2014 has been a busy year for the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and one which has been marked by some considerable successes as we strive to make Greater Lincolnshire a more prosperous and sustainable place.

We have been working hard to attract maximum funding to the area, and I’m pleased to say that we are seeing the delivery of some significant LEP projects.

The highlight of the year was our negotiation with central Government of a major Growth Deal which is bringing £67.5 million of new money into Greater Lincolnshire. At the same time we gained approval for four Growing Places Loans worth £9.5 million to local organisations to enable stalled developments to go ahead.

It has also been a crucial year for developing our strategic plans. We launched our Strategic Economic Plan and our European Strategy in 2014 and we have been developing individual plans for our key sectors, including agri-food, the visitor economy, health and care and manufacturing.

We also conducted a wide-reaching employer survey to inform these plans, and the results proved very interesting. Over the next year 27% of all Greater Lincolnshire employers expect to increase their number of staff (compared with just 3% who don’t), while two-thirds of employers in Greater Lincolnshire anticipate an increase in turnover and/or profitability over the next 12 months.

However, the survey also highlighted some challenges with which we are already familiar: 86% of employers agreed that having access to superfast broadband is important for their business, while 30% of employers in Greater Lincolnshire cited poor transport infrastructure as an obstacle to growth.

These challenges are being addressed in our long-term Strategic Economic Plan for the area, which takes us up to 2030. Our key priorities are a long-term commitment to infrastructure investment; growing and upskilling our current and future workforce; increasing innovation by growing our research capacity and performance through business-led initiatives; and better promotion of Greater Lincolnshire as a place to invest, work and live.

By the end of the plan we aim to help create 13,000 new jobs, support 22,000 businesses and increase the value of the Greater Lincolnshire economy by £3.2 billion.

2014 has been dominated, however, by the Growth Deal we secured from central government: £111.2 million for Greater Lincolnshire over two years, £67.3 million of which is new money, supporting a balance of infrastructure, housing, skills and enterprise schemes.
A total of £39.8m has been committed for six major projects and a further £27.5m is earmarked for six more projects next year.

The first tranche of projects are the Grantham Southern Relief Road (£16m), Boston Quadrant (£4.75m), Boole Technology Centre, Lincoln (£3.38m), Unlocking Rural Housing, Boston and East Lindsey (£4.13m), Bishop Burton College (£7.5m) and the Skegness Countryside Business Park and western relief road (£4m).

Growth Deals are a new competitive process which requires LEPs to bid against each other for funds. They give us strategic decision-making authority for the first time and allow us to focus the spend where it will have the greatest benefit for our area. Greater Lincolnshire did very well out of this process in 2014 and we are currently preparing for the second round of Growth Deals.

However, Growth Deals are not the only funding available to develop projects: the European Regional Development Fund supports specific themes, many of which are important and relevant to our growth including innovation, SME competitiveness, low-carbon projects and climate change, while the European Social Fund looks to support the promotion of employment, work readiness and investing in education. We have been successful in attracting funds from these sources too.

While all this has been going on the Greater Lincolnshire LEP has also made changes of its own to enable us to do the best possible job on behalf of the area. In September we became Greater Lincolnshire LEP Limited, a company limited by guarantee. As a result of this change the LEP’s board is able to make more effective, transparent decisions and access more government funding for various projects than it could as an unincorporated partnership.

We were really pleased with the response to our annual LEP Business Live event in October, which is now firmly established in the county’s business calendar. Over 300 business people attended the event which featured an informative talk by Simon Calver, former CEO of LoveFilm, and an opportunity to put questions to members of the LEP board.

I am proud to be Chair of what I think is one of the country’s most successful LEPs and I am heartened by the response and impact our actions have had already. We are not a bureaucratic body but a voice for our area, working with government to find solutions that best benefit your needs. We welcome your support and look forward to another successful year in 2015.

The Forum Pharmacy in North Hykeham has become the latest in the Lincolnshire Co-op chain to get a healthy living upgrade.

The refit includes new signage inside and out, a new consultation room and a larger dispensary.

Pharmacy Manager Obiad Khan said: “These changes will mean that there will be more room for the extra services we offer – we’d like to encourage people in the community to make a New Year’s Resolution to take advantage of a free health check.

“A lot of people make the choice to detox in January and pharmacists are qualified to give advice on a whole range of things, including healthy diet, alcohol consumption and giving up smoking.”

All 48 Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacies offer free health checks including blood pressure, BMI and lung age, as well as providing the New Medicine Service and Medicine Use Reviews.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar added: “Our Healthy Living pharmacies give the pharmacists and pharmacy advisors who work there a better environment in which to provide the wealth of information and services we offer to patients.

“In particular, the new consultation room at Forum Pharmacy will double the space available for customers to speak privately to a pharmacist for advice on a range of issues.”

Now that 2015 has arrived, many of us are tentatively jotting down resolutions for the new year. Along with personal goals such as doing more star-jumps and watching less Reality TV, you might want to set some marketing goals for your business that you’ll actually enjoy sticking to. Here are some tips to get you started.

