< Previous50 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk AUTOLINK False start The motor industry remains in a precarious position with dealerships open and mandatory MOTs resuming, but the full impact of the coronavirus is likely still to be felt. © Shutterstock /industryviews 50-52.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:51 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 51 AUTOLINK B y the time you’re reading this, around two months will have passed since car dealerships were given the green light to re-open. As any financial analyst will attest, a two-month period is hardly conclusive when it comes to extrapolating data and drawing meaningful conclusions. However, it does offer the opportunity to identify sales patterns and potentially glean the shape of the motor retail industry both in the present and to make predictions for the coming months. With dealerships open once more, it’s no surprise that there has been an increase in sales, but concerns remain over the pace at which new registrations are picking up. During lockdown when dealerships were closed, new car registrations dropped to their lowest monthly level since 1946, with only 4,000 cars registered in April compared to more than 161,000 for the same month in 2019. Although registrations are rising, progress will be slow due to stock limitations and lead times and, of course, how long the demand that built up over lockdown will last. What Car? has been polling over 6,000 would-be buyers each week, and its data suggesting that there is a pipeline of interest that stretches well beyond this autumn. Though this will no doubt be welcome news for car sellers, demand beyond that is hard to quantify and predict at present. One of the solutions that could help to drive demand is a new scrappage scheme. Polling from What Car? highlighted that twenty-nine percent of buyers were holding off in expectation of a new scrappage scheme being introduced. Indeed, with the opening of dealerships, leaked details of a stimulus package emerged. However, the government has since changed its stance. “We have no current plans to change the existing incentives or to introduce a scrappage scheme,” the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said in a statement to Autocar. Now that some stability has returned to motor retail and more drivers are returning to the roads, MOTs have once again become mandatory. Readers will notice that this falls short of the original six-month test exception introduced by the government during the pandemic. The exception was originally introduced on 30 March in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19, leading to MOT test volumes falling from the 7.2 million recorded in April and May 2019, to 2.2 million. Restrictions had been introduced as part of lockdown measures to restrict the use of car use. When these driving restrictions were lifted back in May, concerns arose that, without MOT testing in place, many vehicles could be unsafe. The government therefore prematurely ended its testing exception. Although there are fears of bottlenecks, with garages booked up for weeks – if not months – the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed that ninety percent are now open. Elsewhere in the motor industry, fuel duty revenue fell by £2.4 billion in April and May compared with the same period in the previous year, the latest figures from the RAC show. The findings show that revenue from the duty on diesel was hardest hit, with the duty down by forty- nine percent during this period, resulting in 31.5 billion in revenue, down from the £2.9 billion in the previous year. This same 2019 period saw petrol duty generate £1.6 billion in revenue but, in during the 2020 lockdown, generated only £634 million. To put that into perspective, that breaks down as less than the average duty petrol has brought in each month since 1990. The lockdown has come with a silver lining for motorists, however, with industry data showing that the cost of motor insurance has reached an almost four-year low. In short, insurers are passing lockdown savings onto motorists. Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that between April and June, drivers paid an average of between £460 for comprehensive cover. 52 Á 50-52.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:51 Page 252 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk AUTOLINK This was down £14 on the previous three months and, the ABI says, is the lowest quarterly figure since July-September 2016. As the economy stabilises, levels will likely rise to their pre-pandemic levels. Despite the industry figures we’ve touched on, which would seem to convey the impact of the coronavirus on the motoring industry, most analysts, industry professionals and commentators predict that the full impact won’t start to unfold in earnest until September when the furlough scheme comes to an end and mass redundancies will become a likely necessity for the industry. However, job losses related to coronavirus aren’t the only employment issue the industry will have to contend with, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders claiming more jobs are at stake with the addition of Brexit tariffs. The government needs to act now to preserve this vital sector. © Shutterstock /SeventyFour © Shutterstock /Minerva Studio © Shutterstock /T om Gowanlock Manufacturing slump As we were going to print, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders released figures revealing that 381,357 cars were built in the UK in the six months to June, a 42% drop on the same period last year, and the lowest since 1954. 