DECEMBER 2019 EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK £3.50 The golden region The year in review The engineering question02.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 14:43 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 3 EDITORS NOTES As 2019 comes to an end, we’d usually have some poignant words to share about the year before and everything the country has achieved. It’s hard to look back and think what has been achieved, however, especially as we have a General Election looming and politics that has descended from farcical into outright malicious. In a way, it’s almost a blessing that Westminster tends to ignore our regions because it spares us the rigmarole and bluster that has dominated the political landscape since 2016. Here’s to hoping 2020 will show improvement, but we’re not holding our breath. It’s not all doom and gloom and politics, however. Christmas is here in what will be the busiest period for some businesses and something of a quieter month for others. At least outside the staff parties taking place all over the East Midlands. In our final issue of 2019, we’ll look at a wide range of topics related to the year at hand, including a review of successful business stories over the year and some of the biggest commercial property deals to boot. Alongside that, we look at the official health and safety statistics for 2019, specifically within the construction sector, to see whether the region has improved and what work needs to be done. It’s business as usual for East Midlands Business Link magazine, and business as usual for the East Midlands region. Despite that, we’ll wish you all a Merry Christmas and cheers to a successful new year. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2019 14:37 Page 1ContentsDecember 2019 LATEST NEWS 6 A round-up of the latest news from our region APPOINTMENTS 8 East Midlands on the move. FINANCE NEWS 10 The latest news from the world of finance around the region MANUFACTURING NEWS12 News and views from around the region PROPERTY NEWS 14 All the latest from the property sector. PUBLIC RELATIONS16 A right royal crisis. By Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR and Enterprise Nation Champion for Nottingham. END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES18 2019 has been a year of extremes both environmentally, economically and politically. East Midlands Business Link looks back over the last twelve months and invites businesses to share their success stories. • Manufacturing Growth Programme HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION22 The construction sector is one of the worst performers for health and safety, as it has been for many years. But what is causing these constant lapses? COMMERCIAL PROPERTY25 For years the East Midlands’ cities and towns have been in dire need of a makeover and investment. Now, as the cranes go up, prosperity is ready to follow. TAX28 Beyond Brexit and back to the future! By James Pinchbeck, Marketing Partner at Streets Chartered Accountants INVOICE AND FINANCE SOLUTIONS 30 East Midlands Business Link explores the many invoice and finance solutions open to businesses. ENGINEERING34 The East Midlands has a proud engineering and manufacturing heritage, which may be the key to the UK’s continued success – if it can be made as efficient as possible. LOGISTICS 38 With solid transport links and ample accommodation for companies of all sizes, with numerous developments underway, the East Midlands is a haven for logistics. NETWORKING 42 University - does it have its place in the business owners’ world? Fiona Duncan-Steer of RSViP shares her own experiences of university and examines whether education and university in particular still has its place amongst the entrepreneurial minded. CORPORATE HOSPITALITY 44 An annual staple, Christmas parties can be reinvigorated with a strong theme. DINING OUT 46 Hart’s Hotel & Kitchen is perfect for hosting an intimate event for those where quality of food, wine and service are a priority. AUTOLINK52 If you need a new set-of-wheels, or you just like cars, read on to see what we’ve been behind the wheel of since our last issue. • Alpine A110 OUT OF OFFICE54 All the leisure sector news from the last month EVENTS56 A timely look at forthcoming business events around the East Midlands AND FINALLY...58 52 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2019 14:39 Page 144 Group Editor Steve Fisher s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Editor Michael Fisher m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Journalists Dominic Cuthbert d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk Stuart Pearcey s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk 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. @BLMEastMidlands BLMEastMidlands COVER PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM PHOTOONGRAPHY • SORN340 IMAGES • CHRISTIAN LAGEREK • SYDA PRODUCTIONS • MICHAEL TUBI DECEMBER 2019 EAST MIDLANDS LE £3.50 EADING BUSINESS MAGAZZINE egionThe golden r WW eviewThe year in r The enginneering question wwww.blmgroup.co.uk 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2019 14:40 Page 26 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk GENERAL NEWS East Mids SMEs at risk of losing out due to productivity gap Small businesses in the East Midlands risk losing out compared to those in other parts of the country, according to a new report. Smaller firms in the region are less likely to