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VICKY DEVLIN Best foot forward!
-37.42 5612.26
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MARK DALTON Changes to come in 2012 Column - Page 6
An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
Business centres in plea over rates A COMPANY operating business centres in Huddersfield is urging the government to stop levying rates on empty commercial properties – and provide an incentive to make more space available to start-ups and small firms. Bizspace, which owns more than 110 business centres across the UK, includi n g o n e s at M a r s h M i l l s a n d Linthwaite Business Centre, made its case in a meeting with Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney at the Marsh site. Managing director Gareth Evans said the business centres had been instrumental in helping to attract inward investment, small businesses and jobs to the area – with both Huddersfield centres boasting occupancy rates of more than 80%. But he said the policy of levying rates on empty property rates meant Bizspace had stopped acquiring and opening more centres because the “punishing taxes” during the first couple of years when new centres are still at low occupancy levels made the whole proposition unviable. Mr Evans said BizSpace had an empty property rates bill of £1.2m a year – at a time when its income was being hit by comparatively low rentals due to current market conditions.
He said: “For us, that is the key. It takes time to administer the empty rates when we should be spending that time attracting small businesses into our centres. It is an additional annoyance we don’t need in the current environment.” Mr Evans urged the government to take a wider view of the issue. He said: “Rate relief is great for small businesses, but small businesses tend to be in flexible space like ours – and we are being penalised by empty property rates.” Conservative MP Jason McCartney said he planned to speak in a Commons debate on the issue tomorrow and attend a reception at Westminster on February 6 for industry body The Business Centres Association, of which BizSpace is a member. Mr McCartney said he would be asking ministers to look at providing some form of rate relief for business centres, but said the issue was to find the best way to incentivise organisations like BizSpace to refurbish their empty units. He said: “This issue has been around for many years now. However, I am very pleased that it is now at the top of the political agenda. “Empty property rates bring in billions of pounds to the Exchequer and
scheduled for April and make employers’ national insurance breaks available in all regions and to a wider range of businesses in order to encourage companies to employ people rather than penalise them for doing so.. The call follows the chamber’s fourth quarter economic survey conducted among member firms in Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield. The survey showed a decline in export sales and orders and s a i d c a s h f l ow p r e s s u r e s
Going by the book HUDDERSFIELD’S TONY Lee is celebrating a successful first year for his business – and growing sales for his latest book. Tony Lee First Aid Training has acquired many clients and now provides first aid training to GPs, nurses, dentists, hotel and bar staff for companies across the UK. Meanwhile, writing under his first name, Michael, Mr Lee has penned Letters From a Professional Nuisance, a collection of spoof letters, including job applications, sent to various organisations.
● Full story - Page 8 ■ MILL WORK: Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney (left), with BizSpace sales manager Geoff Taylor (middle) and managing director Gareth Evans
if we take money out of the Treasury we have to look at how we cover the deficit. “At the same time, we have a lot of mills in our area which could be supporting start-up businesses and helping them grow given the right incentive.”
Marsh Mills provides business units totalling 78,018sq ft and is home to several small businesses, including glass and furniture manufacturers and a gym. Linthwaite Business Centre offers a mixture of industrial units, workshops and storage facilities amounting to 28,729sq ft.
Firms endure ‘difficult and disappointing’ year BUSINESS leaders in Kirklees have repeated call for Government action following a survey showing local firms face a “long hard slog” to overcome economic uncertainties. The Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said further measures were needed in addition to the action outlined in the Autumn Statement to help exporters and manufacturers. It also urged the Government to cancel all or part of a 5.6% rise in business rates
INSIDE
remained an issue. It said confidence levels remained uncertain while inflation and exchange rates were the major worries affecting businesses. Chamber members argued that the slowdown in the domestic economy combined with turmoil in overseas trading and currency markets demanded further action by the coalition to reinvigorate business conditions, encourage investment, increase confidence and provide incentives to
businesses to enable them to spearhead the UK’s economic recovery. They said very difficult policy decisions had to be taken soon to re-balance the economy in favour of manufacturing and exports as a means of achieving economic recovery. Chamber policy head Steven Leigh said: “This survey comes at the end of what has been a difficult and disappointing year for business and illustrates the ongoing problems being faced by companies.”
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Lots of success
■ PROBLEMS: Chamber policy head Steven Leigh
PROPERTY auctions held by a Huddersfield estate agency firm raised more than £4m during 2011. Boultons, with town centre premises at John William Street, held five collective sales last year, raising £4.27m.
● Full story - Page 7
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
national
Supermarket sees festive sales slide MORRISONS reported a slowdown in sales in the run-up to Christmas. The performance by the chain, which has stores at Waterloo and Meltham, underlines the fierce competition in the supermarket sector over the crucial trading period. The Bradford-based company, which has some 450 stores in the UK, said like-for-like sales, excluding VAT and fuel, increased by 0.7% in the six weeks to January 1,. That compares with a 2.4% increase for the previous quarter. The City had expected sales growth of 1%. The slowdown came despite Morrisons, the fourth biggest supermarket in the UK, claiming a record number of customers – with an extra 800,000 per week shopping there during the period. The battle for sales gathered pace in early October when Tesco introduced its Big Price Drop.
■ BUYER: Morrisons may be eyeing up several Best Buy megastores
That prompted Sainsbury’s to launch a price-matching scheme and Asda to slash petrol prices. Morrisons said total sales excluding VAT and fuel in the period rose by 2.9%. Including petrol sales, takings were up by 5.6%. Morrisons said a number of “innovative promotional offers” helped boost sales in the period and pulled in extra
Branson toasts takeover
HMV upbeat despite sales fall E N T E RTA I N M E N T g ro u p H M V insisted that it still has a future – despite reporting a further drop in sales in the run-up to Christmas. HMV, which owns 252 stores in the UK, including one at Kingsgate in Huddersfield, said group like-for-like sales fell by 8.1% in the five weeks to December 31. But like-for-like technology sales rose by 51% in the 144 stores refitted with an increased range of portable digital products. HMV, which has sold bookseller Waterstone’s and plans to sell its live music division, repeated its warning that there were “material uncertainties” which may cast
customers. The grocer also launched a new range of M Kitchen ready meals created by chefs such as Bryn Williams, Nigel Haworth and Aldo Zilli as well as adverts starring former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff. Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips said he was pleased with the performance in a “very tough market”.
