2015 03 03 08kbn

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DAVID ANDRASSY

FTSE 100

-6.02 6940.64

Social conscience Interview - Page 3

AMANDA VIGAR Why are we waiting? Column - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Chamber seals a transfer deal with stadium chiefs The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

INSIDE

Industry site sold

henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk

A leading business group is moving its Huddersfield headquarters. The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, which has hundreds of member firms across Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield, is set to leave its Lockwood Park offices – where its lease is coming to an end – to take up space at the John Smith’s Stadium. The chamber, which has 16 staff, will occupy a large open plan office at the stadium, but will also retain its presence at the Elsie Whiteley Centre in Halifax. The chamber’s offices at Westgate, Wakefield, are up for sale but will also be used by the chamber while the search for a buyer continues. Staff including MYExport Hub, the chamber’s international trade arm, will be located at the stadium. Chamber chief executive Martin Hathaway said: “The move to John

Smith’s Stadium is a really positive step for us. “Our new office is well-located within the Mid Yorkshire region and has access to fantastic on-site facilities. “By bringing the chamber team together under one roof this will make for more efficient working – improving the service to our members and ensuring continued success throughout Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.” He said: “We will continue to have an office within the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre in Halifax and MYExport Hub will run a flexible appointment service in Wakefield.” The chamber will begin working from the stadium office on Monday, March 23. on March 23. The chamber and the stadium – home to Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants – have worked together for a number of years to support local businesses. Gareth Davies, stadium managing director, said: “I am particularly pleased to be entering into a new chapter of our relationship with the

Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. “The work they do is of crucial importance to the local economy and we look forward to working even more closely with them and their member organisations going forward.” The chamber announced at the end of January that its Wakefield site was up for sale and that it was reviewing all its property holdings. New Commerce House at 168 Westgate has been home to the chamber since 1991. The Lockwood Park premises, which are owned by Huddersfield RUFC, have been occupied by the chamber since 2008. The chamber’s lease will expire at the end of March. Founded 160 years ago, the chamber draws its membership from businesses across Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield. The chamber is also part of the British Chambers of Commerce national network and also works with ■■ Stadium managing director Gareth Davies (left) international chambers of commerce. and chamber chief executive Martin Hathaway

examiner.co.uk

By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter

One of West Yorkshire’s largest warehousing and industrial sites has been sold for more than £3m. Chartered surveyors Eddisons has completed the sale of Birstall 140, which covers more than 140,000sq ft and is located alongside junction 27 of the M62 and next to Birstall Retail Park. It has been bought by Leeds-based Jabe Foods Ltd for a figure well in excess of the £3.25m guide price.

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Everything’s coming up roses for landscaping company

Trade mission

A Mirfield-based landscaping firm has secured a six-figure three-year deal to maintain seven business parks across northern England and the Midlands – after picking up work worth more than £1.3m in the past six months. Grace Landscapes was approached by Lambert Smith Hampton to implement proposals put forward by landscape architect Stephen Welch, of Welch Landscape Design for business parks owned by the Harworth Group. Commercial director Jo Hardingham

A campaign to get more Kirklees firms trading overseas has appointed its 40th export ambassador. Kris Szajdzicki, founder of established exporting business ND Metering Solutions in Bradford, is the latest export ambassador appointed to support Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s We are International campaign.

said: “We are planting semi-mature trees to create avenues and enhance the entrances. Grass areas will be changed into wild flower meadows and ornamental gravel with feature stones to save on maintenance costs.” About 5,000sq metres will be changed in all. Clearance works, staining and repairing fences along with new hedge planting are also part of the package. The first phase of work worth £137,000 is due to complete by the end of May –

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with about £425,000 due to be spent over three years. The maintenance contract is worth £80,000 a year to the company, reducing as the upgrades are completed. The contract win continues a run of successes for Grace Landscapes, during which it has brought in contracts worth £810,000. Contracts sealed by Grace Landscapes late last year include a £220,000 job at Glasgow Fort Retail Park, £130,000 to carry out landscaping for energy firm

E.ON and a £90,000 contract for work at the headquarters of outdoor clothing and lifestyle company Regatta. Some £400,000 of maintenance work has already been secured for the next 12 months. Grace Landscapes, which was established in 1978 as a “one man and his van” operation, now covers horticulture, design and management. It employs 130 people, covers the Midlands to the Scottish Borders and has turnover exceeding £5.5m a year.


2

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

New strategy sees M&S axe five stores in China Marks & Spencer is to close five stores in China and shrink its Shanghai head office as part of a strategic shake-up, the retailer said. M&S set out details of its plans, first outlined last year, which will see 60 jobs cut and the total number of sites in China fall from 15 to 10. But the retailer aims to return to 15 stores over time starting with a “firm intent” to enter key cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou from the 2015/16 financial year which starts next month. The announcement was newspaper closelgy followed by reports that Bruce Findlay, head of Asia operations, has quit to take up a role at Diesel. The former Calvin Klein executive took up the role in September, 2013. M&S said: “As announced in April, 2014, Marks & Spencer has reviewed the shape of its existing store portfolio to ensure it’s best aligned with its strategic growth plans. “As a result, Marks & Spencer has taken the decision to close five of its supporting stores in the greater Shanghai region by August 2015. It has also reviewed its head office resource structure in line with growth

■■ Marks and Spencer said its “firm intent” is to expand into key ciities in China

plans.” The retailer said it would continue to invest in existing flagship stores with plans for the complete modernisation of its central store in Shanghai this autumn. Marks’s new strategy in China involves focusing on central locations in the larger cities as well as strength-

ening its web presence – which has recently seen it launch a new childrenswear online store. M&S also said it was “evaluating potential partners” for the business. It is looking at the possibility of a joint venture arrangement along the lines of its operation in India. M&S is also investing in Hong Kong,

