshire signifies a pivotal shift toward levelling up the region. By decentralising decisions from Whitehall and entrusting them to local communities, this agreement positions Hull and East Yorkshire to fully unlock its economic potential.”

Cllr Mike Ross (seated left) and Cllr Anne Handley (seated right) with Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young at the signing of the Hull and East Yorkshire devolution deal

Cllr Rob Waltham, Michelle Harness and Holly Mumby-Croft MP (right) pictured at Glanford Park

Glanford Park’s future is secured Glanford Park has been bought by a not-for-profit company, securing the home of Scunthorpe United for generations and creating a new, sustainable future for the club.

As part of the deal, an anticipated 100 jobs are expected to be created from developments around the ground along with up to 150 homes for older residents and people with complex needs.

Holly Mumby-Croft, MP for Scunthorpe and Vice-Chair of the Towns Fund Board, said: “This deal represents a bright new future for club. Securing the ground as Scunthorpe United's home will be a welcome relief to fans who now know that the team will always be able to play at Glanford Park.

“We have had meetings with the club and with Government to get the right deal in place to make sure the community is a key part of developing a new sustainable future.”

Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The ground is safely in the right hands to create a new future for the club and the revenue generated will ensure a good deal for taxpayers and that more money can be reinvested back into the ground and the host of community activities for young people and families.”

Speaking following the completion of the deal, owner of Scunthorpe United, Michelle Harness, said: “Wanting to bring Glanford Park back to Scunthorpe United supporters and the community was the reason I stood up in the first place.

“To all of us, it’s why we’ve been working hard every day and every night. It means a lot to the Board, it means a lot to me, and I know hugely that it means a lot to the fans.”

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Business Intelligence ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Milestone met with renewable investment has become one of the largest family-run packaging companies in Europe.

At the start of the anniversary year, company boss Björn Schumacher, who runs the company in the third generation with his brother Hendrik, explained: “Along our anniversary motto ‘Unboxing the Future of Packaging’, we are pursuing clear goals for the future. We see considerable potential to make packaging even more climate-friendly across the entire value chain. That’s why we want to further reduce the proportion of plastics in packaging across all sectors and replace it sensibly with the natural raw material paper.” he Schumacher Packaging Group, one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of customised packaging made of corrugated and solid board (www.schumacher-packaging.com), successfully continued its dynamic growth course in 2022.

This year, the company celebrates its 75th anniversary and is investing more in sustainability: the focus is on expanding renewable energies and reducing plastics in packaging by using natural raw materials.

By 2025, Schumacher Packaging plans to invest around €700m in the expansion of existing plants and the construction of new ones.

For 2023, however, the focus is on sustainability. This is because the packaging specialist is pursuing the ambitious goal of climate-neutral production by 2035 and is therefore relying on the most modern, efficient and environmentally friendly technologies.

Around €45m is being invested in the construction of solar power plants, and €10-20m is earmarked for the expansion of wind energy.

Currently, a solar park is under construction at the German site in Forchheim, and two more parks are being built in Poland.

The construction of five more solar power plants in Germany and Poland is planned for 2023 and 2024. The total output of all photovoltaic plants will be around 12 GW/h.

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Raw material supply and security of supply still important

To achieve this, the family-owned company is leading the way in the industry: it provides information, works on innovations and seeks dialogue with stakeholders. The management assumes that more than one fifth of the plastic packaging currently used can be replaced by paper-based solutions. By using plastic-free, biobased barrier coatings, packaging with protective functions can be produced that can be fully recycled. Plastics can thus be completely replaced - with the greatest potential in the food industry.

Replacing plastics sensibly

Corrugated and solid board as the basis for a sustainable circular economy

With its innovative solutions made of corrugated and solid board, Schumacher Packaging has grown continuously over the past 75 years and

Sustainability is of great importance to Schumacher Packaging’s business. “The biggest advantage of paper-based packaging is that it is

32 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

completely natural. They are not waste, can be returned to the material cycle 100 per cent or decompose in nature within a short time without leaving any residues. Currently, more than 85 per cent of corrugated and solid board packaging is recycled – this means that it is reprocessed into packaging after use. Unlike plastic-based reusable systems, no CO2 is emitted during return transport and cleaning,” said Björn Schumacher. “We exploit this potential by leading the way and constantly developing new industryspecific and sustainable products. In this way, we can offer long-term security of supply and be a reliable partner - now and in the future.”

Despite the difficult economic situation due to the Ukraine war and the sharp rise in energy prices, Schumacher Packaging 2022 managed to grow.

The packaging manufacturer reacted flexibly and quickly in the crisis year and was thus able to guarantee supplies to its customers. Strategic decisions contributed to this, such as the acquisition of the Kaierde cartonboard mill, the majority stake in the Italian corrugated base paper manufacturer Cartiere Modesto Cardella SpA and the acquisition of the Leipzig Land GmbH cartonboard mill.

“The consistent expansion of our production and processing capacities represents an important contribution to securing the market's supply situation in the future and is part of our strategy for the future,” said managing director Hendrik Schumacher.

