The Lincoln Delivery Office will pilot Sunday openings as part of an initiative by Royal Mail Group to make parcel delivery more efficient for online shoppers.

The Lincoln office on Firth Road, which previously operated Monday to Saturday, will also open between 12pm and 4pm from Sunday, September 7.

The initiative, which will benefit people not at home to receive parcels during the week, will be implemented across Royal Mail’s top 100 offices in the UK for parcel volumes.

Rob Jenson, Royal Mail Operations Director, said: “We are continuing to be more customer responsive and provide more options for people to receive items they have ordered online.

“I am delighted to pilot Sunday afternoon opening at around 100 of our delivery offices across the UK with the highest parcel volumes, including Lincoln.”

Royal Mail has also rolled out its Delivery to Neighbour initiative across the UK. This followed a trial of the initiative which found that customers welcomed the convenience of items being delivered to a neighbouring address if no one was at home to receive them.

Customers not at home when delivery is attempted can also arrange a free redelivery to their home or a neighbour via the link here.

The new-look Lincoln Castle will be revealed in less than a year, and local businesses are getting ready for a tourism boost.

On Tuesday, September 23 local businesses can take part in a special conference the at the Epic Centre at Lincolnshire Showground.

The Countdown to Lincoln Castle Revealed conference will showcase the latest news from the £2o million Lincoln Castle project.

It will also give advice to local businesses for what steps they should take now in order to take advantage of the new-look castle.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the conference if they wish to learn more about the project.

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development, said: “Next year is a big one for Lincoln as the castle re-opens and we celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta with a series of memorable events.

“These will attract thousands of visitors to the area, and we want to make sure local businesses are in pole position to reap the benefits.”

The conference will begin with a short film and presentation, followed by workshops covering:

• The restoration of the castle buildings
• The latest research and archaeological findings
• Events to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta

Tickets for the Countdown to Lincoln Castle Revealed conference cost £10 per person, including lunch. Places can now be booked online.

Places are quickly being filled for a series of food industry focused seminars taking place at Lindum Business Park in North Hykeham on Thursday, September 11.

The seminars organised by the Food Specialist Team at Lindum aim to discuss the latest developments in the food industry.  Taking part in presentations and seminars will be represntatives of the food sector from across the region.

Over 30 representatives from food sector clients to consultant companies are expected to turn up.  This will be the sixth event organised by the Food Specialist Team at Lindum.

Delegates from the food sector will discuss topics ranging from the latest software developments and available funding opportunities, through to insurance and cost effective property maintenance for the sector.

The programme starts at 9am, with delegates arriving for registration and breakfast from 8am, and will include:

• Fully Integrated Software for Food Factories explained by Paul Griffin, International Business Director for CSB System International
• Insurance and the Food Industry presented by Steve Exwood, Partner at JLT Group
• Funding Opportunities for Agri-Business outlined by Ruth Carver, Manager for Greater Lincolnshire LEP
• Roof Refurbishment and PV Gavin Harriman, Business Development Manager for KGM Roofing

Anyone wanting further information, or to register for the event should contact Jo Holmes on 07825 026574 or email construction_food@lindumgroup.co.uk.

The Access LN6 team at Lincolnshire County Council is challenging drivers to swap four wheels for two, and bike to work.

Whether you use one of your own bikes or chose to ride one of Lincoln’s hirebikes, the Access LN6 team wants more businesses to pledge their support for the day.

The national event is championed by multi-gold medal winning Paralympic cyclist, Dame Sarah Storey, who is encouraging the public to take part.

Councillor Richard Davies, Executive Councillor for Highways and Transportation at Lincolnshire County Council, said:

“Cycle to Work Day is a great initiative to encourage staff to dust off their bikes and enjoy a different commute to work.

“Whether you cycle the full distance or just part of the way, we want to encourage more people to cycle more often, and it ties in great with the work our Access LN6 team is already doing in the area.

“We’re getting involved at Lincolnshire County Council, and we would encourage you all to make a pledge and cycle to work.”

Businesses can sign up as an employer and promote Cycle to Work Day with posters in communal areas. They can also be part of Britain’s biggest bike breakfast by rewarding colleagues that bike to work with a coffee and a croissant.

The Access LN6 team are offering free bike maintenance at the Kingsley Road hirebike station from 7.45am to 9.00am, and there are two bike trains for people cycling in to, and out of, Lincoln city centre.

