< PreviousSpectacular sightsin SpaldingSpalding High School’s second Summer Ball brought together 160 teachers, parents, pupils and friendsof the School to celebrate the end of the year in fine style. Organised by the School and the PTA,everyone got involved with Year 10 food students creating some amazing desserts to accompany the foodfrom school caterers Edwards and Blake. Therewas also music from the Houndogs and theFenland Enterprise Disco.Headmaster Tim Clark says, “It was a superbevening. A good deal of work by staff and thePTA had gone into hosting the event, but itwas worth it to have such a relaxing andhappy celebration.”It’s expected the Ball will now become anannual event with even more peopleattending and helping to raise money for theSchool.PHOTOS BY ALAN LONG60 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYSOCIAL SCENE60:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:09 Page 1BusinessLincsLincolnshire certainlymeans business!In this special section, we highlight some of the county’s most prosperous companies and invite them to pass on some of their valuable advice to succeed – whether you’re already in business or looking to turn an idea into reality. We also take a special look at the region’s top conferencing venues.Lincolnshire certainlymeans business!In this special section, we highlight some of the county’s most prosperous companies and invite them to pass on some of their valuable advice to succeed – whether you’re already in business or looking to turn an idea into reality. We also take a special look at the region’s top conferencing venues.IMAGE: WELCOME TO YORKSHIRE61:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:10 Page 162 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBUSINESS LINCSPremier entertainment at HomeSince opening last November, Home has established itself as not only the premier entertainment venue inLincolnshire, but also one of the top performing venues in the UK. It offers six rooms of electric atmosphere andmusic, mouth-watering food served in the Lounge Bar & Kitchen and premium products and standards at alltimes.Nestled in the heart of Home is the luxurious Reserve Lounge. This is Home’s VIP suite offering über premiumbrands and first class waitress service to all guests. Entrance is extremely limited and it makes the perfectlocation to unwind with colleagues or entertain your friends and clients in style.For further information on acquiring entry or information of Home’s Gold and Platinummembership, contact Dan via bookings@homelincoln.co.uk or call 07414 678553. Make your nextvisit a night to remember.The Online Revolution project istaking on issues in our county thatcould be improved with better accessto the internet and a fasterconnection. We all know thefrustration of being in towns andvillages that struggle to maintain aconnection worth spending time on,so what is this project doing? In the past, calls have been made fora faster broadband network to beinstalled across the region, withbusinesses claiming they cannotcompete with connections that are ata snail’s pace. A survey last year evenpointed out that businesses onLincoln’s high street were mostlyrelying on traditional and somewhatoutdated methods of marketing, eventhough the city is well-served withbroadband.The effects of not being able tomaintain a web presence is no doubtholding business back, but also couldaffect people wanting to relocate here.It’s a sad fact, but our rolling fieldsand steady pace of life may not beenough for youngprofessionalslooking to make themove. In line withSiemens being evenmore entrenched inthe city and across the county ingeneral, it would be a pity to moveforward in one impressive aspect andto be dawdling in another.As part of the Online Revolutionproject, advice seems to be the key tosuccess, with several sessions takingplace across the region. Events includefree sessions for digital and creativebusinesses, advice on takingadvantage of the burgeoning apps andgames market as well as ideas on howto develop an online presence.Free advice and support is also beingoffered to creative micro-businessesnear the coast in East Lindsey. FourCoastal Arts and Technology Hubs arebeing set up in Skegness, Alford,Mablethorpe and Louth to providenetworking opportunities for creativebusinesses demonstrate and showcasethe new technologies available.Big names have been involved sofar, with gaming legend Dave Sharp ofBinary Asylum giving a talk inHorncastle and Tracy Muir, theScunthorpe-based inventor of iPadmusic app StompBox, has given a talkin Boston. It is encouraging to see this level ofcommitment to developing thecounty’s wider appeal. Rather thansimply talking about it, inroads seemto be being made towards an enviablefuture for online business. Getting thebalance between traditional businessin a county full of heritage as we have,coupled with modern technology is amust. Lincolnshire businesses seem tobe waiting to unleash their presenceonline, and projects like this will makethat wish a reality.Lincolnshire’sonline revolution?Lincolnshire is being targeted by a special project thataims to bring the economic, health and educationbenefits that superfast broadband offers62-63:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:18 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY63BUSINESS LINCSIs red tapestifling the privaterented sector?asks Jill Elkington of HE LettingsAt a time when tenants canleast afford it, the ResidentialLandlords Association haverecognised that rents are beingdriven upwards by “grossregulatory overload”. Theassociation have investigated anduncovered over a hundredindividual pieces of legislationand regulation containingaround four hundred individual measures