Morrisons said it remained cautious in 2012, despite an expected fall in price pressures. The update comes after it was reported that Morrisons was sizing up several Best Buy megastores in a bid to grow its Kiddicare brand. The grocer is understood to be in advanced talks with Carphone Warehouse about the 11 “big box” sites, which are in the process of closing after a failed joint venture with American electricals giant Best Buy. The move has the potential to shake up the UK baby products market at a time when market leader Mothercare is struggling to reverse falling sales. Shares in Morrisons were broadly flat at 311.3p after the update was published. Freddie George, retail analyst at Seymour Pierce, said: “We view the stock as reasonable value given the subdued consumer environment.”
doubt on the group’s ability to continue. But chief executive Simon Fox said: “Undoubtedly, trading conditions and the consumer environment remain challenging, but we remain confident in HMV’s future prospects.” Freddie George, a retail analyst at Seymour Pierce stockbrokers, said the update was marginally better than expected. But he remained concerned that net debt levels were high at £160m following the disposal of Waterstone’s and HMV Canada. The chain has been hit by the squeeze in consumer spending.
COMPANIES which hand out bonuses even after poor job performances have given themselves a bad name, said Sir Richard Branson. Speaking during his visit to the first newly re-branded branch of Virgin Money, Sir Richard said bonuses should only be given to those who perform well. He said: “I think bonuses for jobs not well done is dreadful. It has given companies a bad name. “Bonuses for jobs well done are fine. If people can double the amount of customers from 4m to 8m, I will be very, very happy to give somebody a bonus.
“But if our customers drop from 4m to 2m I don’t think there will be many bonuses paid out.” Virgin Money took over nationalised Northern Rock in a £747m deal. It now aims to challenge the banking industry’s “big five” with a range of saving deals which will be “simple, fair and transparent”. Sir Richard toasted staff and customers in the lender’s Newcastle heartland when he visited the branch at in the city’s Northumberland Street. Re-branding Northern Rock’s 75 branches is expected to take nine months.
Page 2 JD Sports swoops SPORTSWEAR firm JD Sports Fashion has bought all of Blacks Leisure’s 290 stores out of administration for £20m. JD Sports bought the stores, which trade under the Blacks and Millets names, and the bulk of the rest of the business immediately after Blacks Leisure was put into administration. JD Sports, whose largest shareholder is Berghaus owner Pentland Capital, has beaten Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones, rival Sports Direct, which is owned by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, and outdoor retailer Trespass to land the stores. Blacks appointed KPMG as administrator earlier as it admitted it has failed to find an outright buyer after putting itself up for sale following dire trading.
Boost for builder THE UK’s second biggest housebuilder said its sales recovery continued with the help of stronger demand from first-time buyers. Persimmon, whose brands include Charles Church and Westbury, expects profits to jump by 50% this year after its FirstBuy scheme helped lift completions by 4% in the second half of 2011 offset weaker first-half performance.
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £31.33 +0.06 Gannett 891.69 +2.92 Hess Corp £36.85 +0.30 Microsoft 1802.81 -17.81 Motors Liquidation 48.58 Wal-Mart Stores £38.27 +0.05 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 3113/4 +23/4 BAE Systems 2891/4 +13/8 Rolls-Royce 7561/2 +1 AIM Brady Plc 741/2 Dawson Intl 13/8 Man Brnze 281/2 -31/4 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 1903/8 -1 BANKS Barclays 1781/8 -81/4 HSBC 4913/8 -63/4 1 Lloyds Banking Gp 26 /4 -7/8 Ryl Scotland 201/8 -1/2 1 Stan Chart 1397 /2 -231/2 BEVERAGES Diageo 1416 +11/2 SABMiller £233/8 +1/8 CHEMICALS Croda 1825 Elementis 98 138 +27/8 Johnsn Mat 1922 +4 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2727/8 -3/4
2083/4 +4 ELECTRICITY Drax Gp 557 +1 Intl Power 3421/4 +33/4 SSE 1292 +7 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 1521/8 +23/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 346 -11/2 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 1963/8 +3/8 Cable & Wireless 37 +1/4 Comm Cable & Wireless 17 -1/2 Wwide 3 Colt Group 87 /8 -1/8 KCOM 69 +1/2 Talktalk Telecom 136 +3/4 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 3111/2 +1/4 Sainsbury 300 +11/4 Tesco 3901/2 -1/2 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1116 -3 Tate Lyle 7061/2 +1 Unilever £213/8 +1/8 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 2861/8 -11/4 National Grid 624 +141/2 Pennon Grp 717 -31/2 Severn 1528 -6 United Utils 612 -1 Costain
GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 1755/8 -23/4 ICAP 3121/8 -71/4 1 London StockExch 779 /2 -11/2 1 Man Group 107 /4 -53/8 Provident Financial 933 -2 Schroders 1256 -39 Schroders NV 1027 -34 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 537 +1 REXAM 3641/4 +33/8 Smiths Grp 940 -2 GENERAL RETAILERS 1 Ashley L 20 /4 +3/8 Carphone Whse 326 +61/4 Dixons Retail 91/2 Home Retail 865/8 -51/2 Inchcape 2925/8 -5 Kingfisher 2515/8 +17/8 M&S 3081/2 -21/4 Mothercare 158 +3 Next £253/4 WH Smith 526 -1 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 6001/2 -61/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 691/2 -1/2 Barrat Dev 95 +2 Persimmon 5061/2 +251/2 Reckitt Benckiser £331/8 +3/8 1 Taylor Wimpey 38 /8 +3/4 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING Charter 961 +1 IMI 801 +51/2
INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 2891/8 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 1793/8 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 299 Lgl & Gen 1031/8 Old Mutual 1371/4 Prudential 636 Resolution 2451/4 Standard Life 1987/8 MEDIA BSkyB 707 D Mail Tst 3933/4 ITV 703/8 Johnston Press 61/4 Pearson 1226 Reed Elsevier 5081/2 STV Group 761/4 Trinity Mirror 49 Utd Business 4711/4 UTV 103 WPP 701 Yell Group 5 MINING Anglo American £243/8 Antofagasta 1234 BHP Billiton 19471/2 Eurasian Natural 6971/2 Res Fresnillo 1638 Kazakhmys 979 Lonmin 9761/2 Rio Tinto £331/8
-63/4 +1/4 -21/2 -11/8 -2 -11/2 -51/8 -2 -41/2 -21/2 -1 -3 -1/2 -1 +11/4 +11/2 +11 -1/8 -1/4 -36 -11/2 -7 -23 -16 -16
Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp
300 891/4 624 £213/4
+113/8 -13/4 +141/2 +1/4
FTSE closed at
5612.26 Down 37.42 VEDANTA 978 RESOURCES Xstrata 10111/2 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 4203/4 Vodafone Group 1771/8 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 8251/2 RSA Insurance Gp 1071/8 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 1456 BP 4735/8 Cairn Energy 2613/4 Royal Dutch Shell A £237/8 Royal Dutch Shell B £243/4
-28 -41/2 -17/8 -23/8 -19 -7/8 -1 -31/2 -21/8 1
- /8
Total £33 Tullow Oil 1414 +6 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 9611/2 -11/2 Petrofac 1539 -4 1 Wood Gp(J) 675 /2 +5 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1278 +28 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £301/8 -3/8 GlaxoSmithK XD 62 3 Shire £21 /4 +1/4 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 4551/4 -5 -53/8 Captl Shop Cent 3011/8 1 Hamrsn 354 /2 -21/4 Land Secs 618 -31/2 1 SEGRO 198 /4 -17/8 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 2103/4 -21/4 Logica 67 -3/8 Misys 243 -4 3 Sage Group 299 /4 +5/8 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 4415/8 +81/8 Bunzl 892 +41/2 1 Capita 641 /2 +11/2 De La Rue 905 +101/2 Electrocomp 2051/2 +13/8 1 Experian 864 /2 +111/2 G4S 2723/8 -1/4 Hays 653/8 +1/2 Homeserve 300 +1
Menzies J 526 Rentokil 66 Smiths News 77 Wolseley £203/4 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 613 Psion 44 Spirent Comms 1157/8 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £301/8 Imperial Tobacco £24 LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital 168 Carnival £211/2 Compass Grp 605 easyJet 4031/4 Enterprise Inns 273/4 FirstGroup 3331/4 Go-Ahead Gp 1355 Greene King 4823/8 Intercontl Htls 1195 Intl Cons Airlines 1441/4 Gp Ladbrokes 1311/2 Mitchells & Butlers 245 Natl Express 221 Rank Org 130 Stagecoach Group 2675/8 TUI Travel 1573/4 Whitbread 1597 INDEX FTSE 100 5612.26 INDEX FTSE 250 10251.13
+5 +13/8 +1 -3/8 +31/2 +3/4 -1/4
-41/4 -1/8 +81/8 +3/4 -61/4 -27 -2 +21 -21/4 +1/4 -43/4 -11/4 -13/4 +1/8 -25/8 +8 -37.42 +5.27
TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.43 dollars Bangladesh................. 118.57 taka Brazil.............................. 2.56 reals Canada....................... 1.51 dollars China ............................. 8.71 yuan Czech Republic ...... 28.66 korunas Denmark....................... 8.56 krone Euro............................... 1.16 euro Hong Kong................ 11.36 dollars Hungary................... 340.72 forints India.......................... 71.48 rupees Japan........................... 112.87 yen Mexico ....................... 18.85 pesos New Zealand .............. 1.83 dollars Norway ......................... 8.84 krone Pakistan.................. 132.27 rupees Philippines ................. 58.26 pesos South Africa.................. 11.81 rand South Korea.............. 1562.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 165.73 rupees Sweden....................... 10.20 krona Switzerland.................. 1.40 francs Taiwan ...................... 40.67 dollars Turkey....................... 2.74 new lira USA ............................ 1.47 dollars
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
profile
Page 3 Vicky Devlin
Shoe shop stays in step
Role: Managing director Age: 46 Family: Married to Kevin with daughters Kelly, 18, and Hayley. 16 Holidays: My dream holiday is to visit my sister in Australia, who has just had two babies Car: Volkswagen Golf (for practical reasons) First job: Working at Fox’s Biscuits – and taking the mis-shapes home with me! Best thing about job: Working with the staff who are wonderful and seeing the face of a satisfied customer who has had problems finding shoes to fit them Worst thing about job: Online competition Business tip: Be nice to people. Good customer service goes a long way
Shaw & Hallas Ltd YOU could say she’s followed in her father’s footsteps. But Vicky Devlin has stepped up the pace at family shoe shop Shaw & Hallas Ltd. Vicky, who is managing director of the well-known Huddersfield retailer, is proud of its status as one of the town’s best-known and longest-established independent businesses. The company dates back to the 1860s when John Shaw began to make and repair shoes from premises at Westgate and Elliott Hallas opened a small footwear shop in Holmfirth. When John’s daughter Emily married Elliott’s son George, the two firms merged in 1914 to form a limited company. Shaw & Hallas moved to John William Street in 1923 and in 1946 focused on retailing rather than shoe-making. In 1961, the company moved to Market Street and opened a specialist children’s shoe shop at New North Road. Seven years later, the Shaw family acquired the whole of the shares, but kept the Shaw & Hallas name. It occupied several premises in the town centre before moving to Market Walk in 1994 and opening a clearance outlet, The Shoe Shelter, at Denby Dale. Vicky, who lives at Marsden, is the fifth generation of the Shaw family to be involved in the business, having taken over from her father, Michael Shaw. She stresses it was not a “blind” sense of duty that led her to join the family firm, but adds: “I didn’t want to see the business finish when my father retired. “However, it was my choice. I used to work in the shop on Saturdays when I was at school. I worked in the children’s department and learned to fit children’s shoes – which remains my passion.” After studying at Huddersfield Technical College, Vicky chose to work elsewhere, taking a number
of sales jobs – and learning the business of selling the hard way – before joining the family business formally in 1980. “I was a very shy little girl,” she says. “Working in sales was useful because it gave me some backbone! That experience has been invaluable because now I deal with people from all walks of life – customers and suppliers.” Vicky succeeded her father in 1994 when the business moved from Market Street to Market Walk, where it has been ever since. With the arrival of Kingsgate and a “shift” of the heart of the town centre to neighbouring King Street, the move proved a good one, putting Shaw & Hallas at the centre of things. “We are a destination shop,” says Vicky, “People make the effort to find us, whereas they might not have made the effort to go to Market Street.” She says: “We are up against competition from the multiples and the biggest challenge to an independent retailer like us is the amount of discounting. That is why the high street is struggling.
