2015 02 10 08

CHRIS WORSLEY

FTSE 100 -16.29 6837.15

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

When the heat is on Interview - Page 3

1

DANIEL KRIGERS Are you Fit for Work?

Column - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Apprentice scheme shows Shining bright its worth for metals firm

INSIDE

henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk

A company making metal products is seeking more apprentices – after celebrating the success of its latest group of young employees.

Honley-based Allsops Precision Sheet Metal hosted a visit by Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney to celebrate the success of the firm’s newly-qualified employees.

He was welcomed by production director Lyndon Tyas – himself a former apprentice who trained at Huddersfield Technical College – and heard how the company is now seeking more apprentices in manufacturing to retain skills in the area.

Last year, the company had places for three apprentices – but could only get one. Allsops hopes to recruit two new apprentices this year to make up the shortfall.

Sales and marketing director Robert Machon said: “Sheet metal work is a very traditional industry – yet we are far from traditional in our approach to growth and product innovation.

“Our strategy has enabled us to grow the business significantly, becoming a

■■ Allsops’ apprentices Rhys Matthewman, Thomas Bennett, Hamaad Sultan, Joshua Baldwin, Adam Bedford and Lee Smith celebrate success at the Honley-based firm

leading business and employer within Yorkshire and winning a place in the 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain in 2014.”

The firm, which employs more than 140 staff, was launched in 1959 in Holmfirth by Bob Allsop. Until 1990, the com-

pany – which began with just three employees – was a traditional sheet metal subcontractor using conventional machine tools.

Throughout the 1990s, Allsops embarked upon a period of rapid expansion and significant investment in the

latest technology, automation and stateof-the-art machinery. This now includes fully automated facilities which include the latest robot welding technology.

Its 500-strong customer base includes clients in industries as diverse as defence, travel, retail, energy, communications and manufacturing. Products include shelving, retail spaces, shipping pontoons, signage, lighting, point-ofsale equipment, cabinets and kiosks.

Said Mr Machon: “Our growth strategy has included a period of rapid expansion of our Honley site and investment in new machinery is a crucial strategy in winning competitive tenders for 2015.

“Allsops needs to be at the cutting edge of technology using the latest advanced energy saving machines.

“Winning contracts due to the efficiencies of our new machines will also create new roles and promotion within Allsops and our suppliers.

“In return we have increased staffing levels by 10% including overtime and three new apprentices. Shop floor employees have advanced to senior office roles and some have made management.

“We continue to recruit the best people for our business and offer an apprenticeship programme giving us access to the Allsops leaders of the future.”

US-EU trade agreement could open door to new markets A Huddersfield employer hopes a proposed trade deal between Europe and the USA will cut red tape – and help his firm break into new markets.

Richard Paxman, director of Fenay Bridge-based Paxman Coolers, was commenting as talks over the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the Euro-

pean Union and the USA resume this week in Brussels.

A report by transatlantic business group BritishAmerican Business claims such a deal could bring benefits to smaller firms in particular and boost the UK economy by £10bn a year. The trade deal aims to further boost trade by opening up the US to even more local firms.

Paxman Coolers has seen its innovative scalp cooling device – used to help prevent hair loss in cancer patients – approved on the European market for more than 10 years with more than 2,000 systems installed. However, it has proved more difficult to get the product approved by the USA’s Food and Drug Administration, which insists on a ran-

domised study of the cooling system with five years post surveillance.

Said Mr Paxman: “This is a huge and costly barrier for an SME like us. Our hope is that the future trade agreement will enable a more efficient and focused use of the resources of the regulators and reduce unnecessary duplications – including with respect to clinical trials.”

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examiner.co.uk

By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter

A lighting and electrical retailer shone through to win a monthly business award.

J G Harrison & Sons Ltd, which supplies the public, wholesalers and businesses with lighting and electrical products has been named Eaton Smith Business of the Month after impressing the judges with its environmentallyfriendly products. The award was presented at the High Street offices of law firm Eaton Smith.

The most trusted news brand in the business

Hitting the road Kirklees firms are being invited to a series of Tour de Yorkshire roadshows as the county gears up to host the inaugural new international cycle race.

The roadshows, run by Welcome to Yorkshire and local councils, will give information, facts and advice on how businesses can make the most of the world-class event.

www.stafflex.co.uk International House, Chapel Hill, Huddersfield HD1 3EE

Tel: 01484 351010

2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

Tax dodge claims spark political ‘blame game’ David Cameron has defended his Government’s record on tackling tax evasion – after senior politicians and HM Revenue & Customs were accused of failing to act over claims that HSBC helped clients dodge payments totalling millions of pounds.

A furious blame game is under way between the Tories and Labour after a huge trove of files on secret Swiss accounts run by the bank were leaked.

The documents have already sparked criminal probes in several countries and attempts to claw back cash after being stolen by an IT worker in 2007 and passed to French authorities.

Now the details of 30,000 accounts holding almost £78bn of assets are being revealed after they were obtained by a French newspaper and analysed by a team of investigative journalists.

They are reported to include evidence that the bank colluded with some clients to hide accounts from tax authorities in their home countries. Among those alleged to have been exposed as having accounts with the Swiss arm of HSBC are said

■■ HSBC is at the centre of a furious row over secret bank accounts in Switzerland

to be politicians, sports stars and celebrities as well as criminals and traffickers.

Treasury minister David Gauke has been called to the House of Commons to answer an urgent question from Labour about the official response to the leaked documents

and Mr Cameron’s decision in 2010 to appoint former HSBC boss Stephen Green to his Government as trade minister – a position he held until 2013.

But the Prime Minister rejected criticisms of Lord Green’s appointment and said that he had himself put

BG Group boss takes up hot seat The new boss of exploration firm BG Group is starting a month early– a week after the company took a multibillion-pound hit from the plunge in oil prices.

Helge Lund, who is joining after a decade at Norwegian energy giant Statoil, takes charge after the group sidestepped the threat of a shareholder revolt in the wake of an outcry over his pay package.

Mr Lund had been expected to take the helm on March 2 but BG said the date “has been brought forward following agreement last week from his former employer to release him from his contractual commitments”.

Last week, BG took an 8.9bn US dollar (£5.9bn) hit, mainly from the slump in global commodity prices, as it reported a 5.03bn US dollar (£3.35bn) loss for the fourth quarter.

It also said that its planned capital expenditure for 2015 would be “significantly lower” than last year, falling between 6bn and 7bn US dollars (£4bn to £4.7bn).

BG outlined its sensitivity to the fluctuating price of oil by revealing that a one US dollar movement had a 60m and 70m US dollar (£40m to £47m) impact on earnings.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude has fallen by more than half since last summer, when it was nearly 116 US dollars – cutting petrol prices at the forecourts.

action against tax evasion at the heart of the UK’s presidency of the G8 group of leading economies in 2013.