For more details contact Naomi Harvey at Schumacher Packaging sales_bir@schumacher-packaging.com

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Business Intelligence

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Sector Focus: International Trade

Sector Focus The latest news from the International Trade, Legal & Finance, Skills & Training, Manufacturing and Motoring industries.

Chamber role for international trade expert leading language services business is set to embark on the next phase of its expansion programme during 2024 as its CEO steps up to become President of the Chamber.

Kirk Akdemir said AaGlobal, which he founded more than 30 years ago, is ready to reap the rewards of its ongoing investment in people, processes and premises.

Kirk launched the business in Worcester in 1992 and expanded to Hull in 2011 with a team of just two operating from premises next to the marina. Relocation to more modern and spacious offices in King Edward Street came in 2018 as AaGlobal outgrew its previous premises, and the company has continued that expansion. Hull is now the headquarters and houses a team of more than 30 people who connect clients in the public and private sectors with an interna tional network of around 15,000 linguists who between them have mastered 500 languages and dialects.

Headline contracts in recent years have included the COP 26 summit in Glasgow, the translation of vital information for Transport for London and interpretation services for the NHS test and trace service.

Kirk revealed that although public sector projects dominate AaGlobal’s workload, activity behind the scenes has created a stronger foundation to explore private sector opportunities which have been identified. He said: “The public sector contracts with local authorities

Kirk Akdemir, CEO of AaGlobal, is looking forward to becoming Chamber President

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and Government agencies are testament to our ability to work to the highest standards on projects where complexity is constant and confidentiality is paramount. Over the years we have assisted with the international ambitions of companies working in sectors including motor manufacturing, energy and others, many of which have resulted from our continuing support for the Chamber’s International Trade Centre.

“As President, I will be helping the Chamber develop its international work further, and the investment which we have committed to the business will help with that.”

Red tape and costs holding back exports A survey of almost 650 UK businesses by the British Chambers of Commerce, has shown that customs checks, tariffs and regulation are the top three barriers to exporting.

The research also found that transportation costs (37%), volatile exchange rates (31%), political and economic uncertainty (27%) and rules of origin requirements (23%) were other obstructions.

The findings come as the Office For Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) latest forecast said the UK’s trade volumes were expected to stagnate in the medium term, and UK trade intensity still remains below its pre-pandemic level.

The forecast also predicted real exports to average growth of just 0.1% a year between 2024 and 2027.

The Hull and Humber Chamber is working hard to reduce the impact of this red tape for our members and local exporting businesses by adding complimentary export related webinars to our events programme, as well as increasing our bespoke support and guidance provisions.

The Chamber would also like its member businesses to benefit from all of the free trade agreements being signed, which actually open up world markets and make British businesses more competitive and attractive

34 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

Commenting on the research, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “The OBR’s forecast makes for pretty sobering reading on the challenges we face in the UK’s push to raise exports to the £1tn level.

‘The OBR’s forecast makes for pretty sobering reading’ “But our findings highlight the key priorities for business that could make a difference, when it comes to UK trade negotiations and other related policy developments.

“What they want to see are faster customs processes, removal

of non-tariff regulatory barriers, tariff reductions where these could make a difference, fewer hoops to jump through and greater certainty.

“With the UK Government involved in trade negotiations with so many countries right now, these findings are a timely reminder of the important issues.

“Boosting the UK’s exports is a crucial part of solving the country’s productivity puzzle and getting the economy back to greater growth. Although global demand is under pressure, there remain huge opportunities for us in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing and green innovation, if we get the framework right.”

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Sector Focus: International Trade

CEO appointed to Freeport Board umber Freeport has appointed Simon Green as permanent CEO and announced its Board line-up.

Mr Green has served as Humber Freeport’s Interim CEO since April, steering the organisation through a successful launch period which has already seen major inward investments secured.

The Humber Freeport Company has also confirmed the membership of its Board, featuring prominent figures from the private and public sectors.

Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird said: “The announcement of Simon as our permanent CEO, together with confirmation of our Board membership, marks another key step forward for Humber Freeport.

“Simon has steered the organisation’s development successfully over the past few months. His permanent appointment recognises the excellent progress that has been made in that time and the considerable experience and expertise he brings to the role.

“We’re also delighted to have brought together an excellent Board, made up of highlyrespected private and public sector leaders who have the collective skills, knowledge and passion to support our ambitions.

“These are exciting times for the Humber, as we look to maximise the region’s huge potential and attract transformative inward investment driving economic growth and job creation.”

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Simon moves permanently to his role at Humber Freeport from North Lincolnshire Council, where he served as its Deputy Chief Executive.

He has over 30 years’ experience in development and corporate governance, having worked for public and private sector organisations in the North, Midlands and abroad.

Alongside the announcement of permanent CEO, Humber Freeport has confirmed the membership of the freeport Board: • Jo Barnes, Managing Director, Sewell Estates • Carolina Borgstrom, Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, North East Lincolnshire Council • Alex Codd, Assistant Director, Economic Development and Regeneration, Hull City Council • Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln • Alan Menzies, Executive Director of Planning and Economic Regeneration and Acting Chief Executive, East Riding of Yorkshire Council • Stephen Parnaby OBE, Deputy Chair, Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership • Patrick Pogue, Group Director, Growth and Innovation, px Group • Marcus Walker, Development Director, Able UK. Humber Freeport was officially launched earlier this year, which the aim to drive hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and create at least 7,000 new jobs.