innovate, export, use external finance or see the benefits from investing in new technology, research and development or training, particularly in management. The issue was highlighted as the prolonged lead-up to Brexit highlighted the ‘just in time’ focus and lack of strategic planning by the region’s small businesses. The report comes as new funding was announced to support 150 microbusinesses in Leicester and Nottingham with free leadership and management training. Author and researcher Professor David Rae of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) said many firms were understandably focused on the day-to-day running of their firms and so were less able to prioritise factors that affected their medium to long term success. Managers and business organisations needed to work together to improve their competitiveness through improving leadership and using digital technologies effectively. Less effective management has been linked to low productivity, measured by the value of output produced per working hour. Professor Rae worked with the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce to produce the new study called Why Leadership Matters for Micro and Small Firms in the East Midlands. It includes data from the Quarterly Economic Survey, undertaken by East Midlands Chamber, including micro and small businesses, or MSMEs. Micro businesses are those with nine staff or fewer while SMEs have less than 250 employees. Professor Rae, Director of DMU’s Centre for Enterprise and Innovation, said: “There is growing and significant evidence, from business and research organisations, and from well-established leadership programmes for MSMEs, of the strong connections between investment and commitment to leadership development; and improvements in firm performance and resilience.” Supply Technologies expands network with new facility Supply Technologies has expanded its network of branches in the UK with the opening of a new facility in the East Midlands. The new 25,000 square foot distribution centre, which is located in Burton-on-Trent, is Supply Technologies’ tenth UK branch and significantly increases capacity to support a growing client base across the Midlands region. This is the latest development in the growth of Supply Technologies’ UK operations and follows the opening of a branch in Hull serving the Yorkshire region earlier this year. Employing a workforce of 20, with newly-created jobs and transfers from existing branches in the Midlands, the facility will provide components to the industrial equipment, transportation and general industry sectors. The facility is led by Branch Manager Adam Ward, who has ten years’ experience in the fastening hardware industry. Having developed his career in the sales department at Heads & All Threads, which was acquired by Supply Technologies in 2017, Adam became sales supervisor before taking on this new role at the Burton-on-Trent branch. James Smetham, Supply Technologies’ Managing Director of Europe & Asia, said: “This new facility is ideally-placed to service our growing client base in the Midlands region and creates the capacity required to support further expansion both in terms of customers and our workforce. “Through this latest investment in our UK branch network we are strengthening our capabilities to support a cross section of industries around the country ensuring our customers benefit from best in class, localised supply chain management solutions.” Knights scoop up law firm Law firm Knights, which has offices in Derby and Leicester, has entered Birmingham with the acquisition of full- service independent law firm, Emms Gilmore Liberson, for £4.7 million. The company has acquired the entire issued share capital of Emms Gilmore Liberson – an independent full-service law firm with a commercial focus which will further extend Knights’ existing corporate, dispute resolution, real estate and private client service offering. The acquisition will bring an additional 28 fee earners to the Group. The move into Birmingham also sees Knights expanding to nine offices outside London, realising one of its key targets set at the time of IPO. An application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of 518,013 new ordinary shares to trading on AIM. Of these shares, 515,060 represent the Consideration Shares and 2,953 reflects the issue of new ordinary shares issued to two former Knights employees following the exercise of their SAYE scheme options. Admission of the new shares is expected to take place at 8.00am on 5 November 2019. Commenting on the acquisition, David Beech, CEO at Knights, says: “We are delighted to have entered the Birmingham market today with the acquisition of EGL, which is one of the few well-established, full-service independent firms in the city. “As our fifth acquisition since listing in June 2018, we are delighted to build on our strong momentum with the new team providing us with an exciting platform from which to grow our share in this new market, through both lateral hires and bolt on acquisitions.” 06-07.