ROB CURRAN
NICK GARTLAND
It’s a model business
Key factors at play
Interview - Page 3
Column - Page 5
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
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An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
By Henryk Zientek Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
Kirklees firms supplying the oil and gas sector are being invited to take part in a series of overseas trade missions. Government export support body UK Trade & Investment, is working with energy sector business development organisation NOF Energy to run the trips to international markets with significant opportunities for UK firms. The trade visits will take place between the end of this month and March, 2016, and will cover Mexico and Colombia, Brazil, Singapore and Western Australia – all markets with established and growing energy sectors keen to engage with UK suppliers. The initiative aims to support firsttime exporters and new-to-market enterprises and will help with travel costs. It will also emphasise the value of the North of England supply chain to the global market and the economic benefit the sector brings to the UK economy. During the visits, delegates will have the chance to meet potential clients and attend high level receptions with local
■■ UKTI regional director David Coppock (left) and George Rafferty (second left), NOF Energy chief executive, are urging energy sector suppliers to explore key export markets
VIPs from the energy sector. They will also take part in site visits to local firms and attend networking receptions. NOF Energy, which is the UK business development organisation for oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables sectors, has delivered international energy
sector market visits for two decades. The organisation, which represents almost 500 firms and has a robust network of UK and international contacts at all levels of the supply chain, has helped firms secure exports worth more than £100m as a result of taking part in its
international market visits. UKTI director David Coppock said: “Within the Northern Powerhouse regions are innovative companies that have developed technology-led solutions that will be in demand from the international market. Therefore, by utilising the strengths of the Northern Powerhouse, we can help fuel our economy by increased exports to industries such as oil and gas.” George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF Energy, said: “From decades of developing technology-led solutions that have been applied in deep water and harsh environments, the UK’s oil and gas supply chain is seen as the gold standard across the globe. “The North of England supply chain is particularly strong and can support the ambitions of the Northern Powerhouse with its export-led activities. “The markets we are targeting have active oil and gas sectors keen to engage with UK businesses. This Northern Powerhouse initiative will enable West Yorkshire companies, with innovative products and services that can be applied to the industry, establish new relationships that can deliver new export streams.” Email jsmith@nofenergy.co.uk
Clothing brand refashions its website for global appeal A YORKSHIRE-based clothing brand that boasts celebrity fans including British band The Vamps has announced the relaunch of its e-commerce site – in a move that will see Ushi increase its visibility and sales both in the UK and abroad. Having already shipped to half a dozen countries worldwide, the designer line’s founder, Jilly Kapusi, said the move was part of the company’s efforts to improve its infrastructure ahead of plans to reintroduce its products to high-end concessions. Ushi, which has a retail outlet and printing studio in Mirfield, was established in 2008 and produces a range of casual wear for men, women and children. Over the past 12 months the business, the brain child of Jilly and her husband Neil, has grown rapidly.
The company recently appointed designer Harriet McHugh to help develop the brand’s new product line, as well as marketing agency SunJones to support its international expansion strategy. The new website showcases Ushi’s latest looks – including brand new joggers, sourced, produced and printed in the UK. Jilly said: “The last few years have seen us firmly establish what we are as a brand, who we want to target and where we want to be seen. “We know our audience inside out and backwards now, and so the time has come to really start shouting about our product range. “To date, our reputation has grown quite organically. Via word of mouth and return custom we have had a very suc-
■■ Jilly Kapusi is set to expand her Ushi clothing brand globally
cessful period, but the relaunch of the website marks a new era for Ushi. It was important to us that the customer had a good experience when making a purchase – whether that was in our
shop and printing studio, The Design Shed, or via the website. Shopping should be fun, after all! “To that end, the new online store is easier to navigate and
users will find it much smoother when it comes to viewing and ordering any of the new line.” Neil and Jilly are currently looking for additional premises in Leeds city centre and have plans to open a flagship store in London within the next three years. They are also in talks to establish a concession presence in independent, boutique stores in the UK and the USA. “We are very grateful to all of our supporters to date,” said Jilly. “Not least our celebrity fans who have really helped raise our awareness internationally and amongst younger audiences on social media.” Ushi appeared at the Harewood House VW Festival in Leeds in August and will appear at at Penistone Agricultural Show on September 12 and Manchester Ski Show from October 10 to November 1.
Called to account ACCOUNTANCY is a highly-varied profession that does not deserve its frequent reputation for being staid and dull. That’s the message Huddersfield University’s Wilma Teviotdale is determined to press home when she takes on a prestigious national role. Wilma, head of accountancy and finance at the university and a longstanding and prominent member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, has become a member of its Learning and Professional Development (LPD) Board – meaning she will be closely involved in policy over issues such as student training.