Warning as Thorntons profits melt Profits have melted by 9% at chocolate retailer Thorntons after a “disappointing” half-year – with a warning of more tough times to come. Despite a bumper Christmas when like-for-like sales in its retail stores rose by 7.8% in December, the company has been hit by a cut in orders at two major supermarkets and teething problems at its new centralised warehouse. Profits before tax and exceptional items fell to £6.5m for the 28 weeks to January 10 as sales dipped by 8.2% to £128.2m. Investors were left without an interim dividend for the fourth year in a row. Chief executive Jonathan Hart said: “The difficult trading conditions in our UK commercial channel have persisted into the second half.” He said the group remained “cautious” about full-year expectations , but added: “We are well-positioned to take advantage of an improvement in consumer spending.” Thorntons, which is closing about 20 stores this year as it aims to cut back to between 180 and 200 outlets, saw like-for-like retail sales rise by 2.2%. Total store sales fell by 5.2% to £65.5m. The group said: “Alongside positive results from our retail division, we were disappointed that the continued growth anticipated in the UK channel in our FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) division was not delivered.

where it has 18 stores, and expanding its food store portfolio after three standalone locations opened since last year performed as well as its most successful UK M&S Simply Food outlets. Marks is also opening a new store in Macau in November 2015. It opened its first store in Hong Kong in 1988 and in China in 2008. In the UK, falling clothing sales at M&S have piled pressure on the group’s chief executive Marc Bolland. Its key Christmas trading period was beset by online delivery problems. Full-year sales to the end of last March in its international division were up 6.2% to £1.15bn, including 15.7% growth in Asia. M&S opened its first Hong Kong store at the Ocean Centre shopping mall in May, 1988, and now has 18 wholly-owned stores in Hong Kong. It opened its first Marks & Spencer food store in Hong Kong at Wanchai in 2010 and currently has four standalone Food stores. Marks & Spencer opened its first store in Macau at the Cotai Strip Resorts Macao in August, 2014. Shares in M&S closed yesterday 5.5p higher at 510p.

Profits increase for Trinity Mirror

TUC backs outsourcing report

Media group Trinity Mirror is to pay a final dividend for the first time since 2008 after reporting another year of profit growth. The group, which publishes The Examiner, is proposing a final dividend of 3p per share to be paid on June 4. The proposal requires shareholder approval at the annual meeting to be held in May.

Outsourcing public services leads to staff working longer hours for less pay and worse contracts, it is claimed. The TUC said workers in privatised services are more likely to put in longer hours, receive lower wages and be on insecure or temporary contracts. Research into outsourcing in health and social care, the

Trinity Mirror lifted pre-tax profits to £102.3m for the year to December 28, 2014, from £101.3m the previous year – backed by tight management of costs and structural savings of £15m, which were £5m ahead of target. Revenue totalled £636.3m against £663.8m last time, although publishing digital revenue continued to grow by

almost 50% throughout the year, Simon Fox, Trinity Mirror chief executive, said: “I am pleased with the financial and strategic progress we have made in 2014. “We continue to invest across the group in people and technology and this is delivering significant growth in digital audience and revenue.”

prison service, local government and employment services found a “knock on effect” on the quality of care, said the report. Security guards are more than 12 times more likely to regularly work longer hours in a private rather than public sector organisation, while prison officers in private jails earn more than £4 an hour

less than in the public sector, the study by the New Economics Foundation discovered. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said the research “clearly exposes the damaging effect of outsourcing on the morale and working conditions of staff” and said service users and family members also suffered.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN

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

£53.33 £68.63 £50.86 £57.17 £23.37 £48.06 £28.72 48.79 £54.20 £52.02

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 Barclays

734 531 2231/2 3381/2 543 9341/2 3375/8

183/4 59 891/2 35 76 £231/8 1471/2 1057 131/2 145 10051/4

AUTOMOBILES & PARTS BANKS

3631/4 2623/4

+0.26 -0.76 +0.21 -0.43 +0.34 -0.78 +0.20 -0.40 -21 -1 -23/4 -23/4 -2 -141/2 -27/8 +1/2 +3 -3 +11/2 +71/2 -18 +31/4 -93/4 -17/8 +57/8

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

251/4 5827/8 80 3781/4 980

+1/2 +55/8 +1 +111/8 -11

BEVERAGES

680 1917 £361/2

+2 /2 -181/2 -1/4

£26 /8 2843/8 £34

- /2 -23/4

CHEMICALS

1

7

1

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS

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

2493/4 1813 2971/4 59 241

ELECTRICITY

4013/8 1561

-11/8 -17 -43/4 -3/4 -21/2 -121/4 -12

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Domino Ptg Laird Morgan Advanced Ox Instmts Volex

748 3411/2 3261/2 798 673/4

-211/2 -9 -23/4 +411/2 -5/8

494 1351/2 338 2641/2 1931/2

-1/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS

Alliance Trust Br Assets Candover Inv Dunedin Inv Dunedin Sml

-8 -13/4 +7/8

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

6771/2 £311/4 4561/2 576 864 2401/2 2581/4 7891/2

FIXED LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

BT Grp Cable & Wireless Comm Colt Group KCOM Talktalk Telecom

4561/8 585/8 1481/2 93 3351/2

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS

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

198 /4 272 2463/4 69 3

FOOD PRODUCERS

+3/8 +3/8 -17/8 +1 -35/8

+3 /8 +1/8 +11/4 -4 1

£307/8 1373/4 3271/2 593 £283/4

-3/8 +21/4 +11 -21/2 +1/8

2461/2 8857/8 8411/2 £201/4 945

+21/4 -3/4 -9

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES

Centrica National Grid Pennon Grp Severn United Utils 3i Group Close Bros

GENERAL FINANCIAL 497 1653

HOUSEHOLD GOODS

-1 Local shares -3/8 +1/2 Carclo 125 -4 -21/2 Marshalls 241 -21/2 8857/8 -3/4 +23/4 National Grid Weir Gp 1718 +14 +1/8 FTSE closed at +1

