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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
Autumn fruitful for interiors supplier WORKERS at an Elland firm are glad to see the back of the summer. For autumn has brought a clutch of orders for interior fit-out specialist Andy Thornton Ltd. Marketing manager Jerry Hodkinson said: “The company is upbeat after securing a number of projects for its contracts division in the last month. “Following a quiet summer this is welcome news for the company – and with an order book now approaching £1m for this division alone, it means the joinery workshop will be operating at full capacity for a number of months.” Andy Thornton has a worldwide reputation for supplying unusual furniture and fitting out interiors for the international hospitality market. The crop of new orders includes a £35,000 contract to help restore the Sheffield Tap Bar on platform 1B at Sheffield railway station. The work involves removing an existing solid oak panelled back bar base unit dating from about 1904 and restoring it at the firm’s Elland workshops. Craftsmen will repair existing panels, replace missing panels and manu-
facture a new bar counter and back bar base unit before refitting the unit on site. Andy Thornton is also supplying and installing an antique fireplace and over mantel mirror selected by the client from the firm’s stock of architectural antiques. The company is also supplying and installing full-height antique panelling for all the walls and bench seating to create a traditional “snug”. Among other contracts, Andy Thornton has landed a £220,000 deal to provide a bar, interior fittings and furniture for a restaurant and nightclub in Stockholm, Sweden. It also has a £75,000 contract to supply a bar and furniture for a new building near Stavanger, Norway, for ex-footballer Alfe Inge Haaland. The firm has secured the second phase of a project to manufacture and fit-out a private residence in Majorca – taking the total contract value to £240,000. And it will supply fittings and furniture for a hotel in Norway under a £64,000 deal – with the potential for more work. Current projects in the workshop
sports stars about the consequences of their actions both on and off the pitch. The presentation gives examples of on-field and off-field conduct which can get players into trouble. Areas that regulate behaviour both on and off the pitch are also covered,
Exports on fire E
xport orders worth millions of pounds have been won by a Batley-based company. Fire engines manufacturer Angloco Ltd is supplying vehicles to customers across the UK as part of a £14m-plus order book stretching into the new year.
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■ BEST BAR NONE: French polisher John Wilson working on a restored mahogany bar for Sheffield Railway Station at Andy Thornton’s Elland works
including £75,000 of joinery work for Dale, Derbyshire. the new mayor’s parlour and council Mr Hodkinson said the company chamber at Llanelli, South Wales, the expected to confirm further contracts manufacture of a large stained glass in coming weeks, adding: “We have a dome and decorative metal gazebo for number of interesting enquiries that the Savoy Hotel in London and the look promising. completion of a panelled room for the “It means that the company is very grade II listed Stancliffe Hall at Darley positive about future prospects.”
Law firm tackles sports stars over behaviour SPORTS stars of the future are getting advice about staying onside with the law. Chadwick Lawrence, which has offices in Huddersfield and Dewsbury, has been running free seminars at major sports clubs across Yorkshire and beyond to educate up-and-coming
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including the law of contract, the criminal law, the laws of the particular game, policies which may exist within a particular club and the professional code obligations that may also apply. The presentation also challenges players to develop their own personal code of conduct.
N e i l Wi l s o n , o f C h a dw i c k Lawrence, said: “Our sports seminars give a basic understanding of issues or events that could affect young sports players in the future as their profile grows. We believe that this grounding could be something that they draw upon time and time again.”
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ATLEY woman Kim Roberts has hidden talents. The head of human resources for Morrisons Supermarkets won the Hidden Talents category in the Specsavers everywomen in Retail Awards. in London.
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
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Stagecoach rides in with merger bid
TRANSPORT firm Stagecoach said it has approached struggling National Express about a possible merger. Stagecoach made its move after last week’s news that National Express suitors – led by its largest shareholder, the Spanish Cosmen family – had withdrawn from £765m takeover talks. Stagecoach , which operates South West Trains and East Midlands Trains as well as running buses in West Yorkshire, had been lined up to take on National Express’s UK rail and bus business under the plans drawn up by the Cosmens and buyout firm CVC. But the merger hopes mark a U-turn for Stagecoach, which had previously ruled itself out of bidding alone for National Express. Stagecoach said it submitted a letter
outlining aims for a deal that would see National Express take up to 40% of the merged group, estimated to be worth £1.7bn. It claimed to have been invited by the National Express board to make the move. Backing from the National board will be key to any deal, as Stagecoach is prevented from making an offer without the group’s recommendation for six months under City takeover rules. That follows its decision to walk away from a standalone bid last month. However, the Stagecoach proposal appears to have received a lukewarm response so far from National, described as “highly preliminary”. National Express said it would “carefully consider” the proposal, but added:
Standard names its new chief STANDARD Life concluded an “extensive” worldwide search for a chief executive by naming its finance boss as successor to Sir Sandy Crombie. David Nish will take on the top job from January 1, replacing Sir Sandy who has spent more than five years at the helm of the insurer. The Edinburgh-based group announced its search for a new chief executive in March, a month after Sir Sandy turned 60 and following widespread speculation over his retirement plans. Standard Life said its incoming chief executive had a “proven track record” with the firm, having joined
the life and pensions provider in 2006 as group finance director. Gerry Grimstone, Standard Life’s chairman, said: “His unrivalled understanding of our business, his leadership capabilities and strategic vision make him the ideal candidate to lead Standard Life into the next phase of its development.” Mr Nish will earn a basic salary of £700,000 a year after his promotion, with the opportunity to receive up to £1.2m in annual bonuses. Mr Nish, 49, previously headed finance at Scottish Power before taking becoming executive director for the company’s transmission and distribution business.