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Sector Focus: Legal & Finance

Rollits celebrates as firm earns high rank eading law firm Rollits LLP has reinforced its strong credentials across its practice areas in the latest legal directory rankings.

The 2024 volume of Chambers and Partners UK highlight’s the firm’s work in agriculture and rural affairs, employment law corporate, particularly mergers and acquisitions involving SMEs and owner-managed businesses, and in social housing.

Employment law expert Caroline Neadley and agriculture and rural affairs specialist Neil Franklin are highlighted as “Notable Practitioners” in Chambers for their experience and ability in their respective sectors. Both Caroline and Neil also were recognised as “Leading Individuals” in the recent edition of The UK Legal 500.

L Important changes to employment law It’s a busy time for employment law, with the Government having announced three new sets of regulations which are coming into force. Employment partner, Nick Wilson (pictured), considers the implications.

Industrial action Earlier this year, the Government introduced The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which sought to ensure there are minimum service levels in sectors such as emergency services, health, public transport, and education.

On 7 November, three sets of draft regulations were published. The effect of these regulations is that when a trade union notifies an employer who falls within the scope of the relevant regulation, that its member employees will be taking strike action, the employer can issue a ‘work notice’ to that union. The notice should set out minimum service levels including the work that needs doing and the people required to do the work during the strike. The union is then obliged to take reasonable steps to ensure the people named in the notice do not take part in the industrial action. It is envisaged these regulations could be in force soon.

Holiday pay The New Year sees the introduction of the Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023. The regulations deal with a number of matters, including the calculation of holiday pay.

Discrimination The Draft Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Regulations 2023 have also been published to deal with law which may have fallen away as a result of Brexit and the UK no longer following all EU law. The regulations seek to reproduce EU law relating to various areas including pregnancy, breastfeeding and equal pay.

36 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

‘We are delighted to have achieved such a notable ranking’ Listing Rollits as a band 2 specialist for employment law in North and East Yorkshire, Chambers notes the firm’s depth of experience across its Hull and York offices. Client testimonials reported “outstanding” levels of care and attention with Caroline Neadley noted for her “deep understanding” and for being “extremely responsive” to client needs.

The agricultural and rural affairs team at Rollits is also ranked in band 2 and is

“Notable Practitioners” and “Leading Individuals” Caroline Neadley and Neil Franklin

renowned for its strong focus on the sector.

Neil Franklin is singled out for his specialist work in commercial property and agricultural property for rural clients, and for his extensive experience of farm purchases, sales and tenancies. Clients have praised him for his promptness, reliability and attention to detail which is “second to none”.

Ralph Gilbert, Managing Partner of Rollits, said: “Chambers & Partners UK is one of the most prestigious legal directories globally and is known for its rigorous research and independent rankings.

“We are delighted to have achieved such a notable ranking in the latest edition of the publication.”

Matthew joins Myton Law Matthew Doughty (pictured) has joined Myton Law, the Hull-based specialist shipping, rail and logistics law firm.

Working across Myton Law’s specialist sectors, Matthew deals with matters including debt recovery and litigation work.

From Scunthorpe, Matthew studied law at Derby and gained his LLM and LPC from the University of Law, Leeds. He worked for a legal service provider in Manchester before returning to the Humber region to join Myton Law as a paralegal.

Welcoming Matthew on board, Myton Law Director John Habergham said: “With an increasing workload - a

positive reflection of our place in the shipping, rail and logistics sectors - it makes commercial sense to develop our strength in depth.

“Matthew has already started to make a valued

contribution and establish himself as a strong team player with the positive attitude we and our clients require. We look forward to him growing with the firm.”

Hull-based Myton Law was listed for its maritime expertise in the 200 Best Law Firms 2022 published by The Times, one of only four practices noted for maritime work in England & Wales.

The firm’s expertise covers shipping, rail, logistics, renewables, ports, international trade, real estate, insurance, regulatory matters and commercial & transactional work, and is based at Bayles House on Hull’s historic High Street overlooking the River Hull.

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Sector Focus: Skills & Training

HEY LSIP makes important progress eaders of the Hull & East Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (HEY LSIP) shared progress reports with the Skills Minister, key figures from British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and counterparts from across the country at an update meeting in Westminster.

Hannah Crookes, Project Lead for HEY LSIP, was joined by Chair Phil Ascough at the session and heard Robert Halfon, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, tell delegates how he has been touring the country visiting LSIPs and is really proud of what they have accomplished.

The Minister outlined progress being made in areas, including building the prestige of T levels, increasing opportunities for lifelong learning and harnessing the opportunities presented by AI. They also discussed the wider roll-out of LSIPs with Jane Gratton, Deputy Director, Public Policy, at BCC. With Chambers of Commerce leading 32 of the 38 LSIPs, Jane welcomed the opportunity to meet “the people driving LSIPs forward across the Chamber network”.