-1 +33/8 +12

Aga Rangemaster Barrat Dev Bellway Persimmon Reckitt Benckiser Taylor Wimpey

down 6.02

5351/2 £241/2 193 £271/2 £303/4 £235/8

-1/2 -1/4 +13/8 +1/8

371 /2 1170

+4 /4 +15

GENERAL INDUSTRIALS

Smith DS Smiths Grp

1

GENERAL RETAILERS

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

281/4 4347/8 1983/4 741 3693/4 510 1903/4 £751/8 £795/8 1324

+1/8 1

-3/4 -53/4 -33/4 +5 +41/4 +51/2 +3/4 +1/8 +21/8 -19

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

Smith Nph

1199

-33/4 +7 +1/4 +5 -5/8 +3/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

6940.64

ICAP London StockExch Man Group Provident Financial Schroders Schroders NV

105 5221/2 £201/8 1769 £58 1447/8

+13

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

2181/4 1364 871/2 59 £317/8 1718

-11/4 -17 +3/8 -1/4 +14

INDUSTRIAL METALS 65 /2

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION 3463/4

+1/8

536 4101/8 2801/4 2243/4 16211/2 4231/4

-3 -1 +3/4 -3/8 -8 -21/2

8451/2 2273/4 1661/4 1424 1130 1005 3721/2 2001/2

-8 +21/2 -21/2 +4 +12 +81/2 -91/4 -13/4

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 Trinity Mirror

MEDIA

5431/2 1781/4 1538

MINING

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

+1 -71/2 +3

1201 765 15951/2 8111/2 246 1541/2 £311/2 5821/2

-9 -2 -21 -91/2 -75/8 -23/4 -3/8 -11

880 2243/4

+4 +1/4

MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Inmarsat Vodafone Group

NONLIFE INSURANCE

1

BBA Aviation

Utd Business UTV WPP

Admiral Grp Jardine LloydThomson Marsh McL RSA Ins Gp

1476 9511/2 £371/8 4341/4

+1 -7 +1/8 +53/8

9481/2 4465/8 1951/4 1581/8 £207/8 £215/8 £343/8 3571/4

-91/2 -13/8 -81/4 -103/8 -1/4 -1/2 -3/4 -30

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

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

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

AMEC Petrofac Wood Gp(J)

10553/8 8791/2 6571/2

PERSONAL GOODS

-8

Burberry Gp PZ Cussons

1892 3307/8

+20 -67/8

£44 /4 1554 £515/8

+121/2 -11/8

845 822 686 3571/4 1278 4351/4

+16 /2 +211/2 +101/2 +33/4 +22 +43/4

4841/4

-1/4

1128 1900 1207 1561/2 581 2323/8 2323/8 1203 2985/8 1543/4 3321/2 625 391 6271/2 175 1367/8 £201/4 £397/8

+28 +4 +19 -3/4 +2 +73/4 +73/4 +5 +5/8 +15/8 -43/4 -31/2 +43/4 +6 +21/4 +15/8 +1/8 +1/4

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca GlaxoSmithKline Shire

3

REAL ESTATE

Brit Land Gt Portland Hamrsn Intu Properties Land Secs SEGRO

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 Wolseley

TOBACCO

Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco

1182 £1041/8 923/4

+23 -11/8

£375/8 £32

-1/4

TRAVEL & LEISURE

1

SOFTWARE & COMPUTER SERVICES

Sage Group

TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT

ARM Hldgs IBM Spirent Comms

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

801/4 £293/4 1154 1723 1041/2 1061/4 £261/8 880 £267/8 574 117 151 462 291 871/4 184 730 7231/8 3375/8 £531/2 379

INDEX

6940.64 17249.92

-51/8 +1/2 +2 -9 -1/2 +7/8 +1/8 +71/2 +3/8 -6 -13/4 -13/4 -41/8 +67/8 -1/4 -4 -81/2 -8 -3/8 +7/8 +11/4 -6.02 -23.90


3

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

profile

Helping those in need find their voice The business landscape is changing. The rise of the Third Sector means more and more social enterprises, charities and not-forprofit organisations are rubbing shoulders with “traditional” firms. And to succeed in a commercial, competitive environment, they need to be equipped with the kind of resources that private sector businesses enjoy. It’s a shift in emphasis that comes as no surprise to Huddersfield businessman David Andrassy. His business, Andrassy Media, has positioned itself to meet the marketing needs of deserving organisations that might otherwise struggle to get their messages across. “Andrassy Media has been in business for 15 years,” he says. “We were Andrassy Design originally and we started at the time of the millennium. We started as a graphic design company, but what was unusual was that we worked specifically with the nonprofit sector.” David began his career as a graphic designer in the early 1980s working for a studio in Leeds in the days of cut-and-paste before computers transformed the industry. He later travelled abroad and worked in Italy – trying to make a living as an artist. “It wasn’t an easy life, but it was good fun,” he says. Back in Britain, he decided he wanted to do something “socially useful”. Says David: “I ended up as a mental health workers for 14 years – first in Edinburgh and for the last 10 years in Manchester. Because of my graphic art skills I kept being asked to do posters and leaflets – and a lightbulb came on! I thought: ‘Perhaps I could make a living at this’. “I had got to know a lot of community organisations. I wanted to bring my graphic design skills to bear on something useful.” The decision to put his talents to use working with Third Sector