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Trainees at KITS A TRAINING provider focusing on the engineering sector has reported an “exceptional” start to the academic year. More than 100 young people have started a preemployment study programme at Kirkdale Industrial Training Services Ltd, Armytage Road, Brighouse. The engineering “rookies” are embarking on a structured apprenticeship programme of up to four years with the option to progress to a foundation HNC/HND or a degree programme thereafter.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
local
An ‘exceptional’ start for the latest intake at KITS A TRAINING provider focusing on the engineering sector has reported an “exceptional” start to the academic year. More than 100 young people have started a pre-employment study programme at Kirkdale Industrial Training Services Ltd (KITS) in Brighouse. The launch of its rigorous engineering apprenticeship programme follows on from KITS gaining an Ofsted grade 2 “good” provision rating. The engineering “rookies” are embarking on a structured apprenticeship programme of up to four years with the option to progress to a foundation HNC/HND or a degree programme thereafter. KITS chief executive David Todhunter said: “A significant number of learners have been fortunate enough to gain a place on the programme and will gain employment with local engineering and manufacturing companies later this year. “The demand for high quality engineering apprentices in this local area has never been greater. “For employers the result of KITS’ pre-employment and apprenticeship
■■ New trainees who have begun their apprentices at Kirkdale Industrial Training Ltd in Brighouse
training scheme is a skilled employee who will – in many cases – remain loyal to the company and grow with it. “I have known employees who start as apprentices and end up as directors
and owners of their own companies.” Mr Todhunter said: “Our mission is in keeping with local authority vision which is to be recognised as the best place to do business in the north of
Double success
England and one where people prosper and flourish in all of our communities. “KITS are contributing significantly to this vision by providing the skilled workforce required now and in the future. “As well as developing practical skills for work, learners also cover preemployment skills such as health and safety, safeguarding and drug and alcohol awareness, enhanced functional skills including English, maths and ICT.” The KITS skills training centre at Armytage Road also aims to instil good work ethics among its learners – with learners clocking on and off shift as they would do in the workplace. Their punctuality record is monitored at weekly reviews and reports provided to employers. The overall aim is that – by the end of their training – the apprentices will have the appropriate engineering skills to contribute productively to their employers from day one, working as part of the team with positive work ethics and an improved capability and awareness to cope with employment of life’s demands and challenges.
A FAST-GROWING PR firm has landed two new accounts. Brighouse-based Faith PR will work with national Caribbean restaurant chain Turtle Bay and Huddersfield’s Lawrence Batley Theatre (LBT). Turtle Bay – which has 18 restaurants across the UK – has chosen Faith PR to handle the PR and communications activity ahead of the launch of its second Yorkshire restaurant later this year, a 8,634sq ft development in Huddersfield. The second account win will see the agency work alongside the LBT’s own PR and communications team to raise awareness of the theatre’s 21st anniversary season. Faith PR director Stefanie Hopkins said: “We’re delighted to be working with Turtle Bay and Lawrence Batley Theatre. “I’m confident that we will deliver great results that will raise awareness of the opportunities and investment that both of these clients bring to both Huddersfield itself and the wider area.”
Website wizards impress the judges in monthly business awards A WEBSITE development company has clicked with the judges of a monthly business award. Offroadcode Ltd, based in Huddersfield, was named business of the month in the competition run by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith in conjunction with the Mid Chamber of Commerce and UK Trade & Investment. Specialising in internet development and building content management systems using Microsoft technology, Offroadcode was founded in 2006 by managing director Pete Duncanson working from home. The company has since expanded to employ seven staff and is based in Milnsbridge. In a very crowded market of web developers, the firm identified a niche to allow them to flourish and expand.
The focus is on a content management system called Umbraco which Offroadcode builds, develops, installs and maintains for clients and which is tailored to their specific needs. This has allowed them to attract clients throughout the UK, including major names such as the NHS, Channel 4 and Olympic Holidays as well as a number of clients in the USA, Australia and Scandinavia. The judges were impressed by how the business had grown steadily over the years without overstretching themselves. Pete and fellow director James Young also contribute to the local business community by running an informal networking group called HuddsDigitals for local web developers. They are also speakers at Huddersfield University and give a
number of industry-based lectures around the world. With a recent large financial order for work placed by one existing client coupled with anticipated projected growth for the rest of this year and beyond, judges agreed the future looks very promising for this growing small local business. Pete said: “It is a very welcome pat on the back for a very good year for us. “This last 18 months has seen us really focus on growing the business and expanding our team in a way that maintains our commitment to quality. With the awards in their 21st year it means a lot to us all to win it.” The Business of the Month Award is open to firms in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Contact Ian Greenwood on 01484 821389.
■■ Alison Palmer (centre), of Eaton Smith, presents the award to Pete Duncanson ( third right), managing director of Offroadcode Ltd, watched by colleagues Janae Cram (second right) and James Young (right) and guests Paul Misselbrook, of Appleyard Lees; and Javed Khan, of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
Huddersfield firm’s 21st century technology helps historic York Tourism in York is getting a boost from a Huddersfield firm. A new smartphone app What’s On York, has been developed to promote events in the region and make it easier for people to make the most of all that the city and region has to offer. The app, commissioned by Make It York, the city’s destination management organisation, has been developed by digital technology company Control F1, based at Bates Mill, Colne
Road in Huddersfield. The firm, which also has a site at the Google Campus in London, won the contract at last year’s VentureFest Yorkshire, which was held at the famous York Racecourse. What’s On York will list events and festivals from across York and Yorkshire which can be filtered by time period, location and event type. Competitions will also be run through the app while users will also be able to
upload their own photos, rate each event and share the content through their social media. The app plugs in to existing information feeds from www.visityork.org, enabling it to update automatically with the latest information. What’s On York is also designed to periodically download the relevant information, so that users can still access the content and browse whilst offline.