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Hannah Crookes (left) and Jane Gratton at the LSIP meeting in Westminster

She said: “LSIPs are a vitally important initiative but they need long term commitment and long term investment because the transformation we need is not going to happen overnight. There’s great energy and commitment and as a network we can share that best practice and build on our strengths.”

Hannah said the conversations with LSIP colleagues illustrated the strides being made in Hull and East Yorkshire following the first in a series of quarterly forums that will bring together private sector employers with public key stakeholders and educational sector representatives. She urged employers to register for the next forum, which will take place on Friday 26 January and focus on employability skills.

Hannah said: “The purpose of the forums is to update all on what is happening in terms of delivery of the LSIP and provide opportunities for employers to share their voice on the local skills agenda.

“As we demonstrated with our visit to Westminster, we are able to take the feedback from employers direct to the Minister and to the team at the Department for Education.

“We are also able to share ideas with the other LSIPs. That exchange of knowledge is telling us that the response is extremely positive and demonstrates the enthusiasm of stakeholders across private, public, voluntary and educational sectors to work collaboratively for the benefit of all organisations and their workforce.”

Accountancy firm welcomes new trainees Forrester Boyd, a prominent firm of Chartered Accountants in the Lincolnshire and East Riding region, has announced the addition of three new trainee accountants to its 2023 intake. These trainees, hailing from various parts of Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire, are enthusiastic about beginning their careers in accountancy with the firm.

Ben Cain, a former pupil at Tollbar Sixth Form College, joined the Louth branch in August and is already looking forward to fulfilling his potential and applying his skills and interests. Ben said: “There’s a great support network at

Forrester Boyd which you need to have when balancing studying and working day-to-day. There is plenty of opportunities at the firm for me to grow and I see myself staying here for a very long time.”

‘We are incredibly excited to bring in three new faces to our firm this year’ Otis Arya, who studied Accounting, Sport and Geography at A Level, joined our Scunthorpe branch in July. Otis said: “With Forrester Boyd being one of the leading accountancy firms in Lincolnshire, in addition

to how they provide degree-level apprenticeships which provide valuable experience, it was an easy choice to join the firm after completing my college education.”

The firm’s Beverley branch also welcomed, former South Hunsley student, Luke Drinnan who joined in August. Luke said: “Forrester Boyd appealed to me due to the opportunity to begin my career and gain experience while working towards achieving my accountancy qualifications. I feel that Forrester Boyd provide a high quality training programme and offer great progression within the firm.”

Carrie Jensen, Partner, said: “We are incredibly excited to

bring in three new faces to our firm this year, all with incredible potential. There are exciting training opportunities made available every year at Forrester Boyd as part of our highlyregarded training programme, so it’s great to see three ambitious individuals taking advantage of these opportunities.”

Forrester Boyd’s training programme has been instrumental in nurturing and developing top talent in the region. Many of the firm’s current partners began their careers through this programme, highlighting Forrester Boyd’s commitment to offering valuable and high-quality opportunities to local talent.

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Sector Focus: Manufacturing

Heald appointment to lead overseas sales xperienced hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) sales specialist Yan Ferrieres (pictured) has joined British perimeter security manufacturer Heald Ltd as Overseas Sales Support.

The firm, located in Hornsea, East Yorkshire, designs and manufactures unique hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) solutions, including road blockers and bollards to protect pedestrians and high-profile locations from the risk of vehicle attacks. Global installs include King Abdullah Sports Stadium in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Avinor Airport in Norway, the

E

World Trade Centre and the UN building in New York City, alongside multiple other locations around the globe.

Based in France, Yan has over 20 years of experience in export sales within the HVM industry, working on a range of highprofile global perimeter security projects, bringing his multilingual skills to support various markets within the Middle East regions.

Yan will also be supporting Heald’s customers within France and Belgium and will be instrumental in creating new opportunities in these areas.

The Middle East region has always been an area that has

welcomed Heald products, being the first export market for Heald over 20 years ago. Growth within the European region also remains strong for the Yorkshire-based business, with exports to Europe accounting for 21% of the firm’s total annual sales during the most recent financial year, a 141% increase on the value of export sales versus the previous financial year.

The appointment of Yan comes following the announcement that Heald has recently established a German subsidiary.

Co-owner and Managing Director Debbie Heald MBE said:

“We are delighted to welcome Yan to the Heald team. Having worked with him on several projects over the years, he brings a wealth of experience, and we look forward to continuing to grow in these markets.”

Yan added: “It is an honour to be joining the team at Heald and bringing my experience to drive growth in many key regions.”

Double award win for bridge engineers Spencer Bridge Engineering has been recognised for its outstanding work on two iconic bridges at separate industry awards ceremonies.

The company has won awards for projects on Union Chain Bridge and Menai Suspension Bridge.

Spencer Bridge Engineering completed a programme of essential works to preserve Union Chain Bridge linking England and Scotland, which is more than 200 years old.

The crossing over the River Tweed from Horncliffe in Northumberland to Fishwick in Berwickshire has a single span of 449ft (137m) and was the longest wrought iron suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1820.