affecting the industry.A new report warns the cost of the burden of legislation willultimately be passed on to tenants by increased rent levels.I’ve no objections to regulation intended to protect tenantsfrom exposure to safety or monetary hazards, yet in myexperience “good” landlords and agents are compliant. It’s thegung ho landlords and agents who need to comply but theyoften seem to fall under the radar. Many laws can be passedbut if they aren’t enforced they aren’t worth the paper they’rewritten on.Should Government be doing more to make investing in thePRS attractive for landlords? Antiquated legislation should bescrapped with the concentration placed on safety andmonetary protection. The self-regulated agents should beallowed to get on with what we do best – letting andmanaging quality properties for conscientious landlords.As the legislative burden grows, there’s little wonder there isa supply crisis with more tenants than properties to go round.Bring in legislation by all means but make sure it’s for thebetterment of the PRS and make sure it’s enforceable – andenforced. Jill Elkington is a Partner at HE Lettings and theRegional Representative of Lincolnshire and SouthYorkshire for the Association of Residential LettingAgents. For further information contact Jill on 01522 698899 or email info@helettings.co.uk.What is a LastingPower of Attorney?Diane Genders explainsWe all understand the need for a Will – even though themajority of us do not have one – but the benefits of a LastingPower of Attorney are not widely understood.Your Will shall determine how your estate and affairs aredistributed and concluded. If, however, you are unfortunateenough to have an accident or contract an illness thatremoves your ability, even temporarily, to make reasoneddecisions about your affairs, your Will cannot be taken intoaccount as it only becomes “active” upon death. In thesecircumstances you might reasonably think that your family,friends or business associates can make decisions on yourbehalf – but this is not the case.Your lack of capacity will trigger the involvement of TheCourt of Protection who will appoint a Deputy to act on yourbehalf, the person it most thinks is in your best interests, orappoint a professional to act as Deputy if there is no onewilling or suitable to act on your behalf. You can avoid thispotentially alarming situation by creating a Lasting Power ofAttorney while you are in good health – you nominatepersons to directly act on your behalf until you recover fullhealth or for as long as your condition persists.Lasting Powers of Attorney can be established at any timeand can be held by you or your Solicitors and only activatedwhen and if disaster strikes. The process is straightforwardand costs are in the low hundreds of pounds.If you are a business owner, the peace of mind gained byknowing that, should a disaster strike, people of your choiceare looking after the day to day working of your business isinvaluable. The cost of securing this peace of mind is modestso I recommend you act now, while you are in good health.Create or update your Will and secure a Lasting Power ofAttorney. Hopefully, you will never need to activate theLasting Power of Attorney... but just in case.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 Nottingham62-63:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:18 Page 264 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBUSINESS LINCS - CONFERENCINGLincolnshire Events CentreLincolnshire Events Centre is a major national venue, located on the 200acre showground just outside the historic city of Lincoln. The site is thebiggest in the region and easily accessible from major routes, withcomplimentary parking, free WiFi, a range of dining and buffet stylecatering choices and optional AV support available. The centre can host corporate and business events for ten to more than athousand guests with both small meeting rooms and large halls available tohire.Being located only a ten minute drive from Lincoln’s city centre, they also partner with local hotels to offer a range of options from budget to four-star accommodation.If you have any questions, the events team is only a call or click away.Lincolnshire Showground, Grange-de-Lings, Lincoln LN2 2NATel: 01522 524240 Email: events@lincs-events.co.uk www.lincs-events.co.ukArranging and holding a conference can be a difficultaffair, even with the most understanding delegatesattending. There is a balance to be struck between content,atmosphere, comfort, relevance and fun that very few peopleseem to actually pay attention to. It’s easy to remember theevents which were particularly bad, which can becatastrophic for the image of the company organising it.Why is it then that so many events in Lincolnshire fail tomake that positive impact on the guests?Most of the blame needs to be laid at the feet of thoseorganising the event, though it may not be entirely theirfault. Hosting a business event is an industry all of its own,yet many managers and directors don’t agree on this singlepoint. In the same way that you wouldn’t normally expect aregular employee to handle your tax returns, one should notexpect someone who has no experience in the industry toorganise a full event. There is a reason that event organisersand consultants exist, and it is because they offer aspecialised service. For those who simply don’t have the budget or flexibilityof outsourcing their event to an outside agency, there arestill a few key rules you can keep in mind to help you withyour planning. The type of event being held will no doubt be the firstconcern, and also include the amount of guests beinginvited. Small events are often easier to run and can have amore personal touch between the