West & North Yorkshire Business Magazine Q2 2020

West & North

Yorkshire

usiness PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Survive, emerge & thrive West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited

CONNECTING, SUPPORTING & REPRESENTING BUSINESS IN THE REGION

Q2 2020

Up to 66% off † Business Breakdown Cover for Chamber members Service level

Roadside

Relay

Relay Plus

Home Start

Accident Management

Offer Price

Standard Price

Difference

Fleetwide 1

3

3

3

3

3

£87.49

£236.50

£149.01

Fleetwide 2

3

3

3

3

£78.69

£202.50

£123.81

Fleetwide 3

3

3

3

£64.74

£189.50

£124.76

Fleetwide 4

3

3

3

£55.94

£155.50

£99.56

Fleetwide 5

3

3

£47.27

£114.50

£67.23

Fleet Europe

£16.44

£44.50

£28.06

Minibus Rescue

£193.16

£316.50

£123.34

£174.32

£387.00

£212.68

3

Specialist 2

3

3

3

Specialist 4

3

3

3

£149.66

£306.50

£156.84

Specialist 5

3

3

£96.99

£202.50

£105.51

3

The table below gives you more details about the specific services which can be included within our Business Breakdown cover Roadside

Repair or recovery to the AA’s choice of appropriate local repairer.

Relay*

Transportation of vehicle, driver and up to 7 passengers to a UK mainland address if prompt local repair not possible.

Relay Plus*

Extended Relay service to include one of three alternative arrangements for driver and passengers; car hire, accommodation or public transport services.

Home Start

For breakdowns at or within ¼ mile of your home address.

Accident Management

Takes the hassle out of arranging repair, recovery and insurance claims after an accident or vandalism.

For more information, please contact your local Chamber of Commerce Direct Debit. To make life easier, you can now pay for your breakdown cover by Direct Debit.

Based on Fleetwide 3 Standard rates for 3-6 vehicles. All the above prices are per vehicle per year, inclusive of IPT (Insurance Premium Tax). All prices are subject to change. Fleetwide cover does not apply to: specialist vehicles, ie: taxis, mini cabs, hire vehicles, ambulances, police vehicles, vehicles on tradeplates, minibuses, privately owned vehicles (unless used for business purposes), motorcycles and courier vehicles (all of which can be covered on Specialist rates as above), or any vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gvw.

Terms and conditions apply. *Relay and Relay Plus services are not provided at or within ¼ mile of driver’s home address.

Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer prices are only available while your Chamber membership is current. We reserve the right to review pricing at any time.

Full terms and conditions available on request by calling 0800 55 11 88. Business Breakdown cover is provided by Automobile Association Developments Limited (trading as AA Breakdown Services).

Relay Plus is underwritten by Acromas Insurance Company Limited. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance, Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is a member of the Association of British Insurers. Head Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered Number 88716 (Gibraltar). UK brand address: Acromas Insurance Company Limited, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3SE. Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Registered Office: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4EA. Registered in England and Wales number 2414212. †

BSF_BCC_0360 (0217)

West & North Yorkshire Business

Q2

WELCOME 3

New digital network

When I wrote the introduction to the magazine in March, we knew about the corona virus in China, but had no idea how quickly it would affect us in the UK with loss of life and an economic crisis.

The reason that we are publishing this issue online is because the vast majority of the people employed in members companies are working from home and keeping in touch via the web. Technology has become essential.

Sandy Needham DL Chief Executive West & North Yorkshire Chamber

You’ll find articles in the magazine that tell great stories of how businesses and their teams are helping others. It shows that the sense of community continues to thrive and people care about those outside their family and colleagues. We are postponing the Raising the Bar Awards, which recognise companies’ social impact, but want to record and celebrate, at an appropriate time, the fantastic contributions that businesses large and small are making.

We put Chamber events on hold, including the York & North Yorkshire Chamber Annual Dinner, but we have delivered webinars and international training online on topics from furloughing and dealing with health and safety in re-opening premises, to pure networking in virtual rooms and talking to the Bank of England. It is different, being online for long periods is tiring, but we remain connected and try to do business.

08455 240 240 editor@yorkshire-business.co.uk www.yorkshire-business.co.uk @WNYorkshire_Biz

Each of the three Chambers has just held election meetings and I would like to thank those who are involved in the three Leadership Groups, the Presidents and Vice Presidents across West and North Yorkshire. Direct input on concerns and trends have meant we could give real examples to the Chancellor and others in Government, via the British Chambers of Commerce, which have influenced the decisions made. Without such input, part-time furloughing probably would not have been introduced and that is something that is helping to keep businesses in business.

Q2

West & North Yorkshire Business

4 CONTACTS EDITORIAL editor@yorkshire-business.co.uk DESIGN design@yorkshire-business.co.uk ADVERTISING advertising@yorkshire-business.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@yorkshire-business.co.uk WEBSITE yorkshire-business.co.uk TWITTER @WNYorkshire_Biz

6

MEMBERS’ NEWS News from Bradford, Leeds, York & North Yorkshire

12 BREXIT

Post-transition border controls

13 PROFILE

University of Bradford

14

INTERNATIONAL TRADE Documentation services

16 PROFILE CityFibre

20 PROFILE

Expect Distribution

West & North Yorkshire Business is a quarterly business magazine produced by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The audience for this publication is comprised of a targeted audience of the major decision makers and senior executives across both the Yorkshire region and the wider UK business community. © 2019 West & North Yorkshire Business - No Part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form of advertising or promotion without the express permission of the editorial team.

West & North Yorkshire Business has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate on the date of publication.

This magazine is published by the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Printed by Hart & Clough www.hartandclough.co.uk The Chamber group includes Chamber International, Business Enterprise Fund and West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited

22 TRANSPORT

Flights restart at Leeds Bradford Airport

24 PROFILE

Sovereign Health Care

34

QUARTERLY ECONOMIC REPORT Summary of last quarter

36 INFRASTRUCTURE Keeping HS2 on track

38 TRANSPORT

Recovery on the rails

41 PROPERTY

Chamber Hub offices

42

FINANCE FINDER

43

CHAMBER ONLINE

26 SUPPORT

Naylor Wintersgill Chartered Accountants

28 PROFILE

Mott MacDonald

29 PROFILE

Leeds Beckett University

30 PROFILE

Specialist Computer Centres

32 PROFILE

Armed Forces Covenant

New website launched

44 PROFILE

SES Engineering Services

48 INTERNATIONAL

Training courses now online

46

25 PROFILE

Scarborough Town Team

New platform launched

HEALTH & SAFETY Lone Worker Protection advice

48 PROFILE

Garbutt + Elliott

49 PROFILE

Francis Ward

50 PROFILE

The Broadway Food Hub

51

MEMBER SERVICE AXA PPP healthcare

52 EVENTS

Chamber webinars

West & North Yorkshire Business

Q2

CONTENTS 5

Get set for the recovery

52

20

11

Networking events move online

16

Exceeding expectations

26

Keeping business connected

Flexible spaces on easy terms

41

Financial advice

Q1

West & North Yorkshire Business

6

BRADFORD NEWS

Normal – what does that word mean?

As we all continue to try our best for our businesses, our staff and our local economies during this crazy year, we keep hearing or uttering phrases like “as things get back to normal…”.

We also became accustomed to hearing about ‘the new normal’ following the 200708 financial crash, indicating that our lives would never be quite the same again. And yet…here we are again, working and managing with another massive crisis causing disruption, misery and heartache across the world. Times are truly difficult, undoubtedly, and I do not wish to belittle anyone’s problems but we must remain hopeful that the local and regional economy will recover and be successful.

Will that, then, become the new, ‘new normal’? It doesn’t get any easier, being in business, does it? But remember, you are not alone.

In June, we launched our 2020 Bradford Manufacturing Weeks campaign, knowing it is more important than ever this year to support our district’s young people on their journey to employment choices by partnering schools with manufacturers.

We know that business support, now and in the future, remains crucial to helping economic growth and prosperity – and we continue to uphold that commitment and dedication to ensure it happens. If you haven’t been in touch to find out what help is available, do so quickly – you may yet be eligible for financial support, but deadlines are drawing in, so don’t miss out.

Suzanne Watson President Bradford Chamber

Phenomenal Women: Portraits of Black Female Professors Two black female professors from the University of Bradford are among 40 phenomenal women celebrated in first photographic exhibition to honour the presence of black women in British academia The University of Bradford is celebrating the inclusion of two of its professors in a new photographic exhibition to highlight the presence and excellence of all the women included and provide a platform for debate about what it takes to reach this highest level of academic scholarship by female black and minority ethnic academics.

Phenomenal Women: Portraits of UK Black Female Professors showcases 40 black female professors who are either working now or have worked in the last three years across the UK - and two from that list currently work in Bradford.

There are 19,285 professors in UK universities. Fewer than one per cent of professors in the UK are black despite increases in overall levels of academic staff. Black women are three times less likely to be professors than their white female counterparts and represent the smallest group (0.27 per cent) of professors in UK universities.

Uduak Archibong MBE is Professor of Diversity in the Faculty of Health Studies, Director of the Centre for Inclusion and Diversity and provides strategic oversight for equality, diversity and inclusion across the institution. She is Fellow of the West African College of Nursing and Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for her services to higher education and equality.

Engobo Emeseh is Professor of Law and Head of the School of Law in the Faculty of Management, Law & Social Sciences.

Professor Emeseh said: “We have very few black women professors in the UK and to have two out of the 40 on this list at Bradford is something to be celebrated and speaks to our status as a university, which prides itself on inclusion. I also hope it proves motivational for students who come from backgrounds.”

Q1

7 Lockdown challenges raise morale and money People at Yorkshire law firm Gordons are having fun and staying connected during lockdown by undertaking a range of challenges, some of which raise money for Age UK Bradford District.

Gordons colleagues have so far generated more than £2,500 for the charity during lockdown. Over £1,000 was raised by setting each other a variety of inventive and creative challenges. One of these was the firm’s take on the 2.6 Challenge, which was launched to help charities continue to raise money despite the impact of COVID-19.

Lecturer hoping to pedal into record books after non-stop 30-hour cycle University of Bradford lecturer and clinical lead in the Faculty of Health Studies Jamie Moseley took part in an attempt to beat the world record for the longest static indoor cycle ride.

He was part of a 19-strong team, which included Super League stars Keith Senior, Ewan Dowes, Chev Walker, Wayne Godwin, and Gareth Carvell, among others, who between them cycled thousands of miles over a 30-hour period.

