< Previous70 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBUSINESS LINCSSmall businesses are thebackbone of Britain’sprosperity and support isavailable throughoutLincolnshireIn recent times, the world ofbusiness has become somewhatdepressed, with many commentatorspainting a gloomy picture of what’s instore for the future. However acrossLincolnshire there are numerousdedicated people enjoying greatsuccess with innovative and uniqueideas – and receiving vital support toallow them to enjoy continuedsuccess.Organisations such as the e-factor inthe North of the county and businessincubation units such as theSparkhouse Studios at the Universityof Lincoln can help the smallest ofcompanies punch well above theirweight, and the list of people whohave made their first steps in businesswith their support is a long one.On a slightly larger scale, NorthLincolnshire has been successful insecuring £10 million of the RegionalGrowth Fund to promote increasedinvestment and employment growthin the area. The original bid wassubmitted by North LincolnshireCouncil on behalf of the Tata SteelTaskforce and is now going throughthe due diligence process, with theaim of making the first fundingavailable later this spring.The aim of the fund is to create jobsthrough business development andoffset the impact of job losses withinboth the public and private sector. Thekey priority is the creation of newbusinesses, as well as the expansion,rationalisation, modernisation anddiversification of existing businesses inthe area. They are also hopeful thatmajor businesses may be tempted torelocate to the region. The hope is thatthe £10 million will be able togenerate at least five hundred newjobs.A decent cashflow is often thedifference between a businesssucceeding and failing. As part of theProject Merlin agreements twelvemonths ago, the five main banks inthe UK pledged to increase lending toSMEs by £10 billion in 2011, to £76billion, while overall business lendingwas to be boosted to a total of £190billion, yet many small businesses stillreport that it’s not particularly easy toget hold of this money.John Walker, Chairman of theFederation of Small Businesses,says, “Part of what has heldsmall firms back has beenbecause they cannot accessfinance from the banks. Smallfirms struggled in 2011, even ifthey wanted to take on staff,because they have had cashflowproblems, and the banks havestill been unwilling to lend.”Schemes such as the RegionalGrowth Fund aim to stop theseproblems and ensure thateveryone who wants cash to setup a potentially profitable businesscan get it.Happily, in Lincolnshire, there areall the facilities on offer to provide anadvantage for new businesses. InNorth Kesteven, for example, the sixbusiness centres managed by HodgsonElkington LLP are enjoying hugesuccess, with three completelyoccupied and the other three with justa few spaces remaining. Such is theoptimism that North Kesteven DistrictCouncil are continuing to invest andare creating fourteen new workspacesat Bracebridge Heath for another set ofnew businesses to take advantage of.Small businesses remain thelifeblood of the UK’s prosperity and inLincolnshire the signs are thatinnovation and enthusiasm cancertainly be rewarded.BoomtownsLincolnshire Co-operative’s newneighbourhood store, which forms part of its£1.1 million complex in Skirbeck Road,Boston, is home to three small business units,testament to the interest that remains inLincolnshireMarie Gutteridge from Hodgson Elkington hands overthe keys to Russell Trimble and Nitin Noble, newtenants at the Sleaford Business Centre70:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:56 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY71BUSINESS LINCSWhat am Ientitled to?Diane Genders deals with the big questionSorting out finances tends to be the most complex part ofunravelling a marriage, partnership or civil partnership and isoften the most acrimonious. You can, of course, agree asettlement between you, but be careful, divorce law is full oftraps for the unwary. Timely legal advice can save youthousands of pounds in the long run.The starting point to discussions is to collect together allfinancial information, including important evidence such aseach spouse’s earning and mortgage capacity and the cost ofre-housing. While the Court’s overriding objective must be tobe fair to both sides, if there are any dependent children,their needs for secure accommodation will be paramount,even if this means being unfair to the other parent. Whenthere is enough money to go round, equality is often thefairest outcome. A range of financial and property orders arealso available for separating same-sex civil partners.Each case is different and all the