Spencer Bridge Engineering was appointed

by Northumberland County Council to dismantle the bridge and carry out a complete refurbishment and rebuild.

A key element of the project was to ensure modifications were in keeping with the historical significance of the bridge. This included restoring, rather than replacing, the suspension chains wherever possible and using stone from the original quarry to repair masonry work on the bridge’s two towers.

Spencer Bridge Engineering has been named both the ‘Gold Winner’ of the

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Restoration Project of the Year Award and the ‘Silver Winner’ of the Community Engagement Award for the Union Chain Bridge project at the National Building and Construction Awards 2023.

It received the Community Engagement Award for its commitment to working closely with partners and stakeholders throughout.

These included Northumberland County Council, the Scottish Borders Council, Museums Northumberland and the Friends of Union Chain Bridge.

Spencer Bridge Engineering has also been recognised for emergency works carried out on the Grade I listed Menai Suspension Bridge, the second oldest operational vehicular suspension bridge in the world.

In partnership with UK Highways A55, COWI, and the Welsh Government, Spencer Bridge Engineering has now won both the Infrastructure Project of the Year Award and the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award at the Welsh Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Awards 2023.

Luke Fisher, Director of Spencer Bridge Engineering, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have been honoured with these prestigious awards. They further reinforce Spencer Bridge Engineering’s reputation as a leading specialist

CIHT Awards

National Building and Construction Awards

bridge works company. Our expertise, experience and wide-ranging capabilities across the company mean we’re a partner that can be trusted to deliver for our clients.

“I’d like to congratulate the team on their tremendous work.”

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Motoring

In association with

Life can’t be all about work! Chamber Motoring reviews some of the latest offerings on the market.

Nissan EV hits right notes of style and practicality The NISSAN ARIYA boasts striking styling and a refreshingly different interior.

DAVID HOOPER approves of this ‘honourable’ newcomer from the Orient!

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his Nissan Ariya is the brand’s first fully electric car in more than 10 years and joins the now famous Leaf which changed the way we thought about electric cars when it was first launched and continues to be a frontrunner having blossomed into its current incarnation.

Our test car’s name, Ariya, not the Nissan bit, means “honourable” in Japanese, which seems a bit of a strange choice for a car, but anyway, meet the Nissan Honourable! Joking apart, while its name may be a little questionable, I really liked this car, it’s bold styling being a particular hit with me, while the design of its very plush interior was a refreshing change to today’s norm.

It has a very premium look and feel with cream leather running around the door panels and across the dash contrasted with a modern wood effect finish on the lower half of the dashboard.

The Ariya comes with a choice of two batteries, a 63kWh option or the longer range 87kWh version, combined with two or four-wheel-drive, the latter being called “e-4orce” by Nissan.

The big windows give the car a light and roomy feel inside, while the sleek, sloping roofline may look as though it might impinge on rear headroom, but it doesn’t, there’s still plenty of head space, so you’ve got style and practicality! The seats mostly feature perforated leather, which will heat and cool your nether

40 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

regions while the large centre console includes a gear selector, a phone charging point and buttons to select the drive mode from a choice of Eco, Standard or Sport, along with controls for the E pedal which switches on or off the car’s regenerative braking ability to help extend its range. There is also an auto parking system.

‘On the road, the car feels just as premium as it looks’ There are some nice touches on this particular Nissan with menus showing your average miles per kilowatt, driving time, distance, etc. Other screens show your energy economy history, but my favourite was the charge time indicator which shows how long it will take to fully charge the car, obviously this depends on the power of the charger, but Nissan has thoughtfully included the different power ratings so if you are on a quick charger at 130kW, you can select that, or if you are charging at home on a 7.3kW charger you can select that in the menu plus a couple of others in between which gives you a much more accurate prediction of charging time, which I thought was particularly useful in an electric vehicle! Nice one Nissan!

Other features on the dashboard include the ability to change its appearance, so if you are using the navigation system, for example, you can have the full map in front

ABOVE: The attractive Nissan Ariya pictured on the foreshore under the Humber Bridge BOTTOM LEFT: The boot is a good size, despite making room for the batteries BOTTOM CENTRE: The rear of the car boasts a certain sporting flair BOTTOM RIGHT: The plush interior offers something a bit different with an upmarket ambiance

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The Vital Statistics MODEL: Nissan Ariya Evolve BATTERY: 87kWh PERFORMANCE: Top speed 100 mph. 0-62mph in 7.6 secs ECONOMY: Maximum driving range – Combined: 310 miles CHARGING: Connection type: Combined Type 2 and CCS On-board charger (AC) 22 kW Rapid charging (DC) 130 kW CO2 EMISSIONS: 0g/km PRICE: £54,830 (as tested) WEBSITE: www.nissan.co.uk • All data correct at time of publication.

of you as well as turn by turn directions on the head up display. The adaptive cruise control is also cleverly thought out, and as you come into a different speed limit the car offers you the option of setting the cruise control to that limit with one press of the controls, rather than having to manually, adjust it… It’s the little things which make such a difference!

