An important species of bee has been discovered for the first time in Lincolnshire for more than a century at a Lincoln village beeswax farm owned by Sir James Dyson.

The Andrena nitida, one of the UK’s most important crop pollinating bees, was spotted in a new Syngenta Operation Pollinator habitat area created by Beeswax Farming on its Nocton Estate.

Beeswax Farming was delighted to have found the bee on the estate, as a testament to its commitment to enhance biodiversity.

The farming company has been working closely with Syngenta and the campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) to create vibrant habitats that are more attractive to pollinating insects.

Lincolnshire CFE Coordinator, Barney Parker, said: “It is extremely exciting and rewarding that the investment and effort is paying dividends, in helping to increase the biodiversity and ecological value of the farm.

“The wildflower areas have been literally buzzing with insect activity all through the summer. The sheer number of insects identified in the new habitats, along with the great diversity of species, is a clear indication that the positive action taken for pollinators, alongside its farming practices, can produce real benefits.”

Bee entomology specialist, Mike Edwards, highlighted this was the first sighting in the county since 1900, although it is relatively widespread through the south of England.

He said: “It is very encouraging that habitat creation on farmland is helping some of these solitary bee species to recover in numbers, and to extend their range across the UK.

“Andrena nitida is one of the many solitary mining bee species that play such an important part in pollinating crops and wildflowers.

“They look very much like honeybees. However, their behaviour on flowers, and the fact they carry large amounts of dry pollen as they fly from flower to flower, makes them extremely efficient pollinators.

“Providing new food resources and refuges for nesting and overwintering can clearly bring results, as well as providing a hugely beneficial habitat for other pollinators and wealth of biodiversity.”

Mike also highlighted the increased diversity of the flower species now included in the Operation Pollinator Annual Wildflower Mix as being especially important for solitary bees.

The Andrena nitida at Beeswax was recorded a number of times on the newly included Corn Chamomile. The wildflowers have provided an additional food resource and encourage bee populations, alongside oilseed rape and the increased area of field beans over the past season.

Syngenta Operation Pollinator research and growers’ experiences have shown establishing annual wildflowers can play an incredibly important role in helping pollinators, alongside other ecological features, including perennial pollen and nectar mixes, hedgerows and grass margins.

Belinda Bailey, Syngenta UK Environmental Initiatives Manager, added: “Beeswax Farming is a great example of the farmers who have been highly successful in providing a more diverse range of pollinator friendly habitats for food and overwinter nest sites.

“It is an extremely powerful demonstration that productive commercial farming and positive ecological management can co-exist in the same field.”

Budding comedians will have a new opportunity to learn the tricks of the comedy trade after a duo of entertaining entrepreneurs set up Lincoln’s first comedy school.

Award-winning actor, writer and comedian Ben Keaton has teamed up alongside comedian, compere and business man, Paul Mutagejja to create the Lincoln Comedy Academy.

After years of teaching and performing worldwide Ben and Paul are bringing their expertise to their hometown of Lincoln.

The pair are offering places to amateurs, experienced comedians and beyond.

Keaton, who has appeared in British soaps Emmerdale and Casualty, as well as sitcoms and stage performances, noticed that there was a gap in the comedy community in Lincoln.

He says it was made up of comedians without enough work, people who wanted to try their hand but had nowhere to go, and an audience that wanted a great night.

The academy will provide tailored advice, technique and chuckle-worthy inspiration from expert tutors.

Starting in mid-October, the academy will offer an Improvisational Comedy course with eight weeks of fun learning, ending in an Improvised Panto performance.

The course will focus on all elements; from the technical, to stage craft, improvised songs and most importantly, how to have fun and let the audience be part of that.

Their Solo Performance course in January 2016 will encompass all elements of comedy and produce work in scriptwriting, narratives, acting and stand-up comedy.

Along the way, day-long workshops will be led by some of the most successful names in comedy craft, likeHollywood star, Mike McShane.

Ben said: “We’re here to inspire, to find out how comedy works and to enjoy it.  We’re not here to provide the answers or give anyone a living.

“What people do with all this is up to them. Our job is to make the discovery exciting, challenging and thought provoking.”

The Performance Improvisation course, which runs Tuesday evenings from October 20 costs £175.00, including tickets to an end-of-course student show.

The Solo Performance course runs from January 19 and costs £220.00.

Course locations are to be confirmed.

Course paces are limited. People wishing to find out more information can call 07518722619.

The county’s largest bike shop is gearing up to open its doors this weekend after a major development at Doddington Hall near Lincoln.