■ PACE SETTER: Vicky Devlin says customer service is key
“Our secret to success is customer service and range of products. We offer shoes for all the family in different width fittings so we can usually fit up almost any shape or size. We really work hard at getting that right. “We are very grateful to the people of Huddersfield because we have some very loyal customers. We have had six generations of families shopping here – often three generations at one time, grandmothers, mothers and daughters.” Historically, the firm was best-known for its men’s and ladies’ shoes, but Vicky has made Shaw & Hallas synonymous with children’s footwear, saying: “The children’s department is our saviour during difficult times!” Back-to-school time brings throngs of parents and children to the store. Parents are always keen to ensure their children have good quality, comfortable, properly-fitting footwear – and the firm’s commitment to the cause has also found favour with Huddersfield University. “We have three podiatry students from the university working on Saturdays,” says Vicky. “Laura, Sara and Oliver joined us in the summer and will spend a couple of years with us. We are training them to fit shoes properly, so as well as earning some money, they are learning about another aspect of foot care which will complement their studies. They are interested in the problems different shoes can cause.” Shaw & Hallas also has a strong following for its men’s shoes department and numbers Baker Shoes, which has a factory at Northampton, among the brands growing in popularity. At a difficult time for retailers, many traders opt to “sell cheap”. But Vicky sees no future for independent retailers who take
that route. "You either give your products away or you make people want them," she says. “We are constantly looking at what we buy. We choose to buy good quality shoes that fit and are comfortable and that is the direction we take. Our suppliers are very supportive and we make astute decisions. As an independent business, we can also take quick decisions without having to refer them to the boardroom.” The company is a member of Huddersfield Business Partnership and recently donated thousands of empty shoeboxes to be filled with gifts and games for the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas appeal. Vicky’s ambitions are to continue steering the business forward – one step at a time. “My drive is to be successful and to keep my very loyal staff employed.” she says. “I’ve achieved my personal goals – I met and married a lovely man and we have two lovely children.” Vicky’s other keen interest is horses. “I was one of those children who liked to play with animals,” she says. “I was an outdoor person and as long as I could ride my pony I was happy.” Now Vicky has four horses, who take up much of her spare time. She has even studied horse relaxation techniques and “equine body work” to improve their well-being and performance. Holidays include long-distance rides with a group of fellow horsewomen dubbed The Marsden Moody Mares. “We go trekking for four or five days on a circular route, staying at bed and breakfast places on the way,” says Vicky. “We have done parts of the Pennine Way and there are lots of bridleways that you can ‘link up’. It’s great fun.”
HENRYK ZIENTEK
Work: Independent family shoe shop Site: Huddersfield Employees 22 Phone: 01484 300670 Email: shoes@shaw-hallas .co.uk
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
independent
Choose the right education to suit your child
education
Choose a top class education for your child
A
NEW year brings a time for new decisions and new challenges.
Parents everywhere want the best education possible and now is a good time to decide on the right school. The area’s top quality independent schools are always willing to organise visits and many have open days at this time of year to help you decide. ● Huddersfield Grammar School has recently appointed a new headmaster. Headmaster Tim Hoyle joined the school from his previous position as Deputy Head (Pastoral) at the prestigious Warwick School. He feels that there are exciting plans for future development at Huddersfield Grammar School whilst the school continues to provide an excellent education for children aged three to16 years old. An effective school adds extra value. Pupils at Huddersfield Grammar School certainly appear to progress further than might be expected from their position at
intake with impressive value added scores. The quality of teaching and learning at the school is certainly impressive with 97% of students achieving the minimum of five GCSEs at A* to C grade, including Mathematics and English. Perhaps even more significant is the fact that more than 47% of all GCSE grades were awarded at A* or A, with several pupils achieving outstanding results. This achievement was recognised at the Town Hall Prize Evening last term. The school successfully caters for a wide range of academic abilities demonstrating an adherence to traditional values and skills, including the teaching of separate sciences. Gifted and Talented provision within the school has been expanded to include a planned study and reading weekend, together with some exciting and interesting activities, expeditions and excursions open to all pupils. To arrange a visit, or to discuss any aspect of opportunities at HGS, contact Mrs G Garside, Registrar, on
admin@huddersfield-grammar.co. uk or 01484 424549. ● Bradford Girls' Grammar School has applied for Free School status As a high performing independent school for girls, Bradford Girls’ Grammar School is applying to become a Free School from September 2013. As a Free School, Bradford Girls’ Grammar School will remain on its current 17-acre site on Squire Lane and continue to provide a first class education for girls aged 11-18, and for girls and boys aged four -11. Free Schools are all-ability schools independent of the local authority. They can be primary, secondary or all-through schools. Bradford Girls Grammar School has applied to become an all-through Free School and, as such from September 2013, fees are no longer payable and the school would offer its traditional ethos, values and education to all. Headmistress, Mrs Kathryn Matthews perceives the move as an opportunity to take Bradford Girls’ Grammar School back to the community. She said “Bradford Girls’ Grammar School was established as an endowed school for public benefit in 1875 and, over the last
■ CLASS: Huddersfield Grammar School pupils enjoying life in the classroom 136 years, it has continued to fulfil the ideals of delivering outstanding education as expressed by its pioneering founders. The move to Free School status would widen access to Bradford Girls’ Grammar School. It offers an excellent opportunity to return the school to the community”. Support the application at www.bggs.com/freeschool An entrance exam will be held on Friday 13 January and the Sixth Form Open Evening will be on Thursday February 9 from 6.30 to 8.30pm. To register, call 01274 545395, email registrar@bggs.com, or go to www.bggs.com ● Rastrick Independent School is an independent co-educational day school for pupils from birth to sixteen years. Parents always have the choice of a
Entrance Exam Friday 13 January 2012
Open Morning 14th January Senior School Entrance Exam 28th January Huddersfield Grammar School | Royds Mount, Luck Lane, Marsh, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 4QX | Tel: 01484 424549 | Fax: 01484 531835
Visit our website for more information: www.huddersfield-grammar.co.uk
BGGS applies to become a Free School Support us at www.bggs.com/freeschool
Sixth Form Open Evening Thursday 9 February 2012 6.30 - 8.30 A S P I R E • S U CC E E D • L E A D
BRADFORD GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL Co-educational 2-11, Girls only 11-18
To register call 01274 545395 or email registrar@bggs.com
■ RASTRICK: The school’s young pupils normal school day, term-time or all the year round school attendance. The school also offers before and after school care. The ethos of the school is meeting the needs of the individual child within an environment of love, respect, discipline and providing an exciting learning environment ensuring happiness for everyone. The school caters for children of working parents who are able to follow their careers secure in the knowledge that their child is educated and cared for to the highest standards. The school attains excellent academic achievement and also offers opportunities to the wider community by offering scholarships and bursaries.
