< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk LOGISTICS H ome to an exploding logistics industry, and the so-called “golden triangle” that places 95% of the UK population within an around four-hour drive of the region, the East Midlands continues to demonstrate its value as a base for businesses. The region’s airport is known as the busiest pure cargo hub for air travel in the country, rail and road links are solid, development of logistics units is strong, particularly down the M1, and huge brands have already claimed space here, in major distribution parks. Despite holding such a renowned reputation, which is set to be bolstered further by the new freeport, the East Midlands has not shown any signs of complacency, with investment rife and new developments underway, meeting high demand for spots in the region. Take-up of logistics space in 2021 was the best on record, and this intense activity has extended into 2022. Outperforming the rest of the nation, according to CBRE’s UK Logistics Market Summary, the Midlands recorded the highest level of take-up of logistics space in the first quarter of 2022, accounting for almost half (46%) of the total space taken across the UK, with the East Midlands leading the way. Of the 10.43m sq ft transacted in Q1, 3.4m sq ft (32.4%) was in the East Midlands, representing a 111% year-on-year increase. The East Midlands also ended the quarter with the largest amount of logistics space under offer, at 5.9m sq ft. Furthermore, the development pipeline in the East Midlands is looking healthy. At the end of Q1, the region had 4.9m sq ft of available space, the majority (73.3%) of which is speculative and currently under construction. Meanwhile, as demand for logistics space puts upward pressure on rents, with nearly all UK regions experiencing rental growth during Q1, prime rents in the East Midlands grew for the fifth consecutive quarter, reaching a record £8.25 per sq ft. Luke Thacker, associate director in CBRE’s Midlands industrial and logistics team, said: “The Midlands was once again the standout performer, dominating take-up of logistics space during the first three months of the year and reaffirming its position as the UK’s logistics heartland. Take-up in the East Midlands was predominantly for build-to-suit and speculative units, a trend that looks set to continue, with almost all the 5.9m sq ft of space under offer in A logistics leader A key logistics hub for the UK, the East Midlands continues to expand its offering to the industry. 42 Á 40-43.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:37 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link LOGISTICS © stock.adobe.com/Melanie Kocheva 40-43.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:37 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk LOGISTICS the region being build-to-suit.” Luke added: “The challenge in the Midlands, however, is the current shortage of new ready to occupy space and while there is speculative development in the pipeline, this is quickly being taken due to the competition for space. Developers have responded by building speculatively again but more space is needed to satisfy the strong market demand.” A plethora of new schemes have been revealed for the region and are getting underway. For instance a suite of planning applications for four new speculative units at Dove Valley Park have been submitted by Asteer Planning, acting on behalf of Clowes Developments. The plans will provide a further 380,000 sq ft of new, purpose- built logistics floor space in Foston, South Derbyshire. Marc Freeman, director at Clowes Developments, said: “We are pleased to bring new development opportunities to Dove Valley Park. The scheme has been hugely successful over the years with world- renowned companies making Dove Valley Park a strategically located industrial and logistics hub for their businesses.” Deeper into development, construction has begun on site at the landmark 28-acre Power Park scheme in Nottingham – formerly known as New Horizon – following the close of a £53.8m forward funding deal between property developer HBD and Oxenwood Real Estate. Power Park will see the delivery of seven buildings up to 145,000 sq ft, all developed on a speculative basis, providing a total of 426,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space. The development is expected to complete in spring 2023, and the new units will each meet a BREEAM sustainability rating of ‘Very Good’. Jeremy Bishop, co-founder of 40-43.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:37 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link LOGISTICS Oxenwood, said: “Power Park is a very well located logistics development and we are delighted that construction has now commenced – the unit sizes and specification are designed to address the strong supply-demand dynamics in the Nottingham area.” Moreover Panattoni, the industrial real estate developer, has begun speculatively developing a 575,000 sq ft logistics park at junction 28 of the M1 in the East Midlands. Panattoni Park J28 Central M1 will consist of two units of 345,000 sq ft and 230,000 sq ft, which are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022 and will be built to a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’. Andy Preston, development director at Panattoni, said: “This is a key logistics location in the UK, as 71% of the UK can