Mr Cameron said: “Stephen Green was an excellent trade minister, he did a good job. But I’d also add no Government has done more than this one to crackdown on tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance.

“I put it absolutely at the head of my G8 agenda, to make sure there’s more tax transparency, the big companies pay their taxes properly and that we raise money from people previously evading and avoiding tax and will go on doing that as a Government.”

HMRC has clawed back £135m from some of the 3,600 Britons identified as potentially avoiding tax using the Geneva branch of HSBC. But only one prosecution has been brought.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: “There are very serious questions for George Osborne and David Cameron to answer today. Why, in the five years since this Government was first given information about how HSBC helped people evade tax, has there only been one prosecution out of 1,100 individuals identified?”

Quorn posts 8% increase in sales

Greek debt battle hits markets

Meat free producer Quorn Foods said it racked up record sales last month as consumers ditched fad diets in favour of healthy long-term options.

The North Yorkshire-based firm, which employs 650, said sales lifted 8% to £14.6m in January as it sold more of its meat free sausages, mince and chicken style fillets.

It said sales in the UK rose by 6% to £10.9m in January, add-

European markets fell as investors were spooked by tough talk from the Greek government over its debt – while there was also troubling economic data from China.

Greece’s finance minister Yanis Varoufakis dismissed the 240bn euro (£179bn) bailout packages crafted by Greece’s lenders as a “toxic fantasy” that had always been doomed to fail.

ing that revenues jumped by 64% last month in the USA. The firm exports to 15 countries including Australia, Switzerland and South Africa and plans to expand in to at least one new international market this year.

Last month, the business reported record full-year sales up 7% to £150m as it attracted 1.9m new customers over the period.

The firm cited a recent YouGov poll which reported that 74% of people said that fad diets are not the solution to health and wellbeing. It added that 37% of those surveyed found that cutting out meat made them healthier.

Quorn Foods chief executive Kevin Brennan said people were seeing through “fad” diets and instead “exploring more sustainable food solutions”.

The FTSE 100 Index was down 16.3 points to 6837.2 yesterday, while Germany’s Dax and France’s Cac 40 were both sharply lower.

In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was also lower after strong US jobs figures on Friday brought forward the expected timing of an interest rate hike.

New fears over Greece came after prime minister

Alexis Tsipras appeared to set his debt-laden country on a collision course with its creditors by proclaiming an end to austerity and “five years of bail-out barbarity”.

In Athens, shares fell by 5% while the cost of government borrowing climbed, with bond yields spiking at 18%.

Figures from China showed both imports and exports declined in January.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN

American Express Chevron Du Pont Exxon Mobil Gannett Hess Corp Microsoft Motors Liquidation Wal-Mart Stores Wrigleys

£55.91 £72.95 £49.91 £60.39 £22.26 £48.73 £28.00 49.28 £56.76 £52.55

AEROSPACE & DEFENCE

Avon Rbbr BAE Systems Chemring Cobham Meggitt Rolls-Royce Senior

AIM

600 Group API Grp Brady Plc Highland Gold Mining Johnson Service Grp London Security M”S Intl Nichols Redhall Group Scapa Grp Youngs GKN

790 5141/2 2201/4 3323/4 5431/2 902 3113/8

-0.63 -11 -3 +1/4 -31/4 -2 -10 -2

15 /2 59 851/2 40 70 £233/8 119 1074 93/4 131 9971/2

+21/2

371 /8

-85/8

1

AUTOMOBILES & PARTS 1

BANKS

+0.05 +0.92 -0.09 +0.27 +0.18 +0.78 +0.13

+ /4 1

+2 +3 -1 -2 +4

Barclays Bk Ireland HSBC Lloyds Banking Gp Ryl Scotland Stan Chart Barr (AG) Diageo SABMiller Croda Elementis 98 Johnsn Mat

2535/8 221/8 6105/8 747/8 381 9393/8

-13/4 -1/8 -101/4 -7/8 -3 +11/4

635 1896 £351/8

-71/2 -13 +1/8

£271/4 275 £323/4

+1/8 -27/8 -1/8

2313/8 1756 2851/4 59 250

-13/8 +32 -21/4 +13/4 -41/2

BEVERAGES

CHEMICALS

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS

Balfour Beatty C”R”H Costain Low Bonar Marshalls Drax Gp SSE

ELECTRICITY

3897/8 1609

+65/8 -19

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Domino Ptg Laird Morgan Advanced Ox Instmts Volex

691 /2 3231/4 3031/4 710 651/4

-21 /2 -15/8 -13/4 -1/2 -11/2

4893/4 1321/4 379 2621/2

-31/4 -1/2 -4 -31/8

1

1

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS

Alliance Trust Br Assets Candover Inv Dunedin Inv

Dunedin Sml Edin Invst Electra Private Equity Forgn & C Henderson Smllr Cos North American Inc Scot Am Scottish Mortgage Witan

1811/2 6491/2 £301/4 4575/8 5591/2 8721/2 2423/4 2511/4 773

+2 -5 -1/8 -23/8 -17/8 -45/8 -7

FIXED LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

BT Grp Cable & Wireless Comm Colt Group KCOM Talktalk Telecom

4365/8 545/8 140 851/2 3133/4

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS

Morrison W Sainsbury Tesco Thorntons AB Food Carrs Millg REA Hldgs Tate Lyle Unilever

178 2673/4 2333/8 821/2

FOOD PRODUCERS

-63/8 -1/2 -11/2 +1/2 -15/8

-1 -2 +43/4 -1/2

£301/8 1467/8 3061/2 5801/2 £28

-3/8 +3/8 +1 +7

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES

Centrica National Grid Pennon Grp Severn United Utils 3i Group

2931/8 8901/8 8301/2 £201/2 9621/2

-31/4 -191/4 -171/2 -1/2 -31

4711/4

-51/4

GENERAL FINANCIAL

Smith Nph

Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

110 250 8901/8 1879

-10 -41/2 -191/4 +36

FTSE closed at

6837.15

1533 4637/8 £233/8 168 £257/8 £291/4 £221/4

-17 -3 -1/4 -71/2 -1/4 -3/8 -1/2

308 /8 1162

-5 /8 -25

GENERAL INDUSTRIALS

Smith DS Smiths Grp

5

GENERAL RETAILERS

Ashley L Dixons Carphone Home Retail Inchcape Kingfisher M & S Mothercare Next Signet Jewelers WH Smith

283/4 414 1881/2 7181/2 3357/8 4751/2 1933/4 £703/4 £781/8 1310

Aga Rangemaster Barrat Dev Bellway Persimmon Reckitt Benckiser Taylor Wimpey

-3

961/2 4555/8 1829 1587 £553/8 1341/2

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

down 16.29 Close Bros ICAP London StockExch Man Group Provident Financial Schroders Schroders NV

