Kbn030913 by Huddersfield

C AROLINE HODGSON Throwing away the user manual Full inter view - Page 3

FTSE 100

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NICK GARTLAND So, how are we doing? Column - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Prospects bright for steel company A STRUCTURAL steel maker in Huddersfield is building on success after securing a five-figure funding deal. CH Fabrications Ltd has built new premises and has taken on two new staff with the support of a Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance factoring facility. The company, which now has 14 employees, specialises in the sub-let fabrication of steelwork and in its own design, fabrication and the erection of steel framed buildings. The business was originally based at the home of founder Carl Hurst until he spotted an opportunity to diversify the firm’s operations after the closure of a local competitor. Co-owners and directors Carl Hurst and Tony Bennett decided to build a bespoke factory on an 18,000sq ft plot of land on Leeds Road. To help maintain production levels, the manufacturer has secured a £88,000 factoring facility from Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance – allowing the firm to gain a percentage of invoice sales before a client has paid its bill. This has freed up cashflow for the business to purchase materials, which helps to meet the increased demand from new business wins since the move. It now has the capacity to produce 80 tonnes of steelwork a week and plans to increase output further by

■ STRUCTURED FINANCE: Charlotte Jackson, regional manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance, with Tony Bennet (centre) and Carl Hurst, co-owners of CH Fabrications

securing larger contracts across the region. Its production facility uses the latest CNC saw and drill lines to produce all types of steelwork, including portal frames, beam and column structures, trusses and general fabrication. It also has a painting facility, while its design team uses the latest 3D design software.

Mr Hurst said: “We started the company in 2009 as a small operation that manufactured iron gates for residential properties. “As we built a solid customer base and won more contracts, we decided it was time to increase our production capabilities and we now have a factory which is tailored to our needs. “We spotted a gap in the market to

provide both a fabrication facility for the steelwork industry and also provide a commercially-aware design and build service to the construction market. “The factoring facility allows us to invest in future client projects without having to wait for payment from completed work. “ Our ambition is to secure even bigger contracts across Yorkshire so we can expand further and create more local opportunities for the community. We now work on a commercial scale and offer fabrication as well as welding services.” Charlotte Jackson, regional manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance, said: “CH Fabrications was established four years ago and since then it has grown into a busy and successful supplier of steel fabrication. “This has been delivered through the determination and hard work of Carl, Tony and their team and we are committed to supporting the firm with its ongoing expansion plans and business aims.” She said: “A factoring facility acts as an alternative funding source and can be helpful for a growing firm. “The gap between an invoice being raised and a client payment can vary between a week and a few months and it is important that a manufacturer has the funds to work on new projects without disrupting the daily running of the business.”

Cloud has a silver lining after Paris link-up A KIRKLEES company providing Cloud-based project management software is targeting professional services firms in France. KeyedIn Solutions, which has its UK headquarters in Cleckheaton, has announced a partnership deal with Paris-based software and services company NormaSys SA. NormaSys is well-established in France as an IT systems specialist providing solutions to the banking and insurance industries as well as the service, administration, aviation and tourism sectors. Under the agreement, NormaSys

will offer KeyedIn Projects, a range of business applications designed to take the complexity out of managing large scale projects and business transformation. Connecting easily with an organisation’s existing systems, KeyedIn Projects gives project, programme and portfolio managers the control and insight they need throughout the entire project lifecycle. It ensures resources are used strategically, risks are addressed and costs managed tightly. The partnership with NormaSys will give KeyedIn Solutions access to

the French market as a partner for professional services organisations. Stefan Westelius, vice-president for sales in Europe at KeyedIn Solutions, said: “NormaSys will be a great partner for KeyedIn, covering the French professional services market with our project management product line. “NormaSys is well-known for its excellent software solutions, especially for the French banking and insurance sectors.” NormaSys chief executive officer Christian Gille, said KeyedIn Projects was “one of the best-in-class” Cloud solutions for project management and

ideal for the French professional services market. “French industry is also well known for looking at latest new technologies to improve efficiency and profitability,” he said. “We are looking forward to working with KeyedIn”. The KeyedIn portfolio of products has taken the company from launch to more than 50,000 users, 14 direct global offices and more than 50 partners worldwide. NormaSys was founded in 1998 and has 120 employees in offices in France, Morocco and the USA.

INSIDE Stars on the road A CAR maker headed by Batley-born racing driver and businessman Lawrence Tomlinson is starring at one of the motor industry’s most prestigious events this week. Ginetta’s two road cars – the G40R and G60 – are on show at Salon Privé 2013, which gets under way tomorrow at West London’s Syon Park. Ginetta is also displaying its Lifestyle luxury clothing range. The speedy G60 and the G40R are both hand-built at Ginetta’s factory near Leeds. Mr Tomlinson bought the firm in 2005.

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Funding boost BANKING giants NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland have loaned more than £11.36m to businesses in Huddersfield since the government’s Funding for Lending scheme was introduced in August last year. Nationally, the two banks have allocated £4.3bn of discounted FLS loans to 25,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in that time.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

Vodafone agrees £84bn sale ‘boost’

VODAFONE has agreed the £84bn sale of its stake in America’s biggest mobile phone company. The move to offload its holding in Verizon Wireless is set to provide a major boost to the UK economy, according to analysts. The company disclosed earlier in the day that it was in “advanced discussions” to dispose of its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless. The deal represents one of the biggest transactions in corporate history. Cash from the deal returned to UK shareholders is expected to provide what is effectively a fresh dose of quantitative easing to stimulate the economy – to add to the Bank of England’s £375bn programme of asset purchases. Pension funds with investments in the widely-held stock also stand to benefit.

