Lincs firm secures £30m to drive smart home technology growth
Lincolnshire technology manufacturer, myenergi, has secured a £30m funding package from HSBC UK to support the development and production of innovative smart home energy products.
The funding will be used to expand the company’s operations, enhance its production capabilities, and invest in research and development to create new and innovative products that meet the evolving needs of consumers, including electric vehicle chargers and batteries for storing energy.
Lee Sutton, myenergi co-founder and Chief Executive, said: “The new financing facility from HSBC UK will enable us to further accelerate our growth and innovation in smart home technology.
“Over the last four years, HSBC has supported the business with various financial solutions to facilitate our ever-increasing growth. The introduction of the new funding facility will enable us to accelerate our business development strategy and support us in the next chapter of our amazing journey.”
Frances Howell, MD, Head of Corporate Midlands at HSBC UK, added: “myenergi is a great example of a British business that is leading the way in developing smart home technology, helping people make the transition to renewable energy in their homes. This deal will allow the development of new green technologies, optimising renewable energy usage to create eco smart homes while putting British manufacturing back on the world stage.”
Founded in 2016 by Lee Sutton and Jordan Brompton, myenergi has grown to almost 450 employees, and annual sales last year broke the £50m barrier. Myenergi’s headquarters in Stallingborough is currently undergoing a major transformation, with a new 65,000 sq ft production facility under construction to expand capacity to meet demand.
Image shows L-R: Jordan Brompton, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at myenergi; Frances Howell, MD, Head of Corporate Midlands at HSBC UK; Lee Sutton, myenergi co-founder and Chief Executive; Melissa Hemming, Relationship Director at HSBC UK; and Emma Dutton, Chief Financial Officer at myenergi
New CEO starts role at Lincolnshire Co-op
Lincolnshire Co-op has welcomed Alison Hands into her new role as Chief Executive Officer of the retail co-operative.
Alison brings over 33 years’ experience in a diverse mix of retail environments, including Marks and Spencer, The Body Shop, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Boots Opticians. She has most recently been Managing Director at Wilko.
Lincolnshire Co-op runs over 220 outlets including food stores and filling stations, pharmacies, post offices, funeral homes, travel agencies and a crematorium. The society is also active in development schemes, such as the Cornhill Quarter in Lincoln city centre and the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park.
During coming weeks, Alison will be meeting colleagues from across business, as well as stakeholders which work closely alongside the society on development and community projects.
Alison said: “I’m looking forward to spending time meeting my colleagues, seeing the diverse valued services we provide in action and further understanding how we deliver our purpose to make life better in communities.
“Lincolnshire Co-op is a successful values-driven organisation and I’m excited to work collectively alongside the team to continue to deliver for our area, develop our services and face the challenges of the future.”
Former CEO Ursula Lidbetter retired in December after 18 years with the society. Until now, Chief Financial Officer Steve Galjaard has been Acting Chief Executive Officer alongside his role.
Chair of the Board of Directors David Cowell said: “We’re grateful to Steve, whose leadership has ensured a smooth transition for Alison and all our colleagues.
“We’re delighted to welcome Alison to Lincolnshire Co-op. She has a wealth of experience and a passion for what makes us a different type of business – our community and membership focus. We’re all looking forward to working together to ensure we continue to be a strong and successful business.”
Lincolnshire students visit Oxford University college for the first time
Year 9 students from Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School, Sir Robert Pattinson Academy and Guilsborough Academy visited Lincoln College, Oxford on Friday for the first time as part of the collaborative Pathfinders programme.
Students from Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire who are eligible for free school meals can take part in the programme, opening doors to youngsters who are currently under-represented at Oxford.
The students were able to take part in a range of sessions on topics such as Astrophysics, as well as workshops with the Lincoln International Business School and the Lincoln College Archives.
Faye Platt, 14, a year 9 student at Guilsborough Academy, said: “I loved every single minute of the Pathfinders’ day. It gave me a chance to see how it works at university and the independence you’re given with your studies and social life.