Rastrick Independent School & College
SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES A Co-educational day school offering all the year round and extended day facilities from birth to 18 years Full National Curriculum 100% pass rate to grammar school for 17consecutive years
Pre-preparatory & Preparatory School Tutorial College and International EFL College Phoenix House Nursery The Grammar School Examination Centre for GCSE and A Levels
Assessment Examination for the Grammar School 13th January 2012
Excellence in Education for your child • Excellent Ofsted and ISA inspector reports Contact us on 01484 400344 www.rastrickschool.co.uk email: info@rastrick-independent.co.uk RASTRICK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL Ogden Lane Rastrick HD6 3HF
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
local
Steering clear of the icebergs!
he year 2011 has drawn to a close T with most Investors more than happy to consign the year to the his-
tory books. Having started on an optimistic note and having withstood some unexpected blows early in the year from the Japanese earthquake and a spike in oil prices as a result of uncertainties provoked by the Arab Spring, the resurgence of systemic threats emanating from the eurozone have reversed the mood. Looking into 2012, a positive investment outlook depends upon successfully navigating around some very visible icebergs. Firstly, the eurozone sovereign credit markets must be stabilised. Secondly, the Chinese economic soft landing must not turn into a hard landing. Thirdly, America must avoid stifling a nascent domestic recovery through political intransigence. The most threatening of the icebergs is clearly the still-unresolved eurozone sovereign debt crisis, which has prompted an accelerated deleveraging of the financial system both within Europe and outside, as the world’s non-European banks and corporations move to insulate themselves from Europe’s problems. When compounded by fiscal austerity measures that have been deemed to be part of the medicine required to stabilise the situation, the result is that Europe has been almost solely responsible for the undermining of the global growth outlook for 2012. We believe, however, that substantial progress has recently been made in Europe which holds out the prospect for much reduced stress as the year progresses. Specifically, it now appears that politicians and
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Simon Kaye
the European Central Bank are singing from the same hymn sheet with a commonly agreed plan for embedding fiscal discipline in the single currency operating rules whilst the ECB buys the time to implement the plan by providing unlimited support to the banking system – not directly to the sovereign states. The price of the solution will still be a recession in Europe, but the likelihood of something worse looks to be much reduced. Moving on to China, the growth miracle built on exports and investment has been compounded over the past couple of years by a rapid expansion of credit, often through new unregulated channels, which has found an outlet in the housing market. T h e we a ke n i n g i n d e m a n d f ro m developed markets is now being felt and it is feared that as China enters the year of the Dragon, a credit bust similar to America’s could be in the offing. Although this bears watching, we think this will not happen. China will certainly suffer substantial “bad debts” as part of the credit boom, but in a largely state-owned banking system, ultimately lending is state directed and the equity capital can be replenished by over $3 trillion of foreign exchange reserves. In short, China can afford its mistakes and should become a more positive growth force
Simon Kaye is divisional director at Investec Wealth & Investment
Meet the golden girl DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes is urging Kirklees firms to capitalise on business opportunities stemming from global sporting events. The star athlete (pictured) will speak at a seminar, The Biggest Sporting Events of our Time, on January 19 in Sheffield. The event, staged at Sheffield United FC, has been organised by government export support body UK Trade & Investment and the Yorkshire Gold Business Club, an organisation linking firms in the region to the opportunities thrown up by the London Olympics and other major projects. Other speakers will include UKTI regional director Mark Robson, Yorkshire Gold Business Club manager Lauren Pigg and UKTI team members
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as the year progresses. America is a different case. The signs are good that after a soft patch a recovery is gaining pace, indeed there is real potential for positive growth surprises if the housing market stabilises in response to record affordability and rapidly deceasing inventory. It is for Congress to avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The risks that we have addressed so far leave aside the ever-present fragile geopolitics surrounding Iran and the Middle East which we must hope do not spill over into energy markets at an inconvenient time. So, altogether, it is understandable why stress levels are high. For a longer term investor however, fear and opportunity are synonymous. With that perspective we continue to hold the view that there is far more to be hopeful about than is commonly believed. In the meantime, supportive monetary policy from all the world’s major central banks, lack of speculative excesses in financial markets and a robustly healthy corporate sector ought to provide a solid buffer against the current chill winds.
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It’s time you got more from your accountant Thinking… outside the books
added value services include… Tailored programme to maximise profitability Tailored tax efficient solutions
Regular updates & support to help your business FREE use of our facilities for your meeting Support all day, every day Chris Wall and Simon Bedford. Delegates will also hear from Sportworks, a Sheffield-based event management company, about how they have won the contract to provide event management services for the ISSF World Cup, part of the London Prepares
in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Presentations will also cover opportunities for trade and investment in Russia and Brazil . The event is free, but registration is required. Visit www.ygbc.co.uk or contact Claire McMahon on 07545
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Demand up for ‘interims’ DEMAND for interim managers rose by 22% in the three months to September 30, 2011 – bucking the otherwise lacklustre jobs market for senior executives and directors. Latest research by Ipsos MORI for the Interim Management Association identified 526 new interim management assignments that started during the third quarter of last year compared with the 431 that got under way in the second quarter. Private sector provider Interim Partners said the number of new assignments given to interims is at its highest level since the third quarter of 2009. Interim executives are senior executives, usually just below board-level, who are recruited on a short term basis. Interim Partners said demand is being driven by businesses that have gaps in their senior management teams, but feel that the weak economic outlook makes it too risky for them to make full-time hires. Doug Baird, managing director of Interim Partners, said some appointments were specifically in response to the eurozone crisis.
