Business Intelligence Nov Dec 21

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November/December 2021

Business

Intelligence The Magazine of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce

Bridging the gap between past and future Working to keep iconic bridge in business

Policy

Patrons

Sector Focus

An in-depth look at the results from the latest Quarterly Economic Survey

Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers on the challenges facing the industry

Advice and support on offer to help members trade internationally

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T: 01469 551610

E: chartering@casperchartering.com W: www.casperchartering.com

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Contents November/December 2021

Business

Intelligence President’s Message 5

Phil Jones, President of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, on confidence levels and the road ahead

Big Interview 6

Councillor Sean Chaytor, Chair of the Humber Bridge Board

Policy 8

New Commissioner’s plans to tackle crime

Member News 14 HullBID promises five more years of support

Patrons 20 Patron’s Profile: Steve Eastwood, Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers

Spotlight Features 27 Logistics, Freight & Transportation To be or not to be an agent?

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30 Creative Industries Communication breakdown 32 An expert view on Levelling Up

Sector Focus 34 International Trade Helping you trade internationally 38 Legal & Finance Solicitors welcomes trio of new starters

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41 Skills & Training Chamber invests in training facilities 42 Manufacturing & Property Carbon ThreeSixty in search for RFID partner 44 Motoring David Hooper tests the Jaguar E-PACE

New Members 48 The Chamber welcomes new members

And Finally...

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50 Looking forward to a ‘Right Royal Gala Night Dinner’ and helping Fitmums stay In the Pink!

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www.rheintacho.com 4

Business Intelligence November/December 2021

sales@rheintacho.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 TRAINING: info@chambertraining.com Press Releases: press@hull-humberchamber.co.uk WEBSITE COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS: webmaster@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk PUBLISHED BY:

Kemps Publishing Ltd Unit 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 ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE Business Intelligence is a bi-monthly magazine distributed to more than 2,000 member companies and affiliates in the Humber region.

Hull & Humber Chamber welcomes newsworthy articles of business interest. As editorial space is limited, inclusion cannot be guaranteed and the editor may amend or reject articles submitted.

Send articles to: press@hull-humber.co.uk

Dear Members, Welcome to the second edition of our recently relaunched Business Intelligence magazine.

For the most part our member businesses are back in full swing and putting most of the Covid-19 pandemic woes behind them. We feel confident about the road ahead! Or do we? I have just had sight of the Chamber’s Quarter 3 Economic Survey results and there are mixed messages coming back.

The closing out of the Furlough Scheme means that many businesses will no longer benefit from the support that has been so vital over the last 18 months. The impact of this will soon be understood.

In the weeks ahead we expect to get a full understanding of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. Your Chamber is at the centre of this intervention. As I write, I am planning to Chair the mid-October Speaker Networking Lunch and Open Debate at San Pietro, in Scunthorpe.

This event brings together many influential voices from across our region, including Baroness Redfern, the new Chief Executive of North Lincolnshire Council, Peter Thorpe, Neville Reyner, a former President of the British Chambers of Commerce, and our Chief Executive, Dr Ian Kelly.

This promises to be a significant forum, giving our members an opportunity to air their views. Don’t miss our report on the event in our next edition.

As a Chamber member, why not tell us your business story in one of our upcoming magazines. Promoting your business is part of your membership. Contact David Hooper at the regional head office to find out how you can benefit from editorial coverage.

You may also want to think about participating in our networking events. These are now back up and running and taking place periodically across the region. Check our events page on our website for the latest information.

Many of our members have been in touch wanting to recruit new apprentices and the team at Chamber Training have been working hard to identify the right talent for them, helping to shape the future of their teams and contribute greatly to their businesses.

There are many things that the Chamber can help with, just get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

Phil Jones President, Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Patrons

PRIVACY NOTICE

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.

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 thes e 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.

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KCOM Arco Humberside Streets Chartered Accountants Associated British Ports SPS Group of Companies Hull News and Pictures On Loan Recruitment Ltd Clugston Group Ltd Wilkin Chapman LLP Solicitors

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University of Hull My Group Andrew Jackson Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort Orsted ASM Global Ellgia Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers AA Global Language Services Ltd

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Big Interview Phil Ascough of Ascough Associates talks to Councillor Sean Chaytor about the vital role the Humber Bridge plays in the region

Working to keep the region moving

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ver since it opened more than 40 years ago it’s been impossible to talk about the Humber Bridge without elephants intruding. But before we turn to the lingering sneers about a white elephant, these days there’s a much bigger one in the room.

The sensitivity which surrounds emotionally distressed individuals visiting the bridge is such that the Humber Bridge Board rarely discusses the issue publicly.

But it does invest a huge amount of time and effort to prevent tragedies, and the most precious partnerships it has formed are with the emergency services, local authorities and charities including HEY Mind, the Samaritans and the Bearded Fishermen mental health and suicide support group.

The wider media have been largely co-operative in adopting a responsible reporting style which doesn’t sensationalise and which instead raises awareness of mental health issues.

Councillor Sean Chaytor, Chair of the Bridge Board, agreed that we should take a similar approach with this piece. If you want to know more, contact any of those charities and ask what you can do to help.

For Sean, the rest of the Board and a Bridge workforce of around 100, ensuring the safety of all users is the top priority but it’s not the only job: “I have day-to-day

The view from the North Tower

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contact with the management team and particularly the Chief Operating Officer. They keep me informed about what’s happening and we make suggestions about managing things and improving things. We deal with the good things and the things that are not so pleasant.”

The “white elephant” label is older than the Bridge itself and has generally been used to support political posturing ever since Barbara Castle, Labour’s transport minister, promised the Bridge as part of the campaign to elect Kevin McNamara as the MP for Hull North in 1966.

As recently as September this year it was cited by a House of Commons transport select committee as an example of major infrastructure projects which failed to deliver and a warning sign for HS2.

Sean responded: “Where would we be if the Humber Bridge had never been built? The failure of the fishing industry on both sides of the Humber would still not have been mitigated and the contraction of other major industries such as steel and engineering would have been more profound, but the Bridge enabled transferrable skills to move across the sub region.”

It was engineering which brought Sean’s family from Sunderland to the shipyards of Hull in 1913. His father, grandfather and several uncles and cousins worked at Priestman Brothers, renowned manufacturers of diggers, dredgers, cranes and other machinery.

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Keeping an eye on bridge operations

‘We want economic regeneration on both sides of the Humber because it links the two communities’

TOP: Sean pictured at the toll plaza ABOVE: The first toll payment

Sean followed them, in the offices rather than the workshops, and after three years joined the civil service, becoming a councillor in 2002. He’s now in the third year of his second spell as chair of the Bridge Board, which he has served for 18 years and which now has a much broader role than that overseen by Alex Clarke, whose term as chair included the opening in 1981.

Both men represented Marfleet ward on Hull City Council and served as Lord Mayor. The Board still has the pound which Alex Clarke used to pay the first Humber Bridge toll. It’s a note of course, the Bridge opening predating the introduction of pound coins by nearly two years, and it hangs in a frame in the Board offices.

Tolls for cars climbed to £3 at one point and then, after a campaign in which the Chamber played a leading role, were cut to the current level of £1.50, or £1.35 for users of the electronic TAG system. The up side to tolls is a greater degree of independence.

Sean said: “We would love it to be free but we would then be expected to compete with other crossings for investment for maintenance and improvements from National Highways. We take our maintenance exceptionally seriously. We are going to have to repaint the bridge again in maybe four or five years. I don’t recall it being done in the near 20 years that I’ve been involved. We also need to resurface the road and that will have a similar timetable, certainly before the 50th anniversary in 2031.”

The Board’s vision also embraces other enhancements and is driven by the realisation that although transport

select committees concern themselves only with tangible benefits, there is high value in the softer sell of such an iconic asset.

The announcement in October of a new operator of the Country Park Inn demonstrates the pulling power of the Bridge when it comes to independent inward investment, and the Board is in advanced discussions with the operator of a £20m spa which would create around 200 jobs.

“It would be surrounded by trees and would not intrude on the local community but would support local businesses. The company behind it is internationally renowned.”

The pan-Humber potential for tourism was never better illustrated than in 2017, when the fireworks which opened Hull’s year as UK City of Culture status were enjoyed by crowds on both banks and on the Bridge itself.

“Tourism has become an enormous benefit for our communities. I said a few years ago we were at the stage where people can stay in a hotel on the north bank and visit all the lovely places throughout Lincolnshire and vice versa.

From the south bank it’s easy to reach Hull, Beverley, Bridlington, Pocklington, Market Weighton and York. You can do The Deep one day and Lincoln Castle the next day.

“I would love to have more tourism activities here. We want economic regeneration on both sides of the Humber because it links the two communities – Yorkies and Yellowbellies – and we need to be in a position where we are working together.”

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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.

New Commissioner’s plans to tackle crime he new Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside Police outlined his plans for the force at a recent Chamber Council meeting held at Cave Castle in South Cave.

Jonathan Evison, who was elected in May taking over from Keith Hunter, outlined his “exciting agenda” to the Chamber’s most senior business leaders at their September meeting.

Mr Evison highlighted how crime thrives in deprived areas so developments around the Humber Freeport, new jobs at Siemens and other inward investment is to be welcomed and encouraged.

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‘There are a lot of good, skilled people who might like to do a couple of days work on a voluntary basis for the police’ He said the new Police and Crime Plan would be published in October and he wanted to try to tackle the higher volumes of crime and the things that come with that. His role, he explained, was to hold the Chief Constable to account, but emphasised their good working relationship.

Anti-social behaviour, Crime Safety Partnerships, and county lines drugs issues were all on his agenda. Operation Galaxy had

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been successful in fighting drugs crime and had seen many successes.

He also acknowledged concerns about the 101 none emergency calls system. He said the system had improved dramatically over the last two or three years, but people still think it is a poor service, but it is now much improved.

Mr Evison said Humberside Police had 2,000 officers and 1,400 police staff and would be getting 200 more officers in the next 18 months, but there was a lag between employing people and them becoming effective officers as they needed to be trained up and get to know their jobs.