relevant factors will betaken into account such as the ages and health of each party,respective contributions, earning capacity and so on. Itshould be borne in mind that pensions are often the largestasset and this becomes more relevant the older the coupleand the longer the marriage.Most couples manage to reach an agreement with the helpof their lawyers and the judge only has to confirm hisagreement for it to be legally binding. If all else fails, the judgewill impose his decision on the couple at the final hearing.Resolving financial disputes is often complicated and itreally is essential that you consult a specialist lawyer.For more information, contact me on 01522 516500or email diane@dianegenders.co.uk.Bad tenants?Jill Elkington of Hodgson ElkingtonLLP can helpThe rental market is buoyant atthe moment so there should be noneed to put up with bad tenants.What steps can you take if tenantswon’t pay rent or are in breach ofcontract? My advice is not todelay serving Notice – if you havegenuinely tried to resolve anyissues and the situation is notimproving you need to take action quickly.Seeking possession must be dealt with legally. You can’tmake threats or turn the services off! A Section 21 or Section 8Notice needs to be served. The tenant may still not leavevoluntarily and it may be necessary to proceed to court for aPossession Order. Even then, you could still encounter furtherproblems and require the use of a Court Bailiff. This may sound daunting but good management of thetenancy helps avoid a situation such as this. While a tenanthas rights, so does a landlord and providing you are not inbreach of the tenancy, you can obtain mandatory possessionof your property.The protection of the tenant deposit and the way a Notice isserved can affect its legality. If you don’t understand it, don’ttouch it.There are so many agents offering advice it’s difficult tochoose who to go to. As a minimum, your chosen agentshould be a member of RICS or ARLA. Hodgson Elkington LLPare members of both and adhere to their strict Codes ofPractice and have full Client Money Protection – many agentsdon’t, leaving you very exposed. Be suspicious of an agentwho promises the earth. Some agents’ fees are structured tohide hidden extras. It’s a minefield out there, but with professional guidancefrom a reputable agent, the chances of being caught out willbe minimised.Jill Elkington is Head of Residential Lettings atHodgson Elkington LLP and represents themembership of ARLA for Lincolnshire and SouthYorkshire having over twenty years’ experience. Call 01522 698899 or email letting@hodelk.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 Nottingham71:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:46 Page 172 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBUSINESS TODAY - WOMEN IN BUSINESSJoy Walker Estate AgentsJoy Walker has huge experience in the property industry. She began her career in 1973 when she joined HenrySpencer & Sons, a Grimsby estate agent, which during the eighties became part of the Halifax group. She is afellow of the National Associate of Estate Agents and has gained a certificate in Residential Estate Agency.In January 2006, Joy decided to use her undoubted talents to start her own business, alongside her colleagueDebbie Louis.After working in a corporate environment, Joy and Debbie wanted to offer a more personal and flexible level ofservice which is adaptable to the individual sellers’ needs. Hence the establishment of Joy Walker Estate Agentsin St Peter’s Avenue, Cleethorpes. The service they offer is friendly, professional and very proactive in achieving sales for our vendors.Joy, Debbie and the team work across Grimsby, Cleethorpes and the surrounding villages and have assisted hundreds of people in selling theirhomes, with every client receiving a service tailored for themselves and their property. The company also acts for a number of local builders selling newhomes in the area.For more information on what Joy and her team can offer, call 01472 200818 or visit www.joywalker.co.uk.La FoundoukLa Foundouk in Great Limber, on the A18 between Brigg and Grimsby, is the brainchild of Sharon Moore, who ispassionate about Moroccan cuisine and culture. In fact, La Foundouk itself is based at the rear of the family home, ina beautifully decorated orangery. The accent, therefore, is on informality.Booking is essential but when you arrive you can be sure of a very special dining experience. Guests can relax inthe comfortable lounge before taking their seats in the dining area. This seats up to twelve guests and partiessometimes take the opportunity to book the whole restaurant for an evening.As the weather gets warmer, La Foundouk has also