Meeting times for the bike trains will be at 7.30am at the Coop at Witham St Hughs for a bike ride into Lincoln city centre (along Newark Road and Tritton Road), or meet at 7.30am at the Brayford Waterfront for a bike ride to Doddington Road, Kingsley Road and Teal Park (via Birchwood).

For those that sign up for the event there is a chance to win a brand new £850 bike.  To make your pledge and download posters to promote the event, visit the Cycle to Work Day website.

A Lincoln security specialist has launched an innovative electronic locking system, and is encouraging local businesses to get behind the modern solution.

By using digital locks, keys and unique software, business owners will be able to set personal access to restricted dates and times to their premises, as well as blacklist and rewrite stolen or lost keys.

Lincoln Security, based on High Street, have developed the electronic access system and interactive software with experts at the University of Lincoln and aim “to move locks and keys into the 21st century”.

The eLOQ product was officially launched on Monday, September 1 after completing a successful trial at The Shed bar on the University of Lincoln campus.

The company has two years of business plans on the drawing board and aims to ultimately launch a mobile, trackable key system which will be the first of its kind.

The wireless ‘electromechanical’ system consists of a battery-powered key which provides the power to the lock once inserted.

Once the key is used, its digital display system will check preset user credentials, permissions and the date and time on the user calendar.

The key always records an audit trail of each event so that administrators can track who has gained access at specific times.

The key stores up to 3,000 audit records of the most recent access events, and the lock stores the most recent 15 events.

Marketing and Business Development Manager at Lincoln  Security, Peter Corlett, said: “We embarked upon this product development about 18 months ago having identified a gap in the market for a low-cost solution – we sourced the hardware ourselves and write the software in-house.

“In order for us to have the software development capability, we established that a KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) with the University of Lincoln was the best way forward.

“The audit trail feature is great because it allows the administrator to see who’s been where and at what times. If you wanted to change any settings, it’s really simple to change them at any time.

“If a user lost a key you can actually blacklist them from the system so that if anyone tried to use it afterwards access would be denied, and the software would still record that someone has tried to do that.

“Despite the protection of patent law, a big problem we are seeing at the minute is people 3D printing keys as that technology becomes more sophisticated. eLOQ overcomes that issue with encryption.

“Next year, we are going to be releasing what’s called a mobile key, which will have GPS installed in it, so they will be traceable from your computer.”

Lincoln Security say they are working primarily towards system affordability, which sets them apart from companies offering similar products.

Peter added: “There are a couple of products like this at the minute but they are a lot more expensive. Our typical locks range from around £50 to £100 and we also have padlocks which are between £50 and £65.

“The software system is then tailored towards the companies use.”

The system has been on trial at The Shed bar for around three months. Bar Manager Dave Andrews said: “It’s been really good. It’s made it a lot simpler. In the past we had about 20 different keys that we had to carry about at one time and now we have one.

“Now, different members of staff have access to the areas that we want them to and we’ve found the technology is very simple to use and it’s very time saving.”

eLOQ software developer Nandagopal Lakshminarayanan said: “We’ve integrated the locking solution with computer software which gives you interchangeable accessibility. It allows you to set the users, register the keys, create time and calendar profiles and grant or limit access when needed.

“When it comes to software to have to meet standards for how it is done but also for encryption methods. We do have to combat the treat of database cracking so we specifically encrypt the database so that anyone wishing to hack it, still could only get to limited information.

“The key and lock are also use ‘triple DES’ encryption algorithms, checking the system three times on use.

“The software is extremely user friendly and Lincoln Security also offer on-the-phone support or can come down and help locally too.”

Lincoln Security are also locking to work with distributors as they expand their product.

The visitor economy in Lincoln grew by 10% between 2012 and 2013, making it worth £168 million.

The information was collected using an independent tourism research company, and was commissioned by City of Lincoln Council.

Other significant investments in the city such as the DoubleTree by Hilton and Premier Inn, plus the growth of two universities and the retail and food industry, are being marked as contributors to the valuation.

The research also showed that the city’s visitor economy supports 2,380 jobs (FTEs)

Emma Tatlow, Partnership Manager of Visit Lincoln, said: “The visitor economy is a key sector for Lincoln and Lincolnshire. It drives growth locally as well as supporting employment.

“This latest research shows a huge leap in its value between 2012 and 2013 – peaking at £168 million, up from £152 million the previous year.

