NOVEMBER 2018EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEBUSINESSDEVELOPMENTCash injectionMANUFACTURINGBringing out the bestMENSHEALTHMust be Movemberwww.blmgroup.co.ukWWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKWWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKINVESTING INTHE FUTUREINVESTING INTHE FUTUREEUROPE 20195-7 FEBRUARY | VIENNAJoin us at the Crossroads of HealthcareTo find out more and book your ticket, visit www.diaglobal.org/DIAeurope19 now.DIA Europe is more than a traditional meeting. Our members say, “There is something special about DIA Europe”: It’s a chance to learn, engage, and grow as a healthcare professional. DIA Europe has become a landmark, must-attend event for many.We welcome participants from across the entire drug development spectrum, from discovery to marketed use, to facilitate open collaboration by incorporating representatives from the full life sciences landscape. DIA ensures that industry, payers, patients, and regulators all have an equal voice.We look forward to welcoming YOU to DIA Europe 2019 in Vienna!Kristel Van der ElstCEO, Global Foresight GroupHealth Systems: Doomed to Fail or About Be Saved by a Copernican Shift?Dave deBronkart‘ePatient’ DavePatient Experience, Empowerment, Engagement: A Business Leader’s ViewHans Lehrach'LUHFWRUDQG6FLHQWL²F0HPEHUDWWKH0D[3ODQFN,QVWLWXWHIRU0ROHFXODU*HQHWLFVWill Virtual Patients Allow for Virtual Trials?KEYNOTE SPEAKERS www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 3EDITORS NOTESBusiness confidence is all over the place, Theresa Maystill hasn’t found her magic Brexit deal that satisfies theBloc and backbenchers both, and we’re privy to evenmore abuses of labour, including workplace bullying,modern slavery and sexual harassment. But it’s not alldoom and gloom. In fact, our region has a lot to smileabout as our November issue aims to highlight. The East Midlands has a great pedigree when itcomes to manufacturing, but there are some roadblocksto success. Our spotlight highlights some of the biggest challenges and howmanufacturers can overcome them. Solving one of these issues – the skillsshortage – requires better education and training, fortunately we’ve alsoincluded a feature on that very topic. Our insightful materials handling and water efficiency & treatment featuresexplore aspects of business that some might prefer to ignore but can meanmake or break. But the highlight of our November issue is undoubtedly ourMen’s Health Awareness charity feature. This important exposé shines a lighton the oft-ignored issues of men’s health, such as prostate and testicularcancer. We take a fun and informative look at the Movember Foundation toexplore how growing a moustache really can make a difference. Of course, it wouldn’t be East Midlands without all the usual trappings, suchas our curated news pages, events spread and regular property andhospitality pages. Then there’s the last word from our resident grouch, Frazer. Michael FisherEditorWelcome...ContentsNovember 2018LATEST NEWS 6A round-up of the latest news from our regionAPPOINTMENTS 8East Midlands on the move.FINANCE NEWS 10The latest news from the world of finance around the regionMANUFACTURING NEWS12News and views from around the regionPROPERTY NEWS 14All the latest from the property sector.MANUFACTURING 16The manufacturing sector in the East Midlands is famed for itsinnovation, precision and output, but it isn’t immune to thechallenges and pressures in the wider supply chain, especiallywhere Brexit is concerned. NETWORKING20Creating the perfect bio by Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViPBusiness Networking Agency, offers some sound networkingadvice.COMMERCIAL PROPERTY22There are numerous indicators of financial wellbeing of any givenarea in the UK, but one of the best ways of quantifying thesuccess and stability of a region is by looking at its propertymarkets. In this case, we’re homing in on the office sector which isgoing from strength to strength here in the East Midlands. MENS HEALTH26Business Link explores the history of the iconic MovemberFoundation and how this important charity is helping to raiseawareness for men’s health and save lives.MATERIALS HANDLING28Materials handling becomes an increasing challenge the moresuccessful a manufacturer becomes, both in the manufacturingchain and the warehouse.TAX32Business Year End Approaching? By Mark Bradshaw, Partner,Streets Chartered Accountants FAMILY BUSINESS 34Family business is a normal part of life for many, yet to some theidea of mixing business and family might sound completelybizarre.CONFERENCING 40A set image has been associated with conferences for decades.Despite this image of a plain room with chairs and a PowerPoint,conferences are changing - becoming more interactive andembracing technology.58PUBLIC RELATIONS44Has the poppy lost its appeal? By Greg Simpson, founder ofPress for Attention PR and Enterprise Nation Champion forNottinghamWATER TREATMENT 46The water sector is certainly strategically important for the UKand in the East Midlands, where many of our manufacturers relyon it. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 50East Midlands Business Link explores some of the best avenuesopen to business looking to raise capital to fund growth plans. EDUCATION & TRAINING 54The skills gap looming over the country has reached the EastMidlands, presenting employers with the challenge of findingsuitable staff to fill the positions available. Whether this bethrough in-house training or apprentices, the funding is nowavailable to tackle the skills crisis.AUTOLINK58It’s that time of the year once more when Business Link’smotoring correspondent jets off to for one of the biggest eventsof the motoring calendar - Paris's biennial Mondial de l'Auto.OUT OF OFFICE62All the leisure sector news from the last monthEVENTS64A timely look at forthcoming business events around the EastMidlandsAND FINALLY...6634Group EditorSteve Fishers.fisher@blmgroup.co.ukEditorMichael Fisherm.fisher@blmgroup.co.ukJournalistsDominic Cuthbertd.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.ukStuart Pearcey s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.ukTess Eggintont.egginton@blmgroup.co.ukSales DirectorAngela Coopera.cooper@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310310Accounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharmanaccounts@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark Cassonstudio@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310304Fax: (01472) 310314E-Mail:eastmidlands@blmgroup.co.ukPublisherHaychart Ltd, t/a Business Link Magazine Group,Huntingdon House, 278-290 Huntingdon Street, Nottingham NG1 3LYAll rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied,recorded or otherwise without expresspermission of the copyright holder, for whichapplication should be addressed first to thepublisher. While every reasonable care is taken,neither the publisher nor its participatingagents accept liability for loss or damage toprints, colour transparencies, negatives or othermaterial of whatever nature submitted to thispublication. The views expressed in thispublication are not necessarily the views ofthose held by the publisher.@BLMEastMidlandsBLMEastMidlandsNOVEMBER 2018EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINEBUSINESSDEVELOPMENTCash injectionMANUFACTURINGBringing out the bestMENSHEALTHMust be Movemberwww.blmgroup.co.ukWWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKWWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKINVESTING INTHE FUTUREINVESTING INTHE FUTURECOVER PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM • PISAPHOTOGRAPHY • POPTIKA • VALERI POTAPOVA • YUGANOV KONSTANTIN • LEDYX6East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukGENERAL NEWSHS2 delivers once in a generationopportunity for NottinghamshireThe company behind some of the country’s most successful transport-related regeneration projects is being lined up towork with Nottinghamshire County Council to realise the massive economic benefits linked to the East Midlands HighSpeed 2 (HS2) rail hub.Nottinghamshire’s selection as the location for the new East Midlands HS2 Station presents a “once in a generationopportunity” for the local, regional and national economy. This will include new infrastructure, homes and thousands ofnew jobs before and after the expected opening of the new station at Toton in 2033.On October 17, the County Council’s Policy Committee agreed in principle to enter into a Memorandum ofUnderstanding with development and regeneration specialists, LCR.LCR, which is wholly owned by the Department for Transport, is a property and regeneration company with a 20-yeartrack record of creating new homes, jobs and economic growth from transport-linked schemes. It previously led the multi-billion-pound, mixed-use developments at King’s Cross and Stratford City, two of London’s most successful regenerationstories.Nottinghamentrepreneur presentsregional developmentopportunities toDowning Street Founder and CEO ofleading Nottingham digitalmarketing agency HallamInternet, Susan Hallam MBE,was invited to meet withspecial adviser to the PrimeMinister, Jimmy McLoughlin,on Tuesday to discussgovernment initiatives tosupport small business.Susan was part of a smalldelegation of EnterpriseNation business leadersinvited to discuss thechallenge: “What would youdo if you were PrimeMinister for a day to supportenterprise?”Faced with this dreamblue-sky opportunity, Susanshared her prime ministerialvision of doublingNottingham’s gross valueadd (GVA) from £21K perperson to get closer to London’s GVA of £46K.Creative businesses will play a key part in delivering this vision. Thesebusinesses have the greatest propensity for growth and the highestlikelihood to export their services.These businesses require connectivity in the form of both high-speeddigital connectivity, as well as high-speed rail connectivity, and