groups was a big one – but one he has never regretted. Says David: “Nowadays, people talk about ethical businesses and social businesses, but at that time, that language didn’t exist. “It was before Tony Blair’s Third Way. It was before that terminology came to be used. I didn’t have a framework in which to put what I was doing. Now it is more widely understood.” His first project was for a small tenant-led housing association. “It was a one-off and it was a bit of a risk in that sense,” he admits. “I didn’t know if it would work out. I didn’t know if I would be able to make a living working with nonprofit organisations. But word of mouth and the quality of the work helped my reputation grow.” Now Andrassy Media is firmly established in its field, based at the Media Centre in Huddersfield, but ranging far and wide in its work. “You feel very privileged,” says David. “You get to hear the voices of people who are quite marginalised in our society. “We work with so many diverse groups of people – and there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution.” David’s client list includes organisations working with the homeless and the poor, health

David Andrassy

agencies, social landlords, environmental groups, performing arts groups and others – all working to make communities stronger. David sees his role as “to create visual communications for social change”. One project in which David takes pride was an national HIV awareness campaign for Africans in England, commissioned by Department of Health. Other projects where David has brought his transferrable skills to bear include making a film about the lack of access to clean water in Sierra Leone, producing a magazine for Black Health Agency in Manchester – and working with Balbir Singh Dance Company, supporting them to take accessible high quality dance out into communities across the country. “I find it fantastically stimulating to work with these clients because the issues they deal with really matter,” he says. “To be able to find a graphic way to tell their stories, to give them the impact they deserve is really rewarding.” He says: “This is a sector that is growing and it has obviously faced difficult times. “The recession and austerity have made things harder for charities. What we can do is to raise their profile. They need a pres-

■■ The Third Sector is growing, says David Andrassy, of Andrassy Media

ence or they can slip below the radar – and that can lead to a downward spiral. “We can provide a cost-effective way to raise their profile – and it has to be cost-effective. You can’t say you work with charities and not work at a reasonable cost. “The ‘effectiveness’ comes in because it means our clients can get on with doing what they do best. Organisations trying to do everything themselves can end up spending more.” David hails from Wakefield, but has lived in Huddersfield for 30 years, firstly in Marsden and now in Almondbury. He runs Andrassy Media with his wife, Julie, who also has a background in mental health work. David’s wish now is to work with more local firms. He says: “We have clients across the country, but we could do much more for local voluntary organisations.” One local project has involved Andrassy Media working with Huddersfield University students and young refugees to produce a calendar which tells hrough their drawings and words something of the experiences of children seeking asylum. He says: “I asked one of the children what they would like to say to their social worker through this calendar. The answer was: ‘Next time you move us, can we have suitcases instead of bin bags for our belongings?’ It makes you sit up and think.” Creating images and text to raise awareness of the plight of needy people requires special thought. “It’s about story telling,” says David. “You have to be sensitive to the subject matter as well as getting across an urgent message. It’s something I completely believe in. “This year, I want to build on the collaborations I have started – working with people who are very creative in their own right – not just crafting messages about our clients, but helping them find their voice. We can work with local organisations to help them and their service users find their voice and find out what matters to them.”

Role: Director Age: 56 Family: Married to Julie with children Rosie, 23, Ted, 21, Marcus, 19, and Elizabeth, 16 Car: Series 3 Land Rover Holidays: We like to explore the hills and mountains of Great Britain First job: Working in a bakery in Ossett Best thing about the job? I meet so many diverse people with such different lives. I often find myself in the middle of a world I have never encountered before Worst thing about the job? You know there is so much more that could be done. You are living constantly with unfinished business Business tip: Always give of your best

Andrassy Media Work: Visual communications for social change Site: Media Centre, Northumberland Street, Huddersfield Phone: 07973 620636 Email: david@andrassymedia.co.uk Web: www. andrassymedia.co.uk

Who will be the next Business of the Month? If you are proud of what your business has achieved; why not tell us about your success story and you could be a winner of our prestigious award. For further details please contact: Ian Greenwood, Eaton Smith Solicitors, 14 High Street, Huddersfield HD1 2HA T: 01484 821389 E: iangreenwood@eatonsmith.co.uk

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4

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

local

KIRKLEES BUS

Awards hat-trick for car dealership A car dealership group has landed three awards and been shortlisted for a fourth in a top industry award scheme. Perrys Motor Sales, which have a dealership in Huddersfield, was successful at the 2015 AM Awards held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre. Perrys chief executive Ray Sommerville also received the title of Business Leader of the Year for the positive impact he has had on the company and the wider industry over the last 12 months. The hat-trick of wins were for Best Social Media Campaign, Best Use of Television and/or Video – a new category for 2015 – and Digital Initiative of the Year. In

addition, Perrys reached the final shortlist in the Best Dealer Website category. The AM Awards are recognised as the primary benchmark to measure performance in the industry and are seen by many as the Oscars of the automotive world. Lee Manning, digital marketing manager for Perrys, said: “Our customers are our number one priority, and it’s this focus that has driven the innovations we’ve made across our digital platforms. “These awards will inspire us to carry on making it easy for our customers to find the information they need and come up with interesting ways of presenting it.”