Leading bicycle brand Giant has teamed up with the Elizabethan estate, just off the A46, to add 8,300 sq ft of cycling retail to its range of shops.

Opening on Friday, October 16, the store will be a new starting point for many enthusiasts taking on the trails of the county.

It stands in the place of a former modern farm buildings and also included a cycling cafe.

The store features bikes for all ages and abilities as well as expert advice and test ride opportunities.

Giant is the largest manufacturer of bicycles in the world, and it’s worked with the Doddington team to create a ‘unique cycling experience’.

The shop spans two floors and has dedicated mountain and road sections, a female cyclists’ area and a section for hybrid powered electric bikes.

The new hub is close to National Cycle Routes and will appeal to all cyclists including sports competitors, weekend endurance riders, pleasure cyclists and children.

James Birch, who runs the Doddington Hall estate alongside his wife Claire, said: “The shop will be carrying a full range of products including clothing and helmets plus we will be able to carry out servicing.

“We have expert staff in place to offer first-hand advice due to their own love of cycling plus our unique set-up means we have space to offer off-road test tracks as well as organised cycling ride-outs.”

Mark Hollingworth, general manager of Giant Store Lincoln and keen triathlete, added: “This is a very exciting project which has been a year in the planning.

“It is especially exciting to be working with an international brand such as Giant which, as a keen cyclist myself, I have always respected.

“For this project, it’s a chance to tap into their expertise and commitment to a sport which is growing in popularity due to the fun and fitness involved in taking part.

“This is a chance to strengthen Lincoln’s position as a city which welcomes cyclists and cycling events. I hope this helps put Lincolnshire even more securely onto the cycling map and helps people discover that this county has a lot to offer the cyclist.”

The ‘Giant Store Lincoln’ will be open seven days a week from 8am until 6pm (Sundays from 10am until 4pm).

For more information, call 01522 812 518.

The owners of Lincoln transportation firm Mark’s Passenger Service have invested in a life-saving defibrillator after gaining insight from their volunteer son.

Ben Hueso has attended many emergency situations as a Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Service (LIVES) volunteer.

Before going on to study medicine in London, he made it his mission to make sure mum and dad, Mark and Jo, installed an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) at their firm.

Mark’s Passenger Service, based in Washingborough, has over 80 vehicles and 130 specialist staff.

They offer services such as local transfers, airport transportation, disabled transport and vehicle servicing.

The new equipment now means that should anyone go into cardiac arrest while under the care of the team, help would be at hand quicker than the wait for an ambulance.

Mark Hueso said: “As a business we are located in quite a rural position but we have many visitors and staff to our premises.

“Our son had various experiences as a volunteer with LIVES and this brought home to us the importance of having and AED on site.

“We are a family business and treat all our staff as such, so once we were aware of the opportunity to purchase one it was quite obvious we had to go ahead.”

Not every cardiac arrest will benefit from defibrillation but, for those that might, the chances of a successful outcome decrease by 7-10% for every minute that defibrillation is delayed.

LIVES, Lincolnshire’s own First Responder organisation, attended 210 cases within the year ending March 2015 in which the use of a defibrillator was necessary – in 95 of these cases, the individual’s heart rhythm was restored and the emergency services were able to take over.

You can locate your nearest defibrillator here. 

The shortlisted businesses have been announced for this year’s Select Lincolnshire Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards 2015 – 2016 including five companies from Lincoln.

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony on October 27, at the new Riseholme College Showground Campus, starting at 9pm.

There are a total of 14 award categories, including best Pub, Restaurant, Producer and Hotel of the Year.

A new category, Business of the Year, has also been added for this year, which will give local businesses and members who have supported the food industry in the county the opportunity to be recognised for their contribution.

One of the most sort after awards is the ‘People’s Choice Award’, which allows consumers local chefs, cooks and shoppers, the chance to vote for their favourite local food business.

Gillian Richardson, Business Development Manager for Select Lincolnshire for Food, said: “This year we had an overwhelming number of award entries, all from very deserving food and drink producers across Lincolnshire.

“This, in itself, is proof of the diverse and high quality food and farming industry in the county.

“Every year we look to recognise and reward the people behind Lincolnshire’s billion pound food and farming sector. The judging panel found it really difficult to shortlist the entries for each award category, because every application had its own strengths.”

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development, at Lincolnshire County Council said: “Lincolnshire produces some of the finest food and drink in the country, and these awards are an opportunity to highlight all the county has to offer.

“It’s also a chance to showcase the first-class growers, producers, pubs, restaurants and tea rooms we have to entice visitors and shoppers. I wish all of this year’s nominees the best of luck.”