However, there is likely to be controversy over the way the deal is arranged amid reports that Vodafone’s tax liabilities will be minimised by completing the transaction through its Luxembourg subsidiaries and other offshore companies. Vodafone said the deal would comprise a mixture of Verizon shares and cash. Shareholders in FTSE 100-listed Vodafone are predicted to receive a special dividend of up to £40bn. According to financial services group Hargreaves Lansdown, an investor holding £5,000 of Vodafone shares might receive £2,000, with no further tax to pay as long as it is held in a pension fund or individual savings account. Investors without direct shareholdings are likely to benefit through their pensions, with many funds holding up to 10% in Vodafone stock.

■ POWER: Vodafone shareholders are set for a divident of up to £40bn

Shares in Vodafone closed 6.95p higher at 213.2p, a 3.4% gain. Vodafone’s sale of its stake in Verizon Wireless represents the third biggest deal in corporate history. The largest deal of all time also involved Vodafone, when it paid

£112bn for Germany’s Mannesmann. Then-prime minister Tony Blair hailed the 2000 takeover as “very good news” while executives at the British mobile phone giant celebrated. But it was to leave the UK mobile giant nursing a huge hangover. By the following year, the logic of paying so much money was already coming apart, when it wrote off some of the value of German fixed-line telephone business Arcor, which it had acquired as part of the deal. The charge formed part of a £6bn write-down of assets. Worse was to come in 2006 when Vodafone wrote off £23.5bn, including the Mannesmann acquisition, as it announced record losses and hundreds of job cuts. However, that failed to deter Vodafone from re-entering the German market with the purchase of cable firm Kabel Deutschland earlier this year.

SMEs hit by cuts in overdrafts

Upbeat reports lift FTSE

A TENTH of small and medium-sized enterprises in Yorkshire and Humber have had their overdraft cut in the last 12 months, a new survey has revealed. Of the firms that had their overdraft cut, half claimed that the reduction has had a negative impact on operations, while a further 17% revealed that the cuts have stifled their plans for growth. The figures come from the latest Close Brothers Business Barometer, which canvasses the views of small business owners on a range of economic and financial issues. Mike Randall, chief executive of

VODAFONE’S looming £84bn sale of its stake in Verizon Wireless combined with upbeat economic data from the UK and China to send the FTSE 100 Index soaring. The top tier climbed by almost 93.3 points to close at 6506.19m – a 1.5% increase – as worries over US military intervention in Syria went on the back burner after denting markets heavily last week. Blue-chip shares were fuelled by figures showing UK factory output increasing at a rate not seen for two decades, boosting hopes of a broad-based UK recovery. Manufacturing output rose at the

Close Brothers Asset Finance, said: “Overdrafts often provide an essential lifeline for SMEs. “Many have experienced difficulty in accessing finance from their banks in recent years and are relying on overdrafts alone to fill the cash flow stopgap. “While this strategy may be sufficient in the short term, it’s risky as banks may not be able to guarantee consistent funding.” Said Mr Randall: “The reality is that SMEs may struggle to sustain operations in the short term with even a minimal reduction in the finance they have at their disposal.”

fastest pace since July, 1994, while activity hit its best level since February 2011, a purchasing managers’ survey showed. Mining companies were also buoyed by healthy manufacturing data from China, which improved last month after prolonged weakness, to raise hopes of a growth pick-up in the world’s second-biggest economy. The Dax in Frankfurt and the Cac 40 in Paris also advanced strongly, climbing 1.7% and 1.8% respectively. On the currency markets, continued recovery by the UK’s factories helped the pound make strong gains.

Page 2 SMEs are optimistic SMALL business owners are responding to challenging trading conditions by developing new products and increasing efficiency, according to a study today. The survey of 3,000 owners of small firms across the UK, Western Europe and the USA by global insurer Hiscox showed that 38% are optimistic about the year ahead – down from 48% a year ago. Just one in 10 plan to take on new staff in the coming year – but nearly two thirds expect to avoid redundancies. Almost a third launched a new product or service in the past year and two thirds of those are planning another in the next 12 months as small businesses look to gain competitive advantage through innovation. Despite the introduction of incentivised lending schemes, more than three quarters of respondents say that finance for a new business is hard to find. While the average small business owner works 41.1 hours a week, those in Britain work the shortest week at 37.6 hours and have the most elastic definition of what constitutes “work”. Small business owners have a clear agenda for governments – to reduce direct taxation, simplify accounting rules and stimulate lending. The British are the least critical of all six countries of government bureaucracy and labour laws.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £46.28 Gannett 1550.29 Hess Corp £48.17 Microsoft £21.49 Motors Liquidation 48.27 Wal-Mart Stores £46.97 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 480 -6 BAE Systems 4411/4 +61/8 Rolls-Royce 1128 +16 AIM Brady Plc 731/2 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 3361/4 +81/4 BANKS Barclays 2853/4 +23/8 HSBC 6871/8 +111/8 Lloyds Banking Gp 733/8 +3/4 Ryl Scotland 3343/4 +11/8 1 Stan Chart 1462 /2 +211/2 BEVERAGES Diageo 1994 +20 SABMiller £311/8 +3/8 CHEMICALS Croda £265/8 +5/8 Elementis 98 2543/4 +7 1 Johnsn Mat £29 /8 +3/4 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2501/4 +37/8 Costain 2701/4 +91/4 ELECTRICITY

Drax Gp 709 +11 SSE 1575 +12 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 2177/8 +23/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 4261/4 +23/4 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 3381/4 +127/8 Cable & Wireless 401/8 +15/8 Comm 7 Colt Group 106 /8 +23/8 KCOM 861/4 +13/4 Talktalk Telecom 248 +91/2 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2913/8 +11/4 Sainsbury 387 +23/8 1 Tesco 370 /8 +35/8 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1878 +33 +121/2 Tate Lyle 8171/2 7 Unilever £24 /8 +1/4 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3887/8 +3 National Grid 7511/2 +9 Pennon Grp 707 +61/2 Severn 1718 +30 United Utils 6821/2 +4 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 3653/4 +71/4 ICAP 3781/2 +111/8 London StockExch 1587 +27 Man Group 833/4 +21/4 Provident Financial 1705 +18