Special Constables also contributed to the police service, he noted, suggesting that there are a lot of good, skilled people who might like to do a couple of days work on a voluntary basis for the police and support their communities.

He also wanted to see a reduction in violent crime and was focusing on hot spot intelligence.

He highlighted to the Chamber business leaders that the force had just received a £390,000 grant from the Home Office, which was in addition to another half-a-million pounds since he took office, which he said he wants to use to try to get ahead of the curve and to try to stop victims becoming victims in the first place.

He recalled the Tufty Club and PC Badger, and explained how he wanted young children to be introduced to the police at around the

Chamber President Phil Jones with Jonathan Evison during the meeting at Cave Castle

age of seven so they know a police officer will look after them, and build good relationships.

Another key issue was reoffending, and Mr Evison said he wanted to be more pro-active as far as probation was concerned.

He was also looking to set up a charity with Lottery, police and business funding to help combat crime, and appealed for anyone interested in supporting that to get in touch.

Mr Evison said he had a very exciting agenda and was working with positive, passionate people to make a positive change.

Chamber President Phil Jones thanked Mr Evison for his talk and wished him well for his term in office.

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Business Intelligence

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Chamber Policy

Chamber chief lobbies for levelling up ull & Humber Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly met up with Martin Vickers, MP for Cleethorpes, and Melanie Onn, from Renewables UK, at the recent Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

They chatted about the Humber’s messages into Government and with Ministers on various subjects, including Carbon Zero commitments and Renewables investment in our area, the recent Freeport proposals, plus the staggeringly poor trans-Pennine rail links to both Hull and Grimsby from Manchester, which was subsequently picked up specifically by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his closing speech to conference.

As Diana Johnson’s office looks to co-ordinate a meeting hosted by the Chamber with Transport for the North’s new Chief Executive Martin Tugwell, Dr Ian Kelly said: “Who knows – maybe level crossings will turn into levelling up at last for the Humber given our appalling trans-Pennine rail links and the fact the Prime Minister picked it up in his big set piece speech!”

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Dr Ian Kelly (left) with Martin Vickers MP and Melanie Onn

QUARTERLY ECONOMIC SURVEY Q3 2021

Humber economy slows down as inflation fears take hold The emphatic bounceback that we saw in the Quarter 2 Economic Survey results three months ago have largely been reversed or stalled in the latest set of results.

Research by the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has shown that the initial enthusiasm shown as the country came out of lockdown, has now been replaced by a more cautious reality, as increases in national insurance, energy prices, transport and food costs point to rising inflation and ultimately increases in interest rates.

It is against this rather bleak economic outlook that we have seen Home Sales and Home Orders both fall back into negative territory, with orders taking the biggest hit with a balance figure of –15 points. Home Sales fared slightly better, dropping only five points.

The Chamber’s External Affairs Director David Hooper said: “It is clear that businesses in the Humber are facing a difficult period and there is considerable trepidation about what the future may hold, in the face of rising costs, supply issues and rising inflation.

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Business Intelligence November/December 2021

“We hope the end of the furlough scheme will see some easing in the jobs market, with more vacancies being filled as previously furloughed workers return to work.

“However, there seems little doubt that it is going to be a tough winter for many as the public draw back on their spending as living costs rise, and a potential increase in interest rates looms on the horizon.”

“To help its members as much as possible, the Chamber has invested in its membership offer which now includes five new advice lines covering HR, H&S, Legal, Tax and VAT issues.

“These are employer focused services backed up by unlimited access to experienced advisors and access to a library of 800 documents and templates for things like employment issues, redundancy or H&S requirements around Covid-19, risk assessments, H&S policies etc.

The Quarter 3 Survey also revealed that Export Orders and Sales both fell back seven points as freight and logistics costs continue to be affected by Covid, not only in this country, but also in China where so many of our imports are sourced.

Employment in the last quarter also

dropped back markedly, falling 31 per cent compared to the previous quarter, and 23 per cent fewer firms said they planned to increase their staff numbers in the next three months.

Recruitment also fell eight points compared to the previous quarter, but on a more positive note, there were more full time positions available and a small number of these vacancies were for permanent roles.

It is clear that optimism for the coming months has also receded in the last quarter, with turnover and profit expectations both down markedly, with balance figure for turnover dropping by 17 points to 36 and profit expectations dropping by 12 points to 22.

With a shortage of labour, pay settlements was the biggest pressure on prices, followed by overheads and finance, but raw material costs seemed to be stable.

The biggest external concern this quarter was inflation, up 23 points on the last quarter, along with fears of rising interest rates and business rates. Competition, down eight points, was less of a worry, as was tax.

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Chamber Policy

Chamber President Phil Jones presents Richard Gwilliam with Drax’s Patrons Plaque during the Chamber Council meeting at Cave Castle Hotel

Drax powers up relationship by becoming Chamber Patron ead of Cluster Development for Drax, Richard Gwilliam, was presented with a Patrons’ Plaque at the September Chamber Council meeting as the company reinforces its relationship with the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.

Richard was presented with his plaque by Chamber President Phil Jones during the wellattended meeting at Cave Castle Hotel. The President thanked Richard for becoming a Patron of the Chamber, a move which will not only help Drax, but also help the Chamber to continue to support smaller companies around the Humber.

The two businesses will be working closely together in the coming months, along with other stakeholders, to assist Drax in developing a robust supply chain for its Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage project (BECCS) which will ultimately help the Humber reach its net zero carbon emissions goals.

Richard thanked the Chamber for its solid support of Drax in recent months, saying the business group has been a great help in driving forward the zero carbon ambitions for the region. He added: “We have made great progress so far, and we’re pleased that the Chamber will be helping us prepare for the next steps that will be taken as we seek planning approval for the BECCS project.

Identifying a robust supply chain is key to this project.”

Drax will be hosting a series of events

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throughout 2022 in partnership with the Chamber and other stakeholders. The first of these was an introductory webinar which was run with business support organisation NOF. The initial event gave new and prospective suppliers the opportunity to learn more about the BECCS project, as well as how they could get involved in delivering this vital negative emissions technology.

‘Drax has a proven track record in delivering ambitious and pioneering infrastructure projects’ Graham Backhouse, Drax’s Commercial Director for the BECCS project, said: “Negative emissions technologies like BECCS will play a vital role in enabling the UK to reach its net zero goals. At its peak, BECCS at Drax will protect and create over 10,000 jobs, levelling up the north, and positioning the UK as a global leader in this climate-saving technology.

“This programme of events is a fantastic opportunity for businesses of all sizes to get involved and learn more about the project, and we want to encourage a range of companies from across the country to take part.”

Drax has a proven track record in delivering ambitious and pioneering infrastructure projects – the conversion of its power station

Richard Gwilliam giving his presentation during the meeting

in North Yorkshire to use sustainable biomass instead of coal has enabled it to become the UK’s largest single site renewable generator, reducing its emissions by over 90 per cent and paving the way for the deployment of BECCS. The first event took place ahead of a formal public consultation on Drax’s BECCS plans in November, when stakeholders including local communities will be able to learn more about the proposed project and provide their feedback.

Businesses which are interested in the event series can register their interest via www.drax.com/supplierevent

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

Jack Hanman outside Holy Brunch, his new restaurant and takeaway in Paragon Arcade, Hull

From food delivery to new restaurant The man behind Hull’s first independent hot food online delivery platform is set to open a restaurant of his own – but he won’t be doing deliveries!

Jack Hanman launched Hull’s Kitchens in 2020 after paying more than £40,000 in commission for national brands to deliver food from his first restaurant, Temptation in St Stephen’s Shopping Centre, Hull.

Jack has now launched a new venture, with Holy Brunch opening at Paragon Arcade in Hull. Holy Brunch has created a mix of five full-time and part-time jobs on top of the three people employed by Hull’s Kitchens.

Jack said: “Holy Brunch came about because I am an avid foodie and I spend a lot of time in and around the city centre, where we have our Hull’s Kitchens office. But I find it frustrating because I just don’t think there are enough independent restaurants doing something out of the ordinary.”

Jack diversified after a unit became available in Paragon Arcade, which has been brought back to life by Allenby Commercial.

Georgia Allenby, Design and Marketing Manager at Allenby Commercial, said: “Jack has got good experience and a great idea. He recognises the potential of the unit he’s taken on and we’re confident he will turn it into another attraction which will lure people into Paragon Arcade.”

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Kathryn Shillito, Executive Director, with (from left) Francesca Sharp, Martin Foster, Raich Orr, Mark Andrews, Catherine Goble and Chairman Jim Harris

HullBID promises five more years of support ullBID will continue its work for another five years after securing an emphatic win in its latest renewal

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ballot.

The BID gained 81 per cent of votes cast in the ballot of member businesses in Hull city centre. The ballot also returned a majority of nearly 87 per cent in terms of the rateable value of business premises which took part in the vote. HullBID’s renewal target was a 50 per cent majority in each category.

Jim Harris, chair of the HullBID board of directors and manager of St Stephen’s Shopping Centre in Hull, said: “This is a fantastic result, especially in the light of the existing circumstances, and a great endorsement from our members who have been through similarly difficult times yet who still felt the contribution in the past and going forward of HullBID is more worthwhile than ever.”

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, thanked businesses for delivering such strong support.

She said: “I am very grateful to the members who have turned out to vote for us and the strong majority shows their determination for HullBID to continue. The past 18 months have proved exceptionally difficult for

businesses, so we turned our attention to driving them to grants and other financial support when it really mattered. The operational team were still out keeping a check on buildings and making sure cleanliness was maintained.

‘We will continue to be the glue that pulls businesses together’ “We have already taken steps to ensure that the next five years will bring positive results for businesses but importantly, as an independent organisation, we are always here to offer swift one-to-one support.”

“We will continue to be the glue that pulls businesses together to work with public bodies and other stakeholders, as we recognise everyone has a part to play to develop a vibrant and successful city centre.”

