< Previous80 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBUSINESS TODAYRecent developments on a nationallevel could be relevant toLincolnshire’s fortunes. Where wehave towns famous for their shopping- the independent spirit on display inLouth for example - there are streets insome Lincolnshire towns that detractfrom how pleasant the county reallyis.Retail guru and TV star Mary Portas,along with Local Government MinisterGrant Shapps, have launched acompetition to choose twelve towns tobecome ‘Portas Pilots’, with thewinners benefiting from a share of £1million to help turn around theirunloved and unused high streets.Mr Shapps has offered the cashincentive to those towns that come upwith the best High Street blueprints ina move that fulfils the first and lastrecommendations of Mary Portas’High Streets Review, commissioned bythe Prime Minister andpublished before Christmas.Taking forward the firstrecommendation from MaryPortas’s review, the twelvesuccessful localities will createTown Teams, made up of the keyplayers in their local community -such as the council, local landlords,shopkeepers and the local MP.These teams will then benefit fromthe backing of the Minister, Whitehalland Mary Portas herself as they takeforward the recommendations fromthe review and in their area. They willalso receive a share of £1 million.Bidders will need to demonstrate howthey have the energy, enthusiasm andvision to make a real difference totheir town centres and make themhubs of the community.Development has been veryforthcoming over the past year or soin the county regardless, with newretail units opening all over. A notableplus to the city of Lincoln comes inthe form of a boarded up unit on TheStrait. Shut for around seven yearswhen th Catalogue Shop closed down,a successful application has been putin to turn the vacant unit into apublic house. This not only provides awelcoming gateway to the city’s uphillarea and Steep Hill in general, but alsomeans a formerly unwelcoming sightis now to be taken up with an activebusiness. After all, it is not just thefinancial gains that bring benefits, butalso the public’s perception of an area.Faced with boarded up units, mostshoppers will simply turn heel. SteepHill of course was crowned Best Streetin Britain last year by the Academy ofUrbanism, so the fortunes of thisparticular street can set a shiningexample to the rest of the county ingeneral.Hopefully this is a turning point andeven if we don’t get the chance of anillustrious ‘Portas Pilot’ perhaps thisframe of mind can be infectious andwill lead to retail success within ourtowns and villages. Here’s hoping. Transformingour townsWhile much of Lincolnshire enjoys active shoppingareas and pleasant surroundings, there are areas whereboarded-up shop units and a lack of crowds remind usthe recession has made retail a victim.Mary Portas80-81:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:22 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY81BUSINESS TODAYYour propertyinvestment is abusinesssays Jill Elkington ofHodgson ElkingtonWhen considering how to dealwith your tenant and rentalinvestment, remember it’s abusiness and not a hobby. One ofthe pitfalls I come across againand again is landlords getting toknow their tenants and treating them like friends. There’snothing wrong with this, but a business relationship is a farbetter manner to adopt.Problems arise when their tenant doesn’t take the expectedcare of the landlord’s property, and the rent isn’t paid on timeor, worse, not at all – excuses range from “I’ve had to have mycar repaired” to “My dog’s been poorly and the vet’s bill ishigher than I thought”! In addition the tenant oftencomplains about routine maintenance items such as changinglightbulbs – the best one is late on Saturday night when theyget back to the pub and give the landlord a quick call!It’s generally at the end of a tenancy when reality hits andit’s too late. It goes like this – the tenant approaches thelandlord to rent his house, the landlord agrees and knows thebloke who they’re sure are going to be houseproud, and theydecide between themselves that there’s no need for anInventory and Schedule of Condition - they’re mates, after all!No tenancy agreement is signed – it’s a bit too much troublegetting one drawn up and what can go wrong with such nicepeople? On it goes with various excuses along the way aboutlate payments, the overgrown garden and much else. Thelandlord doesn’t like to inspect the house – he feels it’s anintrusion and it’s easier not to get involved so he continues tocarry on blindly assuming everything is fine.Then the tenant vacates, the landlord goes to see the houseand is horrified at what he finds. If only he’d called us sooner!For further advice, contact Jill at HodgsonElkington LLP, 1 Oakwood Road, Lincoln, LN6 3LH,call 01522 698899 or email letting@hodelk.co.ukLegal servicesfor elderly peopleexplained by Diane GendersWith age comes a whole