< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk G F TOMLINSON L ocated at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, the new facility has replaced the former fire station which was built in 1963 and located at Eastgate. A ceremony to mark the official opening of the new station took place last month – it was formally opened by representatives from Nottinghamshire County Council including Councillor Michael Payne, chair of the fire authority, and Councillor Sybil Fielding, fire authority member and councillor for Worksop West. Plans for the scheme were submitted by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service at the beginning of last year and approved by Bassetlaw District Council. The scheme forms part of the wider Vesuvius development – a multi-million- pound redevelopment which aims to become the prime industrial and business location in Worksop, with a mix of light industrial units, food and drinks outlets and office spaces planned, the first phase of which completed last summer. G F Tomlinson has been working closely with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s project management consultants, Turner & Townsend, on the programme of works. Built with the latest renewable technology, the new fire station has the capacity to self-generate up to 50% of its energy consumption. The building comprises of meeting rooms, offices, fire engine bays and a gymnasium for firefighters. An external three-storey training tower and compound store has also been built, as well as new car parking spaces and external landscaping. Kevin Dodds, construction director at G F Tomlinson said: “We really enjoyed attending the opening ceremony of this impressive new facility. It has been a real pleasure working collaboratively alongside Nottingham Fire & Rescue Service and their consultant team to successfully deliver this vital service for the local community. “The fire station itself is completely state-of-the-art meaning that it is not only incredibly energy efficient, but it provides the best possible facilities for firefighters to carry out their critical work and serve the surrounding Bassetlaw community. This project represents a huge investment for the local area and we are thrilled with the final result.” Terry Scott, head of procurement and resources at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am very proud to be a part of the opening of this state-of- the-art new fire station, which is now our “flagship” property within the Estate. We have provided a fantastic working environment for our staff to best serve the local community of Worksop and the wider Nottinghamshire County. I would like to thank the whole project team on what has been a very successful project.” For more information on G F Tomlinson visit www.gftomlinson.co.uk Opening ceremony to mark completion of new £3.4m fire station in Worksop Works on a new, state-of-the-art fire station for Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service have recently been completed by Midlands-based main contractor, G F Tomlinson. 50.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:41 Page 1EAST MIDLANDS PROPERTY & BUSINESS EXPO Well targeted, professional events aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets. The events have everything you require for a great day of networking and business generation. Face2face route2market – the opportunity to meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road. For further Information contact tina@businessshowsgroup.co.uk Register now businessshowsgroup.co.uk 14th November 2022 De Vere, East Midlands Conference Centre, University Park, Beeston Lane, Nottingham, NG7 2RJ Exhibition & Network - Property & Construction related industries - FREE TO ATTEND 51.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:41 Page 1 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk AUTOLINK T he simplest way to avoid car buyer’s remorse is to be as informed as possible about the decision you are about to make and that’s why we test cars as they come off the production line to bring you the latest news on what’s hot - and ultimately - what’s not! Here’s a few of the cars that we’ve managed to get up close and personal with in recent weeks which should ensure you don’t suffer the dreaded buyer’s remorse. First up is Kia, who have upped the stakes with their all-new Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, and lowered the Benefit In Kind tax band for business users dues to low CO2 emissions with its long electric range. It blends power and performance with an exceptional combined fuel economy of 252mpg, and an emissions-free driving All that glistens... When choosing your next new car it can be all too easy to get caught up in the moment. The excitement of those new models glistening under the showroom lights can, occasionally, cause buyers to later regret their decision, especially if we later discover there was a new improved model tucked away that the dealership didn’t want you to know about. Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid 52-54.