Schroders £235/8 +1/2 Schroders NV 1906 +53 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS REXAM 4963/4 +87/8 Smiths Grp 1307 +25 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 271/4 +1/4 Carphone Whse 2393/4 +31/2 Dixons Retail 411/2 +1/4 Home Retail 144 +11/2 Inchcape 613 +24 Kingfisher 3951/4 +101/4 M&S 4821/2 +103/4 Mothercare 442 +7 Next £497/8 +1 WH Smith 852 +41/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 7651/2 +151/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 116 -1/4 Barrat Dev 317 +131/2 Persimmon 1145 +46 Reckitt Benckiser £441/4 +3/8 Taylor Wimpey 1037/8 +41/2 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 1465 +30 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 1771/4 +111/8 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 317 +91/8 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 3913/4 +5

1893/4 +27/8 1837/8 +27/8 1116 +38 3267/8 +81/4 3431/2 +121/4 MEDIA BSkyB 8521/2 +13 D Mail Tst 7941/2 +41/2 1 /8 HIBU ITV 1683/4 +41/4 Johnston Press 143/4 Pearson 1299 +28 Reed Elsevier 8041/2 +13 STV Group 215 Trinity Mirror 120 +1 Utd Business 698 +7 1 +11/2 UTV 180 /2 WPP 1237 +42 MINING Anglo American 1536 +571/2 Antofagasta 8851/2 +301/2 BHP Billiton 1921 +43 3 -3/4 Eurasian Natural 227 /4 Res Fresnillo 1275 -28 Kazakhmys 3053/4 +41/4 3 Lonmin 344 /8 +4 Rio Tinto £303/8 +11/4 VEDANTA 1189 +27 RESOURCES MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 7321/2 +371/2 Vodafone Group 2131/4 +7 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1266 +5 Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life

Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

3691/2 151 7511/2 £223/8

+41/2 +3 +9 +5/8

FTSE closed at

6506.19 Up 03.26 RSA Insurance Gp 1201/8 +11/2 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 12391/2 +121/2 BP 4451/2 -5/8 Cairn Energy 2761/4 +33/4 Royal Dutch Shell £203/4 -1/8 A 5 Royal Dutch Shell £21 /8 -1/8 B Total £36 +3/8 Tullow Oil 1018 +10 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1049 +10 Petrofac 1410 +25 Wood Gp(J) 814 +81/2

PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1578 +44 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £317/8 GlaxoSmithK XD 261/2 Shire £24 +1/4 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 567 +9 Hamrsn 4925/8 +91/8 1 Intu Properties 312 /4 +61/4 Land Secs 9081/2 +251/2 SEGRO 2981/4 +61/4 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 4911/8 +21/4 Sage Group 3495/8 +51/2 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 8721/2 +111/2 Bunzl 1383 +22 Capita 9611/2 +8 De La Rue 1017 +211/2 1 Electrocomp 267 /4 +73/4 Experian 1140 +10 G4S 2607/8 +7/8 Hays 1041/2 +2 3 Homeserve 245 /4 +33/4 Menzies J 777 +221/2 Rentokil 1013/4 +11/4 Smiths News 185 -23/4 5 Wolseley £33 /8 +1 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 8931/2 +181/2 Spirent Comms 1285/8 +27/8 TOBACCO

Br Am Tob £323/4 Imperial Tobacco £213/8 LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital 1081/8 Carnival £241/4 Compass Grp 868 easyJet 1284 Enterprise Inns 1443/8 FirstGroup 1173/8 Go-Ahead Gp 1514 Greene King 8481/2 Intercontl Htls 1840 Intl Cons Airl 296 Ladbrokes 1885/8 Mitchells & Butlers 4363/4 Natl Express 271 Rank Org 157 Stagecoach Group 3233/8 TUI Travel 3481/4 Whitbread £313/8

+1/4

-17/8 +1/8 +12 +51 +13/4 +23/4 +31 +141/2 +37 +93/4 +41/8 +103/4 +7 -31/4 +37/8 +37/8 +1/2

FTSE 100

INDEX 6506.19

+93.26

FTSE 250

INDEX 14875.48

+250.30

TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia..................... 1.64 dollars Bangladesh................ 113.89 taka Brazil............................ 3.31 reals Canada...................... 1.56 dollars China ........................... 8.50 yuan Czech Republic .... 27.82 korunas Denmark..................... 8.35 krone Euro.............................. 1.12 euro Hong Kong............... 11.45 dollars Hungary................. 316.41 forints India........................ 90.27 rupees Japan......................... 146.23 yen Mexico ...................... 18.39 pesos New Zealand ............. 1.85 dollars Norway ....................... 9.07 krone Pakistan................ 153.04 rupees Philippines ................ 59.24 pesos South Africa................ 14.85 rand South Korea............. 1492.00 won Sri Lanka .............. 195.20 rupees Sweden....................... 9.83 krona Switzerland................ 1.38 francs Taiwan ..................... 40.41 dollars Turkey...................... 2.98 new lira USA ........................... 1.49 dollars

