DECEMBER 2023 EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www..co.uk WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK £3.50 Mind as well as body Evolution in engineering The scourge of late payments NTERN NATION AL Fut pro Fut ture fi g coding bility ce g Labelling, c and traaceab Food scienc Environmen spotlight ntal agingkc aa P rld o our guide to the pharmaceutical wY Issue 4 1olume 1 V mpeeee T profitable Sustainable, ature er bl a Unyielding i contro em l ll a Handlingth handli M net www .pbiforum.ne SEPTEMBER 2023 EAST MIDLANDS LEA £3.50 EADING BUSINESS MAGA AZINE een going gr WW The business case eo DMS Comms, Collab WW the barriers Organisatio bs and ANDSBUSINE rstoexceence ning - onal lear ESSLNKCOU w UK .co.uk www EMPOWER Your Business T OCTOB £2.95 BER2023 BreastC Hair & B Cce Bty WithLou In Love Month Awaren B th BLM GROUP www.blmgroup.co.uk Heritage Lincolns hi WWW.LINCWWW.LINC OLNSHIRETOOLNSHIRETO ODAYNEODAYNE september 2023 yorkshire & lincolnsh £3.50 shire’s leading business ma magazine VOLUME38SSUE09 .blmgroup.co.ukwww organ c Over Automation driving adaption success Driving business ning isational lear comngbaeso V w Often Imitated - Never Equalled www.blmgroup.co.ukwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 3 EDITORS NOTES As we approach the end of 2023, many of us will be turning our gazes to 2024 and wondering what is to come in the future. Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement was intended to address some of that, or so the government will claim, but reactions across the business world in the UK have not been particularly appreciative of it. While the measures may look good on paper, most are seeing the statement as a rather half-hearted attempt by the Conservative party to boast of tax cuts – which flies in the face of the fact that taxes have reached their highest levels in 70 years under them. The cuts to NI won’t even mean much with fresh increases in energy bills. In this issue, we look at the state of the economy and the region through 2023, and what we may be looking forward to in the future. As the country continues to tiptoe around its economic issues, and with HS2 now scrapped, it’s hard to say what there is to look forward to at all, but at least inflation has begun to decrease, and at least the country hasn’t fallen into a recession yet. For smaller businesses, however, the increase to the national living wage may be a difficult pill to swallow, while even for the average consumer, calling it a “living wage” with the current cost of living may make it feel like it isn’t high enough. I doubt anyone envies Hunt’s job in having to make a spectacle out of a bad economic situation, but if the Conservatives were looking for an explosive reinvigoration to their current polling problems, then this wasn’t it. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor@BLMEastMidlands BLMEastMidlands Latest news 6 A round-up of the latest news from our region. Commercial property 16 With regeneration projects abound across the East Midlands, Business Link takes a look at some recent milestones. End of year round-up 20 The East Midlands has done well for itself, which is impressive given the absolute lack of assistance and meaningful aid it’s had for what feels like an entire 12 months. Blueprint Interiors Q&A 24 We speak with Rob Day, Chairman and Founder of Blueprint Interiors, and also Chloe Sproston, Creative Director, to find out how things have changed in the workplace, and what employers can do to make their employees happy and eager to work there. Invoice and finance solutions 26 Beyond immediate financial strain, late payments threaten to destabilise businesses across our region and, by extension, the nation’s economic health. Tax 30 James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, reflects on the importance of recognising colleagues during the festive season. Engineering 32 As the engineering industry undergoes a transformative shift towards cutting-edge automation and smart technologies, it’s not just about staying competitive. Logistics 36 From the bustling hubs here in the East Midlands to strategic gateways just across the border, transformational freight logistics hubs are not just revitalising our region’s economic resilience but also paving the way for national and global trade innovation. Public relations 40 Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, helps you prepare to pitch the media. Corporate hospitality 42 With the 2023 year coming to an end, you may be looking toward hosting conferences or events in 2024. Here’s how to get started. Health and safety45 According to research, 1 in 10 workers will experience work related mental health struggles, 10 times more common than chemical exposure, and almost 9 times more often than head injuries. DECEMBER 2023 EAST MIDLANDS £3.50 LEADING BUSINESS MA AGAZINE engineering Evolution in W Mind as we WWWEASTMI The sco ell as body IDLANDSBUS ourge of late payments INESSLINKCO OUK .co.ukwww. Cover photographs courtesy: • stock.adobe.com/nikkytok • Skoda • kasto • Uladzislau • Irina Sharnina Contents December 2023 AutoLink 48 As 2023 comes to an end, we take a look at what’s coming in 2024. Events52 A timely look at forthcoming business events around the East Midlands. And finally...54 Here’s Frazer’s collection of the weird and wonderful ‘news’ that came his way over the last few weeks.32 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. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk GENERAL NEWS Netherfield educational resources supplier wins major Welsh local authority contract Netherfield-based educational resources supplier Findel has been awarded the framework for the supply of education aids, curriculum aids and associated products by Wrexham County Borough Council, the lead council, on behalf of 22 local authorities in Wales. The multi-million pound framework is to supply to primary and secondary schools in Wales. This is a national framework, available on request for any public sector organisations across England, Scotland and Wales to use. Findel is now the approved supplier of educational resources to more than 1,400 schools across 22 local authorities in Wales after being awarded the framework. The company was the core supplier on the previous iteration of this framework with Wrexham County Borough Council running from 2019 to 2023. The new agreement to supply educational resources will run until 2027. Findel’s team which will work with schools also includes native Welsh speakers to support the growing priority of the language being taught on the Curriculum for Wales. APSS eyes further growth following office furniture business buyout Lincolnshire-based APSS Group has acquired furniture supply and installation business TPS Office Furniture Ltd, significantly expanding its furniture offering and expertise. For over 25 years, APSS, as part of the APSS Group, has been at the forefront of designing and creating dynamic spaces for office, retail, healthcare, educational and industrial environments. Following the acquisition, TPS Office Furniture Ltd, which will maintain its distinctive identity, will join the group and operate from the APSS Group’s headquarters on Kingsley Road, Lincoln. Founder Ted Sidebottom will stay on as a consultant and Rob Coomber as installations manager to ensure a seamless transition. Laurence Barrass, APSS Managing Director, expressed his enthusiasm, emphasising that integrating Ted and his team’s knowledge will strengthen APSS Group’s comprehensive range of services. “This acquisition aligns perfectly with the APSS Group’s growth trajectory. Over the past 25 years we have evolved from providing office partitions to offering a complete design and fit-out service,” explained Laurence. O’Brien Contractors win third contract at major Nottingham development O’Brien Contractors has won its third contract with Clowes Developments, working as the principal contractor on the delivery of essential highway infrastructure works in Fairham, a new £800 million mixed-used development in Nottinghamshire. Following the success of two previous contracts for the completion of development phases two and three, the newest contract will see the completion of the fourth stage of the £100 million infrastructure improvements to the 606-acre site. Previous works on the site have included improving public access through the reconfiguration of Clifton Park & Ride with a new dual access road and a roundabout, plus a number of additional roads and access routes. The next phase of work will involve the construction of new roads, footpaths, and cycleways to allow access to the site as the later phases of the development begin. Upon completion, the scheme will provide new employment opportunities, 3,000 new homes and 200 acres of green space. Findel Chief Executive, Chris Mahady Hydrogen programme which could protect and create 360,000 jobs a step closer to reality A major hydrogen programme that could save the UK 12m tonnes of CO2 emissions per year is a step closer to reality after a property consultancy supported the launch of a detailed delivery plan for the project. Fisher German is providing land services and developing the consenting strategy for Cadent as part of the East Coast Hydrogen project (ECH2), which will connect hydrogen plants to end users and other strategic networks in the Midlands and the North East, and decarbonise much of the existing natural gas network. It has worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team for Cadent including Worley, J.Murphy & Sons, SLR and Camargue to contribute to the project’s Delivery Plan. The project, jointly led by Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and National Gas, aims to connect up to 4 TWh of hydrogen storage by 2030, save up to 12m tonnes of CO2 emissions per year by 2037, and help decarbonise industries. It is also estimated to retain and create around 360,000 jobs in Teesside, the Humber and the East Midlands. 