“It is now necessary to rapidly conclude this phase of potential corporate activity to avoid further disruption to the business and to allow the group to secure additional equity funding before the end of 2009.” The group also denied any approach had been made from FirstGroup – which was reportedly considering a takeover move. FirstGroup is likewise bound by strict takeover rules after it backed out of the running in July. National has pledged to refocus on shareholder fundraising to ease its £1bn debt pile in the wake of the Cosmen consortium’s withdrawal. The Cosmens said they would now support National’s plans for a rights issue.
WILLIAM Hill said a turnaround in sporting results in recent weeks had come too late to prevent its online business from missing targets. A barren run of football results hit the industry at the start of the season, but William Hill said margins returned to historic trends in the latter part of September and early October. Full-year forecasts for the firm’s retail arm remain broadly unchanged, h e l p e d by re d u c e d c o s t s a n d higher-than-expected turnover, but it warned its online arm would not be able to make up the shortfall. Rival bookmaker Ladbrokes said
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■ FARE OFFER: Stagecoach plans link with National Express
recently that operating profits were down 58% due to the low incidence of draws and high number of wins recorded by favourites such as Chelsea and Manchester United. William Hill said turnover in its retail arm was only down by 4% as a result of punters recycling their winnings. The turnover figure was down by 11% in the previous six month period. A strong show from gaming machines meant the gross win – the amount of money left by losing punters – was 11% lower in the third quarter.
INSURER Aviva said it should generate proceeds of £1.1bn through Europe’s biggest stock market listing of the year so far. The sale of a 42% stake in Dutch subsidiary Delta Lloyd is expected to free up capital as well as provide Britain’s biggest insurer with greater flexibility to explore growth opportunities. Trading in Delta Lloyd shares should on Euronext Amsterdam on November 3.
YOUR LOCAL Stockbroker and Investment Manager The Media Centre Telephone number: 01484 426 555
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Drax Grp 4561/4 +13/8 Intl Power 267 +21/2 Scottish & Sthrn 1079 +12 Energy ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Chloride 1681/4 +27/8 Invensys 3063/4 +35/8 3 Laird 209 /4 +53/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3251/4 +8 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES 1 BT Grp 134 /4 +7/8 C&W 1383/4 -1/4 Colt Telecom 1261/4 +13/4 KCOM 45 +1/2 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2721/4 +3/8 Sainsbury 3301/8 +13/8 Tesco 3791/8 +15/8 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 854 +12 Cadbury 793 +6 Nth Foods 655/8 +13/8 Tate Lyle 473 +71/8 Unilever 1872 +55 Uniq 421/2 +1/2 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 2415/8 +15/8 National Grid 586 +6 Pennon Grp 4561/4 -1/4 Severn 9651/2 +8 7 United Utils 437 /8 +33/8 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 3035/8 -13/8
PRINTING company St Ives warned of “significant challenges” ahead after tumbling into the red and cutting more than 400 jobs. St Ives, whose clients include publishers Penguin, HarperCollins and Bloomsbury, has been hit by lower demand for commercial and consumer printing in the recession as well as advertising moving online. The firm’s annual pre-tax losses of £7.2m in the year to July 31 contrasted with a £30.6m profit previously. The job cuts include the planned closure of its printing base in Andover, Kent. The company also suffered when its supply chain was disrupted by the collapse of books wholesaler EUK–- owned by Woolworths – in the run-up to last Christmas.
Aviva set Online arm misses target for £1.1bn
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £21.71 +0.40 Gannett 848.63 +56.14 Hess Corp £37.59 +0.61 Microsoft 1617.29 +1.83 Motors Liquidation 45.72 Wal-Mart Stores £31.63 +0.40 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE BAE Systems 3251/8 +3 +63/8 Rolls-Royce Gp 4897/8 Smiths Grp 956 +2 VT Group 560 AIM Brady Plc 73 +1/2 Dawson Intl 21/2 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 1253/8 +41/4 BANKS Barclays 382 +93/4 HSBC 7097/8 +157/8 Lloyds Banking Gp 92 -11/8 Ryl Scotland 467/8 -1/8 Stan Chart 1564 +21 BEVERAGES Diageo 973 +19 SABMiller 1655 +19 CHEMICALS Croda 755 +251/2 Delta 1821/2 +11/4 1 Elementis 98 58 /2 +11/2 Johnsn Mat 1497 +23 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS 7 Balfour Beatty 287 /8 +71/2 Costain 29 -3/4
Jobs axe at printer
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London StockExch 941 +33 Man Group 360 +101/4 Provident Financial 9681/2 +21/2 Schroders 1207 +57 Schroders NV 9901/2 +551/2 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Avon Rbbr 80 Cooksn Grp 4375/8 +61/8 REXAM 2803/4 +3/4 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 171/4 DSG International 323/8 +2 Home Retail 3033/8 +63/4 Inchcape 327/8 -3/4 Kingfisher 2401/2 +3 1 M&S 346 /4 +23/4 Mothercare 6021/2 -51/2 Next 1811 +33 1 WH Smith 517 /2 -11/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 531 +11/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 135 +3 Barrat Dev 2553/4 +63/4 Persimmon 4491/4 -5/8 Reckitt Benckiser £313/8 +3/8 1 Taylor Wimpey 43 /2 +1/2 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING Charter 7181/2 +11 IMI 4753/4 +53/4 1 Man Brnze 158 /2 +3/4 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 1663/8 +3/4 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION 3