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Peter Sargent, Partner Richard Kenworthy, Director Begbies Traynor 36 Clare Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2HX www.begbies-traynor.com

We’re all fed up of the waiting game! The statement is there on the advert and so the customer rings and leaves messages, sends e-mails to the address on the website…. waits….. waits…... and hears absolutely nothing! What exactly does that say to the potential customer about the business? Recently, we had cause to call out an electrician because of a major power outage at one of our offices. We rang five that claimed to offer 24 /7 emergency call outs. One answerphone told us “we’re away for the holidays” – but didn’t say when they were back! Another just rang out and didn’t even have the facility to leave a message. In the end only one replied – 48 hours later! In these tight economic times, a lot of businesses are investing good money in having and building websites, paying for top listing on Yell and the like or advertising in local papers or magazines in the hope that it will bring them work. They might as well set fire to all that cash if they don’t monitor the e-mails and voicemails that their promotional activity produces. Nowadays, with smart phones enabling everyone to be able to pick up emails wherever they are in the world. There is just no excuse for not responding.

THE BUSINESS BATTLEAXE Amanda Vigar Mind you, even when they’ve made contact, will they actually turn up to look at the work that’s on offer? Sadly many won’t! A client told us recently of some flooring work they’d needed doing. Nine emails generated only four responses. Eventually, two bothered to turn up to look at the floor (one more set a date but never arrived leaving the client waiting around) but only one of them provided the pricing information they’d promised. That’s not much better than a 10% hit rate just to get a price! Personally, I’d much rather be told someone can’t take the business on at the moment than just be ignored. To me a non-response is just downright rude. And it’s so short sighted – I can tell you that a non-response means I’ll never consider that business again! Worse still, I’m likely to actively tell

people not to bother even trying them. So, the next time you hear a tradesman complaining that they’re struggling for money, ask them how many people they didn’t reply to in the last year. They’ll probably look baffled, but push them and I suspect you’ll find that they are one of the many that don’t seem to be able to plan a work pipeline. They do the job in hand and just hope that something comes up for next week. By contrast, as we see with loads of our clients, basic courteous communication and a bit of forward planning, combined with some thought about the customer (and potential customer!) generates really positive recommendations to friends, family and colleagues and, as a result, a much more steady income. A virtuous and profitable circle that starts with a simple response.

Amanda Vigar is managing partner at Holmfirth-based accountants V&A Bell Brown LLP

Recruitment agency is really first choice A recruitment firm has really lived up to its name. First Choice Recruitment was named Business of the Month in the competition run by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith in conjunction with the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and government export support arm UKTI. The firm was founded in 1993 by Anne Lockwood and Andy Turner who had previously worked together at an international recruitment firm. Wakefield-based First Choice Recruitment, which also had offices at Leeds and Halifax, provides temporary and permanent positions in a variety of sectors from warehousing and manufacturing to customer service and the public sector. The past year has seen the business develop new markets – particularly in the engineering and hospitality industries. The firm impressed the judging panel by demonstrating an impressive 19% increase in turnover during the current financial year.

■■ Pennine Business Pa left) Natasha Canning, Booth, Lynn Bradley an

Joining celebra

A company is celebra by hosting a business Pennine Business vides other firms with the areas of human and health and safety Ward First Friday Clu day at Huddersfield R premises. Yorkshire who is sponsored b Partners, will also atte Pennine Business from home by husban and Lynn Bradley, m Park in December, 201 expansion. It engaged Hudder dent Natasha Canning year and Jo Kitterick ordinator before brin on board as health an the beginning of last y Lynn, who is the firm “Our business portfol of industries locally manufacturing and and the leisure indust “It is a pleasure to w variety of clients and extensive skill-set and ice we have had the expanding.”

Have a nationa

■■ Mike Webb (centre), of Eaton Smith, presents the award to Anne Lockwood (third right), of First Choice and colleagues Andy Turner (second right) and Sue Morris (right) with (from left) Jayne Pearson, of Kirklees Council; David Busfield, of HSBC; and Steven Pollitt, of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

First Choice Recruitment also has Investors in People accreditation and supports a number of charities. Mr Turner said: “We’re very proud to receive this business award as recognition of the collective team’s hard work over the last 22

years, but especially in recent months. “We’ve started the year on a real high, we’ve won several new contracts, gained lots of new clients and fully expect 2015 to be one of our greatest so far. “Winning this award is the

cherry on the cake.” The Business of the Month Award is open to firms in Kirklees, Calderdale, and Wakefield. Contact Ian Greenwood at Eaton Smith on 01484 821389.

Kirklees firms hav pete for national hono The 14th National open for entries – wit ing areas such as digit nesses, new entrepr enterprises, internati tomer focus. Martin McCourt, Private Equity, a prev egory for Leader of National Business Aw National Business Aw form in the UK for bu and sizes to compar with those of their co gauge their progress. “Winning one of th a big thumbs-up not but from the busin whole.” The 2015 National sinner will take pla House Hotel on Park L Go to www.nationalb


5

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

SINESS NEWS

artners team of (from Jo Kitterick, Michelle nd Steve Bradley

g in the ations

ating its first five years s networking event. Partners, which proh hand-on support in resources, marketing y, will host the Revell ub get-together on FriRUFC’s Lockwood Park cricketer Alex Lees, by Pennine Business end. s Partners, launched nd and wife team Steve moved to Lockwood 13 to provide room for

rsfield University stug on a work placement as client services conging Michelle Booth nd safety consultant at year. m’s HR specialist, said: lio spans a wide range and nationally from engineering to retail try. work with such a wide d to be able to offer an d a fully inclusive serve confidence to keep

tilt at a al title

ve been urged to comours. l Business Awards is th 16 categories covertal business, new busireneurs, SMEs, social ional growth and cus-

director of Montagu vious winner of the catthe Year and now a wards judge, said: “The wards is the best platusinesses of all shapes re their achievements ontemporaries and to