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. NTU to launch new £1.5m centre for sustainable construction and retrofit Nottingham Trent University (NTU) will invest £1.5m into developing skills, research, training and consultancy to support the UK construction sector reach net zero. The University will launch the Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit to develop solutions, skills and support locally and nationally to enable the transition to net zero within the built environment sector. This will take the form of new courses and skills training, socio-technical research and consultancy opportunities for business. Led by Professor Richard Bull, Deputy Dean of the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, the centre will bring together a range of expertise to help the sector reach the ambitious net zero climate change targets by 2050. “An absence of skills, knowledge and expertise threaten to derail plans for the UK’s important net zero targets. But this ground-breaking centre will enhance the way in which existing buildings and new construction can meet those all-important climate change objectives,” said Professor Bull. © stock.adobe.com/ magann © stock.adobe.com/ Destinos EspetacularAPPOINTMENTS MEC appoints new director to lead civil and structural engineering disciplines MEC, development technical consultants based in Leicester and Brighton, have appointed Dave Stockton as director to head up the civil and structural engineering disciplines and support the company’s growth and development efforts under the leadership of MEC’s new Managing Director, Alex Bennett. Dave brings a wealth of experience to his new role at MEC, having previously served as a technical director at prominent housing developers, Countryside Homes and Bellway Homes. Setting Dave apart is his diverse experience, which also includes time within consultancy deepening his knowledge of detailed design processes, and providing him with a comprehensive perspective. With a strong background in the core areas of MEC’s work, Dave is well-versed in the intricacies of design and has a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities that the industry presents. Since taking over the company, Managing Director, Alex Bennett, has emphasised the importance of being ambitious and seeking new opportunities for progression, ensuring the delivery of high-quality work, generating new opportunities, and advancing the company’s technical expertise. Alex expressed his enthusiasm for Dave’s appointment, saying: “With the recent changes within the business, myself and long-standing director Tim Rose, believe that Dave’s experience, industry knowledge, and commitment to excellence will be instrumental in our ongoing growth and success. We look forward to working closely with Dave and are confident he will have a positive impact on our company.” East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Dow Schofield Watts expands Midlands corporate finance team Dow Schofield Watts (DSW) has expanded its recently established Midlands corporate finance team with the appointment of a new associate director. Lucy Fairclough will be based at its new Leicester office at Gresham Works on Market Street. Her appointment comes just weeks after the team was set up and brings the total number to four. Lucy who is originally from the Midlands, spent over 15 years with PwC and KPMG in London. At KPMG she provided advice to clients including INEOS Group, National Australia Bank and Macquarie Group. Whilst at PwC she worked on deals including PFI partnerships and initial public offerings on the UK stock exchange, and spent time on secondment to a regulatory body. More recently she has combined a career break with providing consultancy to a real estate developer and an online retail business. Lucy will support the team in advising on deals including sales, management buyouts, acquisitions and equity and debt fundraising, working primarily with owner-managed and private equity-backed mid-market businesses. DSW’s Midlands corporate finance team was set up by Harry Walker, Fahim Kassam and Daniel Chouciño. Optima UK appoints new head of professional services and engineering divisions Optima UK, the recruitment, training, and business advisory firm, has appointed Susan McAdam to head up its professional services and engineering divisions. Susan brings a wealth of experience to the post, having clocked up more than 15 years of professional recruitment experience working with a range of businesses from SMEs through to major blue chip companies. Larraine Boorman, the CEO of the Leicester-based, internationally-operating company, said: “Susan has an