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:42 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link AUTOLINK (BIK) tax rate of 7 per cent for the current 2021/22 tax year, rising to 8 per cent for the next three tax years to 2024/25. This means, the new model should cost less to run than almost all of its rivals, despite a very good interior, strong performance and generous standard equipment levels. Riding on stylish 19-inch alloy wheels, the Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is available across the ‘GT-Line’, ‘3’, ‘4’ and ‘GT-Line S’ grades with prices starting from £38,395 OTR. Not to be outdone, the all-new Mazda CX-60 will arrive in showrooms shortly. Launched with Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid technology powertrain, which combines a Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four- cylinder petrol engine with a 100 kW electric motor and a 17.8 kWh high- capacity battery. What this means for the driver is 39 miles of combined electric motor-powered driving with the vehicle running at 62mph or less and 42 miles of city EV range, while the performance of the combined drivetrain delivers a 0- 62mph performance of just 5.8 seconds. Offered in three trim grades: Exclusive- Line, Homura and Takumi, customer choice is further enhanced with the ability to add two option packs across all grades: Convenience Pack and Driver Assistance Pack, with a Comfort Pack available on Exclusive-Line. An additional option to specify a Panoramic roof on Homura and Takumi models is also unique to the CX-60. Prices for these start at £43,950 for the Mazda CX-60 Exclusive-Line rising to £46,700 for the Homura and £48,050 for the flagship Takumi which comes with 20-inch black machined alloy wheels, body-coloured mirrors, combined with chrome plated 54 Á range of up to 43 miles, rising to 48 miles on the City Cycle. This new SUV features a high- performance 1.6-litre T-GDi engine that works in tandem with a 66.9kW permanent magnet traction electric motor and a 13.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. The high-voltage battery sits centrally between the two axles under the body of the SUV, ensuring a balanced weight distribution and an interior space that is practical, comfortable and versatile. In laymans terms, this translates into a 0-60mph time of just 7.9 seconds, and a top speed of 119mph and this, coupled with emissions of just 25g/km of CO2 on the weighted combined cycle result in it attracting £0 VED first- year tax after registration. The combination of low CO2 and long electric range means a Benefit-in-Kind Mazda CX-60 52-54.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:42 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk AUTOLINK signature wing grille treatment and side window surround. Additionally, there is a comprehensive range of advanced i-Activsense driver assistance systems ensuring active safety at the highest level, too. Several new technologies debut in the Mazda CX-60, including: See-Through View - a next- generation 360-degree monitor with extended field of view at low speeds; Hill Descent Control (HDC), which assists in safely descending steep slopes with slippery or rough road surfaces; Adaptive Cruise Control (i-ACC), which can now incorporate speed limits from Traffic Sign Recognition. Meanwhile, the powerful models of the Audi Q4 e-tron series benefit from faster- charging speeds. This will benefit models with the large battery that provides 76.6 kWh of net energy (82 kWh gross) – that is, the Audi Q4 40 e-tron, and Audi Q4 50 e-tron quattro models as well as the associated Sportback versions. All new versions of these cars now have a recharging capacity of 135 kW of power. The ideal five to 80 percent charge time is reduced from 38 to 29 minutes. But, what we like best about the Q4is the refinement, comfortable ride and classy interior, not to mention the fact that it’s available with four-wheel drive. Whichever model you choose, it offers a sublime ride and has very little road and tyre noise emanating through to the cockpit, putting it leagues ahead of its counterparts. And, thanks to the integration of Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa, Audi connect now lets drivers manage their calendar or shopping list by voice as well as control compatible smart home devices from their car, which certainly seems to be a step in the right direction. The only downside is of course the ticket price - the entry level model isnt too bad at £43,290 and rises but the flagship model reaches an eye watering £67,610. Last but by no means least is the latest offering from BMW. Named the iX, the car has already been crowned ‘Large Crossover of the Year’ at the UK Car of the Year Awards, praising the “relaxed, refined and calming nature” of the model. The BMW iX was launched a few months ago and represents the pinnacle of the BMW Group electrification strategy. The fully electric vehicle has a WLPT range of 380 miles, is the premiere for the new generation BMW iDrive powered by Operating System 8, and, offers the most extensive set of standard driver assistance systems ever seen in a BMW. Power comes from a 71kWh battery in the ‘entry-level’ model or a much larger 105kWh battery in the range-topping xDrive50. Both of which can be charged from 10-80% in just over 30 minutes. The model line-up begins with the 321bhp xDrive40, which has a range of 257 miles and achieves 0-60mph in around 5.7 seconds. Its larger stablemate, xDrive50 with its 105kWh battery delivers an impressive 380-mile range and shortens the 0-60mph time to just 4.6 seconds. We also hear there’s another model on its way badged the M60 which will propel you to 60mph in under 4 seconds! All in all, you may have to pay a little more for the BMW, but if you can get over the £77,305 - £107,305 price tags, then you’ll certainly be impressed. , Audi Q4 BMW iX 52-54.