1194

HOUSEHOLD GOODS

1

-5/8 -53/4 -17/8 -4 -21/8 -53/4 +1/4 -7/8 -5/8 -12

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

Fenner I”M”I Molins Renold Spirax-Sarco Weir Grp Ferrexpo

207 1382 89 561/4 £311/8 1879

INDUSTRIAL METALS

+1 -41/8 -20 -27 -3/8 -25/8 +11/2 -13 -3/8 +36

59 /4

+4 /4

3411/2

+1/8

532 403 2671/4 2131/4 1601 398

-5 -25/8 -15/8 -1 -19 -73/8

8601/2 2261/8 1721/4 1366 1155 952 3683/4

-9 -15/8

3

3

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION

BBA Aviation

LIFE INSURANCE

Aviva Friends Life Gp Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Standard Life

D Mail Tst ITV Johnston Press Pearson Reed Elsevier Sky STV Group

MEDIA

-9 -13 -131/2 -45/8

Trinity Mirror Utd Business UTV WPP

1821/2 526 194 1439

MINING

Anglo American Antofagasta BHP Billiton Fresnillo Kaz Minerals Lonmin Rio Tinto VEDANTA RESOURCES

1184 7161/2 15421/2 896 2447/8 1791/4 £31 460

+1/2 -61/2 +5 -10 +381/2 +141/2 +371/2 +36 +127/8 +41/2 +5/8 -141/4

MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Inmarsat Vodafone Group

8651/2 2283/4

NONLIFE INSURANCE

Admiral Grp Jardine LloydThomson Marsh McL RSA Ins Gp

1462 956 £361/8 439

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

BG BP Cairn Energy Premier Oil Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B Total Tullow Oil

963 4571/8 2081/4 1711/4 £217/8 £223/4 £355/8 422

-6 -21/2 -1/4 -151/4 +281/8 +61/2 +23/4 +87/8 +1/4 +1/4 +1/4 +117/8

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

AMEC Petrofac Wood Gp(J)

-61/2 -25/8

10553/8 805 +371/2 6301/2 +251/2

PERSONAL GOODS

Burberry Gp PZ Cussons

1775 3135/8

-22 -33/8

£44 /8 1526 £473/8

+81/2 -13/4

824 /2 7821/2 685 3665/8 1272 4121/8

-15 /2 -14 -151/2 -53/4 -30 -6

4761/8

-83/4

1120 1883 1155 1491/2 523 2105/8 2105/8 1185 2813/4 1523/8 335 5411/2 372 6041/2 1691/4 1213/8 1940

-19 -3 -3 +23/4 -2 -1/4 -1/4 -5 -7/8 -41/2 +1 -31/2 -3 +21/2 +61/4 -7/8 -24

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca GlaxoSmithKline Shire

5

REAL ESTATE

Brit Land Gt Portland Hamrsn Intu Properties Land Secs SEGRO

1

SUPPORT SERVICES

Berendsen Bunzl Capita Connect Group De La Rue Elctro Com Electrocomp Experian G4S Hays Homeserve Interserve Menzies J Northgate Prem Farnell Rentokil Travis & P

£38

-1/8

TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT

ARM Hldgs IBM Spirent Comms

TOBACCO

Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco

1

SOFTWARE & COMPUTER SERVICES

Sage Group

Wolseley

1055 £103 87

-24 +1/8 +21/4

£36 £301/2

-1/4

983/8 £287/8 1126 1675 1091/8 1027/8 £241/4 846 £261/8 5361/2 122 1461/4 4293/4 2625/8 1083/4 185 7071/2 7121/4 3407/8 £481/2 3895/8

-41/8 -1/4 -4 -25 +1/8 -1/2 -1/2 -16

TRAVEL & LEISURE

Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Marston’s Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Punch Taverns Rank Org Restaurant Grp Ryanair Stagecoach Group Whitbread William Hill FTSE 100 FTSE 250

INDEX

6837.15 16579.21

-41/2 +1/8 -11/4 -33/4 -13/4 -11/4 -13/4 -61/2 -211/2 -5/8 -1/2 +3/4 -16.29 -106.42

3

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

profile

Chris helps keep the home fires burning Chris Worsley learned the value of money at an early age.

The former soldier who now runs his own successful business supplying domestic fires, says: “My father taught me the value of a pound and looking before I buy.

“When my friends at school used to get £5 pocket money, I was only given £1. But after the weekend, I would come back with change in my pocket and they would have spent up. I “f I had a pound in my pocket, I would buy a 10p packet of crisps, not a branded packet. It still did the job just as well.”

Respect for money – and what it can do – has been a guiding principle for Chris since those early days at junior school.

Chris hails from Clayton, Manchester, and was brought up by his grandfather because both his parents were only teenagers when he was born and were too young to look after him.

Chris was just nine when his grandfather died of cancer and he was bereaved again just 12 months later when his grandmother passed away.

Chris moved in with his mother, who was now older and better able to cope.

He attended high school in Hyde, Cheshire, before deciding to follow in the footsteps of his career soldier uncle and join the army.

“I always had the ambition of joining the army,” says Chris. “I got my head down at school. I wasn’t very academic, but my eight Cs and a B were good enough to get me in.

“I joined the Royal Signals at 16 and worked in telecommunications based at Dorset. I also had tours in Bosnia, Kosovo and Cyprus.”

Chris left the army in 2002 with the rank of lance corporal after four years service to settle down with wife Stacy.

“I loved the army,” he says.

“But I was due for a posting to Northern Ireland, which was a ‘career’ posting. That’s not a move for someone in a relationship.”

His timing could have been better, however. Chris came to

the jobs market armed with telecoms skills – just as the big players in the industry were laying people off.

Ever resourceful, Chris trained to be a plumber instead – and found himself at college learning the trade alongside 16 and 17-year-olds. He started working for his father-in-law at Oakdwood Building Ltd in Marsden, Later, he trained as a gas installer and got a job with a fireplace company where he worked for two years before going selfemployed as a gas engineer based in Milnsbridge. The business grew to employ four people before the recession hit.

“I had a nice 4x4 and plenty of work,” says Chris. “But a family friend, Chris Bird, who was also a director at Manchester City, warned me that there was a recession coming and advised me to cut my costs and protect myself.

“I got rid of the 4x4 and cut my costs. My staff decided to go selfemployed and I issued them with the tools of the trade.”

Chris opened a showroom under the Easy Fireplace name at Market Street in Milnsbridge with a focus on supplying and installing British-made fires backed by great customer service.

He says: “The recession was still affecting the industry and that’s where knowing the value of a pound came in.

“Every pound we spent was well thought through. We were in rented property for three years before we realised the best way to survive was to bring in another income without affecting the existing business.”

Chris bought the former Armitage Arms pub and converted the upper floor into two apartments to rent out.

He also owned the barber’s shop next door – meaning he was generating three incomes, which paid his mortgage and allowed the fireplace business to ride out the recession.