Control F1 managing director Andy Dumbell said: “We were delighted to win the opportunity to work on the Visit York branded app at last year’s VentureFest. “At Control F1, we are building a northern powerhouse for technical innovation here in Yorkshire and our mobile technology is already being used as far afield as Tobago in the Caribbean. “But – as a Yorkshire-based busi-
ness – it’s particularly special to be able to work to support our home region too, and we are very excited to offer What’s On York to visitors and local residents alike.” Poppy Williamson, digital marketing manager for Make It York, said: “One of the most trusted ways of getting recommendations is through word of mouth. This new app means you can now access those recommendations from your top pocket.”
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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
profile
How to build a model business It’s not so much a business model – more a model business! Former Dewsbury Art College student Rob Curran is combining his creative talents with business know-how as founder and director of The Wonderworks. The company, which has its offices at Lindley’s Heritage Exchange and workshops at Shaw Lane, Halifax, supplies animated and static display items for shopping malls, garden centres and leisure venues. Visitors to the workshop – housed on the ground floor of a Victorian mill – are confronted by an array of colourful characters including elves, bears, reindeer, a robot toymaker and sculptures made of polystyrene and clay – all the work of Rob and a select band of artists, sculptors and specialist engineers. Rob, 36, who lives in Lindley, attended Reinwood Junior School and Salendine Nook High School, but says: “I only had two passions at school – football was one and the other was art. The academic stuff I left to my sister! As far as a career, it was going to be something creative or sporty.” Rob studied spatial design at Dewsbury Art College and was all ready to pursue a degree course at Huddersfield University when a Sheffield interior design firm approached the college looking for a talented recruit. “They asked to talk to the best five students on the course,” he says. “They had one job to offer and I got that job. “My tutors advised me to get into the industry sooner rather than later. As a result, I got four years on most of my friends who were doing a degree.” The reality of work was not what Rob had expected. “I thought it would be all about designing cool bars and fashionable trainer shops,” he recalls. “I found myself helping people pick curtains for their homes.” The big break came in 2001 when Rob joined Lockwoodbased KD Decoratives, a leading player in the design, manufacture and installation of display items for shopping cen-
tres, cruise liners and theme parks. Rob remains grateful for the experience he gained working for the company headed by Richard and Gloria Kitchen-Dunn – although it was their son Jamie who offered Rob a job after being impressed with examples of his artwork. Rob went on to work with Jamie’s brothers Matthew and David. “I worked in the design department, but I also went out on installations,” says Rob. “I was really lucky – going to Barbados to deck out the P&O liners for Christmas. I went all over the UK, too. It was a really good time and I enjoyed it there. It taught me a lot about business and I learned a lot from all the brothers.” Later, Rob joined a Halifaxbased Christmas-led design company. “They were a smaller company than KD,” he says. “I was there for 10 years. That taught me even more. In the 10 years I was there the company progressed so much. I would like to think that I was part of the reason. “I started in the art department and I was there for four years before they asked me to be a sales person. I had been going out to see clients with the managing director as the ‘creative guy’. It was completely new to me and so different from what I had been doing.
Rob Curran
Later, I was going out on my own, drawing up presentations and meeting clients’ marketing managers. “The company now had a young creative person who could sit with the client and talk about colours and designs.” Armed with new skills, Rob decided the time had come to run his own business. It was a classic clash between commercial and creative forces. “I wanted that little bit of control,” he says. “I was losing that because the business was about getting as many big contracts as you can.” Rob says: “Other people I have known who tried to set up in their industry did not have the client base. I had that client base, which gave me a route in.” Rob left his employment in April last year and launched The Wonderworks in June. “I sat on things for a little bit,” he says. “I thought about it, but I had made my mind up to leave anyway.” A friend was able to offer Rob space at his Shaw Lane factory while Heritage Exchange offered a convenient site for offices. Rob’s wife Lucy is also a director of the firm. “She is an accountant so she looks after the money side of things,” says Rob. “I do the sales and design side. She sometimes looks over the books and asks: ‘Do you really need to buy so
■■ Rob Curran, of The Wonderworks, with some of his colourful creations
much paint and lacquer?’ “I have been lucky in knowing a lot of creative people. There is a sculptor who makes polystyrene sculptures and another who works in clay.” The Wonderworks has already built up an impressive portfolio of work. Rob added: “We have been commissioned to make a six-foot tall mobile phone for a major shopping centre to promote its free Wi-Fi and we have made props such as big hamburgers and drinks containers for cinema chains. We’ve also made a talking reindeer which speaks with a Welsh accent!” The firm has produced displays for gardens centres in Scotland, Kent, Dorset and the Isle of Wight and created eye-catching shop window displays featuring glittering fish and colourful coral for the Yorkshire Soap Company in Hebden Bridge and Leeds. It also constructed a set of “selfie” pods for visitors to a Bristol shopping centre to take pictures of themselves to share on Facebook. Rob recognises the realities of running a business – the drudgery of paperwork and the hard-headed negotiating of contracts. But he says: “I like to keep involved in the creative aspects of what I do. I wouldn’t want to do this if I couldn’t still be creative.” Rob freely admits that the best thing about running his own business is the creative control – and the flexibility that enables him to spend more family time. “When I was working for the firm in Halifax it was 7.30am to 5pm,” he says. “I was away six weeks solid in the run-up to Christmas and we were back working the day after Boxing Day. Now I can dictate what things come in and go out.” The plan for the next year or two is to continue growing the business and expand in terms of space. “The jobs that are going out this year will all come back, so we will need more storage space,” says Rob. “Ideally, I would like a unit in Huddersfield so I don’t have to drive along the Elland bypass every morning!”