Shortlist Businesses for the Select Lincolnshire Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards are:

Grower of the Year

• Ownsworths Rapeseed, Fulbeck, Grantham.

• Strawberry Fields, Stickford, Boston.

Producer of the Year

• R J Hirst Butchers, Woodhall Spa.

• Uncle Henrys, Grayingham, Gainsborough.

• Pocklingtons Bakery, Withern, Alford.

Retailers of the Year

• Manor Farm Shop, Swineshead, Boston.

• R J Hirst Butchers, Woodhall Spa.

• Uncle Henrys, Grayingham, Gainsborough.

• Mountains Boston Sausage, Boston.

Wholesaler of the Year

• Mountains Boston Sausage, Boston.

• The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company, Lincoln.

• Strawberry Fields, Stickford, Boston.

Self-Catering of the Year

• Brackenborough Coach House, Louth.

• Elms farm Cottages, Hubberts Bridge, Boston.

• Manor House Stables, Martin, Lincoln.

• Rural Roosts, Market Rasen

B&B of the Year

• Caxton House, Skegness.

• The Mermaid Inn, Spalding.

• West View B&B Cottages, South Cockerington, Louth.

Hotel of the Year

• Southview Park, Skegness.

• Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby, Grimsby.

• Tower Hotel, Lincoln.

Caterer & Function Venue of the Year

• Hemswell Court, Hemswell Cliff, Gainsborough.

• Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby, Grimsby.

• Tower Hotel, Lincoln.

Teaching Establishment of the Year

• Lincoln Minster School, Lincoln.

• Manor House Stables, Martin, Lincoln.

Pub of the Year

• Seacroft Holiday Estate- Bar, Mablethorpe.

• The Mermaid Inn, Spalding.

• Village Limits, Woodhall Spa.

Restaurant of the Year

• Harrisons Restaurant, Barton upon Humber.

• Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby, Grimsby.

• The Sebastapol Inn, Minting.

Tea Rooms of the Year

• Pepperpot Tea Room at Hall Farm Park, South Kelsey, Market Rasen.

• Henry’s Tea Room, Lincoln.

• Uncle Henrys, Grayingham, Gainsborough.

Business of the Year

• Mountains Boston Sausage, Boston.

• Pepperpot Tea Room at Hall Farm Park, South Kelsey, Market Rasen.

• LJ Fairburn and Son, Alford.

• R J Hirst Butchers, Woodhall Spa.

For the latest dispatch of business news from across Lincolnshire delivered in your inbox every Friday, subscribe to the Lincolnshire Business magazine.

Danish discount supermarket Netto officially opened its doors on Lindis Retail Park in Lincoln on October 15.

The store, off Tritton Road, celebrated its grand opening with live music from the Netto band, balloon modelling for the children and a chance to meet Netto’s giant LEGO Scottie, the biggest LEGO dog in the world.

As previously reported, since the store returned to the UK last year, this is the eighth store to be launched and the first one in Lincolnshire.

The move created 20 new jobs at the unit formerly occupied by Blockbuster.

The new Lincoln store also includes an in-house bakery, which provides fresh Danish breads and traditional Danish pastries.

All fresh meat is British and there are also seasonal British fruit and vegetables.

Morten Moberg Nielsen, Managing Director at Netto UK, said: “We opened in the UK just under a year ago now and I am very proud of how far we have come with our concept. We have spent a lot of time developing the idea and one of the focus areas was to have a very strong fresh produce section.

“For the bakery it is quite a different display to what you will see in other places, we have glass doors – it’s something that we have brought with us from Denmark to be more hygienic. We have also brought some of our Danish pastries with us.”

The leader of City of Lincoln Council will deliver a speech explaining his reasons why it “makes real business sense” to pay employees the living wage.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe is one of the guest speakers at the ‘Secrets of Sustainable Business’ event taking place at Lincolnshire Showground on Monday, October 19.

The conference is the first of its kind to take place in Lincolnshire and aims to promote ethical, socially responsible and viable businesses of all sizes.

The living wage is set at £7.85 per hour outside of London, and was introduced by City of Lincoln Council for its own staff in 2013.

The city council has also introduced its Living Wage Campaign, with 19 businesses and organisations in Lincoln signing up to the project, with over 1,000 employees.

It is estimated by the council that 65 members of staff have received a pay rise as a result of the campaign, amounting to more than £125,000 in additional total earnings.

Councillor Metcalfe said: “It is great to have the opportunity to explain why paying the living wage is the right thing to do, not just ethically and morally, but why it makes real business sense to do so.

“Research has shown that it can significantly lower rates of staff turnover, reduce costs of recruitment and induction training, lower absence and sickness levels, increase morale and generate higher productivity.