“In 2013, 3.7 million visitors came to Lincoln, an increase of 6% from 2012.

“All sectors saw positive growth, with the accommodation sector leading the way at 17%.

“This was closely followed by recreation, shopping, transport and the food and drink sectors, which all benefitted from around 10% growth.

“We are working hard on the marketing plans around the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015, plus the opening of the £22 million Lincolnshire County Council Lincoln Castle Revealed project in April.”

Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Economic Regeneration at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Tourism is essential to Lincoln’s economy so it’s fantastic news for the city that there has been such a substantial rise in visitor numbers and spend.

“The increase will help boost the local economy and support new jobs in the city.

“I’m sure we will see Lincoln’s visitor economy continue to go from strength to strength as we enter an exciting period of landmark events taking place in the city over the coming year.”

A tattooist from Lincoln is set to make his mark in India by judging the Indian Ink Tattoo Convention at the Mumbai World Trade Centre this October.

Alex Stark (29) who owns the Tattooed Arms on Corporation Street in Lincoln has been tattooing from the age of 17.  He has since established himself as an artist within the local tattoo industry with his Japanese-influenced designs.

Alex and his partner, photographer Katy-Jane Riches (26), can’t wait to jet off to the Indian Ink Tattoo Convention at the end of October.

Alex will have the tough task of choosing the winners of competitions which attract the most progressive body-artists in the world.

The invitation to judge came after Alex and Katy-Jane attended a similar event in Nepal earlier this year.

Katy-Jane said: “We’re really excited. There will be a huge buzz. Alex will have his own booth, giving him a superb opportunity to showcase his work and we will be able to swap notes with other artists and discover the latest emerging trends.”

Alex and Katy-Jane, who celebrate their first year in business this month are equally thrilled about the success of their ‘pirate pub’ style store the ‘Tattooed Arms’.

Alex whose store also offers piercings, t-shirts and provides picture hanging space for Lincoln-area artists said: “We’ve had a very good reception since opening in Lincoln. Contrary to what many people might think, we are also attracting an amazing range of customers.

“University students only account for about 15 per cent of our business. We have people from the age of 18 to 81, including people who might never have considered getting a tattoo and we are attracting repeat customers.

“I also do a lot of cover work, where I make an old tattoo ‘disappear’ by overlaying it with a new design.”

Lincoln BIG Chief Executive Matt Corrigan said: “Lincoln has a great reputation for being home to a range of niche businesses, and they play a key role in encouraging more people to come and discover the city.

“We congratulate the Tattooed Arms on a successful first year in business and Alex, in particular, on being invited to be a judge at the Convention in Mumbai.”

The scheme which offers energy savings to Lincolnshire households using collective switching is open for registrations again, and residents have until October 13 to sign up.

The Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme, which is open to businesses and homes, has previously seen 4,700 households register to get better gas and electricity rates.

Once households have registered their interest, the energy suppliers will be invited to compete with their best offers.

In the most recent auction, held in June, the average saving per household to take up their offer was £234.

To register for the next scheme, submit your details online, call 01529 301990 (9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday) or visit Lincoln City Hall.

The scheme is free to join and there is no obligation to take up the winning supplier’s tariff offer.

Councillor Rosie Kirk, City of Lincoln Council’s Portfolio Holder for Social Inclusion and Community Cohesion, said: “Collective switching schemes have been successful in saving households money on their energy bills.

“People want help to find a good deal on their energy bills and are comfortable seeking this help in a scheme promoted by their local council. Many who find the switching process baffling end up doing nothing and paying more than they need to.

“Collective switching offers a straightforward solution. The more people who register, the more interested the suppliers are in winning them as customers and so the better the deal they offer.

“Once offered a deal, you can choose whether to take it or not. It’s simple, but you have to register to have a chance to take up the saving so register today and tell your friends, family and neighbours to register too.”

The Department for Transport is expected to announce positive news “imminently” on its involvement in the CastleLine project for more and faster trains between Lincoln and Nottingham.

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney said “there is a very strong possibility that positive news might be announced imminently.”

As previously reported, county and district councils have pledged money towards the £700,000 yearly cost to improve the frequency and speed of trains between the two cities.

Lincolnshire County Council, the City of Lincoln Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and other authorities are putting money towards the better train connections, with the Department for Transport (Dft) supporting around half of the costs.

The councils and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have committed a combined £205,000 per year for three years to trial the scheme, which would require more than £2.1m in total.