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:42 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link CORPORATE HOSPITALITY For some, it may have been a while since they’ve had to speak at a public event – at least one that wasn’t hosted virtually – and a little reminder of the key points might make all the difference. C onferences are a great way to draw attention to a company, and such events have been held for many years by business owners and managers, particularly by businesses with high levels of expert knowledge – such as legal or financial practitioners. The general principle is that by holding an event or seminar, the host can impart their knowledge and expertise to an audience of prospective customers. This not only gives the speaker a chance to impress the audience, but also draw attention to further savings the host’s company can help the client achieve - thus securing customers. With a huge number of beautiful and specialised conferencing venues across our region, it should come as little surprise that the conferencing industry is a booming one – and yet, there are still many companies who have never considered the benefits for themselves. For many, this is not an issue of oversight or being unaware of the benefits, but more an issue of confidence – or the reluctance to publicly speak in front of a large audience. This is neither something to be ashamed of, nor something to hold a company back, however. Very few people are born with the confidence necessary to stand up and orate – and in many cases this is a skill learned through trial and error, or practice. Here however, are some of the key things that really help a speech stand out. Memorise it by heart While there’s no denying that cue- cards and scripts are valuable for those unfamiliar with public speaking and should be used to help jog the memory, ultimately there’s nothing worse than seeing a speaker fumbling over what they are saying or forgetting entirely. Confidence is always going to be a major 56 Á business Performing for © stock.adobe.com/kasto 55-56.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:44 Page 1 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk CORPORATE HOSPITALITY © stock.adobe.com/Svitlana factor in what sells a company, and a speaker should exude confidence – even if they don’t feel it. Learning the entire speech off-by-heart, and practicing it in the mirror or to family, will help a speaker feel more confident in what they are saying. It can also help the speech become little more than routine, so that even on a stage a speaker is able to switch off and imagine they are simply talking to the mirror. Test the room There’s nothing worse than going to an event and realising that you’ve been unfortunately placed and can’t actually hear a word of what the main speaker is saying. Most conferencing venues will have good acoustics, but that doesn’t excuse speakers failing to project their voices properly. Remember that even if answering a question from the audience, or speaking in general, it is best to project your voice towards the centre of the room rather than turn to answer a person in a far corner. Beyond that though, it’s often useful to visit the venue in advance and have a colleague stand at the back of the room, so you’re able to see how loud you must be to be heard. Don’t rely on technology It can be easy to look at all the latest technology available, and while it can be tempting to rely on power point presentations or videos to handle some of the work – it’s not always the best idea. Ultimately it is people which sell products or services, and the ultimate goal of a conference or seminar is to get more customers. The audience wishes to know that the individual, the very person whose services they might be paying for, is a skilled and knowledgeable expert that they can rely on. Relying too heavily on technology also opens one up to problems when things go wrong – as they inevitably might. Seeing people fiddling around with projectors or laptops does little to inspire confidence. Another thing to keep in mind however will be the microphone you might be expected to use when speaking. It’s not unusual for people unused to using them to hold them close to their mouths to try and increase the volume, but this will make your plosives – the shape your mouth makes for various sounds like `p` and `b` - become distorted or pop. Make sure to perform a quick sound check before the event, to figure out how far you need to keep the microphone from your mouth. Take it slow and steady Most people aren’t aware of just how quickly they speak in casual conversation. It is easier to keep up with someone