“It also gives local consumers more disposable income and brands a business or organisation as an ethical employer.

“No one who does a fair day’s work should go without a fair day’s pay, or worry about keeping food on the table or a roof over their heads. The living wage isn’t about luxury, it’s about covering the basic costs of living.

“It would be fantastic to see Lincoln gain a reputation as being a place where people are paid fairly and rewarded for their hard work.”

More information about the conference can be found online.

The number of shops in Lincoln city centre fell again in the first half of 2015, with more businesses closing than opening, according to a region-wide study.

New PricewaterhouseCoopers research, compiled by the Local Data Company, showed that while 11 businesses closed between January 2015 and June 2015, only three opened, leaving a total of 246 businesses.

The figures represent one of the highest net reductions in the whole of the East Midlands region.

As previously reported, 2014 saw 25 shops close in Lincoln, with mobile phone shops and video stores accounting for many of the closures.

Now, PwC states that cheque cashing, women’s clothing shops, bakers and banks appear to be suffering, while thriving industries in the East Midlands include charity shops, discount stores and pizza takeaways.

The number of shops across the East Midlands also showed a net reduction of 37 shops, a decrease however on the number of businesses shutting up shop compared with the same six month period for the beginning of 2014.

Andy Lyon, partner and retail specialist at PwC in the East Midlands, said: “This latest data shows that changes are continuing to take place across the region’s town centres, but the pace at which closures are happening is slowing.

“The closures are caused by sector- specific factors – regulation is hurting money shops, the internet is hurting traditional bricks and mortar fashion chains.

“The shifts in retailers’ store portfolios are a barometer for changes in society’s shopping habits. Closures in areas such as cheque cashing, women’s fashion and banks reflect the change in how consumers are spending and the increasing competition from online services.

“In the region, traditional shops continue to be replaced by leisure (food, beverage and entertainment) and services have continued to decline especially in the area of financial services. As leases come up for renewal and town centres continue to diversify then further changes are expected for the foreseeable future.”

A new service to improve broadband speeds in Lincolnshire by using people’s smartphones has been rolled out exclusively for homeowners across the county.

Created by former scientists at BT, Boosty uses a smartphone app to combine a slow home broadband signal with a 4G mobile phone signal, to achieve broadband speeds up to three times faster.

Users download the software to an Android or iOS device and connect a Boosty router to their existing home broadband router.

The software then “communicates” with the user’s smartphone over their home Wi-Fi, tapping into their mobile data when they need that extra speed.

The technology is already being used by 15,000 businesses nationwide, including several hotel chains, and was initially launched in Lincolnshire only on Thursday, October 15.

For the technology to work, customers require a home broadband connection of less than 4Mbps, a smartphone with two or three bars of 4G mobile signal, a Boosty starter kit costing £69 and the free to download BoostyLink app.

Paul Evans, Chief Executive of Boosty, said: “We decided to launch the service in Lincolnshire first because so many of our friends and family live here and suffer from low broadband speeds – some of the worst in the UK.

“By using our free to download BoostyLink app on their Apple or Android device with one of our starter kits, Boosty customers can speed up their home broadband, by topping it up with a second connection already in their homes – their smartphone.”

To find out more or to buy the starter kit, visit Boosty’s website or call 0333 366 0022.

Plans for a new two-storey Lidl supermarket on the site of the former Ocean Chinese Restaurant and surrounding houses in North Hykeham have been published.

The proposal to demolish the restaurant, and three surrounding homes off Newark Road, would create a 3,867 sqm food store and around 113 parking spaces.

An access road would be created from Newark Road into the car park and a section of Newark Road would also be widened to create a right-turn lane for traffic from the north.

Design proposals from the supermarket outline: “The proposed foodstore would not have an adverse impact on the health of existing centres and would cater for local needs.”

Lincoln firm John Roberts Architects are behind the designs, which are said to be contemporary, with a “clean, modern experience”.

It’s hoped that the scheme would create up to 40 new jobs and will be the third Lidl store in the city.

As previously reported, a consultation was launched with surrounding residents.

Many attending an evening event in the town and some lodged comments which will be considered at a planning meeting with North Kesteven District Council.

Objections

The scheme has attracted objections from some, with concerns of additional traffic in the area, artificial lighting and the effect it will have on surrounding homes.

One local resident said: “I am concerned at the increased traffic that this development will bring. This section of Newark Road is already always gridlocked from 3.00pm until approximately 6.30pm on weekdays and practically all day at a weekend until 6.00pm.