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Forth Ports
1168 +12 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 4431/2 -63/4 Friends Provident 835/8 +3/4 1 Lgl & Gen 86 /8 +1/8 Old Mutual 115 +21/4 Prudential 6271/2 +3 Standard Life 2321/8 +21/8 MEDIA BSkyB 575 +11 Chrysalis 101 -1/2 D Mail Tst 462 +91/4 1 ITV 50 /8 +3/8 Johnston Press 34 -1/4 Pearson 822 +91/2 Reed Elsevier 460 +1/8 STV Group 83 +11/2 Trinity Mirror 1897/8 -21/8 Utd Business 502 -11/2 1 UTV 110 /2 +11/4 WPP 596 +121/2 1 Yell Group 61 /2 +1/4 MINING Anglo American £23 +1 Antofagasta 8491/2 +19 BHP Billiton 18471/2 +43 Eurasian Natural 951 +16 Res Fresnillo 848 +25 Kazakhmys 1301 +43 Lonmin 1723 +35 Rio Tinto £293/4 +1/2 VEDANTA £237/8 +3/4 RESOURCES Xstrata 1027 +39 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES 1
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Local shares Carclo Chapelthorpe Heywood Wm Instore Marshalls National Grid Rensburg Sheppards Weir Gp
1031/2 103/4 11/4 6 1223/4 586 6921/2
+4 +6 -11/2
7531/2
+161/2
-1/8
FTSE closed at
5281.5 Up 91.3 Vodafone Group 1341/4 +1 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1061 -2 RSA Insurance Gp 1333/4 -1/8 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 11461/2 +61/2 BP 5741/4 +151/8 Cairn Energy £30 -1/4 Norsk Hdro 4811/2 +73/8 Royal Dutch Shell A 1903 +44 Royal Dutch Shell B 18571/2 +511/2 7 Total £38 /8 +1/2 Tullow Oil 1245 +9 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
Wood Group 3463/4 +73/4 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry 5761/2 +191/2 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £281/8 +5/8 Axis-Shield 441 +7 GlaxoSmithK 221/2 Shire 1014 +13 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 492 +191/8 DTZ Hldgs 90 -23/4 Hamrsn 4211/2 +111/2 Land Secs 652 +18 SEGRO 385 +91/2 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Autonomy Corp 1595 +15 Dimension Data 751/4 +21/4 Logica 132 +13/8 Misys 2303/8 +11/4 Sage Group 2353/8 +7/8 SUPPORT SERVICES AMEC 8521/2 +24 Bunzl 652 +16 Capita 7721/2 +61/2 Davis Service 4211/8 +67/8 Group De La Rue 921 +11/2 Electrocomp 1531/2 +3/8 1 Experian 570 /2 +1/2 7 G4S 249 /8 +41/4 Hays 1085/8 +11/4 Homeserve 1720 +5 3 Menzies J 355 /4 +11/4 5 Rentokil 118 /8 +1 Smiths News 122 +11/4
IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs Psion Spirent Comms
1573/4 1211/2 95
TOURIST RATES
+51/8 +41/2 +5/8
TOBACCO Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco
£201/8 1846
+1/8 +30
LEISURE & HOTELS Arriva Brit Airways Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Greene King Intercontl Htls Ladbrokes Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express PartyGaming Rank Org Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread FTSE 100
469 2133/4 £217/8 3971/8 393 1211/4 4091/2 1428 4181/8 853 1403/4 2521/8 400 2841/2 913/4 157 255 1327
INDEX 5281.54 INDEX
+13/4 -1/4 +1/2 +51/8 +61/4 +3/4 +35/8 +2 +6 +17 +61/2 +3/8 +38 +51/2 +11/2 +1/8 +67/8 +26 +91.30
Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.68 dollars Bangladesh................. 106.23 taka Brazil.............................. 2.49 reals Canada....................... 1.61 dollars China ............................. 9.94 yuan Czech Republic ...... 25.94 korunas Denmark....................... 7.74 krone Euro............................... 1.04 euro Hong Kong................ 11.99 dollars Hungary................... 261.21 forints India.......................... 66.19 rupees Japan........................... 140.67 yen Mexico ....................... 18.98 pesos New Zealand .............. 2.03 dollars Norway ......................... 8.71 krone Pakistan.................. 127.89 rupees Philippines ................. 65.24 pesos South Africa.................. 11.16 rand South Korea.............. 1662.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 176.50 rupees Sweden....................... 10.81 krona Switzerland.................. 1.58 francs Taiwan ...................... 46.02 dollars Turkey....................... 2.24 new lira USA ............................ 1.56 dollars
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS THE woman who heads HSBC’s commercial banking team covering 2,500 business customers across Kirklees and Calderdale is confident that the town can continue to demonstrate the entrepreneurial drive that built its fortune. “We have a great town that’s world-famous,” says Jill Haigh. “It has a skilled workforce and a spirit of enterprise. There are 22,000 students at its university who are really keen to get involved in new ideas and new projects. Let’s use them to help. We did it during the Industrial Revolution. Why can’t we do it now?” Huddersfield is important to Jill. “I was born in Huddersfield and grew up in Rastrick and my parents still live there,” she says. “I have grown up knowing the local area, which is a huge benefit in what I do.” Jill joined HSBC’s predecessor, Midland Bank, in 1980 and has done “every job in the bank” working in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Manchester. “That means no one can pull the wool over my eyes,” she adds. When Jill was appointed to her current role it meant a return to the branch where she first worked 25 years ago. In her younger days, Jill took part in pantos with the theatrical society at St Matthew’s Church, Rastrick, where her father was churchwarden. Now, tennis is a major passion and she plays regularly in the Huddersfield league. Jill met her husband, Keith, when they both worked at the Huddersfield branch 25 years ago. When they married, bank rules said they could not work in the same office, so now he works in Leeds. The couple have a 17-year-old daughter. Life outside HSBC is also important. “If we are away I like time to relax and switch off because the job demands a huge number of hours during the week,” said Jill. “I work a 60-hour week and can be out two nights a week with the bank, so weekends are very much about family time.” Some of her leisure time at present is spent reading a book on leadership by Rudolph Guliani who was mayor of New York at the time of 9/11. “I was recommended to read it by Roger Harvey, of Harvey’s department store in Halifax,” says Jill. “It shows how all the expertise and skill in your kitbag comes to the fore when you are in the middle of an emergency. I’m reading it very slowly because it’s fascinating and I don’t want to skim-read any of it.” As Area Commercial Director for HSBC based in Huddersfield, Jill has to demonstrate leadership skills of her own. She heads a team of more than 30 commercial bankers dealing with about 2,500