introduced their new kemia lunch menu for the spring, offering exceptional cuisine at just £15 perhead. Guests can also request something more bespoke, in addition to the wide-ranging menuThose suitably inspired by the dishes served up can also learn some of the skills to replicate at home with regular Moroccan cookery workshops,which regularly welcome scores of people to participate.The informal atmosphere and intimate surroundings ensure every visit to La Foundouk is extra special.15 Brickyard, Great Limber Tel: 07749 497888 www.lafoundouk.comNew face at Haines WattsAllison Cowell has recently joined Haines Watts Skegness as an Associate, having previously been employed by a firm ofChartered Accountants in Boston for eleven years.Allison qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2003, having graduated from Northampton University with an Accounting andFinance degree. She has lived in Boston for most of her life, and has been involved in several voluntary organisations.She is currently on the area board for Young Enterprise, and is also a proud member of Junior Chamber International Boston.JCI is an organisation that provides development opportunities to encourage young people to create positive change. Last year,Allison led the UK division of the organisation as their National President. The organisation had a highly successful year, whichincluded seeing membership growth and engagement, support of various local community projects, and raising $40,000 for theorganisation’s international charity, JCI Nothing But Nets. This reflects the organisation’s relationship with the United Nations,and to work towards eradicating Malaria. Allison has also been the National Finance director for JCI UK for over three years.Allison is really looking forward to working with the rest of the Haines Watts Skegness management team to help drive the business forward, following thefirm’s ethos of offering national strength with local expertise.Tel: 01754 766991 www.hwca.comIt’s long been accepted that the gender balance in business is off-kilter and, despite great strides being made in recent years, womenare still under-represented at the highest level. There’s stillcontroversy about some of the methods which are being consideredto address this, such as the use of quotas, but happily inLincolnshire many of our most thriving businesses, such as thosefeatured below, are thriving thanks to the drive and energy ofinnovative and dedicated staff – who happen to be women.There are still sectors in which women are largely absent,however. Computing and the technology industries are certainlytrying to shed their male-dominated image and bring in morefemale entrants to the sector. In construction, meanwhile, only13% of the workforce is female, and a number of schemes arebeing introduced to convince more women that it’s a viable andworthwhile career.Of course, women in business shouldn’t be a novelty, but untilthe gender mix at top companies regularly matches the make-up ofthe UK, they still require support and encouragement.Making great strides72:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:57 Page 1Young Farmerscelebrate theBest of BritishLINCOLNSHIRETODAY73SOCIAL SCENEAs 2012 will see both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee andthe London Olympics, Spalding Young Farmers decided upona “Best of British” theme for their Charity Ball at the SouthHolland Centre.Tickets sold out two weeks before the event, making it themost successful event in years with some two hundredpeople in attendance. They enjoyed fine food fromCaterwell, live music from The Aesthetic and sounds from DJChris Bettinson, who is also Spalding YFC’s Club President.During the evening there was a raffle and after dinnergames, with profits going towards the Spalding HospiceFoundation, based at the new hospital in Spalding. This charityis very close to Spalding YFC’s hearts as Roz Tyrell, mother ofthe YFC chairman, enjoyed their care before her death lastyear. The family were so pleased with their support it was anobvious choice as their nominated charity for the year.Spalding YFC themselves are a registered charity whichprovides various events and learning opportunities for youngpeople aged 10 to 26.PHOTOS BY ALAN LONGAlice, Michael and StephanieKatrina, Stacey and PhilippaChrisandSarahWill, Chrissy and SamDaniel, Erica,Jessica and CraigEd and VickyCharley andElisa GauntFaye and TomKaye and WayneMartinandEmmaYoung Farmerscelebrate theBest of BritishSome of the organisers73:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:47 Page 174 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYSTAMFORDHoney-colouredGeorgian stone shapesStamford, a town uniquein