be reached within a 4.5-hour HGV journey. The park can serve as a centre for same day e-fulfilment operations or as a national and regional distribution hub. We are excited to be bringing forward Grade-A buildings in a supply-starved market and we are already having conversations with potential occupiers, struggling to find suitable existing buildings.” Exemplary of new completions in the region, meanwhile, Prologis, the developer and owner of logistics parks, recently concluded the construction of the UK’s first logistics property to go beyond net zero carbon in its construction and operation – delivering a net benefit for the environment over its lifetime. Located on Prologis Apex Park, near Daventry, a new 435,000 sq ft unit, BREEAM rated ‘Outstanding’, has been delivered, which will act as a UK Logistics Centre for an American multinational. These represent just a few of the novel schemes in the East Midlands. With the logistics sector flourishing in the region, such new developments show no signs of slowing down. 40-43.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:37 Page 4T his month I have been celebrating fourteen years in business and as many do in conjunction with business anniversaries, I have been milking the occasion for all it is worth by running various campaigns and incentives to my audience. Reaching this kind of milestone in business has also brought on feelings of reflection and gratitude. Appreciation that after fourteen whole years my business RSViP is still standing, still going strong, and still fulfilling me after all these years. I have often been asked what my definition of success is and my response is this; • To wake up every day and look forward to what lies ahead. • To feel true job satisfaction. • To make a difference to others and to the world in some way. • To be accountable for my own actions and to be able to choose who I surround myself with. • To have creative freedom to design and build. • To find the work life balance that suits me and those close to me. • To appreciate and never take for granted the lifestyle my business has afforded me. • To love what I do. Every. Single. Day. Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency, considers what it means to be successful. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk NETWORKING What does success mean to you? Fiona Duncan-Steer, RSViP www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk www.fionaduncansteer.com The revenue is just a bi-product and I am in no doubt that if you prioritise all of the above then the money will come - look at tech giants such as Elon Musk who’s main objective was to solve a problem, explore and push boundaries, and to turn what he loves into a business and in turn happened to become one of the richest people in the world in doing so. Steve Jobs - another who’s creative urge led him to launch one of the largest brands in the world, which is still as popular today even after his death; his products making a huge impact and connecting people all over the world. On a much smaller scale, I still do a little dance each time a new member joins my network, or an exciting enquiry turns into a training, speaking or coaching gig, as I have never allowed myself to become complacent in my business, always striving for growth and development - always looking to help others and make a positive impact in some way, however small. The pandemic has definitely thrown my industry of events and training into chaos, but I, amongst many others, have chosen to rise and overcome the challenges faced and so this month I celebrate the return of the events industry, I celebrate my business still going strong and I celebrate me, yes me - because if you don’t blow your own trumpet once in a while, who will? 44-45.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:38 Page 144-45.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:38 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MEET THE EXPERTS E xpertise is something that is difficult to quantify. Do we call someone an expert for the length of time they have worked in an industry, or for the success stories they have from it? Or better yet, is an expert little more than an individual with a collection of qualifications and letters after their name? The answer is never quite simple. In a sense, an expert could be said to be a combination of all three, but at the same time every single person is – or ought to be – an expert in their own craft. Someone who runs a packaging company is bound to be an expert in packaging, the same for food manufacturing or recruitment agencies. The challenge is in finding someone who is both an expert in their chosen field, but who can also become an expert in yours as well. There are many people who are experts in a given craft – be it law, financial services or consulting – but for the best service possible to be achieved, they need also to be an expert in your company. This is where so many people find issue with experts; they hire someone who prescribes themselves expert, and they may well be, but find the advice given to be either incompatible with their company or not tailored to it. That’s to be expected of course, as an expert hired from outside the company isn’t going to know your firm as well as you do, but that doesn’t change the fact that they must be used. How does one find the right kind of expert then? The answer is