< Previous10East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukFINANCE NEWSNorthamptonshire’s DTC creates jobs after winning£350k fundingMEIF Maven Debt Finance has provided DTC International, a telecoms lifecycle managementcompany, with £350,000 of debt funding. The funding will enable DTC to develop a state-of-the-arttraining centre, which will support its ambitious growth strategy, creating 40 new jobs in the SouthEast Midlands.The new training centre is intended to be a centre of excellence in the industry, and is a crucial partof the company’s move to a direct-employment model, enabling the business to train employees toan exceptionally high standard, assist in ensuring higher workforce retention and offer cross-skilledEngineers in what is a fast developing market.Highly regarded within its industry and supporting a number of blue-chip customers, DTC provideslifecycle management services across all areas of a telecoms network and has developed three distinctdivisions; Reverse Logistics, After-Market and Technical Network Services.The company’s services range from providing technology migration consultancy to major telecomoperators, ethically recycling older telecoms technology, copper cable recovery and the recycling and subsequent sourcing and resale of mature technology tocurrent users.East Midlands firm reports hike in corporatedeal volumesDealmakers at the East Midlands regional office of business and financial adviser Grant Thornton have advised on ten transactions in asmany months.The deals handled by the Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) team based at Grant Thornton’s East Midlands office have ranged fromvendor due diligence on company sales, to development capital investments by private equity in fast growth businesses.Amongst the most recent deals was the Foresight Group’s £2.5 million growth capital investment into Loughborough company AccrosoftLimited, a software service company founded in 2008 by Alex Khabiz and Mitesh Chauhan.“There has been a noticeable increase in the volume of development capital Private Equity deals in particular,” comments Director andfinancial due diligence adviser Paul Kithoray who leads the East Midlands TAS team.“We’ve bolstered our local team with the recent hire of Mohammed Muraj who joined us from KPMG and is the latest addition to GrantThornton’s market leading 30-strong Advisory team covering the Central and East England region, and which locally includes the highlyexperienced Associate Director, Andrew Lane.”Kithoray, who returned to Grant Thornton at the end of 2017 to establish the Transaction Services team in the East Midlands, adds: “In the lastyear, we have seen a high volume of deal activity and provided due diligence services on a mix of transactions from corporate acquisitions, tobusiness sales and Private Equity investments, such as the Foresight Group’s investment in Accrosoft.”£1.31m loan sees Nottinghamshire packaging firminvest in machinery Surepak Limited, a Nottinghamshire manufacturer of flexible packaging forfoodstuffs, has invested in a new printing press and lamination unit after securing a£1.31 million loan from HSBC UK.The firm has invested in a Comexi F4 flexographic printing press and a Comexi SL2lamination unit, which enable the business to bring all its printing services in-houseand produce higher quality pouch packages for clients including M&S, Waitrose, SukiTea and Pets at Home.The business produces flexible pouches for products including tea and coffee,sauces, cereals, hardware and pet food, as well as providing compostable packaging.Before investing in the new machinery, Surepak used three different suppliers for asingle product line. The new 8-colour press and lamination unit provides the businesswith a higher quality product that can be produced in one-third of the amount oftime.The HSBC UK loan supported the manufacture and shipment of the machine fromComexi’s Spanish base.David Wagstaff, Financial Director of Surepak Limited, said: “The Comexi printingpress is the market leader in printing innovation and with the new machinery, Surepak will be able to compete at the highest levels of product quality.“The support of Chris Munnings, our Relationship Manager at HSBC UK, has been crucial in helping us purchase the printing press and lamination unit and willenable to us to deliver high quality products to our customers in the UK and abroad.”Dave Welch, HSBC UK’s Area Director in Leicestershire, said: “The flexible packaging industry has seen a real boom due to pouches being more resourceefficient and cost effective. Surepak’s industry expertise and latest manufacturing investment places the business in an excellent position for growth and able torespond to the increasing demand for flexible packaging.”10-11.