APRIL 2023 EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK £3.50 Healthy in life, healthy in business Measuring office productivity The continued appeal of family businesses 01.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 13:56 Page 1Armstrong house Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Superb Location - - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre Secure off street parking High speed internet availability A range of affordable office sizes 3 3 3 3 Last remaining office suites Prime location in Grimsby Offering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House on Armstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports of Grimsby and Immingham, motorway links and the town centre, off-street parking is also available for all staff and visitors, meaning it’s convenient too. Our spacious, welcoming offices are located on the ground floor and are both secure and CCTV-monitored, giving you the ultimate peace of mind. At Armstrong House, when it comes to affordability and with a range of office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. If you require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 per month. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements call 01472 310301. 02.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 13:57 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 3 EDITORS NOTES April marks the start of the new financial year and a replenishment of budgets – but in the current state of the economy, those might not be as healthy as they could otherwise be. The Government’s own budget, released last month, did not do much to appeal to many business owners across the spectrum. Even those staunchly supporting the Conservative party will find themselves hard pressed to approve of a 6% rise in corporation tax at a point when the country is already performing poorly compared to its peers. In aims to become a nation of growth, who could have predicted that it would be the pressure on our businesses that would be the target of said growth? For larger companies more stable in their position the budget will mean additional pressure and a shortening of the bottom line. For companies struggling to make ends meet in an economy ranked as one of the worst in the G7, this could be the final nail in the coffin. There’s a lot more to the budget of course, but it’s hard to focus on any of that when corporation tax rising is perhaps the most universal and damning thing to hit businesses in the region. It isn’t going to draw investors to our country and it isn’t going to ease pressure on local businesses, and for a party that once prided itself on being the party for business to put such forward may come as a betrayal to many. There’s little use complaining about what the government will or won’t do, however. The current state of politics has been terrible for a long while. Instead, businesses will need to adapt and find new ways to reach out to clients, and that may mean adapting to new niches and technologies. Business interest in AI is picking up in the wake of ChatGPT and other brands, and businesses are seeing some movement in the labour market at last, alleviating in at least a small way the challenges in recruiting staff. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 13:57 Page 1@BLMEastMidlands BLMEastMidlands Latest news 6 A round-up of the latest news from our region. Commercial property 16 The East Midlands property market is booming, and there’s a lot of movement in Derbyshire and Leicestershire in particular. Factory automation spotlight 20 Factory automation is the use of technology to carry out manufacturing processes, which can include using robots to perform repetitive tasks, sensors to monitor production, and software to control the production line. We take a closer look. Logistics 24 Sustainability is the key word of the logistics industry today – both in terms of environmental sustainability, and in terms of finding a sustainable source of freight workers and drivers. Tax 28 James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, reflects on the Spring Budget. Family business 20 Taking care of one’s family is one of humanity’s core principles, customers see their own values in this, and want to support enterprises which echo their own beliefs. OMS Q&A34 Celebrating their 25th anniversary, Managing Director of OMS, Clive Ormerod, talks to East Midlands Business Link about the company’s past, its strengths, and what their plans are for the future. Office solutions 36 Wellbeing in the office isn’t just the newest buzzword – it’s a scientifically-proven measure of stimuli and surroundings designed to ensure the highest levels of productivity in workers. Public relations 40 Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, dives into the BBC/Gary Lineker debacle. Healthcare 42 Prioritising your physical and mental health in the workplace can profoundly boost your productivity and happiness at work, benefitting not only yourself but your colleagues and the organisation’s overall wellbeing. AutoLink 46 We look this month at an eclectic range of motors covering the whole spectrum, from the pinnacle of sports cars to an old classic to be released in limited numbers. Corporate hospitality 50 Networking is a term that most professionals recognise, but that many misappropriate. APRIL 2023 EAST MIDLANDS LE £3.50 EADING BUSINESS MAG AZINE business Healthy in life, hea oductivitypr Measuring o lthy in family The co y ficefof businesses ontinued appeal of w www.blmgroup.co.uk Cover photographs courtesy: • stock.adobe.com/Victor zastol'skiy • Blue Planet Studio • auremar • VadimGuzhva • Joaquin Corbalan Contents April 2023 Out of office54 Good news from across the region. Events56 A timely look at forthcoming business events around the East Midlands. And finally...58 Here’s Frazer’s collection of the weird and wonderful ‘news’ that came his way over the last few weeks. 