“North Hykeham does not need another supermarket. Within a mile radius of the site is an Asda, two Co-ops, Spar, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Netto, Aldi and small grocers such as McColls.”

Another resident aded: “I believe the site is more appropriate for the development of housing for the local community and not a retail outlet of this magnitude.

“I also note that Lidl are proposing to knock down residential houses to make the plot larger.”

Entrepreneur and artist Michelle Bird has given her business new wings after opening a fine art shop in an iconic Lincoln location.

Bluebird Art & Crafts specialises in a range of creative works and fine art materials from the unit formerly occupied by Ruby Red Kids on The Strait.

Works for sale include ceramic sculptures, textiles, taxidermy and stone carvings made from local Lincoln limestone.

Lincolnshire artists are spotlighted in the shop, with the county’s talent stretching way past paints and brushes to unique sculptures, hand-turned wooden bowls and even handmade leather satchels.

The shop is also a space available to book for budding and experienced artists to make use of as a workshop.

People interested in booking the space or taking part in the workshops can look out for flyers in the shop window or follow the business’ Facebook page.

Michelle, who is a German artist with a well-established business portfolio, said: “I support many Lincolnshire artists as I believe we have a lot of talent and skill in our county.

“There is a workshop space above the shop where a range of workshops, led by different people take place.

“There is a large price range, so something for everyone, especially because I also sell creative home-ware as well as antique prints and maps of Lincolnshire.

“If anyone is interested in leading their own workshop of up to eight people, they are welcome to email me at bluebird3000@hotmail.com.

“I am also an artist and am happy to take commissions.”

A Lincoln-based youth development organisation has won £10,000 in prize money after being recognised as one of the country’s leading social enterprises.

The EBP, which works to improve the skills of young people through development and employment programmes, won the Growth Champion Award in the 2015 NatWest SE100 Awards on October 19.

The NatWest SE100 Index is an online listing of social ventures, ranked and scored according to their growth and social impact.

Each year the NatWest SE100 Awards recognise social enterprises on the index who have demonstrated some of the best business practice within the sector.

The Growth Champion Award is given to a social venture on the Index who has experienced positive, financial growth from one year to the next.

The panel also look for a winner with diverse income streams and a sustainable business model.

Elaine Lilley, chief executive of The EBP, which works with those aged between five and 25, said: “I am absolutely delighted to accept The Growth Champion Award, which recognises the hard work of the whole team at The EBP and the input of our partners, who are instrumental in helping us to deliver exciting enrichment programmes to young people.

“The EBP’s growth is attributable to the efforts of all of its staff, whether they deliver activity days, work experience placements, careers guidance or citizenship programmes.

“We will use the additional funding of £10,000 to develop and pilot new initiatives to help young people achieve great things in education and become responsible citizens, and to improve their employability prospects.”

Marcelino Castrillo, Managing Director Business Banking, NatWest, said: “I want to congratulate all this year’s winners, not just on their success in the awards, but on the profound social impact that they are having on our society.”

Plans to extend the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Lincoln Brayford with 39 additional rooms and 35 new car parking spaces will go before councillors on the city’s planning committee.

Expansion plans would bring the total number of rooms at the hotel to 154.

Proposals indicate that the former NHS Healthcare Services building on Newland (to the rear of the hotel) would be demolished to accommodate access to the extension.

The project designs, produced alongside Core Architects and Globe Consultants, set out an increase in both accommodation space and extra conference and function facilities.

The modern six storey building would be scaled at varying levels, with flat roofs occupying terraces for function rooms.

Access to the extended car park would be from Newland.

Lincolnshire Business magazine is hosting the first Lincolnshire Business Expo on January 21, 2016 at The Lincolnshire Showground.

The Expo will bring together established, growing and new businesses from across the county to showcase their products and services, as well as help them to connect with each other.

The free event will provide a platform for 100 businesses in the expo area and has over 12 confirmed speakers, networking sessions, seminars and workshops on the day.

Speakers on the day will include Russell Copley from Lincolnshire Investment Network, Mike Stokes from The Business Club and Exportential, Jo Wilson and Tracy Millar from Fill The Gap Marketing and more.

Daniel Ionescu, Publisher of The Lincolnite’s sister publication, announced that Lincolnshire Business has now become the most read business publication in the county with over 1,000,000 page views and 62,000 readers.

Dean Graham, Co-publisher of the magazine, also announced the return of the Lincolnshire Digital Awards at The Engine Shed on April 28, 2016.

Daniel Ionescu said: “It is fantastic how well Lincolnshire Business is performing after only a year of publication and it is only growing bigger.

“The Lincolnshire Business Expo will help other businesses around the county to come together to network and learn about each other and develop new leads.