HullBID became the first business improvement district in Yorkshire when it was set up in 2006. Kathryn Shillito, the Executive Director, was appointed in 2010 and leads a team of five staff with support from a board of 12, ten of whom are drawn from the city centre business community.

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Member News Rollits recruits three new trainees Rollits LLP has announced the appointment of graduates Joshua Hobson, Olivia Keith and Emma Richards, who are all local to the firm’s offices in Hull and York and have now started their Period of Recognised Training.

Joshua Hobson, who lives in Hull, gained his LLB Law at the University of Manchester in 2020 and then completed the Legal Practice Course with integrated MSc in Law and Business at the University of Law in Manchester this year.

Olivia Keith, who lives in York, gained a degree in English at Liverpool University in 2016 and attended the University of Law in Leeds in 2019 to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law and her Legal Practice Course.

Emma Richards, who lives in Kirkella, gained her LLB Law at the University of Hull in 2021 before completing her Legal Practice Course and an integrated MSc in Law and Business at the University of Law in Leeds.

Ralph Gilbert, Managing Partner of Rollits, said: “We are delighted to welcome three new trainees who bring an interesting and valuable mix of education, experience and interests.”

From left: Emma Richards, Olivia Keith and Joshua Hobson

Freya Cross leading the debate at the annual conference of the Flexible Space Association

Flexible workplaces can revive high streets ne of the region’s leading business centres is ticking all the boxes for people seeking work, rest and play solutions on their doorstep in a post-Covid world.

Freya Cross, Business and Corporate Manager at The Deep, said the rest of Hull city centre is also well-placed to benefit from the trend towards a “live-work location” and a “lifestyle office”.

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‘Providing the opportunity to work closer to home can bring benefits for people and places’ Freya said: “The message to landlords who feel as though they are lumbered with vacant units is that we can all work together to meet the needs of people who want to work, rest and play without having to travel very far.

“Workspace in town and city centres is not a new concept; it is a growth industry. The challenge is to let people work in places where they want to be as opposed to where they need to be.”

Freya, who has worked in the flexible workspace sector for more than 30 years and opened The Deep Business Centre in 2000, is also the Chair of the Flexible Space Association.

Freya said: “Providing the opportunity to work closer to home can bring benefits for people and places. The combination of people wanting to be in certain locations and requiring particular products and services can help bring the high streets of the future to Tier II cities.”

She added that The Deep Business Centre offered some thing different from the outset when it opened in a location with a housing development across the road and the city centre only yards away. The regeneration of the Old Town and the Fruit Market since then has provided the cultural, leisure and residential opportunities that people are looking for when they are off duty.

“We need to look at how we can adapt and re-purpose places,” she said. “It's a balancing act which helps to meet the rising demand from people who want to work locally, walk out of the door and have some fun. Our clients have been able to do that since day one and that shows The Deep Business Centre really was ahead of its time.”

Ongo’s flagship dementia care scheme opens Myos House, the first of its kind extra care scheme, has officially opened by Ongo, bringing much needed support for those living with a dementia diagnosis.

Located on Warwick Road, Scunthorpe, it is made up of 25 two-bedroom apartments and specially designed communal spaces for residents to socialise and relax.

The building complies with the ‘Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation’ (HAPPI) principles and has been created to allow those living with dementia to stay with their families for as long as possible.

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Guests were welcomed to the official opening of Myos House in September

Steve Hepworth, Chief Executive at Ongo, said: “Dementia is a progressive disease, and often those living with a diagnosis end up having to move into residential care. Myos House has been designed so that can be avoided for as long as possible, and families can stay together.”

Guests living at Myos House were invited to an official opening ceremony on 3 September.

More than £3m was provided by Ongo for this scheme, with an extra £1m from Homes England and approximately £300,000 from North Lincolnshire Council.

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Member News

Positions for largest intake of apprentices he largest ever intake of apprentices taken on by engineering specialist Spencer Group have all now secured full-time positions with the company.

Hull-based Spencer Group hired 14 apprentices two years ago, with the full cohort of 18-year-olds coming from the city’s employer-led school, Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC).

Now, having completed their two-year apprenticeships, all 14 have started permanent, full-time trainee positions with Spencer Group across a range of different departments of the business.

Spencer Group has also just taken on another nine apprentices, in addition to the five that were recruited last year, meaning it has hired a total of 28 under its apprenticeship programme in just two years – all coming from Ron Dearing UTC. Spencer Group, which is one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners, is committed to taking on a new group of apprentices from the pioneering school each year as part of its succession planning and growth.

Charlie Spencer OBE, Executive Chairman and founder of Spencer Group, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have taken on every single one of the apprentices we recruited two years ago in a permanent, full-time position.

“Each of them has been selected by the specific team they are going to be working within and I think that speaks volumes about the quality of the apprentices we are hiring from Ron Dearing UTC. “They are all at the required academic level, have excellent technical and employability skills and, perhaps most importantly, have a brilliant attitude.

“We will be taking on a new group of apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC each year

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as this is a proven pipeline of future talent for us as our business continues to grow.”

Based at Humber Quays on Hull Marina, Spencer Group is one of the UK’s leading privately owned, multi-disciplinary engineering businesses, with a directlyemployed workforce of over 250.

‘The apprentices are all prepared for the world of work when they join us and it has been amazing how quickly they have adapted’ Every apprentice that secures a permanent position with Spencer Group continues their academic development by studying up to degree level with one of the company’s education partners. They are also given the option of studying for a master’s degree.

Yvonne Moir, HR Director at Spencer Group, said: “The appointment of this full cohort of apprentices to permanent positions in the company is proof that this recruitment model works.

“The apprentices are all prepared for the world of work when they join us and it has been amazing how quickly they have adapted to the business. It’s as though they have been working here for years.”

Sarah Pashley, Principal of Ofsted Outstanding-rated Ron Dearing UTC, said: “It’s very rewarding to see that each of our students who joined Spencer Group as an apprentice two years ago has now secured a permanent position.

“We’re extremely grateful for the support of Spencer Group and all our employer partners, who provide our students with incredible opportunities like this.”

Building for the future: Spencer Group welcomes its new intake of apprentices

John Smith, Chief Executive of HEY Credit Union, and some of his colleagues at the head office in Brook Street, Hull

HEY Credit Union claims top award An organisation which has been providing a loans and savings lifeline for families for more than 20 years has been rewarded with a top accolade in a nationwide awards scheme.

HEY Credit Union, which has branches across East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, shared top spot in the Treating Customers Fairly category in the Consumer Credit Awards 2021 (CCA).

The Credit Union, which has just over 20 staff and serves 15,000 members from its headquarters in Brook Street, Hull, won the category jointly with Bamboo Loans, a much bigger business with 80 staff and more than 150,000 customers.

‘We can beat what the banks do and this proves it’ John Smith, Chief Executive of HEY Credit Union, said: “This is a fantastic achievement because it puts us right up there with some of the biggest players in the financial services sector.

“It also reinforces our efforts to challenge any perception that we are not a proper bank. You can save safely with us, you can take loans out with us, we are ethical, we can beat what the banks do and this proves it.

None of the traditional banks featured in these awards!”

As a not-for-profit mutual business, HEY Credit Union has assets of £15m and is working to build membership and expand a network of branches which currently includes Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield, Goole, Scunthorpe and Withernsea.

Since its launch as the City of Hull Credit Union in 1999 the organisation has issued more than 65,000 loans to a total value of £46m and looks after members’ savings of £14m.

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Member News

Record-breaking HETA plans major expansion MEDICA 2021 Date: 15-18 November Location: Dusseldorf, Germany Delve into the world of medical technology at MEDICA 2021. With Hessle-based Good Travel Management, delegates can experience high-tech products, meet work market leaders, hidden champions and start-ups and visit top-class forums and conferences.

Choose from a range of accommodation options to fit your needs and budgets, including the two-star Ibis Hotel Dusseldorf City, a budget yet comfortable hotel located behind the man station; the four-star Intercity Hotel Dusseldorf, a modern hotel at the heart of the city, and the five-star hotel-ship Dusseldorf Messe, a luxurious and contemporary designed establishment moored close to the MEDICA exhibition grounds.

Good Travel Management’s services include: • Project support and planning • Pricing and contracting • Global destination management services • In market and on the ground support • Duty of care, communication and traveller tracking solutions • Exclusive phone number, email and delegate registration • 24-hour support and account management Register your interest for this event at: good-travel.co.uk/events/medica Email: events@good-travel.co.uk Call: 0330 004 0510

training business that has been supplying engineering apprentices to industry for more than 50 years has broken all records with its 2021 intake.

Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) is now planning a significant investment programme as it faces rising demand from employers across the north for qualified young people and for tuition to upskill the existing workforce.

The company will soon announce details of a major expansion which will create more places for learners, with more than 800 applying for the 200 places recently filled.

HETA is also planning to add to its board of trustees, with applications invited from people in business who can bolster the board’s skills in finance and accounting.

Iain Elliott, Chief Executive of HETA, said: “This has been a record-breaking year with unprecedented numbers of applications for apprenticeship and traineeship places.

“That resulted in nearly 200 young men and women commencing on programme, including over 130 apprentices beginning their training in August. The demand from employers is unparalleled and is welcome evidence that they have seen the very real benefit of recruiting apprentices as part of their succession planning strategies.”

Joanne Lawson, Deputy Chief Executive, will lead the new project. She said: “The investment which we have committed since moving into our Hull site shows that HETA will not sit on our laurels.

“Further investment has brought the addition of high voltage training courses

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Iain Elliott, Chief Executive of HETA, and Joanne Lawson, Deputy Chief Executive, outside the company’s headquarters in Hull

and a process plant which became the only facility of its kind available on the north bank of the Humber when it was shipped from Australia in 2020.”

Iain added: “The support of our board of trustees is essential and we are looking now to recruit one more person with the additional financial and accounting skills we need. We want to hear from people who may be working in a finance function in an engineering or manufacturing company or for an accountancy, audit or professional services firms in the area – and who is keen to help our management team improve what we can offer learners and employers.”