The centre console doesn’t connect with the front of the dashboard, helping to create a very spacious ambience, but instead slides backwards and forwards to allow the driver to adjust the armrest to the perfect position. Two buttons on the console also open or close, a large secondary glovebox, which would be useful for keeping sunglasses in, or change for parking.

Overhead, there is a full length panoramic roof with a sun blind, which opens and closes at the touch of a button, and the rear view mirror can also be switched into a camera mode which shows you live images of what’s happening behind which, although it’s a clever feature, I always find a little distracting.

It’s practical too, with a flat floor in front of the rear seats, making it more comfortable for three passengers in the back of the car, and if you need to carry luggage, there’s a 466-litre boot which can be made even bigger by folding down the 60/40 split rear seats.

On the road, the car feels just as premium as it looks, there is a little bit of wind noise at high speed, but the ride and handling characteristics are very good, the steering feels accurate and the brakes provide just the right feedback, something not all EVs with regenerative braking have yet perfected.

All in all, the Nissan Ariya is an accomplished allrounder which looks and feels a bit different from the norm.

You could say it’s an “honourable” attempt at a state of the art EV! January/February 2024 Business Intelligence 41

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Sector Focus: Motoring

Finding best tyres for your car can be a real challenge Choosing a new set of tyres is never an easy decision, but DAVID HOOPER has found Continental’s ContiSportContact 5 tyres with their excellent wet and dry abilities to be just the job!

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hoosing a new set of tyres always presents a bit of a dilemma – which brand to go for? Shall I stay with the same brand? Which offers the best economy? Which provides the best grip on a wet surface? Which will last the longest? And importantly for many, how much are they!

If you ever look at the owners’ forums for cars or bikes, every man and his dog has an opinion, most of them are ill-informed, and many, especially with mechanical issues, offer completely wrong and sometimes dangerous advice – but that’s another story!

A little knowledge and all that!

Personally, I never skimp on tyres – those little black circles of rubber that sit between your wheel rims and the road surface are the only things keeping you pointing in the right direction, you rely on them for steering and braking, and when things go wrong, stopping very quickly. They may seem expensive, but when you understand the technology that goes into making them, you will be more accepting of the sometimes substantial dent in your finances!

Many years ago now, I spent a fascinating couple of days tyre testing with Continental in Portugal. The fun part was putting various high-powered performance cars through their paces on the Portimao race circuit, shod with different versions of Continental’s newest covers, but it was the classroom sessions which were the biggest eye-opener, revealing how the tyres are designed and constructed, how different sections of the tyres are designed to do different jobs, how different areas of the tyres feature different rubber compounds and even tread patterns, to provide water clearing abilities, straight line stability or grip when cornering hard.

‘The truth is, exchanging a worn set of tyres for new ones will transform your car’s ride and handling’ However, it was the wet braking test which was the biggest revelation, driving identical VW Golfs down a wet stretch of test track at exactly 100kmh (62mph) before standing on the brakes and activating the ABS system as you pass a white line.

The first run was in a car with brand new tyres and 8mm of tread – it pulled up impressively quickly. The second run was in a car with half worn tyres at 4mm of tread – it still stopped fairly quickly, but was a couple of car lengths further down the track.

Then came the third run, in a car with tyres worn to the UK’s legal limit of 1.6mm. I hit the brakes at exactly the same speed and at exactly the same point, but the 42 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

car, with its ABS pulsing through the brake pedal, felt as though it was never going to stop. When it did eventually jolt to a halt, I was genuinely shocked. I was several car lengths down the road from the second test run, the stopping point of which were marked by a cone.

Imagine if that was a pedestrian crossing, or a child running out in front of your car. Maybe that’s why the police change the tyres on their vehicles when the tread depth reaches 3mm.

The truth is, exchanging a worn set of tyres for new ones will transform your car’s ride and handling and I couldn’t be happier with my choice of these ContiSportContact 5 tyres with SSR. My choice was a bit

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Sector Focus: Motoring

TOP: Cory and his team are ready to help!

ABOVE: Balancing the wheel is a crucial last step ABOVE LEFT: The different tyres sizes can be clearly seen when they are all stacked together BOTTOM LEFT: With the car in the air and its wheels off, it's a good opportunity to check the suspension and brakes, too

limited, as my ageing BMW 3 Series has larger tyres at the rear of the car than the front because BMW designed it that way, and to complicate matters further, they have the ability to be driven at a limited speed with a puncture, hence the SSR bit which stands for Self Supporting Runflat. It may be clever, but can result in an overly firm ride, thanks to the stiffer sidewalls which are designed to support the vehicle’s weight if the air leaks out due to a nail in the tyre.

The new ContiSportContact 5 tyres are engineered for precision and control and to deliver exceptional performance in both wet and dry conditions. The tread pattern incorporates wide circumferential grooves, aiding efficient water dispersal and reducing the risk of aquaplaning. Their advanced tread compound and unique asymmetric tread pattern provide exceptional grip and responsiveness, designed to ensure a confident drive. They instantly made the car feel quieter as there was less of the tyre’s surface area in contact with the road, compared to the old set. It also feels smoother with less tram-lining on white lines and the steering is noticeably lighter.