Lincolnshire – but it’sthe residents who keep itthat way, as we foundout. We meet ChristineStanier and PeterStevens, both membersof a very active CivicSociety, which is fiftyyears old this year…Traditionally, this is where QueenBoadicea crossed the River Welland asher armies surged north against theRomans.The violence of that conflict is longgone, but the determination to do thebest possible job in defence of thetown lives on just as fiercely in thepeople of Stamford.And there’s a lot to protect. TheGeorgian buildings exude a certainquaint style, and about 600 of themare listed – one of the greatestconcentrations in the country.Traffic still rumbles along the HighStreet and St Mary’s Hill, following theformer line of the Great North Road,and it’s a short mental leap to removethe cars and vans, and to replace themin the mind with mail coaches makingthe journey north or south.Not hard to imagine, either, thebustling and prosperous GeorgianStamford which went with them,using its kudos as a fashionablestaging post on that iconic road tobuild an envied reputation as the placeto be; to see its residents visiting theGeorge Hotel and reading the localpaper the Stamford Mercury, foundedjust after 1700.Christine Stanier and Peter Stevensare enthusiastic about Stamford andthe work of its Civic Society, of whichthey are both members. It has about200 members, of which 170 can attendthe average meeting, not a bad total ina town of about 18,000 people. Peter used to be an insurance brokerin the City of London, and was verycareful about choosing where to live.“I fell in love with the place,” he said.“When I came here I didn’t know asoul, but I had done my research. Ifound it was not only full of lovelybuildings, but also full of lovely peopletoo.”Christine came with her husband,and worked in the Mercury offices fora while. She left to become a mum,and eventually went back to work inthe town museum, where she stayedfor fifteen years. “The Civic Societyused to meet there, and I had to bethere because I was a member of staff.For the same reason I knew a lot ofhistory too, so they co-opted me as amember. I enjoy the work,” she says.Sense of community is strong inStamford, illustrated perfectly by theCivic Society’s Awards. In a charmingSt Mary’s Church dominates the appropriately-named St Mary’s Hill,which runs down to the bridge over the River WellandA town for the people74-75:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:59 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY75STAMFORDway they rewarded the efforts ofpainter and decorator David Collinswith the Craftsmanship Award. SocietyChairman Gwyneth Gibbs says, “Howmany times can you walk roundStamford and not see David Collinspainting one of the shops? Apart fromhis well-known skills as a wicket keeper,he has been keeping Stamford’sbuildings in pristine condition for moreyears than most of us can remember.”There was an award for theHambleton Bakery, recognising therenovation work on its shop front inIronmonger Street, an award forhomeowner Martin Bust and hisgardener Frank Chapman for theirwork on a stretch of verge in thetown, and also a special award forPeter himself, which he neglected tomention when we met. Gwynethsays, “It isn’t usual to single out formention one member of a group likeours, but there is one committeemember who has given unstintingly ofhis time and effort over the years; St.Leonard’s Priory, Information Boards,the Paving the Way document and theWilliam Stukeley blue plaque are justsome of the projects he has taken onin the last few years.”Peter quickly diverted attention tothe work of Bust and Chapman.“Martin once said to me he thoughthis gardener was keener on the vergethan the garden,” he says.Stamford was fashionable in the18th century, and it’s fashionabletoday – but for very different reasons.Long gone are the wool trade whichgave it prosperity, long gone is its car-making factory. But Stamford’sinfluence remains very wide.Cummins the generator people, withpremises in more than a dozencountries, have their head office here,and the Melbourne Brothers makefruit beer at the All Saints Brewery. There’s plenty to do in Stamford too,with both the Corn Exchange and theArts Centre providing a packed rosterof events, including live music, dramaand comedy. Towards the end ofMarch, Verse 2012 takes place, a poetryfestival encouraging children to fill theArt Centre’s gallery with ‘concrete’poems. This is followed in June by theStamford Shakespeare Season, whichlasts all summer, hosting outdoorperformances of Twelfth Night andHenry V Part 1 as well as a stageversion of the Alexandre Dumas novelThe Three Musketeers. There also seems to be an abundanceof craft, art and creative classes