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 14:54 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 11FINANCE NEWSCustodian REIT makes £14.2minvestmentCustodian REIT, the Leicester-basedcommercial real estate investment companyhas acquired a 43,000 square feet ShoppingPark for £14.2m.The shopping centre is one mile fromEvesham town centre and two miles from theA46, linking the M5 and M40. It comprises aterrace of five units occupied by Next, M&S,Boots, Argos and Poundstretcher, with nearbyretailers including Tesco, and B&M.The acquisition was funded fromCustodian’s existing debt resources, resultingin net gearing rising to a loan-to-valuepercentage of 22.8.Richard Shepherd-Cross, the ManagingDirector of Custodian’s discretionary investment manager says: “Both Next and Bootshave recently extended their leases at the passing rent indicating their commitment tothe location. B&M Bargains has recently constructed a 25,000 sq ft unit adjacent to thePark, demonstrating that together with the Tesco Extra opposite this is the prime out oftown location in Evesham. We are pleased to have secured this opportunity to acquire avery well-let park at a price which reflects a discount to recent market pricing.”“We believe well located, out-of-town, retail warehouse properties which, either do notcompete with online retailing or are complementary, through offering easy click-and-collect services will remain in demand despite the current restructuring of the retail market. This acquisition presented an opportunity to buy a prime asset, let toblue-chip tenants, at a sufficiently high yield to support our fully covered dividend,” he added.Growing Lincolnshirebusiness secures6-figure investmentLincolnshire-based interior service provider, Tienda Limited, hassecured a six-figure investment from Nottingham-based MavenCapital Partners.The capital will be used to finance a new contract, which runsover five years, to refit up to 700 outlets including a Building society,Banks, coffee shops and convenience stores. Six jobs will becreated in the region as a result.Tienda operates as both a main contractor and as a preferredcontractor for a number of large main contractors, providing fit-outand construction services to the Commercial, Hospitality, office andresidential developers sectors as well as targeting companiesdirectly with its interior design, fit-out and construction services.Having recently shifted its model to target blue chip customers,Tienda has secured several contracts to provide interior design,refitting and construction work. Tienda’s full range of servicesinclude developing clients’ briefs, detailing design work, projectmanagement and workshop and site construction.Nic Grimoldby, CEO at Tienda, said: “We are delighted to havethe backing and support of MEIF and Maven. The funding willenable us to take advantage of new client opportunities whilstexpanding our team. With Maven’s support, we are confident wecan pursue our ambitious growth plans faster.”Derby clothes manufacturer lands £1m funding Dealmakers at Grant ThorntonAndrew Lane (Associate Director),Mohammed Muraj and Paul Kithoray(Director) are reporting a hike in dealvolumesDerby-based M2C2 Group, a manufacturer and distributor of men’s shirtsand knitwear, has landed £1m of funding from Independent Growth FinanceLtd (IGF). The funding comes as M2C2 continues to distribute to 500 localindependent menswear retailers on high streets across the UK and Europe.The facility is comprised of £700,000 in invoice discounting and £300,000in inventory finance. M2C2 chose IGF out of an original list of 12 differentfunding providers.M2C2 manufacturers and distributes men’s shirts and knitwear to acustomer base of 500 SMEs. Its business cycle usually runs up to 18 months,going through prototype design, sample distribution agreements andeventual shipping.Neal Dawson, director of M2C2, said: “We were not only looking for afunder who could provide additional cash to support our growth aspirations,but we also had an expectation around service levels and support.“During the initial meeting with IGF, it was prominent that the teamgarnered a synergy, separating them from other funders.”Paul Edmeades, ABL director at IGF, added: “We are delighted towelcome M2C2 as a client. As we do with all our clients, we took time tounderstand M2C2’s requirements to provide a bespoke funding solutionthat fits the needs of their business.“An ABL package is useful to a business like M2C2, which has seasonaltrading fluctuations or carries high stock value, to cover customer needs.”10-11.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 14:54 Page 212East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukMANUFACTURING NEWSChesterfield loses bid for TalgofactoryChesterfield has narrowly missed out in a bid to bring a new train factory to the town that would havecreated thousands of jobs.Spanish train manufacturer Talgo has selected Longannet, in Fife, as the location for its new factoryahead of the former Hartington Colliery site, between Staveley and Barrow Hill.Chesterfield Borough Council had been working for months with a range of public and business sectorpartners to bring the factory to the area, which would have created 1,000 jobs directly, with another 4,000 inthe supply chain.Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “While we are hugely disappointedthat the bid hasn’t been successful Talgo was really impressed with Chesterfield and the bid that was puttogether.“Because of this they have said that they are keen to work with the area to potentially bring aninnovation centre to Barrow Hill, recognising the strengths we have in terms of skills, education, researchand technology.