Since then, Chris has expanded to set up Envy Fires & Fireplaces in a former bridalwear shop just a few doors away from Easy Fireplace on Morley Lane.

While Easy Fireplace provides “bespoke fireplaces at great prices” Envy focuses on the high-end.

Envy has also raised its profile by sponsoring Huddersfield Giants.

Both businesses now come under the umbrella of the CSW Family Group – which will also include a showroom selling stoves once work to convert the nowempty barber’s shop is complete.

Among his projects for a busy 2015, Chris plans to replicate the successful formula employed with Easy Fireplace – by turning the top floor above the Envy Fires showroom into income-generating apartments.

■■ Chrs Worsley has learned the lesson of making every penny count

Yes, he’s still making every penny count.

A Manchester City fan since childhood, Chris has developed an affection for Huddersfield Town and the Giants – but says family is always his priority.

Chris and Stacy, a teacher at Holmfirth Junior and Infant School, have two children, Jay, aged five and 19-months-old Adi. While having further ambitions for his own business, Chris is also passionate about the village in which he works.

He is chairman of Milnsbridge Business Association, which he formed with Stephen Selby, of Selby Opticians, to argue for “commonsense” measures to boost local trade.

He says: “There are more than 100 businesses in Milnsbridge – although you wouldn’t think that was the case.

“Milnsbridge is one of the biggest ‘cut-throughs’ in Huddersfield and the traffic that passes helps the showroom to survive.

But the lack of parking has caused big problems for local businesses.”

Chris and other association members are pressing for 45-minute on-street parking to be extended to 90 minutes to allow people more time to enjoy the variety of shops and food outlets Milnsbridge has to offer.

He also argued successfully for a more welcoming road sign on Manchester Road.

Chris explains: “We wanted a sign that said ‘Milnsbridge Village Centre’.

“A sign saying ‘Milnsbridge’ means nothing. The words ‘village centre’ suggest Milnsbridge has a heart and soul to it. We got the sign changed – but it took us two years.”

Chris also argues that the various groups in the village and wider Colne Valley should work together and lobby figures like MP Jason McCartney and local councillors.

“Every time I talk to comeone about my business, I am talking about Milnsbridge,” he says.

“It could be a much nicer place with everyone showing commitment and pushing to promote it.”

Chris Worsley Role: Owner Age: 33 Family: Married to Stacy with children Jay, five, and Adi, 19 months Holidays: We love Greece and going on cruises First job: Working at Kwik Save in the summer holidays until I joined the army Car: BMW X5 Best thing about the job? Every time we sell a product we are helping to keep our supplier firms and their employees going Worst thing about the job? I don’t mind competition, but I don’t like poor quality products Business tip: Ask questions. Don’t be scared of making mistakes

CSW Family Group Work: Supply and instalation of domestic fires Site: Morley Lane, Milnsbridge Phone: 01484 644464 or 644655 Email: showroom@easyfireplace.co.uk or showroom@envyfireplaces.co.uk Web: www.easyfireplace.co.uk or www.envyfireplaces.co.uk

4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

local

KIRKLEES BUS

Food firms get a chance to shine Thriving food and drink businesses in Kirklees can now showcase their achievements by competing for a new regional business award.

The Regional Growth Business Award – launched by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and sponsored by Grant Thornton – will operate across five UK regions, including Northern England, covering Kirklees.

There will be one winner per region. The five winners will be announced at an award ceremony in September attended by leading figures from the food and drink, hospitality and retail sectors.

Jim Moseley, director general at the FDF, said: “Food and drink businesses are expanding across the country and now they have the chance to showcase their achievements. Whether a start-up showing early success or a larger company demonstrating increased sales, capacity or resource expansion,

business of all sizes have an equal chance of winning, with winners selected based on achievement relative to company size.

“With FDF’s Regional Growth Business Awards we want to celebrate the stand-out food and drink stars up and down the country that are driving growth in our industry.

And with a year’s free access to FDF’s Small Business Service offered to every entrant, companies have another incentive to throw their hat into the ring.”

Trefor Griffith, head of food and beverage at Grant Thornton, said: “As a firm, we’re committed to helping dynamic businesses unlock their potential for growth.

“Food and beverage is a key industry for us and as the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, it’s great to see that businesses in all regions will be recognised.”

The closing date for the award is March 27.

Go to www.fdf.org.uk/ fdf-awards.aspx

Why not rethink working hours?

New research from AXA Business Insurance reveals more than a quarter of small business owners in the UK regularly push past the maximum 48-hour week recommended by the European Union Working Time Directive.

Some 68% exceed the standard 35-hour working week, while 25% put in 51 hours or more and 3% cent clock up an exhausting 80-hour week.

But despite the risks linked with longer working hours, the study also found that most small business owners enjoy what they do and feel overfilling their own diary is more appealing than punching a time clock for someone else.

Darrell Sansom (pictured), managing director at AXA Business Insurance, said: “Running your own successful business can be a real labour of love, so it’s no great surprise that most small business owners work beyond the standard 35-hour week and are happy to do so. What could be a concern is the number of people who frequently put in more

Fit for Work offers help for employers The Government is due to introduce a new service known as Fit for Work (FFW) on a phased basis up to May, 2015.

This article looks at the main aspects of the service which are aimed at providing free services for employers and employees to try and ensure earlier and more sustained returns to work from sickness absence.

Firstly, a new web site and telephone helpline will be set up to give employees, employers and GPs advice relating to health at work.

For example, an employee may telephone for advice about whether or not they should take a period of sick leave and an employer may ask about any adjustments which might be made in the case of an employee whose health condition is affecting him at work.

Where an employee has taken a period of sickness absence, at the trigger point of four weeks of leave, the employee’s GP will discuss a referral to FFW for an occupational health assessment.

The referral process is entirely voluntary as it relies on the consent of both the employee and the referring GP. It should be noted that the employer may also make a referral to FFW with the employee’s consent.

A referral should only be made when there is a reasonable likelihood of the employee being able to return to work at the very least on a phased return.

An FFW assessment is undertaken by a registered occupational health-

EMPLOYER’S BRIEF Daniel J Krigers care professional supported by a network of professionals with appropriate experience in various areas of healthcare.

It is envisaged that FFW would make contact with an employee by telephone within two working days to undertake an assessment. In a limited number of circumstances, a face to face assessment may be necessary.

The employee will be asked to describe their condition, their role and any factors affecting a return to work.

From this point onwards a return to work plan can be prepared which will make recommendations for a safe and sustained return to work and it may be appropriate to contact an individual within the employer’s business such as the line manager to discuss the plan.

Recommendations will be made for any further sources of assistance and this will include a tax exemption of up to £500 per year which can be applied by the employer at the time that the benefit is provided.

Where an employee has returned to work, support from FFW will end two weeks after they have returned.

Alternatively, where FFW consider that the employee will be unable to return to work for three months or more or, where the employee has been with the service for three months, again the employee may be discharged.