to keepanyone with time on their hands busy.For those in need of retail therapy,there are shops tucked away that holdall sorts of delights, from a music shopthat has been established for over thirtyyears to niche interest shops such asbook specialists and antiques dealers.Lots of people commute as the A1 isvery close by, and the coming of therailways eclipsed the coaching trade,helping to keep Stamford as popular asit is today. The East Coast main lineroars through Peterborough, just 15miles away, from there it’s an easily-commutable hour to London. “That makes Stamford appeal to alot of people. It attracts a people witha range of diverse interests andbackgrounds; they’re people who wantto get involved,” says Christine. Nomatter that they’re often commuters,people who gravitate to Nottingham,Peterborough and beyond to work.They’ve seen Stamford, and like whatthey’ve seen. It’s a bridge to the pastthat sits comfortably in the present.“The world is about people, and weare keen on that here,” adds Peter.“People can identify with that.” More details about Stamford Civic are availablefrom www.stamfordcivicsociety.org.ukTop left: Peter Stevens and Christine Stanier,enthusiastic members of Stamford’s CivicSociety, in the town’s popular Cosy ClubTop right: Stamford’s past is written clearly inthe stone walls and undulating rooflines of itsbuildingsBottom left: Not a scene you’d expect to see ina town centre, but this punt is on the bank inthe town centreBottom middle: Beautiful stained glassabounds in Stamford. This example is in theChurch of St John The Baptist74-75:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:59 Page 2Style meets substanceNew BMW 3 Series 328i76 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGMercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDIBlueEFFICIENCY The latest additions to the forecourtcertainly ooze class and style – but at atime when the environment is a toppriority, they also emphasise energyefficiency. The old idea of theunreliable green car has gone out ofthe window – it’s now almostimpossible to tell the difference interms of power and performance, asthese fantastic new models illustrate...Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDIBlueEFFICIENCY This German machine is great atsoaking up pothole ridden roads and ithas bags of smooth, seamless grunt forstraight stretch sprints, thanks to itspowerful 2143 cc twin-turbo dieselengine.With a 0-62 mph dash of 7.5seconds and a top speed of 150 mph,the 250 CDI has a split personality -it’s stimulating, yet, at the same time,relaxing to drive. The seats are ultra-supportive and the car is so quiet it’seasy to forget that an oil-burner lurksunder the bonnet. A sleek shifting G-Tronic Plus 7-speed auto ‘box withsteering column gear selector andgearshift paddles, along withSpeedtronic cruise control, makesmotorway commuting a breeze. The Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDIBlueEFFICIENCY is practical too. Thereis enough room to seat four adults andthe large boot with remote release isconvenient and easy to access. The carwill also do 54.3 mpg on thecombined cycle and with CO2emissions of just 135 g/km, it will becost-effective to run. Priced from £46,360 on the roadNew BMW 3 Series 328iThe EfficientDynamics technologieswhich gave the previous BMW 3 SeriesSaloon such a competitive advantageremain very much in place, and havebeen supplemented with new ones.Auto Stop-Start is fitted to all versions,along with Brake Energy Regeneration,on-demand control of engine ancillarycomponents and tyres with less rollingresistance. An eight-speed automatic gearbox,giving a wider spread of ratios thanthe former six-speed unit, is availableas an alternative to the standard six-speed manual. It’s also now offeredwith every engine to significantlyimprove efficiency. All engines in the new 3 SeriesSaloon feature BMW TwinPower Turbotechnology. They include a new four-Style meets substance76-77:Layout 1 16/3/12 12:01 Page 1Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T TeknaLINCOLNSHIRETODAY77COUNTY MOTORINGChrysler Delta1.6 MultiJet SEcylinder 2.0-litre petrol unit in the328i. It replaces the six-cylinder 3.0-litre engines in the previous 325i and330i, with inherent advantages forweight and fuel consumption, yet witha 0-62 mph time of 5.9 seconds inmanual form, it’s quicker than either.Efficiency is also significantlyimproved and both manual andautomatic versions of the 328i havefuel economy of more than 44 mpgand CO2 emissions below 150 g/km. Befitting the BMW 3 Series’renowned driving dynamics, theinterior control and switchgear layoutis totally driver-focused. The elegantand dynamic cabin design, withtwisting and merging