“I’m also hopeful that the highly skilled businesses in the local area that already supply and support therail sector can win contracts with Talgo as it enters the UK market.”Record orders for MansfieldmanufacturerMansfield-based Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading contract furniture specialists,has announced a record order book and strong financial performance this year.The business has generated £20m of orders in 2018 from contractors anddevelopers – a record order intake in the history of the company. This is a 40 per centincrease on the same period last year and has secured projects for the business for2019 through to 2020.Turnover has grown from £2.5m in 2002 when the company was acquired by itscurrent owners to in excess of £16m this year. Its average project size has increasedto over £1m.Deanestor has seen a significant rise in orders and enquiries from developers andcontractors for student accommodation schemes and in the build-to-rent sectorwhich is performing strongly in urban centres across the UK.As part of its expansion and to meet the increased demand for its contract furniture solutions, Deanestor has recently completed a £1m investment programme atits factory in Mansfield. This has included installation of a second production line for cabinet manufacture to double capacity; investment in the latest computer-controlled cutting equipment, and a new dedicated metal powder coating facility for specialist laboratory furniture.Commenting on the strong performance, William Tonkinson, Managing Director of Deanestor, said: “This business has a great history which spans more than 70years. We are the longest established furniture and fit-out provider to the NHS.”Uniti to create digitalised EVproduction site at SilverstoneUniti Sweden has plans to establish an electric vehicle “pilot production plant” at Silverstone Park,the home of the British Grand Prix.The facility will be used to produce the Uniti One electric car, while serving as a blueprint for globallylicensed “digital” assembly plants throughout the world.The initiative aligns with the UK’s industrial strategy to lead the world in zero emission andautonomous vehicle technologies. Uniti anticipates this Industry 4.0 pilot facility to be operational by2020, leading the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies.“The UK’s approach to vehicle production, with its focus on light-weighting and innovation inadvanced materials, is an ideal model for electric car production globally,” says Uniti CEO, Lewis Horne. “It’s no secret that some of the world’s best vehicleengineers are clustered around Silverstone. When coupled with a government receptive to our ambition and goals, we couldn’t find a better home to establishour pilot production facility.”Uniti has been working with MEPC at Silverstone Park to develop a vision for the pilot plant, with further details to be announced soon. This is the first ofseveral planned initiatives for Uniti to establish itself in the United Kingdom, working towards a goal of becoming a major player in the UK’s EV market over thenext few years.To date, the Swedish carmaker has already engaged a team of engineers at an R&D centre in Northamptonshire while fostering partnerships with localcompanies such as KW Special Projects (Light-Weight Structure and Additive Manufacturing), Danecca (EV Powertrain), and Unipart (Global Supply Chain).Concurrent to Uniti’s engineering activities in Silverstone, the company is setting up an office in London to ensure capital is raised for UK operations on atimescale meaningful to their plans.© SMMT 12-13.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 14:58 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 13MANUFACTURING NEWSRolls-Royce wins Trent 7000order from Delta Air Lines Rolls-Royce has won an orderfrom Delta Air Lines for Trent 7000engines to power ten Airbus aircraft.The Trent 7000 is the latestmember of the Rolls-Royce Trentengine family and the exclusivepowerplant for the A330neo.The announcement brings thetotal number of Delta Air Lines Trent7000-powered A330neos to 35,following an order for 25 aircraft in2014.Gil West, Delta Sr. EVP and Chief Operating Officer, said: “Expanding our A330 orderbook not only ensures that Delta’s near-to-medium-term widebody needs are taken care of,but also drives our strategic, measured international growth for the benefit of ouremployees, customers and investors.“The next-generation engine technology from Rolls-Royce which powers the A330neoprovides compelling operating economics, superior fuel performance and the range andcoverage for our transoceanic needs going forward.”Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil Aerospace, said: “This is a greatendorsement of the A330neo and Trent 7000 combination. We are seeing real momentumbuilding in the marketplace and having Delta Air Lines select our engines twice gives usgreat confidence for the future.”The order continues a longstanding relationship between Rolls-Royce and Delta AirLines – it also operates Airbus A350, Boeing 777 and Boeing 717 aircraft that are poweredby the Trent XWB, Trent 800 and BR715 engines respectively.