It is hoped that the new service will create a much more pro-active approach to managing absence in the workplace and that it will prevent employees from moving into long term absence where the prospect of return becomes much more remote.

The onus will largely be on GPs to ensure that referrals will be made at which point the co-operation of the employer and the employee is expected.

Many employers incur significant costs in instructing occupational health therapists so the FFW service should be seen as a financial benefit as well.

Daniel J Krigers is an employment law solicitor at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors

Playing it cool to win Rising Star award late nights and early mornings than experts consider safe or reasonable.

“Of course, hard work is to be applauded, but burnout is bad for business. Research shows that productivity declines after a 50-hour week, while longer hours also bring increased health, safety and reputational risks – so everyone needs some down time, no matter how committed or effective they are.

“No one is invincible and if you are regularly struggling to fit everything into your day, it might be time to take a step back, reflect and reprioritise the key things that will protect your business and help it grow.”

A firm providing drinks cooling equipment is the toast of the town.

Fenay Bridge-based Brewfitt Ltd was named overall winner of the monthly Shooting Star Award run by Huddersfield Town in partnership with Total Dilapidation Service (TDS).

The 12 monthly winners themselves were asked to vote for the company they thought most deserved to win. The annual award was presented to Brewfitt chairman Glenn Paxman in the Spring Partners Suite at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Brewfitt managing director Curtis Paxman said: “We would like to thank Huddersfield Town, TDS and all our fellow Shooting Star champions that voted for us.

“Winning this award is fantastic given the number of great businesses and products we were up against.

I think the region has some fantastic companies out there and to be in the mix and part of the Shooting Star award process is a real privilege.

■■ Brewfitt chairman Glenn Paxman (centre) receives the Shooting Star annual award from Sean Jarvis (right), commercial director for Huddersfield Town and John Williams, commercial manager for partnerships

“Everyone at Brewfitt would sincerely like to thank all involved.”

Town commercial director Sean Jarvis said: “The votes cast to select this year’s winner were very close and go to show how well each busi-

ness has done in the past 12 months. It’s fantastic that Huddersfield and Kirklees as a whole have so many businesses thriving under tough times.”

TDS managing director Chris Lee said: “I’m really

pleased that Brewfitt won; they are very worthy winners. To be chosen to win an award by the club and TDS is one thing, but to be judged a winner by your peers is something they should be very proud of.”

■■ Caroline Pullich, of

It’s high for com to plan

Almost a quarter of no strategy in place t ness growth, a survery Just 47% of the UK formal business plan down or recorded, acc from Barclays Bank. have an informal, verb And only one in two have a succession pla Caroline Pullich, h for Yorkshire and the N said: “Having a busin tal for a small busin what you want to achi to achieve it across a s sure fire way to ensu and plans are being m “Business plans are – meaning they sho adjusted as the busin tion, a strong plan can finance from a busine forms of finance and i “Importantly, when ble, having a solid pla back to good health.

“A lack of successi future success of a b needs to be considere formally than the resu “What’s important es feel confident abou the necessary tools in Barclays also ask about the factors t achieve substantial re Enhancing or impro uct or service and en were said to have th lowed by launching a ice and hiring new sta Other responses growth included pu ment, new suppliers new premises.

Finance was also an debt reduction and n useful tools that helpe

5

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

SINESS NEWS

local

R3 issues five-point survival plan for Kirklees firms

Barclays

h time mpanies ahead

f small businesses have to support their busiy has revealed.

K’s small firms have a in place that is written cording to the findings . The remaining 25% bal plan. o UK small businesses an in place. head of Business Bank North East at Barclays, ness plan is fundamenness. It defines exactly ieve and how you plan set time period and is a ure that growth targets met. e dynamic documents ould be revisited and ness develops. In addin help applications for ess loan to alternative investment. n a business is in trouan can help to steer it

sion plan can put the business at risk, so it ed far earlier and more ults show. is that small businessut their future and have n place for growth.” ked small businesses that helped them to evenue growth. oving an existing prodntering a new market he biggest impact fola new product or servaff (20%). attributing revenue urchasing new equips, a new website and

n important factor with new funding voted as ed firms to grow.

Kirklees firms have been handed a fivepoint plan to give them the best chance of keeping their hands above water.

Chris Wood (pictured right), Yorkshire committee member for insolvencvy trade body R3 and a partner at Clough Corporate Solutions in Cleckheaton, said the first quarter of a new year could be a “make or break” time for businesses.

“Some might count the cost of a worsethan-expected Christmas trading period or a failure to keep up with orders in the festive season, while others might start to uncover problems as the end of the financial year approaches,” he said.

“As much as businesses should plan for success, they need contingency plans for problems, too.

“As well as understanding how to deal with their own business’ struggles, it’s also important to understand how to deal with customers and suppliers becoming insolvent.

“The knock-on effects of a customer or supplier’s insolvency are themselves one of the leading causes of business failure.”

Said Mr Wood: “Although corporate insolvencies have fallen from their peak,

the first three months of the year remain a testing time for businesses.”

R3 has suggested five top tips for struggling businesses and their creditors for the first three months of the new year – the time of the year when, statistically, businesses are most likely to become insolvent.

Since their peak in 2008, corporate insolvencies have only risen four times from the previous quarter, with three of these rises taking place in the first quarter of the year.

R3 said firms should beware of “overtrading”. It said: “Insolvencies usually peak after recessions, not during them.

“There are several reasons why recovery can trip up a business – orders might come in quicker than a business can handle; finance might not be available to keep pace with expansion; and businesses might expand before they’re ready to do so. Businesses need to be aware of the risks of recovery and should not grow complacent.”

The group said late payment was also a major factor in a fifth of insolvencies. “A business may have the best products or services in the world, but it will run into

trouble if it isn’t getting paid for the work it does,” said R3. “Keeping track of invoices and getting paid are absolutely vital.”

It said another big cause of corporate insolvency in the UK was the failure of other businesses – creating a “domino” effect. Said R3: “If one business becomes insolvent, its customers and suppliers could be placed in jeopardy, too.

“Businesses should take all the precautions they can to minimise the risk other businesses’ insolvencies pose to them. One option could be for a business to make sure

Make a date for Tour roadshows Kirklees businesses are being invited to a series of Tour de Yorkshire roadshows as the county gears up to host the inaugural new international cycle race.

The roadshows, run by tourism group Welcome to Yorkshire and local authorities, will give simple and direct information, facts and advice on how businesses can make the most of the world-class event.

They will also give advice about brand guidelines and key “do’s and don’ts”.

The Holme, Colne and Dearne valleys are all set to feature in the route of the first Tour de Yorkshire at the beginning of May. It will pass through Huddersfield on Sunday, May 3.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “We saw a huge appetite for all things Yorkshire last year when we hosted the Grand Départ of the Tour de France.

“This new race will bring back some of the world’s best teams “This means spectators from far and wide and the most fantastic advert our county can wish for – global television coverage.