Jamie managed just over 577 miles during his 30 hours - averaging over 19 miles per hour.

The record attempt came about after Jamie and his friends decided to raise money for charity Rugby League Cares and Motor Neurone Disease Association after friend Rob Burrows was recently diagnosed with the life altering condition.

This saw Gordons people and their families doing various challenges including a handstand for 2.6 minutes, wearing 26 items of clothing at the same time, sponsoring their children to be quiet for 26 minutes and undertaking a 26-mile cycling time trial. Money is raised by sponsorship and forfeits being paid.

Commenting on the firm’s fundraising during lockdown, Age UK Bradford District’s director of business development, Chris Alexander, said: “Gordons have been brilliant by helping us raise funds during what is a very difficult time for all charities, and we would like to thank everyone at the firm for their help.”

In addition, during the first week of lockdown, Age UK Bradford District made an urgent request for help which was shared with everyone at Gordons. Within one hour, £1,500 had been pledged and it was sent to the charity that same day.

Gordons partner, Victoria Davey, added: “We have had a tremendous amount of fun challenging each other. It’s also been a great way for us to stay connected whilst working from home. It has widened our sense of all being in this together.”

Local entrepreneur insures premium drainage service to Bradford

Fertile ground for new start-ups and budding entrepreneurs

With over a decade of experience in the insurance industry, local Bradford born and bred Benjamin Binns will swap his life of claims for a new drainage and plumbing franchise business, Drain Doctor, covering Bradford and its surrounding area.

Benjamin will be joined by qualified technician with over eight years of experience in drainage, plumbing, legionella control, and a Drain Doctor branded van fully equipped with high-pressure water jetting units and CCTV drain survey equipment.

A member of the Chartered Institute of Insurers and British Damage Management Association, Benjamin has also recently achieved a Diploma in insurance with distinctions in insurance law, business and finance.

The University of Bradford is cementing its position as one of the UK’s leading centres for SMEs through a series of initiatives, one of which involves sending students to Bahrain to gain valuable business experience.

Vishanth Weerakkody, Deputy Dean of Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences said: “At the faculty, we support and empower aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative startup ideas to realise their ambitions through access to mentoring, knowhow and resources.”

Its annual Entrepreneurs Across Borders programme sponsors students to travel abroad and experience entrepreneurship activities.

These included trips to businesses, lectures and pitching their own business idea.

Q1

West & North Yorkshire Business

8

LEEDS NEWS

Going online Over the last quarter, like all businesses, we have adapted our operations to an online model in order to continue to support and represent members’ interest across the city region. Virtual policy meetings covering economic development, housing, planning, business support, education & skills have continued and we have contributed to a number of consultations on your behalf.

Over this period we have increased our levels of collaboration, working with partners and stakeholders to ensure your voice is heard.

In May we responded to a call for evidence addressing the rail needs of the north, preparing a joint submission in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

In July, working with the CBI and the Federation of Small Business, we have responded to the consultation relating to West Yorkshire devolution, something this Chamber has been working on since 2015.

Working with colleagues across the British Chambers of Commerce network, we have reported on the impacts on business of the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown. We were clear back in March that government needed to support businesses cope with loss of custom and fast depleting cash reserves.

I am pleased that our voice was heard and that we played an important role in bringing forward support for job retention and guaranteed loan schemes. As we enter the recovery phase we will continue to represent your business in our meetings with policy makers.

Amanda Beresford President Leeds Chamber

Yorkshire companies prepare to reboot from lockdown Yorkshire companies are gearing up to reboot from lockdown according to Leeds agency Creative Marketing Services. Managing Director Andrew Batty says they are receiving an increasing number of enquiries from companies anxious to put social media marketing campaigns in place to move from lockdown to full production in the shortest possible time.

"Directors are realising that those organisations fastest off the block when the starting pistol fires are the ones which will pick up market share in the next twelve months" Andrew told us. Creative Marketing Services recently commemorated its 38th anniversary and so has seen many recessions in that period. "This one is different" Andrew continues "it's expected to be V shaped caused by the sudden close down. Every company is keen to get back to where they were but some have simply 'mothballed' their operations. It's essential for an organisation to communicate with its clients and potential clients and tell them that not only are they ready to start but also able to meet client demands".

Andrew is offering a free reboot report to any Chamber client who contacts him at andrew.batty@cmsadvertising.co.uk

How weaving has returned to Sunny Bank Mills The traditional art of weaving has returned to the iconic Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, near Leeds. Sunny Bank, where Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed, is one of the last remaining family-owned mills in Yorkshire.

It has been in the Gaunt family for almost two centuries and current coowner William Gaunt, a passionate weaver, has now launched a series of weaving classes on site. These have been temporality halted by the Coronavirus pandemic, but they are scheduled to return, all being well, in September.

William, who studied textiles at Leeds University in the 1980s, explained: “This has been a tremendous labour of love. Our family have been weaving wool cloth for generations. So when we sadly sold our family textile business in 2008, I thought it was the end of my weaving career and the end of the family’s connection with the craft of weaving.”

West & North Yorkshire Business

Q1

9

First Event secures funding from Barclays Yeadon based hospitality and leisure company First Event has received support from Barclays through the Government backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS) in order to maintain the ability to trade through the COVID-19 crisis.

Richard Murphy, Managing Director of First Events said: “When we realised what the impact of COVID-19 would have on our growing business we knew we needed to act quickly to ensure our continued success and to protect the future of our employees and operations.”

The business is a leading corporate events company that operates globally, delivering unique events that provide memorable life experiences.

Delivering conferences, exhibitions, celebrations, employee engagement events and incentives, the team provide a unique and flexible service from concept to close.

First Events Limited employ 36 staff and the CBIL scheme has secured employment.

John Gray, Barclays Relationship Director, said; “Working in partnership we were able understand the scale of the challenge ahead and provide a funding solution that will not only enable them to weather the storm but to also be prepared with a plan for the future.”

Advice on green investment and acquisition

Cyber Security Partners experience excellent growth

Pinsent Masons' Leeds office has advised Greencoat Capital LLP (“Greencoat”) on the acquisition of Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant in Lincolnshire from Glennmont Partners.

Cyber Security Partners (CSP) have seen a significant upturn within the cyber security industry. More organisations are taking the current situation to use their work from home / business continuity process and to review their security controls, and as a result CSP are expanding.

The investment was made with funds from RPMI Railpen, the investment manager for the £30bn Railways Pension Scheme, and Greencoat Renewable Income LP, the diversified fund, with commitments from UK Corporate and Local Government Pension Schemes.

Located within the ‘Grain Belt’, in Lincolnshire, the plant provides a reliable route to market for straw, an agricultural by-product which can represent an additional income source for local farmers.

Sleaford is the second biomass plant acquired and operated

by Greencoat following the acquisition of the Templeborough Biomass Power Plant in November 2019 continuing Greencoat’s advance into the bioenergy sector.

Although normally based in Leeds in a large office, CSP are doing what many other companies up and down the country and working from home, but that has not stopped them trying to help out the local community, whether by donating food to local homeless charities or hosting free educational ‘What the flip is…’ sessions.

Their social media and blogs have, during this difficult period, been focused on helping others in the same situation by offering WFH tips, how to spot scams and providing learning resources for staff to follow at home to stay secure.

Q1

West & North Yorkshire Business

10

YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Greener, fairer and stronger For the majority of businesses in York and North Yorkshire, the Government’s financial support mechanisms have been of enormous benefit. But a careful balance now has to be struck between the extent to which that support can continue, the hope and expectation that businesses will be able simply to re-open and get ‘back on their own two feet’ and the need to keep public health at the forefront of our minds.

Looking ahead there are signs for cautious optimism - a famously resilient and enterprising set of businesses and people in our region have risen to the challenges and demonstrated a renewed willingness to embrace and drive change.

I strongly believe there are opportunities to be had in building the recovery. A chance to look again at how to support our region’s economic strengths and to promote those areas which are burgeoning despite the difficult times, towards new and renewed growth. To place a greater emphasis on getting the right people with the right skills to stay, live and work here, and to create well paid, high skilled and sustainable jobs in successful businesses that will drive our region’s economy into the future.

To this end we are fully supportive of the York & North Yorkshire LEPs recovery strategy based on the principles of “greener, fairer and stronger.” We will also continue to work with and support plans for devolution across North Yorkshire in line with deals already agreed in West and South Yorkshire.

Andrew Digwood President York & North Yorkshire Chamber

“I am looking forward to speaking with members and finding out about their businesses needs.”

Events continue to change The West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Michele Taylor has been appointed the Head of York and North Yorkshire and Events. Michele Taylor joined the Chamber in July, having previously worked as Associate Director of Sales for the CBI. Michele will work closely with the President and Vice-President of York and North Yorkshire Chamber, Leadership Groups and Members to support the York and North Yorkshire region.

Michele brings with her a wealth of experience from within membership organisations and will use her specialist event planning skills to enhance the Chambers already successful events programme.

Michele said: “The Chamber has so much to offer businesses, and I am looking forward to speaking with members, finding out about their businesses needs and listening to their local requirements. These are exciting times as we move forward out of a pandemic and lead the way with an innovative new events programme virtually and in person.”

More punctual journeys promised The Burnley Bus Company launches its exciting new Pendle Wizz route between the four towns with an hourly all-day service using the M65 motorway and sparkling buses in a bold new livery.

The Burnley Bus Company CEO Alex Hornby said: “We want our buses to be places people want to be seen in, with a bright and friendly image which stands out and attracts new customers, as well as those who already choose to travel with us.

“As more people return to work and traffic levels increase, it’s vitally important that we take every opportunity to make sure our buses continue to be as reliable as they can be. Our customers tell us that an on-time service is the most important requirement – with the new Pendle Wizz product, we are delivering on that requirement.

Q1

Get set for recovery Rollits has brought together specialist lawyers with a range of expertise with the aim of helping businesses to Get SET – survive, emerge and thrive – as they prepare for life after lockdown.

The firm’s Business Response Team has been working with clients to identify and address issues around workplace changes, contracts and other concerns.

Jennifer Sewell, who is leading the team, said they are ready to help organisations as they plan for their future both in the short and long term, with agile decision making being crucial moving forward.