when they are talking about something that happened in their day but orating on complicated business matters might require more concentration from the audience. One way around this can be to record yourself speaking, and then play it back. Try to moderate how fast you speak, and see what cadence is easier to understand. Stick to what you know Ultimately the entire speech should be on a topic you are familiar with, to attempt otherwise will invite disaster if the audience asks any difficult questions. Keep in mind that the goal for the event is to get more customers for your services, and yours alone. If you keep on track with what you know, and what advice you would give to a client across the table – then the seminar will be stronger, and you’re much more likely to get good results. Beyond that, you will sound much more confident and are more likely to enjoy the event, experience good results – and want to come back and do it again next time. 55-56.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:44 Page 2FEATURES Business Spotlight Design & Marketing Engineering IT & Telecommunications Apprenticeships Christmas in July REGULARS Commercial Property Motoring Watch out too for the latest news from across the region in every sector Next month in July 2022 - Deadline 22nd June Visit us at www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox 57.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:45 Page 1OUT OF OFFICE ‘Overwhelming’ support to improve Junction 28 of M1 Consumer research conducted by Midlands Connect shows that the 82% of Ashfield or Bolsover residents surveyed would support improvements to upgrade Junction 28 of the M1 in Derbyshire. Junction 28 has, in recent years, become famous for the number of queues which build up every day from vehicles leaving the motorway and either heading off towards Mansfield and Nottingham or down the A38 towards Derby. There are also concerns about the level of noise and air pollution from cars and HGVs that are at the junction, especially around rush hour. The poll showed that 82% of respondents supported improvements being planned and just 6% said they did not. Over half (51%) of respondents questioned said the improvements of Junction 28 would be ‘very important’ for many businesses in South Normanton and Pinxton, with 33% of respondents saying the same for residents in this area. A further 47% said this upgrade would be ‘quite important’ for businesses and for residents (55%), both in South Normanton and Pinxton. Compared to just 2% who said it would not be important to businesses there. In Ashfield 89% of respondents said improving the junction on the M1 would be important* to residents, with this increasing to 94% when asked specifically to respondents from Ashfield. 80% of respondents deemed the project, in their mind, as levelling up and 83% supported the project of improving Junction 28 of the M1 even though we are in a climate emergency. Charity teams up with Derbyshire canning company to reduce ocean plastic A Derby charity dedicated to cutting down on ocean plastic has teamed up with a local company to launch canned water sourced from a local spring. Think Ocean, a charity that works to keep plastic from the seas through a range of initiatives including transforming it into new products, is this month launching its own canned water produced by Melbourne-based Them that Can. The Think Ocean cans are being filled with water from a spring at Highfields in Melbourne where Them that Can is based. The water comes straight from the source, 220 feet underground, to the canning facility. It is ready to drink having been filtered through limestone and mineral-rich ground. Hugo Valdes-Vera, co-founder of Think Ocean, said: “Millions of tons of plastic are released into our seas every year. There is a real awareness now that the scale of this environmental problem is huge. “Anything we can do to reduce plastic in our oceans is a big win, as far as I’m concerned. That’s why I’m delighted to be launching these Think Ocean cans. For every person who buys one, that’s one less plastic bottle potentially ending up in the sea.” Not only is 75 percent of all aluminium ever made still in use today, but recycled cans use 95 percent less energy to produce than new ones. All profits made from the Think Ocean cans will be used by the charity to carry on its work educating communities on plastic pollution, as well as cleaning more rivers, waterways and oceans. The cans are designed to be highly collectable with images of endangered species depicted on the front. The labels, including the ink, are also plastic-free. Think Ocean and Them that Can have also produced water cans bearing the Ukrainian flag which have been sent to the war-torn country as a gesture of support. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Lincoln Community lottery raises over £150k for local good causes Launched by City of Lincoln Council in August 2018, Lincoln Community Lottery has now raised more than £150,000 for good causes located in and around the city. Every supporter of the lottery has contributed to raising these funds, with 60 pence in every £1 ticket purchased going directly to local good causes. Of this 60 pence, 50 pence directly goes to the supporters chosen good cause and 10 pence supports the Lincoln Lottery Community Fund. The remaining 40 pence in every £1 ticket contributes towards administration costs, prizes and VAT. To date, 81 local good causes are benefitting from the lottery. In 2021, £10,500 from the Lincoln Lottery Community Fund was awarded to five local good causes to deliver a range of activities aimed at supporting residents of the city. Those causes successful in securing a share of this funding in 2021 included Active Arena CIC, Development Plus, Busydays Day Care, Rhubarb Theatre and Building Resilience in Communities. 58-59.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:46 Page 1 New £2m accommodation opens for homeless people in Nottingham Sir John Peace, Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and patron for Framework, has opened a new purpose-built Framework building, providing accommodation for single homeless people. Sixteen people supported by Framework have moved into the new one-bed flats at Mechanics House off Mansfield Road, which replaces Framework’s hostel about a mile away, on Forest Road West. Nottingham City Council has contributed £500,000 from S106 planning funds towards the scheme, which is worth just over £2 million in total, along with funding from Homes England and Framework. Framework staff will be on-site for 24 hours a day to manage the building and provide specialist support to the residents, focused towards successful long-term resettlement. Cllr Toby Neal, Nottingham City Council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: ”Framework provide a range of important services supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Nottingham. The quality new facility will be vital in tackling homelessness and help provide better outcomes for people with complex needs. ”The ongoing partnership work between the council and Framework is having a real and positive impact on people’s lives and this new development will help to continue this.” Speaking about this major housing development, Framework’s Chief Executive Andrew Redfern said: “The creation of Mechanics House reaffirms Framework’s ongoing commitment to providing good quality homes and living environments for homeless people. The difference in outcomes for those living in a new flat with their own front door, compared to a dingy room in an old hostel, is stark.” OUT OF OFFICE www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link John Mills, president and founder of MHR International, the HR, payroll, finance, and learning expert, has marked the company’s celebrations of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by planting a new tree in the grounds of MHR’s headquarters as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a national initiative inviting people to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’. The new hornbeam tree has been planted among 107 other mature hornbeam trees at MHR’s Ruddington Hall HQ in Nottinghamshire, which all sit in a 19-acre section of the grounds now named the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy Garden’ in honour of the occasion. The Jubilee tree planting not only celebrates the landmark anniversary, but also forms part of MHR’s continued commitment to sustainability, having been listed among the top 500 most sustainable companies in the Midlands. This latest initiative forms part of MHR’s ongoing investment in both conservational and environmental maintenance, having undertaken significant work to protect and preserve its headquarters at Ruddington Hall and the surrounding grounds, where it has planted a large number of trees over the years, as well as those at its new office campus, a six-acre site on Mere Way at the Ruddington Business Park. Civic celebration event for Forest after securing historic promotion Nottingham had the opportunity to celebrate Forest’s famous promotion to the Premier League at a special event held on 30th May in Old Market Square. Players and club officials showed off the Championship play-off winners trophy on the Council House balcony as part of a lunchtime celebration. Comedian and lifelong Forest supporter Matt Forde and BBC Radio Nottingham commentator Colin Fray hosted the event, which included interviews with the players before the trophy is raised aloft to the crowd below. Forest played out a thrilling game against Huddersfield Town in front of a capacity crowd at Wembley – it was the club’s first trip to the new stadium since it opened in 2007 and their first major final for 30 years. Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Forest secured promotion – it means a huge amount to the city after more than two decades outside the top flight. “On behalf of the Council, I’d like to congratulate Steve Cooper, his players and staff, the club’s board and owners, plus the wonderful supporters who travelled down to north-west London today in their thousands to represent our proud city. We must recognise Huddersfield, too, who played so well on the day.” MHR supports The Queen’s Green Canopy amid ongoing sustainability drive 58-59.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2022 09:46 Page 2Next >