50-52.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:51 Page 3FEATURES Food & Drink Industry Spotlight Finance Office Solutions Recycling & Waste Management Education & Training REGULARS Commercial Property Corporate Hospitality Motoring Watch out too for the latest news from across the region in every sector Next month in September 2020 - Deadline 19th August 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 05/08/2020 11:52 Page 1OUT OF OFFICE Derby estate agent makes pledge to help cancer charity A Derby estate agent has offered to make a donation to a city cancer charity every time his company closes a sale – in memory of his “inspirational” mum. Andrew Sanderson, director of Hilton-based AKS, has agreed to set aside £50 each time he sells a house and give it all to Annabel’s Angels at the end of the year. Annabel’s Angels was set up in 2014 and helps Derbyshire families living with cancer with day-to-day living costs, by funding clothing, food, white goods and fuel for their cars. Run entirely by volunteers, it has helped more than 250 families in its time and gives them £300 each time on average. Andrew, who originally hails from Essex and set up his business in 2014, lost his beloved mum Carol from cancer two years ago and, wishing to do something positive, decided he wanted to set up a foundation in her memory. However, after meeting with volunteers from Annabel’s Angels and hearing about their work, he decided to help through his company. HUUB raises thousands for NHS Derby-based triathlon kit designers HUUB has presented a two metre long cheque to University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust after customers flocked to buy their special lockdown cycle jersey and technical performance T-shirt to raise funds for NHS Charities Together. The company designed and produced the special kit to inspire fitness enthusiasts to continue their regimes – sporting the logo ‘Better In Than Out’ and a rainbow design. All profits from the shirt sales and additional customer donations were pledged to NHS Charities Together and the final tally of £27,500 was presented to the local NHS Trust to forward to the charities board. HUUB founder and owner Dean Jackson said: “The response to the new kit from the existing HUUB community and new customers across the UK has been tremendous and I am delighted with the amount we have managed to donate to NHS Charities Together. “At a time when everyone’s lives were turned upside down, we wanted to show that, as a business, we were determined not to stand still. We therefore set about designing something for our triathlon, cycling and running communities to keep everyone’s spirits up and to raise money for the NHS. “We had some great photos back from customers – showing how they were sporting the shirts for their daily run, cycle or power walk or for exercising at home. We were so inspired we featured the NHS Huubsters in an advertisement in 220 Triathlon magazine. “I hope the kit will now become a positive reminder of how we all faced our individual challenges of total lockdown and better appreciate life slowly returning to the new normal in the future weeks and months.” 54 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Frogspark become creative partners with local charity Derby-based web design and marketing agency Frogspark has signed a deal with YMCA Derbyshire as their creative partner. The nationwide charity supports more than 220,000 children and vulnerable people. Offering a range of services from advice to accommodation, they’re committed to offering the best service possible to help those in society who need it most. The creative partnership between Frogspark and YMCA Derbyshire means that all of YMCA’s forthcoming design work and website management is going to be handled by the team at Frogspark. Having their own digital marketing consultancy is going to allow YMCA to make an even bigger digital impact. Rob Twells, Managing Director at Frogspark, said: “I’m really excited by our partnership with YMCA. We’ve had an involvement with YMCA in the past on a charitable level, and we’re excited to formalise a working relationship with them to take their ongoing visual identity to new heights. We hope this will give YMCA a digital boost which in-turn can help continue to make a positive impact.” The team over at YMCA said: “YMCA Derbyshire is continuing to grow, supporting more young people to flourish and reach their full potential in many different ways. Working alongside an established marketing agency like Frogspark will give our organisation even more opportunity to highlight our services and promote the success stories of the inspirational people we work with.” Annabel’s Angels’ Simon Hancox (left) and Andrew Sanderson Dean Jackson and Jemma Walker from University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. 54-55.