Susan’sproposal would be to bring the new High Speed 2 rail right intoNottingham city centre.The delegation had wide-ranging conversations with McLoughlin, fromR&D tax credits to city centre regeneration.With over 30 years of experience, the Nottingham-based entrepreneuris an advocate of digital transformation and has helped hundreds ofbusinesses in the UK and abroad grow digitally. Susan’s thoughtleadership has empowered a wide range of organisations, from start-upsto large multinationals, to innovate online and become more successful.Midlands companiesrecord low levels of profitwarningsThe Midlands sawcontinued low levels of profitwarnings in the third quarterof 2018, with only six listedbusinesses issuing warningsbetween July andSeptember, taking totalprofit warnings issued so farthis year to 17.According to EY’s latestProfit Warnings report, it wasanother tough quarter forUK quoted companies, with68 profit warnings issued inQ3 2018 and a 21% averagefall in share prices – a dropcomparable to figures seen ten years ago at the height of the financial crisis.In a further worrying sign for the UK economy, the percentage of quotedcompanies warning in the last 12 months has increased to 15.6% (206) compared to14.4% (191) a year ago.While consumer sectors still dominate UK profit warnings, with General Retailersissuing eight warnings and a third of the sector warning in the year-to-date, profitwarnings are starting to spread back into industrial and financial segments of theeconomy.The report finds that the FTSE sectors with the highest number of warnings inQ3 were: General Retailers (8), Travel & Leisure (7), Support Services (7), andFinancial Services (6).Dan Hurd, EY’s Head of Restructuring in the Midlands, comments: “Increasingcapital market volatility and crisis-level investor reaction to profit warningsunderlines a growing market concern about what comes next and how readycompanies are to face the unknown.“With so much of the UK and global economic and political outlook on the line,investors clearly want to be backing the fittest, most agile companies. Those withflexible operating and cost structures that can adapt quickly to changing marketconditions, coupled with strong liquidity will be better placed to ride out the storm.“Looking ahead we anticipate one of the most demanding ‘golden’ quartersleading up to Christmas trading in many years. If 2018 follows the pattern of recentyears, consumers will hold back spending from now until Black Friday, which couldresult in heavy discounting to drive sales.”EY’s Profit Warning Stress Index hit its joint-highest level for two years in Q32018. The index uses the percentage of UK quoted companies warning in the last12 months to assign a ‘stress’ score from zero to 100.www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 7GENERAL NEWSNorthampton logisticsprovider extendspartnership with AldiDACHSER and Aldi have extended their UK partnership.The two companies have signed a new 5 year contract which willsee DACHSER provide a warehouse platform as well as UK & Irelanddistribution services for a wide range of Aldi’s products.The co-operation between Aldi and DACHSER in the UK goes back more than 25 years, during which time the logistics provider has operated an increasingly variedportfolio of customs services, inbound logistics, freight forwarding, warehousing and value-added services for the fast expanding retailer.In 2011, in response to Aldi’s strategic objective to improve product availability and shorten lead times to its rapidly growing store network, DACHSER created anExcise Bond platform for wines and spirits. Inbound stock arrives on a daily basis from Aldi’s suppliers, and is received and stored under bonded conditions pendingdelivery to Aldi’s regional distribution centres in the UK and Ireland.“The improvements to our wines and spirits supply chain were visible right from the outset,” says Fritz Walleczek, Managing Director of Corporate Logistics at Aldi.“Very quickly, we were able to consign more and more products from an increasing number of suppliers via DACHSER’s platform. The operation has proved itself tobe highly scalable and has directly supported our continued increase in market share.“We have been very pleased with DACHSER’s high level of commitment to our mutual partnership in the UK’, he adds, ‘and are delighted that we are now able tobuild on this further through the securing of a long-term contract.”Apprenticeship figuresshow there is ‘still amountainto climb’Apprenticeships are up 20per cent on July 2017,according to the latestgovernment statistics. But, whileministers are suggesting this iscause for celebration, one onlyhas to look at the previous yearsfigures to see thatapprenticeships are down; 43per cent for instance on that of July 2016. Making sense of the latest figures, Jamie Kerr, Head of External Affairs at theInstitute of Directors, says: “Today’s figures show that apprenticeship starts have stillnot recovered since the introduction of the Levy and there is still a mountain to climbto get the system to a place where it can deliver the skills the UK needs.