Jennifer said: “Our approach in setting up the Business Response Team is to encourage businesses to be proactive. There is no reason for employers to be fazed by the current situation and to bury their heads in the sand.”

businesses with prompt employment advice. I am currently advising clients on issues in relation to “Covid-safe” workplaces and I have colleagues who are assisting clients with contracts that have not been or cannot now be fulfilled.

The team is working to support businesses in areas such as dispute resolution, employment, health and safety, finance and restructuring, debt recovery, GDPR, property and corporate recovery and insolvency.

“The Get SET approach acknowledges that for a lot of businesses the priority was to weather the storm and focus on surviving the sudden impact of the pandemic. Now many clients are entering the emergence phase which presents new challenges. We are continuing to work alongside clients to find solutions for the new issues they are now facing.”

Jennifer said: “As an example, from the beginning of, and throughout the outbreak, our specialist employment lawyers have provided

Lights, applause and action for York’s key workers

York Handmade looks forward to a positive year post COVID-19

Award winning theme park secures funding from Barclays

City of York Council celebrated the amazing work of the city’s key workers, with applause and continued action to support their efforts throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company is looking forward to a positive post-Coronavirus year with a healthy pipeline of work.

Award winning theme park, Flamingo Land, announced it has received support from Barclays through the Government backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

In line with the national campaign, the council turned York’s famous landmarks blue, including the City Walls, Clifford’s Tower, Millennium Bridge and West Offices, as a show of support for the NHS, emergency services, supermarket staff, waste crews, volunteers and other key workers in the city.

Over the past few weeks, City of York Council and businesses across the city have supported key workers with a number of initiatives to show our appreciation for their sacrifice.

The company is currently working on a raft of prestigious commercial and residential developments across the UK. Before the lockdown, it had enjoyed the most successful 12 months in its 30-year history with a record turnover of over £2.7million.

Chairman David Armitage, said: “Before Coronavirus struck, we were flourishing, with some high-quality commissions in London, Cambridge, the North West and Yorkshire Obviously the lockdown has hit us, but we have kept our factory open. We are well-positioned to tackle the tough challenges posed by Coronavirus and to emerge stronger than ever.”

Gordon Gibb, CEO of Flamingo Land said: “With more than one and a half million visitors coming through our gates each year, the COVID-19 lockdown saw immediate and widespread business interruption. The support from Barclays to access a CBIL loan has been a lifeline to ensure we have sufficient working capital.

Although we were temporarily closed to visitors, many of our dedicated team of keepers remained on site to care for our 1,200 animals.”

11

Q2

West & North Yorkshire Business

12 BREXIT

Importers are given more time to prepare for post-transition border controls In 2021, a surge in demand for customs declarations is expected, following the introduction of full border controls between the UK and the EU at the end of the ‘transition period’.

The UK government has notified the EU that it will not be seeking or accepting any extension to the transition period, which ends on the 31 December 2020.

Due to the impact of coronavirus on businesses, on 12 June the UK government announced a three-stage introduction of border controls, in order to give importers more time to prepare.

The three stages are as follows: 1

From January 2021: Importers of standard goods will need to prepare for basic customs requirements, such as keeping sufficient records of imported goods, and will be able to defer the submission of customs declarations and the payment of the tariffs for six months. They will be able to submit full customs declarations and pay the duty at the time of import if they wish to do so.

There will be checks on controlled goods, such as alcohol and tobacco, as well as sanitary and phytosanitary checks on highrisk live animals, plants, and animal/plant products at the point of destination or the approved premises. For these imports, prenotification will need to be submitted on the IPAFFS system, and businesses will need to consider how to account for VAT. Export health certificates will also need to be obtained by the exporter in the EU.

2 From April 2021: All products of animal origin (POAO), and all regulated plants and plant products, will require pre-notification and the relevant health documentation.

3 From July 2021: Traders moving all goods will have to make declarations at the point of importation and pay the required tariffs. Full Safety and Security declarations will be required, and for SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) commodities there will be an increase in physical checks and the taking of samples; checks for animals, plants and their products will take place at GB Border Control Posts.

The progressive introduction of border control measures is intended to lift the burden off importers who will still be recovering from the coronavirus crisis. These arrangements will also replace the Trade Simplified Procedures (TSPs), which no longer apply.

While full customs declarations at import will be a requirement from July 2021, traders will, however, need to submit customs entries at export from January 2021.

It is important that traders prepare for these things in advance, as customs declarations require highly technical expertise. Exporters and importers need to decide if they will complete their own customs declarations or use a customs agent. Because specialised IT software and knowledge are required, most businesses have already secured a customs agent, and the remaining capacity in the sector is limited.

Chamber International’s Export Declaration Service, ChamberCustoms, ensures accurate and timely customs clearance for goods. A high level of compliance and assurance is maintained to help exporters avoid additional costs and disruptions to their business.

ChamberCustoms is backed by the British Chambers of Commerce, and has direct links to the HMRC Customs Handling System and all inventory-linked ports.

For more information, please contact our Customs Broker, Ioanna Orfanidi on +44 (0)7827 318692 or by email at ioannao@chamber-international.com

West & North Yorkshire Business

Q2

PROFILE 13

University of Bradford shortlisted for national Knowledge Transfer Partnership Awards AI, Big Data and the ‘Internet of Things’ enabled 120-year-old Leeds firm to transform production A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the University of Bradford and one of the region’s oldest and most respected independent food manufacturers has been shortlisted for a national award.

The KTP Awards, re-introduced last year, celebrate the most outstanding impacts resulting from the unique collaborative partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses.

Dr Savas Konur, Reader in Computer Science and Dr Yang Lan, Research, Knowledge Transfer Development Officer in the Faculty of Engineering & Informatics were both involved in the project, which worked with Rakusens Ltd, a Leeds-based kosher food manufacturer, to transform their production lines.

The company, a traditional business with a long and cherished history, was experiencing large variations in product quality, taste and texture, which made it impossible to have a flexible planning process that allowed the company to achieve its full potential.

The KTP project, rated outstanding by Innovate UK, transformed production knowledge into a smart manufacturing process using artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, cloud computing and ‘industrial internet of things’ to produce consistent quality food products.

The University team developed an intelligent process control system to harvest live data and monitor the production processes to achieve the product consistency.

This smart production approach transformed the company into a technology driven enterprise and allowed Rakusens to move over to the latest technology without the need to change its traditional machinery.

By doing this, they preserved the manufacturing standards required of kosher tradition alongside expanding their production capacity.

Savas said: “By replacing the centralised manual decision making with an intelligent computational decentralised modular system, the platform provides a smart control facility fulfilling the factory's strategic target on the production capacity and consistency. This project has allowed a highly traditional food manufacturing company that still produces on machinery more than hundred years old has moved over to industry.”

The KTP partnership has been shortlisted in the Finalist for the Engineering Excellence Category. The Awards, hosted by KTN (Knowledge Transfer Network), will be held ‘virtually’ on September 9.

To request information, or ask a question about any of the University of Bradford’s business services, email business@bradford.ac.uk, or call 01274 236000.

Documentation?

Done Delivering a diamond quality service

West & North Yorkshire Business

Q2

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 15

A precious metal recycling and refining company called on Chamber International for documentation support for a recent project in Eastern Europe.

Metallix Refining, with locations in the USA, Europe and South Korea, provide both onsite and services to a global client base for plant cleaning, processing and refining of precious metals-bearing material.

Metallix and their specialist team of site technicians successfully completed a project in Eastern Europe and this was supported by a team at Chamber International including international trade administrator, Tamires SousaCichorz, who comments: “We provided the relevant documentation for Metallix to transport the tools and equipment necessary for this project. It’s always good to work with a new client and we hope this association continues, going forward.”

Metallix spokesman Alan Frail said:

“This is a true example of Chamber International and client collaboration.

We would like to thank all those involved, especially Tamires, and we look forward to working together on future projects.”

Q2

West & North Yorkshire Business

16 PROFILE

Working from home?

With full fibre we could all enjoy a more flexible future...

Over these past weeks, many of us will have adopted entirely new ways of doing everyday activities, such as attending meetings, completing coursework, joining exercise classes and catching up with friends and family. Likewise, many of us will have realised that all these activities now have one thing in common: a digital screen.

Digital work place This ‘new normal’ demonstrates exactly what we already suspected – digital technology has transformed our lives. And now, in these unprecedented times, we are utterly dependent on its ability to provide us with a socially-isolated gateway to normal life – work, the high street and entertainment, as well as the comforts of friendship and family we all need at times like these.

But, in reality the way we work in particular has been changing for a while now. Analysis from Aviva estimates that more than four million UK employees already work from home on a regular basis.

That's a staggering one in seven people who have decided to ditch the daily commute to tackle their to-do list from the kitchen table or home study.

Those who have just joined the homeworking community will now be realising a host of benefits, from spending less time and money on travel, to enjoying a better work-life balance.

According to the TUC, the average commuter spends 58 minutes a day getting to and from work. Think of what you could do with that time take the kids to school, go to the gym, take up a hobby, or even just spend more time relaxing with your loved ones.

There are, of course, environmental benefits too. If more people worked from home then fewer car journeys would be made on a daily basis, reducing fossil fuel consumption daily.

For businesses, it can also drive higher staff retention rates, encouraging loyalty from those

seeking a better balance or increased flexibility.

With increased homeworking, businesses could also consider moving to smaller, more flexible premises, reducing their carbon footprint further. They might also even have access to an increased talent pool, with homeworking making it possible for people who may not be able to travel for all sorts of reasons, including disability or caring responsibilities, to enter the workforce.

At a local level, research has shown that worker flexibility will undoubtedly benefit Leeds’ and Bradford’s economies, with a report from economic consultancy, Regeneris stating it could add a huge £82m and £35m in value (respectively) over a 15-year period.

What’s holding us back?

The benefits are clear. But our technology isn’t there yet. A good internet connection is not just a nice to have for homeworkers – it’s a necessity. Unfortunately, home broadband often isn’t fast or reliable enough to make permanent working from home anything more than a pipe dream for parts of the country.

CityFibre-backed research shows that 78 per cent of UK consumers felt slowed down and frustrated by their internet connection. But for homeworkers, that figure increased to 82 per cent. Indeed, almost all homeworkers (99%) agreed that a better connection would enable them to work from home more often, with a third saying that doing so would improve their work-life balance and improve stress.

Change is coming The solution has to be full fibre digital connectivity. Unlike the

legacy copper networks used by most of the country, full fibre is the fastest – and most reliable – option there is. And with the availability of these services constantly increasing, it’s something consumers should look out for when considering their next broadband package.