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:53 Page 1Arts Council awards over £1.5m to support 12 East Midlands organisations The Arts Council has announced an investment of £1,595,951 to 12 of its National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) in the East Midlands – from Nottingham Playhouse to EMCCAN and Aakash Odedra Company to Lincoln Drill Hall. This short-term emergency fund was specifically designed to help those organisations that needed financial support to stay afloat until the end of September, because of the impact of COVID-19. The awards offered to the NPOs are part of the Arts Council’s overall £160 million Emergency Response Package, made available with thanks to National Lottery players and Government. To further support the independent sector, the Arts Council has announced the reopening of National Lottery Project Grants this July, with a budget of £59.8 million. Alongside this emergency fund, support for NPOs and Creative People and Places projects included enabling them to continue to receive funding with funding conditions relaxed and, where possible, providing advance grant payments to relieve financial pressure. The next National Portfolio investment process is also being postponed, which means the current National Portfolio will roll over for one year, to 31 March 2023. Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “Culture, creativity and the arts are a part of the fabric of our country’s identity – they bring joy, fulfilment and help boost people’s health and wellbeing – and our National Portfolio Organisations play a crucial role in making this possible for people across the East Midlands. “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, our main priority has been to ensure that as much of our country’s cultural ecology as possible survives the summer – from individual artists and freelancers, to museums, libraries and arts organisations. This investment, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, provides critical relief to valued cultural organisations across the region.” OUT OF OFFICE www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 55 University offers free mentoring to support Leicester businesses Free mentoring and coaching is being offered to Leicester business leaders during the coronavirus pandemic. De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) are offering the free help to business leaders looking to adapt to the ‘new normal’ and take their companies forward. Andrew Nicholson, Associate Professor Enterprise at DMU, and Alexandra Morgan, senior lecturer and professional business coach, are looking for 10 business leaders to benefit from the sessions, each of whom would receive three free sessions. Andrew, who has years of consultancy experience with companies ranging from SMEs to global firms, said: “As we’ve all been told repeatedly, these times are unprecedented, and we all need to decide what the new normal is and work with it. “With this highly uncertain backdrop, business leaders are still expected to manage their teams, maintain or improve productivity, focus on their customers’ needs and create a sustainable future for their business.” One of Andrew’s mentoring clients is Annie McNeely who has recently left a corporate career as a senior manager for leading lifestyle company Joules to work for herself launching her own consulting business AMc Consulting While she was preparing to make the move from full-time work, she was able to turn to Andrew as a sounding board. She said: “My background is in operations and facilities, which is Andrew’s too so I knew that he understood what I did and also, has been a consultant. “There are lots of coaches who look at self-management and setting goals, but what I needed was someone with that industry experience and who would have some insight into the ‘bumps in the road’ that entrepreneurs experience.” Loughborough University in project to prepare motorways for self-driving vehicles A new £1m project will see Loughborough University team up with Highways England to ensure the country’s motorways can accommodate connected and autonomous vehicles (self-driving) vehicles. Researchers will look at operations at roadworks, merging and diverging sections (across lanes and at junctions) and lane markings to understand the challenges connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) may face. The project, named CAVIAR (Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: Infrastructure Appraisal Readiness), is being carried out in partnership with construction company, Galliford Try. CAVIAR was announced as a winner in Highways England’s innovation and air quality competition last year and awarded £1m from the government company’s innovation and modernisation designated fund. Government and industry are investing heavily in Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technology as they compete to attain a competitive advantage in the future market for mobility systems. The ability of CAVs to operate fully autonomously may not be entirely contained within the vehicle technology due to the inherent complexity in the roadway infrastructure. In addition, weather conditions may limit the ability of on-board sensors to detect road markings, configurations, traffic and road conditions. © Shutterstock /metamorworks © Shutterstock /Branislav Nenin © Shutterstock/Romolo T avani 54-55.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:53 Page 256 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk returning to work, and permanent changes to working conditions. It will also consider how to get redundancy and reorganisation right. Delegates will have the opportunity to ask questions via text in real time on the day. For more information visit https://www.emc- dnl.co.uk/connecting-you/business- focused-workshops/hr-forum6/hr- forum7/?VariantID=2860 Fore Business 4 Construction Monday 21st September Morley Hayes Golf, Derbyshire Experience a day of golf and networking exclusively for construction and trades SMEs and organisations at this event run by a national golf-based networking organisation and the Construction Network. There will also be sponsored prizes and competitions throughout the day, brunch, and a chance to record a promotional video for your business and share it throughout “Fore” Business’s network. For more information visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fore- business-4-construction-tickets- 91285097183?