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS CAROLINE Hodgson is an unashamed, self-confessed “techie”. The Birchenclffe woman who runs IT consultancy theheuristics has been passionate about her subject ever since her father bought Caroline her first computer – a Sinclair Spectrum – in the early 1980s. “We got the programming book and sat for hours programming it,” she recalls. The former Brooksbank School pupil later moved on to a Commodore Plus 4 – and the dye was cast. She studied computing at University Sector College in Northampton, where her lecturers included a number of “Bletchley Park types” who had been among the pioneers of computing dating back to the Second World War. Looking back, she marvels at the foresight displayed by some of her mentors, whose predictions for the way computing would develop sounded like pure sci-fi – but have become reality. Predicting the next big trend in technology is a large part of what Caroline does at theheuristics. The distinctive name comes from the Greek meaning to find or discover and refers to experience-based techniques for solving problems. In Caroline’s case, that means helping businesses get the best from their websites and mobile technology by researching and analysing user experience – to ensure businesses are making life online as easy as possible for their customers. She also carries out computer audits, helps firms formulate social media policies and ensures information is secure. “The aim is to provide the business with a very good idea of what their customers are experiencing as they use their online product,” she says. “It could be shopping on the website, downloading data or using social media.” Caroline has 15 years’ experience working in internet design and development and software consultancy with businesses ranging from digital design agencies to investment banks. She also worked with start-ups for three years, including one specialising in mobile services. She says: “It’s about helping firms understand their customers better – and helping firms that are seeing a drop-off in customer numbers find out the reason for it. “It’s about charting the customer journey from search engine optimisation to using the website and what happens when they do. “The problem may be something as simple as unclear instructions or a confusing part of the interface that needs tweaking to make it easier to use.” As an example, Caroline cites Amazon which developed its “one-click” policy to enable users to make their purchases online more quickly. “That came about through customer research and learning about customer behaviour, she says. Keeping the customer happy in the digital age is going to be increasingly vital, says

profile

Page 3

Caroline Hodgson

She has the technology Caroline – as millions of people around the world use their mobiles and tablets to find out about products and services and make transactions. “At the outset, companies decided they wanted a website because their competitors had one,” she says. “They didn’t know what they wanted to do with it. Then they discovered that e-commerce was a great way to sell products while keeping their costs and overheads down. Making websites which can be accessed by millions effectively increases customer footfall in a digital context.” Now firms are having to look

■ HELP AT HAND: Caroline Hodgson, of theheuristics

at specific customers and what they want. Firms with “homogenised” websites that do not change with customer needs will find their customer numbers falling, she says. “Mobile is a massive marketplace now,” says Caroline. “A lot of businesses that run with a website presence are not picking up on the challenge or opportunity of mobile applications for their business. Smart phone use worldwide is increasing hugely and as the technology progresses will take over from desktop. “Mobile users have the phone constantly in the palms of their hands and can access products or services sitting at home watching the football. Lack of understanding of that technology is like going back to the early days of the web. Companies know they need a mobile application, but they don’t know what it is going to do for them. “Researching user experience helps firms find out what customers want from their business. In the case of Nike, customers have the ability to choose, personalise and order a pair of shoes online and get it delivered. That’s the result of user experience research.” Caroline set up theheuristics in April with the intention of helping small and medium-sized enterprises which lack the in-house expertise to make more of

their online presence. Membership of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has presented Caroline with the opportunity to work with other businesses of that size as well as attend networking events. “It’s about trying to make people’s lives easier, she says. “It’s about creating an interface that’s efficient, consistent and aesthetically pleasing for the customer to use. For the business, it’s getting them to a position where they can throw away the help manual.” Technology is a big part of Caroline’s life away from work.”I spend a lot of time in the gym,” she says. “It’s the best way to get things out of your system when you’ve had one of those days! “Chocolate is a proper ‘hobby’ of mine and I love conceptual art. “But I also enjoy doing a lot of research on things like social media, computer hardware and innovations coming along. It’s the only way to keep up with developments. “It’s impossible to work in IT without constantly updating your knowledge. “Things change rapidly and you have to be in a situation where you are ready for the next development.”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Owner Age: 37 Family: Single Car: I don’t have a car at the moment. When I do, it’s normally a Peugeot Holidays: Singapore. It was the best holiday ever. The rain forest is pretty accessible and the country has a very peace-loving culture compared with the UK – and fantastic seafood First job: I worked on a “virtual college” project for Barnsley College to put its learning services online Best thing about job: Seeing satisfied clients and getting a pat on the back for a job well done Worst thing about job: Undoing the work of “rock star” developers who do things their way rather than making things easier for everyone else Business tip: Get involved with the local business community. Being a member of the chamber of commerce and attending networking groups has been extremely beneficial

theheuristics Work: User experience and IT consultancy Site: Birchencliffe Phone: 07928 607238 Email: info@theheuristics.co.uk Web: www.theheuristics.co.uk

Wealth & Investment. A wealth of know-how With more than 150 years’ experience of serving clients by investing their money wisely, Investec Wealth & Investment have the knowledge and expertise you need regarding your investments, pensions or other financial matters. Please bear in mind that the value of investments and the income derived from them can go down as well as up and that you may not get back the amount that you have put in. For further information please visit our website, call Simon Kaye on 0113 245 4488 or email simon.kaye@investecwin.co.uk investecwin.co.uk

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Page 4

It’s a racing cert! THEY’RE betting on having a great day at the races. Members of the Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s MY Network will be under starters orders for a trip to Doncaster racecourse on Friday, September 13. The party will take up position in the County Enclosure. There will also be access to the Champagne Lawn and Silks Restaurant , the grandstand and family enclosures. Follow MY Network on Twitter – #MYNetworkWakey

KIRKLEES BUSIN

It’s time for a reality check T’S sometimes difficult to Irealjudge what is happening in the economy when just looking