surfacesarranged in a series of layers, all angletowards you, making time at thewheel a total pleasure.Priced from £29,060 on the roadChrysler Delta 1.6 MultiJet SEWith its classy looks, low price tagand standard luxury touches such as aleather clad steering wheel,refrigerated compartment and privacyglass, the Chrysler Delta is a cost-effective choice of car.With a 0-62 mph gallop of 10.7seconds the Delta, mated to a 1.6MultiJet turbo diesel engine, is notgoing to burn much rubber - but itdoesn’t feel underpowered. In fact the222 lb/ft of pulling power allows theChrysler to tow a load of up to 1300kg (braked). That’s not bad for amidsized car with executive airs.The interior is spacious enough forfour adults and, because the rear seatscan recline 25 degrees backwards,passengers are offered impressivecomfort options. It’s economical too –on average, you can squeeze around60 mpg out of the tank.Priced from £19,195Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T TeknaThe Juke is a mixed bag and couldeasily work for someone who wants aslightly zany car to stand out from thecrowd. It seems that originality iscentral to every part of the Juke’sdesign and, inside, you are greetedwith the ‘Nissan Dynamic ControlSystem’. This is a command anddisplay module which allows you toalter dynamic drive settings as well aseasily control functions such asclimate control. What’s more, thedevice adopts different displays,colours and functions, depending onthe mode selected. It all adds to thejoy of being behind the wheel of thisnonconformist, yet very capable, car.The Juke has enough room for fourand, with a 1.6 turbo unit and 188horses under the bonnet, it’llundoubtedly set all occupants’ pulsesracing. With a 0-62 mph sprint of 8.0seconds and a top speed of 134 mphyou sense that Nissan intended this carto project an energetic and motivatedimage. You might think then that thispetrol-powered version of the Juke is ajuice-guzzler. Well, surprisingly, it’s not- it returns a very reasonable 40.9 mpgon the combined cycle with CO2emissions of 159 g/km. Priced from £18,095 on the road76-77:Layout 1 16/3/12 12:01 Page 2BurghleySaturday 14th and Sunday 15th AprilBurghley Fine Food Fair, Burghley House - Enjoy this celebration oflocal produce in The Courtyard. Come and meet more than twenty localproducers of cheese, bread, vegetables and meat. The event is open 10amto 4pm with free admission. Fairs are also held in August and December.DoncasterThursday 5th AprilCarnival Du Vampires Rock, Civic Theatre - Steve Steinman plays thesupremely evil Baron Von Rockula, owner of the Live and Let Die club, insearch of a new bride. A full cast of superb singers, dancers and aformidable band blast their way through some of the greatest ever rockanthems including We Will Rock You, Bat Out of Hell, Sweet Child OfMine and I Love Rock’n’Roll. Show starts 8pm, tickets £20 from 01302342349.Thursday 19th AprilMercury The Ultimate Queen Experience, Civic Theatre – After over a decadeon tour, Mercury has firmly established itself as one of the world’s mostauthentic tributes to the legend that is Freddie Mercury and Queen. This showfeatures fantastic performances of popular and some additional tracks fromQueen’s vast back catalogue. Show starts 7.30pm, tickets £16 from 01302 342349.GrimsbyFriday 20th AprilThe Osmonds, Grimsby Auditorium – The Up Close and Personal Tour willtake fans on a journey through many unforgettable hits – from classics such asOne Bad Apple, Down By The Lazy River, Let Me In and Love Me For A Reason,to Crazy Horses and Long Haired Lover From Liverpool. Show starts 7.30pm,tickets from £28.50 from 0844 871 3016.Friday 20th AprilPink Rose Fund Charity Fashion Show, Humber Royal Hotel – Check out thelatest fashions and raise cash for a good cause at the fourth Pink Rose FundCharity Fashion Show and Sale. The show starts 7.30pm and the bar isopen all night. Tickets £5 and for more information contact Denise orMike on 01472 355395 (office hours) or 07515 820400.HullTuesday 27th to Saturday 31st MarchBeauty and the Beast, New Theatre - Northern Ballet’s brand newproduction premiered at Leeds in December with record-breaking box officetakings. The show rediscovers the enchanting and magical aspects of thistraditional fairy tale, exploring the values that lie at its heart, including thebattle between forces of good and evil and the notion that true love can78 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWHAT’S ONWhat’sOn80 Imelda May, City Hall,HullBeauty and the Beast,New Theatre, HullThe Magic of Motown, Baths Hall,Scunthorpe78-81:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:54 Page 178-81:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:54 Page 2Next >