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Talking Business LIVE - Supply Chain Tuesday 11th August Online The pandemic has shone a light on many weaknesses in global supply chains. Businesses will therefore need to rethink their models and make use of a more diversified supplier base, while developing a flexible but cost-efficient supply chain. At this event Derby organisations will share how they have been affected and what localised and more digitised supply chains will mean for the future. For more information visit https://www.marketingderby.co.uk/md- events/2020/8/4/talking-business-live- supply-chain Employment Law and COVID-19 Support Update Wednesday 16th September Online This HR Forum, in partnership with BRM Solicitors, will provide an employment law update and consider the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, events Greater Lincolnshire LEP Skills Conference Tuesday 13th October Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground The first ever Greater Lincolnshire LEP Skills Conference will help businesses get ready for the future workplace. The conference aims to dispel myths surrounding apprenticeships, provide advice and tips on recruiting staff and accessing support, and is focused on the businesses delegate, as well as schools, colleges, training providers, universities, local authorities, career leaders, © SHUTTERS TOCK.C OM/ BRILLIANTIS T S TUDIO © SHUTTERS TOCK/BL UE PLANET S TUDIO UK Border Customs Controls from 1/1/21 Tuesday 11th August Online This event is for companies that trade goods anywhere in the world, who will need to prepare for new border controls starting when the EU transition period ends. As we will leave the single market, current trade agreements may be lost and others won, and border and customs arrangements will be different from the way they operate today. In the webinar Liam Smyth, Director of Trade Facilitation at the British Chambers of Commerce, will provide insight and comment on the new UK Border Operating Model, advise on the actions traders need to take now, signpost funding opportunities for trader readiness and discuss prospects for future trade. For more information visit https://www.emc- dnl.co.uk/helping-you-influence/brexit3/brexit-events2/?VariantID=3754 56-57.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:56 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 57 politicians, civil servants and policy makers. It will also home in on delivering skills to businesses to drive economic growth and will feature keynote speakers, strategic panel discussions and debate, and skills demonstrations. For more information visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greater- lincolnshire-lep-skills-conference-2020- tickets-99512169578?aff= ebdssbdestsearch Innovation Friday Friday 30th October Leicester Innovation Hub Develop new partnerships and innovative ideas over cake and coffee at this event. Attend for an opportunity to network with the Innovation Hub Team, enterprising academics, innovators from local companies, recent student/graduate start-ups, regional businesses and innovation support organisations in an informal environment. For more information visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/innovatio n-friday-aka-cake-friday-at-the-leicester- innovation-hub-tickets- 49280471216?aff=erelpanelorg Leading in a Virtual World Tuesday 18th August Online Demands on leaders of people and organisations have never been greater. Juggling maintaining effective relationships, while providing vision and direction to focus the workforce on enhancing company performance, leading virtually has created more challenges. How you choose to lead during this unprecedented time will have lasting effects on your business. This webinar will give delegates the opportunity to reflect on their leadership focus, recognise the traits of a successful virtual leader, identify how virtual leaders should support and lead people and offer time to connect with other leaders and focus on what is important in the new reality. For more information visit https://www.iod.com/events-community/events/event-details/eventdateid/24508 generate networking opportunities, facilitate introductions to new suppliers and give attendees the tools and information they need to make their business more profitable and achieve growth. The free event is expected to have over 90 exhibiting companies and a variety of expert speakers. For more information visit https://www.betterbusiness- expo.co.uk/about/ 2020 Midlands Better Business Expo Wednesday 11th November Pride Park Stadium, Derby Returning for its second year, the Midlands Better Business Expo is an event for small and medium sized businesses from across the region. The expo aims to bring together start-ups and SMEs to help © SHUTTERS TOCK.C OM/ MINIS TOCKER East Midlands Bricks Awards 2020 Thursday 29th October Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, West Bridgford Recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region, the prestigious East Midlands Bricks Awards offer a chance to applaud outstanding work and forge new contacts. Attracting property and construction professionals from across the region, the event will present an ideal opportunity to celebrate the end of lockdown in a safe and secure environment. For more information visit https:www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk/ma g/bricks-2020/ 56-57.