“The day will be full of networking events, including speed networking, and seminars on how to grow your business. It is a perfect opportunity for companies to promote themselves, forge new partnerships and joint ventures as well as launch new products onto the market.”

The Lincolnshire Business Expo is made possible with the help of Your Print Partner, and it’s also sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants. A limited number of partner and sponsor slots are still available for businesses looking to promote themselves to the county.

To register your attendance and find out more about the expo and sponsor packages available, visit the Lincolnshire Business Expo website.

For the latest dispatch of business news from across Lincolnshire delivered in your inbox every Friday, subscribe to the Lincolnshire Business magazine.

Sun, sea and sand may have been an amazing lifestyle for James Truscott, 46, and his family when they lived in California, but since moving back to the UK two years ago he has put his heart and soul into Branston (Potatoes) Ltd. After only five months of being Managing Director of a local company that turns over more than £100 million per year, he has already been awarded a long term strategic partnership status with Tesco and is fighting a declining market to help educate the nation.

Originally from Birmingham, James studied Economics at Bristol University. When he left he started out on a journey towards a career that he loved, being involved with people and really getting to the heart of what they want. “I feel quite fortunate that I have got into something that I really love doing,” said James.

This feature interview was first published in issue 51 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.

“I guess I’ve always migrated towards stuff with a customer service element to it and businesses that I have enjoyed the most are the ones where that culture is quite extreme.” To some, this career path may not seem overly exciting but to James, he wouldn’t have it any other way. Focusing on the needs of customers and the service that they receive is a challenge that he lives for.

“Being in an industry where customer service is valued, for me, that’s great because I think about it as a way of working. I like to be able to get into the head of the customer, really understand what would delight them and find a way of us being able to deliver that quicker and better than the competition.

“You have to be quite close to the detail in order to get the detail right. But clearly you have to be able to operate at a strategic level to be able to make sure that things are going in the right direction. So it’s an interesting tension that exists in produce and some people love it and some people don’t – I love it. I think it’s an amazing industry. You know that you’ve done a good job if you have happy customers.”

Leading to leadership

During his journey to the top, James was offered the chance to start a new business across the pond in California, Wild Rocket Foods, which supplied Fresh and Easy. But the business life out there is very different to the UK and it is an experience that taught him a lot.

“To be exposed to a different culture is brilliant on lots of levels. We have experienced different foods, and I hadn’t learned to surf before I went there. In terms of business, the west coast attitude of ‘failing is OK’ was very interesting to see.”

“Whilst Fresh and Easy was a small business, for a Tesco business, it was still a Tesco business. So lots of what you got exposed to were the big Tesco governance processes and training methods. It was actually an easier place, particularly maybe because it was over there and it was small but you could try stuff. It was the first time that I could be a bit braver about trying different ways of running a team and it didn’t feel like a problem to have a go at something else. It was clearly a different way of running a business.”

The full cover interview with James Truscott is available to read in full here. For the latest dispatch of business news from across Lincolnshire delivered in your inbox every Friday, subscribe to the Lincolnshire Business magazine.

Lincoln developers have exclusively revealed £20 million plans to turn two “tired” buildings on the Brayford waterfront into plush apartments, new restaurants and office space.

The multiplex development ‘One the Brayford’ would incorporate Mill House, formerly occupied by Mouchel, and Viking House, which is currently used by Jobcentre Plus.

The offices have been earmarked by Lincoln-based Jackson & Jackson Developments Ltd.

Altogether, the project would produce 69 luxury private apartments, three new restaurants and 20,000 square foot of office space.

The move is hoped to create between 90 and 110 jobs in the popular promenade location.

Planning consultants for the development, Globe Consultants, explained the ambitions behind the scheme are to bring investment to the two buildings described as “tired, and left behind by the rapid development of the Brayford and university quarter”.

Extensions to the existing structures are proposed to create interest and maximise the potential for views over the Brayford Pool.

A modern, sweeping, glazed extension to Brayford Wharf North offers the opportunity to deliver the new restaurant units including external terrace areas on the first floor.

Dominik Jackson said: “We’re looking forward to bringing an exciting development forward on the Brayford – an area which is central to Lincoln’s growth with many national brands present on the waterfront.

“We will be looking at a scheme to make the end of the Brayford walkway feel more complete, tenanted with brands which will make it a destination in its own right.

“The site also presents a fantastic residential opportunity with existing views all over Lincoln.

“We in Lincoln haven’t had a key central apartment development for seven to eight years now, and in that time there have been a number of impressive new home tech creations. Where possible we will try to maximise these.”