The proposed service would deliver an average reduction in journey times of around 7 minutes eastbound and 3 minutes westbound for Lincoln.

It would also double the frequency for Hykeham, as well reduce journey times.

Newark, Carlton, Burton Joyce and Fiskerton, Bleasby, Thurgarton and Rolleston would also benefit from increases in the number of trains running under the project proposals.

East Midlands Trains would use its only spare train and carriages for the extra services.

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney said: “Whilst at this point in time I have not had definitive confirmation of any definite improvements to the Castle Cross-Country service between Lincoln and Nottingham via Newark.

“I am aware through my working in partnership over a long period with the County Council and colleagues in both Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire that there is a very strong possibility that positive news might be announced imminently.

“I spoke supportively in a HoC debate back in February on this particular issue, and hope that any improvements will increase service frequency, alleviate over crowding, offer quicker journeys and potentially improve weekend services too.

“All credit to my colleague Rob Jenrick [Conservative Newark MP] who added his weight to the campaign from the outset as the Newark By-Election candidate, and has seen just dividends.”

County Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said:

“This scheme would increase the number of services that come into Hykeham Station, and it’d also reduce the journey time for trains travelling between Lincoln and Nottingham. I think it’d bring a number of benefits both for passengers and local businesses.

“We’ve committed to investing £70,000 and a number of organisations have also declared their willingness to contribute money towards this, but we need to secure the support of the Department for Transport for the scheme to go ahead.

“I understand that a decision could be announced in the coming days, and if we’re successful the new services could be in place for May 2015.”

Karl McCartney and Lincoln business representatives also made their plea recently to the bidders of the East Coast rail franchise for better city links to and from London.

The three firms in the running for the franchise are East Coast Trains Limited, a joint bid from Eurostar East Coast Limited and Keolis, and Inter City Railways Limited who are owned by Stagecoach and Virgin.

The Department of Transport is expected to reveal the preferred bidder for the East Coast Franchise in November 2014.

A trio of swimmers from Lincoln-based construction company Lindum helped raise money for a local charity when they swam across Lake Windermere.

The ‘Lindum Trio’, Matt Tyers, Robbie Kok and Stuart Mitchell, raised £612 for Kesteven Children In Need (KCiN) when they completed the 1 mile swim as part of the Great North Swim event in June.

They raised £306 in sponsorship from generous colleagues and friends, which was then doubled by the Lindum Board of Directors.

Stuart Mitchell handed over the cheque to the KCiN Charity’s Treasurer, Alex Howard, on September 2 at Lindum Business Park.

Alex said: “As a voluntary charity we rely heavily on donations from the public to fund and resource our work.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Stuart, Matt and Robbie for their impressive open-water swim to raise money for KCiN. Also, thank you to Lindum Group for their charitable support of doubling the donation.”

“This contribution will make a huge difference to improving the quality of life for children in Lincolnshire, we are extremely grateful and are proud to say that all the money raised will be going to worthy causes in the local area.”

The charity, run by only 10 volunteers, has been supporting children in difficult circumstances for over 50 years.

Covering the district council areas of North and South Kesteven, KCiN provides practical support to families and children, encouraging a standard for quality of life and helping to create a safe environment for mental, social and physical development.

Speaking on behalf of the Lindum swimmers, Stuart Mitchell said: ‘We’re delighted to have raised money which will go towards helping local families in need.

“What initially started as a fun idea turned out to be quite a challenge, especially when we experienced the effects of the freezing water! However, thanks the generous donations of our sponsors and the Lindum Board, it was all worthwhile.”

The number of company closures in Lincoln reached a record high in the first quarter of the year, according to a report by company formation agents Duport Associates.

Between January and March, 2014, 299 companies were dissolved in Lincoln – more than any other first quarter on record, and a 118% rise on the year previous.

In the first quarter of 2014, Lincoln formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

The Duport Business Confidence Report revealed that the number of company closures also fell by 18% over the quarter, leading to an overall drop in net company growth.

A total of 388 companies were registered in Lincoln during the first quarter of 2014 – a decease of 9.6% against the same period in the previous year.

The news follows a record overall year in 2013 for both company formation and net company growth.

Managing Director of Duport.co.uk, Peter Valaitis, commented: “Although the figures in our report look like bad news for Lincoln, it is actually perfectly natural for there to be an increase in closures after a record year for company formation.