“The Pathfinders programme has given me a wider perspective of what university is all about. It’s not scary and daunting but quite welcoming. It’s widened my eyes to other opportunities and subjects that I might want to study in the future.”
The Pathfinders programme, Lincoln College’s flagship access initiative, wants students with academic ambitions to feel confident in applying to study at the College. It is part of the College’s commitment to recruiting the best students from all backgrounds, as well as encouraging applications from under-represented students who receive free school meals. At present a third of Lincoln College students from the UK receive means tested bursaries.
The programme, which launched in autumn 2022, is aimed at students in years nine (13/14 years old), ten (14/15 years old) and eleven (15/16 years old).
Lincoln College has close ties with Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, providing open days, visits and study days. The Pathfinders programme takes that one step further through continuous contact with students and partnerships, including the University of Lincoln and Lincoln International Business School.
These links will give pupils the opportunity to receive ongoing information and advice to make informed choices about their future and potential. Youngsters have the opportunity to attend residential stays and workshops in Oxford and Lincoln. There is also additional information for parents and teachers about financing, university admissions and skills development.
Dr Maryanne Saunders, Lincoln College Access and Career Development Fellow, said: “We are delighted to have hosted our second Pathfinders event. It was wonderful to welcome Year 9 pupils from across our link regions to the College for workshops in Business and Astrophysics. The College Archivist Lyndsay McCormick and Dilts Fellow Dr Laure Miolo organised a Palaeography workshop with Lincoln’s own collections.
“It was fantastic to see the excitement on the children’s faces during the day and we look forward to welcoming them back for more sessions in the near future.”
John Gibbins, Careers Coordinator, Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School, said: “The Pathfinders Programme gives us an invaluable chance to expose our pupils to the remarkable opportunities that higher education represents. The academic sessions were challenging but the atmosphere of respect and collaboration encourages our pupils to stretch themselves. Involvement from both the University of Lincoln and Lincoln College Oxford has allowed both the school and our pupils to make connections we would have otherwise struggled to build.
“Staff and pupils alike were delighted to make the journey to Lincoln College, we even had a few fist pumps when the invite was handed out!”
There will be two further trips for the students next year, at both the University of Lincoln and Lincoln College, Oxford. The third and final year of the cohort’s programme will see the students experience an overnight stay in Oxford. Lincoln College will soon be recruiting for the next student cohort, inviting more schools from Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire to take part.
Image – Pupils from Guilsborough Academy and Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School wait for their next workshop to begin. Copyright: Stuart Bebb at Oxford Camera.
East Lindsey gears up for Love Your Local Market campaign
East Lindsey District Council’s markets are once again joining other markets across the country taking part in the twelfth Love Your Local Market campaign led by the National Association of British Market Authorities.
Love Your Local Market runs from Friday 12th May to Saturday 27th May and is designed to encourage new traders to give the markets a go and local communities to support their local market. To attract new orders East Lindsey District Council is offering new traders the opportunity of eight stalls for the price of four on the markets at Louth, Horncastle or Spilsby.
A spokesman for the ELDC Markets team said: “We have been taking part in the Love Your Local Market campaign for many years and it’s been very successful in introducing new businesses to the markets. Traders with a business idea they’d like to trial, or those already running a business and keen to try the markets as a platform should get in touch.
“Many of the new businesses who have taken part over the years have continued to stand on the markets as either regular or casual traders. The outlay works out relatively low at only £7.50 per stall for 8 stalls.”
Edgar Viegas, who began selling Portuguese food on Louth market during the Love Your Local Market campaign last year, said: “We started trading on a Wednesday and the stall was really popular so we stayed on the market. We have some lovely regular customers and have just opened Zara Café in Cannon Street, Louth which we hope will be just as successful.”
The ever popular Districts Favourite Market Trader competition will take place once again as part of these celebrations with the public voting online for their favourite market trader. The winning trader will be announced in June and be awarded eight free stalls, a winner of the year stall banner and a special markets award. Potential traders should cal the Markets team on 01507 613532.