“The roadshows will help businesses prepare in the run up to the event, race days themselves and of course long into the future as we establish Yorkshire as Europe’s number one cycling destination.”

Businesses have been overwhelmingly positive in signing up to the roadshows which highlight what it will mean to them and their communities, both on and off the route.

A recent economic impact study of the Tour de France showed that more

■■ Gary Verity , chief executive of Welcome To Yorkshire

than £100m was generated for the Yorkshire economy.

The new race, taking place over three days and encompassing over 500km of Yorkshire roads, from the coast to cities and from moors to market towns, offers a significant geographical spread for tourists and visitors to choose from.

The nature of the route chosen for the race means cycling fans old and new will find dramatic backdrops, tough climbs and Yorkshire landmarks in which to enjoy the race.

The roadshows confirmed so far include one to be held today at Bolster Moor and on Thursday at Holmfirth.

Others to be held in February include ones at North York Moors National Park, Whitby, Market Weighton, Bridlington Spa and Beverley Racecourse.

Roadshows will also be held on March 19 at Hebden Bridge and on March 31 at Ripponden. Other roadshows in March include ones at at Scarborough, Pickering and Whitby.

Roadshows are being planned for other key towns along the route such as Leeds and Wakefield and details will be announced shortly.

For more information about the Tour roadshows, extra events as they’re added and how to register go to http:// letour.yorkshire.com/roadshows

its terms and conditions include an effective ‘Retention of Title’ clause – checked by a lawyer – to ensure it can retrieve goods from an insolvent customer if it has not been paid for by them.

R3 said a formal insolvency process could be an opportunity for a business to turn itself around and repay creditors at the same time, adding: “Liquidation is not the only option.

“The sooner a business with financial concerns speaks to a licensed insolvency practitioner, the more options it will have.”

And it said businesses should engage in insolvencies as a creditor.

Said R3: “Creditor engagement is extremely important to the insolvency process. An insolvent business’ creditors will sometimes know things about that business that an insolvency practitioner or Official Receiver could not otherwise discover without help.

“The more a creditor engages, the better are the chances they will see more of their money back, see bad behaviour by the insolvent business’ director punished and have an influence over the insolvency practitioner’s fees.”

Share your success stories in the Private Business Awards Kirklees firms have been urged to take part in the 2015 UK Private Business Awards.

Private businesses across the district can share their success stories by nominating themselves in one or more of 10 categories, including Chief Executive Officer of the Year, Family Business of the Year, Private Business of the Year and Rising Star of the Year – and pit themselves against other firms regionally and nationally.

Since the awards began five years ago, Yorkshire has had nine firms make it to the finals with two crowned winners.

Last year, Julie Kenny, chief executive of Rotherham based Pyronix, was named UK Business Woman of the Year, and in 2013 Prof Graham Honeyman, chief execu-

tive of Forgemasters, took home the award for UK CEO of the Year.

The nomination period runs until February 20.

The deadline for submitting a full entry form is April 23.

The awards shortlist will be announced on June 4.

The winners of the Private Business Awards will be announced at a gala dinner on September 30 at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London.

Other categories include Technology Innovation of the Year, Social Enterprise of the Year, High Growth Business of the Year, International Business of the Year, Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year and Private Business Women of the Year.

Visit www.privatebusinessawards.com

Agency’s hat-trick of clients PR and communications agency Faith PR has increased its client base with three new account wins.

The hat-trick of wins will see Brighouse-based Faith PR working with local businesses in a variety of industry sectors, including textiles, fire protection and lighting.

The businesses to appoint Faith include Checkmate Fire in Elland and Halifax-based Textile Innovations and J G Harrison & Sons.

Checkmate Fire is among the top 10 passive fire protection companies in the UK. J G Harrison & Sons is a family run lighting and electrical business that has been in operation from its Halifax branch and three other West Yorkshire and Lancashire sites since 1951.

Textile Innovations was founded in 2007 by David Holdsworth, chairman of the Calderdale branch of the Federation of Small Businesses.

6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

A good move for Checkmate

Plastic fantastic A firm making plastic pipes has completed a takeover.

Cawthorne-based Naylor Drainage, which draws many of its employees from Kirklees, has acquired the business and assets of Cheshirebased plastic raw material processor and supplier Raglan – which is already a supplier to Naylor.

Raglan’s Paul Parker (right), pictured with Naylor chief executive Edward Naylor, has joined Naylor as general manager of the new business, Naylor Polymers, which will trade as a division of Naylor Drainage Ltd. Mr Naylor said: “This acquisition will allow Naylor to strengthen our supply chain at the same time as developing a business to supply third parties with a range of high-quality materials in pelletised and pulverised form.”

Visit our Auction Site for the latest news!

LAND AND PROPERTY AUCTION THURS 26 FEB 2015

Residential Renovation Opportunity

39 Knowsley Street, Bradford, BD3 9LN 2 bedroom stone built back to back dwelling, just off Leeds Road, requiring comprehensive renovation.

At The Cedar Court Hotel, Lindley Moor Road, Ainley Top, Huddersfield, HD3 3RH Prime Housing Site and Character Period Building

Westfields Road, Mirfield, WF14 9PW Prime executive housing site STPP. Period 8,760 sq ft property set in 3 acres of picturesque parkland setting.

Planning application submitted for 11 detached units and conversion of offices to two flats. 5 minutes to J25 M62.

Guide Price: £10,000 – £20,000

Retail/A5 Investment Opportunity

1 Barum Top, Halifax, HX1 1NL Retail/hot food takeaway investment next to Wetherspoons in town centre. Rental £12,140 pa exc. Upper parts suitable for residential STPP.

Guide Price: £900,000 – £1 million

Guide Price: £135,000 plus

Waterside Redevelopment Opportunity

Paddock Grazing and Woodland

Fern Mills, 5-7 Old Leeds Road, Huddersfield, HD1 1SE 12,000 sq ft canalside building close to town centre. Suitable for a variety of uses STPP.

Guide Price: £150,000 – £175,000

Residential/Student Investment

10 Kings Mill Lane, Huddersfield, HD1 3AN 3,106 sq ft period building very close to University. Potential £50,000 pa income post refurbishment.

Guide Price: £200,000 – £250,000

Edgerton Cemetery Lodge

109 Blacker Road, Edgerton, Huddersfield, HD2 2AX 3 bedroom former groundman’s cottage requiring renovation, in popular residential area.

Lower Edge Road, Elland, HX5 9PL 5.17 acres, suitable for agricultural, equestrian and leisure activities subject to relevant planning consents. In rural location yet 5 minutes drive from J24 M62 motorway.

Guide Price: £30,000 – £40,000

VARIOUS FORMER PUBLIC CONVENIENCES

Suitable for various alternative uses, i.e. retail, office etc, subject to appropriate planning approvals.