hese coveted awards is t only from the judges ness community as a

Business Awards gala ace at the Grosvenor Lane on November 10. businessawards.co.uk

local

Ambassadors in exporting drive A campaign to encourage more Kirklees firms to trade overseas has appointed its 40th export ambassador. Kris Szajdzicki, founder of established exporting business ND Metering Solutions in Bradford, is the latest export ambassador appointed to support Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s We are International campaign. It follows the appointment of Paul Walters, managing director of Halifax-based Lime Tree Europe Ltd as the 39th export ambassador. The network of export ambassadors have been selected from top exporting companies throughout the 10 local authority ares making up the city region to provide hands-on help and mentoring to new exporters and businesses wanting to break into new overseas markets. The initiative – delivered in partnership with international trade specialists Chamber International, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Yorkshire, Enterprise Europe Network and the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s MY Export Hub – aims to add £1.6bn to the City Region economy and create thousands of jobs during the next five years. Kris Szajdzicki says: “ I’m delighted to have been selected to join the We are International export ambassador network and to be able to assist businesses which see their future in over-

■■ Paul Walters (left), founder and managing director of Lime Tree, Halifax, with Dr Richard Smith (centre), managing director of Surfachem Group Ltd, and Kris Szajdzicki., managing director of ND Metering Solutions, Bradford

seas trade. “Greater exporting has a role to play in the Leeds city region economy, but companies starting out must realise that exporting is hard work. “The key to success in export is knowledge of your products and how they will fit into your new market in terms of the best route, the value chain, pricing.” Paul said: “I’m delighted to become a We are International export ambassador, not just for the excitement of

helping companies reap the rewards but because the region needs to help the government achieve its economic target. We cannot do this just by enabling existing exporters to increase their volumes. We need many new exporters and I’m convinced that they are out there.” The export ambassadors have now supported more than 300 small and medium-sized firms across the Leeds City Region to take the first steps towards exporting.

Former employees complete takeover Stewart Marshall and Paul Buckley have risen from being employees to employers at a Huddersfield firm. They have completed the acquisition of Lindley-based design, print and office stationery supplier Riasca UK Ltd – having formerly been employees at the firm. Stewart, who is now managing director and has vast experience in the paper and print industry, set up the company in 2005. Paul, now creative director, has grown the company at a substantial rate since joining the firm 10 years ago. Said Stewart: “We are very excited about the recent changes at Riasca and we are

now able to move forward and bring together our ethos of ‘everything you need in one place’.” Riasca works with more than 100 schools and businesses across West Yorkshire as well as brands in the UK and Europe. Stewart and Paul have joined forces to provide an ‘all in one’ service offering design, paper, print, office supplies and furniture. The company also supports good causes, including tree planting schemes, donating exercise books to African schools, providing materials to reading charities and taking part in local school initiatives.

■■ Stewart Marshall (left) and Paul Buckley, directors of Lindley-based design, print and office supplies firm Riasca Ltd

Networking group provides chance to Catch Up A networking group is playing Catch Up. HD8 Network, which provides events for businesses and organisations in the HD8 postcode area, has launched a new networking event called Catch Up to be held on the first Thursday of

every month. The first in the series takes place from 1.30pm to 2.30pm on Thursday at The Old Canteen, Barncliffe Mills, Shelley. The meeting will include informal networking and a structured session of speed networking, a speaker and

demonstration or roundthe-table discussion. Tickets can be booked in advance via Eventbrite. Catch Up complements HD8’s existing free networking event held from 4.30 to 5pm on the third Tuesday of each month at 315 Bar and

Restaurant in Lepton and its Meet Up events, which are held held immediately after the free networking and running from 5pm to 7pm. HD8 is led by Denby Dalebased business woman Merewyn Sayers.

Firms selling digital services must beware the VAT trap Small business owners who sell digital services are being warned to beware of new VAT laws. Nick Brook, who runs TaxAssist Accountants in Huddersfield, said that many local small businesses and sole traders, including website and mobile app developers, providers of pre-recorded online training courses and musicians, could be hit by the new rules. He said: “If you supply digital services to UK customers only or to other VAT-registered businesses, then these changes do not apply to you. “Anyone who provides digital services to consumers in other European Union member states will now have to pay VAT in that country. “Unfortunately, there is no ‘de minimus’ income level, so even if you have a full-time job and you develop apps as a sideline, these changes could affect you. “To comply with the new law, business owners must register for VAT

with each country they sell to. There are 28 countries in the EU with 75 different VAT rates, so the costs and administrative burden could be enormous. “To avoid this headache, there is the alternative to register with HMRC’s Mini One Stop Shop scheme – or VAT MOSS – and submit a single quarterly return and VAT payment. “HMRC then sends the information and pays each relevant country’s tax authority. “This route doesn’t escape the need to register for UK VAT, but thankfully HMRC have confirmed that domestic sales won’t have VAT applied to them provided they’re under the VAT registration threshold.” Mr Brook said: “There has been a storm of protest against this new legislation from small business owners across the UK, who are telling the Government it would wipe out any benefits to trading in Europe.”

Free start-up advice on offer All set to start a business or ready to take up limited company status? Kevin Winterburn, of Hu d d e r s f i e l d - b a s e d Sheards Accountants, will host a number of free workshops to help aspiring entrepreneurs or those already running a business understand the variety of business structures available. There will also be some tax tips to help business take the path to success. Areas covered will

include business planning; options for sole trader, partnership or limited company status; company formation; registering a business with the tax authorities, including VAT & PAYE; and raising finance. The events will be held from 8.30am to 10am on March 10 and April 7 at Sheards Accountants, New North Road, Huddersfield. Email KevinW@ sheards.co.uk


6

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

Shedding light on property A Huddersfield man is shedding more light on the housing market. Christian Armitage, owner of Shelley-based based national property agency Fast Move, has come up with a reflective “for sale” board (pictured alongside an unlit board). The aim is to ensure potential buyers are alerted to properties on the market when they are driving at night. Said Christian: ““As we all know, ‘for sale’ boards

are an integral part of marketing some ones house. “The idea came to my head when I was trying to locate a customer’s home I had agreed to see.