University of Lincoln takes science to the pub
The hugely popular Pint of Science festival returns to Lincoln on Monday 22 May 2023 for a three-day celebration which will take science out of the lab and into the pub.
The aim of the festival is to provide a space for researchers and members of the public alike to come together, be curious, and chat about fascinating research in a relaxed environment.
A dozen researchers from different subject areas at the University of Lincoln will deliver talks over three nights in The Cardinal’s Hat and The Pessimist pubs in the city, covering a range of topics from dog body language to forensic science, and robotics.
Titles of the talks will include “The Secret Minds of Reptiles”, “A Horse in Cow’s Clothing: “The Analysis of Food Fraud” and “Trees for Neurodiversity: Thriving Through Forest School”.
Dr Kay Ritchie, Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology at the University and Pint of Science lead for Lincoln, said: “We’re really excited to bring Pint of Science back to Lincoln for our third year in our local pubs. We’re looking forward to showcasing some University of Lincoln research in a fun and interactive way. With six events across three nights, there’s something for everyone.”
Anna Wilkinson, Professor of Animal Cognition at the University, will give a unique insight into the minds of reptiles, at the Monday night’s event “Understanding Animals”. Speaking about her talk, she said: “Reptiles are generally considered to be sluggish and unintelligent creatures; however, our research reveals that they are anything but. My talk will introduce the audience to the world of reptile cognition, showing evidence of the remarkable cognitive abilities in this group and will consider the implications for their welfare in captivity. This talk aims to get you thinking about what’s going on inside the brains of our scaly friends.”
The Lincoln festival will also include Creative Reactions – a programme where science meets art to produce unique works of art, inspired by scientists’ research. The artwork will be displayed in the South Transept of Lincoln Cathedral between 16 May and 1 June 2023.
Tickets for the Pint of Science talks will be available to purchase from Monday 17 April online: www.pintofscience.co.uk/events/lincoln.
Operation Seabird aims to highlight the need to look out for coastal wildlife
This year’s Operation Seabird has taken place at Saltfleet – just down the coast from Cleethorpes and Tetney – and Barton’s Far Ings nature reserve to raise awareness of our spectacular wildlife.
The Humber Nature Partnership supported the day of action, as the coastline prepares for the Easter break.
Police patrols looked for disturbance and antisocial behaviour – offering advice to visitors about how they can minimise their impact on our coastal wildlife along the Humber Estuary European Marine Site.
Regarded as one of the most important estuaries in Europe for its wildlife and habitats, the Humber Estuary European Marine Site covers the entire Humber Estuary and spans the North Sea from the Spurn Peninsula to north Mablethorpe.
During the spring and summer, the reedbeds and shingle on the beaches support elusive and sometimes rare species such as Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Little Tern during their breeding season.
Over the autumn and winter months, the land and skies around the Humber Estuary fill with migrating birds such as Pink-Footed Geese, with the rich and fertile habitat providing a welcome food source after their long journey from Scandinavia, Iceland and beyond.
Chief Inspector Derek Hussain who is the lead for Rural Crime in Humberside Police said: “Our dedicated Rural Task Force has to deal with a number of reports each year of members of the public on the water, approaching too closely to the wildlife that lives in the area. This includes nesting seabirds and marine mammals.
“The key focus of Operation Seabird is to ensure that members of the public using the waters along the Yorkshire coast and Humber Estuary do so in a responsible way. We want to ensure they keep their distance from the wildlife to prevent intentional disturbance and to safeguard this stretch of coastline, allowing future generations to enjoy the spectacle we see today.”
DC Aaron Flint, Force Wildlife Crime Officer for Lincolnshire Police said: “The Lincolnshire coastline is a very important feature of our amazing county, providing habitat for wildflowers, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals. It also attracts many visitors each year. Unfortunately, each year we receive a large number of reports relating to members of the public disturbing wildlife such as nesting birds or resting seals, damaging the features of our SSSI’s either on foot, using motor bikes/ off road vehicles or airborne vehicles such as paramotors.