Anyone who is interested in becoming a Trustee should contact Iain Elliott via the HETA website at heta.co.uk

Ladies’ day raises funds for the Daisy Appeal A charity which is working to tackle cancer, heart disease and dementia received a fundraising boost from the annual ladies’ day at Beverley Rugby Union Club.

The event raised more than £3,000 for the Daisy Appeal with money coming in from lunch for more than 100 guests and an auction of specially-designed daisy team shirts.

Carol Innes, Vice Chairman of Beverley RUFC, said ladies’ day has been taking place since 2012 and is organised by some of the women who support the club in various roles.

Carol said: “There are women who have family members playing for the teams and who help with the mini and junior sections, and we also have a women’s fitness group which has recently resumed and is building its membership.

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Members of the Beverley RUFC team wearing their Daisy Appeal kit with some of the guests at the club’s ladies’ day

“We came up with the idea of taking over the rugby club for a day and over the years it’s become quite an occasion with heavy demand for tickets. We chose the Daisy Appeal this year because it’s a local charity.”

The Daisy Appeal has now raised £7.5m towards its target of £8.5m to complete a radiochemistry and cyclotron unit which will produce radioactive tracers at Castle Hill Hospital.

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Member News

Santa experience offers festive fun anta Claus and his elves are coming to the Fruit Market – and you can join them for a unique Christmas experience!

The big man in red and his team are magically arriving in Hull and inviting families to help them save Christmas.

Santa sent an advance party of his toymakers and playful elves to Hull to find the perfect place to set up his workshop and they found it in a former warehouse in Humber Street.

Now Father Christmas is returning for the festive season for The Santa Claus Experience – an hour-long adventure taking families on a wonderful festive journey.

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‘We’re really excited that Santa Claus has decided to make the Fruit Market his festive headquarters’ It begins with an interactive performance featuring the chief elves training the audience to be Santa’s newest helpers.

After they’ve been put through their paces, learning the songs and participating in the story, children will join their grown-ups at craft tables. There they will prepare reindeer food before getting their chance to meet Santa

Humber Street at Christmas

for a giftbag and photo opportunity.

During the event grown-ups can also relax with a complimentary festive mulled wine and Christmas treat. There will also be additional exclusive offers and discounts for attractions and restaurants in the Humber Street area.

The experience is being supported by Wykeland Beal, the joint venture development company of Wykeland Group and Beal Homes working in partnership with Hull City Council to transform the Fruit Market.

Natalia Cleary, Wykeland and Fruit Market Culture and Events Manager, said: “We’re really excited that Santa Claus has decided to make the Fruit Market his festive headquarters and is calling on local families to help him and his elves get all the presents ready for Christmas delivery.

“This will be a magical and unforgettable Christmas experience and great fun for children and grown-ups alike.”

Visit: www.santaclausexperience.co.uk

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Patron’s Profile Introducing Chamber Patrons and taking a closer look at what they do and why they are such strong supporters of the organisation

Name: Steve Eastwood Job Title: Branch Manager Name of the business: Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Type of business: Insurance Broking, Risk Management and Financial Advice Location: Laceby near Grimsby, but our head office is in Norwich. I live in Hull Area of operation: Throughout the UK, but from our branch, predominantly the Humber region and Lincolnshire Number of years as a business: Since 1982 Number of people in the team: 350 in the group, 11 locally

What is the inspiration behind your business?

Our vision statement sums this up perfectly: “To be the natural choice for friendly, expert advice on insurance, risk management and financial services.”

What is the biggest challenge facing your business?

In the short term it is finding the right deal for our clients in a particularly difficult insurance market. In the longer term I do not believe there are sufficient younger people in our industry to replace what is a rapidly aging workforce.

Why do you think it is important to support the Chamber and its membership network?

The Chamber is the voice of business in the region, and works hard on its relationships with MPs and the local authorities in order to ensure that voice is heard in the right places. I think the strength of this relationship is clear when local politicians seek the opinion of business through Chamber. The Chamber is able to lobby on a local and national level to affect the issues facing business, for the benefit of its members.

Locally its activities allow members to interact and hopefully do business with each other, and this in turn keeps growth in the region, supporting the local economy and jobs.

What do you enjoy most about working in our region?

I was born in Hull and have lived here all of my life, and worked in the region for all but one year.

• Professionally: The region has a wide variety of industries and businesses generally run by people who are prepared to engage, are friendly and value advice and support.

• Personally: My family and friends live here.

• Socially: The region offers a wide range of really good venues, no matter what you want to do, there is no need to travel too far.

You run a successful business, but when you were younger, what did you want to do when you grew up?

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Steve Eastwood (right) is pictured with his sales team (from left) John Ramsden, Alvin Chapman and Dave Johnson

I think, like a lot of young people, I was guided by teachers and probably ended up doing what I thought I wanted to do based on the guidance I was given. At that time I don’t really remember anyone asking “what do you like doing?”. With the benefit of hindsight, I like working with my hands, so might have enjoyed and prospered in a career in engineering or similar. With age and confidence, I have found that I enjoy an adventure particularly if it is physically and mentally challenging and realising this 40 years ago might have changed my direction.

What was your first job?

I was a paperboy, then I went shelf stacking, but my first proper job was in insurance, as an underwriter.

Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?

Nothing. I am very happy where I am now and accept that without all of the good and bad decisions made along the way I wouldn’t be here.

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‘The region has a wide variety of industries and businesses generally run by people who are prepared to engage’

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

I have met a lot of very successful people, some wonderfully nice and others not so much. The things they have in common though are hard work and being prepared to take a risk.

but I admire those who do all of that, but still contribute to wider society without asking for anything in return.

What qualities do you look for in your staff?

They have to care about our clients.

If you could make one Government policy decision, what would that be?

Make it illegal for politicians to be part of Government at any level? Perhaps something on transport, or everything on transport, before the country grinds to a halt.

Who is the business person you admire the most, and why?

I’m not going to name names, it won’t be those who think it might be them! I have great respect for those who have managed to drive business on and been successful,

What do you feel is the biggest change that would benefit the Humber?

That would have to be transport; the region has fantastic opportunities in the future, but I fear that the road, rail and air infrastructure will hold us back.

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Chamber Patrons Becoming a Patron represents a valuable contribution towards enabling us to provide a wide range of services for our smaller Member companies, as well as raising the profile of your own business.

New CEO is welcomed at Wilkin Chapman ilkin Chapman Solicitors has strengthened the firm and added global experience with the appointment of Robin Simmonds as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Simmonds has a strong leadership record in the legal services sector with over 20 years’ experience in management and senior operational roles working with both international and UK businesses. Robin is new to the region and will be working predominantly from the Grimsby and Lincoln offices.

The arrival of Robin will play a key part in the further development, alignment and implementation of the firm’s strategy and values, in addition to reconnecting the people in the return to office work and strengthening client relationships. Wilkin Chapman recognises the appointment of Robin as a great opportunity to improve the service and deliver more for the clients.

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Robin Simmonds

University of Hull climbs league table

Commenting on his appointment, Robin said: “I am very excited to join Wilkin Chapman. I was immediately impressed with the people I met while in talks over the role during summer, as well as the clarity of the strategy already in place, the strength and depth of client relationships and the strong market positions that the firm has attained.

“This is a great opportunity for me to join a business which puts clients and people at the heart of what it does and to contribute to its further growth and development.”

Senior partner Andrew Holt added: “We are delighted to have Robin on board. Our leadership and management structure has given us the time to carefully select the right person in Robin.

“I am extremely proud of everyone for working as hard as they have and we look forward to the enormous contribution Robin will make in strengthening the business and the service we seek to deliver to our clients.”

The University of Hull

The University of Hull has risen 19 places in the 2022 Guardian University Rankings.

The university, up to 53rd in the table from 72nd last year, has celebrated a second strong year in the prestigious national rankings, and has now climbed a total of 42 places in the last two years.

Four courses ranked in the top 10 nationally – American Studies, Physics, Earth & Marine Sciences and Education.

‘The past 18 months has seen the university evolve and respond to adversity like never before’ Professor Susan Lea, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, said: “Our rise in this year’s ranking is wonderful news.

“The fact that the university has risen 19 places, in what has been such a challenging year for students and staff alike, is testament to the strength of our community here at Hull. The past 18 months has seen the university evolve and respond to adversity like never before, and this success is evidence that the university can thrive despite the impact of Covid-19.

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“I would like to thank all of our students and staff at the university, who have made this result possible, for their continued hard work, dedication and commitment.

“We know the hard work does not end here, and are committed to building further on this positive progress.”

This is the university’s highest position in The Guardian’s league table since 2010, when Hull was ranked 52nd.

Visit: www.theguardian.com/education/series/guardianuniversity-guide-2022

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Spotlight Feature: Logistics, Freight & Transportation

+44 7907 164795 sales@gentoofreight.co.uk www.gentoofreight.co.uk

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Spotlight Features In this issue we take a look at the Logistics, Freight & Transportation and Creative Industries sectors.

To be or not to be an

agent?

By John Habergham (pictured), Shipping and Transport Specialist, Myton Law

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proliferation of cases where forwarders find themselves facing unexpected and large demands for quay rent, and such like, is focusing minds in the logistics industry on the infamous ‘Merchant Clause’ often squirreled away in the small print of bills of lading.

Forwarders can be forgiven for thinking ‘But I am not liable for these costs as I’m only an agent, not a principal, and I’m not named on the bill of lading’.

Unfortunately, it is not that straightforward. The Merchant Clause is based on joint and several liability and may put you in the firing line if your client does not pay charges incurred.

The last year or so has been particularly challenging due to the breakdown of seller/buyer agreements caused by the pandemic, which have left goods at ports where they rack up considerable costs for container detention and demurrage.