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Credit where it’s due commercial business customers in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Halifax. They range from firms with turnover of about £500,000 to £35m. Said Jill: “The size of the team is an endorsement of how important this patch is to HSBC. My team has been tasked with building relationships. This year, we have spent 30% more time with our customers than we have historically. In the current climate, the more time we spend with them, the more we can do to help their businesses succeed. “Every week, the team undertake at least 100 face-to-face meetings, so there is a lot of knowledge being shared.” While banks in general have been criticised for failing to lend to firms fighting the recession, Jill points out: “We're committed to lending to businesses. Our lending strategy hasn't changed; we're keen to lend to strong, viable businesses, as we always have been. We're supporting our customers with their varied financial needs, and we will continue to consider new
■ LOAN STAR: Jill Hague clocks up a 60-hour week in her business banking role
borrowing requests from businesses across all sectors. In addition to what we're already lending, last year we also announced our own £1bn working capital fund for UK SMEs to support businesses through these challenging times – and around half of this fund has already been allocated." Jill believes a strong relationship between businesses and their bankers is the key. “I was a relationship manager in the past and it is a fact that the stronger the relationship with your bank and the more you keep the bank appraised – with no nasty surprises – the more likely they are to go with you on the journey.” And it is a difficult journey at present. “Companies need to assess where they are heading,” says Jill. “We have some businesses that are having a phenomenal year and are actually growing. “The businesses best placed to succeed are those that have drawn up a strategic plan, looked very carefully at their cost base and taken decisions to put better financial controls in place, looked at their profit margin and productivity.” Jill points out that many people running businesses – and even those advising them – had never faced a recession before and that this recession has been different from previous ones. “The boom was driven by retailing and property rather than manufacturing. We need to get back to doing something that adds value to GDP – and that means manufacturing. I would love to lend more to companies that are looking to export, this will help the UK come out of recession. We should not go head to head with low cost producing nations but seek to add real value in
Page 3 Jill Hague Role: Area commercial director Age: 47 Family: Married with one daughter Holidays: City breaks, ski-ing, Hong Kong and Bali Car: Honda Accord First job: Office cleaner Best thing about job: Working with some amazing businesses Worst thing about job: Seeing a business fail Business tip: To walk in your customer’s shoes
what we produce” Jill is adamant that Huddersfield can be among the winners as the recovery takes hold. “Huddersfield is important to the bank because the town has great communication links with the conurbations of Leeds and Manchester and occupies an ideal position of influence between the two major cities,” she says. “It has a first class university and the splendid Media Centre. Its people have proved they can do great things in areas such as textiles and engineering. Now we need to take that entepreneurial skill and apply it anew.”
Jill believes the town’s economic future depends in no small measure to those companies doing business overseas. “There are great businesses trading with dozens of countries – but they are often companies tucked away on some industrial estate making no fuss about what they do and are just getting on with it. “Many of our business customers are trading as importers or exporters, which is where we can make a difference. We are the leading international bank in terms of expertise and geographical spread and we can help firms expand into new markets.”
HENRYK ZIENTEK
HSBC Commercial Banking Work: Banking Employs: 30 Sites: Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Halifax Phone: 07786 524353 Email: jillhague@hsbc.com
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Fresh honours NURSERY products firm Mamas & Papas has been named among the winners of the Yorkshire Awards 2009. The Colnebridge company was winner of the Yorkshire Business Enterprise Award for its outstanding efforts in business innovation. Founders David and Luisa Scacchetti received the award at a star-studded presentation ceremony at the Hilton in Leeds. Mamas & Papas was founded in 1981 and is the only nursery company in the UK that designs, develops, creates and retails its own products.
