If Brexit had a hit list, it would be mercilessly scratching off Lincolnshire businesses in a strong and stable succession. Since the referendum of 2016, a pattern has emerged, and whether influenced by well-recited consumer uncertainty, the internet boom or trade blockades, business owners who have called it a day in the last three years have almost all placed some of the blame for their demise on the UK’s impending departure from the EU.
Brexit’s unshakeable dominance has impacted companies of all shapes and sizes in the county. This week, 50-year-old Lincoln family business Bang & Olufsen said the appetite for its luxury products has faded. Its long established High Street shop will soon close for good. “It’s a very high end brand and for the last three years there’s been a lot of uncertainty with the Brexit situation,” explained owner Gavin Sykes. “Our customers have, to some degree, been sat on their hands.”
Consumer confidence has been battered by yo-yoing threats of a no-deal exit, recession predictions and trade war backdrops between the US and China. Disappearing retailers on Lincolnshire high streets are the casualties of shoppers’ double-knotted purse strings, alongside huge shifts from personal shopping to online bargain hunts and stringent price comparisons.
In the last two years alone, the lights went out in Toys R Us superstores, Poundworld, Downtown stores, Office Outlet, Bath Store and other household names like Mammas & Papas, and soon Mothercare, across Lincolnshire.
“The heightened political and Brexit uncertainty, as to both outcome and timing, is adversely affecting customer confidence,” said Pendragon PLC upon closing one of its Evans Halshaw dealerships in Lincoln in October 2019.
But it’s not just retail industries taking the hit. Engineering and construction firms from the Humber to the Wash are squeezing operations, halting building work and freezing investment. Back in 2016, Grantham metal fabricator S.S.T. Process Engineering entered administration amid cries of uncertain markets.
It was a precursor to wider troubles. “British Steel collapses,” read the headlines in May this year. China’s Jingye Group is now set to swoop in with a rescue deal worth around £70 million for the company, which employs 4,500 people at its Scunthorpe site. The final hour deal comes after the firm sought a £75 million government loan to keep afloat. It blamed a slump in orders from European customers and uncertainty about trading arrangements with the EU. “Unfortunately, this could be the first major casualty of a messy Brexit,” warned Managing Director of Forbes Burton Rick Smith previously.
Additionally, the pressure arrived at the door of one of Lincoln’s biggest employers. Siemens announced in September that it was looking for up to 70 voluntary redundancies at its Ruston Works site “to help size the business in-line with market demands.”
Lincoln construction firm Simons, established in 1944, filed for administration in October 2019, signalling around 124 job losses. The company, which was carrying a significant deficit (£11.3 million at last filing in March 2018), was building mainly for the retail and commercial sector. The company said the market was facing a “challenging time,” which it expected to continue.
As Brexit, and now the upcoming general election, sucks up more capacity in Westminster, the government has no more bandwidth for addressing giant issues in the business community. Leaders in the county will be listening intently to election promises which eradicate uncertainty, trade fears and spending anxieties.
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We are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a collision caused serious injuries to a 23-year-old man.
Just before 3.30pm yesterday (2 July), we received reports of a collision on Barholm Road in Tallington. It involved a grey BMW 335D estate, a blue BMW 116D and an orange KTM motorcycle.
The motorcycle rider, a 23-year-old man, sustained serious injuries during the collision and was taken to hospital.
If you witnessed the incident and are yet to get in touch with us, please do so. If you have any other information or dashcam footage available that may have captured the road along the A1175 at the time of the collision, get in touch.
By calling 101 quoting incident 282 of 2 July.
By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 282 of 2 July in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
The 2022 Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Excellence Awards are open for applications, and Destination Lincolnshire giving you the rare chance to co-create your application with Nell Barrington, a tourism awards veteran, who has helped hundreds of businesses write winning applications over the last 15 years – including national VisitEngland winners.
The Tourism Awards Masterclass is taking place on Tuesday 12 July at 11am for one-hour online. Laura Freer, Head of Marketing at Destination Lincolnshire said: “This is a golden opportunity, after years of hard work and heartache, to get your business and team recognised and rewarded.
“A well written application is key to achieving a coveted place on this year’s shortlist, and I’d encourage all tourism and visitor economy businesses who are thinking of entering – whether they are seasoned at writing award applications or not – to join us for this exclusive masterclass.
“Nell Barrington has worked with us and VisitEngland on the founding application processes of these awards, and she is perfectly placed to assist in co-creating applications that you can be proud of. This is a great opportunity for business development too – whether you are shortlisted for an award or not – discovering how to effectively apply for awards and talk up your business adds another string to your bow.
“Booking is essential and places are limited to just 35 – so be quick! This year we’ve made our masterclass available to partners and also to those who we are yet to work with for free. Call it an added bonus, after two years away from the awards circuit.
The awards masterclass is focussed on the application process, and it will spell out what the judges are looking for. You’ll learn how to make your application stand out from the local competition, helping your chances of going through to the national VisitEngland Awards in 2023.”
There are fifteen categories open for nominations from visitors attraction, accommodation providers, hospitality businesses and many more.
The deadline for nominations is July 29, with online judging starting on July 30 and mystery shopping from August 13. Finalists will be announced on Monday, August 15.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Engine Shed on October 21, and will be hosted by Lincs FM presenter, John Marshall.
The event is organised by Stonebow Media, publishers of The Lincolnite, to celebrate the best businesses in Greater Lincolnshire, alongside headline sponsors Lincoln College and Destination Lincolnshire.
We would also like to thank our other sponsors Visit Lincolnshire, Heart of Lincs, Duncan and Toplis and LNER, insight6 and EV Camel.