“Sadly, not all new companies will make it past their first year of trading, and this is reflected in our report on Lincoln.”

The report also highlighted that Lincoln business directors are older than the UK average.

Some 4.2% of directors in Lincoln were under the age of 25, compared with the UK average of 4.6%.

While the UK average percentage of directors over 65 is 3.5%, Lincoln scored 4.1%.

The £28 million University of Lincoln student flats development off Ruston Way is taking form ahead of an August 2015 completion.

Jackson & Jackson Developments Ltd signed the official contract with constructors Kier Group at The Gateway site on Friday, September 5.

The project will be completed by August 5, 2015, in time for the September student cohort. Details of the accommodation management and pricing will be released at a later date.

As previously reported, the accommodation scheme will be managed by the University of Lincoln.

Revised plans comprise of 519 bedspaces with additional ground floor retail, cafe or office space.

The eight-storey building, designed by Lincoln-based Stem Architects will comprise of a mixture of studio apartments and cluster flats as part of the university’s Lincoln Masterplan.

Work on the site began after proposals were approved by the City of Lincoln Council in January 2014.

The Gateway’s steel structure is made up of 4,164 components and over 1,300 tonnes of steel.

Co-owner of Jackson & Jackson, Cameron Jackson said: “It’s been a long process and one that’s extremely important for ourselves and Kier.

“We’ve been working to a very tight time-frame and it’s very exciting to see it all taking form. So far all has been running smoothly, but of course we are aware that problems can arise at any time.”

Currently, people driving around the Tritton Road roundabout will have observed the steel skeleton of the build take its form.

Cameron added: “The next stage will be to get the floor planks in and make the build watertight. Then the project really starts to take form.”

Richard Chaman, Operations Director for Kier Contruction Central, oversees the business in the East Midlands. He said: “This is our current flagship job for our office. We like each of our offices to have a flagship project above £15 million so this £28 million project is a cracking scheme for our office.

“We’re really chuffed to be working with Jackson & Jackson Developments to deliver the scheme for Lincoln.

“On the site itself, we will have between 20 and 150 people at one time. We try as hard as we can to employ people within 10, 20 and 40 miles of the site.

“We want to reinvest our clients’ money into the local area. Because if you spend £1 on the site with local people, it generates approximately £3 for the local economy.”

Dominik Jackson said: “One thing that was really important to us was that we wanted to employ as many local people and businesses as possible.

“Kier was one of the closest tenders geographically to Lincoln and we were also attracted to them because they set targets to employ contractors within the shortest radius.

Richard added: “The approach with our clients has been fantastic and we’re getting great results. For example, the steel you can see on site today is actually two weeks ahead of schedule.”

An expert sports lawyer from Lincoln has been appointed to the board of the National Governing body for Rounders.

Richard Parnell, Managing Partner of regional firm Bridge McFarland, is already a Trustee and Non-Executive Director of Lincolnshire Sport and company solicitor for Lincoln City FC.

He was appointed by Rounders England to take up a seat on the board because of his experience and expertise in legal issues and in particular, the governance and regulation of sport, child protection and anti-doping.

Richard has presented seminars on drugs and doping in sport to both the University of Lincoln and Hull BID at the BBC Open Centre in Hull.

In October he will be presenting a workshop on the issue of positive leadership in child protection to the lead officers for safeguarding of National Governing Bodies and County Sports Partnerships at the Child Protection in Sport Unit in Leicester.

Rounders England is the National Governing Body for, and custodian of the rules of, Rounders and is also responsible for developing the sport throughout England.

It employs 14 staff, largely based at the head office in Sheffield.

In 2013 Rounders England was awarded £2.2 million to develop the sport across the country for the next four years.

Richard, a keen sportsman, is a member of the British Association for Sport and the Law (BASL) and is currently studying for a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Sports Law and Practice at De Montfort University in Leicester.

Richard said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the board of such a successful organisation as Rounders England and hope I can help the development of the sport across the country.

“It’s a very exciting time for the sport with a great vision and lots of passion and commitment to see Rounders grow and I’m honoured to be part of turning that vision into a reality.”

Rounders England Chief Executive Alison Howard said: “We are thrilled to have someone of Richard’s legal experience and knowledge to join our organisation.

“His legal expertise and passion for sport will be a huge asset for the board of Rounders England and we are confident he will help us build on the enormous success we have achieved in recent years.”

