< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PUBLIC RELATIONS I ’ve been busy meeting Dragons. Again. Hungry ones. I have a history with them actually. It stretches back at least a decade. I’ve helped one flag down a taxi at 1am on New Year’s Eve in the Canary Islands. I’ve been ignored in one’s Mayfair lair whilst standing five yards away for about seven excruciating minutes (I had an appointment - long story). I’ve discussed walking barefoot in the garden with another (a really nice Dragon) and ironically enough, chaired a press conference for the rude Dragon who ignored me a few stock issue caused by a major retail partner as orders soared live on air. Spoiler alert…she just sold the lot thanks to HUGE enthusiasm for her product. Meanwhile, back on the sofa, there’s Sara a few years ago watching Strictly with her ”PR guy” mate, joking semi seriously about how to get on the show. Her PR guy wisely pointed out that whilst she was a successful entrepreneur already, her PR value in terms of star attraction wasn’t yet sufficient. They What I learned from my latest Dragons’ Den meeting Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, reflects on his recent meeting with Sara Davies. months later. Oh, and my mum and stepdad were on Dragons’ Den too. So when I met Sara Davies recently and she told the story of how her PR guy got her on Strictly, I had to share the tale…or is it tail? You see, Sara LOVES Strictly. She was almost as excited to tell us (an audience of over 1,000 business owners) about that as she was about how she battled major legal challenges when starting out which threatened to kill her business right from the start. Or how she juggled a really tricky purchase and subsequent 40-41.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:50 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link PUBLIC RELATIONS would need a strategy and Dragons’ Den might just be the answer. How did she get on that show then? Well, she asked. Or rather, her PR guy asked. It was a little more involved than a casual phone call but it boiled down to taking that first step and having a plan. This is how PR tends to work. I get a lot of people asking me to get them into the national media (which is fine) but they expect it to happen overnight. What they need is a campaign. A cunning plan. They need to prove their value to other reporters and generate trust, column inches and eyeballs elsewhere first, as they build up to national relevance. If you want to know how I’ve done it with three different clients this year, you know where I am. Enter the lair if you dare but be reassured that if you do, I won’t ignore you for seven minutes! A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008. He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective. 40-41.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:50 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT As the population in the UK grows, water is becoming ever more important, and recent failures in water treatment and disposal have brought uncomfortable attention on the sector. While some businesses have been doing things the right way, others have prioritised profits over the environment – and been punished for it. W ater being a keystone of life makes the industry important, and it is that same commitment to life that led water companies in the UK to agree in 2020 on an ambitious plan to make the water treatment industry net zero by 2030, twenty years ahead of the Government’s 2050 deadline. Water UK estimated that the pledge could lead to a saving of ten million tonnes of greenhouse gases. That is because water treatment and transportation is energy intensive, which is very expensive in today’s economic climate especially. Government projections put water supply as becoming scarcer in the future as demand on limited supplies increase, which is why businesses are being tasked with becoming more water efficient, and why water treatment is so integral. The cornerstones of water treatment involve the treating and safe release/disposal of water used in business processes back into the environment. This can have major ecological impacts when handled ineffectively, harming biodiversity and causing ecological, as well as environmental, damage. We live in a world where these factors are prized more than ever by consumers and customers who, in a more digital world, are quick to find fault and criticise Wasted potential 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:52 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT © stock.adobe.com/aquatarkus For All Business Development Enquiries Please Contact Business Development Manager Lara Day Email: lara.day@stservices.co.uk Mobile: 07384 450 701 www.st-connect.co.uk Sustainable wastewater treatment solutions companies who cause damage to the landscape. Wastewater – and waste management in general – represents not only copious amounts of greenhouse gas, but damaging environmental waste that can impact entire ecosystems, changing concentrations of animals, pests and insects in ways that can upset natural habitats. One doesn’t have to look far to see timely and topical examples of water treatment done wrong, as the Government was recently highlighted for decisions that allowed treatment works to pump raw sewage into the UK’s rivers which, a new report has found, was known to be happening by the Environment Agency ten years ago. The report found that in 2012, it was known that United Utilities were dumping raw sewage into rivers in north-west regions and were failing to treat the required amount of sewage as agreed by their permits. The fact it has only come to light now has led many to 44 Á 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:52 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT © stock.adobe.com/tampatra anger and will place more attention on water treatment and wastewater disposal going