Carr Lane, Slaithwaite

Picturesque village centre location next to canal.

Guide Price: £95,000 – £105,000

Guide Price: £40,000 – £50,000

Potential Housing Site

Moor Bottom, Honley

1.24 acres, Healey Lane, Batley, WF17 8BN Former garden nursery. Planning application submitted for 15 houses.

Close to village centre with on-site parking.

Guide Price: £350,000 – £400,000

Guide Price: £20,000 – £30,000

Former Denby Dale Nursery School

Morley Lane, Milnsbridge

Wakefield Road, Denby Dale, HD8 8RX 5,000 sq ft traditional school house on 0.39 acre corner site in village centre. Suitable for a variety of uses STPP. Planning application submitted for residential conversion.

Fronting busy thoroughfare, close to centre.

Guide Price: £200,000 – £250,000

Guide Price: £15,000 – £25,000

Potential Housing Site

Market Street, Birstall

Battye Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1PL Small corner plot in popular residential location close to town centre. Planning application submitted for two 3 bed houses.

Just off Market Place. On-site parking, planning application submitted for retail with residential over.

Guide Price: £20,000 – £30,000

Guide Price: £20,000 – £30,000

A specialist fire protection company has moved offices as it expands its business across the UK. Checkmate Fire, which provides passive fire protection such as fire doors, fire rated glazing and dry lined walls and ceilings, has moved from Brighouse – where it had its north of England base for six years – to new 1,800sq ft premisesd at Lowfields Business Park in Elland.

The company, which was formed in 1990, works with high profile clients across the UK, including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Harrods department store and University College London.

Its products have also been installed at Tower Bridge, the O2 Arena, Gatwick Airport, RAF Brize Norton and the Lincolnshire headquarters of Interflora, The company also has a base in Essex serving London and the South East and operates across the Arabian Gulf with agencies in Dubai and Bahrain.

Managing director Mark Williams (pictured) said the new office was part of the company’s plans for continued growth nationwide.

“We had outgrown our Brighouse premises and the time was right to invest in a new headquarters for Checkmate Fire as we take on more work across Yorkshire and around the UK,” he said.

“Our Elland base provides easy access to the motorway network enabling us to service our clients effectively across the north of England.

“Checkmate Fire is growing nationwide with more businesses and organisations recognising our complete solutions to passive fire protection are important to their buildings and development projects.

“We are proud to provide professionally managed, cost-effective, high quality services and look forward to being able to work with more clients in the months ahead as a result of this move.”

Skills shortages ‘timebomb’ A construction skills time bomb is ticking with skills shortages on the increase across a number of trades and professions, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Results from the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey show small construction firms are experiencing particular difficulties recruiting carpenters, joiners and bricklayers.

Brian Berry, FMB chief executive, said: “As the shock waves from the latest economic downturn continue to reverberate through the construction sector, concerns over diminished workloads have been replaced by concerns over skills shortages.

“This time last year, only 27% of firms were struggling to recruit bricklayers – that figure now stands at a sizeable 42%.

For carpenters and joiners, the figure has nearly doubled with 23% of firms reporting issues in the fourth quarter of 2013 and 44% of firms now saying these trades-

people are hard to come by. We’re also seeing a rising and significant shortage of roofers, plasterers and site managers.”

Mr Berry said: “The skills time bomb has arisen for a number of reasons.

Around 400,000 construction workers left the industry since the downturn hit in 2007 and many will never return. If you combine this with an increase in workloads as the economy recovers, all the signs point to the skills shortage getting worse before it gets better.

“The FMB is working hard to help address this skills shortage, but the Government must also play its part. If Ministers could do one thing to help address the problem in the medium term, it should be to review its proposed apprenticeship funding reforms, which our members tell us will prevent them from being able to train apprentices. In the midst of a skills crisis, it’s the last thing the construction industry needs.”

Company putting on the tile style Ceramic and porcelain tile distributor Waxman Architectural Tiles has helped to provide high quality tiles to a top London restaurant chain.

Elland-based Waxman, which has worked with a long list of well known brands, supplied a mixture of grey, white and black unglazed tiles to create a geometric floor feature for Dishoom’s popular restaurant in Covent Garden. The chain has recently been ranked as the UK’s best place to eat.

Serving Indian dishes with a British twist for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant has impressed its diners who rated it the best place to eat in the UK via

Yelp’s online review site.

Waxman said the accolade proved that companies from the North can also have a bite into London’s tasty offerings.

Mark Thomas, director for Waxman Architectural Tiles in the south, said: “The Dishoom project was a particularly successful one for Waxman Architectural Tiles. The bespoke tile mix looks really impressive and works remarkably well with the surrounding decor of the restaurant, which highlights how versatile our ranges can be.”

Waxman Architectural Tiles is part of the Waxman Group with more than 50 years in distribution.

7

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

Firm’s £900,000 boost A company supplying specialist glass, steel and stainless steel windows and doors has landed one of its biggest-ever projects.

Brighouse-based Arkoni has secured a £900,000 contract to manufacture and install fire-rated windows and doors, curtain walling, roof lights and smoke vents at the new Alder Hey Children’s Hospital development on Merseyside.

The contract is almost double Arkoni’s previous largest project – a £500,000 deal to supply glazed walling, a staircase and balustrades at Derby Sports Arena.

The new complex, dubbed Alder Hey in he Park, is due to open later this year and will feature spacious wards, more space to accommodate parents, improved clinic areas, education and research facilities, new operating theatres and a new A&E department. There will also be dedicated areas for children, young people and teenagers to play and relax and improved technology.

Arkoni managing director and founder Mark Prentice said: “We’re delighted to be involved in the ongoing building work for the relocated Alder Hey in the Park project. We are winning more and more major contracts as the UK’s construction industry continues to recover from the recession.”

Arkoni, established in 1991, specialises in making and installing fire-rated glazing, steel and stainless steel windows and doors and thermally broken glazing as well as balustrades, glazed canopies and staircases.

The company employs 52 people at its Brighouse headquarters and posted turnover of £5.25m in the year to July, 2014 – a 30% increase on the previous 12 months. Arkoni expects to report a similar level of

Yorkshire property in demand

■■ Artist’s impression of the new Alder Hey in the Park children’s hospital, which will feature windows, doors and curtain walling supplied by Brighouse-based Arkoni

growth for current financial year.

Previous projects have included work for supermarkets, shopping malls, housing developments, hotels, hospitals, sports stadia, museums, schools and universities. Major schemes have included work for the 23-storey BP4 building at Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena, Manchester’s Trafford Centre, Manches-

ter United’s Old Trafford stadium and the Tate Gallery in London.

Closer to home, Arkoni has provided a contemporary look to the west and south porch entrances to Wakefield Cathedral and provided glass feature canopies at the £40m Broad Street Plaza development in Halifax.

Commercial property investment in the UK reached £54.9bn in 2014 – with strong investor demand for sites in Yorkshire.