New year likely to see changes here are likely to be some T changes to health and safety legislation in 2012
affecting all businesses and self-employed people. The government announced it has accepted all of the recommendations in the Lofstedt Review report published at the end of November. The review, “Reclaiming health & safety for all: An independent review of health & safety legislation” took six months to carry out and was focused on legislation that put undue costs on businesses whilst doing little to improve health and safety. The government is committed to cutting health and safety red tape in early 2012. There is a target to reduce the current 200 different regulations and supporting Approved Codes of Practice by at least a third over the next three years, by combining, simplifying and abolishing.
RISKY BUSINESS Mark Dalton
The 100 page report includes some interesting recommendations. Employers should not be held responsible for damages when they have done all they can to manage risk. The emphasis should be on employees taking personal responsibility. Health and safety legislation should not apply to self-employed people who pose no risk to other people from their work. There should be better guidance on what is “reasonably practicable” and on specific issues such as explaining the situation that annual portable appliance testing
is not a mandatory requirement. The report’s author, Prof Lofstedt does not want to see a radical alteration to health and safety legislation, but thinks better interpretation of the regulations and proportionate risk management make good business sense. The consultation process will begin this month and several reviews need to be completed by the summer. The hope for 2012 is that the review will lead to less red tape and bureaucracy for business without increasing the risk of accidents and illnesses in the workplace.
Mark Dalton is associate director at Wilby Ltd
Firm’s latest contract success A CLECKHEATON-based business has signed a significant deal. Howarths Employment Law has agreed a three-year contract with financial services industry pioneer SimplyBiz. SimplyBiz was formed in 2002 by Huddersfield Giants chairman Ken Davy to serve the compliance and business needs of financial advisers. It has since won the prestigious Best IFA Network/Service Support Provider award two years
in a row at the Professional Adviser Awards. The team at Howarths will provide employment law services to SimplyBiz and their financial adviser member firms – providing advice on all employment law issues, drafting and implementing company policies in line with ever-changing legislation and providing ILM-accredited management training. Sarah Turvey, group finance director at SimplyBiz, said: “As a company that has grown significantly in staff
numbers and subsidiary companies since our launch almost 10 years ago, we wanted a local company that offered excellent advice and assistance with issues relating to employment law, and we have found this in Howarths.” Howarths business development director Tracey Hopkins said: “Howarths is very proud to be working with such a reputable organisation and we look forward to developing a strong relationship with Sarah and her team.”
agendas, inter-departmental bickering and an over-reliance on presentation software such as PowerPoint are most likely to send participants into a temporary stupor. One in 10 businessmen “dread” tiresome and drawn-out meetings so much that they will deliberately arrive late or make excuses to leave early. APPP founder and communication coach Matthias Poehm said the findings should serve as a “wake-up call” to British
Banks are not always at fault A KIRKLEES accountant says businesses should stop blaming banks for failing to lend them money – and work at making a better case for the cash. Shafiq Khan (pictured), partner and head of Cleckheaton-based Clough Management Services, said many firms were criticising banks for starving them of cash after imposing stricter lending criteria. But he said many business owners don’t help themselves because they fail to supply relevant information when they approach banks to borrow money. Mr Khan, a member of the approval panel of the Business Enterprise Fund which fills funding gaps for businesses struggling to secure finance from traditional sources, said banks were still keen to do business with customers who could present a strong case and demonstrate that they can repay their loans. But he said: “The days when business owners could walk into a bank and get immediate decisions on six or even seven-figure loans are long-gone. “Nowadays banks leave no stone unturned and nearly every decision has to go past a team of credit controllers who can only base their decision on the information that’s given to them, so thorough preparation is absolutely vital. “ He said his work with the Business Enterprise Fund, brought him into contact with clients ranging from sole traders to companies with multi-million pound turnovers needing credit for all eventualities such as expansion programmes or covering cash flow during lean trading periods.
Seminars prove popular events ■ WINNERS: Tracey Hopkins (left), of Howarths Employment Law, and Sarah Turvey, finance director at SimplyBiz
Meetings prove just too boring HALF of business people daydream during meetings, according to a survey. And many of them “zone out” of meetings after just 17 minutes, says the poll by the Anti-PowerPoint Party. Over half of the 1,000 businessmen and women questioned admitted to regularly daydreaming in the boardroom while more than one in 10 has fallen asleep during a “dull” presentation. Meetings with unfocused
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businesses. He said: “The results show that in the majority of cases, the meetings don't fulfil what one expects. “This is because they are allowed to over-run and lose focus and put too much emphasis on tools such as PowerPoint, which often simply bombard people with results until their attention switches off. “Every minute wasted through bad and boring meetings is money lost.”
The survey suggests that the average businessman spends six hours and 38 minutes in meetings each week – equating to 306 hours and 24 minutes or roughly 38 days a year spent in meetings. At managerial level, the figure rises to 16 hours and 12 minutes per week, or 777 hours and six minutes per year. The average meeting lasts 47 minutes, but the research reveals that those present will start losing concentration just over a third of the way through.
HUDDERSFIELD law firm Chadwick Lawrence has been busy in 2011 – delivering employment law seminars to more than 300 people. More than 200 businesses attended the free seminars over the past 12 months. Now the firm is planning its 2012 programme. Neil Wilson (pictured), employment law specialist at Chadwick Lawrence, said: “The seminar programme is an excellent way to provoke thought about employment law. “It’s an area of legislation that is constantly evolving and often people who think they are well informed haven’t quite kept up with the latest developments. We can shed light on what’s new and what’s in the pipeline. “It’s also a great networking opportunity and popularity continues to increase.”
property
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
Store expansion is golden opportunity
PROPERTY auctions held by a Huddersfield estate agency firm raised more than £4m during 2011. Boultons, which has town centre premises at John William Street, held five collective sales last year at the Galpharm Stadium, which raised £4.27m. Some 78% of the 60 lots on offer – almost eight out of 10 – found buyers. The average selling price was in excess of £90,000. The lowest priced lot was a small piece of land with expired planning permission at Lowerhouses while the highest priced was a former mill owner’s house in Skelmanthorpe, which made £248,500. Boultons’ Raymond Butterworth said the results were “not bad” given the difficult economic times. Boultons’ first auction of 2012 will take place on February 23.