Role: Director Age: 36 Family: Married to Lucy with children Leo, nine, Daisy, five and Alfie, two Holidays: We had a summer holiday in Portugal. Lucy and I go to Paris quite a lot and we enjoy family beach holidays in Devon Car: Audi A3 First job: I worked at the Co-op in Marsh in the evenings. It was the best job I ever had! Best thing about the job? Being creative and having creative control. I can also arrange things to spend family time at home Worst thing about the job? Waking up and thinking about the business at 2 o’clock in the morning Business tip: Just do it. The rest you learn along the way
The Wonderworks Work: Design and display company Site: Lindley and Halifax Phone: 07703 760457 Email: hello@the-wonderworks.co.uk Web: www. thewonderworks.co.uk
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
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KIRKLEES BUS
Make sure you’re clear on employee eyecare When it comes to regulations and legal requirements around employee eyecare, too often confusion reigns. The subtle differences in requirements according to an employee’s job role tend to sow doubt in the minds of employers about whether eye tests are required and who should arrange them. Staff operating a visual display unit (VDU) or display screen equipment (DSE) will have slightly different needs to those driving on company business or operating equipment such as forklift trucks, but there are several overriding rules employers should keep in mind. Do employers have a responsibility to offer eye tests? In short, no employees operating VDUs/DSE bear the burden of responsibility and must request an appropriate eyesight test from their employer. Companies are not legally obligated to offer tests as a matter of course. There is no evidence to suggest DSE work will cause permanent damage to eyes or eyesight but eye tests are provided to ensure users can comfortably see the screen and fulfil their job without suffering visual fatigue. If requested, however, the employer is obliged to provide appropriate eye and eyesight test by an optometrist or doctor under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. This applies only to “users” of DSE, defined as an employee who habitually uses DSE as a significant part of their normal work, specifically if they use DSE continuously for periods of an hour or more on most days worked. It is also important to note that employers are not permitted to refuse to provide a test on the
RISKY BUSINESS Mark Weeks grounds that a new recruit has already had one provided in any previous period of employment. Who must cover the cost of eye tests and glasses? If an eyesight test is requested by a DSE user, the onus is on the employer to pay for it. Employers do not have to reimburse employees for tests they have already had prior to joining the business but must organise and pay for a new test if it is requested. Arrangements for covering the cost may differ. Some employers will ask users to arrange tests themselves and bill the costs back to the company, while others will organise tests through a specific optician or have them conducted on site. Corporate eyecare schemes offer a good option for companies looking to take a proactive approach. These schemes are often popular with employees but require a relatively modest outlay, allowing companies to reduce the cost of individual eye tests. They are often pre-paid, with the employer purchasing vouchers for eye tests and receiving a refund for any that are not used. Alternatively, health cash plans frequently cover eyecare alongside a host of other health benefits and treatments, giving them a high perceived value among recipients. Where tests show that users need glasses specifically for DSE work, employers must pay the cost of a basic frame and the prescribed lenses. If the user chooses a more expensive frame, the employer is
■■ Employers must observe the letter of the law over employee eyecare
not obliged to pay for it but may opt to contribute a portion equal to the cost of the basic product. Employers are not obliged to pay for ordinary spectacles that are used to aid general vision and are not specifically prescribed for DSE purposes. If an employee who already wears glasses is then prescribed corrective appliances for DSE work, the employer only needs to pay for the DSE-specific spectacles. Does an employer need to provide regular eye tests? Only if these are required as a result of DSE work. Employees are entitled by law to request further eye tests at regular intervals if DSE work is considered to cause them visual fatigue. It is generally recommended that most people should get their eyes tested every two years but the frequency should be determined by clinical
judgment and may depend on an individual’s age and state of vision. Are there specific eyetest rules for company drivers? Drivers are legally obliged to meet specific eyesight standards according to the type of vehicle they drive. Car drivers must be able to accurately read a registration plate from 20 metres away but drivers of category C and D vehicles, such as a heavygoods vehicle (HGV) or a bus, must meet more stringent requirements. EU legislation requires employees who drive on company business to have regular sight tests in order to keep their licences. For holders of commercial licences (category C and D), tests will be required every five years, while private licence holders will need to have tests every 10 to 15 years. Technically, the responsibility for ensuring eyesight meets required standards sits with the individual driver. However, the matter is slightly more complicated. According to the HSE, an employer’s duty of care responsibility includes ensuring employees are fit to drive, whether the employee is driving a company car or their own vehicle for any work-related purpose. If employers are found to be in breach of their Duty of Care, insurance claims may be invalidated and, even more seriously, the employer could be prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter Act for any incident resulting in death. Although the employer is not responsible for funding driver eye tests, it is wise to do so in order to ensure employees can drive safely and comply with regulations. What about employees operating specialist equipment? For staff operating specialist equipment, such as forklift trucks or heavy machinery, the guidelines are the same as those for company drivers. Although employees are technically responsible for their own eyesight, including arranging eye tests when appropriate, Duty of Care legislation shifts the onus onto the employer. In the case of staff using equipment which possesses a high risk for causing injury to the operator or others, it is important the employer ensures staff are fit and able to conduct their job without any problems. Risk assessments should be conducted to identify employees in high-risk areas and eye tests conducted at a regular interval to ensure a commitment to Duty of Care is demonstrable.