Be clear

Before you make new goals, you’ll need to review what did and didn’t work in 2014. For this, you’ll need clarity of mind, especially after those Christmas excesses! Try an app like Unstuck to help disperse the brain-fog.

Be SMART

Make sure that the goals you set for 2015 are SMART

• Specific (Who, What, Where, When, Why?)
• Measurable (How much or how many?)
• Achievable (How will it be implemented and what resources will you need?)
• Realistic (Are you willing and able?)
• Time-Bound (Today, next week, next month?)

Be more sociable

If your marketing doesn’t involve social media, now is the time to get cracking. It’s free, and great for engaging with customers and creating a personality for your business or brand. Social media advertising can be cost effective and highly targeted. On Facebook, you can target users based on their gender, location, occupation, and interests. Paying attention to your responses will tell you who your customer base actually is and what their habits are.

Spruce up your writing style

Think about your audience when writing. It’s not just about relaying information. You should have a consistent tone of voice that ties in with your brand. If you need support with grammar or writing style, try the Grammar Up or Hemingway apps.

Brainstorm

If you’re stuck in a rut, a creative session can throw new ideas into the mix. See here for some tips. Delegate if you need to. Ask a colleague for help if you are not confident with marketing – or reach out to a specialist agency.

Work with the calendar

Plan your marketing activity around major annual events, holidays, anniversaries and anything that will be important to your customers. Leave yourself enough time to decide what you would like to do.

Tell a story

Your favourite brands don’t always promote their products and services in a literal way. The recent Christmas TV ads were a good example of this. Yes, some promotions are based on special offers and BOGOFs. But many more are about communicating the core values of a company, and what kind of experience you will have if you spend time/money with them. Your ‘story’ is what sets you apart from the competition.

Think visually

The popularity of Instagram, Vine and Pinterest is proof that a picture is worth a thousand words. Fortunately, creating your own visuals for online marketing is getting easier, with many simple programs and apps available to help you. Sometimes low-tech imagery works better on social media because it’s easier to relate to. Leading with a visual is a way of saying something quickly and effectively, whilst still leaving room for interpretation.

Remember quality

Marketing success is not always measured in website visits and Twitter followers. Content marketing can inspire brand loyalty and result in repeat business. Think about producing a free guide, download or video containing tips and advice. A regular blog with expert commentary will encourage longer website visits. It will also help improve your search engine listings.

Be a good guest

If you want to position yourself as an industry expert, writing an article for an established website will help. You will be sharing your thoughts with a larger audience, and also borrowing some prestige from the site. Again, this can improve your SEO, especially if you share the finished product on your own networks.

What are your marketing resolutions for 2015? Tweet me at @WeAreLava

A move for a Lincoln homeless charity will help more people off the streets.

The Nomad Trust have recently bought an industrial unit in Monks Way to allow the charity to combine several parts of the operation under one roof.

They had to move to the new location from Monks Road as they started to receive an increase in donations including furniture and the old store was not big enough to accommodate it.

Chartered Surveyors Banks Long & Co helped The Nomad Trust to acquire the new premises.

The new premises will run in conjunction with their existing store on Sincil Street which was launched in February 2014.

Retail Manager Sheena Temple said: “I think the increase in donations is due to the fact that people are continually buying new pieces of furniture, but are reluctant to take their old stuff to the tip, particularly when it is still good enough to be used by someone else. So we merged these two former outlets.”

“We provide essential items of furniture free of charge to individuals moving out of the night shelter, hostel or move-on accommodation. Items sold in our shop are reasonably priced and affordable to those on reduced incomes. With our new warehouse, we also have space to restore some items of furniture which can then be sold to help us to raise more funds for our work.”

The trust is now part of the Lincolnshire YMCA with its own 21-bed night shelter for the homeless on Monks Road. Some of the people who use the facility can then move on to the 64-bed YMCA Hostel on Rumblod Street with the aim to be able to find their own accommodation and get back on their feet.

Legal highs supplies have been squashed in Lincoln with the closure of a High Street shop – a move which comes after Lincolnshire topped the list of recorded incidents in the country.

The owner of Marley’s Head Shop in Lincoln, which sells New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) – better know as ‘legal highs’ – has closed the premises permanently.

The business has faced growing pressure from local councils and agencies. In June 2014, a number of products were seized by Lincolnshire Police after raids.

Lincolnshire Trading Standards and Lincolnshire Police have welcomed the decision and they have been working to raise awareness of the dangers of the drugs with partners including East Midlands Ambulance Service, Addaction services, Drugs and Alcohol Recovery Team and the Oasis Partnership.

Spt Mark Housley, County Officer for Public Protection, said: “Here in Lincolnshire we are taking a very proactive approach towards tackling legal highs, identifying where they are being sold, who may be using them and young people and adults who may be at risk.”

The City of Lincoln Council is supporting a move to ban the use of legal highs in the city centre – the first ban on its kind in the country.