POSITIVE THINKING To keep your business in shape and moving in the right direction, get some independent and common-sense advice on: ➣ Raising and re-structuring finance facilities ➣ Operating with a sound business model to protect key assets ➣ Mitigating tax and VAT bills to boost profits and cash flow For a free initial discussion, please contact Am Hayer or David Butterworth on:
P 01484 423691 E am.hayer@wheawills.co.uk F 01484 518803 W www.wheawills.co.uk
W&S
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We can manage your Health and Safety contact us today on 01422 35 85 25 or email healthandsafety@wilbyltd.co.uk
Financial problems hanging over you - can’t see a way forward? Whatever financial problems you are experiencing in your business, we can help. Call us now for a consultation 01422 348448 www.begbies-traynor.com Begbies Traynor 36 Clare Road, Halifax, HK 2HX
KIRKLEES BUSIN
Town’s home fixture A PROPERTY firm has taken up residence at the Galpharm Stadium – as Huddersfield Town’s latest sponsor. Oxley Property has signed a 12-month sponsorship deal that will see the Huddersfield-based company named as the football club’s “Official Property Partner”. The deal sees a sponsorship fee paid to the club by Oxley Property – with the firm receiving sponsorship benefits in return, including bespoke advertising and hospitality packages. The sponsorship deal will be supported by a new affinity partnership that will deliver a financial kick-back to Huddersfield Town’s Academy, triggered by any supporter using any of Oxley Property’s services. Oxley Property, headed by Dave and Tom Weston, has built its reputation in residential lettings and property management. The business was established in 1994 and manages property across the price spectrum in the Huddersfield and Halifax areas. It offers a service focusing on the needs of the landlord and finding quality, reliable tenants. From October, the firm is also offering a full estate agency ser-
Sound advice for businesses
■ CLUB HOUSE: Sean Jarvis (left), Huddersfield Town commercial director), with Dave Weston (centre) and Tom Weston, of Marsh-based Oxley Property
vice from its Marsh office. This partnership is the third large scale affinity deal struck by Huddersfield Town, following long-standing partnerships with Yorkshire Building Society and Thomas Cook. Town commercial director Sean Jarvis said: “This is a very exciting affinity partnership with a local, forward-thinking company. “This is the first relationship of its kind – we’ve had success with the Thomas Cook and Yorkshire Building Society affinities and also our excellent ‘Keep It Up’ partnership with Yorkshire Air Ambulance – and we continue to build relationships with local
business. We would encourage all our supporters to use Oxley Property for their property needs.” Dave Weston said: “We feel there is a place in the market for a new personal approach based on many of the values associated with the new era at Huddersfield Town. “We aim to offer a service to match our standards and reputation in Letting and Management that will achieve realistic sales prices for our clients and offer them value for money. “A full mortgage, HIP and conveyancing service will also be available allowing us to cover all areas of the property market.”
Courting danger N these days when “health ‘n’ safety” is Inews everywhere in the workplace and on the – and is blamed for stopping things
happening and more often is used for not doing something – a recent court case appeared like something out of the distant past. The basic facts of this case are that three workers in a factory in Berwick-on-Tweed could not shut a roller shutter door due to a recurring problem. They decided to lift one of the workers on an unsecured pallet on the forks of a forklift truck up to the top of the door to release it. As the worker freed the door, it shot forwards causing him to fall 13ft fracturing his leg and ankle. The company was fined £10,000 with £5,884 costs. Various lessons should be learnt from this case. A more suitable means of accessing the top of the door should have been used such as a mobile scaffold or a cherry picker. (A man-riding cage for the forklift truck had been provided, but it was thought to be off site at the time of the accident). The workers felt they had no alternative but to go ahead with this way of working, even though they were trained and knew it was dangerous. Employees should be trained in the consequences of their decisions both for themselves and the company and be given instructions to follow in the event of situations such as this. The fault with the roller shutter door occurred about four times each year and the door had caused problems for 10 years. The company was aware of the problem and had costed a replacement door. A new door was obtained after this accident but better
RISKY BUSINESS
Mark Dalton
maintenance procedures or, focus on the risks involved with emergency repairs, could have avoided this accident. The method of work was “in full glare and all too frequent” according to the HSE’s Principal Inspector. The company management would have been aware of it but had not prevented it being carried out. Employers are responsible for the actions of their employees and cannot turn a blind eye to poor practices. This case is an opportunity for all employers to ask searching questions: Would our employees choose a dangerous course of action because they think they are helping out the company? Is there a task that is regularly carried out that leaves us uneasy and relieved when it goes ahead without a problem? Is there an item of plant or equipment that is regularly breaking down and involves difficult repairs? Could our employees be doing something regularly that exposes them and the company to risk? Perhaps now is the time to meet head-on those issues which we have chosen to avoid.
Mark Dalton is associate director at Wilby Ltd
A GROUP supporting Asian businesses in Kirklees is staging a series of workshops across the region. The Asian Business Development Network aims to help ethnic minority businesses share best practice and get access to further support. The network is headed by founder and chairman Arshad Chaudhry (pictured) , a director and senior consultant at Leeds-based accountancy practice HCA Group, which he launched 30 years ago. Mr Chaudry is also director of financial consultancy Financial Management Partnership. Workshops planned in Yorkshire include ones on managing cash, international trade, delegating decisions and practical marketing skills – the last of which Mr Chaudhry highlighted as an area ethnic minority businesses needed to work on. He said: “In today’s challenging economy and competitive business world, retaining your customer base is critical to your success. “Ethnic minority businesses are pretty good when it comes to flair for business and for getting new customers. “However, good customer service is an area most ethnic minority businesses need to work on. If you don't give your customers some good reasons to stay, your competitors will give them a reason to leave.” Said Mr Chaudhry: “Customer retention and satisfaction drive profits. It’s far less expensive to cultivate your existing customer base and sell more services to them than it is to seek new, single-transaction customers. “Unless you're a brand new company, focus on your existing customers. Until you've optimised profitability of your existing relationships, you're wasting resources.” Contact ABDN on 0113 3229203 or email arshad@abdn.org.uk
Network date for employers
EMPLOYERS have been urged to back a networking event with a difference. Training and employment advice firm A4e is staging the get-together to bring companies into contact with a wide range of private sector, public sector and community-based organisations helping disadvantaged people into work.. The event takes place from 9am to 1pm tomorrow at A4e’s offices at 30 Market Street, Huddersfield. Organisations represented include training and recruitment firms, charities and public sector bodies.
