< Previous50 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk RENEWABLES A winning mix A winning mix 50-52.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:21 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 51 RENEWABLES © Shutterstock /Dmitry Naumov Anaerobic digestion (AD) describes a process where biomethane is produced and captured when organic matter – such as food and agricultural waste – is broken down in sealed tanks. Once these tanks are entirely void of oxygen, the biomass is heated to blood temperature where it will react with the naturally occurring microorganisms and bacteria. Finally, the biomass is emitted, and a material called digestate is left behind – both of which can be utilised. For food and agri-businesses, this process is a viable and sustainable means of getting rid of organic waste whilst producing renewable energy for either themselves or for the grid. It might sound modern, but anaerobic digestion technology has been around in one for or another since the 1800s. Yet it’s only in the last decade or so that the technology has really entered the mainstream thanks to the growing demand for renewable solutions and the worsening climate crisis. Though still largely in its infancy on a commercial scale, the AD industry is rapidly expanding, with businesses keen to invest. At present, there’s around one hundred anaerobic digestors in the UK currently producing bioenergy. According to the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA), the industry has the potential to be worth between £2 billion and £3 billion in the UK alone and employ some 35,000 people. This upsurge should be obvious for the reasons we’ve already touched upon, but the attraction extends beyond that. Indeed, the association said that AD is the only renewable that can be scaled up fast enough to enable the UK to reach its 2020 target. With the climate crisis now at fever pitch and parts of the world at breaking point, the time has never been more Although solar power and onshore wind make up the lion’s share of the East Midlands’ renewable production, anaerobic digestion is becoming increasingly important of the region’s renewable energy mix. 52 Á 50-52.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:23 Page 252 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk RENEWABLES pressing for the widespread adoption and deployment of renewable energy solutions. Nuclear has been pointed to as a viable option to bridge the nation’s transition from fossil fuels to a greener, more sustainable energy grid, but, frankly, new nuclear plants simply can’t be built and scaled quick enough. The answer, therefore, may well lie in anaerobic digestion. In the East Midlands, about twenty per cent of the region’s renewable energy is made up of anaerobic digestion and biomass. Likely, that figure will continue to grow as AD is ideally positioned to help achieve the government’s phasing out of coal plants as the nation moves away from fossil fuels. Although AD can be used by a variety of sectors, perhaps the most widespread usage of AD is within the water industry, where the process has been used for years. In fact, the water industry currently treats sixty-six per cent of the UK’s sewage sludge in AD plants. It isn’t just major energy and utility companies turning their attention to AD, but businesses right across the industrial spectrum seeing the benefit. By using AD, businesses can slash the amount of waste they send to landfill. This is particularly prudent when it comes to the amount of food that’s currently wasted in the UK. Food that is still edible should be sent to food redistribution charities and schemes where possible, while by-product and foods no longer fit for human consumption should be sent to AD plants where they can be turned into biomethane. The UK currently produces over one-hundred million tonnes of organic material that is suitable for treatment by AD. This includes agricultural by-products including manure and slurry, domestic and commercial food waste, and dry sewage sludge. Most of this material is wasted, but it could be used to power the nation and help achieve its climate goals. As with any potential investment, there are drawbacks businesses should consider. As AD plants are twenty-four- hour operations, they must be fed regularly. Moreover, pumps and other machinery must also be maintained to ensure production is not interrupted. There can also be noise, dust and, if there are leaks, smells and environmental contamination can occur. It’s worth noting, however, that smells associated with AD are far less common and offensive than protestors seem to think. Waste is delivered in closed vessels and vehicles, received in a closed reception area, and the digestion process itself takes place in a sealed tank meaning smells are usually kept to a minimum. © Shutterstock /loraks 50-52.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:23 Page 3FEATURES Engineering Spotlight Training & Apprenticeships Business Travel & Leisure Printing and Packaging Meet the Experts REGULARS Commercial Property Corporate Hospitality Motoring Watch out too for the latest news from across the region in every sector Next month in February 2021 - Deadline 27th January Visit us at www.e astmid landsb usiness link.co. uk where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscri be to our newsle tters so you can have. the latest news emaile d to your inbox 53.