Sam Barstow, Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour Service Manager, said: “We have been working closely with partners to try to tackle emerging issues with ‘legal highs’.

“The first step in order to tackle something of this nature is to understand the real extent of the problem and agencies have been working hard to identify issues that are linked and ensure that these are recorded in a consistent way.

“We have also been encouraging members of the public and partners to report these issues directly to the police so that we are in a more informed position and better equipped to take whatever action is available.”

MP for Lincoln Karl McCartney added: “My understanding is that the owner has assured Lincolnshire Police that he will not be re-opening anywhere else and he has ceased selling the products.

“The permanent closure of Marley’s is brilliant news. We must continue to keep the pressure up on the pushers and sellers of these so-called ‘legal highs’ which can actually kill, especially young people.”

Marley’s Head Shop were not available to comment on the closure of the shop.

Most incidents of ‘legal highs’ in the country

According to statistics collected by independent think tank The Centre for Social Justice, the number of police incidents referencing ‘legal highs’ in Lincolnshire was higher than any other force in the country.

Responses were obtained through a Freedom of Information request asking: For each of the last most recent four years for which figures are available, how many incidents have been recorded where the term ‘legal high’ has been logged?

The CSJ also conducted analysis which suggested the number of people in treatment for taking ‘legal highs’ rose by 216% in England in the last five years.

Lincolnshire Police’s Inspector Pat Coates said: “Lincolnshire, like many other counties in the country, has seen a rise in the use and sale of substances that are commonly known as ‘legal highs’.

“They can be easily available on the high street and often carry very few warnings and very little information about the effects they can have physically and mentally.

“They are untested and it is not yet known the full effect that taking them can have. Taking anything that is untested is risky, at best, and at worst can prove to have long-lasting ill effects.

“Legal highs are dangerous and can put pressure on already-stretched emergency services who find themselves responding to more incidents related to the use and sale of legal highs.

“Lincolnshire Police will continue to work with partner agencies, including colleagues in the health service, County Council and City Council to tackle the use and sale of legal highs in our county.”

Some 25 employees have been made redundant from Lincoln’s City Link branch and the office has now been closed.

An announcement on December 31 saw 22 people made redundant after the initial announcement before Christmas that the delivery company had gone into administration.

A further communication this week has confirmed that the remaining three people left in the Lincoln office have also now been made redundant and the office has been closed as of January 7.

This is part of the Joint Administrators of City Link Limited announcement of a further 230 redundancies throughout the company and across the country.

In total, 51 City Link depots will be closed for good as of January 15.

The employees who have been affected by this have been made aware and will be paid any overtime that was obtained in December 2014, a long with the time that they have worked in January on the company’s usual January pay date.

Hunter Kelly, Joint Administrator of City Link Limited, said: “It is with regret that we announce further redundancies at City Link Limited, which will take effect over the coming days as the Company’s remaining UK depot operations close.

“Having returned a large volume of parcels to City Link Limited’s customers and recipients over recent days, it is no longer viable to continue operating these depots and a phased plan to close them has begun.”

Lincoln-based developers Taylor Lindsey have announced new plans to expand on the existing Teal Park with a new 26,700 sq ft industrial/warehouse scheme.

Taylor Lindsey have been working with the Lincolnshire County Council and Hodgson Elkington in the marketing of Teal Park, which is located to the south-west of Lincoln.

Once the planning application has been approved, the developers expect construction to start in spring with an expected completion by the autumn.

Dan Race, Partner at Hodgson Elkington, said: “The new scheme will offer units from 2,600 to 12,500 sq ft. This is a sector of the market where we are currently seeing strong demand and we therefore expect to secure early interest”.

“We have strong interest in further developments at Teal Park including larger commercial occupiers and leisure interest for the main road frontage.

“We look forward to this planning application being approved swiftly so that development of this important scheme can progress”.

Jill McCarthy, Business Investment Manager, said: “Teal Park is a very important employment site for central Lincolnshire and we are very pleased to see plans for a speculative development on this scale.

“We fully expect this will catalyse further interest and development on Teal Park”.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds has been earmarked in order to give an old Lincoln High Street shopping complex a new life, with a restaurant or entertainment venue.

Property specialist Banks Long & Co has acquired The Mall in the city’s upper High Street for county developer M F Strawson Ltd — after the opportunity cropped-up at a London auction.

A proposal will go before City of Lincoln Council planners in February to remodel what the developer describes as a ‘dated’ retail complex, which is home to a handful of small enterprises.

Plans propose that the retail units are replaced with a new restaurant or entertainment venue.

Around half of the units within The Mall are currently occupied, and Banks Long & Co say they have visited all the tenants and told them about the change of ownership and M F Strawson’s future plans.

At this stage, the developer is unable to say how many new jobs the new business could create.

Banks Long & Co Managing Director Tim Bradford said: “My client believes the timing is right. 2015 promises to be a milestone year for Lincoln. Thousands of extra visitors are expected to flock to Lincoln Castle, which has been enhanced by a £22 million investment.