Mark Weeks is a risk management consultant at Wilby Ltd
■■ Clr Barry Collins, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development at Calderdale Council
Be super fast or you’ll miss out on £3,000 Time is running out for businesses to take advantage of the government’s Superfast broadband connection vouchers. SMEs in West Yorkshire are entitled to a £3,000 connection voucher to allow them to fund the installation of infrastructure needed for Superfast Broadband. The scheme, which began last year, has already given away £29m as part of £40m worth of grant funding from central government. Due to the popularity of the scheme, it’s estimated that the funding will come to an end in October this year, so businesses need to act quickly to take advantage of this great offer to help discover the benefits of Superfast broadband. Backers said superfast broadband could help businesses to increase business efficiency and productivity, reduce downtime, access cloud computing, save resources associated with in-house servers and IT infrastructure and save money by accessing things like internet-based telephone systems and high quality video conferencing – as well as growing and accessing new markets. Clr Barry Collins, Calderdale Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “The connection vouchers scheme has already helped 124 businesses in Calderdale get connected to Superfast Broadband, but there’s still time for small to medium-sized enterprises to take advantage of this offer and apply for a £3,000 voucher. “This is a grant scheme not a loan, so businesses aren’t required to pay anything back. There really is nothing to lose by applying and I hope as many Calderdale businesses as possible can benefit before funding runs out.” Project manager for the Connection Voucher Scheme in West Yorkshire, Mark Durham, said: “The online application process only takes five to 10 minutes, the vouchers don’t have to be match funded and so almost any firm that wants to maximize their use of the web should apply. “The funding is being spent at a rate of more than £1m per week and we would hate to see businesses face unnecessary connection and hardware charges of thousands of pounds after the pot has all been allocated. We are urging business owners and directors to stake their claim on the funds as soon as possible.” Visit www.superfastwestyorkshire.co.uk/ connection-vouchers.
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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
SINESS NEWS
local
Tricky times ahead for global markets The two key influences on asset performance remain monetary policy and politics. Monetary policy has been a key feature since the financial crisis, with short term interest rates anchored at historical lows and asset purchase programmes being maintained by central banks. One of the main objectives of this Quantitative Easing (QE) was to encourage borrowing to boost economic growth, but there is much debate about the efficacy of this policy. What is more certain is that much of the liquidity that has been created has found its way into risk assets such as equities and corporate bonds; leading to valuations that, even if not necessarily expensive, can no longer be described as cheap. Although QE is still being actively pursued by the European Central Bank (€60bn per month) and the Bank of Japan ($60bn per month), thus continuing to increase the amount of money in circulation, markets are more concerned about an imminent rise in the US benchmark Fed Funds interest rate, leading to a rise in the price of money, and what that might mean for financial assets. Investors are mindful of the turmoil of the “taper tantrum” of 2013; when bonds and equities sold off as the Fed first floated the idea of ending its QE; although markets subsequently recovered strongly. Those with longer memories, look back to the monetary tightening of 1994, which delivered sharp losses to bond investors and increased volatility for equities. There are further concerns that the tightening of 1994 underpinned a strong dollar, which helped lead to the Asian crisis of 1997; so investors in emerging markets remain wary of a repeat performance. Without wishing to appear insouciant, we remain less concerned about the medium term outlook, although continue to accept that short term volatility will remain a feature of markets. Central bank heads have gone to great lengths to assure investors that interest rate rises will only be undertaken in the event that growth is robust, and even then they will monitor the effect and not commit themselves to a fixed agenda of further tightening.
CITY TALK Nick Gartland
■■ China is undergoing a major transition – which has had a big impact on global markets
We certainly appear to be a long way from the circumstances of the 1970s, ‘80s and early ‘90s, when central banks had to lean very hard against inflationary pressures and if anything, they would currently be prepared to accept the risk of higher inflation rather than the threat of outright deflation; owing to the high amounts of debt that remain in the global economy. What is clear is that this transition from a period of concerted global monetary easing to one where not all central banks are rowing in the same direction will be tricky, both in terms of managing the policy and its effect on markets.