As key workers, and the nation’s third national infrastructure provider, CityFibre has been asked by the UK Government to continue to expand the nation’s digital capacity. It is investing up to £4bn in bringing full fibre within reach of up to 8 million homes by 2025.

In Yorkshire alone, we are currently building, or planning to build, in nine towns and cities across the region.

Work is well underway to bring gigabit-capable broadband to almost every home and business in Huddersfield and Leeds, with the first customers already able to connect and enjoy superior speeds, reliability and bandwidth. Meanwhile, work has just commenced on our new Gigabit City project in

Doncaster, which is being delivered by local firm, Heneghans. And, over the coming six to 12 months, Doncaster will be followed by Bradford, Batley, Rotherham, Barnsley, Sheffield and Halifax.

This latest phase of infrastructure investment planned for Yorkshire towns and cities was announced with CityFibre’s recent acquisition of FibreNation from TalkTalk Group, which also saw its national rollout target increase from 5 million to up to 8 million premises. This firmly positions CityFibre as the UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform and brings other cities into the network.

Ultimately, CityFibre’s investment in the region will help to unlock the workplace – and workforce of the future. Soon, working from home won’t just be something that only a select few can make the most of.

Instead, it will be the reality for millions more employees up and down the country.

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PROFILE 19

Kim John ston City Man age r City Fibr e

To find out more about connecting to full fibre broadband in your area, visit www.cityfibre.com/your-street For more information about our response to the COVID-19 outbreak, visit www.cityfibre.com/COVID-19

Expect reward keyworker employees Bradford based family run logistics business Expect Distribution has upped its game in the fight against the impact of Coronavirus.

The company has allocated a fund of ÂŁ50,000 from business cash reserves to provide all employees who worked through the first two months of the pandemic with a monetary bonus.

West & North Yorkshire Business

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PROFILE 21 Managing Director, Neil Rushworth, said to the board of Directors at the start of the pandemic: “It will be remembered as to how we dealt with the crisis and how we interacted with both our employees and our customers and we have been focused throughout on keeping morale as high as possible and increasing levels of communication so that everybody associated with the business has been fully informed at all times.”

Recent posts on social media have highlighted their efforts in boosting employee morale across the business as the UK was locked down.

Expect have hosted “free brekky Friday” during April and May, with the Management team taking turns prepare and serve breakfast for all employees at the start of their shift. In May they held a holiday themed dress down Friday with a makeshift beach in the car park, the idea was ‘If our employees can’t go on holiday, we will bring the holiday to them.’

The Directors of Expect Distribution have announced to their employees an improved benefits package including additional holidays, company health care scheme, the funding of all HGV driver medicals, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, a new onsite gym facility and an annual BBQ for all employees and their families amongst many other benefits.

“Our employees are so important to us, it’s our people that make the business a success.”

Neil Rushworth Managing Director

Rushworth added: “It has been fantastic to see the public support for our team who have carried on regardless over the last 4 months to ensure that essential items including medical supplies continued to be delivered as required. Every single one of the team has contributed and gone above and beyond expectations so we feel that it is only right that we continue to show our appreciation.”

Expect Distribution offers pallet distribution and warehousing services and has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Haulier of the Year’ category at the Motor Transport Awards to be held in November 2020.

To contact Expect Distribution email Sales@expectdistribution.com or call 01274 378234.

Q2

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22 TRANSPORT

Flights restart at Leeds Bradford Airport Joanna Wild, Chief Commercial Officer at LBA, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back passengers as lockdown measures are eased but appreciate that some people may be feeling apprehensive at the prospect of flying again. We want to reassure everybody that our number one priority is to make the airport a safe place for our passengers and staff.

“To do this, we have put many new measures in place, with clear guidance provided for people passing through the terminal. It’s crucial that people using the airport continue to recognise the importance of fundamentals like washing their hands, using appropriate face coverings, and maintaining social distancing.”

Airlines have been resuming flights at LBA in stages: Ryanair

21st June

KLM 4th July Eastern Airways

6th July

Jet2 15th July Aer Lingus

1st August

As part of LBA’s Summer 2020 schedule, passengers can fly to: Dublin, Wroclaw, Katowice, Palma, Warsaw, Limoges, Ibiza, Gdansk, Girona, Southampton, Pisa, Malaga, Faro, Alicante, Amsterdam, Krakow, Reus, Paphos, Zante, Bodrum, Corfu, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Antalya, Menorca, Kefalonia, Tenerife, Crete, Dalaman, Kos, Malta, Bergerac, Split, Fuerteventura, Pula, Dubrovnik, Almeria, Larnaca, Naples, Chania, Newquay and Rhodes.

LBA recommends that all passengers refer to their airline’s COVID-19 procedures ahead of flying, as there could be variation. The airport would also like to direct passengers to their dedicated LBA Coronavirus advice page: https://www. leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/coronavirus

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TRANSPORT 23

Fly safely

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), which reopened to passengers in mid-June, is beginning to see a gradual resumption of arrivals and departures follows months of preparation by staff at LBA. Working closely with airlines and partners, the airport has implemented a range of measures in line with the latest guidance from the Government to keep passengers and staff safe. On arriving at the terminal, passengers can expect to see the following changes: • On entry, passengers will pass through a new preparation zone. Because of this, passengers are advised to allow for extra time to travel • Only travelling passengers will be permitted entry to the building, with exemptions for passengers requiring assistance • Passengers will be required to wear face coverings in the terminal – available to purchase before security via self-service machines, but purchase in advance is advised. Exemptions will be made for children and those with specific medical conditions • Social distancing measures will be in place per household in line with the latest government guidelines • Passengers will be directed to several hand washing and sanitiser stations throughout the terminal • LBA Customer Ambassadors will be in operation throughout the terminal to offer direction and to address passenger concern • Fast track is currently unavailable • Deep cleaning is in operation, including the regular use of water-based antibacterial misters on frequent touch-points such as luggage trollies, security trays and washroom facilities • All shops are currently closed however vending machines will be in operation with hand sanitation available • Pop-up café Flight Bites will be offering take-away food and drinks in The Yorkshire Lounge • Airlines may call customers to board in stages • Special assistance will be available with members of staff equipped with appropriate PPE • LBA security staff will continue to perform necessary passenger checks whilst equipped with PPE • Only car parks within walking distance of the terminal will be opened • Upon arrival at LBA, inbound passengers will see the process through the border remains the same. Passengers from certain overseas are expected to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival in the UK, in line with government guidelines.

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24 PROFILE

Stay strong, stay healthy Sovereign Health Care: Staying strong for our customers and community through the challenging times Sovereign Health Care is the only health care cash plan provider to remain proudly based in West Yorkshire and has supported businesses and individuals across the region for 147 years. As a not-for-profit, we exist to help customers and communities address health and wellbeing challenges, donating an amount equivalent to between 5 and 10 per cent of our annual turnover to support local needs through our Community Programme.

This has been more important than ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, where the health and safety of families, communities and employees has become a core value for businesses like never before. Like all businesses, we’ve been working hard to ensure we operate safely for our employees, whilst also keeping our customers and communities at our heart as we move through the crisis.

Sovereign is based in Bradford where, even before the pandemic, local

authority data showed that 28 per cent of households found it difficult to cope on their incomes, and 29 percent of children lived below the poverty line.1 We’re working with local groups to understand how we can help, including donating £12,500 to Bradford food banks to help fund a huge increase in demand for their services since lockdown began.

Yorkshire businesses are also tackling significant challenges including how to address employees’ stress and anxiety levels as infection, money and job security fears grow. Many employees have also faced social isolation and difficult domestic situations. At the same time, businesses are facing into a major recession, managing returning to the workplace, and the need to control costs and operate with prudence.

We are working with our business customers, who range from SMEs to some of the largest employers in the region, to help with these pressures,

providing affordable solutions to meet their elevated sense of care. Our health care cash plans, which businesses can offer within employee benefits packages, include services offering confidential support and counselling, practical legal, financial and consumer information, as well as access to a 24hour GP service. These vital services help employees proactively deal with the pressures created by the pandemic including return to work issues, family and relationship matters, health concerns and finances.

Times of crisis provide the opportunity for businesses to step up and demonstrate their values. Sovereign will continue to work hard for customers and communities as we move beyond the current challenges and build for our region’s future.

Source: 1 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council

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PROFILE 25

Are you going to Scarborough fair?

Scarborough is aiming to create a new vibrant new town centre model with fresh ideas to welcome shoppers and visitors - and its Town Team has just become a new Executive member of the Chamber.

The future of Yorkshire's big seaside resort is being discussed by the team as it aims to tackle major retail challenges which have been accelerated by COVID-19.

"We have a good story to tell of the great range of ideas we are considering and how we hope to transform the town centre to make it more vibrant," said Sue AndersonBrown, who leads the team of 12 members from various backgrounds.

Sue, who is also manager of the Brunswick Shopping Centre in Scarborough's main street, said: "The retail community has to evolve and adapt.

"We need to work in partnership with all sections of the community, the council, the cultural and creative sector and also to listen to voices of the younger people.

"We want to regenerate the town centre and hope that our new membership of the

Chamber will assist this important process.

"We are looking at the use of the public space and how it can be made more welcoming and attractive and how we can offer a more enjoyable town centre experience to help retailers and the community."

Sue outlined the kind of ideas being debated: • Regular events and performances • A more inviting environment for families, particularly during the evening, and incorporating leisure, entertainment and potential town centre cinema • A tree-lined town centre and new spaces for leisure areas and informal events • More people working and living in the town centre with more accommodation and with digital and creative spaces

Other ideas being discussed include improved transport and digital connectivity, a greener Scarborough with traffic-free zones and a regeneration of the area around the railway station.

The team was set up to help produce a bid for The Future High Street Fund for up to £10m for each area, a government scheme to rejuvenate 100 town centres.

The objective is to attract new businesses, improve town centre access, convert empty units into new homes and workplaces and to encourage investment.

The efforts are themed into topics such as Improved public realm, Engaging People, Property conversion and investment, Transport review and Increased Town Centre activities.

Sue added: "We must not over-promise on the possibilities of these ideas and they are subject to further debate and funding. "But we are fixed towards a better quality, more attractive centre in every way we can."

Essential planning for the future Naylor Wintersgill Chartered Accountants The Naylor Wintersgill team have been working hard to proactively support all of our clients during this difficult time and providing assistance such as applying for Government loans.