The UK regions are set to become an increasingly attractive option for domestic and foreign investors, according to the 2015 Outlook from property agent DTZ. The agency said UK commercial property investment reached an all-time high in 2014 with £54.9bn transacted – with the increase driven by investment outside London, which increased from £25.4bn in 2013 to £34.4bn.

Overseas investment continued to dominate in London, representing more than 68% of transactions in 2014, but the real increase in overseas investment was again in the rest of the UK. This increased significantly from a 28% share of the total in 2013 to 36% in 2014, driven by significant surges in investment from the US, China and Europe.

Looking ahead, DTZ downplayed some perceived risks to UK property markets, including the impact of the General Election and volatility in energy prices.

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8

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

movers and shakers

Company is setting a shining example ■■ Kirklees and Calderdale members of the family law “pod” (from top, left to right) Caroline Price, Melissa Murphy, Helen Thewlis, Jane Mahaffey, Mark Green, James Skinner, Sharron Hardman and Ruth Miller

Law firms get together to help tackle family issues Family law specialists from firms across Kirklees and Calderdale are now working together to offer a more innovative and less stressful way of dealing with the end of a relationship – through the collaborative process.

The new family law “pod” aims to make separation “significantly less stressful and more financially manageable” by exploring all the options that are available.

A spokesman for the group said: “All the members of our group are trained in the practice and principles of collaborative law. The image of separating parties arguing bitterly and expensively over their assets has now become an alternative to what we are happy to offer.”

He said: “The beauty of the collaborative system is that all the parties and their lawyers meet together to agree the

best way forward, not only for the parties themselves but more importantly for their children.

“It is also important to realise that lawyers can work together towards a common aim rather than simply be seen as fighting for one party or the other.

“The other benefit of the collaborative process is the parties retain control of it themselves and dictate the pace of the meetings and what they feel to be important to deal with.

“All the members of our group work closely together on other cases and this in itself can help keep costs down.”

Members of the group are also skilled mediators, offering another means of dealing with the breakdown of a marriage without resorting to the court. # Go to www.collabfamilylaw-kirkleescalderdale.co.uk

Giant steps for ex-player Former Huddersfield Giants star Andy Raleigh has been appointed to tackle a new role.

The former Super League prop forward has joined Wakefield-based transport planning consultancy Travel Plan Services Ltd (TPS) as a consultant transport planner.

Andy (pictured), who retired last season after a rugby league career that spanned 12 years, will work across a wide range of development and sustainable travel planning projects for clients including Bank of America, Next, Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Homes and ASDA. TPS was formed in

2000 and specialises in development transport planning and travel planning across a range of public and private sectors, including industrial, commercial, education and residential.

Andy, who graduated in geography at Newcastle University in 2002, said: “I always hoped I’d find a job where I could utilise my degree.”

By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk

A lighting and electrical retailer shone through to win a monthly business award.

J G Harrison & Sons Ltd, which supplies the public, wholesalers and businesses with lighting and electrical products has been named Eaton Smith Business of the Month after impressing the judges with its environmentally-friendly products.

The award was presented at a lunch held at the offices of law firm Eaton Smith’s in High Street, Huddersfield, which was attended by representatives of the winning firm.

J G Harrison was founded in 1951 by George Harrison from his home in Huddersfield. The family-run business now employs 45 people and has stores in Dewsbury, Halifax, Bradford and Rochdale.

John Harrison took over the business in the 1960s and remains managing director with his son Chris as sales director handling the dayto-day management of the business.

The firm continues to serve the retail market, but puts its continued success down to the growth in its commercial offering.

Working with Kirklees Council, business development manager Amanda Speight has upgraded lighting to low-energy LED alternatives for more than 50 organisations. Recent projects included a £17,000 lighting upgrade – with £5,000 grant funding from Kirklees – for Huddersfield-based Metrodent, which manufactures and distributes to the dental industry.

Kate Booth, associate solicitor at Eaton Smith, who led the judging panel, said: “We were very impressed with J G Harrison & Sons’ application and felt that it clearly stood out against the others.

■■ Kate Booth (centre) presents the award to Chris Harrison (third right) and Amanda Speight, of J G Harrison & Sons Ltd, with (from left) Steven Pollitt, of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce; Chris Brown, of Brantwood Financial Planning; and Nick Brook, of Tax Assist Accountants

“It was clear that a lot of time and effort had been spent putting it together and it was very well presented. We liked the story of the firm and the fact that it has weathered the recession well with steady turnover and avoiding redundancies. I was personally impressed that they employ 45 members of staff.

“We were impressed with their environmental products and service and thought that this would stand them in good stead. All in all, they were an easy choice for this month’s winner.”

Chris Harrison said: “We’re overjoyed to

win the award. We have been so busy running the business for more than 60 years that we have never entered anything like this before.

The recognition is great and we’d like to thank our hard working team for finding innovative ways to continue such success.”

J G Harrison & Sons will compete for the annual prize in the competition run by Eaton Smith Solicitors in conjunction with Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and UKTI at a breakfast event to be held on July 3 at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top.

New recruit for firm on the move An expanding education recruitment agency has moved into larger premises in Brighouse to accommodate its growing workforce.

Provide Education has moved into newly-converted offices in Thornhill Brigg Mills, Brighouse.

The 600sq ft premises are three times larger than the firm’s former base at the Coach House on Owler Ings Road.

The company’s move has been prompted by year-on-year business growth which has seen it double staff numbers within the last three years.

Provide Education opened its West Yorkshire branch in Elland in 2011 and moved to Brighouse in 2012, at which point it had three employees. It now employs a team of six, following the appointment of a new recruit this week.

Brighouse office manager Paula Ho said: “We are very excited about moving into attractive new office space. We had certainly

■■ Provide Education’s Brighouse team (left-right) Katie Dale, Zoe Griffin, Paula Ho, Nicola France and Liam Perry

out-grown our old office and our new home at Thornhill Brigg Mills gives us room to grow further in the future.”

Provide Education helps teachers and other education staff find supply teaching work and other jobs in hundreds of schools across

West Yorkshire.

It has nearly a thousand active job candidates on its books including teachers, teaching assistants, cover supervisors, nursery nurses and school support staff.

It works with hundreds of schools across the region in Calderdale,

Kirklees, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield education authority areas, plus parts of North Yorkshire.

Provide Education’s new recruit, Zoe Griffin, joins the company as a resourcer. Her job will be to attract more teachers and other staff to sign up to the recruitment agency’s books.

Paula, who has worked for Provide Education since 2011, said: “It is great to welcome Zoe on board now. She will play a vital role in sourcing new job candidates to help us handle our growing number of enquiries from schools.

“We have developed a strong team at Provide and grown organically in response to rising demand for our services over the past few years.”

Provide Education also has offices in Barnsley serving South Yorkshire and Worksop covering the East Midlands. The company employs 17 across its three offices.