Another big transition is taking place in China, as the Communist Party attempts to reposition the economy from being one that depends on exports and infrastructure investment for its growth, to one that relies more on the domestic consumption of goods and services. The competitive advantage of a cheap labour force migrating from the countryside to the cities is not what it used to be and much of the post-crisis construction boom was financed by local government debt, which is no longer sustainable. Meanwhile, the savings rate in China is estimated to be around 50% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the government wants to persuade Chinese consumers to spend more of this. Thus, the nature of China’s demands on the global economy is changing, and nowhere has this been more evident than in the lower demand for commodities, especially those related to construction. Furthermore, President Xi Jingping’s crackdown on corruption has been longer-lasting and more pervasive than originally expected; damping demand for luxury goods. Our belief is that these changes will eventually put the country’s growth on a more sustainable footing and that it offers considerable opportunities for patient investors. Politics also reared its head again in Europe after a period of relative calm, with Greece trying to renegotiate the terms of its bailout. An agreement was eventually found which prevented an exit of Greece from the Eurozone, but the sustainability of the new bailout agreement remains uncertain.
Nick Gartland, Senior Financial Planning Director, Investec Wealth & Investment
‘Average Yorkshire SME owed £45,809 in unpaid invoices’ Almost a quarter of small and medium-sized businesses in Yorkshire face a potential financial crisis due to late payment of invoices, according to research. The average Yorkshire SME is owed £45,809 in unpaid invoices, according to a survey by invoice processing firm Tungsten Corporation, with some businesses owed up to £500,000. When applied across the UK’s 5.2m SMEs, the total owed could be as much as £212bn. Rick Hurwitz, chief executive of Tungsten, said: “These figures are a telling reminder of the challenges faced by SMEs in Yorkshire. An unpaid invoice can mean the difference between a successful month of trading and a dangerous financial shortfall. In the worst case it could lead to insolvency.” The survey suggests that the issue spans customer sizes and types, with 33% of Yorkshire SMEs reporting that most of their late payments were from large busi-
nesses, 9% pointing to the public sector and 8% identifying mediumsized firms as being responsible for late payments. Some 26% of businesses said that there was no clear pattern. Mr Hurwitz said: “The creation of the new role of Small Business Commissioner shows that the government is taking the problem seriously, but it’s clear that there’s work still to be done to ensure that SMEs are paid in a timely fashion. “There are many reasons for late payment. Sometimes buyers will wait until the last day before the invoice is due only to tell their supplier that it is missing vital information. This creates unnecessary delays.” He added: “Late payment is a problem to which there are simple, effective solutions. If companies adopt a modern approach and investigate alternative finance options, coupled with ongoing government support, we can make these business practices a thing of the past.”
It’s a window of opportunity Huddersfield Town has renewed its partnership with long-standing sponsor Walkers Windows Ltd, based at Leeds Road, for a third season running. Sales manager, Charles Whitehead, said: “Walkers Windows is really happy to have renewed the partnership with Huddersfield Town. “This will be the third consecutive year with the club and we look forward to continuing to build on
our relationship through the new season.” John Williams, Town’s commercial manager for partnerships, said: “The relationship over the past three years has gone from strength to strength and at the same time the business has grown considerably, even in such a short period of time. “It’s been a pleasure working with them and I’m delighted to continue the relationship for the next 12 months.”
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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
Contractors needed for social housing schemes The call has gone out for contractors to help deliver new build social housing projects in Yorkshire and Humber. Regional social housing procurement consortium Efficiency North said three lots of work were already up for tender – forming part of a £836m New Build framework operated by Re:allies, a strategic collaboration of housing consortia, of which Efficiency North is a founding member. For the first lot, valued at £62m, Efficiency North is seeking up to 30 contractors to complete multiple schemes solely in Yorkshire and Humber, up to the value of £2m each. Up to another 30 contractors are required for the second £94m lot of larger schemes and up to a further 10 contractors are being sought for £70m of projects throughout the North of England. Lee Parkinson, chief executive officer at Efficiency North, said: “The new framework presents a huge opportunity for us to create much needed high quality homes to help alleviate the current social housing crisis and regenerate local communities across our region.” A simple single-stage procurement
process is being used by the consortium, with just one questionnaire for contractors to complete, instead of a traditional Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. This method streamlines the tender stage and ensures the most appropriate contractors are chosen for the work available. Mr Parkinson said: “By opening up the bidding to as many firms as possible, we can ensure we find the best partners for the needs of each project, which will not only deliver value for money, but will also make sure we provide the highest quality homes for local communities in Yorkshire and Humber.” A Bidders’ Day, which provides a chance to meet the Efficiency North team, will be hosted on September 14, 2015, in central Manchester to give prospective contractors an opportunity to learn more about the framework and how they can best meet the tender criteria. Efficiency North is an award-winning consortium of social housing providers working together to generate efficiencies in the construction supply chain and provide procurement solutions for Yorkshire and
■■ Efficiency North is calling for contractors to deliver social housing projects
Humber and the wider region. All savings and any surplus made by the consortium are reinvested in local communities with the aim of creating employment opportunities and improving local facilities. The consortium’s executive board is chaired by St Leger Homes Ltd, of
Doncaster and includes Berneslai Homes, Barnsley; Sheffield and Hull city councils; St Leger Homes and Wakefield District Housing. Consortium members include local authorities and housing organisations across North, West and South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
Funding deal helps Neville realise coffee house dream Neville Morris had the dream to bring a taste of the Caribbean to Dewsbury. After more than 20 years working in sales, he put his passion for good food and coffee to work – and with help from the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) and the Start Up Loans Company, opened Novo Coffee House. Neville (left) received finance though a start-up loan which went towards paying for the necessary equipment and fixtures for the shop, which occupies premises in Longcauseway.