If your dog loves treats and you were one of the four million people that watched the Great British Bake Off this week then you will love M&M’s Kitchen, a Lincoln bakery that’s a little bit different.

The online canine cake business, run by Rebecca Hodgins in Lincoln, creates ‘Doggie Birthday Cakes’ and already has 10 stockists around Lincolnshire, including recently opened Woof Diamonds.

The treats however aren’t to be confused with traditional birthday cakes, as these are for dogs only.

M&M’s Kitchen started out as a hobby, but soon enough the cakes grew in popularity within the city.

Big name companies such as Pets Pyjamas and Pets at Home became interested in supplying the unique cakes and eventually Rebecca launched her own business.

Prices start from simple cakes at £9.99 to £39.99 for cakes with two tiers. Cakes are made from peanut-butter sponge cake and Rebecca’s home made carob chocolate which is 100% dog safe.

Rebecca says she’s never made a traditional cake in her life, but that hasn’t stopped her from baking dog cakes for a living: “It all started with a trip to America”, she explained.

“I saw that most dog treats were human made and not mass produced like in the UK. I did dog treats for my friend in America and she told me to give it a go as a business. I did a basic dog cake first and the business went on from there.

“I’ve never baked a birthday cake in my life so I was really shocked at what I could do.

“I get really good feedback. People these days treat their dogs like kids so now there’s something you can get your dog for their birthday.”

The cakes at M&M Kitchen are 100% dog safe because of the unique ingredients used.

To meet the ideal dog diet, the cakes are gluten, dairy and sugar free. Rebecca claims no other dog baking company does this.

“At first people thought I was a little crazy but soon enough people are taken back by the unique look of the cakes.

“A few people have accidentally taken my free samples mistaking them for human treats. One woman even brought some because she liked the taste.”

Two employees at Andrew & Co in Lincoln have been promoted to become part of the firm’s fully qualified solicitors.

Paralegals Julie Hutchinson and Andrew Tinker have secured a training contract at Andrew & Co after working within the firm’s commercial teams.

They will now work in several departments at Andrew & Co to gain experience and improve knowledge, ready to qualify as solicitors in 18 months’ time.

Julie Bailey, Chairman at Andrew & Co, said: “Well done to Julie and Andrew who have been offered training contracts to advance their careers and become solicitors.

“Talent is the engine of future growth and at Andrew & Co and we have an active commitment to learning and development. We are always keen to enhance critical thinking and innovation and have a flexible attitude to change.”

Julie Hutchinson is a University of Leicester graduate, with a Graduate Diploma in Law at De Montfort Law School followed by the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School.

She said: “I have worked at Andrew & Co for just over two years as a paralegal and am delighted to have obtained a training contract with the firm. I am eagerly anticipating the new challenges and responsibility that comes with them.

“Having worked in the commercial property team during my time at Andrew & Co I am looking forward to gaining invaluable experience, especially in other commercial departments, in order to further my career as a successful solicitor.”

Meanwhile, Andrew studied Law at the University of Lincoln before completing the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School taking interest in civil litigation, employment and personal injury and conveyancing.

He said: “After 15 months as a paralegal in the Company Commercial team at Andrew & Co, I can’t wait to start my training contract with the firm. It will give me the opportunity to gain experience in a range of different areas of law, as well as hone the skills required to become a good solicitor.”

Over 140 potential scientists and engineers were welcomed to Lincoln’s first University Technical College on Monday, September 8, as they embarked on an industry-lead “education revolution”.

Students at the specialist school are between the ages of 14 and 18. They will have an education dedicated to science and engineering in partnership with the real world of business and industry.

As with many schools across Lincolnshire, Lincoln UTC’s year will be divided into six terms, but with a longer teaching day of 8.30am to 5pm and business-style dress code.

As part of a £7.5 million investment, up to 640 students will eventually move into the school’s extended Greestone Centre, which is due to be finished in July, 2015.

The first cohort of Lincoln UTC students were welcomed by staff and partnering business representatives at their initial home Chad Vara House, on Wordsworth Street – which is owned by the University of Lincoln.

Sponsors such as the University of Lincoln and Siemens Lincoln, and further education partner Lincoln College, will assist to provide unique working environments for the pupils and hands-on experience.

Other partners who were closely involved in the development of the UTC include Dynex, Eminox, Micrometric, British Sugar, Lindum and Bifrangi.