To promote your business to over 49,000 Examiner readers and over 230,000 online users Call: Anne Joseph 01484 437745 email: anne.joseph@trinitymirror.com

at abstract markets – possibly even more so recently with news relating to China, the US, and most recently Syria being the root cause of UK equity market volatility. However, when these external factors are put to one side, over the last few months many market watchers have become more optimistic about the outlook for the UK economy, with several economists upgrading their UK growth forecasts. Whilst the recovery has been bumpy, the most recent economic data does indicate that the UK grew at a faster rate in the first half of 2013 than either the US or the Eurozone. Whilst evidence of the improved economic outlook is relatively easy to find (e.g. better retail sales, industrial production and business survey data), it’s more difficult to explain the reasons why the economy seems to be improving. Many market commentators have suggested that the onset of good weather (and summer sports) seems to have lifted the mood around the country. It may be easy to dismiss this simple explanation, but the economy is largely made up of individuals and companies engaging in economic activity; if the improved weather and British sports success encourages additional consumption, economic growth is likely to follow. A dd i t i o n a l ev i d e n c e o f t h e

investecwin.co.uk

Nick Gartland

improved consumer confidence can also be seen by new car sales data. In contrast to the rest of the EU, UK car sales have remained strong with, for example, the UK automotive association recently increasing its sales forecast for 2013 to 8.4% versus its previous 3.0% forecast. Another potential explanation of why the economic climate has improved can be seen in the performance of the UK’s major banks. After a long period of hibernation, the recent data suggests that UK consumer lending and particularly mortgage lending is picking up. The banks, helpfully supported by a number of government initiatives, seem to have started to offer more competitive mortgages rates. This in turn seems to be supporting a mild recovery in house prices. While UK business lending data still remains disappointingly weak, an increase in consumer confidence should eventually feed through into better business lending as companies react to stronger demand. What many hope is that we are now seeing a return of the fabled animal spirits to UK consumers and businesses. As Keynes famously noted,

human beings are not entirely rational and can be prone to periods of over-optimism and strong confidence. If what we are seeing now is a sustained recovery, it would be a repetition of what has happened many times in the past, even if the current recovery has been slower than expected. The other significant factor that could support animal spirits is the Bank of England’s new forward rate guidance, which has followed the arrival of the new governor, Mark Carney. In effect, the central bank is guiding that it won’t think about raising UK base rates until unemployment drops below 7%, with the proviso that inflation expectations remain controlled and financial stability is not threatened. Historically, animal spirits have generally been extinguished by interest rate increases. If the BoE is able push forward the date of when the market and consumers expect interest rates to rise, animal spirits may be sustained for longer, which should support the real economy. .

Nick Gartland, Senior Financial Planning Director, Investec Wealth & Investment

Banks’ lending tops £11m

Please bear in mind that the value of investments and the income derived from them can go down as well as up and that you may not get back the amount that you have put in. For further information please visit our website, call Simon Kaye on 0113 245 4488 or email simon.kaye@investecwin.co.uk

CITY TALK

■ LOANS: Tony Kelly, of RBS

BANKING giants NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland have loaned more than £11.36m to businesses in Huddersfield since the government’s Funding for Lending scheme was introduced in August last year. Nationally, the two banks have allocated £4.3bn of discounted FLS loans to 25,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in that time.

This summer, the banks announced an independent lending review to identify what else NatWest and RBS could do to help back British businesses and further support the UK economy. Tony Kelly, NatWest managing director for commercial banking in the North of England. said: “We are a year into FLS now and I’m really pleased our fee free lending offer has helped so

many local businesses. “We want to do more and I would urge local SMEs to log on and provide their valuable insight to the independent lending review. “We're challenging ourselves to do more to support business and the economy, but it is through this direct and honest feedback that we will be able to examine all aspects of our lending policies.”

Export deal helps the bottom line Individuals

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A FIRM supplying men’s underwear has broken into the international market with its first overseas contract to the USA. ACM Trading Ltd, of North Vale Mill, Bradford Road, Brighouse, has landed a deal to supply its Bum-Chums branded garments to a chain of

stores in Atlanta, Georgia. Negotiations are also under way with other stores in the States. The company, which sources all its materials and suppliers from within the UK, has been selling direct to consumers and stockists for the past five years. Now it is embarking

on exporting. Founding director Craig Hendry said: “This a great step for our company. As soon as they received our samples they fell in love with them. “Taking our Great British craftsmanship to America is a fantastic advert for our country. The pond just got

a whole load smaller!” Mr Hendry, who is joined in the business by fellow directors Gareth Dickinson and Anthony Finney, said the firm was now developing a new range of designs and introducing further colours to complement its existing offering.

Schem region

A PROGRAMM supporting new enterprises has delivered 1,500 new jobs nationwide sin it was launched 12 months ago with businesse in Yorkshire an Humber playin the impressive Ready for Busi following supp Government’s and Barclays to businesses wit across the cou have been crea Humber throug Ready for Busi the Cavendish partnership be England’s lead agencies, toge Enterprise Netw In Yorkshire an Business is de Enterprise Netw aims to deliver region and wor to start a new b particular focu those business The programm with focused s stages of their including inten training via fre for Business s help from a ded advisor to expl business ideas analysis into d plan. Mike Stanley (p manager at Na Network, said; more would-be currently recei in preparation new enterprise create many m “Ready for Bus supporting ind clear commerc want their busi future. It is idea them focus upo and take the ne achieve succes “One of the key around the bus increase emplo in their area – a many enterpris create new job established illu value of the pro

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THE Huddersfie Yorkshire Cham backing Small Week. The chamber is attend its Septe Count network place at 9.30am Cedar Court Ho The popular bu event runs onc delegates to sh in a one-minute followed by the network over b #ConnectionsC @MidYorksCha

INESS NEWS

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nce ed o– es nd ng their part in reaching e milestone. iness was launched port from the Regional Growth Fund to create 6,000 new ith 10,000 new jobs untry. To date, 261jobs ated in Yorkshire and gh the scheme. iness is delivered by h Consortium, a etween some of ding enterprise ether with National twork. nd Humber, Ready for elivered by National twork. The scheme r 1,335 new jobs in the orks with those looking business with a us upon helping make ses investment ready. me provides individuals support in the pre-start r new business, nsive enterprise ee Barclays Get Ready seminars, one-on-one edicated business lore and assess their s and offer expert developing a business

pictured), project ational Enterprise ; “With many hundreds e entrepreneurs iving intensive support for the launch of their es, we expect to help more jobs. siness is aimed at dividuals who have a cial idea of how they siness to grow in the eally placed to help pon these objectives ecessary steps to ss. ey areas of support is siness’ ability to oyment opportunities and the fact that so ses have been able to bs so soon after being ustrates the particular rogramme.”