to delve deeper into what it means to be an expert. A solicitor or accountant is an expert in law or accounting, yes, but there are many who choose to go deeper, either investing in further qualifications in a specific field of business, or just working in that more commonly and generating a reputation for being particularly specialised in a given field or sector – think divorce lawyer vs contract lawyer, or tax specialist vs wealth management. Many companies now work with teams dedicated toward certain sectors, but many still do not, and while the internet and Google are convenient for finding people, they come with the downside of small and ill-equipped companies being able to appear on the front page just as often as more specialised and reputable ones. Just as it may be easier for independent companies to compete with multinationals online, so too is it easier for fresh-faced and inexperienced experts to catch your eye with their lower prices, too-good-to-be-true deals or flashy websites. It used to be that you could trust anyone and everyone that you called on because for them to be recognisable, they had to be marketing themselves – and you cannot market yourself without money, ergo they must be successful businesses. Nowadays, the internet and social media has made that much harder. Anyone can create a website, often for a low cost, and the number of so-called experts has risen so high that we now have entire industries that have sprung up around misinformation and fraudulent experts peddling miracle cures and political agendas. Applied knowledge Finding the right expert can be difficult, but the key is looking for someone who can understand your business almost as well as you can, and who can apply that knowledge to their field of expertise. 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:39 Page 1Company profile Sterling Commercial Finance take clients straight to the point of Business & Property Finance. With over 20 years of experience in supporting businesses to find the right funding solution that delivers return on investment. From initial application to completion, we are by your side every step of the way. Product profile From Business Loans to Property Finance, we have access to an extensive panel of lenders to meet your funding needs. We take care of sourcing the best solution for you & your business, assisting you through the application process & ensuring that you get the best outcome and a quick release of funds for: The Sterling Commercial Finance Team is on hand to support businesses with Finance solutions designed for modern businesses. As the finance market continues to change & adapt, our finger is always on the pulse and ready to support your business growth through our network of over 200 Lenders. Unit 5, Wheatcroft Business Park, Nottingham, NG12 4DG Tel: 0115 984 9800 Web: https://sterlingcommercialfinance.co.uk/ Email: info@sterlingcommercialfinance.co.uk COMMERCIAL FINANCE www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link While social media and referrals from other companies are a good way to source better companies, ironically it might be the age-old methods that are best. While it’s true that anyone can promote themselves on the internet, it is also true that other methods of advertising are more expensive. Therefore, companies advertising in magazines, newspapers or on the radio are more likely to have larger budgets – and larger budgets are usually connected with more revenue, higher levels of business success and a greater reputation. That’s not to say it’s fool proof – little is – but companies that feature in traditional media are often doing something to earn that, and they should be the first stopping point for an in-person visit. Visiting a supplier in person is, after all, the only true and proper way to get a handle on how good an expert is. The best will listen as much as they talk, because while they are undoubtedly more informed than you on matters of their chosen craft, they will understand that you are more informed than they on matters of your own business. Finding the right solution to any problem will be a matter of combining their expertise with the limitations, opportunities and various other factors surrounding any given business, and what will work for one client certainly won’t be a catch-all solution for any other. An expert that does not ask questions and take the time to get to know you, your problems and your business, may still be an expert, but they are perhaps not the right expert for you. © stock.adobe.com/relif 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:39 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PRECISION FM Q&A Q&A People and passion over profits Last year, Precision FM picked up the award for Commitment to People Development at the EMCC East Midlands Business Awards. We spoke to Brij Thankey, CEO of Precision FM, about why staff development and support is crucial to the ongoing success of the business. Brij Thankey, CEO of Precision FM 48-49.