While you can get away with driving on older tyres in the summer months, once our increasingly wet winters arrive, you need good tyres which can dissipate standing water efficiently, and this particular tyre has a “B” rating for wet weather performance and noise rating of 71dB. So it is on the damp, greasy surfaces we’re living with at the moment the difference between the old and new tyres becomes very obvious. My car feels far more surefooted than before, restoring my confidence in its dynamic abilities when turning into a corner and accelerating, knowing that the driven rear wheels aren’t going to surprise me by breaking traction and stepping out of line prompting a bit of unexpected wheel twirling from the driver’s seat!

I chose Kwik Fit’s Spring Bank, Hull, branch to fit my new covers as it is close to my office, and assistant manager Cory and his team quickly set about the car, removing the old tyres, cleaning the rims, installing new valves and fitting the new ContiSportContact 5s, before balancing the wheels to ensure there were no vibrations and refitting the wheels to the car, and I was pleased to see that they used a torque wrench for the final tightening of the wheel nuts, rather than relying on the windy gun.

They were helpful and very knowledgeable, and even found a washer to secure a heat shield under the car which had worked loose and developed an annoying rattle.

So many thanks to the guys at Kwik Fit for their expertise, even if they were a little camera shy, and thanks to Continental for all the science and know-how which goes into designing and making such a confidence-inspiring and safe product!

Your handy guide to safe driving in snowy conditions As we are still in the depths of winter, here are some top seasonal tips for safe driving!

TYRES • Fit winter or all-season tyres for better grip on icy roads.

• Regularly check tyre pressure as it tends to decrease in colder temperatures.

VISIBILITY • Clean all windows, lights, and mirrors to remove snow or ice before driving.

• Replace worn wiper blades and keep wiper fluid topped up with a winter solution.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE • Test the battery as cold weather can affect its performance.

• Maintain an emergency kit in the car with essentials like a torch, blanket, shovel, and jump leads.

DRIVING TECHNIQUES • Accelerate and decelerate gradually to avoid skidding.

• Increase the distance between vehicles to allow for longer braking distances.

• Use lower gears to enhance traction when climbing hills or driving on slippery roads.

WEATHER AWARENESS • Monitor weather forecasts and plan journeys accordingly, avoiding severe weather conditions if feasible.

• Consider postponing travel or using public transport if weather conditions worsen.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS • Inform someone about your travel plans and estimated arrival time.

• If stranded, stay in the vehicle, run the engine sparingly for warmth, and ensure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

SAFETY FIRST • Always wear a seatbelt and drive at reduced, safe speeds in snowy or icy conditions.

• Be cautious of black ice, which is hard to spot but extremely slippery.

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New Members

New Members A warm welcome and introduction to the latest businesses to join Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.

A B Security Solutions Ltd Kelly Ventham Scunthorpe 07885 622144 Security manned guarding, K9 Patrol and CCTV CAS Greenhouse & Maintenance Christoper Scarah Hull 07950 440056 Greenhouse Maintenance Cat Tech International Ltd. Gareth Leathers Scunthorpe 01724 871747 Catalyst handling services Consortium Professional Recruitment Ltd David Lipton Hessle 01482205808 Recruitment consultants CreoPlan Ltd Simon Davison Hull 03303800671 GIS services and software DemoPro Marine Limited Deborah Berry Hull 07508 991213 Demolition EXPEDITORS (UK) LTD. Sarah Waugh Hull 01482 606656 Freight forwarding

Genius Technology Solutions Tony Smith Grimsby 07881 017895 Provision, Install & Support of Broadband Voip.

Horizon Youth Zone Fiona Wright Grimsby 07714 693536 Charity Imperium Flooring Limited Deborah Berry Hull 07713 570204 Synthetic Flooring Specialists Nicholsons Chartered Accountants Lewis Hughes Grimsby 01522 815100 Chartered accountants Olypsys Technologies Ltd. Andrew Heaton Brigg 07483 219674 Industrial measurement and product identification using AI Purity Global Vincent Dearnley Hull 01482 481172 Manufacturing

Security Direct Products Ltd Matthew Yeo Beverley 01482 889950 Roller shutters, security grilles and steel doors Sight Support Hull & East Yorkshire Sandra Ackroyd Hull 01482 342297 Charity Swaythorpe Growers Ltd Matthew Hayward Driffield 07860 689339 Agricultural co-operative The Access Panel Company Ltd Ryan Lewis Scunthorpe 01724 853 090 Manufacturing Wilberforce Sixth Form College Stewart Edwards Kingston-Upon-Hull 0148 2711688 Education provider

Find out more Visit www.hull-humber-chamber.co.uk/ memberships or call Kay Hudson on (01482) 324976, or Anne Tate or Marilyn Waud on (01472) 342981.

Protecting Hull’s heritage and history In 1963, the Hull Junior Chamber of Commerce and Shipping began enquiries with the Civic Trust in London about the formation of a Civic Society in Hull. Hull Civic Society’s inaugural meeting was held on 24 July 1964 at the Ferens Art Gallery.