Jeremy Hoare of Hodgson Elkington added: “This is a significant deal for Lincoln and shows the commitment of the Jacksons to the city with what will be an exciting new development in an absolutely prime location.”

The developers have confirmed that a 100-space car park which was opened at Viking House in August will continue to be in operation into next year.

Update: Concerns over Jobcentre Plus future

News of the planned development sparked concerns from current members of staff at Lincoln Jobcentre Plus, located in Viking House.

Dominik Jackson told The Lincolnite: “Viking House will be retained as it is for the medium term future.

“It is included in the overall application to tie the building together, but work is not planned for it at the beginning.”

Parents in Lincoln will see the choice of nurseries boosted after an entrepreneurial brother and sister opened up a Montessori centre in the heart of the city.

Former professional offices on Newland have been let to to Priya and Vinay Sidar from Leicester, who have just welcomed their first children to the Edwards Montessori Nursery School.

The pair launched their business in the building formerly occupied by Savills, creating four new jobs – but they say the number could treble if all goes well.

Priya and Vinay said the nursery is already capturing the attention of parents and it is perfect for their plans to grow.

The nursery consists of a learning room for children aged one to three-years-old and two others for youngsters aged three to five-years-old.

It is Ofsted-registered to take 68 youngsters and is also developing baby, sensory, music, staff and other rooms, including a dance studio.

The nursery is open five days a week and offering part and full-time care between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

Priya, who has a degree in Education Studies with Law, and did her University dissertation on the Montessori method, has worked in other nurseries, but always dreamed of having her own.

Vinay, who is involved in other Sidar family businesses, has complemented his sister’s knowledge and experience, by bringing his administrative and financial acumen to the venture.

Priya said: “We did our research and looked at the long-term potential of our new business, and were confident that there was a gap in the market for our type of nursery and that the demand for what we offer was there. We started getting enquiries before we even opened our doors.

“We place a big emphasis on encouraging children to develop their life skills, through a range of different activities which are aimed at building their confidence, self esteem and respect in a diverse and family-orientated community.

“The Montessori method encourages the child to become independent, by understanding their strengths and weaknesses through the toddler’s acknowledgement.”

Lincoln-based chartered surveyor Banks Long & Co has let the property to the pair.

Banks Long & Co Surveyor Jag Landa said: “We are delighted to have let this substantial property to Priya and Vinay and wish them much success with their new enterprise.

“Their investment is yet another example of how the changing face of Lincoln, the continual growth of the University of Lincoln and the ongoing arrival of new names in the city are encouraging entrepreneurs from the wider East Midlands to realise the opportunities offered by a growing city.”

The best of Lincolnshire’s premier business venues are set to go on show at the Lincolnshire Showground in Lincoln on November 4.

The Meet Lincoln exhibition will see event and conference planners from across the UK descend on The Epic Centre at the showground.

They’ll see what the area can offer organisers and delegates who are looking for new and exciting venues for their events.

The Meet Lincoln Venue Showcase will highlight Lincoln and Lincolnshire’s diverse range of venues, from the showground itself to the University of Lincoln and Cathedral Quarter hotels.

Venues exhibiting at the event include Lincolnshire Showground, Q Hotels, Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort and Belton Woods at Grantham, Doubletree by Hilton, Holiday Inn and more.

There will also be the opportunity to hear about Meet Lincoln’s Free Venue Finding Service.

The service allows organisers to input exactly what they need from a venue, including size, layout, catering requirements and preferred location.

Local experts then source availability and prices, taking the hassle out of searching for the prefect venue.

Jayne Southall, Chair of Meet Lincoln and CEO of Lincolnshire Showground, said: “Lincoln has a broad range of meeting and conference venues and as such can offer a flexible package to suit any budget or event size, from meeting rooms overlooking picturesque waterfront views to large events such as those held at the Showground itself which can cater for up to 1,000 people.

“Lincoln’s location also makes it ideal for visitors from the north and south of the UK, so we are confident that delegates attending this event will find plenty of attractive options to match their needs.”

Visitors can pre-register interest via the Meet Lincoln site.

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Lincolnshire businesses are being told to protect themselves from the growing threat of cyber crime following the recent attack on the TalkTalk website.

Awareness of the modern problem is rising as the reality of how businesses across the county are affected hits home.

The crime type has only recently been included in the stats for offences in England and Wales, with latest government figures revealing 74% of small businesses and 90% of major businesses have had a cyber breach in the last year.

Warnings for Lincolnshire firms have followed the arrest of a 15-year-old boy in Northern Ireland on October 26 on suspicion of offences under the Computer Misuse Act, in connection with the cyber attack on the Talk Talk website last week.