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:27 Page 1OUT OF OFFICE Lubrizol staff complete charity challenge after lockdown dents hopes Staff at a Derbyshire firm have paid tribute to their pet dogs for keeping them active after they managed to complete the equivalent of the distance across the Atlantic Ocean despite the chilly nights and Covid lockdown. Nine staff at Lubrizol in Hazelwood are now enjoying a well-earned rest after completing 2,067 miles by cycling, running and walking, or by converting activity on the football field and in the gym into miles. The staff took on the task in conjunction with American colleagues based at Lubrizol’s office in Cleveland, Ohio, with the aim of covering a total of 3,646 miles – the exact distance between the two offices – in aid of the British Heart Foundation and the American Heart Foundation. Seventeen people started the task, which they dubbed the Atlantic Challenge, but over the weeks this dropped to 16, while their efforts were also hit by snow in Ohio and the lockdown in the UK, which meant that gyms were closed and organised sport was banned. Everyone had to do more activity alone or, as it turned out, incorporate more walking, which is when dog-walking came to the fore as a way of ensuring that everybody got out and doing their miles on a regular basis. The teams have raised a combined £1,205 and one of those taking on the task was Jack Bowers, a placement student in the firm’s global communications department, who organised the event and praised everyone for sticking at it. Jack managed to complete around 35 miles a week, mostly by running and converting minutes spent working-out into miles but also by taking his two-year-old Australian labradoodle, Reuben, for a walk every lunchtime. Derby financial adviser agrees to share profits with city charity me&dee A Derby financial advisor has offered to hand over a share of his profits throughout 2021 to a city charity which send families who are going through tough times on much-needed holidays. James Wallis, founder of Aristotle Financial Planning, which is based at Friar Gate Studios, has agreed to make the donations for the next 12 months after nominating Derby’s me&dee charity as his charity of the year. Dad-of-two James set his business up earlier this year and, despite the difficulties of launching his company during a pandemic, he says he is heading into 2021 with confidence. As a result, he has decided to share the spoils from his growing client base by making a donation every month from the profits as well as donating £100 every time he draws up a financial plan for a new customer. In addition, and if the lockdown is eased to allow the return of large- scale events such as the Derby 10k road race, James could also be tempted to pull on his running shoes and take part in return for sponsorship. James decided to back me&dee after finding out about how it raises money in order to send families who are living with devastating and terminal illnesses on holidays or short breaks. It was founded in 2006 by Maria Hanson, who launched the charity in memory of her cousin, Delia, and has since been awarded an MBE for her work. 54 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Children’s charity receives over £2,000 from local accountancy firm Nottingham-based charity When You Wish Upon a Star has benefited from a £2,032 donation, thanks to the fundraising activities of a local accountancy firm. Page Kirk, based in Gregory Boulevard, held a succession of events throughout 2020 to raise money for the organisation, which was founded 30 years ago and exists to help realise the dreams of terminally ill children. In its anniversary year, When You Wish Upon a Star had planned to celebrate the work it has done in helping kids meet their superheroes at Disneyland Florida, swim with dolphins or enjoy other fantastic experiences. Sadly, the Covid pandemic meant that many of the charity’s own events and fundraising activities were put on hold. In stepped Amanda Willis – the Head Receptionist at Page Kirk – and a number of her kind-hearted colleagues. Together, they organised a range of fundraising activities around themes such as Halloween and Christmas. Perhaps most notable of all, they collectively walked, ran or cycled a distance of 2,149 miles in just 31 days – representing the length of a trip from Nottingham to Lapland. This was an acknowledgement of one of the most exciting dreams of all for the children. In more normal times, When You Wish Upon a Star helps a group travel to Lapland to meet Father Christmas. Nicola Brien of When You Wish Upon a Star said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to all the fantastic staff at Page Kirk. They’ve been so creative finding new fun ways to fundraise virtually. We hope they all enjoyed taking part. Thank you also to all those sponsoring and supporting their incredible efforts – the money raised will go towards adding magic to the lives of children living with life threatening illnesses.” Maria Hanson, founder of Derbyshire charity me&dee, and James Wallis, founder of Aristotle Financial Planning Jack Bowers, a placement student in Lubrizol’s global communications department, with his dog, Reuben 54-55.