new range of issues that areunderstandably unwelcome as they relate to succession,death, family inheritance and personal ability to control one’slife, assets, health and other responsibilities. In the end, allthese issues have to be dealt with, but often, as they seemcomplicated and confusing, they are left to others to decidewhat happens. These others can be remaining family or thestate – or a combination of both.It doesn’t have to be this way! In fact, it’s never too early tostart planning your own future. With help and planning, allissues that confront us in the final stages of our lives can bedefined and sorted out by us, while we still have the freedomof mind and spirit to make these important decisions.Unfortunately, time is the enemy in this regard and thelonger we leave it the more difficult it is to keep full control.Your close family is, of course, always a great comfort andhelp, but all too often, those you intend to rely upon cancause additional unwelcome pressures when you try to ensurethat family members – sometimes predatory – do not manageto gain undue financial advantage over others by capitalisingon your situation.It’s never too early to plan and then revise plans ascircumstances develop, so the best approach is to plan yourfuture when you are in good health so your express wishes arefollowed later when you may not be so fortunate. Aconsultation will bring peace of mind and a sense of securityin your latter years.For more information, contact me on 01522 516500or email diane@dianegenders.co.uk.Highly Experienced Team of Family LawyersDivorce and Separation Wills & ProbatePower of AttorneyAdministration of Estates Court of ProtectionCall for more information on01522 516500www.dianegenders.co.ukOffices also in Nottingham80-81:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:22 Page 282 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYEDUCATIONThe overall picture of furthereducation could be seen as bleak at themoment. Figures released recentlysuggest almost one in five youngpeople in the UK are not educated toA-Level standard. The statisticsreleased by the Organisation forEconomic Co-operation andDevelopment suggest that 18% ofyoung people, from the ages of 25 to34, do not have the equivalent of an‘upper secondary’ education. Thisstands just short of the OECD’saverage, which is set at 19%. This maynot seem at all a negative aspect, butwhen ranked in comparison to 34other developed countries, the UKstands at a lowly 25th, puttingcountries like Slovenia and Estoniaahead. It could be seen as somewhat ofan embarrassment.The main reason for these figures isa high drop-out rate, meaning as wellas no qualification gained, it lowersthe skill levels available for employersto pick from. This is a real problem theindustry complains about almostyearly. The standard of school leavers’skills is so low, it is often difficult tohire a young person to start fromscratch, rather than employingsomeone who is experienced or atleast trained.Sixth form or college generally givesyou a decent education if you applyyourself, but for many young people,A-Levels teach very little in the way oflife skills or practical knowledge. Thesectors that are crying out for youngworkers, particularly engineering inour region, have excellentapprenticeship schemes and more isbeing done to address this shortfall ofskills in the UK in general.There are also several practicalschemes that can help young peoplestart and stay in education, meaningthey will engage better with thesubject and hopefully take matters tothe next level. One small, but hugelyimportant scheme that North EastLincolnshire Council operates isWheels to Work. Often with rural areas, getting toand from a job or to an educationalestablishment is difficult and cansometimes preventthe young fromtaking things further.The scheme canprovide young peoplewith a 50cc scooter aslong as circumstancesmeet certain criteria.The Wheels toWork scheme is runby the Humber andWolds RuralCommunity Council.Offered to residentsof North EastLincolnshire whohave transportdifficulties inaccessing work,The University of Lincoln’s latest addition, theSchool of Engineering should inspire the region’sstudents when it comes to careers within the sectorPICTURE: UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLNEncouraging educationWith several areas in education facing cuts in the name of austerity, what isthis area doing to encourage students to stay in education post-16 or to engagein areas we have skills gaps in?Encouraging educationEngineering couldbe the perfectcareer for so manymore studentsnow awareness ofthe sector is beingpushed82-83:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:24 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY83EDUCATIONtraining and education, it is not aimed at competing withconventional public transport, but to bridge the gap ifpublic transport is not available.Engagement for engineeringWhen it comes