If you need support, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team on 01274 733184 or email hello@naylorwintersgill.co.uk.

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SUPPORT 27

COVID-19 support Essential planning for the future of your business Businesses are gradually starting to understand how they might be affected by the financial impact of COVID-19.

As they start to transition from crisis management to securing the future resilience of their organisation, what are consequences of some of the Government backed initiatives that have been introduced recently and how might these might affect businesses over the next few months?

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has allowed many businesses to receive grants from the Government to cover all or some of the costs of employees’ wages. This Scheme is gradually changing and from 1 August employers will have to pay NIC and pension contributions on wages, rather than these being covered by the Scheme.

Subsequently, from 1 September, employers will have to contribute towards the wages of staff who are still furloughed.

This will mean additional costs for employers and so now is the time to think carefully about the approaches you take to managing cash in your business. The increased financial implications may even mean that some employers will reluctantly have to let people go, with the resulting redundancy costs.

At this time, it is vital you have an accurate understanding of your current cash position and creating cashflow forecasts for next 3, 6 and 12 months will also help you to plan ahead for these various eventualities. Keeping your figures as up to date as possible and knowing how your financial position might change in the future will allow you, with the support of your accountant, to make informed strategic decisions about the future of your business going forward.

Income Tax and VAT Payment Deferrals The Government have also allowed businesses to defer payments of Income Tax, due on 31 July, and VAT, due up to 30 June, until January 31 and March 31 respectively, and in

addition have entered into Time to Pay arrangements with businesses for other taxes such as PAYE and Corporation Tax. All these initiatives have been welcomed by businesses – but eventually, the tax will have to be paid. Businesses now need to plan ahead and ensure that these payments are included in their cash flow considerations over the next few months.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (“CBILS”) or the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (“BBLS”) If businesses are likely to be struggling to meet their future costs, it is still possible to apply for Government backed loans under the CBILS or the BBLS. It was mentioned then that CBILS would initially run for six months and it is therefore possible that any business that has not already applied for such a loan will need to do so by the end of September.

The BBLS will run until 4 November 2020, with the Government retaining the right to extend this.

With regard to the BBLS, the terms of the loan are reasonably generous. The Government has set the interest rate for this loan at 2.5% per annum and the repayment term is fixed at six years. No repayments will be due during the first 12 months.

CBILS are available on repayment terms up to six years. The Government will make a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees. The borrower will therefore benefit from no upfront costs and lower initial repayments. Interest rates after 12 months vary between lenders and depend on the specific lending proposal.

However, it is important to be aware that businesses remain 100% liable to repay the full loan amount, both for the BBLS and the CBILS. It is also important for businesses to realise that it takes time for these loans to be finalised (CBILS can take 4 to 6 weeks) when considering future cash flow requirements so action should be taken sooner than later to apply for such loans.

The UK Government is constantly updating and reviewing assistance available and so it is important to continue to review the current information on financial support schemes you may be eligible for.

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28 PROFILE

Mott MacDonald appointed for two commissions by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Mott MacDonald has been appointed by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) to support the preparation of design briefs for its Hospitals of the Future and Pathology Project. The two commissions are for sustainability, energy and carbon reduction advisor, and digital and innovation healthcare advisor.

As part of the Leeds Hospital of the Future Project, the programme will transform healthcare for patients in the region by creating a state-of-the-art hospital in the city centre. Covering 90,000m2, the new hospital will include a new children’s and adults’ hospital, as well as new operating theatres and critical care facilities. These are intended to be connected to the retained Jubilee building which shall remain the primary acute services building, and which shall continue to operate as the major trauma building.

The Trust also plans to build a new 5000m2 high-tech and efficiently designed pathology facility at the SJUH site which will centralise its pathology services as one of several newly established hubs across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. This new facility is intended to be one of three specialist blood sciences hubs and the single microbiology hub for the region.

Underlying this vision, is a desire to build and run these facilities responsibly within the context of a climate emergency – it will therefore set a road map for delivering against the net zero carbon in the future. The vision will also embed the principles of healthy buildings to improve the well-being of occupants – that is acutely influential for patient recovery, and staff performance and welfare.

A target of a minimum of BREEAM Excellent for both developments has also been set by the Trust and the opportunities to pursue WELL building standards are also being explored. The sustainability agenda is to be underpinned by digitalisation, technology and data throughout the project lifecycles.

Working with the LTHT’s programme delivery team, Mott MacDonald will support the refinement and development of the design brief to encourage design teams and contractors to develop an evidenced-based design solution that also considers the systems to be included in these highly-engineered facilities.

As digital and innovation healthcare advisor, Mott MacDonald’s Smart Infrastructure team will drive the digital agenda and support the development of the design brief and roadmap, to ensure the new facilities are designed with digital at their heart. This will enable the hospital buildings to respond to continuously evolving technology, innovation and the future needs of healthcare patients and staff.

Working with LTHT, a unified systems solution and approach will be developed that creates a digital fabric across the physical estate and provides ubiquitous patient improvement, whilst delivering an optimal and a personalised patient experience.

The vision for the digital hospital will be focused on the following core themes: • Continuity and improving patient care, optimised processes, time and cost efficiency.

• Personalisation of care and interaction for every patient.

• System wide healthcare focusing on reduced stay, supported self-management.

• Adaptability to accommodate future evolution in technology and service demand.

Karel Bos, Mott MacDonald’s account leader for LTHT, said: “We’re delighted to broaden the services we’re offering to LTHT with these appointments. They build on mechanical, electrical and public health, civil and structural engineering services our local Leeds teams are providing to support the outline business case and the site enabling works.

As part of the government’s £2.7bn Health Infrastructure Plan to build new hospitals, modernise the primary care estate and invest in new diagnostics and technology, we have an opportunity to work with the LTHT and set a benchmark for all hospitals in the UK to learn from.”

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PROFILE 29

Alumni complete charity challenge Friends who met whilst studying at Leeds Beckett University in the 1970s have raised more than £6,000 after completing a gruelling charity challenge.

Fifty-seven participants whose ages range from 63 to 68 were inspired to take on the mammoth feat by the heroism of those working in the NHS. The group of LBU alumni - who all trained to become teachers - pledged to take part in the challenge organised

by Pete Platt between 11 April and 9 June to help raise money for NHS Charities Together.

From clocking up miles on a rowing machine in a conservatory to walking short distances and cycling around Yorkshire, the Scottish Borders and even Australia, everyone in the group contributed.

This came despite several members suffering from health and physical conditions, including knee, shoulder and hips replacements, arthritis, and heart issues, which have all been treated by the NHS. On Tuesday 9 June, Phil and Elaine Taylor (pictured above) brought the challenge to an end – fittingly crossing the finish line at the new Carnegie School of Sport Building on Leeds Beckett’s Headingley Campus where it all began.

Park to Land's End, then John O'Groats and back to Beckett Park nine times – with the group raising £6,275.

Phil and Elaine Taylor, from Pudsey, who finished studying at what was then the City of Leeds and Carnegie College in 1976, said: “As young students, we were fortunate to be given the opportunity to train at the outstanding PE teaching training college, with a worldwide reputation for excellence.

“Little did we know, at the time, that being part of this establishment would develop our desire to make a difference to the children and students that were entrusted to our care. High standards of teaching and the values instilled in us were fundamental to the Carnegie ethos.

“Living on campus enabled friendships to be formed that have lasted a lifetime. This has been further developed by our many organised reunions, family communications and the ongoing support we give to each other when needed.

“Our thanks to Pete Platt for this challenge. It has given us the opportunity to work as a team again to support our wonderful NHS.

Elaine Taylor (pictured in GA) from 1974 1st team netball

“Where better to finish our Challenge but where it all started, here at Carnegie nearly a lifetime ago.”

The group covered 15,612 miles in total – the equivalent distance from Beckett

The friends all met whilst studying to become teachers at the City of Leeds

and Carnegie College between 1971 and 1977.

A group of LBU alumni from the 1970s who have raised more than £6,000 for NHS at a reunion Enjoying careers that have taken them across the globe, the group have stayed in touch holding regular reunions because of the values, principles and camaraderie they share, calling themselves the “Carnegie family”.

Elaine and Phil finished the last leg of the challenge, arriving at the new Carnegie School of Sport Building on Leeds Beckett’s Headingley Campus at around 10am.

The state-of-the-art building was handed over to the university from its construction partners the previous week.

Key features of the £45m building include a covered rooftop 60m sprint track for performance training and analysis, dedicated research laboratories and a health and wellbeing studio.

Pete Mackreth, Dean of the Carnegie School of Sport, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Phil and Elaine back on to campus for the culmination of their challenge.

“We have been inspired by the efforts of these graduates. It shows their values of camaraderie with each other and empathy for those around them, values they credit as being instilled in them during their time here.”

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PROFILE 31

SCC helps NHS Foundation Trust

focus on front line services “Your help is directly enabling us to avoid cancelling operations for cancer patients.”

Specialist Computer Centres (SCC) delivers IT Services and Solutions to customers in both the UK and Europe, we have many offices in the UK, and opened a Leeds office to support Yorkshire and the North East in 2019.

During the pandemic many organisations have had to change the way they work radically, offering employees the ability to work remotely.

Whilst many of these organisations could offer some level of remote working many did not have the capability to support their wider employee base at the rate it was required, or scale to support those IT users who for the first time would be working from home.

Many organisations had to change their approach to certain types of job roles, and consider different options to ensure that their organisation could still continue to work in a very different environment.

During this period SCC used its expertise to help deliver remote working capability to these organisations, being mindful of specific end user needs, data security, and business continuity requirements.

One such example is when SCC worked with a North East NHS Foundation Trust to enable the continuation of operations for cancer patients during the pandemic.

The Trust had an urgent requirement to immediately mobilise 600 priority NHS staff to work at home, with a total user base of 12,000 users.

In order to limit the impact on Trust operations they were looking for implementation of a Fortinet firewall solution, to help provide the secure access to systems for NHS staff.

SCC delivered the solution within five days and continued to scale the solution to meet the demands during the pandemic period.

The customer’s Head of IT Infrastructure said: “Your help is directly enabling us to avoid cancelling operations for cancer patients, so I can’t adequately put into words how great your help has been.”