The café has now been successfully trading since September, 2014, and Neville is enjoying being his own boss for the first time. After gaining cookery qualifications at Kirklees College, Neville found an ideal space in the centre of Dewsbury where he serves flagship coffee and food inspired from around the world. “Our coffee is wood roasted which is a new approach,” said Neville, who lives in Huddersfield. “I’ve done lots of research and become quite a connoisseur. The shop’s doing really well, it’s thriving. We get around 200 people in
a day and serve at least 180 cups of coffee,” he said. The Business Enterprise Fund provides loans from £500 to £150,000 to businesses unable to raise the finance they require from mainstream lenders. Lending up to 100% of the proposition across all sectors, the Bradfordbased BEF has helped more than 2,000 businesses since making its first loan in 2004. Funding can be for all business needs including cash flow, assets and expansion. Applicants with poor credit are also considered.
Concrete products firm sets up base in new premises A CONCRETE products company, drawing many of its workers from the Kirklees area, is on the move. Naylor Concrete Products, which manufactures prestressed concrete lintels, has opened a new manufacturing facility in Barugh Green, Barnsley. The firm, part of the Cawthorne-based Naylor Industries PLC, has been manufacturing lintels since 1965. The company has built up its business by concentrating on high performance lintels – the Naylor Hi-Spec, fire resistant Fire-Spec and Fair Faced ranges are widely specified - and on its unrivalled specials service. For the past three years, the company has operated from a three-acre leasehold site at Ossett, but space restrictions have
restricted growth over recent years. Earlier this year, the company acquired a nine-acre freehold site at Barugh Green, some 10 miles from Ossett and two miles from the Naylor head office at Cawthorne. Relocation began in April and was completed in recent days. An opening ceremony will take place on Friday – when the company is also celebrating its 50th anniversary. Helen MacIntosh, managing director of Naylor Concrete Products, said: “We have some excellent new product plans which Ossett’s limited space prevented us from progressing. “The new site gives us considerably more manufacturing and storage space. This will allow Naylor Concrete Products to fulfil its growth potential.”
■■ Naylor Concrete’s new premises at Barugh Green, Barnsley
Regional director Housebuilder Jones Homes has appointed Noel Adams as regional director for its Yorkshire office. Mr Adams (pictured) has a wealth of experience in the housebuilding industry and has held a number of senior positions during his 30-year career. In his new position, he will be responsible for the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Jones Homes’ Yorkshire division, which includes a number of developments across the region. Mr Adams, of Rotherham, said: “I am delighted to join Jones Homes and very much look forward to developing the division over the next few years. My passion has always been for residential development and given that the market is making a strong return, I am pleased to be joining this regional housebuilder with an exemplary reputation, strong and competent management team and consistent financial performance.” Gary Hardy, managing director at Jones Homes, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Noel to the team and can see him fitting in perfectly. He has an excellent track record and strong knowledge of the Yorkshire residential market and I look forward to working with him to grow the division in the coming years.”
Homing in on 3M BIC A HUDDERSFIELD PR company is celebrating a move to new premises and its second hat-trick of client wins. MacComms, founded by Ellie MacDonald, has moved into office space at the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre at Firth Street. It means MacComms is now neighbours with a range of startups based at 3M BIC. The company has also taken on three more clients in the health food and fitness and personal development sectors along with a leading digital agency. MacComms has been commissioned to manage PR for nutrition company Medicinal Kitchen, founded by Dr Emma Kirke; Birstall-based Ascensor, global website development firm headed up by Andrew Firth; and training and business development firm Lattitude7, which is led by Martin Haigh and based at Hove Edge.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Bev Mottram
Specialist joins legal firm Wills and probate solicitor Bev Mottram has joined the team at Wilkinson Woodward Norcliffe and Co in Huddersfield. Ms Mottram (pictured), who previously worked at Beaumont Legal in Wakefield, brings with her more than 15 years’ experience in wills, probate, Powers of Attorney, trusts, inheritance tax advice and estate planning. Her appointment is part of Wilkinson Woodward Norcliffe and Co’s continuing plans to expand in Kirklees and Calderdale. After gaining a law degree at Manchester Metropolitan University, she began her legal career in conveyancing. She has been a qualified solicitor since 2004. Ms Mottram has a particular specialism in advising elderly clients and is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, an independent, national organisation of legal professionals who provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers. She is also a recommended wills and trusts advisor for MENCAP. Ms Mottram, who lives in Birstall, said: “I’m delighted to be
Count on Wilma to boost accountancy By Henryk Zientek Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
joining Wilkinson Woodward Norcliffe and Co. They are a very established and trusted name in Huddersfield and I’m looking forward to being of service to the Kirklees community.” Managing director Maureen Cawthorn said: “Wilkinson Woodward Norcliffe and Co continues to attract legal professionals of the highest calibre and Bev’s commitment to provide friendly expert legal advice fits perfectly with our own ethos. Her appointment forms part of our continuing plans to expand in Kirklees and Calderdale.” Wilkinson Woodward has offices in Huddersfield, Halifax and Brighouse and provides a full range of legal services including conveyancing, commercial law, wills and probate, employment, personal injury, family law and mediation.