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 13:58 Page 136 Group Editor Steve Fisher s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Editor Michael Fisher m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Journalist Tess Egginton t.egginton@blmgroup.co.uk Sales Director Angela Cooper a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310310 Accounts & Subscriptions Angela Sharman accounts@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311 Design & Production Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson studio@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310304 E-Mail: eastmidlands@blmgroup.co.uk Publisher Haychart Ltd, t/a Business Link Magazine Group, Huntingdon House, 278-290 Huntingdon Street, Nottingham NG1 3LY All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 13:58 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk GENERAL NEWS Melton Building Society reopen Mutual House Office after major refurbishment Melton Building Society are pleased to announce the reopening of their Mutual House offices after undergoing a major transformation. The building society partnered with local business, Blueprint Interiors, to undertake a full refurbishment of the Melton Mowbray site, resulting in state-of-the-art facilities and an eco-friendlier environment. The newly refurbished office space is a reflection of Melton Building Society’s commitment to providing its members and colleagues with the best possible experience. The renovation project includes a complete overhaul of the building’s interior, resulting in a modern and spacious workspace that fosters productivity and community collaboration. Devolution plans win backing from East Midlands city and county councils City and county councils in the East Midlands have agreed to move forward with devolution plans for the region worth at least £1.14 billion. Nottingham City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Derby City Council have all now agreed to proceed with the plans. Agreement means that new local powers and funding to improve the environment, skills training, transport, housing, and the economy could be in place as soon as next year. For that to happen, new legislation is needed, so that a new form of Combined County Authority can be created. With new legislation in place, proposals for devolution could be sent to the Government for approval and Royal Assent, meaning that devolution in the East Midlands could be a reality from spring 2024, with the first ever election for a regional mayor, covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, taking place in May 2024. University of Leicester experts set to launch global health research project in Nepal A £10 million project led by the Public Health Foundation of India and working in collaboration with experts from the University of Leicester to improve healthcare in the subcontinent has taken a step forward with a launch planned in Nepal next month. The funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will allow the University of Leicester and the Public Health Foundation of India, based in Delhi, to collaborate with the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth (HRIDAY), Delhi, and Kathmandu Medical College (KMC), Kathmandu, to establish the NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Multiple Long-Term Conditions. The five-year project to improve the care outcomes of people living with multiple long-term health conditions or multimorbidity was kick-started in India in December 2022. 06-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 14:01 Page 1Cactus Images expand to new studio space After more than a decade of success at Connect Derby managed workspaces, commercial photography studio Cactus Images has expanded to new premises in the city. The company was founded in 2008 by Angela Jenkins and Chris Howard, who met when they were studying for a degree in commercial photography at University of Derby. Cactus Images started life at the university’s Banks Mill creative studios, before joining Connect Derby’s Friar Gate Studios in 2010. Since then, both Cactus Images and Connect Derby have gone from strength to strength. By 2016, Cactus Images had outgrown its studio space at Friar Gate Studios and expanded to the penthouse suite at the iconic Marble Hall, which is also part of the Connect Derby portfolio of managed workspaces. Cactus Images work with a broad client base, including Fujifilm, World of Sweets, and Royal Crown Derby.Following another sustained period of growth, Cactus has now outgrown any available space at the six Connect Derby managed workspaces and has relocated to a new 3,500 sq. ft studio on Gresham Road in Allenton, just minutes away from their previous premises. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link GENERAL NEWS • Commercial • Events • Headshots • Automotive • Fashion CALL OR EMAIL FOR A QUOTE 07506 998855 STEVE@STEVEEDWARDSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM STEVEEDWARDSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Creating eye-catching images to help businesses build their brands and engage with clients. University Vice Chancellor is chosen to lead the LEP The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln is to lead the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Professor Juster took over as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln from Professor Mary Stuart in October 2021. He holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Computer-Aided Design, both from the University of Leeds,and has extensive experience of management in higher education including Senior Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Glasgow, and Pro Vice-Principal and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. His research interests were in the area of computer-aided design including rapid prototyping and the use of virtual reality in design and manufacturing processes. Professor Juster said: “I am honoured to have been asked take on the role of Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP following from the two, very inspirational, previous Chairs. They, together with Ruth Carver as CEO and the wider team, have given the Board a clear strategy to help the county achieve economic growth. © stock.adobe.com/ TTstudio 06-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 14:01 Page 2APPOINTMENTS Macildowie invests in new hires to strengthen executive search business Nottingham-headquartered recruitment and retention consultancy, Macildowie, has welcomed the return of former employees Joanna Riley and Jo Garside, bolstering the company’s dedicated executive search team. Jo Riley re-joins the consultancy as business director of Macildowie’s CFO and Finance Director Practice, specialising in headhunting Executive Board Level Finance Leaders across the Midlands. Having previously worked for Macildowie for nearly ten years, between 2003 and 2012, Jo has since headed up executive search teams at various East Midlands agencies. Jo Garside returns to the consultancy after 14 years, having previously worked for Macildowie between 1997 and 2009. Also joining the Executive Search team, Jo has taken up the role of Executive Search Associate. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk RSM ‘lifer’ appointed as new office managing partner in Nottingham Sheetal Sanghvi, corporate tax partner at leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK, has been appointed as the new office managing partner in Nottingham, effective from 1 April 2023. She will succeed Richard King, who has been office managing partner at RSM Nottingham for ten years. Having spent over 17 years at the firm and as an RSM ‘lifer’, Sheetal joined as an audit tax assistant in 2005 and has progressed through the ranks to partner. Sheetal is head of innovation reliefs in the Central region and was the first person in the firm to get a focused role in this niche area. She has extensive experience in advising a range of businesses, from start-ups to large corporates, across a range of sectors in making significant R&D and patent box claims.Sheetal went to school in Nottingham and graduated from Leicester’s De Montfort University. She is currently EmbRACE Network lead in the Central region – an RSM initiative to champion race equality. She is extremely passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and works with the wider group to raise awareness of and support on matters of race, ethnicity and cultural heritage, and to provide guidance to the firm’s diversity and inclusion steering group on race equality issues. In her new role, Sheetal plans to build upon the existing team culture in the 90-strong office, including having an open style of leadership and ensuring a strong team mix across all sectors and service lines. trentbarton’s Tom takes group role trentbarton Group Commercial Director Tom Morgan has stepped up to his new role as Managing Director for all the bus operators in trentbarton’s parent company Wellglade. The move follows last month’s retirement of trentbarton and Kinchbus Managing Director Jeff Counsell, after almost half a century in the bus industry. Wellglade bus operators also include Midland General, Notts & Derby and TM Travel. Tom said: “It’s an honour to lead our wonderful teams, fronted by our friendly local drivers. Working across the group, benefits all the operators and enables us to take advantage of closer cooperation. “There is more and more crossover between fully commercial and supported services, and the group structure now means we are best placed to take advantage of all new opportunities regardless of their type.“trentbarton and Kinchbus will remain a major focus for me and I will also be supporting the great managers who run all our operators. I want all our teams to be empowered to think of their team as their own business that they can develop and improve, enhancing their key role within the communities they serve.” 06-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 14:01 Page 3Robinson invests in two senior sales team members Specialist packaging manufacturer Robinson has invested in its sales team with two new senior appointments in the UK. Angela Doyle joins Robinson from Berry Plastics and previously Constantia Group where she worked in the flexibles sector in both the UK and Ireland in commercial sales, primarily in the food and beverage sector. Looking forward to her role as a New Business Development Manager at Robinson, Angela highlighted: “I have a strong technical and commercial skill set, working closely with customers and production on development, problem solving and meeting deadlines. I have always enjoyed being part of a team, leading innovation and out of the box thinking.” “Robinsons has a really strong collaborative, welcoming culture and I am looking forward to playing my part in the team, creating new business opportunities and building on the strong company foundations”.Also joining the team as Business Development Manager is Nick Hudson. His background is in UK manufacture and outsourcing of premium packaging across many substrates. Nick commented: “I am really looking forward to creating awareness of the company’s commitment to sustainable, innovative rigid box packaging and its high standards of quality and service leading to Robinsons being the first choice for customers”. Precision FM appoints new business development manager Leicester-based facilities management company, Precision FM has appointed Peter Hutchinson as its new business development manager. With over a decade of experience in customer service and business development, Peter will help Precision FM expand its reach into new business sectors while continuing to support the business to deliver FM services to existing clients. Peter will be responsible for expanding the company’s relationships with existing clients, seeking new contracts and work opportunities, and driving growth across the business. His extensive business development and customer service background will enable him to build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders. “I am excited to be joining the talented team at Precision FM,” said Peter Hutchinson. “The company has a strong reputation for excellence in facilities management, and I am eager to help drive business growth working with both Precision FM’s current customer base and identify new opportunities and deliver solutions that exceed their expectations.” Established in 2012, Precision FM offers a total facilities management (FM) service spanning the entire building and property management environment. Commenting on Peter’s appointment, Brij Thankey, CEO at Precision FM, said: “We are pleased to welcome Peter to the Precision FM team. Peter’s extensive experience in delivering value for customers will be instrumental in helping to deliver the high service standards for which Precision FM is known. “His appointment will allow us to drive focus into securing new customers within the sectors where we can readily demonstrate our extensive experience, while also enable us to expand into other industry sectors to offer our innovative, value driven FM services.” www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link APPOINTMENTS Immigration specialist joins OTB Legal Nottingham-based UK immigration law specialist, OTB Legal, has welcomed a major new appointment with Emma Cohen joining from top- tier ranked Bindmans LLP (London). Recognised within independent legal directories Chambers and Partners and Legal 500, Emma joins the growing team as an associate and will bring her expertise within both personal and business immigration matters to the 14-strong team of immigration law specialists. Whilst based at the Daleside Road offices, Emma will also embrace the hybrid working model that OTB Legal has adopted. Emma has taught on the Legal Practice course at Anglia Ruskin University, worked in the voluntary sector at a legal advice centre, trains for the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) and is a volunteer adviser for Rainbow Migration (previously the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG)).On joining OTB Legal, Emma said: “OTB Legal has a fantastic reputation in the industry that reaches far outside of the East Midlands and is a firm that I am very proud to be a part of. “It is growing both in terms of the team and service offerings and is a very modern and progressive law firm. I have been impressed by how it has embraced hybrid working and harnessed technology to create a client-driven approach backed by employees that are rewarded, recognised and developed in terms of their careers. I look forward to bringing my own experience to the team and helping to develop the offering further still.” Angela Doyle 06-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/04/2023 14:01 Page 4Next >