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32 PROFILE

Business as usual The last quarter has brought us all many challenges. As we’ve been adapting to new ways of working, the Employer Engagement team at the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Yorkshire and The Humber (RFCA) has continued to deliver effective engagement. From strengthening existing relationships and making new contacts to supporting reservists and their employers during a period of mobilisation to support COVID-19, the team has manoeuvred (military pun intended!) successfully.

Armed Forces Covenant signing ceremonies The Covenant, which was launched by the government in 2014, represents a promise by the nation that those who serve or have served in the Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. Employers, of all sizes and from all sectors, can sign the Covenant.

Zoom has provided an ideal platform to allow us to host two virtual signing ceremonies in June, supported by signings from York Coffee Emporium, The Upton Group, York & North Yorkshire LEP, Hull & East Yorkshire Credit Unit, City Health Care Partnership, It’s Murder, the High Sheriff of North Yorkshire and Hull’s Veterans Community Hub as well as attending military representatives and other forces-friendly employers like Barclays, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Rollits, Kirklees College and Humberside Fire & Rescue.

New Covenant signee Ross Macdonald, managing director, The Upton Group ltd, said "We're proud to be supporting the Armed Forces Covenant initiative and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the RFCA.”

Richard Lenton, regional employer engagement director at RFCA, said “Across Yorkshire, more than 300 employers have signed the Covenant. Signing up is quick and easy but for many companies it is an important first step on the ladder towards getting a better understanding of the military and accessing a pool of fantastic potential employees in the form of service leavers and reservists.”

Make your pledge To show your support contact RFCA’s Employer Engagement team: yh-eeao@rfca.mod.uk "I'm really pleased to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, it's a great idea and one that will offer benefits not only to the service community but York Emporium also,” said Laurence Beardmore, Group Commercial Director, York Coffee Emporium Ltd and Vice President, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Reservist Mobilisation At times of crises the government often calls upon reservist and regular military personnel to contribute to the national response due to their specialist skill-sets and equipment.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber more than 160 reservists from the Yorkshire Regiment, RAF Leeming, 146 Divisional Support Company REME and the Royal Anglian Regiment were mobilised to support COVID-19 operations.

From delivery of PPE to setting up mobile testing sites and conducting tests to driving ambulances they have ably been assisting the NHS and other government departments.

Reservists combine their civilian lives and careers with full-on roles in the military and stand ready to serve their country and community when needed. The RFCA’s role is to support local reservists and their employers during times of mobilisation and demobilisation.

Interested in becoming a reservist and learning new skills to transfer to your workplace? Contact us for more information: yh-eeao@rfca.mod.uk

Still on target

Q

2

QUARTERLY ECONOMIC REPORT

As lockdown eases and we start to enter recovery phase, it is vital that government continues to listen to the voice of business. We have an opportunity to rebuild our economy, and use the ‘levelling up’ agenda to ensure our region can reach its full potential.

Mark Goldstone, Head of Policy West & North Yorkshire Chamber

Q

West & North Yorkshire Business

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QUARTERLY ECONOMIC REPORT 35

2

Quarterly Economic Report : Q2 2020

Sales both domestic and international fell to their lowest levels in the survey’s 31 year history. The impact was felt the hardest within the regions ‘Business to consumer’ services sector, including hospitality, leisure and tourism. Some manufacturing activity has slowed although many reported they were able to remain open whilst instigating social distancing.

Much of the region’s manufacturing base are small and medium sized and the sectors they serve are very diverse. The region also has a large number of food and drink manufacturers, many of whom supply supermarkets and food retailers and have continued to operate. We also note that many also supply direct to hospitality and leisure where sales have been badly affected, some of these have changed their business model to supply direct to consumers and also to supply the food retail sector.

Cash flow and lack of reserves featured strongly in the results, although government support schemes have supported many companies. Firms reported significant levels of remote working and furloughing of staff, the latter being a measure which in the short term has preserved jobs.

However there are concerns that as the furlough scheme starts to taper off and, without new sales, to rebuild cash reserves there is a concern that we may start to see high levels of redundancies across the region.

Industry comment

“Sales have been affected but some sectors continue to hold up and even increase output, most notably the food manufacturing sector.”

Stephen Wright Managing Director Thorite

Executive Summary Domestic sales and orders Net balance fell by 66points for manufacturers and 95 points for the service sector. Within the services sub=sectors, it is business to consumer companies such as hospitality, training and venues which are hardest hit whereas information technology and communications showed the least impact.

Export sales and orders Net balance fell 72 points and 65 points for services and manufacturing respectively.

Employment Whilst the number of companies reporting headcount increases was less than those reporting decreases, three quarters of businesses reported no change on the previous quarter. Companies had already indicated prior to this survey that many were furloughing staff.

Investment Investment in both training and capital equipment fell in the last quarter as companies seek to hold on to cash reserves. Ongoing uncertainty will likely delay any future investment in the short term without government stimulus to get the economy moving again.

Business confidence Business confidence fell to its lowest point since late 2008 and early 2009 across all sectors.

Read the full Quarterly Economic Report online For the latest economic updates visit our website wnychamber.co.uk/representation/

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INFRASTRUCTURE 37

Keep on the track Government urged to help regions rebound by clearing the way for HS2 to build a better, faster, greener rail network in Midlands and North Political leaders in the Midlands and the North are demanding an early start to HS2 as new research shows the eastern leg of the line could create up to 150,000 jobs.

They are pressing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to back his pledge to ‘build better, faster, greener’ by clearing the way for Phase 2b east of the high-speed network to begin ahead of schedule as they seek to revive regional economies in the wake of COVID-19.

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38 TRANSPORT

Recovery on the rails New figures show that the area linking Leeds and the East Midlands has seen a £58bn shortfall in infrastructure funding over the past decade when compared to Greater London.

Leaders in Leeds and Nottinghamshire also say their economies are missing out on billions in potential every year because they struggle with unreliable and overcrowded trains and communities cut off from good transport links.

The Labour leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Judith Blake, and the Conservative leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Kay Cutts MBE, have joined forces to demand that government enables work to start early on Phase 2b of the high-speed line.

In a letter to 10 Downing Street, they say early investment in new infrastructure is critical to government achieving the goals implied by its levelling up agenda.

Councillor Blake said: “Making more of the economic potential of the UK’s regions is going to be critical to the nation’s future growth as we seek to both recover from the impact of COVID-19 and confront the challenges of the future.

“But it will not be possible if we continue to rely on failing rail infrastructure which was built more than a century ago. We now need government to reverse historic under-spending and unleash the economic capacity of city regions like Leeds and counties like Nottinghamshire.”

Councillor Cutts added: “The Prime Minister has quite rightly identified infrastructure as a key mechanism for levelling up the country.

“Our strategy goes further than highspeed trains. We have developed detailed plans to make sure the benefits of HS2 extend to people at community level. So this is our route to future prosperity for everyone and the sooner we start building the better.”

Research commissioned by the councils forms part of their submission to the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North. It says that: The Eastern Leg is home to 13 million people and around 6m jobs, equating to 20% of the UK – bigger than the combined size of the West Midlands and North West, and larger than the economy of Denmark.

Though the area covered by HS2 Phase 2b East is bigger than Greater London, it has received £58bn less transport investment over the past 10 years – enough to have built the Eastern Leg and other vital rail projects.

Demand forecasts show any additional capacity on the existing East Coast Mainline would be full by the time it was built.

14% of the Eastern Leg area’s working population is in transport poverty, with

a lack of affordable transport to jobs.

and the economy will grow.”

Without HS2, choked transport would see people across the area miss out on tens of thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in economic growth.

The two leaders have also told Boris Johnson they are confident that connecting their regions to a new highspeed network would turbocharge his levelling-up agenda by unleashing a new era of growth.

With HS2, the Eastern Leg area will deliver an additional 150,000 jobs and billions more in productivity.

Councillor Cutts said: “Improved connectivity is going to bring people and businesses closer together so that those living in towns as well as cities can get access to good jobs. It is also going to help us deliver more training, more homes and more business developments.

“If we follow through on these plans there is potential to bring an additional 74,000 jobs to the East Midlands alone. For the sake of our communities, we need to get on and level-up.”

Councillor Blake added: “If this area had received the same levels of transport investment as Greater London, we would already have been able to deliver the Eastern Leg, and would have begun Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Trans Pennine Upgrade. So our communities and businesses would already be enjoying the benefits.

“The case for the Eastern Leg is compelling, with a far higher return than other sections. We cannot afford to delay this investment: the sooner we start, the sooner people will benefit

They have developed comprehensive plans for a web of new connections alongside HS2 which would help overcome transport poverty and expand the labour market – tackling some of the labour supply problems that have constrained business growth in the past.

These plans include combining HS2 with Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Engine Rail, integrating all three with existing local networks.

The new connections will be made possible partly by moving inter-city trains on to the new HS2 line, creating room for new local and regional services on existing tracks. But there are also plans to join the dots between different modes of travel so that transport services feed into each other.

Experts also warn that without a means of shifting away from mass car usage, the UK will not hit its climate change targets.

Their report says that while rail demand across Britain has doubled over the last 20 years, 72% of commuting in the HS2 Eastern Leg area is still by car, only 3.5% by rail. By

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40 TRANSPORT

contrast, 40% of London commuting is by rail and only 30% by car.

On current funding estimates for phases 1, 2a and 2b of HS2, the highspeed network would need to deliver an additional 64,000 jobs to pay back the capital expenditure. The report says this is only 15% of the jobs targeted around the country as a result of HS2, which means that it could achieve a benefit-to-cost ratio as high as 8.5 if those targets are met.

The report, carried out by the consultancy Volterra Partners, also says that life expectancy on the eastern leg is lower than the UK average, with good transport links seen as a foundation for people accessing better opportunities and improving measures of health and wellbeing.

The push to bring HS2 East forwards is being supported by key regional business groups.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “The additional connectivity and capacity that HS2 offers those communities served along the eastern leg will help our businesses to connect, compete and grow.

“Bringing the HS2 eastern leg to fruition is particularly pertinent in a post-Covid economy, where connectivity between regional cities unlocks more opportunities for both businesses and the labour market.

“But HS2 is, and always has been, about so much more than just a railway.

“The project underpins additional investments in local road, rail and communities. It brings forward new and direct opportunities for local businesses to become part of the supply chain.

“It is being used to knit together local strategies for addressing skills and training gaps. And, perhaps most exciting of all, it creates a central focus around which a broader vision for a future built on clean growth, innovative businesses and cohesive communities is coalescing.”