excellent track record of delivering success based on developing professional teams and building strong customer relationships. “We’re delighted that Susan has joined Optima. Her strong skillset, drive and ambition will be important assets as we are continuing to grow across all divisions. Our services are very much in demand across many sectors, so we need the very best people as we move forward.” Susan said: “Optima felt like the right fit for me, as our ethics and outlook are very much aligned. My aim is to ensure that the whole team has the necessary skills and tools to make sure we can all reach new levels.” Susan McAdam Lucy Fairclough and Harry Walker L-R: Dave Stockton and Alex Bennett New head of mortgage sales at Hinckley & Rugby Building Society Laura Sneddon is the latest mortgage specialist to join the business development team at Hinckley & Rugby. She joins the Society with more than 20 years’ experience in the mortgage industry, including major roles within the specialist Intermediary sector. “I knew from my first conversation with Hinckley & Rugby that it’s exactly the right job for me,” Laura said. “I feel I’m in the right place, at the right time, to develop specific broker relationships to meet the needs of today’s untypical borrowers. Those brokers, the Society, and I personally, share precisely the same values and goals.” One of Laura’s main goals is to seek out new opportunities and to engage with new Intermediary partners, in markets where the Society is not so well- known. Expanding on this, Laura said: “I’m in a position to influence product development and decision-making for the direct benefit of brokers and their clients. And I have an amazing team of enthusiastic professionals who are committed to the same journey. “We are actively looking at specific demographics, to pinpoint where the Society’s flexible approach can deliver positive outcomes for deserving clients whom many lenders discriminate against.” Shorts make audit and accounts director promotion Shorts have promoted Kirstie Wilson to the position of audit and accounts director. Since joining Shorts in 2016 as an audit and accounts senior, Kirstie has earned promotions to manager in 2018 and then senior manager in 2021. Audit and accounts partner Howard Freeman said: “Kirstie’s promotion is very much deserved, and she has worked hard to achieve it. “As director, Kirstie will take on the role of engagement leader on a portfolio of our clients, will hold responsible individual (RI) status, and in due course will be able to sign audit reports on behalf of the firm, in addition to leading non-audit work. A fantastic achievement, as Kirstie will be the first non- partner to hold this position in Shorts. “She will also take on the role of engagement leader for most of our charity clients, having obtained the ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting earlier this year.” Kirstie said: “I am delighted to have been promoted to audit and accounts director at Shorts, and I’m proud to take the next step on my professional journey. Shorts provide an excellent environment for learning and development, and my promotion demonstrates the genuine commitment within the firm to support the team with structured career paths. “I am very much looking forward to working with existing and future clients and helping to contribute to the continued success of the firm.” www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link APPOINTMENTS Pinelog welcomes new production manager Steve Betts has joined Chesterfield-based timber lodge manufacturer Pinelog Limited as production manager. He brings a wealth of experience in manufacturing, engineering and fabrication to his role at Pinelog. Within his new role, Steve will support Pinelog’s detail driven process, from design conception, manufacture, delivery, installation, and customer handover. Steve’s employment background spans a number of blue-chip companies, including Toyota in both Derby and Japan for 17 years. Most recently, Steve worked in a consultancy role for a modular building manufacturer in the north of the UK. As well as the production of complete timber holiday lodges, in his new role Steve will also be overseeing the production of the commercial buildings designed and built by Pinelog which are also manufactured at the company’s Chesterfield site. Steve’s appointment is just one of a number of new management appointments Pinelog has created following its move to a new, larger site in Chesterfield in 2023. Earlier this year Pinelog appointed Judy Barwell to the position of sales account manager. Welcoming Steve to the role, Nick Grayson, chairman of Pinelog Group, said: “Steve’s comprehensive background in production and management within a number of industries provides us with a springboard for further developing our own best in class processes.” Steve Betts Kirstie Wilson Laura SneddonNext >