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2019 14:43 Page 1Midlands businesses allocating most investment towards automation In the first of a series of CFO surveys, accountancy and business advisory firm BDO spoke to 200 CFOs and Financial Directors across the UK to understand how important automation is to their business. The report, ‘New Economy: Investing in Automation’, shows that senior leaders across the country expect automation to be pivotal to their businesses and employees’ development in the coming year. Across the UK, 87% have automated a key business process during the last year and one in five (21%) CFOs view automation as their most important investment priority during the next five years. In the Midlands, senior leaders are already investing in automation, with 11% of total company spend being dedicated to implementing automated processes, the highest of all regions. 88% of businesses in this region have also already automated a key process, such as accountancy and finance processes or customer support, in the last year. In addition, 10% of businesses in the Midlands view automation as the most important investment priority for the next year, and this figure doubles when looking ahead to the next five years. Around two fifths of finance heads in the Midlands believe that automation will change their workforce. Contrary to prevailing opinion, many finance heads in the Midlands (20%) believe the impact on jobs is likely to be positive increasing the workforce as automation provides growth opportunities. Interestingly, nearly the same number (24%) also think it will lead to negative changes too. CFOs and FDs in the region are also helping increase their employee’s skill set, with 4 in 10 (39%) already investing in training, to help equip staff to make the most of automated processes. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 7 GENERAL NEWS Heavyweight hires to spearhead Begbies Traynor Leicestershire office Begbies Traynor is expanding operations in Leicestershire following the appointment of seasoned insolvency practitioners, Martin Buttriss and Carolynn Best at the firm’s new offices in Grove Business Park, Leicester. Joining the firm as partners, Martin and Carolynn have years of experience providing insolvency and business recovery advice to owner- managed companies and growing SMEs in the East Midlands region, boosting the group’s presence in Leicestershire. Martin Buttriss said: “Leicestershire is home to an ambitious and diverse business community and is therefore an important region for Begbies Traynor. The opportunity to lead the firm’s expansion in this area, growing our full range of business recovery and advisory services, is an exciting prospect.” Carolynn Best added: “Begbies Traynor has established itself as a mark of quality in our industry, with a reputation for high quality service, so I’m looking forward to playing a key role in the firm’s ongoing growth plans.” © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ GAUDILAB Automotive Fashion Commercial Call or email for a quote 07506 998855 steve@autoholic.co.uk Creating images for your business as individual as you are. Photography Services autoholic photography autoholic.co.uk © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / BY NICOELNINO 06-07.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2019 14:43 Page 2RSM hires two senior figures for Leicester office Audit, tax, and consulting firm RSM has welcomed two new senior hires in its Leicester office. Matthew Evans has joined as a private client tax partner for the East Midlands region while Mitul Raja joins as an audit director. Matthew joins RSM from an independent wealth management business, prior to which he spent 15 years in the Big 4, eventually heading up the tax technical group of a Big 4 firm in London. Matthew said: “My reasoning for joining RSM is to be at a company that has ambition to grow, in an area where business owners are currently thriving. The East Midlands has a strong and resilient business community and the area has a great entrepreneurial spirit. “For me, it is the right company, the right location and the right time. The private client services team within RSM locally is already well established and has significant potential for further growth given the concentration of owner managed businesses across the East Midlands region. Leicestershire in particular has a large cohort of high net worth individuals and families. By continuing to develop our team locally we aim to ensure a first-rate service is available to them, removing the need to seek advice from outside the region.” Mitul Raja joins RSM having previously spent 13 years at KPMG. Mitul said: “The market in Leicester has seen significant growth among mid-market SMEs over the last few years, and there is a real desire from many business owners to have specialist support provided locally, which is something I am excited to be a part of.” 8 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk KPMG appoints new Head of Tax in the Midlands Professional services firm KPMG has appointed Mike Tuhme to lead its tax practice in the Midlands. Mike succeeds Tim Blake, who is returning to the firm’s London office where he’ll work as a client partner, after leading the regional practice for the last three years. Mike has over 23 years of experience, having worked with a range of businesses from privately owned to listed. His expertise spans a range of areas, including company tax strategy and governance, share disposals, corporate reorganisations, succession planning, share incentive schemes and tax investigations. Over the last seven years, Mike has been instrumental in helping the firm’s East Midlands practice achieve double digit growth in every year. In his new role, he’ll remain based in Nottingham, but will be spending more time in the West Midlands. Commenting on his