Lincoln UTC Principle, Dr Rona Mackenzie, said: “Next year we will be moving into the Greestone Centre. The site looks amazing.

“We are so lucky that we are able to use Chad Vara House. As it was used by the university there were already purpose built facilities such as science labs and engineering spaces.

“Today feels like every Christmas rolled into one. Even on Facebook and Twitter, the excited students have been posting pictures in their suits and it’s great to see.

“We have an expert team of staff here and it will be so important to these potential scientists and engineers that they are taught by experts in the field.

“There’s no entry criteria for the UTC. For me it’s all about passion. If they love maths and sciences and they’ve got a curiosity then that’s enough for me.

“It’s a very different way of learning and the transition may take a while for some of the students, but we will be there to support them.”

Vice Principle at the school, Andrew Wright, added: “The ethos and environment here starts with respect. Our staff will be treating students like adults.

“By working closely with leading companies, our students will be able to explore the applications of things, problem solving and leadership. The approach will make them very employable.”

While 13 other UTCs opened across the country on September 8, the school is one-of-a-kind for the county.

Dr Mackenzie said: “Lincolnshire is such a difficult county to travel across. While off the map it looks easy, it’s a real challenge. I have students arriving this morning after spending an hour and a half in a taxi. That’s a big commitment.

“It concerns me. The cost isn’t sustainable when we hit 640 students. We can’t fund transport after this first cohort and it will be difficult for those on the outer edges. We are looking to local travel companies for help.”

Professor Andrew Hunter, Head of the College of Science and Pro-Vice Chancellor from the University of Lincoln said: “The university is one of the key sponsors for the school. We have been involved in defining the curriculum and will continue to find extra education opportunities for the students.

“We have some wonderful facilities at the university and they will be available to the UTC students for special activities.

“The UTC is specially designed for students choosing an industry-led, technically-led education. The experience the students will gain here will be extremely attractive to further educational institutions or when it comes to applying for apprenticeships.”

Year 12 student at Lincoln UTC, Katie Brook, was one of the 140 pupils to arrive for her first day of lessons on September 8.

Katie said: “The school is so different and offered all the courses I wanted to do. The approach is more like a working day and I feel that was I can be more prepared for the industry.

“My parents have been really supportive and think it’s a good idea. I’m particularly looking forward to the computer science modules.”

Sponsors Siemens are providing training experience and valuable exposure to the industry.

Managing Director of Siemens Lincoln, Nick Muntz said: “If we can work together to create experienced young students then the whole industry in Lincoln changes.

“This is different for Lincoln and extremely exciting. It’s easy to think of 14 as being very young but I think actually these young people have a very strong idea about what they want to do.

“I think my introduction to the industry would have been a lot different if I had something like this. I think it’s tremendous.”

Graham Heatrick, Operations Manager at British Sugar in Newark, added: “These students will hit the ground running if there are successful in getting employment. Why haven’t we been doing this for years?

Lincoln business people will get to decide on the future of the city’s Business Improvement Group (BIG) when ballot papers go out later this month.

The papers will be sent from September 25 to people at more than 800 businesses who will have until November 4 to register their vote.

Lincoln Business Improvement Group has already won two successful elections in the past ten years and is now hoping it will get a mandate to continue its work on the development of the city centre economy.

The organisation recently celebrated the milestone of investing £10 million on city centre services, events and infrastructure and launched its plans if it successfully secures another five year term.

Those proposals included a team of tour guides ready to meet the crowds travelling to Lincoln for the Magna Carta celebrations, the development of the walk-and-ride service, and a strategy to develop the evening economy.

Lincoln BIG already undertakes a range of work on behalf of the city – including operating the city centre wardens and dealing with security incidents; organising events such as Lincoln in Bloom, the Christmas ice rink and various street markets and managing bus and car parking deals.

BIG also currently runs the Lincoln Visitor Information Centre, supports Visit Lincoln and hosts the VisitLincoln.com team.

In May this year the organisation successfully led a campaign to get new brown signs directing people to the city erected at two junctions of the A1.

In order to secure another five-year term Lincoln BIG must get, not only a majority of votes cast, but the positive votes must represent at least 50% of the rateable value of those businesses that vote.

The organisation is funded by a small levy applied to all business rates paid within the designated BIG area but it also applies for funding from a variety of external sources such as the government, European funding bodies, the Arts Council and the Lottery.

“I think we have done an excellent job of helping the growth of the Lincoln economy in the last decade but we know there is more work to be done,” said BIG chief executive Matt Corrigan.