“I knew the property was currently on the market, but because it was dark and the property was located on a main road the ‘for sale’ board was not obvious and I

had passed the property before I knew it. I had to travel a quarter of a mile up the road before I could turn round. “I then thought that people viewing property in the dark must have the same kind of problems, so I came up with the idea of a reflective board. “I knew this would also enhance the marketing of someone’s property as the ‘for sale’ board would attract potential buyers at anytime of day – not just during daylight hours.”

Birstall industrial site is sold One of West Yorkshire’s largest warehousing and industrial sites has been sold for more than £3m.. The Leeds office of chartered surveyors Eddisons has completed the sale of Birstall 140 (above), which covers more than 140,000sq ft and is located alongside junction 27 of the M62 and next to Birstall Retail Park. It has been bought by Leeds-based Jabe Foods Ltd for a figure well in excess of the £3.25m guide price. The unit, occupying a freehold site on Holden Ing Way, extends to about six

HUDDERSFIELD

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acres and includes offices and parking for more than 160 vehicles. Eddisons head of agency John Padgett said: “There was significant interest in this unit from the minute it came to market, with genuine enquiries received from a range of potential buyers.” It follows Eddisons’ sale of Caldene Business Park at Mytholmroyd to Industrials.co.uk. That sale – off an asking price of £4.75m – was on behalf of private vendors who developed the site which has 23 light industrial and warehouse

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7

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

‘Insane’ policy proves a bone of contention A row which started with Westminster Council calling the Government’s new vacant building credit “insane” has spread to a political row between shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds and Brandon Lewis, the Conservative housing minister. Since December last year, the government has exempted anyone who turns an empty building into private housing from paying for further affordable units. As such, property developers could gain millions of pounds in unexpected profits. The exemption, which claims to remove “a stealth tax” that hindered regeneration, does not require any minimum length of time that a property should be empty, sparking fears it could increase the number of empty buildings as owners move out tenants before applying for permission to redevelop in order to benefit from the credit. The credit applies where a vacant building is brought back into use or is demolished to be replaced by a new building. The developer should be offered a financial credit equivalent to the existing gross floor space or relevant vacant buildings when the local authority calculates any affordable housing contribution.

to increase landowners’ and developers’ profits at the expense of the affordable housing we desperately need.” Within weeks of the policy coming into effect in November last year, town halls realised the change could leave In November, 2014, the Department of Commutheir affordable housing budgnities and Local Government announced the revi- ets with big holes. In one planning meeting last sion of the national Planning Practice Guidance month, Westminster Council lost £29m on three with immediate effect. housing schemes after developers invoked the new At the time, planning experts said that in towns rules. and cities where property values have not grown as The Department for Communities and Local Govfast as London, it could help bring redundant build- ernment introduced the exemption in December ings back into use as much needed homes. last year when it also allowed anyone building fewer Although, mayor of Bristol George Ferguson dis- than 10 homes to avoid making a contribution to putes this, adding the policy will make it even harder affordable housing – the idea being to increase the to build enough cheap housing. supply of housing. In London, where the row kicked off, James MurHowever, in a surprise move a lobby group repreray, executive member for housing at the London senting British Land, Land Securities, the Crown borough of Islington, said: “The real impact of this is Estate and Grosvenor Estates wrote to the housing minister, Brandon Lewis, urging him to scrap the policy as it stands. Martin Thompson is a partner in Commercial Property Where this reform goes next at Armitage Sykes in Huddersfield we are watching closely.

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Taking the direct route A firm supplying construction equipment has built up links with a Kirklees-based agency. Wakefield-based Deborah Services Ltd has enlisted the e-commerce and marketing expertise of Birstall-based Fantastic Media to launch DSL-Direct.co.uk – an e-commerce portal offering a 24/7 trade counter which uses DSL’s national branch network to provide products through a “click and collect” or delivery service. Some 200 professional-grade products are already on DSLDirect.co.uk and there will be 2,500 by the end of 2015. DSL-Direct.co.uk marketing manager Richard Chambers said: “We believe in an open and mutually beneficial relationship with our customers and aim to deliver innovative cost effective solutions with the highest standards of safety, quality of work, cost control, environmental care and operational performance through this new online offering.” Sally Willis, head of client services at Fantastic Media, said: “The business objectives for growth and profitable returns, coupled with our desire to launch an engaging and simple-to-use customer experience, on a desk top, mobile and tablet platform are paramount to the success of the site.”


8

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

movers and shakers

Carl in running for international award Temporary worker secures prestige recruitment award A recruitment agency in Cleckheaton has named its Temporary Worker of the Year. Commercial office and accounts recruitment agency Elite Personnel, established in 1998, presented the award to Janet Wilkinson (centre), of Almondbury, who started her first temporary assignment as a receptionist with the firm in July, 2012. Since then, she has carried out assignments with numerous clients across Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds and local areas. Janet is pictured with Elite managing director Deborah Austin (right) and recruitment consultant Beverley Evered. Deborah said Janet had proved extremely reliable, hardworking, very committed and dedicated, making herself available at incredibly short notice. She was exceptionally smart and very well-presented, with a great personality. As a result, she was regularly requested back to the same companies.