to encouraging young people to get intoareas such as engineering, there is a host of organisationsready and willing to stimulate an interest in the subject. Inour region, the University of Lincoln has just opened itsown School of Engineering. The first institute of its kind inover two decades, it has been built by the University,Lincolnshire County Council Single Programme Funding,the Higher Education Funding Council for England andengineering firm Siemens at a cost of £37 million. This notonly shows that there is a definite future for engineering inLincoln, but also that the challenge to address skillsshortages is being addressed in kind. Organisations exist that are trying to engage students atan even younger age, entering schools and places oflearning to engage with what is termed STEM, or Science,Technology, Engineering and Maths. The Smallpiece Trust,an independent educational charity that runs hands-onSTEM courses for pupils in years 6-12 also provides teachertraining so that STEM subjects can be better brought to lifein the classroom. On a similar level, Stemnet engage withbusiness and other organisations such as scientific societiesto offer young people the chance to be part of projects tofully immerse them in the field.Hopefully, the lengths at which some are going to in orderto engage with pupils will have a positive effect, the feelingis that now the problem of skills has been addressed, thesolution, although slow, will iron out these alarming creases.SkegnessGrammar SchoolWhile every school is different, Skegness Grammar Schoolhas many common features with schools within the DavidRoss Education Foundation.These features include a House structure to foster a culture ofmutual respect and teamwork. Within this structure, studentsdevelop a sense of ownership, responsibility and pride inschool and community. There is also an extensive range of co-curricular activities and clubs, ensuring lots of opportunitiesacross the various schools enabling students to excel in an areathey are passionate about. A focus on literacy and numeracy,both written and oral, assists in offering a broad curriculum. Alove of sport, drama, music and the arts is also apparent.Indeed, as a Specialist Sports College with additionalspecialisms in Mathematics and Computing, SkegnessGrammar School take great pride in their achievements. Pupilsachieve high academic success and the school take great pridein producing well-rounded, cultured individuals.By broadening horizons, every child can achieve in a cultureof commitment as Skegness Grammar School continue to setthe standard for the future.82-83:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:24 Page 284 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGLexus GSAudi A6Jaguar XF84-85:Layout 1 17/2/12 11:47 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY85COUNTY MOTORINGThe executivedecisionOur first contender for favouritesaloons has to be the latest offering fromLexus, the Lexus GS series. Released lastmonth there are six different modelsavailable, from the Lexus luxury modelwith heated and ventilated seats andrain sensing wipers, to the 450F sport,which comes with sports styling andcabin features. Admittedly the Lexus isn’t a car whichappears beautiful at first glance. Itdoesn’t even become attractive after thesecond. What really draws the attentionof this vehicle is the technology behindit, it’s comfy. Scarily so. When driving itfeels as though you’re locked in a bubbleaway from the outside world, a lot ofexecutive cars try to make you go faster,be it with a purring engine or powerfulacceleration. The Lexus is silent, even onthe roughest of roads, it’s a real de-stresser. That doesn’t mean it’s not a powerfulcar though, with nippy acceleration andstrong horsepower, this saloon will holdup against its larger cousins, it justdoesn’t feel the need to scream out loudabout it. This is a car for the person whodoesn’t need to prove anything. It’squiet, comfortable and spacious, while itmay not be winning any beauty awards,it’s a winner nonetheless. You can expectto see something like this starting from£32,000, while the more advancedmodels can reach up to £44,000. Our second offering is the Audi A6,which likely comes as a surprise to few.It’s one of the most popular cars in itsclass, and in many ways this puts peopleoff. After all, is not the point of anexecutive saloon to stand out from thecrowd? In the end though, there’s goodreason this car is so popular, and tothrow it aside for that reason would be aterrible mistake.There’s a huge range of enginesavailable to the A6 for a start, and withthe weather having been so bad lastmonth, maybe four wheel drive will startto look like an enticing option. You cancombine that with a diesel engine soyou’ve got a safe and fuel efficientvehicle, or a larger engine if you want tofeel more power beneath your foot. TheAudi still comes with all the amenitieswe take for granted, including