“This year also sees the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and there are the unveiling of the Lincoln Tank and Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorials to look forward to.

“We spotted this opportunity and bought the centre because we realised there was great potential to redevelop it, either as a retail or food and drink venue.

“We feel that it no longer works efficiently in its current format, and naturally we have now met with the tenants and explained the situation. We will do all we can to identify alternative accommodation for the existing businesses.

“We want to transform The Mall and create a quality food and drink venue, which complements the other businesses in this part of the city and, in the process, boosts the choice of daytime and evening leisure facilities on offer in Lincoln.

“Provided everything goes to plan, we are hoping the redevelopment of The Mall will get underway, allowing the resulting venue to open its doors in the Autumn.”

Plans for a £25 million transport hub in the centre of Lincoln have been revealed, including a new bus and train station, a 1,000 space car park and new pedestrian footbridges.

The scheme would be led by the City of Lincoln Council in partnership with Lincolnshire Co-op and Network Rail, working with East Midlands Trains and Lincolnshire County Council.

Subject to planning consent and the acquirement of extra funding, work is planned to start on the site in September 2016 and be constructed within two and a half years.

The project would involve demolishing the existing outdated bus station and building a new fit-for-purpose facility next to the train station – also earmarked for upgrades.

The bus station is currently used by 30,000 people per day and around 7 million a year.

Both the pedestrian footbridge and platform footbridge over the railway would also be demolished, to be replaced by a dual function footbridge between Tentercroft Street and St Mary’s Street.

The footbridges would provide connections onto the railway station platforms, access to the new bus station and improving links between the north and south of the city centre.

A new multi-storey car park – with space for 1,000 vehicles and pay on exit facilities – would be built on the site of the current bus station, supporting the hub and the high street.

There will be additional benefits for cyclists, including cycle spaces and lanes.

The city council say 30% of the construction costs and 20% of the labour would be from within 10 miles of Lincoln.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the city council, said: “This is a huge scheme that would bring equally huge benefits to all who live and work in Lincoln, and importantly to those who visit the city and invest in it as well.

“As a council we want to ensure the vitality of our city centre. A transport interchange in the heart of the city, serving residents, businesses and visitors, will not only regenerate the area but is key to achieving the growth the city needs.”

Kate Ellis, Assistant Director for Planning and Regeneration at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “Once Lincoln has a new fit-for-purpose bus station that people actually feel safe using then I think we’ll see more busses put on and more evening services.

“We’re also looking at the design of the bus station to make it easier for people to know where the hub is.

“When we do get more direct trains and improved services both to Nottingham and to London that passenger increase will gradually start to feed through.”

MP for Lincoln Karl McCartney added: “It is, of course, also a priority that we do all we can to improve our transport system so that we continue to encourage more visitors to Lincoln and the money they bring with them that supports our local shops, tourist attractions and jobs.

“It is a pity this was not done ahead of the Magna Carta’s 800th Anniversary celebrations this year, but I am continuing to work to bring together representatives of organisations and businesses to seek to enhance and facilitate improvements to our city and its hinterland.”

Funding the first phase

On January 19 City of Lincoln Council’s Executive will be asked to support the development of the scheme by committing a further £760,470 of capital funds to allow a planning application to be submitted.

If the additional funding is agreed by the Executive it will bring the total committed to the project to £1.3 million.

This will be followed by a four-week public consultation from January 26, during which the city council is asking for feedback and hosting drop-in sessions.

In early 2014, the project received £11 million indicative funding through the Single Local Growth Fund from the Department for Transport, from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The remainder of the funding would come from other project partners.

Angela Andrews, acting chief executive sponsoring the project from the corporate management team: “This is a huge project for the city council both financially and organisationally.

“As yet we haven’t contracted for the pricing for this so we have estimated around £25 million for all the elements of this scheme.

“There will be some public funds going into the project potentially from ourselves and the county council but the private and the LEP funding.

“The four-week public consultation starts on January 26 so the public and others of the existing bus station and rail users will be able to influence what they think it should be.”

Disruption expected

The city council say there would be some disruption during the construction of the different elements of the scheme and commuters, residents and visitors will be made aware of possible road closures.

The existing bus station will continue to operate as normal while construction is ongoing and bus services will not be affected.

Similarly, the train station will continue to operate but there will be disruptions to services once the footbridges are underway.

There would be some loss of car parking spaces at Thornbridge roof top car park, above the bus station, until the new multi-storey is built.

Kate Ellis added: “We have to do the bus station first on the site that’s used by Network Rail for its operation and its customer car park. Those using the train station will park at the Tentercroft Street car park.

“Once that’s up and capable of being operated then that enables us to demolish the existing station to make way for the multi-storey car park. The new footbridges will also be completed in the early stages.

“Highway improvements will be put in alongside the development of the bus station. There is bound to be disruption but because by this time the East West Link Road will be completed it means people will have an alternative route.”