“The focus of Operation Seabird is to protect our important coastline whilst also allowing members of the public enjoy it responsibly, this is done mainly through educating the public regarding the need to keep their distance from wildlife to prevent disturbance, stay on footpaths and public areas and not to drive motor vehicles on the sites to prevent destruction of SSSI features. It’s important to note that although education is the main focus of the operation enforcement action and prosecutions will be taken where necessary.”
Jackson Sage, Project Manager for the Humber Management Scheme at Humber Nature Partnership said: “The Humber Estuary is home to up to 140,000 breeding and migratory birds, marine mammals such as seals and Harbour Porpoise, all supported by tens of thousands of hectares of delicate habitats protected under UK law. We want people to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and wildlife we have on our doorstep, but do so in a way that does not come at the expense of the important species and habitats that we are so lucky to have.”
World’s largest festival of public science talks returns to Lincoln pubs
The popular Pint of Science festival returns to Lincoln on Monday 22 May 2023 for a three-day celebration which will take science out of the laboratory and into the pub.
The aim of the festival is to provide a space for researchers and members of the public alike to come together, be curious, and chat about fascinating research in a relaxed environment.
12 researchers from different subject areas at the University of Lincoln will deliver 12 talks over three nights in The Cardinal’s Hat and The Pessimist pubs in the city, covering a range of topics from dog body language to forensic science, and robotics.
Titles of the talks will include ‘The Secret Minds of Reptiles’, ‘A Horse in Cow’s Clothing: The Analysis of Food Fraud’ and ‘Trees for Neurodiversity: Thriving Through Forest School’.
Dr Kay Ritchie, Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology at the University and Pint of Science lead for Lincoln, said: “We’re really excited to bring Pint of Science back to Lincoln for our third year in our local pubs. We’re looking forward to showcasing some University of Lincoln research in a fun and interactive way. With six events across three nights, there’s something for everyone.”
Anna Wilkinson, Professor of Animal Cognition at the University, will give a unique insight into the minds of reptiles, at the Monday night’s event ‘Understanding Animals’. Speaking about her talk, she said: “Reptiles are generally considered to be sluggish and unintelligent creatures; however, our research reveals that they are anything but.
“My talk will introduce the audience to the world of reptile cognition, showing evidence of the remarkable cognitive abilities in this group and will consider the implications for their welfare in captivity. This talk aims to get you thinking about what’s going on inside the brains of our scaly friends.”
The Lincoln festival will also include Creative Reactions – a programme where science meets art to produce unique works of art, inspired by scientists’ research. The artwork will be displayed in the South Transept of Lincoln Cathedral between 16 May and 1 June 2023.
Company fined £2.3m after workers put at risk of death
A major pipeline transportation company has been fined £2.3 million for safety breaches after its employees were exposed to risk of serious injury and even death while working on a leaking pipeline containing petrol under pressure.
Workers at Exolum Pipeline System Ltd, formerly known as CLH Pipeline System (CLH-PS) Ltd, were excavating a suspected pipeline leak in the woodland adjacent to the B1398 and M180 near Holme, North Lincolnshire, between 7 to 10 March 2018. The employees were working in an area where a previous repair had taken place.
The risks arising from the excavation work and exposure were significant. An unknown defect on the previous repair of the pipeline which contained petroleum under high pressure had the potential to form a flammable cloud extending over several metres from the work area, causing those in the immediate vicinity to potentially be covered in a heavy spray of petrol and engulfed in petrol vapour. If ignition had occurred before the area could be evacuated, then there would have been a very high risk of death or serious injury.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that Exolum Pipeline System Ltd failed to properly identify and control the risks associated with carrying out a pipeline repair.
Exolum Pipeline System Ltd, of King William Street, London, was found guilty of an offence contrary to Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and an offence contrary to Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 following a trial at Grimsby Crown Court. The company was fined £2.3 million and ordered to pay £157,431 in costs at Grimsby Crown Court on 24 March 2023.