Bluetooth,a HUD screen and weather alert systems.Best of all extras can be added as youwish them, rather than being charged fora large number of things you’ll neveruse.Admittedly the car doesn’t feel as softas the Lexus, it feels a little less refined,yet it also feels a bit sportier. Perhaps it’smore of a crossover than we firstthought. It is however, quite a bitcheaper than the Lexus, with pricesaround £30,000. Moving away from foreign cars for ourlast pick, Jaguar is one of the most iconicBritish brands in the industry, andthey’ve always stuck to their retro lookin regards to their cars. Ironic then, thatthe saloon we have chosen is the onewhere they move away from that ideal.And it look’s fantastic for it. The JaguarXF has won numerous awards as the bestexecutive car in many classes, and it’sreally no wonder. The handling issuperb, and the ride feels smooth andcomposed on all roads. The XF comeswith a few different engine options, the3.0 diesel is arguably the most common,though the 2.2 reduces the price by afew thousand pounds. There is asupercharged 4.2 version, though weimagine that will be overkill for mostpeople. The equipment you get with the car istop-notch and they don’t force extras onyou unless you want them. Entry levelmodels come with part-leatherupholstery and an automatic gearbox,and you add what you want. The luxurymodel comes with more gadgets thanyou would know what to do with. Butabove it all, past the comfort, the powerand the control. It’s the pure look of theJaguar XF that sells the car. It’s a Jaguar,and yet it doesn’t look like it belongsthirty years in the past. How fantastic isthat?Best of all, the Jaguar XF comes in ata reasonable price, starting at just£29,000. Lincolnshire Today takes a look at three of our all-time favourite executive saloons.84-85:Layout 1 17/2/12 11:47 Page 286-87:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:25 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY87COUNTY MOTORINGThe new 3 Series Saloon builds onthe success of previous models butadds new EfficientDynamics fuel-saving, emissions-reducingtechnologies. This means it’s largerand more spacious than the model itreplaces but lighter, quicker in manycases but more fuel-efficient, and moreagile while being even safer.The new BMW 3 Series Saloonfeatures a stiffer body and an all-newchassis based on a longer wheelbaseand wider tracks. Increased in overalllength by 93mm, it has the classicBMW design proportions of shortoverhangs for maximum agility. Thenew range offers six trim levels and awide range of individual optionswhich add more appeal to the alreadyimpressive standard specifications.The car is more sporty than itspredecessor while also offeringincreased elegance. Improvedproportions, pronounced wheelarches, headlamp units which blendinto the double-kidney grille to form acontinuous band across the front ofthe car and air inlets beneath theheadlights visually stretch the widthand make the new 3 Series Saloon looklow, wide and sporty. At the sametime, the coupe-like profile, distinctivedouble round headlights, L-shapedrear light units with LED light barsand the decorative trims chosen forthe grille and around the windowsgive an athletic and yet elegantappearance.Inside the car, the elegant anddynamic new interior design, withtwisting and merging surfacesarranged in a series of layers, all angletowards the driver to create a morefocused feel – but to make surepassengers don’t feel left out, theiDrive controller used to access manyof the functions and the monitor thataccompanies it are arranged centrally.At a time when energy efficiencybecomes more important, BMW’sEfficientDynamics technologies helpto reduce fuel consumption and C02emissions. Indeed, this makes itparticularly good for business users asthe 320d EfficientDynamics model,with C02 emissions of less than110g/km, allows businesses to write off100% of the cost of the car against taxin the first year, while everyone willbenefit from improved performance atthe petrol pump.The EfficientDynamics technologywhich has become a trademark of theprevious models remains in place here,with a number of new additions. AutoStop-Start is fitted to all versions,manual and automatic, along withBrake Energy Regeneration, on-demand control of engine ancillarycomponents and tyres with less rollingresistance. Weight has also beenreduced by up to 50kg compared withthe previous model, while the dragcoefficient is down as low as 0.26thanks to optimised aerodynamics.The new BMW 3 Series Saloon can be seenat Soper or Lincoln – visitwww.soperbmw.co.uk for more information.The ultimate driver’s carThe sixth generation of 3 Series Saloon from BMW emphasises efficiency and dynamics86-87:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:25 Page 288 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWHAT’S ONBostonSaturday 4th MarchThe Albion Band, Blackfriars Theatre – The Albion Band areone of the iconic English folk