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:28 Page 1 FHP and clients provide festive cheer for primary school children FHP Property Consultants and its clients have partnered together to donate £6,500 and a range of gifts to deliver festive cheer to pupils at Welbeck Primary School in The Meadows, Nottingham. With 2020 being a challenging year due to the pandemic, FHP decided to round up ten clients to join in a festive donation drop off, which added a touch of Christmas sparkle to the holidays for 400 young students and their families, at Welbeck Primary School. FHP donated its £3,000 Christmas party fund to the cause and ten clients provided generous donations which made up the total sum of £6,500. Everyone also pitched in to buy gifts for the children, which included food vouchers for Christmas day, selection boxes from Santa and a variety of books. Companies and clients that participated in the Christmas drop off included ALB Investments, Hoxston Developments, William May Developments, DSL Group, CODE Student Living, Skope Marketing, Jennie Holland PR, Tony Hogg and Sam Sangha. David Hargreaves, founder of FHP Property Consultants, said: “As 2020 has been such a hard year, I spoke with the head teacher at the Welbeck Primary School, Rebecca Gittins, and between us we came up with a plan to spread a bit of Christmas cheer. “The FHP donation was £3,000 with a further two donations of £1,000 going to two other worthy causes, but I soon realised it was not enough money to help 400 children and their families. As the property industry is well known for its big heart, I asked 10 clients if they would like to help out as well and each one of them said yes straight away, more than doubling the money available – allowing us to really make a difference.” OUT OF OFFICE www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 55 Mansfield in the top five for high street recovery A report shows Mansfield is in the top five nationally for high street recovery from the first COVID-19 national lockdown. Figures released by Centre for Cities, a think tank dedicated to improving the economies of the UK’s cities and largest towns, show that Mansfield is lying joint fourth nationally in its “high streets recovery tracker.” The data is collected from anonymised mobile phone data to track footfall and it showed encouraging results for Mansfield when collected at the end of the first week in December compared to pre-lockdown levels of activity in February. Cllr Stuart Richardson, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, said: “This latest news from Centre for Cities, along with our own data, appears to paint a hopeful and encouraging picture for Mansfield in these challenging times. “We’ve been working hard with businesses, Mansfield BID, Four Seasons Shopping Centre and other partners to ensure the necessary measures are in place so that people feel safe and confident visiting the town centre. “Thanks to funding from the European Union’s Regional Development Fund, we’ve employed COVID-19 marshals to patrol shopping streets and hotspot areas. They are supporting the public and businesses to ensure compliance with national and local COVID-19 guidelines and laws. “Mansfield Market traders, shops and services need our support now more than ever and we are encouraging people to shop local. “It’s important that people continue to follow the guidance in full to keep our community safe. Remember Hands, Face, Space – keep Mansfield safe.” Snibston Colliery Park opens following £3m regeneration scheme The Snibston Colliery Park has officially reopened following a £3m regeneration scheme carried out by Leicestershire County Council. Building work for the project started in February 2020, incorporating a range of developments that reconnect the heritage of the site with the local community. By opening up access to the area around the colliery buildings visitors can learn more about the story of Coalville. There’s also a host of new features including the Colliery Café, Snibston Heritage Trail, a play area and Grange Nature Reserve. County council Leader Nick Rushton said: “This has been an ambitious but carefully considered regeneration project. Not only does the site honour its mining heritage roots, but it’s also a commitment to the future, securing long term benefits for the local area. “The redevelopment of this site intended to make the park more attractive for families, dog walkers and cyclists to explore. Visiting the site now, and seeing all the new facilities, including the cycleway which reconnects the former colliery with the town, there are lots of different things to discover with something for everyone. “We are delighted it is now open and we look forward to seeing visitors enjoying everything it has to offer for years to come.” © Shutterstock /Michael715 Stuart Warburton (Secretary of Snibston Heritage Trust), Louise Morris (Framework Manager, Fortem Solutions), Councillor Terri Eynon, Councillor Richard Blunt (Leader of North West Leicestershire district council) and Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton 54-55.