forward as the Government, and concerned groups, try to limit the damage. Since then, Anglian Water have been fined over £800,000 for breaches and pollution incidents in Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, which has led for calls for their other sites to be investigated as well. One incident was said to have caused the deaths of every invertebrate in the river for 1.5 kilometres, which will have disastrous knock-on effects for all animals for which they were a part of the food chain. Is accurate and adequate water treatment just about complying with environmental demands and avoiding criticism, however? No. It is important that good water treatment in any business be viable as well as environmentally sound, and thankfully water treatment can help to reduce energy costs if it is implemented correctly. The process itself is very energy intensive, which is why it stands that greater savings can be made. A 10% increase in energy efficiency, for instance, will have a much greater financial saving on an energy- intensive process as opposed to an energy-light process. The amount of savings that can be made will depend on factors such as the size and age of existing water 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:52 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT 1HZ+RXVLQJ'HYHORSPHQWVWKDWIDFH1XWULHQW1HXWUDOLW\ RUOLWWOHQRFDSDFLW\6HYHUQ7UHQW&RQQHFWFDQKHOSSOHDVHFRQWDFWXV )RU$OO%XVLQHVV'HYHORSPHQW(QTXLULHV3OHDVH&RQWDFW %XVLQHVV'HYHORSPHQW0DQDJHU/DUD'D\ (PDLO ODUDGD\#VWVHUYLFHVFRXN0RELOH 67&RQQHFW %HQHĬWV ;&KHPLFDOIUHH:DVWHZDWHU7UHDWPHQWSODQWV ;2GRXUOHVVDQGTXLHW ;8QREWUXVLYHDQGVPDOOIRRWSULQW ;(QYLURQPHQWDODQGVXVWDLQDELOLW\PDWWHUV ;1RQSRWDEOHZDWHUVHUYLFHV UDLQZDWHUDQGJUH\ZDWHUV\VWHPV ;1XWULHQW1HXWUDOLW\ ;$GRSWLRQRIVXVWDLQDEOHGUDLQDJHV\VWHP 6X'6 ;/RZHUFXVWRPHUELOOV ;5HPRYDORISRWHQWLDOGHOD\VDQGH[SHGLWHGGHYHORSPHQW ;&HUWDLQW\LQWLPHIUDPH ;2IZDWUHJXODWHG ZZZVWFRQQHFWFRXN treatment facilities, how outdated they might be and the sewage inflow and effluent quantity. In the case of Anglian Water, it was stated that old technology and poor maintenance practices played a part in their failure. The lessons to be learned from this are that water treatment and disposal is a story of two halves – the first is that the water be treated and made safe as efficiently and affordable as possible, but the other half is that efforts must be taken to have a conscious awareness of what impact the release of such waste will have on the local environment and ecological system. This may not be as immediately profit-oriented as the former, but the hefty fines faced by companies who failed this, and the reputational damage, will have long-lasting implications on their brands, and may well lead to many job losses among high ranking individuals who were found to have allowed this to happen. As the population in the country continues to grow, water will become increasingly precious. We have already begun to see droughts in developed countries such as America, and there are many of the attitude that this could not possibly happen in the UK. The reality is less certain however, which is why continued investment and development in water treatment facilities is so important. © stock.adobe.com/Kletr 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:52 Page 4 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk RAMMSANDERSON Q&A R ammSanderson are a specialist environmental consultancy providing services to a wide range of clients across all scales of developments. Founded on the principles of customer service, technical excellence and pragmatic solution-based consulting, the team includes specialists in both terrestrial & aquatic ecology, arboriculture, flood risk & drainage and habitat management. RammSanderson are both RISQs and Achilles audited suppliers with extensive experience across various sectors including utilities, residential and commercial. They support key infrastructure clients such as Severn Trent Water and their capital delivery partners as well as regional and national housing developers in meeting their statutory responsibilities, including those around the water environment and ever more crucially, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) targets. Director Anthony Mellor answers some key questions the business are routinely asked and outlines where RammSanderson can help in your Plan or Project. At what stage should I be engaging Ecological / Aquatic / Flood Risk / Drainage consultants? Early engagement is key! I’m sure most disciplines will say this but given the recent progression in ecological consultancy it is now, more than ever, important to engage early. As the requirements for BNG take off, with local authorities adopting minimum 10% BNG requirements stipulated by the Environment Act (2021), developers should ideally be looking to allow for offsetting requirements within their masterplan. This can be easily accommodated at the initial design stage if the ecologist can work closely with the design team, avoiding costly off site commuted sums payments. It is therefore key to understand the baseline biodiversity value of the site from the outset. Early engagement with a Flood Risk consultant will also guide the layout. Flood plain is defined using zones which vary from high to low risk (Flood Zone 1 to Flood Zone 3). The area of developable land within a site can be influenced by the flood zone and as such a consultant should be engaged to steer development to the most appropriate areas of a site. Drainage can similarly influence site design. The topography will dictate the approach to drainage and as such an early high level feasibility layout can be presented by compartmentalising the site into drainage areas. Coupled with any limitations from the floodplain and required space for surface water attenuation as well as biodiversity can quickly become the building blocks for feasibility design and