© ADEY STEEL GROUPSME manufacturing activity weakensNew orders growth eased among SME manufacturers in the three months to October, as domestic orders flat-lined, according to the latest quarterly CBISME Trends Survey.The survey of 331 SME manufacturers also reported that output growth eased, and production is expected to stall in the quarter ahead, with expectationsamong their weakest since October 2011.Domestic orders growth ground to a halt, whilst export orders growth slowed to the weakest in nearly two years. The outlook for both is sombre, withdomestic orders set to fall next quarter and export orders expected to be flat. The number of respondents citing political and economic conditions abroad aslimiting near-term export orders rose further, remaining at its highest in two years.Loughboroughsteel fabricatorgoes for growthLoughborough-based Adey Steel Group has announcedplans to grow its presence as a specialist steel fabricator in theRail, Energy, Security and Engineering sectors and havetargeted the Housebuilding sector to continue its constructiongrowth.The changes will see the 90 year old firm increase its workwith Rail, Energy and Specialist clients while limiting its workwithin the broader construction industry.Managing Director Andrew Adey said: “It is within theseniche sectors that we have shown most success in recent years,so it is an obvious step to maximise our activities there andminimise activities in broader more volatile sectors.”Andrew Adey added: “We see growth opportunitiespresenting themselves in Rail ahead of CP6 and HS2 combinedwith heavy investment in the Nuclear and Energy sectors, sowe are structuring our business to ensure we are bestpositioned to support delivering this growth.”12-13.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 14:58 Page 214East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukPROPERTY NEWSBJD plot new future for Derby’sNightingale QuarterBJD Investors and Developers have submitted plans for a revised Nightingale Quarter on the site ofthe former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.After purchasing the site earlier this year, BJD were quick to outline their ambitions for the DRI,focusing on delivery of a high-quality residential neighbourhood. Plans have now been submitted whichare expected to be determined at Planning Committee on the 14th February 2019. If successful, work willcommence in August 2019, with the first homes available in autumn 2020.James Dickens, Founder of BJD, is excited by the opportunity provided by the site and believes theambitious timeline is achievable following initial conversations with Derby City Council and MarketingDerby. He said, “Derby City Council and Marketing Derby have been a pleasure to work with, theirpragmatic approach and can-do attitude has been greatly received by us as a developer.” Two iconic Pepper Pot buildings still remain on the site and BJD have decided to make both buildingsa key feature of the scheme. Other historical features of the site will be refurbished and restored,including the five villas opposite Hartington Street, following constructive consultation with theConservation Officer.James said: “Both pepper pots will be retained for community use such as cafes/gyms, exhibition space or visitor centres. We understand the sensitivity andimportance of these local landmarks as the hospital played a pivotal role in the city and we want them to be enjoyed by all.”Haulage firm agrees pre-let on110,000 sq ft warehouseProperty consultancy Harris Lamb has agreed a pre-let on a 110,000 sq ft distribution unit at a Derbyshirecommercial site.Plans for the design and build warehouse at Denby Hall Business Park was announced earlier this year, aspart of developer Garner Holdings’ commitment to helping to generate more new jobs in the region. Work on the 110,000 sq ft building is well underway, and having been appointed as sole agent for theopportunity, Harris Lamb has negotiated a lease with logistics firm Lockwood Haulage. Neil Harris of Harris Lamb said: “Denby Hall Business Park has a reputation for being a premier, high-tech commercial location within the East Midlands, benefitting from high-specification office and industrialspace with excellent logistics links. “The past few years have seen a number of forward-thinking companies site themselves at the Park toestablish a base for their international business, and its success within the East Midlands is second to none. “There has been extensive demand for commercial property within the region for some time, and DenbyHall and Garner Holdings are responsive to that need. The business’ announcement that it planned tospeculatively build this unit back in June was met with great anticipation from local businesses, hence thespeedy negotiations with Lockwood Haulage,” he said.HMRC confirms move intoNottingham’s Unity SquareHMRC has announced it is to move into Unity Square after entering into a 25-year pre-let for itsNottingham Regional Centre with Peveril Securities and its joint venture partner Sladen Estates.The announcement has been welcomed by the local business community – and the developersbehind the Unity Square scheme say that the new regional hub will “help to put Nottingham on theoccupier map, helping to secure Nottingham’s place as a Core City.”The Unity Square development opposite Nottingham Train Station is set to open in summer 2021 andPhase 1 will accommodate around 4,000 full-time equivalent employees.Sladen has described the Unity Square development as “the most transformational officedevelopment scheme to happen in the East Midlands in more than a decade.”Today Ralph Jones, MD of Peveril Securities, said: ““For HMRC to choose Nottingham is hugelysignificant for not just the city, but for everyone who lives and works here.