Land adjacent to 3A Shelley Lane Kirkburton, Huddersfield, HD8 0SJ 1 Outline PP for a 4/5 bedroom detached dwelling with double garage 1 Excellent residential location 1 0.069 Hectares (0.17 Acres)
1 Residential building plot 1 0.052 Hectares (0.13 Acres) 1 Outline PP for 1 dwelling 1 Good residential location
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67 Huddersfield Road Elland, HX5 9AA
19, 21 & 21a Southgate Elland, HX5 0BW
1 Town centre investment opportunity 1 2 self-contained retail units with separate three bedroom flat 1 Gross rental income of £18,200 PAX
1 2 bedroom mid terrace house 1 Let on AST producing £300 pcm
Guide: In Excess of £30,000
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Guide: In Excess of £145,000
69 Huddersfield Road Elland, HX5 9AA
Oaklands, 2 Coach House Drive, Dalton, Huddersfield, HD5 8EG
1 Residential/commercial conversion opportunity 1 Character detached stone property 1 Approx 667m2 (7,180 sq ft) GIA (Not measured by auctioneer) 1 Good residential location
1 Large 2 bedroom mid terrace house 1 Let on AST producing £420 pcm
Guide: In Excess of £50,000
They include Women First, part of the Addas Centre, in Ravensthorpe; The Harrogate Homeless Project and the Wellington Hill Residents Association in Leeds. Rixonway has invested significantly in machinery and the expansion of its manufacturing facility. The firm delivers more than 12,000 units a week from its plant at Dewsbury.
82 Lower Gate Paddock, Huddersfield, HD3 4EP
1 Hire centre/workshop investment 1 290m2 (3,126 sq ft) – Approx GIA 1 Let at £15,500 per annum
1 Part complete 4/5 bedroom detached property 1 Popular residential location
Guide: In Excess of £90,000
Guide: In Excess of £100,000
Land at Burgh Mill Lane Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury, WF13 3QS 1 Outline PP for 5 dwellings 1 Level rectangular cleared site 1 0.129 Hectares (0.32 Acres)
Guide: In Excess of £75,000
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Guide: In Excess of £200,000
71 Huddersfield Road Elland, HX5 9AA
■ DELIGHTED: Rixonway sales and marketing director David Anderson
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Guide: In Excess of £100,000
Guide: In Excess of £30,000
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Land adjacent to 64 Woodhouse Hill Fartown, Huddersfield, HD2 1DH
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Thursday 26 January 2012 7pm at Cedar Court Hotel, Lindley Moor Road, Ainley Top, Huddersfield, HD3 3RH For further information contact: Richard Smith 01484 477623 or Paul Andrew 01484 477621 or Doug West 01484 477624
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A DEWSBURY-based kitchen supplier has donated a kitchen to a West Yorkshire charity. The kitchen provided by Rixonway Kitchens to Morley Elderly Action will become the central point for community support services to prevent isolation for the over-60s. The charity helps local members to remain living independently in their own home environment. With a team of 100 volunteers, the charity runs bingo events, computer workshops, carries out home visits, provides a transport scheme and organises events such as afternoon teas. Carole Law, project manager at Morley Elderly Action, said: “The tea room plays a key role in the centre’s activity, so we are hugely grateful for this essential donation. “The new work surfaces have provided a lot more room, allowing us to cater for large groups more easily and the dishwasher has been a godsend. “We’ve received lots of complements from our clients on the new look tea room and hope that through this great transformation we can attract more members. “We can’t thank Rixonway Kitchens enough!” David Anderson, sales and marketing director at Rixonway Kitchens, said: “We work hard to support the communities in which we work. “By supporting local charities, tackling worklessness and reducing our environmental impact in the region. “We’re delighted that our donation has made such a difference to the service Morley Elderly Action can provide to its users, it’s a vital lifeline to the local people in the area.” Rixonway’s work with Morley Elderly Action is the latest activity in the company’s corporate social responsibility programme that sees it working with a number of organisations.
Property auctions raise £4m
Cold Hill Farm, Cold Hill Lane, Berry Brow, Huddersfield, HD4 6TU
1 Farmhouse, barn and outbuildings for conversion 1 Rural location with views over neighbouring fields 1 PP for conversion to a large 4 bedroom house 1 Site area of 0.07 Hectares (0.17 Acres)
Guide: In Excess of £140,000
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Charity connection for Dewsbury firm
stand how we work and recognise the value of the services we offer – it truly is the age of the pawnbroker. “Since the recession, retail rates for high street locations have finally returned to a sensible level which allows us to be where our services are needed. “However, compared to places like the USA, the pawnbroking market here is still drastically under-served. “We intend to address that through our expansion into new locations and by developing new channels to help people access our services more easily.” Said Mr Stevenson: “With fewer people able to get credit through the banks, pawnbroking has an opportunity to play an increasingly important role in many people’s finances, whether they need some quick cash to get the car through its MOT or run a business and need some cash to tide them over until a customer pays.” In addition to pawnbroking and gold buying, the company sells high-quality new and pre-owned gold and silver jewellery in its stores, as well as offering a range of other financial services including pay day advances and Speedloans.