Tim Musgrove
Chartered status for Tim A HUDDERSFIELD accountant has gained a major industry qualification. Tim Musgrove (pictured), who works at Sheards Accountancy, based at New North Road, has achieved Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) status with the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT). CTA is a specialist qualification and widely recognised as one of the industry’s toughest qualifications to achieve – with one exam in particular having a pass rate of just 24%. Mr Musgrove, who lives in Sowerby Bridge and attended Kaplan Financial College in Leeds, worked in the taxation and payroll department at Sheards Accountancy. He now joins an elite group of just 17,500 current CIOT members in
movers and shakers
the UK who have achieved the CTA qualification. Mr Musgrove said: “I am very proud to have gained such an exclusive qualification, particularly as I have been working full time as well as studying around family life, which has included my wife studying too. I look forward to the opportunities this qualification will bring.” Mr Musgrove will attend an admission ceremony in November at Drapers Hall in London.
ACCOUNTANCY is a highly-varied profession that simply does not deserve its frequent reputation for being staid and dull. That’s the message which Huddersfield University’s Wilma Teviotdale is determined to press home when she takes on a prestigious national role. Wilma, who is head of accountancy and finance at the university and a long-standing and prominent member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), is one of 84 members of the ICAEW’s worldwide council and has served as president of the West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants, one of ICAEW’s largest district societies. Now, she has become a member of the ICAEW’s Learning and Professional Development (LPD) Board, meaning she will be closely involved in policy over issues such as student training. Her work with the board will have many facets, but one goal will be to develop the strategy of encouraging young chartered accountants to visit schools and colleges as part of ICAEW’s approach to widen access to the profession. “This is to raise awareness of the fact that chartered accountants are business advisers as much as people who just deal with numbers,” said Wilma. She acknowledges that accountancy can be a hard sell as a career choice. One of the roles of the ICAEW is to counter this, she says. “The profession does have a very staid, boring image,” says Wilma. “But accountancy
■■ Wilma Teviotdale, head of accountancy and finance at Huddersfield University
leads to a wide range of really interesting careers. They could be within practice, industry, commerce, financial services or HMRC. “There is insolvency work, tax, corporate finance, small business planning and advice. Accountancy is about making the decisions in an organisation, not just supplying the numbers.” As part of her LPD board role, Wilma Teviotdale – who joined the university after many years as a chartered accountant at an international firm – also aims to work with and support local universities in spreading the word
about the ICAEW. At Huddersfield, she leads the university’s Partners in Accountancy programme, designed to give students an exceptional start to their careers through working directly with local practices such as Kirk Newsholme or Simpson Wood, plus multi-national companies that include PwC, KPMG, Baker Tilly and Grant Thornton. “I think my appointment to the LPD board fits well with the endeavours of our department,” Wilma said.
PR expert getting all the publicity A WORLD-RENOWNED expert in the field of public relations is to receive the highest academic honour that can be bestowed by the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) The 2015 Pathfinder Award, which goes to Prof Anne Gregory, is conferred in recognition of an original programme of scholarly research that has made a significant contribution to the body of knowledge and practice of public relations. Earlier this year, Prof Gregory was recognised for her key role in developing the standing of her profession in the UK, when she received an Honorary Fellowship from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in London. Prof Gregory, who is Professor of Corporate Communications, Strategy, Marketing and Economics at Huddersfield University, was already a holder of CIPR’s Sir Steven Tallents Medal – named after a founding father of the PR profession in the UK. She is one of only six people who have ever received both distinctions.
■■ Huddersfield University’s Prof Anne Gregory, who is to receive the PR industry’s highest accolade at a presentation in New York City
A former president of the CIPR and the immediate past chair of Global Alliance, Prof Gregory will present her latest award-winning research on corporate communications at the fourth annual IPR Research Symposium on November 17 at the Yale Club in New York City. The symposium will feature a panel of speakers reviewing progress in the field and researchbased insights on priority topics
identified by IPR trustees as important to the practice. Prof Gregory will be presented with the Pathfinder Award in the evening at IPR’s annual distinguished lecture and awards dinner. Prof Gregory said: “It is one of the most prestigious awards in our field and I’m both honoured and humbled to join the list of eminent scholars and researchers who have received it.
“It’s been my passion to enhance the professionalism of public relations and increase recognition of its contribution to organisations and society. As a former practitioner myself, my research has always centred on the challenges and opportunities facing the practice and I am delighted that the IPR has seen the value of this applied focus through giving me this award.” And she added: “Our biggest challenge as a profession now is to step up to the leadership space and that is what my lecture in November will be about.” Prof Gregory’s research interests focus on capacity building in public relations and corporate communications and includes leadership, the strategic role of communications, ethics and globalisation. She has written 30 book chapters and 50 journal articles and conference papers as well as written and edited more than 20 books, including the Chartered Institute of PR series. She is also editor-in-chief of the Journal of Communication Management.