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Deserving staff win recognition AN employee at a Huddersfield-based law firm has won an award for her hard work and loyalty. Mary Robson, who works at Ramsdens Solicitors, was among the winners of the Recognition Awards run by name badge and promotional products company Recognition Express. She received her award from Meryl Caton, owner of Newsome-based Recognition Express West Yorkshire. Two workers at a Huddersfield bakery also rose to the occasion to win commendations in the awards. Mary, 53, who works at Ramsdens’ Halifax office, was entered for the awards by Ramsdens marketing manager Sinead Sopala, who said: “Mary is the oracle in our Halifax office and helps everyone.” Mary joined Ramsdens – which has offices at Edgerton, Slaithwaite and in Huddersfield town centre – in 2007. She is personal assistant to Chris Reynolds, head of the private client department. She also helps with extra administration for the firm’s six offices and 140 staff. Mary is northern regional win-
Page 5
■ JUST REWARD: Mary Robson (left) receives the award from Meryl Caton, of Recognition Express West Yorkshire, with Chris Reynolds of Ramsdens
ner in the competition. Bakery manager Leslie Messenger and Paula Tomcynski, who work at Parfitt’s Bakery in Newsome, were presented with
certificates and shopping vouchers after being commended in the competition. They were congratulated by Parfitt’s director Joanne George.
The awards are held to acknowledge staff who always go the extra mile by showing exceptional loyalty, hard work and commitment.
Sellers must take note OR those looking to sell their F business, the most important issue – particularly in these
difficult economic times – is to maximise the sale proceeds while minimising the tax payable. Both of these require attention well before a sale is in prospect and from a tax perspective the position requires continual monitoring. The most valuable capital gains tax relief available is Entrepreneurs’ Relief, which replaced Business Asset Taper Relief for disposal after April 5, 2008. Under this new relief, the first £1m of qualifying gains will be taxed at an effective rate of 10% with gains in excess of £1m being taxed at a standard rate which is currently 18%. Although this could increase in the near future given other planned tax rate rises. In the vast majority of cases, most saleable businesses are carried on via a limited company. Entrepreneurs’ relief will be available on the sale of the shares in an individual’s personal company, if – throughout a period of 12 months
prior to the disposal – the company carried on a qualifying trade and the individual owned at least 5% of the ordinary share capital and voting rights and they were an employee of the company. Relief will also be available if a company has ceased trading within a period of three years prior to its sale, as long as the above conditions were met in a period of 12 months prior to cessation. Entrepreneurs’ relief is also available to sole traders and individuals carrying on a business in partnership where they make a material disposal of business assets throughout one year leading up to the date of the disposal. A material disposal is regarded as the whole or clearly identifiable part of a business. Relief may also be extended to gains on the sale of assets owned by an individual which are used in their personal company’s business or in their partnership business. This may apply where the individual personally owns the premises from which the trade is carried on. For relief to be given on such ‘associated’ disposals, the sale would
TAX TALK Colin Barratt
need to be as part of the process of withdrawal of the individual from their company or partnership and the assets disposed of used in their business throughout a period of 12 months ending with either the date of the material disposal mentioned above or the cessation of the partnership or company. Entrepreneurs Relief is restricted on associated disposals where for instance the asset has only been used in the business for part of the period of ownership or for the period after April 5, 2008, the individual received rent for the use of the asset by the business.
Colin Barratt is tax partner at Wheawill and Sudworth Chartered Accountants
Orders fire up for firm A BATLEY firm supplying fire fighting equipment is blazing ahead with orders extending to December next year. Angloco Ltd, the UK’s longest-established builder of fire fighting vehicles, has won record orders from customers across the world. The most recent deal – worth £2.25m – is to provide specialist refinery fire fighting and rescue vehicles for Qatar Petroleum. Angloco already has two vehicles in service with the customer and three more in the order book. In the UK, Angloco is to deliver 12 aerial ladder platforms to local authority fire and rescue services over the next 18 months – including five units for Essex Fire and Rescue Service in a deal valued at just over £2.5m. Angloco is also building vehicles for other UK customers, including West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Ministry of Defence. The firm, which has 67 employees, is also supplying a new rescue and fire fighting vehicle to Leeds-Bradford Airport, with other appliances to be delivered to Jersey and Ireland.