advice

ield-based Mid mber of Commerce is Business Advice

s inviting small firms to tember Connections king event, which takes m on Thursday at the otel, Ainley Top. usiness networking ce a month and allows howcase their business e “elevator pitch” e opportunity to breakfast. Follow Count and amber on Twitter

local

Pay heed to these rules RISKY BUSINESS Mark Weeks

HIS July it was decided T that – as a result of the Government’s independent

review of health and safety – the Health and Safety Executive would be changing the reporting requirements under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 from the October 1, 2013. RIDDOR requires the reporting of work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences. This applies to all work activities, but not to all incidents. Re p o r t s p ro d u c e d u n d e r RIDDOR provide information for the enforcing authorities (the HSE, local authorities and the Office for Rail Regulation) about workplace incidents so that they can consider whether further investigation is required as well as helping them to understand where and how risks in the workplace

arise. The main changes will see: ● The replacement of the classification of “major injuries” to workers with a shorter list of “specified injuries ● The replacement of the existing schedule of 47 types of industrial disease with eight categories of reportable work-related illness ● A requirement for business to report fewer types of “dangerous occurrence”. The reporting period requirement for anyone injured at work has been extended from three to seven days. It has been confirmed that there will be no major changes to the reporting of fatal accidents, accidents to members of the public or accidents which lead to an employee being unable to fulfil

their normal duties for more than seven days. The HSE also published guidance on the changes which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will also apply from October 1, 2013. A free copy of the guidance is available to download from their website www.hse.co.uk. If in doubt we would recommend that you do submit a report. It is not an offence to inform the ICC of non-reportable accidents, but failure to report a reportable accident is a breach of RIDDOR and can result in a prosecution. If you have any questions about your obligations under the revised RIDDOR or health and safety issues in general, then please contact Kevin Barrett on 01422 358525.

Mark Weeks is a risk management consultant at Wilby Ltd

Region improves insolvency rate INSOLVENCY rates among Yorkshire firms fell slightly during July, latest figures reveal. A survey by business information group Experian showed that 113 companies went bust across Yorkshire during the month – representing 0.09% of all firms in the region. That compares with 135 insolvencies for July, 2012, which accounted for 0.11% of the total. Nationally, Experian’s Business Insolvency Index showed there were 1,766 failures last month, representing a rate of 0.08%, against 1,776 a year ago, or a rate of 0.09%. It is the third consecutive month that the rate has fallen year-on-year – the first time this has happened since 2010. Experian said the long term trend showed a steady and continuing decrease in insolvency rates. Businesses with 50 to 100 employees saw the biggest drop in their insolvency rate – from 0.16% in July, 2012, to 0.13% this time. Companies with up to two employees – representing more than 1.5m smaller firms – saw a decline from 0.07% to 0.06%. But companies employing 500-plus people saw insolvencies almost double from 0.08% to 0.15%. Experian director Max Firth said: ““A whole quarter of dropping insolvency rates is really positive news, but the fact that larger companies have seen quite a rise shows that we are not out of the woods yet, especially as this can trickle down the supply chain to smaller companies. “Business owners need to remain vigilant and ensure that they have monitoring systems in place, however simple, to ensure they know the financial status of their customers and their suppliers and are able to act quickly if one of them gets into difficulty.”

Page 5 PR firm lands key account A BRIGHOUSE-based PR agency has secured a key account with an international beauty company. Faith PR will work with Swedish-based Oriflame to create a strong brand for the direct selling company as it expands in the UK and Ireland. Faith PR has been working with Oriflame’s UK and Ireland franchise for the past 12 months, during which time the firm has expanded at a rate of 500% in Ireland. Now the global parent company is taking operations back into its direct ownership so that it can make significant investments to expand its UK and Irish presence. Several London agencies were among those who pitched for the highly sought-after contract which was awarded to Faith PR after a pitch process which culminated at the firm’s Stockholm headquarters. Faith PR founder Stefanie Hopkins will head up the account together with husband Carl Hopkins, the former owner of full service marketing agency JDA. Said Stefanie: “This is a significant account win and I am delighted that Oriflame has chosen to work with Faith PR after a highly competitive and rigorous pitching process which involved us travelling to Sweden. “Oriflame has exciting plans to continue its expansion in the UK and Ireland and I look forward to raising awareness of the brand.” Jaime Fouché, of Oriflame, said: “We look forward to working closely with Faith PR in the coming months as Oriflame grows across the UK and Ireland. “We felt that Stefanie and her team were the best party for us because of their proven experience in working with the UK franchise to date and because of the detailed communications strategy they put together for this exciting new phase for Oriflame.”