“In addition to this, we also believe that such a significant investment in the city and provision of anultra-modern state of the art office building that would be at home in any major city will be a catalyst forthe wider regeneration of the Southside area and will send a strong message to national & regionaloccupiers that Nottingham is open for business.”14-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 15:00 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukPROPERTY NEWSGreen light for £60mdevelopment nearLincolnBeal Homes has gained reserved matters planning approval for a £60mdevelopment of 350 homes in Welton, on the northern edge of Lincoln, whichwill be one of the company’s largest schemes to date.The development will feature 263 open market properties catering for a widerange of buyers and 15 affordable homes. In addition, the scheme will also deliver72 specialist retirement homes developed by Lincoln-based Lace Housing, whichprovides housing support services for older people in Lincolnshire and surroundingareas.The development will feature a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes.Unusually for a new development, the Beal properties will include 24 bungalows,reflecting Lincolnshire’s popularity as a retirement location.Having been granted outline planning approval in 2015, Beal has now gained reservedmatters consent from West Lindsey District Council for detailed plans, meaning thedevelopment can proceed.The development will cover 72 acres, including a 22-acre green space with a recreational area,to include a woodland walk, and is just a few minutes’ drive from the historic centre of Lincoln.Leicester city centreoffice building tobecome apartmentsAn office building in the heart of Leicester city centre is to beconverted into apartments after a local property developmentcompany promised to breathe new life into it.Grandeur Capital Ltd has acquired the leasehold, for anundisclosed price, of the upper three floors of 171-173 CharlesStreet after agreeing the sale with national commercial propertyconsultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), which was appointedto market the property on behalf of the landlord.Shezad Tayub, of Grandeur Capital Ltd, who has completed anumber of office to residential conversions in Leicester over thepast three years, said work has just begun to overhaul thedilapidated building and create 10 high quality one-bedroomapartments and four studios.He aims to complete the conversion of the first, second and third floors, which total 7,137 sq ft, andhave the apartments rented to young professionals, by November next year. He expects the value of theproperty to be about £1.3 million when it is finished.“I secured planning permission as we went through the conveyancing process so we are ready to goon site as soon as possible,” he said. “The building will look completely different by the time I have finished andthe building team has completed the full conversion work.”Leicester Tigers’ hotel &car park developmenttakes a step forwardLeicester Tigers’ proposed hotel and car park development took a stepforward with the exchanging of contracts between the club and developerMarshall Commercial Development Projects Ltd this week.The exchange between the two parties now means that subject toLeicester City Council planning approval, work can begin on the £22 millionpound project in summer of 2019.Marshall CDP Ltd, part of the Marshall Holdings Ltd group, havecommercial expertise in building distribution warehouses, retail parks,offices, residential property and retail as well as hotels and leisure.They will be responsible for building the proposed five-floor 183-room hotel on the surrounding 1.7-acre Granby Halls car park site.The company will work with Leicester-based national constructionconsultancy Pick Everard, who completed the original designs for theproject and will oversee the build.Boasting 3,300 square metres of reception, circulation,lounge and dining areas, the hotel will also have a businesscentre, retail and lobby areas which open up on to aTigers fan zone alongside a fitness suite, restaurantand fifth-floor ‘sky bar’.East Midlands Business Link 1514-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 15:00 Page 216East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEND OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIESThe yearin review It’s been nothing if not an eventful year, with the thunderclouds inBritish politics rivalled only by the bizarre meteorological phenomenaexperienced in the winter, with the so-called ‘Beast from the East’, andthen wildfires and record-breaking temperatures in summer. The stagewas set the World Cup with the English team surprising all odds andmaking it through to the semi-finals, but it was inevitable they’d fail to“bring it home”. Combined, the squad’s performance coupled with thegood weather was a boon to the retail sector, with sales of barbecuemeats, beer and TVs going through the roof. There was, however, a stingin the tale with a shortage of carbon dioxide, which made procuring apint tricky at times. If 2018 has a lasting legacy beyond political chaos and environmentaldisaster, let it be as a turning point. In response to the growing issue ofplastic pollution, the government introduced a ban on the manufacture ofcosmetics and personal care products containing plastic microbeads.Months later, it was followed by a further ban on straws, stirrers andcotton buds. Although this approach is admirable, indeed earningplaudits from industry, campaign groups and consumers, others said itdoesn’t go far enough. Certainty, this opinion wasn’t helped afterChancellor Philip Hammond failed to deliver the proposed tax ondisposable coffee cups – the so-called ‘latte levy’ – in the AutumnBudget, saying that the drinks industry was already trying to sort out theproblem.The construction industry was dealt one of its biggest blows in recent18 u© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / JASON BATTERHAMA lot’s happened over the last twelve months,from the collapse of Carillion to a draft Brexitdeal agreed with Brussels. END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES16-19.