Freight forwarders could face unexpected costs and liabilities

‘English law takes the approach that the applicable law is that of the putative contract, which the forwarder has procured on behalf of its principal’ Where the parties to the sales/purchase contract were ‘men of straw’ and where the ‘goods’ hold little value, so that a lien does not offer a remedy, who bears the cost for removal? Sadly, forwarders can find themselves drawn into these disputes.

Ocean carriers are first in line for removal costs, but they cast around for another remedy and fall back on terms in their bill of lading and/or waybill, which include a scheme of liability with a wide definition of a ‘merchant’ extending to the shipper or consignee or anybody with an interest in the goods and agents of such parties.

Forwarders may have contracted on BIFA Standard Conditions, which bolster their agency status and contain an English law and jurisdiction clause.

However, English law takes the approach that the applicable law is that of the putative contract, which the forwarder has procured on behalf of its principal. So, if, for example, the bill of lading or waybill has a French or a German law and jurisdiction clause then the forwarder may find liability governed by those legal systems.

By reference to those legal systems forwarders may still be found to be an agent without liability, but forwarders can find that even where they have been diligent in ensuring they incorporate their own terms and conditions these do not necessarily govern their liability.

Continued on page 28...

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Spotlight Feature: Logistics, Freight & Transportation ...from page 27

In determining whether a forwarder has acted as an agent or a principal, courts may look at factors including: • Terms in the contract – was the agreement to ‘arrange carriage to …’ or did the forwarder agree to ‘carry to …’?

• Description of the relationship – as ‘agents only’?

Would the customer have known you were using other parties such as carriers?

• Prior dealings – did you consistently describe yourself to the customer, the line and the world as the customer’s agent?

• The nature of charging – did you charge a lump sum (indicative of a carrier) or a commission (consistent with agency status)?

• Terms of carriage documents – were you described as a shipper or an agent?

In short, you can call yourself an agent, but what’s in a name? You must also behave as an agent.

However, even these precautions may not offer fail safe security against the Merchant Clause. What else can be done to clearly define the role of a logistics provider as an ‘agent’ rather than a ‘principal’?

An ‘endorsement’ may provide additional protection.

Making the ocean carrier aware through an endorsement that you are acting as an ‘agent’ and are subject to English law before you book can provide greater security. However, with online booking systems, in practice using an endorsement can be a challenge.

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Hull law firm ranked for transport advice Hull’s Myton Law is one of the top law firms for ‘Transport’ advice in the Yorkshire & Humber region according to Legal 500, an annual guide to law firms.

Legal 500 assesses the strengths of firms based on criteria including client feedback. Client comments noted Myton Law’s ‘unbeatable expertise in all aspects of shipping and maritime matters’ and ‘London level of expertise at competitive rates with genuine director led involvement in all cases.’

‘Myton Law provides specialist shipping, rail and logistics legal services’ Legal 500 named Myton Law’s Scott Yates for wet shipping matters, John Habergham for dry shipping including disputes and Chris Thornes for rail and logistics advice.

Successful cases highlighted in the 2022 guide includes Myton Law’s representation of a global freight forwarder in a high-value lien dispute arising out of the insolvency of a customer.

Myton Law provides specialist shipping, rail and logistics legal services for clients across the UK and beyond from its Hull offices overlooking the River Humber. The firm’s expertise also includes insurance, commercial property, renewables and international trade law.

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Spotlight Feature: Logistics, Freight & Transportation

Piping and Structural Engineering, Design and Fabrication Pipesco is a pipe and structural engineering, design and fabrication specialist, providing a comprehensive range of services.

The company was founded with the belief it should be possible for customers to source quality design and fabrication all under one roof, without the frustrations and cost of using two or more suppliers.

Pipesco is built on years of experience across the sectors of piping, engineering, design and fabrication and is always at the forefront of innovation.

The company aim is to stand out from the crowd by offering bespoke and future fit design and engineering services.

By providing a complete end-to-end service, we’re able to streamline processes and dramatically improve communication between design fabrication teams to deliver a fantastic service with a quick turnaround.

We embrace modern technologies and our company is based on the belief that by employing cutting-edge methods and stateof-the-art technology, we can work efficiently and with superb precision to deliver a superior product within quick timescales.

We use industry best practices along with internationally renowned standards and frameworks. It’s why Pipesco is fast becoming the partner of choice for so many.

A NEW APPROACH

SURVEYING • ENGINEERING & DESIGN FABRICATION • DELIVERY & PRESENTATION CAPABILITIES • REPAIR ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT • PLANT ENGINEERING T: 01469 576677 E: info@pipesco.com W: pipesco.com November/December 2021

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Spotlight Feature: Creative Industries

Communication

breakdown

By Joanne Parker (pictured), Communications Consultant at JP Writing Services

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o you regularly update your company's message? By that, I mean the overall message that customers take away from all their interactions with your organisation. That includes your letters, emails, advertisements, staff, call centre, vehicles, social media and newsletters?

It is both the content of your communication and the tone you use that shapes the impression you are giving.

For the sake of the success of your business, it is vital that you know what impression your customers’ are receiving.

The need for clarity We all know how important it is to have communication that is unambiguous and accessible to all.

Just as everyone is craving clarity and direction from the government, our staff and customers expect the same from us.

If you are still operating in the same way you were before the pandemic or even before the latest lockdown, you risk harming your reputation and your company’s brand image.

It is time to look at the quality of the written communication you are putting out and your processes.

Double-check that every interaction your company has with a customer is appropriate. Is every piece of communication enhancing your corporate reputation, or are there departments/areas that could do with some training?

Is automation damaging your reputation?

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service when it works appropriately, it can also backfire if you are not mindful of how and when customers receive an automated response.

Do you have automated systems that send out letters to customers, e.g. those late paying their invoices? What impact are the letters having on your customers? Is the language in the letters making the recipient feel uncomfortable, or are you offering ways to help if they have any problems paying?

What about if the customer has already paid the invoice, and the reminder was unnecessary? How you handle complaints or instances where your customer service hasn't gone to plan says a great deal about your company. Get it right, and you can go up in a customer’s estimation. Get it wrong, and they will tell the world.

‘Review what your words are saying about your business. Read the copy on your website, in your company brochures and newsletter’

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Spotlight Feature: Creative Industries

Acknowledge the ‘new normal’ Your customers’ circumstances will have changed over the past 18 months. Continuing to communicate in a way that doesn't recognise these changes is a surefire way to upset and annoy them.

Their priorities and pain points will have shifted, and you need to acknowledge and reflect this in the way you address them. If you don't, you could quickly alienate them and even lose them as a customer.

Customers want to know that you care about their situation and understand what they are going through.

Don't be afraid of showing a more vulnerable side to your business.

People buy from people, not faceless businesses. That is why big brands are all over social media trying to interact with their customers on a one-to-one basis and build human relationships.

Review what your words are saying about your business. Read the copy on your website, in your company brochures and newsletters, in emails, letters and on social media. What kind of language are you using? Is it friendly or officious? Is it supporting or damaging your brand image?

Check all your external channels of communication, including any automated email sequences, to ensure that you are giving a consistent and clear message.

Then do the same for your internal communication, as what you say to your employees is equally important.

Staff that feel happy and valued perform better and deliver a higher standard of customer service.

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Spotlight Feature: Creative Industries

An expert view on Levelling Up

Lionheart Public Affairs is a political consultancy specialising in public and corporate affairs, public relations, campaigns and communications. Managing Director Richard Royal (pictured) shares his views on how unity is the key to the Humber capitalising on the Levelling Up agenda.

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he Humber has rarely been in a better position to capitalise on a Government’s agenda, with policies of ‘Levelling Up’, ‘A Just Transition’ and ‘Net Zero’ being at the forefront of current political ambitions. Although these are at the centre of the Conservatives’ programme, the concepts have general cross party support which should ensure long-term endurance and help to avoid the false starts that we’ve seen too many times before.

Nevertheless, the Humber needs to step up and grasp the nettle in order to take advantage of this opportunity. It also needs to learn how to play the game and demonstrate unity in order to compete effectively with other regions.

Some have dismissed ‘Levelling Up’ as a meaningless buzz-phrase but it follows a consistent pattern of driving opportunitycreation outside the London bubble that was also evident in George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse (and in the previous Labour Government’s relocation of Government Departments outside the capital). The focus and speed of this drive is unmatched though, and the choice of chief fixer Michael Gove to lead it should demonstrate the level of commitment – he is a man appointed to situations when hurdles need to be overcome without hesitation.

We should be in no doubt that the Government is committed to achieving greater national equity primarily because they believe it is the right thing to do, desirable for both the national economy and those that operate within it. But naturally there is another purely realpolitik consideration – the Conservatives have punched several holes in the traditional ‘Red Wall’ constituencies and want to keep

The Humber can capitalise on opportunities

hold of, and build upon them. Demonstrating that they’re not the party of south east England is both politically and economically imperative.

Meanwhile, the ‘Net Zero’ buzz-phrase offers the region greater opportunities to achieve this levelling up. While there’s still some climate change scepticism among today’s politicians, often masquerading behind cost concerns and technology cynicisms, the dial has shifted hugely over the last decade. There’s now widespread political support for decarbonisation, even if it’s sometimes premised on economic rather than an environmental rationale. The writing of the UK’s climate change targets into law should help to force this transformation at a faster pace.

As the UK’s largest carbon emitting industrial cluster, the Humber has the perfect opportunity to capitalise on this. With such a strong economic and social history built on its relationship with energy creation, provision and usage via its traditional industries, the region has demonstrated its ability to transition towards greener alternatives, but there is much further to go.

Decarbonisation cannot be achieved by simply flicking the ‘off’ switch on the high emitting industries that support thousands of

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jobs in local communities, as some of the more extreme ends of the environmental debate would prefer. It requires the application of transitional technologies like carbon capture and blue hydrogen, developing skills and creating new jobs in the process, thus ensuring a ‘Just’ transition. But this also requires leadership and unity.