HSE inspector Mark Leadbetter said: “This incident had the potential to cause serious injury or death to multiple casualties and could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Spalding company signs £400m deal to supply flowers to Aldi
Aldi UK, Aldi Ireland, and Aldi Süd KG have signed a £400m four-year sole supplier contract for 200 million bunches of cut flowers with long-standing partner JZ Flowers, which operates from sites including Moulton near Spalding.
Julie Ashfield, MD of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “We are incredibly proud of our almost 30-year partnership with JZ Flowers, and are looking forward to seeing the relationship develop further as we grow together. We know that long-term partnerships like this one are fundamental to our mutual success in the UK, and we thank JZ Flowers for their ongoing support as we continue striving to offer our customers high quality products at the lowest possible prices.”
Tessa Zwemstra, MD at JZ Flowers, said: “We are thrilled to extend for a further four years with the new contract. It gives us the long-term security to commit to our growers and make investments throughout our supply chain to ensure ALDI can provide customers with excellent quality, sustainably sourced flowers at the affordable prices it is famous for.”
JZ Flowers has been supplying flowers to Aldi stores across the UK and Ireland for more than a quarter of a century, and employs over 900 staff at its sites in Newport, near Hull, Spalding in Lincolnshire, Naas in Ireland, and Miami in the USA. The company began supplying fresh flowers to the first handful of stores in 1995, and the relationship has evolved alongside Aldi’s growth to see JZ Flowers’ products now sold in over 1,150 stores in the UK and Ireland.
JZ Flowers, who also supply plants to retailers across UK and Ireland, is part of Dutch Flower Group, a unique group of floral trading companies who work together to serve the entire international floriculture chain.
Six years and nine months in prison for Lincoln County Hospital arsonist
A man who set a deliberate fire in Lincoln County Hospital’s A&E causing almost £2 million of damage has been jailed for six years and nine months.
John Gillon Watson, 57, was also given the maximum extended licence period of five years on his release from jail for the charge of arson with recklessness as to whether life is endangered.
Lincoln Crown Court heard how Watson, of Vicarage Court, Sleaford, had entered the hospital as a patient before setting the fire in a room just off the main A&E department in the early hours of the morning on 29 March 2022.
During the investigation, CCTV footage showed a man wearing a distinctive black jacket with Elvis on the back – who was later identified as Watson – in an area which was being engulfed with smoke before he was moved by fire fighters. There were no other people captured on CCTV in the area at the time of the fire starting.
Watson was arrested around 11am that day following a swift response from detectives in Lincolnshire Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
He has remained in custody since his arrest and charge. The investigation also involved arson investigators from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, forensic investigators, and the hospital’s estates and facilities team.
The fire led to the emergency evacuation of the busy A&E department – including sick and injured patients – and carried a huge risk of igniting medical oxygen piping running throughout the hospital. If that had ignited, large parts of the hospital would have been badly damaged. It also led to the instantaneous loss of a CT scanner at the hospital, a machine which can be vital for someone with a serious injury, meaning the potential to treat significant traumas at the hospital was severely impacted.
The Trust declared a major incident as a result of the fire, with patients diverted to other departments at Lincoln County Hospital, as well as other hospitals. In total, the A&E department was closed down for 48 hours, damage to diagnostic equipment meant that more than 3,300 patient appointments for diagnostic tests were delayed.
Six crews from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were required to tackle the fire. Once extinguished, it was found to have caused extensive damage to the imaging room housing the CT scanner and MRI machine, a mobile ultrasound machine, a computer, bandages, and other equipment, as well as soot and smoke damage to entire department and neighbouring areas.
Detective Sergeant Dave Patten from Lincoln CID led the investigation. He said: “This was one of the most serious and reckless cases of arson we have ever dealt with; the potential for harm should that fire have escalated is unthinkable.
“The impact on the community and the hospital teams has been profound, with patients having to be diverted to other treatment centres, and clean up and repair work impacting the use of a busy emergency department.
“This would have been very frightening for staff and patients, and I hope that today’s sentencing goes some way to providing some comfort that justice has been served against the individual responsible.”
Watson admitted the arson on 20 January.