Lincoln-based Turbine Efficiency is getting a multi-million pound investment to expand its premises and create jobs.

An additional unit will be added onto its current site in Witham St Hughs, south Lincoln, later this year.

The multi-award winning company which specialises in the maintenance, service and overhaul of gas turbines and associated equipment currently has 60 staff across two sites and is looking to increase this by 20% over the next year.

The building will be ready for the company to stretch into about mid-year, expanding its current space by 20,000 sq ft.

The move comes after the Clydesdale Bank agreed to provide multi-million pound investment funding to support the firm’s continued expansion.

The business was established in Lincoln by Alan Hawkins in 2000 and specialises in the maintenance, service and overhaul of gas turbines and associated equipment

CEO Alan Hawkins said: “Our success is driven by a holistic approach to the power needs of our customers and our impeccable track record in supporting them on an international basis.”

David Burgess, Business Development Manager at Clydesdale Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Lincoln, added: “As the economic outlook continues to improve, Clydesdale Bank remains focused on supporting the growth ambitions of businesses in Lincoln.”

Local man Adam Fleming’s documentary about a day in The Mall shopping centre in Lincoln gives a behind-the-scenes glance at the community of independents based there – although the future of the arcade is now unclear.

As previously reported, The Mall on Lincoln High Street is earmarked for a redevelopment worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

It could become a restaurant or entertainment venue under the proposed plans by local developer M F Strawson Ltd.

Lincoln-based architecture, sport and leisure firm LK2 is signing off from its latest county project – a £6 million sports centre and stadium in Stamford.

LK2, the consultancy firm behind the regeneration of the Lincoln Waterside Shopping Centre, completed the project for Stamford AFC and partners New College Stamford and Burghley House Preservation Trust (BHPT).

The stadium is the largest FA single funded project outside of National Centre.

LK2 undertook a detailed study to assess potential grant aid the project could receive, in line with the strategic aims and objectives of the Football Association & Sport England.

The company and partners achieved the maximum grant aid and secured around £3 million of partnership funding towards the delivery of the scheme.

The finished community centre includes badminton courts, sport science facilities, multi-functional teaching rooms, function room, management suits, physic and a fitness suit among other facilities.

Paul Starbuck, director at LK2, said: “Over the course of this project we worked tirelessly to ensure all three partners benefited as much as possible.

“All the organisations involved have received political, cultural and financial benefits – alongside a future-proof business plan we have tailored for them, placing them in a great position moving forward.”

Ian Evley, Stamford Football Development Centre chairman, said: “The facilities have enabled us to improve the quality and frequency of the sessions we put on, and there is the potential for young footballers here to go on and achieve great things.”

Businessman Jon Thornes wears many hats, but it doesn’t take much to work out the common denominator that links them all. “I enjoy making money, but I am even more passionate about seeing other people make money. Making money helps people in Lincolnshire to survive and prosper and it also boosts the local economy. I get a real buzz when I see people succeeding.”

This feature interview was first published in issue 11 of the Lincolnshire Business weekly magazine, now available to read at www.lincsbusiness.co. Subscribe to the email newsletter to receive the latest edition in your inbox this Friday.

Turning to all those different hats – Jon is the well-known founder of the successful business Cool Milk at School, which he started sixteen years ago and he is also interim chair the national organisation The School & Nursery Milk Alliance.

He set up J T Consultants more than five years ago and loves to encourage entrepreneurs and growing businesses to aim high, providing supercharging finance to those which show great promise.

Jon is also the brains behind Langworth Resources Ltd – a multi-faceted business, which provides a range of support services to all his businesses interests. Jon employs 100 people across his businesses in Lincoln and Langworth. Awarded an MBE in 2010, Jon thrives on keeping himself busy and as up-to-date as possible.

On the milk front, he is keen to see UK farmers and dairies become more sustainable and profitable and every child in the EU given the opportunity to drink milk every day.

Jon did Cranfield University’s Business Growth Programme in 2006 and he continues to maintain his relationship with Cranfield – carrying out mentoring sessions and also signposting his clients to that establishment.

He is passionate about getting involved with aspirational, new age businesses and helping them to reach for the stars, by providing injections of cash for those ambitious to succeed.

However, getting that important “Yes” and a congratulatory handshake from Jon is not a walk in the park. Entrepreneurs looking for help should make sure they are well prepared for a bit of a grilling!

“I have always loved helping people. When you have your nose to the grind in your business you have to use your energy to move it forward. Luckily, I have a great band of people behind me, so I can put my energy to use, to help others elsewhere.”

Tracking down businesses which are worthy of support is quite an art, but one member of Jon’s team is known as “The Spotter” and she talks to people working with budding entrepreneurs at Bishop Grosseteste University, Sparkhouse Studios on the University of Lincoln campus, Lincolnshire Investment Network and other organisations, to identify people who might benefit from Jon’s help.

Continue reading the full interview in Issue 8 of the Lincolnshire Business magazine.