eventual illustrative masterplan. What are my legal obligations regarding the water environment during my development? Our team of experts can help guide you through the varying legal and policy requirements for your plan. In brief the requirements for flood risk assessments are generally as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2021 Annex 3. The detail and complexity of the study required should be appropriate to the scale and potential impact of the development and guided by local planning policy and supporting local strategic flood risk assessment. The Environment Act (2021) operates as the UKs framework of environmental protection and adopts some environmental protection into law including provision of binding targets for water and BNG. We are at the forefront of implementing BNG through the DEFRA metric and work tirelessly to find new and pragmatic opportunities for clients to achieve gains on sites through close engagement. Q&A RammSanderson We speak with RammSanderson director Anthony Mellor on the value of engaging early with ecological, aquatic, flood risk and drainage consultants to guide developments, and the legal obligations developers face as biodiversity and mitigating risk to water bodies continue to increase in importance. Habitat restoration works of riverbank undertaken by RammSanderson 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:53 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link RAMMSANDERSON Q&A A site may lie within the Impact Risk Zone (IRZ) of a Special Area of Conservation and/or Special Protection Area, and afforded protection under the Conservation of Habitats & Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The IRZ citation will provide detail on specific development types that require further consideration. Where a development has the potential to impact upon one of these sites, the competent authority should complete a Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA). Specific data should be submitted by the developer to inform the HRA. This is particularly relevant now more so following recent case law and as a result of Nutrient Neutrality areas being established. The Water Framework Directive (WFD 2015) defines environmental objectives with regards to water bodies. Any proposed works where impact to inland surface waters is possible are required to undertake a risk assessment to demonstrate that the development will not result in a deterioration of the status or prevent the water body from meeting the WFD objective. What sort of Surveys, Technical Reports and Licenses might be required to comply with planning and legislation? It is important to recognise that each proposal is different and the sensitivity of a site will depend on a number of factors depending on the location, habitat type and existing conditions. As such the requirement for any specific surveys would typically be highlighted following a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal. Any works that impact a watercourse are likely to require further consideration and include review of the construction methods and available alternatives. Through the most recent DEFRA Metric 3.1 all sites within 10m of a watercourse must now consider impacts on river habitats. This includes the potential for new outfalls discharging to watercourses as part of a site’s drainage strategy, landscaping works or more obvious hard engineering. This 10m buffer is known as the ‘Riparian Zone’ and is generally considered an intrinsic part of the ecological functionality of the river, and as such even minor changes could have adverse impact. The BIA should be informed by a River condition assessment/Modular River Survey (MoRPh). River habitats can support a number of legally protected species such as otter, water vole, crayfish, Kingfisher, and Salmonoid fish which may require licencing to permit development proposals. Where permits or licences are required, an application should be supported by an appropriate level of survey data. Other things to consider include management prescriptions for SuDS, discharge consents, environmental permits for construction activities and on- going riparian responsibilities post- construction. RammSanderson have a specially trained team in this field of expertise and can readily provide expert advice and practical on-site solutions to our clients with recent successes helping a temporary river diversion whereby our team were employed to electro-fish the site and rescue fish prior to works. The RammSanderson team electrofishing Electrofishing equipment and the RammSanderson team East Midlands : West Midlands : Yorkshire : Northern Ireland Switchboard: 0115 9302493 Email : enquires@rammsanderson.com 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:53 Page 2A Trio of 4x4s Winter is just around the corner, so we check out three 4x4s that may well whet your appetite for on-road driving - and the rough stuff! East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk AUTOLINK 48-51.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:56 Page 1Ford Ranger Raptor If you’re unfamiliar with the Raptor, let us enlighten you. While it’s smaller than the monstrously sized famous American F-150 Lightning that Ford also makes, it’s no slouch and takes inspiration from its supersized cousin. The on-road ride is where the Raptor excels. It is ridiculously comfortable. Of course, it helps when the walls of your tyres are built like a monster truck, but the endless number of suspension, damper, and spring modifications that Ford has made to the Raptor version means it’s absorbing. And this bodes well when tackling the rough stuff. The chassis is well-tuned, and, despite the lack of power from the engine, it’s still 50 Á Ford Ranger Raptor www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link AUTOLINK 48-51.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:56 Page 2Next >