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Lifting the lid on safety

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A HUDDERSFIELD businessman will put the focus on safety at a national conference. Rob Fay, managing director of Fenay Bridge-based Easilift Loading Systems, will underline how companies can improve safety in the loading bay when he addresses the Fork Lift Truck Association’s 2013 National Fork Lift Safety Conference. Mr Fay will outline the importance of taking time and care to develop safety processes rather than making snap decisions by choosing familiar or obvious options. He said: “A robust safety protocol is necessary whenever goods are to be loaded or unloaded, but many of the most important decisions are made before a loading bay becomes operational. “Selecting the right products and suppliers is absolutely critical; get these aspects wrong and safety will be compromised before the first trailer pulls up to the dock.” Easilift, based at Penistone Road, argues that many of the most popular safety solutions on the market – such as vehicle restraint systems – are not

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■ CONFERENCE CALL: Easilift Loading Systems managing director Rob Fay

100% reliable because they are essentially reactive measures. “While restraint devices have their place as a fail-safe, it is better to design loading bays to prevent the possibility of drive aways or vehicle creep from the outset,” said Mr Fay. He said Easilift advocated alternative methods such as key control processes that not only restrict the driver’s ability to move his vehicle, but provide a range of benefits to aid operational performance. The company’s own dock management system, for example, enables customers to control door use for improved security and greater energy efficiency – and to monitor usage patterns to assist future planning of the loading bay. At the conference, Mr Fay will present video evidence from a top-name retailer to underline the capabilities of the technology. The need for forward planning will also be a major theme of the talk. “After 35 years in the industry, we know that the best way of avoiding risk is to anticipate it,” said Mr Fay. “The earlier the engagement with customers, the sooner we can assess a loading bay design to ensure that it is optimised for the proposed usage.” In particular, Easilift believes that new builds such as distribution centres can be improved “at birth” by introducing architects and contractors to loading bay specialists. “Too often the loading bay is an afterthought and suppliers are sub-contracted on a competitive tender rather than industry experience – that is where mistakes are made,” said Mr Fay. “Even a small error such as the working height of the dock or the gradient of the slope leading to it, can adversely affect safety. “We are finding increasingly that the best distribution centres are those where the architect factors in the feedback of loading bay specialists such as ourselves, who can point where subtle adjustments that will have a major payback in terms of long-term performance and safety.” Mr Fay will deliver his speech – How To Improve Loading Bay Safety – on September 25 at the conference, which takes place at Warwick University.

Plumber joins scheme A PLUMBING and heating installer in West Yorkshire has been chosen to spearhead a new government initiative which will install thousands of new boilers – free of charge – to eligible homes in the UK. Dale Stephenson, of Halifax, is one of 100 installers across the UK to join the ECO scheme of leading merchant Plumbing Trade Supplies, which aims to make thousands of households more energy efficient. ECO, which stands for Energy Company Obligation, will see the six

major UK utility companies spend £325m over the next two years. The funding will pay for energy efficiency improvements for vulnerable households, where residents receive benefits and currently spend more than 10% of their income on fuel. The new scheme is open to fuel-poor households in the UK and is designated to homeowners and supporting anyone living in energy poor homes with annual incomes below £15,910.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

Page 7

‘Failing’ pubs in demand YORKSHIRE pubs stuck in an 80s time warp will be snapped up by new buyers with an eye on current and future trends, claims a property expert. Leigh Parsons, a director at Colliers International and a specialist in the hospitality sector, was commenting on the Good Pub Guide 2014 prediction that up to 4,000 licensed premises are at risk of closing over the next 12 months. Mr Parsons, who has sold dozens of hotels and pubs across the region in the past 20 years, said: “The Good Pub Guide’s dire forecasts have certainly stirred up a hornet’s nest in the trade, but it is fairly obvious that poorly performing pubs stuck in the 80s will go to the wall. “However, we are experiencing strong demand at the moment and I believe there are plenty of buyers out there ready to have a crack at the right pub in the right location.” He went on: “Good pubs in the main tourist areas have seen solid trade on the back of the better weather we have enjoyed this summer. “There has also been a significant spring back after the deadening effect of the Olympics c o m b i n e d w i t h a m a rke d

Ten top tips to keep them coming back

■ PUB GUIDE: Leigh Parsons (above), of Colliers International, and The Stafford Arms at Cleckheaton, which was sold earlier this year by a corporate operator to a private buyer who continues to operate

improvement in the wider economy. “There are definitely buyers out there for the right sort of pub, although it’s fair to say the country and town centre locations remain the most sought after.” Mr Leigh said: “The Good Pub Guide argues that failing pubs need visionary and energetic licensees and the Yorkshire

area is fortunate to have plenty. “We have seen many examples of tired old pubs being given a new lease of life though refurbishment, a new menu and imaginative diversification. “Indeed, some of our buyers have turned the process of revamping failing pubs into a very lucrative fine art.” He concluded: “Pubs need to free themselves from the flock

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wallpaper and chicken in a basket image of the 70s and 80s and ensure they appeal to today’s typically demanding customer. “A good website is essential to bring the customers in. “Smart, tidy and contemporary facilities are a must and a traditional real fire welcome from landlord and staff helps ensure customers will be back for more.”

■ THE WEBSITE: .Before they go, many prospective customers visit the website – does it sell the business and make you want to go? ■ FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Smart external appearance. Peeling paint, weeds in the car park and dead flowers in the beds and baskets are a no-no. ■ THE WELCOME: Good pubs always seem to have a host who greets with a smile and makes the customer feel wanted ■ A FIRE: Even in summer a fire crackling in the hearth makes you want to linger ■ THE SETTLE: Good pubs provide an environment that makes you feel at ease ■ THE DRINK: Local beer kept and served well by an enthusiast ■ THE FOOD: Well-cooked and appropriately priced. A reasonable length of wait is reassuring (no ping cuisine!) too long is, well, too long ■ THE NOISE: Crackle of fire and hum of chat – not buzzing and ringing from AWP machines and few places get away with piped music ■ THE OWNER AND STAFF: If the host sets the right tone and gets the staff to really deliver customer service all will be well ■ THE AH!: The feeling good pubs give you as you leave. You know what I mean I am sure!!

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Wiliam Ballman

A LEADING business restructuring and insolvency lawyer has been appointed regional chairman of insolvency trade body R3. William Ballmann (pictured), partner at Gateley LLP in Leeds, will be supported in his role by Chris Wood, partner at Cleckheaton-based Clough Corporate Solutions, who continues as vice-chairman. Mr Ballman has 30 years experience of corporate restructuring, re-financings, rescue and turnaround. He specialises in advising the management of public and private companies facing some form of financial or organisational underperformance or difficulty. He also regularly advises banks, asset-based and other lenders at a senior level. Mr Ballman has been a member of R3 for more than 20 years and has served on the Yorkshire region committee for the last five years. He also holds a position as a council member of R3. As regional chairman, he succeeds Robert Adamson, northern restructuring partner for Mazars .