Over 2000 work-related injuries and illnesses were recorded in Lincoln last year by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) watchdog, while Lincolnshire as a whole marked a reduction in deaths and injuries in the workplace.

The death, injury and ill health figures released on January 14 for every local authority area show that two people lost their lives while at work across Lincolnshire in 2013/14 and 1,252 suffered injury.

Some 193 injuries to workers were recorded in Lincoln for the 2013/14 period, and the watchdog marked 1,900 work-related illnesses.

That compares to two deaths and 1,286 injuries in Lincolnshire the previous year.

HSE also estimated that 14,100 people have been made ill through their work in Lincolnshire in 2013/14.

The statistics for each local authorities in Lincolnshire were:

The statistics were gathered through Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, which revealed 133 deaths and more than 79,500 injuries at work nationally.

In the years since its inception in 1975 HSE has noted a reduction in health and safety issues. In 1974/75 a total of 651 employees alone were killed, without including self-employed workers.

The latest figures show that those involved in construction, manufacturing and waste and recycling are most at risk, with agriculture another industry where sustained improvement is needed.

Areas of particular concern include falls from height; work on machinery that is poorly maintained and guarded; and failing to properly manage workplace transport.

Samantha Peace, HSE Regional Director for the East Midlands said: “The families of the workers in Lincolnshire who sadly lost their lives last year have just had to spend the festive period without their loved ones, while thousands of other workers were made ill through their work or had their lives changed forever by a major injury.

“Workplace conditions have improved dramatically in the past four decades, but as employers plan and prepare for the new financial year they need to ensure that health, safety and welfare is a clear focus.”

HSE Chair, Judith Hackitt, added: “Thousands of serious injuries have been prevented and work-related deaths have reduced by 85 per cent.

“For the last eight years we have consistently recorded one of the lowest rates of fatal injuries to workers among the leading industrial nations in Europe. However, in HSE’s 40th year it is right that we acknowledge the progress we’ve made and look to a future of striving to bring down these statistics even further.”

A new two-storey restaurant development, valued at around £1 million, has been proposed for the Brayford waterfront area of Lincoln.

Lincoln-based Stem Architects, on behalf of applicants Investors in Lincoln, have set out initial plans for the 529 sq metre building in powder coated aluminium with glass balustrades.

Part of the building will be on stilts and the structure will be similar in appearance to the Wagamama restaurant which opened in 2012 – also designed by Stem

The site is presently occupied by a small viewing platform and developers say the structure is unsafe and in need of replacement.

The plans will go before the City of Lincoln Council in February, after which planners will put construction works out to tender.

Investors in Lincoln say the project, which would see the building leased to a well-known restaurant chain (yet to be decided),  is hoped to be completed within a year.

Investors in Lincoln Chief Executive David Rossington, who is also the director of The Brayford Trust, said:

“There is so much more retail interest in Lincoln than there was years ago. The Brayford is a jewel on Lincoln’s crown but it needs a lot of polishing.

“The development will create jobs both during the construction phase and also on completion. The Wagamama restaurant created around 30 local jobs and I see this project having a similar result.

“Another aim of the project is to provide secure income for the Brayford Trust from the rental of the building. The trust has no source of income other than the rental of the moorings. About a third of the moorings need renewing so we need to do all we can to fund the upkeep of the Brayford.”

The Brayford Trust which oversees restoration and development of the waterfront area, previously set out its vision for the future that involves creating a circular route around the perimeter of the pool.

David added: “We have aspirations of two new footbridges to improve pedestrian access around Brayford Wharf. We are still looking at this but would however need to rely on grant funding or private investment.”

Objections

The plans have so far been met with some local objections, including representations from the West End Residents Association.

Sandra Lewis said: “We are of course aware that the Wagamama restaurant has set out a precedent of sorts for this type of development but this was only a replacement for an existing building (Harbour Master’s Offices).

“We feel strongly that any further encroachment onto the view across the Brayford should be strongly restricted as if this application is approved then it could open the door to further similar ones.

“We do feel that there are sufficient restaurants already along that area of the Brayford.”

Commercial property estate agent Hodgson Elkington LLP has completed the sale of Lincoln student accommodation block Saul House for around £3.67 million.

This story was first reported in Issue 12 of Lincolnshire Business Magazine. Read the full publication online now.

The block of flats was constructed in 2013 and lies within 100 metres of the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Pool campus.

It comprises 69-ensuite student bedrooms arranged in 3-bed clusters with shared kitchens and laundry facilities. The property was fully let in its first year of operation.

Acting on behalf of the developer, a joint venture between Westleigh Developments Ltd and Derwent Living, Hodgson Elkington negotiated a sale of the investment to local student accommodation provider APS Properties.

The property was sold for an undisclosed sum, close to the guide price of £3.67 million, which reflected a net initial yield of 7.0%.

Tim Murgatroyd, Consultant at Hodgson Elkington said: “Reaching 100% occupancy in its first year of operation demonstrates the success of this distinctive construction project. After interest was shown from regional and national investors it is pleasing that APS, a Lincoln business specialising in this sector, was the eventual purchaser.”