Unfortunately, this is an area where the Humber has tended to fall short and now needs to up its game. Our northern coastal neighbours in Teesside, which has a similar economic history and need to decarbonise, benefits hugely from its political set-up of a combined authority and metro Mayor, now galvanized by young ambitious local MPs, ensuring that their area punches well above its weight. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has demonstrated similar ability to exert influence on a national level. Lobbying for the Humber, often in competition with these regions, I see these disparities first hand.

Meanwhile, the Humber seems likely to shelve proposals to create a regional Mayor that could help us to achieve a similar impact, having also publicly demonstrated its division by splitting the Humber LEP and reigniting the northbank-southbank divide. Our local authorities are diverse in their geography, demography and priorities, and whiled we have several very active Members of Parliament in this region, there is no single dominant voice, which some other regions clearly have.

This need for cohesion is challenging at a time when Government is picking first movers for its flagship levelling up projects, decarbonisation plans and when the public need widespread reassurance on the benefits that new technologies and inward investment can bring.

If the Humber can come together and collectively demonstrate its strengths, not least in overcoming such adversities and challenges in the past, it stands to gain hugely from the raft of policies and projects coming out of Westminster.

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Spotlight Feature: Creative Industries

T: 01482 420248 E: tanya@tmhcommunications.co.uk November/December 2021

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

Helping you trade internationally ur portfolio of international trade services and training courses has been expanded this year to reflect the changing world of international trade that the UK now finds itself in.

Our aim is to help our Members and clients understand and comply with all of the new requirements and successfully complete imports and exports to and from the EU and the Rest of the World.

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Export documentation Certificates of Origin We continue to offer both preferential and non-preferential Certificate of Origin certification services. For non-preferential origin, you will require a UK or Arab Certificate of Origin.

For preferential origin, you will need to refer the UK’s trade agreement with the country you are exporting to as to whether a UK EUR1 (preferential certificate of origin) OR a Statement of Origin OR Approved Exporter status is required. Preferential origin allows your goods to be imported into the overseas market at a nil or lower rate of duty. Please go to our website for details of the UK’s trade agreements and requirements for preferential rates of duty and origin.

ATA Carnets This is a new service we are offering due to an increase in demand for this particular type of export document. An ATA Carnet is a temporary admission document, which cuts red tape at border points avoiding cash deposits and other delays in the country of temporary importation.

If you are exporting goods temporarily to an exhibition or sending someone overseas with their tools to perform a repair, a Carnet would be suitable for you.

The Chamber can help cut through red tape

T1 transit documents The UK is a member of the Common Transit Convention and the transit document allows goods to move from the UK through any common transit country without having to make an import declaration and pay taxes at the first entry point into the EU. Our transit service offers the added benefit of adding yourself to our Authorised Consignor licence so that the transit movement can start at your premises. Registering for our Transit service can take up to 48 hours so please do ensure that you contact us with plenty of notice if you would like an export transit document.

Please contact our ChamberCustoms team for further information or to arrange a meeting.

Email: l.holt@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk

Training and events programme E-Cert All of the above export documentation services are easily accessible via our online platform e-Cert. Please contact us if you have not got an eCert account set up with us already.

Customs declarations Import and export declarations Our ChamberCustoms brokerage service was launched in January this year and offers full import and export customs entries through any UK air, sea or land port terminal. ChamberCustoms gives you better control and improved compliance, by providing a single point of contact for your certification and customs entries. Unfortunately, failure to submit customs declarations on time can result in a £2,500 fine. Our experienced team can help you avoid this!

Supplementary declarations From the 1 January 2021, importers have been allowed 175 days after date of import for goods from the EU before the full (supplementary) import declaration needed to be submitted, VAT and duty (if any) to be paid. This was facilitated as long as the correct authorisations such as CFSP (Customs Freight Simplified Procedures) and EIDR (Entry in Declarants Records) were in place. This scheme will end on 1 January 2022. If you would like to enquire about using the ChamberCustoms’ authorisation to submit supplementary declarations on your behalf, please contact our team.

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Our training programme includes the following import and export courses: • A Beginners Guide to Export • Understanding Export/Export Documentation • Import Procedures • Customs Compliance, Procedures and Documentation • Incoterms • Methods of Payment and Letters of Credit • Preference Rules of Origin • Understanding Commodity Codes • Customs Declarations Visit the Chamber Events page to view course dates.

The above courses can also be provided as private in-house training if you have multiple members of staff that require training.

We also offer customised training to suit whatever your import/export training needs may be.

Please note that the majority of the above courses are accredited and count towards the British Chambers of Commerce Foundation Award in International Trade.

For more details about any of the above services or our other International services, please contact Lorraine Holt at l.holt@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk

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Sector Focus: International Trade

DFDS Seaways welcomes new Operations Director FDS Seaways has appointed Jonathan Lowden as Operations Director.

Jonathan, who is currently the Director of Bogie Systems for Wabtec UK, takes up his new role on 3 January 2022, and will be based at DFDS Seaways operational site at the Port of Immingham.

Responsible for all landside

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DFDS Seaways

operational activity and associated infrastructure as well as the central services team, Jonathan’s appointment will build upon DFDS’s cultural and business development journey.

Andrew Byrne, Managing Director of DFDS Seaways, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jonathan to DFDS. Jonathan has enjoyed a long and successful career in senior

operational and commercial roles and this has helped him develop into a highly effective leader with a broad range of experiences and skills. DFDS still faces a number of challenges post Brexit and as the economy recovers from the Covid pandemic, but there are also significant opportunities for growth which I am confident Jonathan will ensure are maximised.”

Jonathan Lowden, who has been appointed Operations Director for DFDS Seaways

Jonathan added: “It is with great excitement and passion that I seize this fantastic opportunity to join DFDS Seaways. It is essential to acknowledge and pay tribute to the incredible people that I have worked alongside in my career to date. The skills, expertise, commitment, drive and individual qualities that each person has contributed are hugely valued. With the principle of appreciating every person alongside the drive for high standards, attention to detail and efficiency, I look forward to driving DFDS Seaways to even greater heights.”

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Sector Focus: Legal & Finance

Membership now includes advice lines Three document libraries - HR, H&S and Legal - almost 800 template documents plus lots more information available 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 now available to members and 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

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scheme provided by Quest with 45,000 UK Chamber of Commerce users.

David Hooper said: “Businesses are facing challenging times and these new services offer excellent support to all businesses, whatever size. I believe these 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, 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.”

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

Welcome for trio of new starters Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce that Claire Ramsden and Juliette Fisher have joined as Partners, strengthening the firm's client offering regionally and throughout the UK. Both Claire and Juliette bring substantial property expertise and are key additions to the team.

A well-known and respected lawyer, Claire undertakes a mix of commercial property work for various clients, although she has particular experience of advising on the property aspects of agriculture and corporate projects, as well as acting for house builders of all sizes on the acquisition of development sites.

With over 20 years’ legal experience, Juliette joins Andrew Jackson from an international law firm and brings substantial commercial property expertise to her new role, particularly in the area of healthcare.

Partner Geoff Phillips, who recently became Head of Property at Andrew Jackson, said: “Our property team continues to experience a high level of demand for its services, so we are particularly delighted to welcome Claire and Juliette to the 38

From left: Claire Ramsden, Geoff Phillips, head of property, and Juliette Fisher

partnership. They have a strong track record in the delivery of timely, commercial advice to clients – something which is consistently recognised in our client feedback, so it’s important to us to keep building on the specialist services we can offer them.”

Business Intelligence November/December 2021

Andrew Jackson is also pleased to announce the appointment of Katy Hansom (pictured), who joins the firm’s growing team as a Partner, strengthening its offering regionally and throughout the UK. With several years’ specialist experience, particularly in the areas of intellectual property and commercial contracts, Katy Hansom said: “I am really delighted to return to Andrew Jackson where I began my career 18 years ago. I have always had an interest in how the firm has developed and grown over the years, as well as its leading reputation for corporate and commercial work.

"I am really looking forward to playing a key role in ensuring that the team continues to build on its strong position by providing an outstanding service, which is build around our clients' specific needs."

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Sector Focus: Skills & Training

T: 01482 211989

E: info@globaltraining.com W: wiseglobaltraining.com

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Sector Focus: Skills & Training

Chamber invests in training facilities hat better time to work with Chamber Training to support your apprentices than now as the Chamber makes record investment in its training facilities.

Head of Training, Tricia Whiting, says: "Our refrigeration apprentices are regularly in the national finals for apprentice of the year. We are hoping they will do even better in future as a result of the big investment we have made in our practical training workshop at Goulton Street.

There has been a complete upgrade of the facility installing two cold rooms and state of the art furniture. It has been great for the apprentices themselves to work on the installation as part of their apprenticeship standards.

“The Goulton Street workshop will now become an ‘End Point Assessment’ centre for Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering.

“Employer partners have donated top quality equipment for apprentices to learn their trade on. We received two evaporators that were donated by LU-VE Italy; specially made for us. We also received donations from Pure Facilities and Martin Dixon and several of our employers have contributed to

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Tutor Paul Singh with some of the apprentices

‘There has been a complete upgrade of the facility installing two cold rooms and state of the art furniture’ the installation and setting up of the equipment, these include; Airkool, IRS, SRS, Cam Refrigeration and Mitie.

“We would like to thank all our employers for the support they have given us on this project so that we

have a training and assessment centre that can support both apprentices and private courses for F-GAS and other qualifications.

This investment alongside the investment in the Hairdressing Salon in Hull City Centre means

that Chamber Training is continuing to invest in its training support to give high quality training to apprentices in Refrigeration, Hairdressing and Barbering, Business Administration, Customer Service, Team Leading and Care.”

If you want to find out more about how Chamber Training can support you with your training needs contact us on 01482 611896.

RSM increases trainee intake in Yorkshire RSM UK in Yorkshire has strengthened its plans for long-term growth by recruiting a record number of trainees, with the majority joining the firm this summer.

The leading audit, tax and consulting firm has recruited almost 36 new recruits across Leeds and Hull, including 22 graduates and nine school leavers, highlighting a nearly six per cent increase on last year’s total trainee intake.