appointment, Mike said: “I’m thrilled to have been appointed to lead KPMG’s tax practice in the Midlands. We have a fantastic team of experts and our practice is growing as demand for our services increases. Businesses are currently operating in a tumultuous environment, with geopolitics, trade wars and various other issues at the fore, and organisations recognise the need, now more than ever, for professional advice. “I’m excited to be working with such a talented team as we continue to deliver the best advice and tailored solutions to our clients.” Tim Blake, Partner at KPMG UK, added: “Whilst I’m sad to be leaving the Midlands, I’m delighted that Mike has taken over and I have no doubt that he is the right person for the job. His enthusiasm and dedication to both our people and clients is second to none.” APPOINTMENTS 08-09.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2019 14:46 Page 1Adare appoints chief digital and information officer Nottingham-based integrated communications provider Adare SEC has further boosted its ongoing transformation strategy with the appointment of a chief digital and information officer. Andrew Herd joins the executive team to drive the company’s continued enhancement of its digital services to clients. In the newly created position, he will focus on building high quality, secure systems that enable effective integrated communications and solutions. Adare SEC’s clients include financial services company Allianz, multinational commercial bank Santander and nature conservation charity RSPB. The company has a turnover of £69.7m and employs 440 people. Prior to joining the company, Andrew was chief information officer for three-and-a-half years at mortgage services administration provider, Computershare Loan Services. Before that, he spent three years leading technology at UK Asset Resolution, the Government’s holding company set up in 2010 to administer Bradford Bingley and Northern Rock. Nottinghamshire-based architects expand team with new appointment AM2 Architects has welcomed a new technical associate to its growing Newark team; senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, Having graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with an HND in Business Information Technology and a BSc (Hons) in Architectural Technology, Jason brings more than 15 years of architectural Jason has previously worked at architectural practices including CPMG, Maber, and Marchini Curran in Nottingham; and SRA Architects in Bath. These previous roles involved delivering projects with global brands, institutions and developers and he hopes to apply this broad experience and knowledge to projects across various sectors to provide both AM2 Architects and its clients with significant project value. Alongside his new role, Jason is also a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and a senior lecturer in architectural technology at Nottingham Trent University, leading the final-year construction technology module one day per week. New President for East Midlands Chamber The East Midlands Chamber has announced Dawn Edwards as its President for 2019/20. She received the chains of office from outgoing President Kevin Harris at the Chamber’s Annual General Dawn is founder and Managing Director of Challenge Training and Consultancy, a provider of bespoke and accredited leadership, management and business skills Based at its own training centre in Nottinghamshire, it is the largest delivery centre for Institute of Leadership and Management qualifications in the East Midlands. In 2007 Dawn bought a failing Children’s Day Nursery in Nottinghamshire, which was turned around to create a thriving business with an excellent reputation. The nursery was sold on in 2014, and continues to thrive. Dawn is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and a Member of the Chartered Management Institute. Accolades over the years include being recognised as Nottinghamshire Woman Achiever of the Year in 2003; Nottinghamshire Entrepreneur of the Year in 2010 and voted as one of the top 100 Nottinghamshire Women of Influence in 2011. New Sales & Marketing Director for Castle Donington manufacturer Steve Shickell has been appointed Sales & Marketing Director (UK & Ireland) by LK Metrology, Castle Donington, a manufacturer and exporter of co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs). With nearly 30 years’ experience working in the metrology sector, Steve started his career in the manufacturing industry, first with British Aerospace as a tool room machinist, then at BAE Systems, Chester as a metrology engineer and afterwards at Airbus UK, Broughton where he was tool room team leader responsible for delivery and operation of jigs, tools, fixtures and metrology equipment. Since then, he has worked for many prestigious metrology equipment suppliers delivering high value inspection solutions designed to increase productivity through quality control in the automotive, aerospace, power generation, medical and precision engineering sectors. The breadth of measuring and reverse engineering knowledge he has gained during that period is vast, covering articulated-arm as well as conventional CMMs, automated 3D laser scanning, white light scanning, inline automotive inspection, laser tracking, laser radar metrology, industrial photogrammetry and satellite navigation systems. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 9 APPOINTMENTS 08-09.qxp_Layout 1 27/11/2019 14:46 Page 2Next >