Sandy Needham, CEO, West & North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “We firmly believe that HS2 is essential to assist the future growth and advancement of the Northern economy. It will help reduce the disparity between north and south, improve connectivity and enhance rail capacity on the network. HS2 should be seen as an investment in the country’s future prospects and ambitions.

“The North presents a huge opportunity to contribute to the success of the UK and we believe, in a post-Covid world, it is critical to the country that all parts are able to fulfil their potential. We can only do that, however, if we are given the tools.

Investment in our rail infrastructure is fundamental to that. Ensuring HS2

arrives in Leeds from Birmingham is vital.

“Leeds City Region’s HS2 Growth Strategy forecasts that HS2 will create around 50,000 additional jobs and a £54bn boost to the economy. Already Leeds has attracted over £500m of investment since HS2 was announced and it will contribute significantly to the development of the South Bank area of the city, one of the largest regeneration sites in Europe.

Implementing the Growth Strategy will also ensure that economic benefits are felt by the rest of the region.

“Without HS2, the high speed eastwest links created by Northern Powerhouse Rail will fail to bring maximum economic impact, it would be a rail equivalent of building the M62 without the M1. We must press on with both projects whilst ensuring upgrades to our existing infrastructure are improved. If we are looking for a greener, more environmentally sustainable future for public transport then rail is a key component to this.”

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42 FINANCE FINDER An exciting new business funding matching tool looking to revolutionise access to finance for businesses in the West Yorkshire region has been launched.

The new Chamber Finance Finder will allow Chamber member businesses fast and simple access to all funding options across loans, equity and grants – simplifying, speeding up and streamlining the application process for them.

Finance FINDER Transforming members’ access to business finance

Businesses are struggling to access the finance they need, the British Chambers of Commerce network in the West and North Yorkshire region are working together to provide access to both government and non-government funding options via a new partnership with Swoop Funding, supported by the British Chambers of Commerce In addition to access to funding tailored for their specific business needs, members will also enjoy other exclusive benefits such as a dedicated Chamber Finance Finder hotline providing guidance to businesses’ funding queries, plus a free financial health check, as well as finance alerts and updates.

With the latest figures from Swoop showing fewer than 50% of businesses are accessing the loans needed, it is essential that organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce addresses the challenges in the process. This new tool, powered by one of UK’s most admired fintechs, Swoop Funding, matches businesses with funding from over 1,000 providers.

Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, commented: “Business communities are facing unprecedented challenges, and access to finance remains a pressing issue for so many firms. The Chamber Finance Finder will help companies the length and breadth of the UK find finance options that will help them restart, rebuild and renew their operations. We’re delighted to support the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce in launching this initiative.”

Read more information on the Finance Finder on our website

West & North Yorkshire Business

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CHAMBER ONLINE 43

Chamber launched new website to assist Yorkshire businesses The Chamber brought forward the launch of their new website to enhance the online experience for members during these unprecedented times. As numerous businesses now have employees working from home, an improved online platform for members allows pertinent information on topics such as HR advice, Legal help and Coronavirus Guidance to be more accessible when working remotely.

The Chamber has created a refreshed and unified West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce website that brings together the Leeds Chamber, Bradford Chamber and York & North Yorkshire Chamber websites. Developed to enhance the user experience, the one website will encompass information from around the region and all the services the Chamber has to offer.

Sandy Needham DL, Chief Executive of West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said: “We are delighted to be sharing some good news in these extraordinary times. Business is evolving all the time and we felt our online presence needed to do the same. Our new website is easier to navigate and much more user-friendly. We believe that this new site will enhance the membership experience and deliver the most up to date business information to all business.”

The new website design is clean, fresh and boasting a new level of user-friendly features. Members now have the ability to book and pay for events online, and view a list of all Chamber members in the online member directory.

Ruth Shann, Head of Operations, said: “We are excited about our new website and its functionality.

When you bring a number of websites together and implement change it can be a challenge, but the results are fantastic. Giving members the opportunity to search for enhanced event information, book online and find all the latest business news and advice on one platform is amazing.

This week we are launching our online webinars, this would not have been possible before and in these unprecedented times it’s great that we have something positive to share” Over the coming months the Chamber will be continuously updating the website content and is proud to be enhancing the members’ area further with an online portal. Here members will have the ability to view invoices, update company information, join online and much more.

“The new site will enhance the membership experience and deliver the most up to date business information to all business.”

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44 PROFILE

SES Engineering Services completes installation on £45million specialist sports hub Leading engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has announced the completion of its role working alongside main contractor, Galliford Try, on a stateof-the-art £45m sports hub for Leeds Beckett University.

Following its appointment in 2019, to design and install a full range of building services on the Carnegie School of Sport, SES has handed over its latest higher education contract.

As one of the largest providers of sport in UK higher education, the Carnegie School of Sport will allow the university to unite its specialised teaching and research laboratories as well as deliver a hub for elite athletes and sports and industry partners.

The building also includes hypoxic chambers, a health and wellbeing studio, an indoor 60m sprint track for performance training and analysis, nutrition laboratories, and an enhanced

strength and conditioning space as well as changing and recovery facilities.

SES’ successful appointment to the scheme was, in part, down to their experience of working in tandem with main contractors during the bidding stages and its BIM Level 2 capabilities.

This was further supported by SES clearly setting out its strategy for project delivery as well as developing designs for the full range of building services it would install ahead of arrival on site.

Speaking about the completion of this latest higher education sector contract, SES’ business director North and Scotland, Steve Joyce, said: “To be involved with such an innovative building as the Carnegie School of Sport further cements our excellent working relationship with Galliford Try on major higher education contracts of this type. The project also allowed us to demonstrate the real benefits of our

early engagement to best effect and we are delighted to have made a significant contribution to this state-ofthe-art building for Leeds Beckett University.”

Galliford Try’s Project Director, Sean Sweet, added: “Completion of the Carnegie School of Sport adds further to our successful track record of delivering innovative buildings in the higher education sector. This would not be achievable were it not for our ability to bring together such a formidable and highly experienced team of project partners, to work with us to execute logistically challenging schemes.

“Furthermore, we are delighted to be able to support Leeds Beckett University to deliver its vision for creating world-class facilities for its undergraduates, post graduate and research programmes and the elite athletes who tap into its performance expertise.”

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INTERNATIONAL 45

A new home for international training

Trade courses taken online to help combat Coronavirus pandemic All international trade courses have been taken online by Chamber International to help people keep safe by avoiding gatherings during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The move to start online courses, conducted by Chamber International’s experienced trainers, follows health safety advice from the World Health Organisation and public precautions, including home working, requested by the British government due to the pandemic.

The online courses cover a broad range of international trade topics, including some to help businesses prepare for Brexit, and are available internationally. The courses are interactive and use professional video-conferencing technology.

Chamber International director, Tim Bailey, says: “This move will help people keep safe by avoiding gatherings during the Coronavirus pandemic.

“As well as being more cost effective, with a £70 reduction on the usual fee, online courses, reduce the need for face-toface meetings, are better for the environment, eliminate travel time and avoid additional costs such as parking fees.

“The huge upheaval created by Coronavirus highlights that we are all interdependent. This is epitomised by international trade, which will remain crucial to help revitalise ravaged international economies after the pandemic recedes and as the EU negotiates international trade agreements.”

Many other Chamber International services, including telephone advice and documentation services, are operating as usual.

Chamber International helps hundreds of new and experienced exporters throughout the UK and overseas with a wide range of specialist services to make exporting easier and more cost effective.

Find out about all our international training courses on our website www.chamber-international.com

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46 HEALTH & SAFETY

Lone Worker Protection advice for H&S professionals A number of businesses have had to embrace the idea of working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. While working from home is the new normal, some occupations make working remotely impossible. For these employees, it has been crucial that they and their employers take the necessary steps to ensure that they are protected and kept safe, from contracting and spreading the novel virus.

With the global outbreak, the topic of lone worker safety has been pushed to the forefront for many companies, with a reduced number of personnel in the field, throughout facilities and on the road. With the need for social distancing in all aspects of our lives, the rate of lone work for many organisations has increased significantly.

What is a lone worker?

A lone worker is someone who works by themselves, this includes independent contractors, freelancers or self-employed people. They often work without close or direct supervision and they exist in all sectors.

The rise in home working has emulated the rise in technology. Robust broadband means employees can now check-in with the office from their lounge, study, spare room, or just about anywhere with an internet connection.

With schools and colleges being closed due to the lockdown, it has meant that education institutions like Leeds City College have had to adapt to working from home to ensure the safety of their students and employees. However, this has not been the case for a number of people, including the college’s apprentices who may work in frontline positions within the NHS or healthcare setting, where their services at this time are needed.

At a time where work and life need to integrate much more successfully, remote working can be a positive thing in some cases. However, it is also full of

downsides for both managers and employees, especially those in professions where health and safety is paramount.

For many lone workers, choosing to work from home indefinitely simply isn’t an option. Healthcare workers and nurses, for example, cannot just stop treating their patients. Equally, lone HGV drivers who are often selfemployed, and need to keep working to provide for their families do not have the luxury of staying at home either especially now with a higher demand for product deliveries in supermarkets and other essential shops across the UK. Meanwhile, the UK government has come under increasing pressure to review their lockdown measures, especially in terms of workplaces.

While this is an ongoing discussion, it is important for employers to outline the range of issues that they need to consider in preparing offices, factories and warehouses for reoccupation once the lockdown is lifted.

Existing risk assessments may not cover COVID-19 risks and hazards in great detail. As a result, employers

could develop a specific risk assessment strategy as part of their reoccupation planning. They must also consider how the key findings and controls from the risk assessment are effectively communicated to staff and stakeholders, as well as how they are implemented.

One other way to minimise the risk of spreading the disease between lone workers and the people they come into contact with, is by equipping them properly. This will look slightly different depending on the nature of the work but this will include, hand sanitisers, masks and gloves.

Establishing a healthy and safe working environment for lone workers can be different from organising the health and safety of other workers.

Some things to consider in ensuring lone workers are not put at risk include: assessing areas of risk including manual handling, the medical suitability of the individual to work alone and whether the workplace or environment itself presents a risk to them. Additionally, having systems in place to keep in touch with them and respond to any incidents is crucial.

Why it is important to protect your lone workers An effective lone worker policy can help to promote a strong safety culture among employees and reduce the risk of legal issues.

A strong policy will also need to consider the potential risks that lone working employees face and offer best practice guidance.