Nationally the firm recruited almost 600 new recruits – almost doubling the numbers when compared to last year’s total trainee intake. The firm’s recruitment policy also runs counter to the national trend as university leavers compete for 24 per cent fewer roles this year compared to last as businesses reduce the number of available graduate positions post-pandemic. In contrast RSM UK has increased its graduate

intake by 53 per cent on the previous year and 65 per cent when compared to prepandemic levels.

RSM UK has also increased its intake of school leavers by taking on 103 this calendar year, up by 47 per cent from the 70 who joined last year. This demonstrates RSM UK’s focus on attracting more who choose a career in professional services straight from school as an alternative to attending university.

The record intake is part of RSM UK’s strategic intention to strengthen the firm from within its own ranks, and over the long term, to help become first choice advisers to middle market leaders globally. The trainees are based throughout the UK and spread across the audit, corporate finance, risk, restructuring advisory, financial reporting and IT teams.

Alex Tait, RSM UK Regional Managing Partner for Yorkshire and the North East, said: “The jobs market is extremely competitive for young people, and this has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. I am glad we are able to offer a first step on the career ladder to so many bright, intelligent and hardworking individuals at what is, an exceptionally challenging time.”

Andy Capes, RSM UK’s Office Managing Partner in Hull, added: “We’re delighted to welcome our 2021 trainee group. RSM is a great place to start your career and an exciting environment within which to progress. Those who join us can expect a supportive and collaborative culture where our people are afforded variety, autonomy, and the space to learn and grow.”

Visit: www.rsmuk.com/careers/students

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Sector Focus: Manufacturing

Finding the right solution to meet our specific needs

By Will Battrick (pictured), Co-Founder & Chief Technologist, Carbon ThreeSixty arbon ThreeSixty delivers bespoke specification composite wheels, runflats and related products for the defence, automotive and aerospace industries.

We are currently developing the world’s first commercially viable, low cost, lightweight, allcomposite wheel for electric and niche vehicles, such as driverless cars, last mile delivery vehicles, road sweepers and next generation agricultural vehicles.

Carbon ThreeSixty were actively seeking a proof-ofauthenticity technology to further secure the provenance and incontrovertible traceability of our world-class safety critical structural composite products.

The solution needed to be unobtrusive, seamlessly integrate with our existing process and provide a globally unique ID for each and every product with an in-service lifetime commensurate with the durability of our products. To fully exploit the opportunity such tagging presented we needed a simple low-cost solution with excellent readability.

What we were looking for was an RFID partner with proven expertise in system integration rather than just a supplier. In the initial stages we were unsure whether the technology would meet the strict criteria we required so a partner relationship was vital.

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ISO standard. Professional technical support had to be available on call during our business hours. In addition, and to be cost effective, the transponder and reader solution had to be ‘proven’ and be available ‘off the shelf’ rather than bespoke to our requirements.

The technology It was critical the RFID transponder or ‘tag’ met the following requirements: 1. Lifespan proven minimum of 30 years in similar applications 2. ID Code structure that was not subject to alteration or deletion (we were aware that electronically coded transponders could have their ID Code altered or deleted) 3. Globally unique ID Code (we were aware that so called ‘open protocol’ transponders made by different manufacturers could have the same ID Code) 4. Ability to associate all relevant asset information to the tag ID number in a secure database/look up table (we were aware that ‘read/write’ had a limited lifespan or around 10 years and would fail at temperatures under 100°C so writing data to the tag was not an option) 5. Ability to survive temperatures in excess of 180°C for the duration of our matrix curing processes 6. Ability to survive in the chemicals used in composite component manufacturing such as epoxies, bismaleimide, polyimide and phenol-formaldehyde resins.

7. Ability to survive direct or indirect UV for the life of the transponder; with appropriate laboratory testing documenting the same

The manufacturer The ideal manufacturer would have a global presence in the RFID industry as well as extensive experience in the composite sector, ideally one with manufacturing and administrative certification to 42

8. The tag had to have a small form factor and be simple to incorporate in the composite laminate 9. The tag had to be capable of being read when embedded several millimetres or centimetres sub-surface 10. The tag (and readers) had to be cost effective.

Business Intelligence November/December 2021

The solution Our research into a suitable partner resulted in contacting Trovan, a global player in industrial RFID. We learned that Trovan was a ‘pioneer’ in the design and production of LF RFID going back over 30 years and had more than 20 years’ experience in the composite component sector. Their tags met and exceeded all of the criteria we required. The tags are manufactured in Germany and tag reading equipment in Holland. Trovan is at the forefront of R&D into RFID technology and holds a number of Patents relating to transponder design and manufacture.

Trovan provided us with sample tags and readers for testing. Our results were 100% reads at the temperatures and pressures we subjected the tags to.

We are now installing Trovan RFID transponders in all of our products.

Visit: www.carbonthreesixty.com Visit: www.rfidsystems.co.uk

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Sector Focus: Manufacturing

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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

Keeping pace with

the latest tech Jaguar E-PACE D165 S AWD Auto David Hooper drives Jaguar’s E-PACE and looks at some of the latest gadgets and technology that make it all the more desirable.

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ho wouldn’t want to own a Jaguar?

The name alone conjures up all kinds of emotions and desires for true car lovers, and while the gorgeous classics of the marque’s glamorous heritage are now beyond the reach of many mere mortals, buying a new example isn’t as costly as you might at first expect.

Take this E-PACE, for example, a great looking SUV featuring the raised driving position favoured by so

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many modern motorists who appreciate a better vantage point from which to observe the goings on around them, attractive styling, room for four to five adults, and a practical sized boot – it would have to feature on most wish lists.

It’s available with petrol and diesel engines, or as a plug-in electric hybrid which utilises an electric motor combined with a petrol engine, avoiding the dreaded range anxiety, because if you run out of electric battery power, the petrol engine takes over.

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Sector Focus: Motoring

The Jaguar E-PACE is a great looking car

So how much, you might ask. Well, prices for the range start from £32,575 on the road, which is competitively priced when compared to its rivals, although none of them come with the prestige of the iconic Jaguar leaper on their bonnets.

Our test car is priced at £38,230, but with a few choice extras, you would have to pay £43,100 to see it sitting on your drive, but more of that later.

It features JLR’s D165 engine, which is a mild hybrid, has all-wheel-drive and comes with a nine, yes, ninespeed automatic gearbox, which gives the drivetrain plenty of gears to choose from. It shifts almost seamlessly from cog to cog while on the move, with the driver having the option of a Sport setting, or manual control via the flappy paddles behind the steering wheel, but left to its own devices, the car does a pretty good job on its own without the need for any intervention, even when pushing on.

‘It is a very pleasant travelling companion, offering levels of refinement befitting a Jaguar’ With 161bhp on tap, it isn’t the fastest thing on four wheels, but progress can still be enjoyably rapid, particularly in the mid range where it is needed most.

The benchmark 0-62mph sprint is despatched in 9.2 seconds and there’s a potential top speed of 124mph should you need to cross Europe in a hurry.

During my few days with the car, it returned an average of 39.2mpg over a distance of 400-plus miles, which included the full mix of road and driving conditions.

It is a very pleasant travelling companion, offering levels of refinement befitting a Jaguar, and it really does lap up the miles on the motorway, with its diesel engine purring (sorry) away almost silently under the bonnet, although I was slightly disappointed with its overall fuel consumption, I expected at least mid-40s from it.

Equipment levels are good with everything you need, and quite a lot you don’t, but it’s still nice to have things like all-round 3D cameras, keyless start, lane keeping

assist and JaguarDrive Control Adaptive Surface Response which will help you get going when it’s slippery underfoot. The “S” specification of our test car also includes Auto High Beam Assist which works well, dipping the headlights when oncoming traffic appears, and the latest Pivi Pro dash, which not only looks good (apart from the fingerprints on the screen) but allows the driver to customise the displays to their own preference of features, but the default navigation, phone and infotainment displays were fine for me.

Among the options were the Exterior Black Pack, 19in spoked wheels, a Meridian hi-fi system which sounded great, privacy glass, and my favourite, the technology pack which included the ClearSight interior rear view mirror, which effectively turns your rear-view mirror into a rear-facing camera – even if it did make my eyes go blurry when I glanced at it, but that might have been my contact lenses! It’s good fun waiting to see how long it takes your passengers to notice it. At £1,500 the Technology Pack isn’t cheap, but it also gives you wireless phone charging with a signal booster and headup display which projects key information onto the windscreen in front of the driver, reducing the need to take your eyes off the road.

The Jaguar E-PACE is a great looking car, well equipped and with a few choice options, it can be quite a talking point. Even better is the fact that it is affordable and represents an enticing alternative to the usual suspects which might come more readily to mind when you’re thinking about your next car.

The vital statistics Model: Jaguar E-PACE D165 S AWD Auto Engine: 1997cc, 161bhp four-cylinder diesel MHEV engine, driving four wheels through 9-speed automatic gearbox Performance: Top speed 124mph.

0-62mph in 9.2 secs Economy: City: 38.8mpg Country: 43.4mpg Combined: 44.3mpg Wheel World test average: 39.2mpg Co2 emissions: 167g/km Fuel tank: 65 litres Price: £38,230 (£43,100 as tested) Warranty: Three years/100,000 miles Website: www.jaguar.co.uk

The display is fully customisable

November/December 2021

• All data correct at time of publication.

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T: 01482 219 655 E: info@direct-gaskets.co.uk W: direct-gaskets.co.uk 46

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Sector Focus: Motoring

Familiarity

leads to great value The vital statistics Model: Suzuki Swace 1.8 Hybrid SZT CVT Engine: 1798cc, 102bhp four-cylinder petrol engine and 53kW electric motor, driving front wheels through CVT gearbox.

Combined power output is 122bhp Performance: Top speed 112 mph. 062mph in 11.1 secs Economy: WLTP Combined: 64mpg Wheel World test average: 54.5mpg Co2 emissions: 99g/km Fuel tank: 43 litres Price: £27,499 Warranty: Five years/100,000 miles Website: www.cars.suzuki.co.uk • All data correct at time of publication.