“The Government has responded positively to concerns about the ApprenticeshipLevy. The announcement that levy-paying firms will be able to transfer more of thefunds down their supply chain was welcome, and we would urge companies to takefull advantage of the reforms when they come into force next April. Meanwhile, thefunding announced for the development of more STEM courses, a significant issuesfor many sectors, was a positive step forward.“Looking ahead, our skills system must keep pace with the shifting needs of themodern economy. The Government is engaging with employers and must keep theLevy under review to make it work for both apprentices and employers.”Shooting Star wins contract with MEU PR, marketing and digital agency Shooting Star has strengthened its roster of public sectorclients by securing a comms and stakeholder engagement contract with Midlands EnterpriseUniversities.Shooting Star, based in Lincoln, won a three-way pitch following a competitive tenderprocess with MEU.The agency will work with MEU for the next ten months to raise the profile of theorganisation and improve communication between MEU and its key stakeholders.The consortium is made up of six Midlands universities – Birmingham City, Coventry, Derby,Lincoln, Nottingham Trent and Wolverhampton – working together to help the MidlandsEngine to deliver the Government’s Industrial Strategy.Shooting Star has extensive experience in the higher education sector, having worked formany years with both the University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste University. It is alsocurrently retained by both the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and theMidlands Engine.© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ GILLES LOUGASSI New associate forLeicestershire law firmLeicestershire law firm Cummins Employment Solicitors has welcomed John Wood as itsnew associate.John has joined the specialist employment law firm in Enderby after nine years atLeicestershire County Council where he was the principal in-house employment andeducation solicitor.Also newly arrived at Cummins Employment Solicitors is legal secretary Sophie Fawcett,who joins from Gateley where she worked in the employment team for eight years. Prior toGateley, Sophie was at Dodds from 2006 to 2010.The arrival of John and Sophie makes the Cummins team 11-strong, with its fiveemployment solicitors probably the largest specialist employment group in the county andone of the biggest in the region.John, from near Loughborough, worked in private practices after graduating fromNottingham Law School and the University of East Anglia.He said: “I’d been aware of Cummins for a number of years and was particularlyattracted to it being a niche employment law practice. From the positive feedback I hadheard I knew it would provide me with the opportunity to work with a broad range ofclients and undertake high quality work.“Having worked in-house for a number of years I felt the firm, its ethos and the peoplewere a great fit for me. The team spirit and the relationship that the solicitors have with theclients really sets Cummins apart from other firms and I’m delighted to have joined Mikeand the team.”Mike Cummins, who launched Cummins Employment Solicitors as a specialistemployment law firm in 2011, said: “John’s time at the County Council has given him adeep insight into many areas of complex and contentious employment law.“We’re very pleased we have now added that expertise to our team’s ability toprovide an outstanding service to our growing client base.”8East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukL-R Mike Cummins with new starters JohnWood and Sophie Fawcett.Senior Recruit forBothamAccountingBotham Accounting, the Nottingham-based accountancyfirm specialising in Real Estate, Construction, Renewablesand Tax, has appointed Tom Gregory as an AssociateDirector.Mr Gregory, a Chartered Accountant and healthcaresector specialist, brings experience of advising ownermanaged residential and nursing homes for the elderly,acquired brain injury homes, learning disability homes,supported living and domiciliary care providers.Mr Gregory joins Botham Accounting from Mitchells inChesterfield where he was a Senior Corporate Manager anda key part of their Healthcare offering.Speaking of his appointment, Tom said:“I am excited tobe part of Botham Accounting’s vision for the future and lookforward to building an expert Healthcare team with areputation to match that of our Real Estate and Taxspecialisations.”Andrew Botham, Managing Director of BothamAccounting, added:“We are delighted to have secured Tom’sappointment and to have him join our team. Tom is wellknown and respected in the Healthcare sector for histechnical expertise and problem solving abilities. Hisexperience means he understands the opportunities andthreats