014 8 4 4 3 2 0 4 3
Contact Jason Metcalfe or Mark Hanson
01484 432043 The Old Gatehouse 68 New North Road
Industrial Holme Bank Mills Station Road Mirfield
Offices
Industrial
Offices
Ellerslie House Queens Road Huddersfield
Units 1 and 2 Bradley Junction Station Road, Huddersfield
Cartwright Court Bradley Business Park Huddersfield
TO LET
TO LET
FOR SALE/TO LET
TO LET
Units available from 1,000 to 10,000 sq ft
256 to 2,325 sq ft
23,500 and 41,000 sq ft
570 to 1,310 sq ft
Cost effective industrial/ warehouse accommodation Well managed business park in pleasant surroundings Good access throughout Kirklees and within 2 miles of junction 25 M62
Good quality office suites in period building On site car parking within pleasant surroundings Located in Edgerton with ease of access to Huddersfield town centre and junction 24 M62
Brand new headquarter factory/ warehouse units Excellent loading and HGV circulation with HQ office facilities Leeds Road corridor location and within 1 mile of junction 25 M62
Visit our website w w w. h a n s o n - c s. co. u k
Huddersfield HD1 5NE
Modern high quality offices on popular business park Allocated on site car parking Close to junctions 24 and 25 M62
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
New recruit for firm built to last A PROPERTY company has celebrated 20 years of trading by recruiting another valuer and agency surveyor. Hanson Chartered Surveyors has bucked the still-gloomy trend by appointing Phil Deakin, formerly of Eddisons. The move reputedly means the firm now has more individual years experience in commercial and industrial property advice that any other based in Kirklees. Hanson Chartered Surveyors was formed in October, 1999, at Queensgate, Huddersfield, and within a year had moved to its existing offices at New North Road. Mark Hanson, who has more than 30 years experience himself, started the firm because he was convinced that clients were – and still are – looking for personal expertise and personal service. The firm moved further ahead two years ago with the appointment of Jason Metcalfe as a director and investment in the best available computer systems to opening up many new avenues of work.
Said Mr Hanson: “Companies confident and serious about their future have to continue to invest and not when it is necessarily most convenient to do so. “New challenges present new opportunities and some of the difficulties of the last two years are not new. It’s just that many companies haven’t experienced what a downturn and loss of credit feels like. “They need help and advice from those who have that experience and expertise to assist “We try to make the dark art of property advice as simple as possible. Obfuscation and jargon are everywhere. We try to cut them wherever possible.” Clients include substantial public limited companies, banks, trusts, pension funds and public bodies as well as private companies and individuals. The firm manages a substantial portfolio of property for clients including office blocks, shopping parades, industrial estates and trade parks. Work also includes the valuation, acquisition or sales/letting
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Done deal at Eddisons
A PROPERTY agent in Huddersfield has completed the sale of a prominent building in Sheffield. Eddisons, with offices at New North Road, has sold a retail unit at Eccleshall Road for £675,000 to a local property investor. The property, which stands two miles south west of Sheffield city centre, includes a ground floor retail unit comprising 2,000sq ft along with rear workshop. It will be used as a fine arts and furniture shop. The property also includes three tenanted first floor apartments, generating rental income of £24,150 a year.
Instructed by P Sargent and C M Brook Joint Administrators of N Batley Ltd.
FOR SALE
■ SURVEY TEAM: Mark Hanson (right), of Hanson Chartered Surveyors, with colleagues 9from left) Jason Metcalfe, Philip Deakin, Judith Taylor, Rosemary Stagg and Jane Hanson
of all commercial property types and assessment of rental values for negotiation of rent reviews and lease renewals. Appealing business rates is also an area of expertise which is offered. “The reassessment of rateable values for the 2010 Rating List
should be a matter of interest to all companies,” said Mr Hanson. “Settlement of the new rateable values for the next five years could have a marked effect on costs year-on-year and should be considered and – in many cases – appealed.”
Substantial Former Mill Premises Woodland Mill, Dale Street, Huddersfield
1 3,717m2 (40,000 sq ft) 1 Secure yard/car parking provision 1 On a site area of 0.25 Ha (0.56 Acres) 1 Price on application
walkersingleton.co.uk 01484 477600
commercial properties
14 st georges square, huddersfield hd1 1jf telephone 01484 558231/530361 - jonathan.wilson@bramleys1.co.uk
BLACKMOORFOOT ROAD, CROSLAND MOOR
Large Retail Premises ● 434.59 sqmt (4678 sqft) ● Rateable value £10,750
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Car parking
£122,500
Retail shop with separate flat ● Lock up shop ● Prime position ● Rateable Value £2,500 ●
Main road location
22 CROSS CHURCH STREET, HUDDERSFIELD
SOUTHGATE, ELLAND
£260,000
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www.bramleys.com
offices retail
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Self contained flat
Retail shop with upper floors 116.87m² (1,258ft²) plus attic ● Town centre position ●
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Modern fixtures C/H, D/G
Close to Kingsgate Centre ● Secondary retail location ● Rateable value £10,750 ●
£15,000 P/A
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Mill premises
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1,934sqm
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Good access to M62 Motorway
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41.14m² (443ft²)
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Lock up shop
network
(20,819sq ft)
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Will split
Good yard space
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MAY SELL
Rateable Value
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£19,500 ● ●
Redevelopment Opportunity 513.38m² (5,526ft²)
Listed building
Secure Site/External Storage ● 1.25 acres (0.5 hectares) ● Secure Perimeter
Popular Industrial Location ● Just off Leeds Road ● Good Motorway access ●
UPPERHEAD ROW, HUDDERSFIELD
WESTGATE, HUDDERSFIELD
£25,000 PA
£25,000 P/A
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£150,000
Former house in multiple occupation ● Opportunity for alternative uses, S.T.P ●
offices
ST ANDREWS ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD
RENT ON APPLICATION
Ground Floor Retail Unit
industrial MILL LANE, BRIGHOUSE
NORMAN ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD
KING STREET, HUDDERSFIELD
£18,000 P/A
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development
Retail/showroom premises ● 174.09m² (1,874ft²) ● Prominent corner position ●
Large display windows ● Rateable value £18,250 ● DUE TO RELOCATION ●
ST GEORGES SQUARE, HUDDERSFIELD
£8,000 P/A
Ground Floor Office/Retail Unit ● Prominent Position ● 110.46m² (1189ft²) ●
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Town centre location
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*MAY SPLIT INTO TWO SUITES
£7,500 PA
Lower ground floor offices ● 144.83sqm (1,559sqft) ● Adjacent to railway station ●
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Multi-occupied building
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Other sizes also available
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Nigel Sikora
IoD THE Institute of Directors has appointed Nigel Sikora as chairman of its West Yorkshire branch. Mr Sikora (pictured), who is managing director of workplace improvement organisation Urban DNA, has been involved with the IoD in Yorkshire and the Humber for several years, sitting on the IoD Director of the Year judging panel for the last three years and chairing the judging panel in 2009. He has also been a member of the West Yorkshire committee since 2006 and will take over the role from outgoing chairman, Claire Morley-Jones with immediate effect. He said: “The West Yorkshire region has a dynamic and diverse business population with a growing IoD membership. “It is important that the IoD is involved in the growth of our region over the coming years by planning relevant events, being a national voice for regional members and helping to encourage Yorkshire businesses to support and trade with each other.”