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:40 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link PRECISION FM Q&A What is your secret to success? The key to success with a FM business is having a team of skilled people who are able and committed to getting the job done and putting the customer first. We’re a people focused business, one that’s passionate about the ongoing development of our team, and this enables our success. When we started in 2012 with just two members of staff and a small number of customers, we set out to be different. We wanted to go beyond just “fixing things” like many FM businesses - we wanted to be part of our customers’ operations and growth plans. We knew exceptional customer service delivered by devoted staff would be the roadmap to this approach. We are achieving this through recruiting and developing brilliant people. The hope is that the passion and energy of our people will spread across our company, and into our clients and communities. What is the company’s approach to staff training and development? As a business, we focus on finding exceptional people who aren’t necessarily exceptional in the traditional interview environment. We look for other skills, and know that by giving people an opportunity, you can get the best out of them. We help them develop and equip them with the training they need to be successful. By following this route, we’ve been able to showcase their true talents, and this willingness on our part has created formidable employee loyalty. Whilst many of our team have specific, mandatory training requirements in order to meet safety and other legislative requirements, we also have an allocation of up to £400 per person to improve other skills. This is available for any training (including non-work related) and all employees can apply through their line manager. Our structure is agile and people centred, and development needs are discussed and assessed frequently. We don’t wait for a date in the diary to talk with our staff about how we can help them, we have regular catch-ups. Each member of staff knows how their activities on a day-to-day basis affect our drive to be exemplary in the services we provide, helping us to deliver exceptional facilities management. We also take a proactive approach to the mental health and wellbeing of our team and have an online system available, the Healing Hub, which offers multiple resources to help manage stress and anxiety. We actively promote the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course too, ensuring our managers are adequately trained to deal with any mental health incidents in the workplace. What impact has this had on the company? Our highly engaged workforce enjoy an abundance of opportunities to display their passion and positivity for the company and achieve strong personal growth from their experiences. The impact of this approach was clear during the pandemic. We didn’t just survive, in fact, we thrived! We redesigned some staff roles and responsibilities and stayed open for business. Most of the country was inside but our team had to get up and go to work. We shared a common cause, keeping the key workers safe, and helping the UK to keep going. Our strength lies in our excellent retention of staff and customers. Our staff retention figures demonstrate our growth and our ability to maintain our workforce levels, through excellent people care and development, which keeps our customers happy too. What is your vision for the business? We made a conscious decision to move away from retail a couple of years ago to focus upon the distribution, logistics and manufacturing sectors as well as offices. We now look after over 1,000 different buildings of all shapes and sizes right across the UK and Ireland. Our plan is very much to work with our existing clients to help them grow, and seek new opportunities within the market and complementary markets (through acquisitions) to become a £20m turnover business by 2025. We are looking ahead to the future and what digital FM will look like, focusing on remote monitoring (rather than automation) and incorporating digital devices that can track performance or the health of an asset remotely. Recognising the challenges of ageing assets, we are pioneering technological advancements from our own building to give clients the confidence in the FM of the future. Precision FM is a small company with a big heart, and each year we donate a percentage of our profits to local charitable groups and this is something I feel passionately about. Giving back and playing an active role in our local community continues to form a core part of my vision for business growth. How does a focus on continuous improvement benefit your customers? We are always looking for opportunities to improve, whether that’s the way we work with our customers or within our own team. This extends to making better decisions financially, both improving margins and being able to pass on efficiency savings to our customers. By making sure that we are running an efficient and cost-effective business operation, we are also helping our customers to do the same. We base many of our key business decisions on metrics and we know that we can’t improve the business and the service we offer to customers unless the deliverables can be measured. Being able to measure the performance of our multi-disciplinary teams, we can keep on track to ensure that we can continue to provide the highest level of customer service, by well- trained and competent team members. To find out more about the range of facilities management services offered by Precision FM, visit www.precisionfm.co.uk, call 0843 289 9085 or email info@precisionfm.co.uk 48-49.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:40 Page 2Next >