that exist in the sector and enables him to delivergreat advice to clients - maximising their profits whilstdelivering high quality services to their customers. He alsohas a proven track record of being able to innovate andimplement efficiencies both of which are essential to modernbusiness. We are looking forward to his contribution to oursenior management team.”L-R: Gareth Cook – Director / Tom Gregory – AssociateDirector / Andrew Botham – Managing DirectorCoMech appoints new ManagingDirector from Bombardier East Midlands-based CoMech hasappointed Craig Burton, formerly ofBombardier, as its new ManagingDirector.Renowned for providing highly-specialised measurement andcalibration solutions in the rail industry,CoMech appointed Craig to drivegrowth and focus on cultivating newpartnerships and innovation.The firm’s previous MD and owner,Keith Pallett, who is now pursuingprojects and acquisitions which willbring additional services into the widerCoMech group, he will remain a keyfigure within the business, made thehandover official.Speaking about the move, Mr. Palletsaid: “The rail industry is goingthrough a period of transformation,and we have an important role to playin providing our customers with the expertise and support to ensure its future remains strong.“We have invested considerably in our personnel and technologies over the years, expanding into newfacilities in our Laboratories, web-based asset management, online retail and new administration offices atDerby’s Rail Technology Centre.“Under Craig’s experienced leadership, and the appointment of additional key staff we are all focused onfurther developing our brand and offering, these are exciting times.”Fraser Brownpromotes keymember offranchising andcommercial teamNottingham-based law firm Fraser Brown Solicitors hasannounced the promotion of Fiona Boswell to partner.Fiona, who is a BFA (British Franchise Association)qualified franchise professional and recommended lawyerfor franchising in legal directories, joined Fraser Brown in2015 and has more than 20 years’ experience in theindustry.As the head of franchising and commercial services atFraser Brown, Fiona co-ordinates the franchise team andadvises businesses on all legal aspects concerningfranchising, including contracts, disputes, mediation,resales, international franchising, brand issues and more.Fiona said: “It’s a privilege to be recognised by the firm for my commitment to our clients and the FraserBrown team and I’m very much looking forward to continuing to develop the firm’s portfolio as a partner.“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with new and long-standing clients over the last few years on manyvaried cases, no two days are the same here and it is a fantastic company to work for. The knowledgeableteam, growing company and clients create a very inspirational working environment.”The announcement of Fiona’s promotion comes just four months after Fiona took home the serviceprovider of the year award at the annual Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF) Awards.Patrick Wood, managing partner at Fraser Brown, said: “Fiona is extremely passionate about franchisingand has provided valuable support to many of our clients since she joined us in 2015. She is a greatadvocate for women in the franchising industry and a valuable asset to our team.“This promotion is testament to her hard work and commitment to both the firm and our clients. I knowshe will thrive in her new role and I look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.”Urban Edgestrengthensteam withSeniorExecutiveappointmentUrban Edge, the Stamford-based architecturalfirm, has appointed Sonia Parol as SeniorAssociate Director.In her new role, Ms Parol will develop strategicbusiness partnerships, further expanding thefirm’s workload into care and residential, as wellas exploring opportunities for the use ofinnovative solutions such as modularconstruction.Ms Parol has worked for Urban Edge for thelast two years as Head of Care and SpecialistResidential. She has overseen the firm’scontinued growth into the care sector and hasled the design and delivery of several majorsenior living projects.Previously, she was leading large-scaleresidential and PRS schemes in the rg+poffice in Leicester.She says: “I have always shared thestrategic vision of the Directors and I amexcited to now be playing a part in thecontinued growth of Urban Edge.“This includes further expansion intoareas for which I have a strong passion,such as intergenerational urban living,the repurposing of retail and identifyinginnovative solutions for care andretirement living models, such asmodular construction.”Director Russell Gay adds: “Thispromotion recognises not only thehard work and innovative thinkingthat Sonia has shown over recentmonths, but also the obviouspassion she has for theretirement sector.”www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 9APPOINTMENTSCraig Burton withprevious MDKeith Pallett.Next >