The phone and broadband provider had been hacked, sparking warnings from the company that personal information from its 4,000,000 customers could have been accessed.

To encourage Lincolnshire businesses to do more to protect themselves, Onlincolnshire is organising a Business Security Conference in Grantham on Friday, November 27 in partnership with SJG Green Digital and the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub.

Delegates at the conference, which is being held at Wyndham Garden Grantham Hotel from 9am until 5pm, will be able to talk to suppliers who will be exhibiting during the day.

As well as raising awareness of the serious problem, the event will equip delegates with the skills needed to guard themselves.

Stuart Green from SJG Digital said: “We need to get everyone in the mind set that this is a crime, it needs to be reported and it comes in several shapes and sizes. Often the computer isn’t the source of the compromise – commonly it is the user that’s at fault.

“This conference will equip people with the cyber security skills needed to protect their business now and in the future and we’ll have some examples of just how easily IT systems can be hacked. I can guarantee people will be shocked at how vulnerable they are to attacks.”

Executive Member for Economic Development at Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Colin Davie, said: “The Government wants to make the UK the safest place in the world to do business online, which is why we are organising this free event.

“Cyber criminals are exploiting basics weaknesses in company IT systems and businesses must do more to protect themselves. This conference will teach people simple ways of guarding against common internet-based threats like viruses, malware and hacking so we hope it will be well attended.”

The onlincolnshire Business Security Conference is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Although it is free to attend, places are limited so booking is essential. For more information or to reserve your place visit eventbrite.co.uk or call 01673 898 001.

Businesses in uphill Lincoln have given a surprisingly negative response to a survey assessing the impact of major tourist events this summer.

The survey, conducted on behalf of the Bailgate Area Guild, received responses from 73 businesses in uphill Lincoln from the top of High Street to just beyond Newport Arch.

One of the most striking responses was the perceived negative or neutral effect that the revamped Lincoln Castle had had on independent retailers, with only 42% reporting that the castle reopening had been favourable, and many claiming that they had been “squeezed” by the changes.

Lincoln Castle was reopened to the public on April 1 after a £22 million project had restored the attraction to its former glory.

The castle has received hundreds of thousands of visitors in the following months, and was given a royal seal of approval by Princess Anne in June.

It has also hosted a range of spectacular events, such as Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity and Festival 800 celebrating eight centuries since the signing of Magna Carta.

The survey acknowledged that businesses valued the increase in footfall but were concerned that the dramatic increase in castle visitors had not benefited trade.

Concerns were raised that cafés and restaurants near to the castle had benefited more than others.

Well-attended and popular events such as the British Cycling National Road Race Championships also came in for criticism from retailers, with some claiming that trade was down by 40% on the Sunday.

Up to 30,000 spectators visited for the race, which according to the county council boosted Lincolnshire’s economy by more than £2 million.

A repeated argument from traders was that events such as this, combined with graduation ceremonies, drove out local trade.

One respondent said that they felt that the Bailgate was treated “as a film set and tourist venue,” which detracted from its “special character.”

Another constant criticism raised by traders was the parking provision in uphill, with suggestions for improvements including subsidies on a Sunday, a pay on exit policy, and cheaper prices.

The park and ride shuttle bus to Lincoln Castle and the lack of communication about road closures in advance was also claimed by traders to negatively impact on their business.

Despite this, some events were well received, such as the Magna Carta weekend, 1940s weekend and the Steampunk Festival.

Linda Wardale, owner of Yellowbellies and Chair of the Bailgate Area Guild, said: “The new Lincoln Castle and the Magna Carta celebrations have been fantastic for putting the city on the map but the impact on small businesses on a daily basis has not been as positive.

“Some businesses such as hotels and those in prime locations have benefited, but a lot of independent retailers are suffering from car parks full of tourists, which means that locals from the city and neighbouring villages aren’t visiting us as much.

“A lot of the time, the tourists are just bypassing our shops and going straight to the castle, so the benefits in trade haven’t necessarily been felt.

“I think it’s only fair that everyone has a slice of the pie and benefits from the changes.”

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Surveys, whilst important, only provide a snapshot of the moment they are conducted.

“Lincoln has had an amazing year and it has been hugely successful. I however recognise the critical importance of small independent retailers who provide the depth and quality of offer necessary to entice visitors to return, time and time again.

“The survey recognises that the Bailgate area requires a long term strategy and closer working with all the councils involved.

“I will be more than happy to work with the Bailgate traders to develop a long term strategy so that the independent shops can gain fully from all that is happening in our amazing city.”