A company’s lone working policy should include risks that an isolated worker may face and the measures that will be put in place to minimise the risk. It is also important to consider background information, purpose statements, as well as the organisational commitment that clearly-defined responsibilities, guidance on reporting incidents, plus any relevant support and contact details.

The ability to monitor lone workers in real-time is critical. Every organisation that employs isolated personnel must establish a live monitoring team with documented response protocols, employee contact information, escalation paths and alert preferences.

Developing an online mapping system that makes it easy to have full situational awareness for every scenario that may occur could also be helpful.

Organisations with lone workers must also implement a robust system of communication that operates without interruption in the event of an incident. Should that fail, a backup system where lone employees are able to contact the relevant support teams needs to be in place.

The coronavirus crisis is a challenging time especially for those who have to continue to leave their houses and perform their jobs alone in some instances. For organisations that are deemed essential, lone workers are often the reason the world can continue to deliver and receive goods and services that help keep people safe and the economy operating. By taking the measures discussed above, particularly providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), you will give your lone workers peace of mind and minimise the risk of them contracting and spreading the disease.

Now is the perfect time for organisations, large or small, to begin adopting and implementing processes that protect essential lone workers in the long run and that allow them to monitor threats and manage every incident from receipt to resolution efficiently and effectively during this unprecedented time.

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48 PROFILE

Garbutt + Elliott have processed over £10million of furlough claims to help protect local jobs York and Leeds based accountancy, advisory and audit firm Garbutt + Elliott, have helped over 285 businesses safeguard jobs across Yorkshire and processed more than £10million of furlough claims through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

As the first phase of the CJRS scheme comes to an end, the firm is assessing the impact felt by Yorkshire businesses following the outbreak of the pandemic and how their team has changed their working practices to meet the increased demands.

Sarah Ashton. Partner at Garbutt + Elliott said: “The last three months have been a rollercoaster for many businesses both financially and personally. The pressure and uncertainty that business owners have had to deal with has been far greater than anyone could have imagined at the start of this pandemic. The furlough scheme has certainly been a welcome support financially, but the overcomplicated rules and initial lack of clarity have made it more challenging to administer than was necessary.

“Our role changed with the introduction of the furlough scheme – we needed to understand these new rules inside out so that we could guide our clients through the furlough “minefield” and take the stress away. In addition, we have continued to prepare the payroll for all our clients offering the same high level of support as always. I am extremely proud of my team who have adapted their ways of working to provide that extra level of help to businesses, especially when it’s needed the most – it’s part of our values to go the extra mile.

“As we enter phase 2 of the CJRS scheme business owners will have to consider how they plan for the future. There may be some tough decisions ahead regarding redundancies and staff retention on full or part-time. The next few months will be so important as the lockdown restrictions are lifted – we’ll all be looking at the R number. Whatever is ahead of us it’s important we continue to work as a team, supporting each other – we are much stronger when we do.”

To date across the UK Government figures have confirmed 9.3 million workers have been furloughed with a claims value of £25.5bn.

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PROFILE 49

As we enter phase 2 of the CJRS scheme business owners will have to consider how they plan for the future.

Francis Ward delivers packaging solutions to front line industries in the battle against Covid19 Francis Wards IBCs and Drums are utilised for various applications, both hazardous and general purpose, and across multiple industry sectors.

During the covid19 pandemic Francis Wards Warlords drums have been used in the supply of hydrogen peroxide to formulators of hand sanitisers, as well as sodium hypochlorite to manufacturers of surface disinfectants.

We have continued in this period to push forward with high profile development projects to ensure we remain on time and ready to deliver eagerly awaited new specialised IBC products for our customers.

Francis Ward customer Brenntag said:

“We have supplied throughout the pandemic to a range of front line industries from food to pharmaceutical and Francis Ward packaging has been with us on many of those journeys.�

Francis Wards high specification Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) and drums provide years of safe and reliable performance in the transportation and storage of both dangerous and general purpose goods and materials.

All our containers are designed and manufactured for reuse for up to 10 years depending on product type and chemical compatibility We are proud of our products and especially pleased that they have been used in a beneficial way to help combat the corona virus pandemic.

If you require any information on our products please contact Ian Radcliffe at Francis Ward. 01274 707030. Or email iradcliffe@francisward.com

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50 PROFILE “The service area of The Broadway is a large space, usually busy with deliveries for retailers this area was perfect for the food hub as it offered all the facilities required at short notice.”

Bradford partners unite to form The Broadway Food Hub The Broadway Food Hub is the district’s short term response during the COVID-19 pandemic to support shielding and vulnerable individuals by providing home deliveries of essential food items.

Bradford council staff, The Broadway, Incommunities and other partners have worked together to package and deliver more than 6000 food parcels to vulnerable and shielding people across the district since the crisis began.

Using The Broadway as a distribution warehouse whilst the public mall was closed and retailer stock deliveries temporarily ceased, allowed ample space to create, pack and load the food boxes. Plus the Centre could be used as a general warehouse facility for the range of staple food items approved by Public Health England.

Ian Ward, General Manager at The Broadway Shopping Centre, said: “Whilst all but essential shops closed down during the height of the

pandemic, myself and the team at The Broadway wanted to continue to support people in the district in any way possible. The Centre is a hub for the local community and even though it wasn’t possible for residents of Bradford to enjoy the space and retailers we’re home to, we wanted to play our part in supporting and protecting our community’s most vulnerable.

The team who operated the Food Hub is made up of council staff from children’s services, sport and leisure, passenger transport along with Incommunities managers and logistics staff. Parcels were delivered to residents across the district seven days a week by Bradford Council’s Passenger Transport Service whose normal role is to transport disabled children and adults.

“The service area of The Broadway is a large space which is usually busy around the clock with deliveries of stock for retailers - this area was perfect for the food hub as it offered all the facilities required at short notice.

Our team cleared two, large stock rooms which had electrical provisions for fridge freezers and were located close to the loading bays for the buses and vans used to distribute the food parcels. We were even able to provide office space that served as briefing and break out rooms for all the volunteers who helped make this vital service possible.”

The Broadway Food Hub is part of the district’s broader food offer which includes the home shopping service, established food banks, neighbourhood food banks and community led projects. The council has provided additional financial support to food banks which have scaled up to provide nearly three times as much food support as they did prior to the crisis. The council has also agreed some short term support for neighbourhood and community provision.

West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to introduce AXA PPP healthcare for their business healthcare cover

Day or night, we’re here to help put your mind at ease When you or one of your employees has a health worry playing on your mind, it can make it difficult to focus on anything else.

That’s why at AXA PPP healthcare, regardless of whether you have healthcare cover with us or not, we give Chambers of Commerce members free access to our 24/7* health information telephone helpline, Health at Hand.

Our Health at Hand team is on hand to support you and your team. Whether it’s a question to do with your own health or your child’s health, our team of nurses, counsellors, midwives and pharmacists are here to help put your mind at ease.

Some of the ways we can help: • If you have a question about medication that you’ve been prescribed, our team of pharmacists is on hand to help • If someone in your team is struggling to cope with the pressures of work or home life, they can speak to a counsellor about how they’re feeling • If you have a question or a worry about your health, you can discuss the symptoms with a nurse

To find out more and to activate your free access to Health at Hand, visit axappphealthcare.co.uk/Chambers or call us on 0800 389 7413** *Health at Hand nurses and counsellors are available 24/7. Pharmacists and midwives are available 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm Saturdays and 8am12pm Sundays. The Health at Hand service does not diagnose or replace your own GP. All calls to Health at Hand are confidential. **Phone lines are open 8:30am-5:30pm Monday to Friday. We may record and/or monitor calls for quality assurance, training and as a record of our conversation.

West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is an introducer appointed representative of AXA PPP healthcare Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The private healthcare insurance plans are underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare Limited. Registered office: AXA PPP healthcare, 5 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1AD. Registered in England and Wales number 3148119. Write to us at: AXA PPP healthcare, Phillips House, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2PL.

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52 EVENTS

Learn More About Applying for the Queen's Award 23rd July 2020 11:00 - 12:15

Chamber WEBINARS

Chamber supports Yorkshire businesses with free online webinars As many businesses continue to facilitate working from home, the Chamber sought to maintain its busy events calendar and provide its members with a way to learn and connect with likeminded professionals in a safe setting. As a result, the Chamber launched its online events programme earlier this month.th, which has been a great success.

Past successful webinars have covered topics such as marketing, selling online, HR and operating during COVID-19. The Bank of England partnered with the Chamber to deliver a webinar on the current economic climate and key financials, which members found insightful. Webinars feature an external speaker, all experts in their own field.

Upcoming webinars include topics on health and safety, wellbeing, and bi weekly networking. Visit the website for full event listing.

The Chambers online events are free to attend for all members and for a limited time other local business can benefit from a number of these webinars also.

Don’t miss out!

Book now at http://chmbr.co/2p West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited

Are you thinking about applying for the Queen's award for Enterprise? If so, this webinar will assist you with your application. Lord Lieutenant, Ed Anderson, Chambers of Commerce and companies from the region who had gained the award will be taking part in this webinar to help you with your application and answer any questions you may have.

Online Networking 27th July 2020 09:30 - 10:30 Join us for an online pure networking session. As the majority of businesses are working more online its important that we network online too.

Build relationships and rapport with other business professionals during this networking event. You will have the opportunity to delivery your elevator pitch, listen to what others have to offer, discuss and share knowledge / challenges.

Find Out How to Have Your Slice of Cake - Bid Writing Workshop 28th July 2020 11:00 - 12:00 Did you know over ÂŁ800 billion is awarded through public sector tendering every year, with 25% of contracts awarded to SMEs? Find out how you can have a slice of the cake and turn bidding into a worthwhile route to market during this Introduction to Tendering workshop.

Essential Planning for The Future of Your Business 30th July 2020 14:00 - 15:00 As businesses are starting to understand how they might be affected by the financial impact of COVID-19, in this session Naylor Wintersgill Chartered Accountants will discuss practical planning points and considerations to support your transition from crisis management to securing the future resilience of your organisation.

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Together, we’ve developed the Chamber Primary Health Plan that will work harder to make your staf feel more valued and motivated, and encourage them to be more proactive about their health.

The plan helps policyholders to access essential healthcare, diagnosis and treatment, provides money back towards selected medical expenses, and can be combined with our hospital treatment insurance to provide truly continuous cover.

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