< PreviousSills & Betteridge executes corporate deals valuing £96m in 2019 themselves on their outstanding service, paid huge dividends for us, completing in 2019 some 38 corporate transactions. “We were involved in international transactions involving clients based in Australia and China, and also domestic deals across a wide range of sectors including, engineering, health-care, transport, renewables, bio waste and information technology. “The figure of £96 million does not include the substantial value of property transactions our Commercial Property team were involved in during 2019 which further underlines the quality of the standalone corporate work we carried out. “What was particularly pleasing is that we attracted both new work and further transaction work from our existing clients. By way of example, as widely reported, we acted for an Australian based selling shareholder in the sale of their shareholding for some £8 million in a UK security business, which employs some 800 people and has a fleet of 300 vehicles servicing some 3500 contracts.” Frank Key strengthens management team with new recruits Midlands-based independent builders merchant, Frank Key has strengthened its management team with two new full-time recruits. New Group Head of Marketing, Shafiq Sharif, and Group Head of Human Resources, Ruth Housley, bring with them a wealth of experience and have both settled into their roles at the Daybrook, Nottingham branch. Shafiq has already made his mark by assisting with the implementation of the Frank Key rebrand, as well as the launch of the renovated Sheffield branch among other projects. His wealth of industry experience and marketing skills will help to strengthen the leadership team as the company continues to develop the business to meet future ambitions. Ruth joins with a considerable amount of Human Resources (HR) experience from across many sectors. She will play a key role in developing the HR systems, processes and team, as well as ongoing projects such as the company handbook, role profiles and management training programmes. 10 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk GENERAL NEWS To find out more visit www.eightdaysaweekprintsolutions.com/ or contact 0115 939 9797 Eight Days a Week Print Solutions is a well-kept secret in the East Midlands but is now looking to change that through investment and a new sales and marketing drive. Established in 2007, mainly supplying the University of Nottingham, the digital print business is now a key supplier to the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, employing 18 staff with a turnover of £5m. Sustainable growth has come about from broadening its offering into multi-channel communications which complement the traditional ink on paper processes. Data has also been a key part as the firm is now printing and mailing in excess of 10m items of direct and critical mail per annum. Following additional success and growth into the retail sector, more specifically the garden centre market, the firm is playing to its strengths, which is a focus on the customer, its sector and how it can support and help businesses grow and improve ROI. To continue this the business has just invested over £500k in a state-of-the-art digital printing press from Xerox. This is its first foray into full colour ink jet technology which can offer customers and prospects even faster turnaround times, dynamic personalisation and a more environmentally friendly process which uses less ink and is more energy efficient. Lance Hill, Managing Director, said: “This is a really exciting time for Eight Days a Week, we were under the radar but now we are raising our profile, investing and looking to broaden our local footprint across the East Midlands which has a rich heritage in the printing industry.” EIGHT DAYS A WEEK PRINT SOLUTIONS Digital printer in Nottingham investing for growth 06-10.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2020 10:27 Page 5Subscribe now and receive Business Link every month, delivered to your door Delivery Details Name:............................................................................................ Position:......................................................................................... Company:...................................................................................... Address:......................................................................................... ........................................................................................................ Postcode:....................................................................................... Tel:.................................................................................................. Email:............................................................................................. Payment Details ONLINE www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk/subscribe MAIL Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN31 2QE EMAIL subscribe@blmgroup.co.uk 1 Years Subscription £33.60 2 Years Subscription £63.00 3 Years Subscription £81.90 1 2 3 Subscription Options VISA MASTERCARD CHEQUE It’s the best value around EXPIRY DATE CARD NUMBER SECURITY CODE (CVC NUMBER) LAST 3 DIGITS TERMS & CONDITIONS : Your subscription will start with the next available issue. Minimum term of 12 months / 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Please charge my: 11.qxp_Layout 1 03/03/2020 10:02 Page 1Over 150 property and construction professionals gathered at Trent Bridge County Cricket Ground for Business Link Magazine’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2019, which saw professionals recognised for their achievements in the 2018-19 period. This year, our 2020 Bricks Awards aims to be bigger than ever. The East Midlands Bricks Awards, organised by East Midlands Business Link Magazine, is an independent awards and publicity programme, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. The awards are split into 10 categories covering every aspect of the property sector and will celebrate