guests. But larger eventsallow you to influence the minds of more people, and pushyour message out to a larger audience. The type ofconference centre you select for your event will also changedepending on what type you are running.For smaller events where you are meeting establishedcustomers or suppliers, or are wishing to make yourself anew business relationship, focus on personal or fun events.The audienceawaitsLincolnshire Today investigates what makes a memorable conference, and what you cando to make your own stand out. Seminars are a key wayof networking to manyperspective customersin a few sort minutesThe audienceawaitsLincolnshire Today investigates what makes a memorable conference, and what you cando to make your own stand out. 64-65:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:19 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY65BUSINESS LINCS - CONFERENCINGThe traditional, but still highlyeffective, venue is a golf course.Considering almost all of these nowhave hotels or other venues attachedto them you can finish the businesseither before or after a friendly gamewith the other person. Helping allparties to relax and unwind is a goodway to de-stress them before theserious business begins. When the numbers become a littlehigher, it becomes a little harder torun such events, but then you’removing more into seminar territoryanyway. For seminars where upsomething like a hundred guests will be sitting in anenclosed area, it becomes much more important to considertheir comfort and atmosphere. In hot summer months, thetemperature in the room can soon rise to unbearable levels,leaving delegates to fan themselves with reference materialrather than listen to any speakers. Similar problems canoccur when things become too cold. Space and seating should also be taken into account. Nodoubt every business person to your event will have flown ina number of commercial flights, so cramping their seats closeto one another is just going to frustrate them even further.We’re not suggesting you invest in plush leather couches,but some functional comfortable seats and a little leg roomwill go down well. Whether the delegates are relaxing at a golf course, orsitting patiently in anticipation, the next thing that needs tobe taken into account has to be the speakers themselves. Tomake sure an event is memorable it’s again worthconsidering the expertise of the speakers in question.Though it might seem topical and emphatic to involve aspeaker in the same situation as your audience, if they speakby reading out from a piece of paper, then you’ll soon losethe audience entirely. Speakers need to be passionate, clear,well pronounced and confident. Their material needs to besharply delivered, relevant and down to Earth, and believe itor not, they should ideally not use any Powerpointpresentations, or slides. Famous or experienced speakers will always draw morecrowds into an event if you can afford to hire them, but youcan emulate their successes by watching some of theirevents, and considering how they address their audience.Find out what makes them sand out, be it their tone ofvoice, or their animated movement, and incorporate it intoyour own style. It’s almost customary now to end your event with achance for the delegates to network among themselves. Abuffet or drinks is always a good option to consider, andmany venues will be happy to provide these if asked. Thefinal thing you need to remember is that there will be plentyof people who wish to come and talk with the speakersthemselves, so make sure you have arranged for them to staybehind for an hour or so after the event. The AA 3* BEST WESTERN North Shore and all of it's facilities welcome business functions, training seminars, workshops, exhibitions and can arrange fabulous corporate golfing days.We do have parking available for100 cars and can cater for 150 people in our magnificent St. Andrews Suite.Please contact Mark McGrath our General Manager who will personally ensure that your everyrequest is accommodated.Private business lunches can bearranged in our Oak panelledrestaurant which is available forbookings during weekdays. If timeis limited during office hours wewould be happy to take orders for a 'speedy office lunch'. Please contact us on 01754 763298 oremail info@northshorehotel.co.uk & wewill have it ready at the time requested.64-65:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:19 Page 266 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBUSINESS LINCS - 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.The situation in businesses of all sizesis one of a male-dominated workplacethat seems archaic and thankfully thistrend has started to reverse. A recentsurvey indicates that the number ofwomen joining FTSE 100 boards hasstarted to accelerate, makinggovernment targets of 25% of directorsby 2015 ever more likely. However, thequestion must be asked - why not evenmore?Women have made an impact at thehighest level, but for Lincolnshirebusinesses, there is still a highlydisproportionate split between theamount of women employed inbusiness to men and the wages theyare paid. To combat this severalfemale-only networking groups existwhich aim to boost success, businesscontacts and opportunities for growth. Women in Business is a group whichoperates from a Hull base, but reachesacross the Humber to North and NorthEast Lincolnshire. Meeting monthly,the organisation provides interestingand enjoyable events which providethe chance for businesswomen to meetinformally outside the confines of theworkplace. This no doubt provides astress-free atmosphere, but the ideabehind it is to exchange ideas andperhaps cement business relationships. Not just a networking group by anymeans, the group