Richard Beveridge

Account manager for REI Renewable Energy Investments (REI) has appointed Richard Beveridge as account manager covering Huddersfield. Mr Beveridge (pictured) joins the renewable energy investor and developer with experience in business development, sales and account management at Carillion and John Laing. In his new role, he will work with accredited installation partners to fit solar photovoltaic systems for customers free of charge. under REI’s Solar Power Purchase Scheme, which means customers can preserve their capital for their core business. REI then supplies

clean, green electricity at a heavily discounted rate before handing over ownership of the system entirely in 20 years. Mr Beveridge is a chartered librarian with a degree in librarianship and a postgraduate degree in leadership. He worked as an information manager for 15 years.

■■ Carl Hopkins, director of Faith PR

ple’s home town of Brighouse, having outgrown its previous base in Birstall. Carl has over 30 years’ experience in design, marketing, advertising and branding as well as business ownership. Following the 2007 sale of his £20m turnover full service agency, JDA, Carl has divided his time between a variety of businesses, charities and enterprise organisations. This includes being a trustee of the Leeds United Foundation, which supports young people in deprived areas of the Leeds City Region and being a founding patron for the award-winning Rotherham-based Are Your Ready, which aims to embed enterprise into the primary school curriculum. Carl is also an ambassador for the Prince of Wales’ initiative

PRIME – The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise – the only national organisation dedicated to offering support to the over 50s who are unemployed or facing redundancy, to explore selfemployment. Carl was also invited by Business Secretary Vince Cable to sit on his Entrepreneurs’ Forum and spent three years, from 2009 to 2012, advising the government on the new business policies with high profile entrepreneurs including James Caan, Julie Meyer and Jan Fletcher. He is also a Growth Accelerator Coach and speaks at business events and at educational institutions around the country. The winners of the International Women’s Day Awards will be announced at a black tie ceremony on March 13 in Chester.

New home for law firm’s conveyancing team Law firm Armitage Sykes has found a new home for its conveyancing team. The firm’s re-opened office at Macaulay Street in Huddersfield is now home to the team – which has also been on a recruitment drive with the appointment of Anthony O’Neil, Karen Steadman and Emma Gledhill. The move paves the way for the firm to expand beyond its 74-strong staff. Diana Walker, conveyancing director, said: “We have seen a growth of internet and online business in the conveyancing market – which has a place – but consumer research still tells us local people want to see their conveyancer and know who they are dealing with. “Being on the high street allows

us to be close to the estate agents and banks to work through the process quickly, which is what most customers want.” The Legal Ombudsman warned in February last year of the dangers of “conveyancing factories” posing a potential risk for housebuyers – saying that poor-quality legal services make homebuying more stressful. Diana said that view was shared by her team, adding that the firm also viewed the Bank of England as increasingly divided on path interest rates with some caution – outlining that little will be certain until after the election. Said Diana: “With interest rates at a historic low currently, the next ■■ New recruits Anthony O’Neil, Karen Steadman (right) and Emma three months could be a good time Gledhill (left) with director of conveyancing Diana Walker (centre) and the rest of the Armitage Sykes conveyancing team to buy.”

Safety monitor wins Theo’s award

Mind the gap, says Justin How do we bridge the north-south divide? Justin Urquhart Stewart, co-founder and head of corporate development at Seven Investment Management (7IM) will tackle the subject at an event to be staged from 8.30am to 10.30am on March 20 at the Wakefield offices of fds Director Services Ltd, the business headed by Denby Dale businesswoman Jo Haigh. Email stephanie.osman@fdscfs.com

The director of a Brighousebased PR and communications agency has been nominated for Man of the Year in the International Women’s Day Awards 2015. Carl Hopkins has been recognised in the annual awards ceremony organised by the Network She Foundation for helping Faith PR more than treble its turnover – as well as his role in supporting enterprise in the UK. Carl joined Faith PR in August, 2013, as commercial director since when he has helped the agency expand significantly, with 210% growth in the past 12 months. The business, founded in 2007 by Carl’s wife Stefanie Hopkins, now employs eight people and in December moved into purposebuilt, larger premises in the cou-

■■ MonitorGO customer champion, Sarah Ainslie collects the firm’s #SBS award from Theo Paphitis

Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis has presented an award to a Huddersfield firm making life safer for the elderly. The business tycoon named MonitorGO as one of his Small Business Sunday winners – a weekly initiative where Theo invites small and medium-sized businesses to tweet him about their business on a Sunday evening. He then selects his favourite six and retweets their messages to his 450,000-plus followers. Now MonitorGO customer champion Sarah Ainslie has collected the firm’s #SBS award from Theo at a presentation ceremony for the past year’s Small Business

Sunday winners. MonitorGO Ltd, based at the Media Centre in Northumberland Street, began trading in October. The firm’s website traffic doubled overnight the day they were given the thumbs-up from Theo with “staggering” interest on Twitter. MonitorGO is a new kind of personal alarm device for the elderly. It was created by Huddersfield entrepreneur and former head teacher Stephen Bradbury, who was inspired to develop the device after his elderly uncle John suffered falls in his garden an at home. Although John had a pendant alarm, he was unable to activate it.

MonitorGO is essentially bespoke software that sits on a smartphone. Features include fall detection – which raises the alarm even if the wearer can’t activate it manually - unconsciousness alert, GPS location tracking and optional access to a 24-hour call centre. It’s fully mobile, so users can take it anywhere - and because it’s a mobile phone it can still be used to make and receive calls. Commenting on the #SBS win, Stephen said: “It’s a great endorsement that Theo thinks we have something interesting to offer and a pleasure to join the ‘#SBS family’ - especially so soon after launch.”


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