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:29 Page 256 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Maximising your email marketing skills Wednesday 20th January Online This email marketing webinar is for business owners or marketing leads looking to learn advanced techniques and strategies for personalisation, optimisation, and reactivation. The event will provide attendees with the tools and skills needed to boost and maintain engagement levels, keep subscribers subscribed, and create relevant content that resonates with one’s audience. The session will cover segmentation, personalisation, dynamic content, A/B testing, reactivation, and automation. For more information visit www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/maximi sing-your-email-marketing-skills-1/ How to rebuild employee trust and morale Thursday 21st January Online With two in three employers saying that maintaining employee morale is a challenge, and employees feeling left in the dark, unsure of their futures and dealing with dwindling trust and engagement, this webinar is for those who want to rebuild employee trust and morale. The event will cover company culture and using your Doing business in Poland Tuesday 19th January Online Attend this webinar to gain valuable trade insights into Polish market opportunities, information on setting up a company in Poland, and practical advice on how to successfully engage, communicate and build relationships with Polish business partners. The event will feature expert speakers gathered in Warsaw and Lincoln. For more information visit www.lincs-chamber.co.uk/ events/chamberconnect-poland/ Virtual Lincolnshire Construction and Property Network Tuesday 19th January Online At this networking event, construction and property businesses, from sole traders to housing associations, will come together to talk all things construction. There will be breakout networking rooms, industry conversations and plenty of chances to make new connections. For more information visit www.lincs- chamber.co.uk/events/lincolnshire- construction-property-network-january/ events values in times of crisis; the psychological contract and why it’s important; repairing values following lockdown and rebuilding trust; re-engaging your team and supporting their emotional energy. For more information visit www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/how- to-rebuild-employee-trust-and-morale/ Creativity for Growth - 5 Day Online Master Class Tuesday 12th January-9th February Online Delivered by Newark & Sherwood © Shut terstock/one photo What’s new in search? Tuesday 19th January Online Hear about all that’s new in the world of Google & Bing at this event, including updates to Google’s algorithm, how changes to the presentation of search results could affect you, all the new Google Ads and Bing Ads features recently released and the latest industry data and test results demonstrating what works in the worlds of SEO and PPC. Attendees will learn about the latest thinking on Google’s core updates, the forthcoming Core Web Vitals ranking factors, how to take advantage of new advertising features and how to make the most of the new tools available for SEO and PPC. For more information visit www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/what-s-new-in-search/ © Shut terstock / Bongk arnGr aphic 56-57.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:31 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 57 District Council/Invest Newark & Sherwood in partnership with NBV, this Master Class will cover the key aspects of using creative skills to help business owners grow as leaders, including: your idea session (having an idea and validating it, understanding the opportunity, and creating a strategy around it), your market (who is the idea for, category, market, segments, targets, personas), building a brand (differentiation, distinctions position, promises and proposition), finding your story (storytelling), amplifying (putting the idea/story/brand into the world). To state your interest, email: enquiries@nbv.co.uk or for more information contact Sue Nattrass, Newark and Sherwood District Council susan.nattrass@newark- sherwooddc.gov.uk SME Bounce Back Networking Friday 22nd January Online Part of a new quarterly small business networking event run in partnership with the FSB and Newark & Sherwood District Council to help small businesses bounce back into success from COVID- 19 and beyond, local FSB member, new customers by mounting effective ad strategies. The session will provide delegates with an in-depth look at the opportunities available, and practical guidance to help attendees understand their existing audience and create a custom one using audience insight tools to drive engagement and maximise results. For more information visit www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk/events/how-to- use-facebook-and-instagram-ads-to-attract- new-clients-3/ Solutions Driven Cyber Security Masterclass Tuesday 16th March Online This event is for those concerned about data security, Phishing and Ransomware and with staff working from home who may make your business vulnerable to attack. The Master Class, in partnership with Newark & Sherwood District Council/Invest Newark & Sherwood and NBV, will look at affordable solutions to cyber security threats focused on small and medium enterprises. To book a place visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/solutions- driven-cyber-security-master-class-online- tickets-130501610831 or for more information contact Sue Nattrass, Newark and Sherwood District Council susan.nattrass@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk Professor Tony Bendell of Services Limited, will open this session, with Michael Weedon, from the FSB policy team, chairing the Q&A portion. Robert Jenrick, Member of Parliament for Newark and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, will discuss Government support for SMEs during COVID-19 as well as other issues facing local entrepreneurs in the district. An update will also be given by Neil Cuttell, Business Manager – Economic Growth, Newark & Sherwood