champions femaleachievement with the Women ofAchievement Awards, held annually. Underpinning these innovativegroups however is a sense ofcommunity and support. Oneorganisation which stands to offerhelp and advice within thiscommunity is WIRE. Standing forWomen In Rural Enterprise, as well asthe networking and central website forsharing of ideas that other groupsoffer, it specialises in training as well. Their Open Doors training eventsgive confidence, knowledge andsupport to both new start-ups andestablished businesses alike.The idea of independence isobviously something which appeals towomen. Surveys suggest the amountof female entrepreneurs is set toalmost double in the next few decades.With inspiration from successfulbusinesswomen such as Hilary Deveywho came from an underprivilegedbackground to make her fortune inlogistics, it’s no surprise to findwomen are keen to make their mark.More women, it seems, are willing toshow a readiness to work hard toachieve and plough ahead to abrighter career and future.Around 70% of women surveyed byAvon, who themselves encourageforms of self-employment, said thatbeing their own boss appealed tothem. 85% were keen to have a rolewhere they could achieve somethingsignificant and almost two thirds werewilling to work more than one job.The fact that the job market, certainlyat present, seems to be at saturationpoint means that the appeal ofbreaking away to become self-employed seems a good option, andnot just to women. Far from left behindWomen in our county are ploughing ahead in terms of business, with more female directors anda feeling of optimism among female entrepreneursMore women aredreaming of becomingtheir own boss66:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:11 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY67BUSINESS LINCS - MEET THE EXPERTA step in theright directionIt’s easy for a business to fall foul ofonerous legislationIt’s often said that companies are now bogged down withexcessive red tape and administration, but the consequencesof failing to adhere to it can be very big. Indeed, many majorcustomers often refuse to work with businesses unless theycan be seen to have fulfilled their obligations – which oftengo far and beyond that which is legally required.But what if the worst happens? A new report on themanufacturing industry suggests that many companies don’thave adequate risk governance – and are relying on protectionthat isn’t suitable for their needs. The Mactavish Reporthighlights the potentially critical oversights and blind spotsthat could see companies failing because an insurance claim isnot paid out, or is delayed longer than a company’s ability tosustain its business.One of the major factors highlighted by the report is thattoo often businesses have gaps in their cover thanks tochanges in the way they do business. For example, ifmanufacturers decide to become a service provider as well,they would have to adhere to a whole new set of rules andregulations, and be responsible for a new set of risks thataren’t always accountable for. The challenge is to ensure thecorrect advice is given to confirm their obligations. Happily,Lincolnshire’s business experts can set up on the rightdirection and ensure you’re secure if the worst happens. Towards agoldennest eggSo the Government’s media campaignaround auto enrolment has started, andthe message is “workplace pensionreform is coming.”Despite the changes to some staging dates, theGovernment is pushing ahead with compulsory autoenrolment of employees into a workplace pension, withsignificant responsibilities falling on employers. We hereconsider the implications of this for you and your business.First employers will have to choose a pension scheme.This could be an existing scheme, a National EmploymentSavings Trust (NEST) or one set up with a pension provide.There will be information available from The PensionsRegulator later this year, to help companies make thedecision, but the Regulator’s role is to inform only, not toadvise which option is best for your firm.Employers will need to assess their workforce to see whattheir duties will be in relation to each of their workers, andprovide employees with information, in writing, specific totheir circumstances about how the change will affect them. Any employee’s decision to opt out of a scheme should betaken freely and without influence by their employer andyou may be asked to demonstrate this. Workplace pensionreform can seem a confusing subject, and the governmentpolicy is that employers “should not need advice.” Thereforms may require a dedicated manager to deal with theinitial obligations and then ensure the duty to provide theright information to the right individual at the right time isfulfilled. For those employers who feel that their time is betterspent running a company rather than researching pensions,the pension changes allow an Independent FinancialAdvisor (IFA) to provide information remains with theemployer, an IFA can advise on the best pension scheme foryour firm, and answer your employee’s questions, avoidingany potential conflict of interest regarding opting out. For more information contact Haines Watts CharteredAccounts on 01754 766 991 or visit www.hwca.com/skegness67-69:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:38 Page 168 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBUSINESS LINCS - MEET THE EXPERTThe company was founded in a Stratford-upon-Avonteashop in 1910, by seven Warwickshire farmers. Establishedwith only £190 of working capital, the company now hasassets under management in excess of £12 billion.Originally founded to insure farmers against the losses fromhayrick fires, NFU Mutual has grown and diversified to offer awide range