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:56 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 Oh twizpipe! One has to marvel at the bizarre research undertaken by universities these days, and this month is no exception as Frazer came across a study on swearing. Apparently, Keele University psychologists have proven that the use of swear words can boost pain tolerance by 33% in comparison to using alternative language. The study looked to identify whether repeating the fake swear words ‘twizpipe’ and ‘fouch’ could be as effective as uttering traditional swear words in helping to tolerate pain as participants held their hands in an ice bath. Unsurprisingly, these had little impact in comparison to the classic swears! Hey, it may be considered by some to be frivolous research, but at least you now have an excuse when you stub your toe on your desk and bellow one of the many frowned upon pieces of the beautiful English language. Now where is that swearbox… 58 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk © SHUTTERS TOCK/ SERGEY NIVENS You’re hired With jobs in short supply after the COVID-19 lockdown some readers might be busy compiling a CV/resume, but how do you best describe yourself? Well, Frazer is here with a few tips on how not to! A recent consultation of hiring managers across various industries in the UK unveiled the buzzwords HR people least like to see. ‘Best’ for example, emerged as the hiring manager’s least favourite word, as a staggering 76% loathe to see its appearance in a CV. Other adjectives to avoid are ‘motivated’ and ‘dedicated’. And, rounding off the top ten overused words are ‘proven’, ‘reliable’, ‘passionate’, ‘excellent’, ‘enthusiastic’, ‘great’ and ‘hardworking’. Looks like it’s time to avoid the clichés and crack open the thesaurus, even if it is proven that you are an excellent hard worker! © SHUTTERS TOCK/ GEORGE RUD Y A fresh way to de-stress As the stress of work, the pandemic, and the world in general builds up, Frazer is perhaps not alone in looking for new ways to vent excess frustration. Well, thanks to an old colleague, Frazer has come across what sounds like a highly therapeutic solution; screaming. As dramatic as that sounds, it transpires that Iceland, the country not the store, is marketing a service in which executives can let off steam by recording screams and having them played on one of seven loudspeakers in remote areas. There is a full webpage dedicated to the campaign, which states: “You’ve been through a lot this year and it looks like you need the perfect place to let your frustrations out. Somewhere big, vast and untouched. It looks like you need Iceland. Record your scream and we’ll release it in Iceland’s beautiful, wide-open spaces. And when you’re ready, come let it out for real. You’ll feel better, we promise.” Frazer thinks he’ll give it a go… © SHUTTERS TOCK/ FO TOHELIN 58.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:57 Page 1Flexible Office Space Huntingdon House is located just a few minutes’ walk from The Lace Market area of Hockley and the Victoria Centre in Nottingham. The building was constructed in the 1950’s with shops to the ground floor and offices on the first and second floors. We have a professional and friendly business community and strive to maintain high standards throughout the Centre and its facilities which are supported by our reception staff. Offices to Let At the moment there are a range of offices available which vary in size from approximately 150 sq. ft. to 1000 sq. ft. some of which can be occupied on a monthly rolling licence (subject to contract), our terms are very competitive. We offer flexible working solutions for small and start-up businesses and can provide you with a professional presence in Nottingham at very affordable prices. Subject to agreement, the licence fee can include all utilities, telephone connection and broadband; meaning your only additional costs would be for telephone calls made and use of Reception support services. Virtual Office We can also provide a Virtual Office for your company - an address away from your home, a dedicated telephone line, message taking – calls answered in your company name – which all adds up to being able to give a professional image not to mention supporting you whilst you concentrate on work! Costs vary depending on the services required, but can include message taking, call diverting to accommodation address facility and mail forwarding etc. All our business support services such as mail franking, photocopying, meeting room hire can be used when required (at an extra cost). Meeting and Conference Rooms area available for hire by the hour, day or week for you to meet your clients in professional surroundings. Meeting Rooms We have two meeting rooms available at competitive rates; one to accommodate up to 14 persons with desks or 25 theatre style; the layout can be changed to suit your needs, the other to accommodate 6 persons. Both have air conditioning and equipment can also be provided for example projectors and note pads. Both rooms are close to kitchens or if you prefer, refreshments can be provided. Huntingdon House Business Centre 278-290, Huntingdon Street, Nottingham, NG1 3LY T: 0115 9934200 E: reception@huntingdonhousebusinesscentre.co.uk W: huntingdonhousebusinesscentre.co.uk 59.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2020 11:57 Page 1Next >