The society aims to promote and encourage a high standard of architecture and town planning in Kingston upon Hull and the surrounding districts, as well as public interest in, and care for, the beauty, history and character of the area of the city and its surroundings, and the preservation, development and improvement of features of 44 Business Intelligence January/February 2024

general public amenity or historical interest.

Encouraging good development and protecting Hull’s heritage means engaging constantly with the Town Planning Process.

There are now 26 Conservation Areas in Hull and Hull City Council has a very positive attitude to the city’s built-heritage.

The society has a good working relationship with Council Officers, including the Economic Development, Planning and Conservation teams.

Hull has more than 450 Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II listed buildings. In addition to its fine public buildings and Medieval churches,

Central Dry Docks

the List includes merchants’ houses and less glamorous structures such as docks, dry docks, warehouses and mills.

While the Civic Society is run by a committee of eight trustees (all unpaid volunteers), its 250 members play a vital role in its events and social life. It always welcomes new members and the society is dependent on members for its income.

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Member News Xtra

Major milestone for Victor Finance team This time last year, Victor Finance was getting ready to announce its new acquisition, East Yorkshire Asset Finance. This year, the team is truly proud to announce that Victor Finance has hit an incredible milestone - surpassing the £1bn lending threshold.

“It’s hard to compute breaking through £1bn in funding,” said Stuart Williams, Director at Victor Finance.

“It’s such a large number and genuinely a great achievement for a small business like ours to have accomplished.

“We’ve never taken the time to quantify our lending in this way, the successes we’ve experienced as a team have always just been a result of ‘doing what we do’. They’re a result of the work we live and breathe every day, based on the principles the company was founded on. To reach this milestone, for us, means that the team has been able to help thousands of customers achieve their goals since 1985. What a fantastic thing to be able to celebrate.”

As a family-owned business, founded by John Williams back in 1985, Victor Finance started life as a brokerage company to support local businesses, mainly operating in the road and transport network. Today, it has grown into one of the leading independent asset finance brokers in the UK, a factor that without a doubt can be attributed to customer referrals.

“Looking after customers has been the key to our success,” Stuart continued. “Initially serving customers based in Grimsby and Immingham, our reach may well have expanded over the years but our dedication to upholding our founding values hasn’t wavered.”

Lauren McQuilken, Business Development Manager at Asset Finance, United Trust Bank, added: “Victor Finance is a long-standing and key introducer of asset finance to United Trust Bank. We are thrilled to see them mark the £1bn lending threshold.”

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From left: Marland Faulkner of Patrington Haven, Daisy Appeal trustee Karen Guest with her dog Jez, Guy Sparkes, Vicki Jackson and Katherine Lilley of Patrington Haven, and Daisy Appeal fundraiser Claire Levy

Holiday park raises vital funds for charity The team at an East Yorkshire holiday park have boosted one of the region’s leading medical research charities by handing over thousands of pounds raised by families from across the north during a summer of fundraising.

Patrington Haven Leisure Park adopted the Daisy Appeal as its annual charity early in the year and kickstarted the main campaign with a programme of fun activities over the Easter weekend.

Vicki Jackson, Emma Pickersgill and Sandra Quayle, who began co-ordinating charity campaigns at the park in 2022, then pushed on with a series of indoor and outdoor events geared to maximise engagement with visitors to the 480 holiday homes.

Donations poured in from a fun day in August which included a dog show, birds of prey, market stalls and a barbecue. A monthly lucky number draw raised hundreds of

pounds and the park’s “Knit and Natter” group contributed £725 to the Daisy Appeal and the same amount to another charity from a sponsored walk.

Owners of Patrington Haven and colleagues within the 75-strong workforce also chipped in and helped to take the total to £6,500.

Claire Levy, Fundraiser for the Daisy Appeal, said: “We were really excited when the team at Patrington Haven chose us as their charity of the year. They have shown what can be achieved by organising so many small events.

We’re so grateful to Patrington Haven and to everybody who joined the fundraising events.

“Charity of the year status is extremely important to us because it helps us work with our fundraising partners and plan our activities well ahead. We can provide all sorts of support for event organisers so we’d love to hear from anyone who would be interested in helping the Daisy Appeal.”

Broadband pioneer rewarded Quickline Communications CEO Sean Royce (pictured) has received a major honour at a prestigious industry awards ceremony.

Sean received the Outstanding Contribution award at the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA) Awards in recognition of his contribution to the broadband industry spanning more than three decades.

Sean, a pioneer in the field, received the accolade for his leadership in groundbreaking initiatives, such as introducing the first

commercial ‘fast internet’ service using ADSL technology and pioneering TV and VOD (video on demand) services.

However, Sean’s lasting impact was when he

convinced sceptics in 2011 that constructing a city-wide full fibre network was both viable and achievable. By 2019, under Sean’s visionary leadership, Hull became the first city with 100% of premises able to access full fibre, resulting in a profound positive economic impact for the region.

Sean said: “I’m honoured to receive the Outstanding Contribution Award. This recognition is not just a testament to my efforts, but to the hard work and dedication of the teams I’ve had the privilege to work with.”

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