District Council on efforts to assist SMEs. To book a place contact Stephanie Latta, FSB stephanie.Latta@fsb.org.uk or for more information contact Sue Nattrass, Newark and Sherwood District Council susan.nattrass@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk How to use Facebook and Instagram ads to attract new clients Thursday 28th January Online This webinar is designed to help those already using or exploring Facebook or Instagram advertising to raise brand awareness and grow sales. The event will show attendees how to leverage the significant opportunities Facebook and Instagram present, and attract valuable Investing in mental health interventions in the midst of the pandemic Friday 22nd January Online Businesses across the UK are facing absenteeism, presenteeism, reduced productivity and high staff turnover due to mental health issues. While the costs of mental ill health are on the rise, so is the return on investment in mental health interventions. This session will explore the types of interventions available and how workplaces can prioritise mental wellbeing with some proactive tools and actions. Takeaways will include: a checklist for any workplace to monitor the progress of their mental health support for staff; a workplace wellbeing Toolkit; a practical Stress Management Technique that can be shared amongst colleagues. For more information visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk/connecting-you/business-focused-workshops/hr-forum6/hr-forum7/?VariantID=4026 56-57.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:31 Page 2Here’s Frazer’s collection of the weird and wonderful ‘news’ that came his way over the last few weeks. And finally The world of Frazer Re-gifting? With the Secret Santa season now over, Frazer is sure a few of you are contemplating whether it is acceptable to pass on an item received from a colleague. We all know that rather questionable gifts can come out of a Secret Santa, due largely to the budget limitations these often come with. However the Body Shop has highlighted the lamest gifts, with research revealing presents such as a half-eaten box of chocolates and a Thomas the Tank Engine backpack. Fortunately, according to YouGov, most Brits (57%) would not be upset if said Christmas Gift were to be ‘re- gifted’. However, 37% state it is certainly not acceptable! How the other 6% feel remains a mystery, but there’s researchers for you. I’m sure Donald Trump would have something to say about such a poll. Activating phone voice When calling clients and colleagues do you often find yourself adjusting or ‘mirroring’ the way you speak? Don’t worry you’re not alone! A colleague of Frazer’s, who has mocked his ‘phone voice’ on multiple occasions, recently became privy to new Santander UK-commissioned research revealing that over a third (36%) of Brits change their voice when on the phone, with almost half altering it to sound more well-spoken and 30% doing so because they want to sound more intelligent. Reflecting, Frazer supposes he does drop the “ay up” for a “hello, how are you doing.” Apparently, we put on these voices for anyone and everyone including clients, work colleagues and even strangers and particularly aspire to the voices of David Attenborough, Joanna Lumley and Idris Elba. According to Frazer’s long-suffering wife, this seasoned old hack sometimes takes it too far, speaking in broken English when talking to foreigners. I recall introducing one French gentleman to my wife as we sat at a bar. Having had one too many, my introduction went something like this: “Let me introduce Pascal, he is French; as you can tell from my accent.” The good old English cuppa In a controversy for the ages, it has been revealed that Brits are not the leaders in tea drinking. A striking new study indicates that in Europe, those most likely to drink tea are actually Germans, with only 13% saying they don’t like a brew. In a further disgrace we aren’t even second in the rankings, but third behind Swedes, with 22% of Brits saying they never have tea. A proud nation however, we are much more likely to be drinking our own national blend (English breakfast tea) and are unsurprisingly therefore somewhat unadventurous with our tea tastes. After breakfast tea (54%), the most common teas amongst Brits are Earl Grey (18%) and Green tea (18%). In Germany, tea drinkers hold a diverse taste, with seven different teas being drunk by more than a fifth of the population, and the most popular tea being peppermint. Of course Frazer likes to push the envelope and has recently developed a taste for fermented tea, known as Kombucha. It looks as bad as it sounds but tastes excellent, so don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! 58 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk © Shutterstock/ Stock-Asso © Shutterstock/ Jo millington © Shut terstock/ ESB P rofessional 58.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:32 Page 1A family of award-winning coffee roasters & tea blenders since 1902. 118 years & still bringing you the best from the world of tea & coffee. WHOLESALE | ONLINE STORE | CAFES VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES & TRAINING www.stokescoffee.com A SMARTER APPROACH TO TEMPORARY SITE & ASSET PROTECTION 0115 714 9990 | webeyecms.com B A T TE R Y P O W E R E D V I D E O A L A R M S Y S TE M + A U T O M A T E D M O N I T O R I N G + A .I. TO VE R I F Y GE NU I N E I N T R U S I O N S 59.qxp_Layout 1 08/01/2021 13:33 Page 1Next >