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 16:32 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 17END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIESEND OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES16-19.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 16:32 Page 2memory early in the year with news inJanuary of the collapse of Carillion,which had been the UK’s second largestconstruction firm. The firm entered intoliquidation after succumbing to itsoverwhelming £1.5 billion debt pile.Discussions were held between the firmalong with its lenders and thegovernment but, alas, no deal could bereached to save the company. Withsome 20,000 employees to its name inthe UK – and more staff abroad – it wasa dire start to the year for the sector. Aswell as costing taxpayers £148 million,the collapse has also shaken public trustin business with good reason, as ithappened. With the disruption, loss ofjobs and knock-on effects to suppliersand contractors, the effects will still befelt years from now. Collapse and liquidation have been acommon theme for much of this year,with a domino effect taking place onBritish high streets as big names in theretail and hospitality sectors ceasetrading and vanish into the annals ofhistory. Although some chains haveentered company voluntaryarrangements to close outlets andlay off staff, others had no otherchoice but to close up shop forgood. So while House of Fraserwas saved from the brink byBillionaire entrepreneur MikeAshley, we’ve bidden farewell toToys ‘R’ Us, Maplin andPoundworld. The supermarketsector has also been forced toshutter shops and reduceheadcounts as the high streetsqueeze continues. Many havepointed the finger towards the shifttowards online spending, thoughrising high street rents, inflationand stagnant wages have alsobeen blamed. In any case, tens ofthousands of jobs have been lost inthese sectors alone this year, painting ableak picture for business. Although sustainability has been inthe spotlight this year, health has alsobeen a major concern. It’s no secret thatthe world has an obesity crisis. InEngland, more than half of adults arenow classed as obese, and with biggerwaistlines comes a whole host ofrelated diseases, including diabetes,heart disease and stroke. Suffice it tosay that excessive sugar, salt and18East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / NITIKORN POONSIRI© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / CAROLYN FRANKS© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / TEERASAK LADNONGKHUN16-19.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 16:32 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 19END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIESsaturated fat in food and drink productshave been public enemy number one. Tohelp counteract that, the government hasintroduced its much-mooted sugar tax,though research has questioned theimpact it will have. Companies havegotten in on the action too, whether toavoid any levies or to appeal to the walletsof consumers looking for lower sugar andsalt varieties of household favourites. Through all of this, though, there hasbeen Brexit bubbling away in thebackground and often dramaticallyexploding as we edge closer towards ourfinal departure date. The latter half of theyear has unfolded more like a soap operawith backstabbing, resignations andrevelations of rampant bullying inWestminster. But there seems to be someclarity and consensus (of a sort) finallyunfurling. As of going to print, all twenty-seven remaining EU leaders have signedoff Britain’s Brexit agreement. But nowTheresa May has the unenviable task oftrying to persuade lawmakers inParliament to vote for her deal. All in all,it’s been a mixed year for business andfor the country at large. So rather thanend on a downer, and in the spirt of thefestive season, we’ll end with somethinga little more light-hearted. We bid a fondfarewell to the paper tenner andwelcomed the futuristic polymer notefeaturing literary icon Jane Austen inplace of Charles Darwin. Then we alsohad a royal wedding. Now, say what youwant about those unelected spongers,but there’s nothing quite like a royalwedding to bring the nation together.Lastly, we lost Stephen Hawking, KenDodd, Peter Stringfellow and BarryChuckle, among others. While that maybe sad, just imagine the parties that lotare having up in heaven. That’s sure toput a smile on your face.© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / NITO© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / YUTTANA CONTRIBUTOR STUDIO16-19.qxp_Layout 1 03/12/2018 16:32 Page 4Next >