the achievements and standards set by both companies and individuals. The Bricks Awards will be held on the 25th of March 2020, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The event begins at 4:30pm and continues until 7:30pm with time for networking included. Come and join us at the East Midlands Business Link Bricks 2020 12-13.qxp_Layout 1 03/03/2020 10:03 Page 1Categories and sponsors: We hope you will join us on 25th March 2020 at Nottingham's stunning Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, for this one-of-a-kind event. Most active agent Excellence in design Deal of the year Developer of the year Residential scheme of the year Commercial scheme of the year Architects of the year Sustainable development of the year Contractor of the year Last years’ awards sold out in advance and saw 150 professionals from the construction, development and property sectors in the region attend the ceremony. Overall Winner Tickets available www.eventbrite.com/e/east-midlands-bricks-awards-2020-tickets-84605225507 Responsible Business 12-13.qxp_Layout 1 03/03/2020 10:03 Page 214 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PETROCHEMICAL SPOTLIGHT There’s no denying the importance of the renewable energy industry and our overall need to decarbonise to hit climate targets, lower emissions and preserve the planet for future generations. However, transitioning to renewables is exactly that – a transition. It’s a gradual process that strives to replace fossil fuels, rather that flipping a switch from one to another. In the meantime, reliable power generation is still required to avoid blackouts and ensure energy security and in that the petrochemical industry still has an important role to play. Although the industry has been increasingly criticised for its role in rising carbon emissions, the industry can and, in many cases, is being responsibly managed and run, while greater efficiency and innovative technology are helping to curb emissions for a more robust and fit-for- purpose energy mix. Although the government’s support for renewables has been better recently, its track record can be described as lacklustre – and that’s putting it kindly. On the other hand, its support for oil and gas has been more forthcoming, even if there’s precious few specifics at present. In February, Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng told MPs that an oil and gas deal is part of ongoing discussions. Although he would not give a precise date, he said that government is committed to launching a deal over the next five years. Interestingly, that would put it within a similar timeframe as the UK’s planned phase out of coal by 2025. 16 u Sustainable Sustainable For the petrochemical industry to avoid going the way of coal, it must respond to environmental concerns and embrace new technologies to lower its emissions output and help Britain achieve a cleaner, greener energy future. 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 03/03/2020 10:06 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 15 © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / PAND P STUDIO PETROCHEMICAL SPOTLIGHT 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 03/03/2020 10:06 Page 2“A lot has been said about the oil and gas sector deal. I am not bound by any promises made by previous Governments, but I assure Members that we are committed to an oil and gas sector deal in the course of this Parliament,” said Kwarteng addressing MPs. “It would be premature of me to go into details, because those are precisely what we are negotiating. I look forward, hopefully as Energy Minister, to being able to celebrate and launch the deal.” Government support alongside ongoing measures to boost efficiency and sustainability are enabling the oil & gas and petrochemical industries to help meet current environmental expectations and carbon emissions levels. Not only is this critical from an environmental perspective but is also necessary in order to sustain long-term growth. A study from the Joint Research Centre found that innovative energy technologies can cut annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 72.5 metric tonnes of CO2, while concurrently supporting the growth of the industry, with a 45.6 per cent increase of production and creating annual energy savings of four per cent. One of the most promising of these approaches is carbon capture and storage (CCS). CCS is one of the main methods for reducing the industry’s carbon impact. It involves removing almost one hundred per cent of CO2 at source and storing it underground where it’s prevented from entering the atmosphere. If used in conjuncture with natural gas, CCS produces low-carbon hydrogen which can be used to remove emissions from industrial and domestic heating. However, there are currently only a few dozen CCS projects worldwide, with less then twenty of those fully operational. The fact that so few CSS currently exist is symptomatic of a wider issue, that despite the influx of new options, the industry has many reservations when it comes to change, with companies instead preferring to avoid the risk of new technologies. Even when given the choice of a new emissions-reducing technology, companies still largely revert to well-known and established approaches, such as distillation for olefin-paraffin separation. But © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / MANINE99 16 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 03/03/2020 10:06 Page 3this attitude must change with embracing new technologies not only beneficial on the competitive landscape – and often a company’s earnings – but also a boon for the environment. Companies thus need to invest more into their research and development departments to remain competitive. Innovation is still needed to further develop sustainable petrochemical production that, as a method, has lower energy consumption and less emissions like GHGs. Membrane technology is one solution that is growing substantially. This technology is important for improving the efficiency of separating molecules, as the separation method represents approximately forty per cent of the energy used in the industry. In reducing this, one can help address anthropogenic carbon emissions. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a piece of membrane technology that provide a solution for reducing the energy requirements of the petrochemical industry. The porous crystalline polymers are made up of metal nodes linked East Midlands Business Link 17 www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PETROCHEMICAL SPOTLIGHT together by organic ligands. Their porousness allows them to capture molecules efficiently and are fast becoming popular in carbon-capture research. When used with the ENACT method (electrophoretic nuclei assembly for crystallisation of highly- intergrown thin-films), MOFs have been found to be one of the highest performers in separating molecules and can perform propylene-propane separation at ambient temperature, which uses less energy, removing the need for sub-zero temperatures for cryogenic distillation, for example, which has a large footprint. A further option to improve the footprint of the petrochemical sector is the adoption of biomass to create ethanol from renewable sources as a replacement of traditional feedstocks – an approach which would require a complete overhaul of the industry. Many argue that bio-chemicals are prime to replace oil and natural gas over the new few decades, presenting an interesting picture for the petrochemical industry as we can now convert biomass into ethanol for dehydration to create ethylene. These renewable sources include the direct fermentation of starch and sugar rich biomass like sugar cane and maize starch, and the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass like wheat and wood. Though the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is still mainly in development, the production of bioethanol from sugar and maize can be found in production facilities across the world. In the UK there is the potential to use wheat and sugar beet for manufacturing bioethanol. Bioenergy is particularly popular as it is a sustainable, renewable resource that when used in conjunction with CCS facilities can generate negative emissions, removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Despite this, almost no bioenergy is used in the chemicals sector. This may be because of the difficulties switching from fossil-fuels presents for the industry, as one may have to replace boilers or facilities which represents a huge cost financially, as well as the drastic change this would make to it on all levels. Nevertheless, the industry looks up to the challenge. © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / AVIGATOR FORTUNER 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 03/03/2020 10:06 Page 4Armstrong house Offering a prime position in Grimsby, Armstrong House on Armstrong Street is ideally located. Close to the ports of Grimsby and Immingham, motorway links and the town centre, off-street parking is also available for all staff and visitors, meaning it’s convenient too. Our spacious, welcoming offices are located on the ground floor and are both secure and CCTV-monitored, giving you the ultimate peace of mind. At Armstrong House, the flexible in/out terms of contract mean confidence when it comes to affordability and with a range of office sizes there are opportunities for all types of business. If you require virtual office services, prices start from just £15 per month. For more information, or to discuss your office requirements, give Scotts Property a call today on 01472 267000 and ask about Armstrong House. Last remaining office suites Prime location in Grimsby Superb Location - - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre Secure off street parking High speed internet availability Easy in/out terms A range of affordable office sizes 3 3 3 3 3 Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 • Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk www.shutterstock.com/terekhov igor www.shutterstock.com/Yentafern 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2020 09:41 Page 1www.shutterstock.com/Yentafern Although the commercial property market in the East Midlands was well positioned throughout 2019, it was as vulnerable to the political and economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit and in the run-up to the December general election as any other sector. Investors were playing it safe and, understandably, focussed predominantly on prime assets. There was an overall slowdown in the decision-making process amidst this uncertainty, especially among those looking for larger properties and for those requiring significant capital expenditure. Now that we’ve passed through the worst of this uncertainty, confidence is returning and it’s expected that occupiers and investors will be better positioned to consider longer-term planning. Owing to its central location and excellent transportation links, the East Midlands is invaluable when it comes to logistics and distribution and the region continues to flourish in this market. Here was one area in which the region excelled last year, even against this challenging backdrop. According to a review of distribution activity in 2019 by real estate advisors Avison Young, distribution units fell nationally from the record levels seen in the previous year. Indicating a shift in development and market activity, perhaps, the analysis reported an encouraging increase in the demand for new speculative units in a market where design and build dominates. It found that Storage & SUPPLY Despite a fall in distribution units nationally, the East Midlands remains the dominant region thanks to its location and transportation links. But the region must ensure it has a strong pipeline of new units to meet demand. Storage & SUPPLY www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 19 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 20 Á Aldi’s new £64m distribution centre in Sawley, Derbyshire 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2020 09:41 Page 2Next >