Suzuki Swace 1.8 Hybrid SZT CVT If this new Suzuki looks kind of familiar, you’d be right, it does.

David Hooper explains why.

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he costs associated with developing a car from scratch are phenomenal, so it’s no surprise that more and more manufacturers are sharing platforms, technology, engines and parts bins to keep costs down and retain affordability.

If this Suzuki Swace looks kind of familiar to you, but you can’t quite place it, you’d be right, you have seen it before, or something very much like it, in the form of a Toyota Corolla, but you can’t blame Suzuki for “borrowing” the basis of a new model. It gives the popular brand a new dimension, and the Swace is a lovely car to drive. It’s all part of a collaborative tie-up between Suzuki and Toyota.

Toyota themselves have “borrowed” the underpinnings of their latest GR Supra we featured in the last edition from BMW. The Swace, which is manufactured in the UK and exported to Europe, is very quiet on the road, partly because of its hybrid drivetrain which at times sees the car moving almost silently on its battery, but even with the engine on, refinement levels are impressive, most of the time.

Economy is excellent too, the best I achieved was 68mpg on a long trip with mixed driving, but overall during my few days with the car it averaged 54.5mpg over 400-plus miles.

With accommodation inside for up to five people, with a large and capacious load area at the rear, further enhanced by the lack of a spare wheel under the boot floor (replaced by a pump and sealant), the Swace is practical too.

Equipment levels are good, with all the electrical goodies you would hope for, plus a reversing camera, for those tighter spaces which is always helpful, dual-zone climate control, heated seats and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Our test car was also equipped with adaptive cruise control which is a real boon on the motorways in traffic, when the car will simply follow the vehicle in front, adjusting its speed with the flow of traffic. The system works really well, and will even apply the brakes if necessary – and bring the car to a complete stop in traffic. The driver can also adjust the distance between the Swace, and the car in front.

The impressive fuel consumption figures are down to its well-proven full hybrid technology. You don’t have to worry about plugging the car in and there’s no more range anxiety than there would be with an ordinary petrol engine, but you do get the benefits of some electric battery usage in slow moving traffic, or to contribute to the car’s overall performance.

It’s all clever stuff and it’s enthralling to watch as you drive along. The driver can select an EV mode, which will lock the car into electric vehicle mode, but only until it becomes too depleted, which doesn’t take long, at which point the engine will automatically cut back in.

The Swace is a lovely practical family car which could be a first step on the road to cleaner motoring for those with a green conscience, and with the engineering talents of Suzuki and Toyota combined into an attractive package, you just know it’s going to be reliable.

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New Members To find out about Chamber Membership visit www.hull-humber-chamber.co.uk/memberships or call Janice Harrison on (01482) 324976, or Anne Tate or Marilyn Waud on (01472) 342981.

Abbey Construction Consultants Ltd Healther McQueen-Pearson Hull 01482 240901 Principal designer & safety consultancy

Frosty Ice Ltd David Hughes Barton upon Humber 07885 707111 Used refrigeration equipment & food processing

Acis Group Jessica Moreton Gainsborough 01427 675804 Provider of affordable housing

Get Cycling CIC Debbie Miller York 01904 636812 Charity

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HARSH Ltd Adam Hargreaves York 01759 372100 Ancillary equipment to commercial truck vehicles

B W Industries Limited Daniel Smith Bridlington 01262 400088 Steel manufacturer Bentall Rowlands Silo Storage Ltd Gus Walker Scunthorpe 01724 282828 Silo manufacturer Blackrow Group Gary Pexman Grimsby 01472 889200 Engineering products & services across key sectors Contract Production Limited Jason Knight Pickering 01751 475950 Electronic production CRE8 Workspaces Limited Raymond Nolan Scunthorpe 01724 231274 Commercial interiors David Robert & Partners Insurance Brokers Grimsby Kristina Frost Grimsby 01472 494105 Insurance broker

HCC Supplies Ltd Graham Quinn Hull 07851 723266 Paper hygiene, cleaning chemicals, catering & packing disposable supplier Healan Ingredients Ltd Neil Harrison North Newbald 01430 871414 Food ingredients/manufacturer HEY Credit Union John Smith Hull 01482 778753 Not for profit financial services HOAM Impex Hemil Haria Hull 07437 801913 Wholesale, export & import of alcoholic beverages Home Instead Beverley & Hull Mandy Airken Beverley 01482 231145 Home care Humber Lofts Dr Gopiraj Krishnasamy Hull 07918 115375 Serviced accommodation

Kemps Publishing Lee Markham Solihull 0121 765 4144 Publishing Lamsser Limited Michael Brown HULL 01482 830129 Energy Management Little Box of Hygge Laura Donnelly Gainsborough 07803 318751 Hygge gift boxes & hand-poured candles Peanut Designs Laura Murray HULL 07403 271751 Graphic design services R&D Security Services UK Ltd Darren Kemp Hull 07926 566220 Security RFID Systems Ltd Douglas McCartney North Ferriby 01482 222070 RFID technology RS Security Services Limited Richard Short Scunthorpe 01724 373048 Security Ryan Electrical Services & Sons Ltd Lisa Connor Hull 01482 501600 Facility management, ac & lifts Scholars Power Ltd Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Hull 01482 443970 Waste management & environmental protection Sewell Law Gordon Sewell Hull 07793 371887 Solicitors SGS United Kingdom Ltd Freddie Ellison Ellesmere Port 01276 697715 Auditing & certification services

The Beacon Group Matthew Robinson Burgess Hill 01444 254 394 Security services, commercial cleaning & training The Culture House Ltd Charlotte Bowen Grimsby 07974 263538 Arts & cultural events & activity The First Aid Box Training Solutions Ltd Emma Gates Driffield 01377 790842 Independent training & event medical support provider The Property Couple - Newman Property Experts Gaynor Ramsden Grimsby 01472 730733 Estate agency & property marketing The Water Hydraulics Co Ltd Danielle M Cooper Hull 01482 595000 Engineering manufacturing Tiltek Offshore Ltd Scott Anthony Bibby Hull 07805 477741 Engineering Tri-Pack Packaging Systems Paul Rushton Grimsby 07540 943183 Packaging manufacturer Woodpecker UK Ltd Colin Wood Barrow Upon Haven 07531 1202427 Vehicle dent repair World Cargo Logistics Ltd (Immingham Office) Carl Searby Near Immingham 01469 572402 Freight forwarding transport YMCA Humber Steve Rusling Grimsby 01472 359621 Charity

E-Tech Solutions Ltd Paul McDonald Grimsby 01472 426444 IT support

Impala Promotions Ltd Errol Thorpe Nottingham 07534 206346 Sales & marketing

SMOSNET Lawrence Laidlow Holme Upon Spalding Moor 07725 841617 Sales & influence training

Yorkshire Greens Ltd David Norton Driffield 01377 82700 Frozen food

Flamingo Pharma (UK) Ltd Richard Eggleston Hull 07733 522465 Pharmaceuticals

Jubilee Central Dan Fryer Hull 01482 328196 Venue hire

St Helens Farm Emma Whitfield York 01430 861400 Dairy

Zap Aesthetics Zoey Prescott Barrow Upon Humber 07423 734849 Medical aesthetics

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And Finally...

Looking forward to a ‘Right Royal Gala Night Dinner’ and helping Fitmums stay In the Pink!

Support group gets help from AA Global scheme which was launched nearly 10 years ago to help women with post-natal depression is to embark on a post-Covid campaign to help a wider range of people after securing funding from a business in Hull.

In the Pink, which was set up in 2012 by Fitmums and Friends, is being sponsored by AA Global Language Services to cover the cost of employing a part-time coordinator who will build a network of volunteers.

AA Global, which provides translation and interpreting services in the public and private sectors, will also help to increase awareness of the initiative through its work in multicultural communities.

In the Pink broadened its services to help people with issues around bereavement, breast cancer and other illnesses and other causes of depression, anxiety and low confidence.

Covid restrictions put the work

A

on hold because volunteers were no longer able to conduct face-toface meetings with clients, but now Fitmums and Friends Chief Officer and founder Sam Barlow has recruited a co-ordinator who will train the volunteers to resume the sessions.

Clients can attend up to three sessions free of charge and then have the option of progressing to join Fitmums and Friends, which now operates 11 groups across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Kirk Akdemir, CEO of AA Global, said: “Our support will cover the costs of co-ordinating the volunteers for a whole year, and we will also be looking at other ways to contribute to this amazing scheme.”

Sam said: “We are so grateful to all at AA Global for helping us relaunch In the Pink. The support is significant because we don’t have many contacts in the world of business and we hope this will enable us to raise awareness of the work we are doing.”

Heads up for the 2022 Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards Get ready for the launch of the 2022 Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards.

More information to follow, but if you are interested in sponsoring, entering or attending the Awards ‘Right Royal’ Gala Dinner then please drop a line to info@nlba.co.uk.

This will be a live Black Tie event planned for Friday 13 May, 2021 at Grimsby Auditorium so start thinking celebration, posh frocks, dickies and fizz!

Look for another update in our next edition of Business Intelligence.

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From left: Ignas Mikoliunas, General Manager and Kirk Akdemir, CEO, both of AA Global, with Vickie Hillier, Deputy Chief Officer and Sam Barlow, Chief Officer and founder

To find out more about In the Pink and Fitmums and Friends please visit fitmums.org.uk/in-the-pink For details of the Together in Grief programme of easy-paced walks or gentle yoga sessions which supports people after they’ve lost loved ones visit fitmums.org.uk/support/together-in-grief Details of Let’s Get Going, a programme of easy-paced walks designed to support people impacted by the Covid pandemic, can be found at fitmums.org.uk/support/lets-get-going

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T: 01482 214169 M: 07926 566220 E: darren@randdsecurityservicesukltd.co.uk E: accounts@randdsecurityservicesukltd.co.uk W: randdsecurityservicesukltd.co.uk