of products and services to farmers and non-farmers alike, including: home, motor and business insurance,as well as life, pensions and investments. NFU Mutual Financial Consultants advise on NFU Mutualproducts and in special circumstances those of other providers.They believe that by being based in offices acrossLincolnshire and offering a face to face service that theydevelop a better understanding of the insurance needs of theirNFU Mutual are part ofthe fabric of rural lifeand through it they aim to provide their members with the insurance, pensionsand investments they need, at a fair price, and with a first class service. customers and form good working relationships with them.You will find the traditional approach to modern business isa refreshing change, particularly when your visit might wellbegin with a simple question, such as “Would you like a cupof tea or coffee?”NFU Mutual is The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982).Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, WarwickshireCV37 7BJ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. A member of theAssociation of British Insurers. For security and training purposes, telephone calls may berecorded and monitored. Advertisement Feature67-69:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:38 Page 2LINCOLNSHIRETODAY69BUSINESS LINCS - MEET THE EXPERTSpire HealthcareDispelling the myths ofPrivate Medical InsuranceAs the recession deepens ‘nice tohave items’ such as Private MedicalInsurance would appear dispensable– but the total lives covered is ashigh as it was before the downturn.Policies are available for smaller companies with as few as three employees, so you don’t haveto be a huge operation to cover your staff.Private medical insurance is designed to cover the costs of private medical treatment, forwhat are commonly known as acute conditions. Most insurers define an acute condition as adisease, illness or injury likely to respond quickly to treatment. Your insurer can tell you abouttheir cover for this and chronic long term conditions.You can buy private medical insurance direct from the insurer, or through an independentadviser or agent . An insurer or agent who sells policies on an insurer’s behalf is only able todiscuss that insurer’s own polices. An independent adviser offers policies from a range ofinsurers.If you don’t have Private medical insurance you can still access treatment quickly usingSpire’s one-off payment package. For more information visitwww.spirehalthcare.com/payingforprivatetreatment.Natural PavingProductsEstablished in 2005, Natural Paving Products has rapidly become one of theleading suppliers of quality, ethically sourced natural stone throughout the UK.This was illustrated by the team winning the ABP Business Growth award at thisyear’s Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards.The company are market leaders of Natural Stone Block Paving, a directreplacement for tumbled concrete block paving, offering a truly natural finish thatdoes not wear away to expose the aggregate – ideal for the driveway.A variety of paving is also available, with market leading brands such aspremiastone, classicstone and finestone in many colours, textures and finishes.Additionally, Natural Paving works in partnership with Fired Earth on an exclusiverange of new and exciting natural stone products.Belton Road, Sandtoft Tel: 0845 072 1150Email: sales@naturalpaving.co.uk www.naturalpaving.co.ukThe local approach fromHarold Woolgar InsuranceHarold Woolgar Insurance is a family owned and run independent insurancebrokerage, and not a tied agent of a single insurer. This means you deal withindividuals locally and not automated telephone systems or offshore call centres.Harold Woolgar’s farm clients vary in size from small family farms to majorfarming companies with food processing facilities. They truly do cover everythingfrom A to Z – aircraft to zebra.All staff come from rural or farming backgrounds so they know what they, andmore importantly the clients, are talking about. They also have a genuineempathy with the current state of farming and agriculture.Let Harold Woolgar do the shopping round for your insurance requirements. Asbrokers they have the whole market place available and act always as the client’sagent, not the insurers’.Visit Harold Woolgar Insurance at 35 High Street, Epworth DN9 1EP orcall 01427 873388 or 873888.John Varley sets thestandardWith a career spanning over 25years, John Varley, Managing Directorof Later Life Solutions, has beenawarded the Financial SkillsPartnership Later Life Accreditation.He is the first person in Lincolnshireto attain this status and is now a full member of the Society of Later Life Advisers.Having held a number of senior management positions with large organisations, Johnjoined the financial planning arm of Forrester Boyd in 2011 to launch Later Life Solutions,a specialist service aimed at addressing the financial planning needs for people in thelater stages of life. Be it paying for care, releasing equity from your home, avoidinginheritance tax or just simply arranging your estate and affairs, John and his team are ableto assist.John has become particularly known as a specialist on paying for care. He is activelyinvolved in promoting awareness of the need for the elderly to seek specialist advice andhas worked closely with local authorities, charities and care homes.Tel: 0845 835 0112 Email: j.varley@laterlifesolutions.co.ukwww.laterlifesolutions.co.ukwww.lincolnshiretoday.netLater Life Solutions is a division of FB WealthManagement Ltd. which is authorised and regulatedby the Financial Services Authority. Registered inEngland & Wales No. 07312958.67-69:Layout 1 13/7/12 13:38 Page 3Next >