The University of Lincoln’s new addition to the Brayford Pool campus, a science, maths and engineering building, will enter its first construction phase before the end of the month.

The Isaac Newton Building, which has been given a construction value of £15 million, is being created to support the university’s growth in engineering, computer science, mathematics and physics.

The building is named after Sir Isaac Newton, the great mathematician and physicist, who lived in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth near Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Work is due to start in late January 2015 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The first phase of the development will be an eastward extension of the current Engineering Hub, creating more space for the university and Siemens.

In the summer construction will start on the second, larger phase of the building. This will be located to the south of the existing building and will take around 18 months to complete.

The building will include new teaching space, specialist workshops and laboratories, offices and research equipment.

There are also plans for a 500-seat lecture theatre – the largest lecture theatre on campus – and a new catering outlet.

The proposed building is expected to be 4 storeys tall with an overall internal area of approximately 7,000 square metres – triple the size (by floorspace) of the current Engineering Hub.

The site of the extended building is currently used for staff car parking.

Professor Andrew Hunter, Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Science at the University of Lincoln, said: “The Isaac Newton Building will be a superb new facility for students, staff and industrial partners.

“By bringing together under one roof the related disciplines of engineering, computer science, mathematics and physics, we will create an environment where cross-disciplinary ideas can flourish.”

Ambitious masterplan

The Isaac Newton Building signals the next phase of the university’s Brayford Campus Masterplan which will see more than £100m invested over the next decade.

A University of Lincoln spokesperson said: “The University has made an application to the European Investment Bank, a significant co-funder of capital projects in the UK higher education sector. This bid forms the next major phase of our ongoing strategy for investment, in line with the vision set out in our Campus Masterplan.

“Our aim is to invest more than £100m in creating world class facilities which will enable us to extend our research activities, develop new teaching practices and, most importantly, continue to deliver a top quality student experience.”

Ongoing investment

Work on site marks another significant step in the University of Lincoln’s ongoing investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subject areas.

In September 2014 it opened the new Joseph Banks Laboratories at the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park – a multi-million pound partnership with Lincolnshire Co-op.

The University has also announced plans for the Boole Technology Centre which will provide high quality commercial accommodation for science and technology businesses at the science park.

Funding has been secured through the government’s Growth Deal via the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

The Lincoln School of Engineering, established in 2009 in collaboration with Siemens plc, was the first facility of its kind to be created in the UK for more than two decades.

It was supported with funding from the European Regional Development Fund and other sources.

The School of Mathematics and Physics was established in 2014 with the aid of £6.8m of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The University of Lincoln was awarded a further £5m by HEFCE as part of a national £200m programme of investment in STEM teaching capital projects announced in December 2014.

The topic of freedom of speech has dominated the media recently, but what are the implications when it comes to marketing?

There are many regulations and several laws governing how companies and individuals can promote themselves.

Advertising

With regards to advertising, the law says that you must give an accurate description of your product and that your advertising must be legal, decent, truthful, honest and socially responsible.

So, how do you ensure your advert is legal? First of all, don’t lie, miss out any vital information or be aggressive in your advertising.

You need to be crystal clear about pricing too. If you quote a price that excludes VAT, then this needs to be clear. You also need to make sure you can prove any claims you make with solid evidence.

If you say something is the best, then make sure you can qualify your claim. This is why you see all the small print at the bottom of adverts promoting beauty products. (You know, the bit where it says the product was tested on 20 ladies and 17 said it was amazing.)

Talking of beauty products, that industry is covered by specific set regulations as are adverts aimed at children or promoting food, alcohol, environmentally friendly products, medicines, political parties and tobacco.

If you’re unsure about what the law says then you should read the Committee of Advertising Practice code, which covers non-broadcast advertising (eg print, online), sales promotion and direct marketing. TV and radio adverts are governed by Ofcom’s broadcast rules.

If you are advertising to consumers then you should also read the consumer protection from unfair trading regulations.

Advertising to businesses? Don’t feature a competitors’ logo or trademark; don’t compare your product with a competing one that isn’t the same and don’t make any misleading comparisons between the two. You can find a wealth of information in within Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations

Data Protection

Don’t’ forget if you’re gathering, storing or using information about potential or current customers then there’s also data protection to consider and this applies not just to printed direct mail but also email marketing.

Direct Marketing

If you’re sending promotional faxes to individuals, then you’ll need their permission to do so before sending the fax. Using telemarketing, make sure the people you’re contacting haven’t registered with the Telephone Preference Service. If they have, then phoning them is illegal and could result in a £5,000 fine.

For traditional, posted, direct mail, make sure your mailing list doesn’t include people who’ve registered with the Mail Preference Service.

Email marketing and text messages

I suspect you get lots of unsolicited emails every day but you shouldn’t. Companies are only allowed to send marketing emails to people if they have permission to do so. If you’re using email marketing and have a bought a list from a data company, then check you have the right to use it for email marketing and make sure that in every email you send, you tell people who you are, that you’re selling and if you’re including a promotion, make sure the conditions are easily available.