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■ GOLD STANDARD: The Herbert Brown outlet at King Street in Huddersfield
ALBEMARLE & Bond has hailed “the age of the pawnbroker” as it unveiled plans to open new stores in 2012. The company, which has branches under the Albemarle & Bond and Herbert Brown brands – including one at King Street in Huddersfield – will launch 25 new stores over the next 12 months. Albemarle & Bond opened 25 new stores during the last financial year and reported its 20th consecutive year of growth. It said it was reaping the benefits of high street banks tightening their lending criteria and making it harder for people to borrow in a straightforward and inexpensive way. Its 2012 growth plans will see the creation of more than 300 jobs across the country as it extends its portfolio to more than 175 retail stores and 42 Herbert Brown gold buying sites. With a new management team now in post for more than a year, the company believes 2012 will herald the ‘age of the pawnbroker’, when the industry finally shakes off the misconceptions that surround it. Chief executive Barry Stevenson said: “The pawnbroking industry has worked hard to change its image over recent years and people outside our existing customer base are now starting to under-
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
Sam Waxman & Joe Pape
Waxman Energy ELLAND-based Waxman Energy has appointed directors Sam Waxman (right) and Joe Pape (left) as joint managing directors. The company is one of the UK’s leading specialists in the design and distribution of solar photovoltaics. Mr Pape has been with The Waxman Group for 25 years while Mr Waxman has spearheaded Waxman Energy’s growth in recent years. Richard Waxman, chairman of The Waxman Group, said: “Both Sam and Joe have already played a major part in the development and success of the business and they now have the opportunity to use their dynamism and aptitude to take Waxman Energy to the next level of success.” Waxman Energy is the main UK distributor for some of the world’s leading solar manufacturers, including Phono Solar, LG Electronics, Sanyo and SMA. The Waxman Group was founded in 1958 and is also involved in distributing solar thermal systems and biomass boilers under new company Waxman Renewables.
Sally Duke
Grant Thornton BUSINESS adviser Grant Thornton has appointed Sally Duke to lead its Yorkshire VAT services team. Ms Duke (pictured) joins from RSM Tenon in Leeds where she spent almost four years, latterly as an associate director in VAT services. She has extensive experience in all aspects of VAT, having spent 18 years advising clients and referrers in all sectors. In her new role, she will promote and develop the firm’s VAT services offering, working with SMEs and large corporate clients to identify VAT opportunities and negotiate the best possible outcome with HM Revenue & Customs. Her specialisms include dealing with VAT claims, working with property developers, working in the catering sector and advising on the VAT liability of food, advising not-for-profit organisations; and dealing with VAT appeals.
Time to pass the test DELEGATES at a forthcoming seminar face a testing hour. The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest 60 Useful Minutes event looks at psychometric testing and how it can help people in business. The event, which takes place from 8.30am to 10am tomorrow at the chamber offices at Lockwood, shows how psychometric profiles are used to help firms build relationships, resolve conflicts, manage stress and in recruitment and staff retention and teamworking. Contact Tracy Smith on 01924 311607 or email: tracy.smith@mycci.co.uk
Movers and shakers
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Happy to be a real nuisance! FOR a man who started a business in the teeth of the worst recession in 60 years, Tony Lee has a lot to smile about. For his new company, which is celebrating its first anniversary, has taken off in a big way. Huddersfield-based Tony Lee First Aid Training has acquired many clients and now provides first aid training to GPs, nurses, dentists, hotel and bar staff for companies across the UK. One of his major new clients is Convivial Management Services, which has contracted him to provide first aid training and to organise fire marshal courses in many of its pubs and hotels in the UK. CMS, based in Bolton, helps insolvency practitioners and banks to keep pubs, hotels and restaurants placed in administration open until buyers can be found. As part of that CMS’ sister company, Encompass, uses Tony’s firm to provide training at many of its managed sites. And to top all that Tony, using his first name Michael, is celebrating growing sales of his compilation book Letters From a Professional Nuisance, which is on sale through Amazon. He has had three books of spoof letters published over the last 10 years which have sold about 20,000 copies in total. The 52 year-old father of two shot to national and international fame when he applied for – and got – the “post” of The Beast of Bodmin Moor. Tony has also acquired a reputation as an author of three books of collections of outrageous letters. These range from inventive job applications, such as the Beast of Bodmin Moor, to requests for unusual and often non-existent posts or items. He said: “My latest book is an updated compilation of my previous three books. “It all started when I became a minor celebrity on American TV and in the Spanish press who picked up on a spoof
■ HIM AGAIN: Author and businessman Michael A Lee – better known as Tony – with his latest book Letters From a Professional Nuisance
letter I sent to be the mayor of El Paso. “After that, I had the germ of an idea that I could write funny letters asking for silly jobs or fantastic positions, get some equally funny replies and publish them in a book. “I have received some replies in the same vein – I got a superb letter from the Parachute Regiment when I offered myself as a replacement for their goat mascot. “I also received a very funny reply in English from a French naval officer after I enquired about becoming a submarine periscope polishing executive.” He also applied to become the official Government scapegoat, asked how he could acquire a corporate ladder to help his career and wrote to Harry Ramsden’s complaining about the chip on his shoulder.
Promotion for lawyer HUDDERSFIELD law firm Armitage Sykes has promoted Rob Kelly to associate status. Mr Kelly specialises in company and commercial law at the firm, which is based at New North Road. Senior partner Robert Turner said: “We are delighted to recognise Rob in this way. “He has gained great results for clients and this promotion is well deserved.” In a separate move, Armitage Sykes has also maintained its Law Society Lexcel status for internal practice management standards.
Other job applications have included harbourmaster for Wigan Pier, the new hunchback of Notre Dame, The Man in the Moon, Old Father Time, principal stable boy for the Four Horses of the Apocalypse, Witchfinder General and the King of the Castle. He has received replies from such venerable institutions as MI5, the office of the Archbishop of York, assorted royal societies and peers, the French Navy and even the Pope. He has also appeared on ITV’s This Morning TV with Philip Schofield and Fern Britton and on regional TV and radio. Letters from a Professional Nuisance is published by Anova Books and is available on Amazon.
Hannah Powley
point2pr
■ WELL DONE: Robert Turner (left) senior partner at Huddersfield law firm Armitage Sykes, congratulates Rob Kelly on his promotion to associate status
HUDDERSFIELD-based public relations and marketing agency point2pr has appointed final-year Huddersfield University student Hannah Powley as PR executive. Ms Powley (pictured), who is in her final year of a marketing and PR degree, has completed a 12-month work placement. In her new role, she will be working with all of point2pr’s clients, including award-winning property developer Conroy Brook, online craft supplies outlet World of Wool, Alexandra House Holistic and Well-being Spa and Little Tinkers Private Day Nursery on a wide range of PR and marketing activities. Jenny Clayton, owner of point2pr, said: “Hannah’s enthusiasm and experience will be a real asset to the company.”