Glyn Nash

Copymark DOCUMENT management company Copymark has appointed Glyn Nash as general manager. Mr Nash will work closely with directors Mark and Candice Pidsley to manage the day-to-day running of the business. Before joining Copymark, he worked as a facilities manager in the building trade and brings with him a wealth of experience which will assist him in his new role. His appointment follows Copymark’s move to new premises at Bradley Business Park, Huddersfield which includes a state-of-the-art showroom, offices, and meeting spaces. Mr Pidsley said: “We are delighted to have Glyn onboard. As the business has grown, it is important that we continue to invest in our team. “At Copymark, we pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service and our team is key to its success. Glyn is already proving to be a great asset to the team and will allow us to continue to grow. “We’re also thrilled with our new premises; it is just the first step in a busy 2013 schedule which will really put us on the map. It’s certainly an exciting time to be part of Copymark.”

Movers and shakers

Tycoon’s cars roar into the spotlight A CAR manufacturer headed by Batley-born businessman Lawrence Tomlinson is starring at one of the motor industry’s most prestigious events this week. Ginetta’s two road cars – the G40R and G60 – are on show at Salon Privé 2013, the annual event held at West London’s Syon Park, which gets under way tomorrow. Ginetta is also displaying its Lifestyle luxury clothing range. The company was acquired by car enthusiast and racing driver Mr Tomlinson in 2005 and within six months had built the G50. The following year, Mr Tomlinson and the Ginetta factory Team LNT entered and won the GT2 class of the Le Mans 24-hour race. Ginetta was named Small Business of the Year by the Motorsport Industry Association in 2008, illustrating Tomlinson’s positive impact on the company. Team LNT remains a dominant force in GT racing today, with its G50 GT4 and G55 GT3 models. The G60 and the G40R are both

■ RACE DAYS: Batley-born Lawrence Tomlinson (right) and the Ginetta G40R featuring at Salon Privé 2013 in London

hand-built at Ginetta’s factory near Leeds. The G60 boasts a 310bhp engine and delivers a 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 165 mph. The G40R has a 200bhp engine and takes just one second more to reach 60mph from a standing start.

Following on Ginetta's history within racing they are proud to announce the launch of Ginetta Lifestyle at Salon Prive. Lifestyle is a luxury clothing collection reflecting Ginetta's heritage within motorsport.

Trainees gear up A CAR dealer with operations in Huddersfield is celebrating five years of helping budding mechanics gear up their careers through a joint programme with the Prince’s Trust. This year, all eight graduates on the Get into Car Mechanics scheme have secured apprenticeships with Arnold Clark after receiving their initial car mechanics training in areas such as learning about basic vehicle maintenance, tyre fitting and valetting. The dealership, which has a Peugeot, Renault and Dacia dealership as well as a Motorstore at Leeds Road, launched the partnership with the Prince’s Trust Scotland. Sir Arnold Clark, chairman of the Arnold Clark Group, said: “Yet

another group of ambitious and hard working young people have passed through the Get into Car Mechanics programme and have impressed me incredibly.” Finlay Laverty, of The Prince’s Trust, said: “I’m thrilled to be celebrating five years of the Prince’s Trust and Arnold Clarks’ innovative approach to training. “Since the beginning, Get into Car Mechanics has jump-started the careers of many talented young people and this year is no different with all eight graduates about to embark on apprenticeships in this strong and growing industry with one of the most respected names in mechanics.”

Town secure some liquid assets A BOTTLED water company has agreed a two-year extension to its partnership deal with Huddersfield Town. After a successful inaugural year of working in partnership during the 2012/13 season, Shepley Spring’s Ice Valley brand will continue to be the official water of Huddersfield Town for the next two years. During the first year of the partnership, Shepley Spring has also supported several of the club’s community events, supplying water for fundraisers during events such as Pedal for Pounds 4, Walk for Pounds and the Town Legends vs. 200 Kids’ match during May. As well as providing water for Town’s players throughout the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons, Shepley Spring is also being

Page 8

sold at kiosks around the stadium on Town match days. Shepley Spring, established in Huddersfield in 1996, is the UK’s leading independent water supplier – with its Ice Valley brand and many other products available in leading supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl and Iceland. Town commercial manager Ajin Abraham said: “It is fantastic to have Shepley Spring continue to support the club for a further two seasons. Shepley Spring managing director James Smith said: ““We are really happy to be signing for another two seasons and plan to use this to further promote our Ice Valley range of products.”

■ WATER WAYS: Town's Ajin Abraham (left) with James Smith, of Shepley Spring

Carl Hopkins & Stephen Naylor

Faith PR A PR consultancy has announced a key appointment and a move to bigger premises as it continues its rapid expansion on the eve of its sixth birthday. Faith PR, founded by practiced consultant Stefanie Hopkins (right) in 2007, has appointed her husband Carl (also pictured) as commercial director. It has moved from Brighouse to the Centre 27 Business Park at Birstall, where it will service a growing list of clients, including Oriflame UK Ltd, Yummy Yorkshire, Mia Tui bags, The Personnel Partnership, Catherine Green Textiles, La Cachette Restaurant & Bar, Sous le Nez Restaurant and Fantastic Media. Mr Hopkins, a marketer of 30 years experience, owned the UK’s oldest independent marketing agency JDA, featured on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire and was recently recognised as the 35th most influential marketer in the UK outside of London. Faith PR has also appointed former journalist, broadcaster and political adviser Stephen Naylor as senior PR account manager – following the recent appointment of Joanne Walker as PR account executive.