acts, and 2012 sees their fortiethanniversary, and a complete reboot of the band, incorporatingsome of finest musicians and singers on the UK folk scene. Thenew line up captures the spirit of their sixties and seventiesheyday with a rockier, edgier approach to traditional English folkmusic and brings you the new sound of 21st century Englishfolk-rock. Show starts 7.30pm, tickets £18.50 from 01205363108. They also perform at the Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpeon Saturday 31st March.GrimsbyFriday 9th MarchSpaghetti Western Orchestra, Grimsby Auditorium – Five brilliantcomic maestros perform classic Ennio Morricone soundtracks fromthe iconic Clint Eastwood movies The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,For A Few Dollars More and Once Upon a Time in the West,recreating every punch-up, gunshot and jangling spur withhilarious effect. Show starts 7.30pm, tickets £20 from 0844 8713016.Monday 12th to Saturday 17th MarchCalendar Girls, Grimsby Auditorium – Calendar Girls has beenthe fastest selling tour ever and has triumphed in the West End.Now it’s coming to Grimsby as part of its final ever tour. A group ofordinary women do something extraordinary and spark a globalphenomenon when they persuade one another to pose for a charitycalendar with a difference. Based on an inspiring true story and thesmash hit film, Calendar Girls is quirky, poignant and hilarious.Show starts 7.30pm plus matinees on Wednesday and Saturday,tickets £11.50 to £27.50 from 0844 871 3016.HullWednesday 29th FebruaryMadama Butterfly, Hull New Theatre – Back byoverwhelming public demand, Ellen Kent’s award-winning production of Puccini’s classic operafeatures the internationally acclaimed UkrainianNational Opera of Karkhiv, along with handpickedsoloists, a highly praised chorus and full orchestra. Ittells the heart-breaking story of a beautiful youngJapanese girl who falls in love with an AmericanWhat’sOnSpaghetti Western Orchestra, Grimsby AuditoriumMadama Butterfly,Hull New TheatreGadgets and Gizmos, North Lincolnshire Museum88-90:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:27 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY89WHAT’S ONnaval lieutenant, leading to dramatic results. Theproduction features exquisite sets, including a stunningJapanese garden, along with spectacular costumes, suchas antique wedding kimonos from Japan. Show starts7.30pm, tickets £15 to £32 from 01482 300300.LincolnThursday 8th and Friday 9th MarchMe, Myself & Miss Gibbs, Drill Hall - In 2003,Francesca Millican Slater bought a postcard in a shop inTotnes. Sent from Lincoln to London on 15th July,1910 it is addressed to a Miss L Gibbs. The message onthe back read ‘Be Careful Tomorrow. AC’. Part detectivenoir, part lecture, part biography, this is the story of herinvestigation into the message on a postcard and hersubsequent obsession with the life of the woman thatreceived it. What happens when you start tracing a historythat isn’t your own? And why did Miss Gibbs have to becareful tomorrow? Show starts 8.30pm, tickets £8.50 from01522 873894.NewarkFriday 9th MarchThe Jackie Generation, Palace Theatre - The JackieGeneration are a six piece totally live seventies tribute show,featuring ex-Abba Re-Bjorn girl Janey Bombshell and vocalistKarlos Vox. The show includes some of the biggest classichits from the seventies by artists such as John Miles, Wings,ELO, Andrew Gold and the Carpenters as well as hits fromAbba, Suzi Quatro, Boney M, the Osmonds, Elton John, KikiDee, Queen and T Rex. Show starts 7.30pm, tickets £12 from01636 655755.ScunthorpeTo Saturday 30th JuneGadgets and Gizmos, North Lincolnshire Museum -Featuring everything from eighties computer games andcassette players to a Victorian mechanical hammer and afifties food mixer, Gadgets and Gizmos celebrates theinventions that have revolutionised our home life. With afocus on three key eras, the exhibition gives visitors thechance to explore replicas of an eighties living room, afifties bedroom and a Victorian shop. Gadgets and Gizmosshows how design innovations have transformed ourhomes, lightened the load of household chores and kept usentertained. Admission free.Tuesday 13th to Saturday 17th MarchJoseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, BathsHall - Bill Kenwright’s production of this sparkling familymusical continues to enjoy huge success across the countrywith standing ovations at every performance. This colourfulretelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his elevenbrothers and the coat of many colours sings out to youngand old alike with a score which is wall to wall hits –including Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do –featuring Keith Jack, runner-up on TV’s Any Dream Will Do.Tickets £15 to £26 from 0844 854 276.90 Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,Baths Hall, Scunthorpe88-90:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:27 Page 2Next >