Rebecca Dodd
Above & Beyond
Movers and shakers
Accountants stay in touch
CHARTERED accountancy firm Rogers & Co has scored in the world of rugby. The Holmfirth firm is carving out a niche market in providing tax services to Super League players. In the past few months, more than a dozen Super League players have appointed Rogers & Co to oversee their tax affairs – the latest to sign up being David Faiumu, of Huddersfield Giants. The rugby players have come to Rogers & Co by word of mouth and
represent various Super League clubs from both sides of the Pennines. Senior partner Ashley Barrowclough said: “A few months ago, we were asked to take over the tax affairs of a Super League player. “He was so happy with the work we did that he referred one of his team-mates to us and there has been a continuous chain of referrals since then. As well as acting for numerous British players, we are also acting for a number of Australian and New Zealand players.”
Law firm’s national honours
ARCHITECT practice Above & Beyond has recruited Rebecca Dodd as graduate architectural assistant at its offices at Folly Hall. Rebecca (pictured) joins the architectural and interior design practice to complete her professional accreditation and will support existing members of staff on forthcoming projects. A graduate in architecture at Leeds Metropolitan University, she has furthered her studies working with high profile practices such as Carey Jones and Seymour Harris.
James Paskell
Thorite JAMES Paskell has been appointed pneumatics applications manager at the Huddersfield sales and service centre of pneumatics products company Thorite. Mr Paskell, 59, who lives in Huddersfield, has more than 20 years experience in the industry. In his new role, he will be responsible for providing technical support and advice to Thorite’s sales personnel throughout the company’s nine outlets in Yorkshire, Lancashire and the north-east. He will also carry out training programmes. Mr Paskell (pictured) is married with three children and includes singing, gardening and learning to play the piano among his interests.
Katie Harvey
REY
KATIE Harvey has been appointed partnership development manager by Resource Efficiency Yorkshire – the group helping firms to boost profits by making better use of their energy resources. Katie (pictured) will develop and co-ordinate projects between REY and organisations such as The Carbon Trust, Envirowise, Business Link and local authorities to ensure firms get the support they need.
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■ WINNERS: Some of the members of the Eaton Smith business services team with corporate partners Alison Palmer (front, left) and Deborah Melluish (front, right) A LAW firm in Huddersfield has won a national business award. Eaton Smith, based at High Street, was selected by ACQ Finance magazine as one of the firms making the greatest impact in their industry in the UK during 2008/9. An independent poll of business professionals, contributors, industry peers and the magazine’s in-house panel named the firm winner of the UK’s regional law firm of the year after examining the deals which the firm’s business services team had advised on over the past 12 months. ACQ Finance has a readership throughout the UK and beyond and
reports on transactions and topical commercial issues. Eaton Smith partner Alison Palmer said: “The aim of the awards is to identify and recognise excellence in deal making. “In terms of strength and experience, we are of a size that rivals large commercial teams based in the major cities – but due to our out-of-city location, we can provide specialised advice on local, national and international transactions at a very reasonable cost. “We are very proud of our team, and to have been recognised in this way.”
■ ON SIDE: Ashley Barrowclough of Rogers & Co signs up Giants player David Faiumu
Kim proves resourceful A BATLEY woman has hidden talents. Kim Roberts, head of retail human resources at Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons, was winner of the Hidden Talent of the Year category in the Specsavers everywomen in Retail Awards. She received her prize at a ceremony held in London. Kim (pictured) joined Morrisons in 1986 and climbed the corporate ladder quickly to reach her current post with the company. She is responsible for all matters which affect the company’s 115,000 retail employees – from recruitment, health and safety and pay and benefits to building the framework for the company’s training programme. Kim has seen huge changes at the company – not least its 2004 takeover of rival Safeway when she dealt with the integration of 55,000 new people into the enlarged business. Kim said she put her success down to hard work, surrounding herself with a great team and retaining her beliefs in what is fair and right as she has moved up the organisation. She said: “It’s really humbling to read my application form and see what fantastic things my colleagues have written about me. “I’m so fortunate to have found a business that I’m passionate about and which has afforded me some fantastic opportunities to progress. The challenge of making it a great place for everyone to work excites me every day.” Speakers at the awards included Jane Shepherdson, chief executive of the Whistles clothing group; Sharon O’Connor, managing director of Oasis Group; and Julia Reynolds, chief executive of Figleaves. Despite the recession, retailing is still the largest private sector employer in the UK – with almost 3m employees and annual sales of £265bn. The sector employs one in 10 people in the UK – 60% of them are women, but very few progress to senior roles. Fewer than 5% of chief executives in retailing are female and only 8% of purchasing decisions are made by women.