PR Activity

Promoting yourself by sending out press releases? Then you still need to make sure you’re legal.

Avoid saying anything that’s misleading. Just like advertising, don’t say anything you cannot substantiate. Journalists won’t believe you’re the best without proof. That’s why many companies describe themselves as ‘the leading’, whatever that means.

You also need be aware of The Defamation Act 2013.

There are several definitions of defamation of character. One widely used definition is: “A statement which tends to lower the claimant in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally, and in particular cause him to be regarded with feeling of hatred, contempt, ridicule, fear or disesteem.”

The Act requires the claimant to show how exactly they have suffered serious harm or are likely to suffer serious harm as a result of the statement. Whether the statement will be considered libel or slander, depends on how the statement was made.

If it was said or is in a ‘transitory’ form then it will be considered slander, unless it was broadcast on television, radio or made in a public performance of a play.

A statement will be libellous, if it has been has been published; seen by a third party; and be easy for readers to identify the claimant even if it does not explicitly state his or her name.

Online And Social Media

Using Facebook and Twitter to promote your business? Blogging? Then remember, once you’ve published something online you, as the author are legally responsible for the content. That means you need to make sure you can substantiate your claims, that you’re not slandering someone or infringing copyright – do you have permission to use all of the images on your website?

And don’t forget the internet is global. Publishing on the worldwide web means the content can be challenged in other countries, and the laws governing defamation do vary from country to country.

Be Transparent

When it comes to Twitter and Facebook, transparency is essential. Don’t create content that appears to come from other people. Don’t involve celebrities or pay others to post nice things about you. What is and is not allowable in social media marketing is a grey area, so I’d recommend airing on the side of caution as anything promotional that’s posted on social media needs to comply with the Committee of Advertising Code.

As you can see there are many factors and areas of the law that cover marketing activity, hopefully this short overview will help you stay within the boundaries of what is acceptable. And, if you’re unsure, remember this simple saying – “if in doubt, leave it out’.

Three mobile phone customers in Lincoln and the surrounding areas will begin to notice 4G connectivity become available to them as the company adds coverage.

4G has gone live in some parts of Lincoln and Three has confirmed that the entire city will be connected soon.

4G mobile connectivity can have speeds up to five times faster than 3G technology, where available.

A Three spokesperson said: “4G has gone live in some parts of Lincoln which is why some customers may be experiencing 4G.

“We’re bringing 4G to the area soon, but we’re not able to give any specific dates at the moment.

“As soon as we start adding 4G to the network in Lincoln, we’ll let our customers know. In the meantime, our advanced 3G network will continue to give Three customers a great mobile internet experience.”

4G was first brought to Lincoln by EE in 2013, and O2 customers were introduced in 2014.

Local authorities have revoked the alcohol licence of a Lincoln shop caught selling illegal cigarettes.

Police raided on November 6, 2014, the European Foods store on the High Street, seized 8,000 cigarettes and arrested two men.

Then on January 19, 2015, the City Council agreed with Lincolnshire Police that the premises had been actively involved in the illegal sale of cigarettes and decided to revoke the licence.

Officers in plain clothes have been into the store and made test purchases before the raids.

During the raid on European Foods, police uncovered and dismantled a sophisticated device for hiding cigarettes beneath the floor (pictured above).

The owner of the store and Licence holder Mr Saywan Ahmed told the Licensing Sub-Committee that he did not know the device was there nor was his store selling illegal tobacco products.

They did not believe his account and found it unlikely that he did not know of the presence of the hidden cigarettes.

The initial test carried out by Trading Standards Officers on the seized products indicates they are a combination of foreign brands smuggled into the country and counterfeit brands.

Authorities say counterfeit cigarettes present a real danger to public health because they are manufactured in makeshift factories and have been found to contain sawdust, asbestos and human excrement.

Some of these cigarettes fail to self-extinguish, so present a further risk to public safety when left in ashtrays or discarded in the street.

Sergeant Kim Enderby from the Alcohol Licensing Department said: “This is an excellent result, justifying the hard work of all the agencies involved. Hopefully it sends a strong message to those involved in criminality of this type.

“They have lost the cigarettes, their equipment, their Alcohol Licence and are still facing criminal prosecution and fines.

“We will do everything we can to continue to target and disrupt criminals in this way. We are determined to undermine and stop criminality of this kind that is linked to our Licensed Premises.

“I would like to thank the members of our local community in Lincoln for coming forward with this information and would actively encourage members of the public, wherever you live in the county, to report criminal behaviour of this type.

“Organised criminal gangs are behind the manufacturing, smuggling, distribution and sale of these illegal tobacco products. It is a multi-million pound activity with the funds being used to finance other criminal activity. Lincolnshire Police and Trading Standards are committed to the investigation and prosecution of the individuals involved.”