“Of course we hope we will get the mandate to continue our efforts but, while I hope people will vote in our favour, I think it’s just important that people register a vote at all.

“Whatever people’s view we just want them to ensure they play a part in deciding on the fate of their city. It is really important that local businesses use their opportunity to have a say on the future of Lincoln.”

Lincoln BIG was created by businesses in Lincoln city centre, who voted to establish a Business Improvement District in April 2005.

Lincoln BIG is a not for profit business, registered as a company limited by guarantee, and is controlled by a board of directors drawn from stakeholders in the city centre.

A Lincoln Fish and Chips shop has been awarded the best in the region as it completes to win Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year at the 2015 National Fish & Chip Awards.

Burton Road Chippy is the top fish and chip shop in Lincolnshire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, moving them closer to the national heat of the competition.

Burton Road Chippy is now up against Grosvenor Fish Bar in Norwich, Norfolk to determine the overall winning shop for Eastern England.

As previously reported, Burton Road Chippy was competing against six other fish and chip shops in the region, including a chippy in Bourne.

The two remaining chip shops will be judged by an industry expert as they undergo unannounced visits and will be assessed on criteria such as product quality, sustainable sourcing policies, marketing initiatives and customer service.

The overall winner of the national award will be announced at a ceremony at The Lancaster London Hotel on January 20.

Every year, event organisers Seafish look for the best talent who are achieving the highest standards in the fish frying industry.

Paul Williams, Chief Executive of Seafish, said: “Seafish have organised the awards for the past 27 years with the aim of showcasing the very best, while setting increasingly high standards for the industry.

“I would like to offer up my congratulations to the shortlisted shops and wish them the best of luck as they battle for the regional winner title. The bar is constantly rising and I can’t wait to see the top fryers go head-to-head at this year’s awards ceremony.”

Lincoln’s city centre bowling alley, Superbowl, is now available on the market for sale or let.

The marketing of the 24,500 sq ft building near Valentine Retail Park off Tritton Road is being managed by Chartered Surveyors Banks Long & Co.

The current operators of the unit want the premises either to be sold or let, but it is unconfirmed what will happen to the Superbowl business if either is agreed.

Tom Strawson from Banks Long & Co said: “We are delighted to secure instructions to market one of the leading leisure opportunities within Lincoln and we will be working closely with our joint agents, Christie & Co, to try and obtain a favourable result going forward for our client.

“The building sits upon a two-and-a-half acres site and, being located immediately adjacent to Lincoln’s premier retail warehousing destination, the Valentine Retail Park — which is anchored by Asda Living, TK Maxx and Next — offers a substantial leisure operator a prime opportunity to take space in Lincoln.

“We have been instructed to either sell or let the property and hopefully look forward to making some exciting announcements in due course.”

The building originally accommodated Lincoln Odeon, before the cinema moved to its Brayford Pool site, then became the current Superbowl.

The property is also currently held on a 125-year long lease, granted on May 3, 1995. The ground rent payable under the lease is a peppercorn and the freehold interest is owned by the City of Lincoln Council.

Banks Long & Co also believes that demand for Tritton Road retail and leisure premises is currently high.

Last month, national retailers Oak Furniture Land and HomeSense both opened stores on Tritton Road.

As the final stages of the £9 million Waterside Shopping Centre redevelopment plan near completion, Lincoln shoppers are celebrating the return of Next to the city centre.

The new Next store, which created 32 new jobs in the city centre, opened at 10am on Thursday, September 11.

In order to celebrate the opening, the first 100 customers at the store were given ‘golden tickets’ and the chance to win a £100 Next gift voucher to spend in store.

The last time the Next brand was on Lincoln High Street was two years ago, in the building now occupied by River Island.

In the time between, the nearest Next store was in Valentine Retail Park on Tritton Road – which will continue to operate.

The new store at the shopping centre is spread over two floors on the upper floor level and will offer ranges of womenswear, menswear, accessories, homewear and kids clothing.

Roy Greening, General Manager for Waterside Shopping, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Next into the centre and back onto Lincoln’s high street! There’s been a great reception from our shoppers!

“The final step of our redevelopment will be the installation of our new external signage at our High Street and Waterside entrances which is due for installation toward the end of September.

“Once in place, our multi-million pound refurbishment will be complete, with a few more retailers still to make their way to Waterside.”