KBN Dec 4 2012 by Huddersfield

FTSE 100

PATRICK ALLEN The innovation game

+ 4.42 5871.24

Full inter view - Page 3

ANDREW FIRTH Think before you tweet! Column - Page 5

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Town missing out in funding stakes

HUDDERSFIELD is lagging behind its Yorkshire neighbours when it comes to funding for business. More than £82m of lending has now been secured from NatWest and RBS by businesses in the region under the Government’s Funding for Lending scheme. But a league table produced by the banks shows Huddersfield trailing in when it comes to receiving finance – eighth out of 10 locations in Yorkshire and 82nd out of 104 in the UK. Nationally, Sheffield is third with £26m of funding accessed by the city’s businesses while York is eighth. M o re t h a n 4 , 0 0 0 s m a l l a n d medium-sized businesses across the UK have secured £1bn in finance from NatWest and RBS since August 1. Yorkshire accounts for 10% of the total UK demand seen by the two banks. Peter Ibbetson, small business chairman at Royal Bank of Scotland, called on everyone to work together to stimulate growth in the UK economy and help businesses thrive all around the country. He said: “The solution for the economic situation we’re in lies with everybody: it lies with the politicians, the media, the banks and the businesses to work together and there is one word at the heart of all this, and that’s confidence. “We need confidence back in the high street and cheap finance is one

■ TIME TO INVEST: Peter Ibbetson, chairman of small business banking for the RBS & NatWest group

way to build confidence. At NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland, we’re saying to businesses now is the right time to invest and these are the cheapest rates I have seen in my banking career.” Tony Kelly, managing director of NatWest Commercial Banking in the North of England, said: “£1bn to SMEs across the UK is a pleasing milestone but I always want more here in Yorkshire. “We’re seeing demand differ significantly from town to town and I’d urge any business looking for finance

to get in touch and we can see if the FFL scheme can help you.” “We’re focused on helping our customers meet their ambitions, we’re putting our relationship managers through a unique external accreditation programme with bespoke training for dealing with different types of business and we’re all going out two or three times a year to work directly for an SME to get a feel for the challenges those businesses are facing right now. “That shift in culture, along with cheaper finance, is key to us helping businesses think about growth.”

Meanwhile, Santander UK said its corporate and commercial banking arm increased lending to SMEs in Yorkshire by 43% in the year to the end of September. In total, SMEs in the region received £368m of new funding during the period – supported by the Funding for Lending initiative. Santander accessed the first tranche of £1bn – out of the £9.4bn for which it is eligible – from the Funding for Lending scheme in July this year. During the year, Santander also recruited 24 new staff in the region, including relationship directors and product specialists to improve its service to businesses. Neil Williams, regional director for Santander Corporate Banking in Yorkshire, said: “We are delighted to have been able to support even more businesses in Yorkshire this year, particularly smaller businesses which are so vital for economic recovery and growth. “There are some fantastic businesses in our region and we are proud to be providing not only funding but, more importantly, a committed long-term banking partnership with more of our local strong and growing companies.” Marcelino Castrillo, head of SME banking, said: “Santander is strongly committed to SME banking and we are actively growing our business to increase our support for businesses.”

Companies neglect the value of being online YORKSHIRE firms are missing out on big business opportunities by failing to make best use of the internet, it is claimed. A survey by Lloyds Banking Group showed that more than a third of small and medium-sized businesses in the north are not online – and risk stunting their future growth as a result – despite evidence of marked improvements in business productivity when SMEs become digitally literate. Business benefits include saving time, increased sales and wider customer reach when the internet is used

for day-to-day business interactions. Lloyds Banking Group is a founder member of Go ON UK – an initiative which aims to make the UK the most digitally capable nation. The survey coincides with the launch of the Go ON’s new Digital Skills Charter. The survey showed that 37% of SMEs in the UK still do not have a website and one in five are “deliberately disconnected” from the internet. The research shows that 30% of SMEs are not developing their use of the internet in any way. Just over a quarter of SMEs have an

advanced website, including mobile applications, to help serve their customers and employees. These businesses are aware of the commercial benefits of having a strong digital presence. Among businesses that improve their digital use, 78% said it saved time while 62% said it attracted customers through effective marketing. Some 54% reported improved levels of customer interaction and service and wider geographic coverage while 54% saw cost savings, 51% reported increased sales and 36% enjoyed sim-

plified payment processing. Martyn Kendrick, area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Yorkshire, said: “There is no avoiding the fact that the internet is part of everyday life and is an essential ingredient of business growth. “This research shows that many SMEs are still not embracing digital technology, often because they don’t believe there are benefits to be had. “But it is clear that when businesses do go digital, the rewards come quickly.”

INSIDE Healthy options YORKSHIRE Ambulance Service has been named one of the nation’s top apprenticeship employers. The service won the apprentice employer of the year category at the Regional Apprentice Awards – and followed that up by being named one of the top 100 in the country by the National Apprenticeship Service. The announcement came at the Skills Awards in Birmingham.

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Recovery position TAXES on empty commercial properties are crippling hopes of recovery, it is claimed. A survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed that almost 90% of members in the north of England believe that charges imposed on premises such as shops and offices are significantly undermining the region’s economic recovery.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

Gloomy news on the way for Tesco A TRADING update from retail giant Tesco tomorrow will shine the spotlight on the supermarket sector this week ahead of the all-important Christmas season. Tesco is expected to report sales slipping back into the red in its third quarter as rivals turn up the heat on the UK’s biggest supermarket chain. The grocery giant gave hope of better trading last month when it said like-for-like sales had edged 0.1% higher in its second quarter, following six quarters in a row of falling sales. But analysts are forecasting the update to show a return to sales declines as general merchandise continues to take a hit. Fierce competition between the major players has seen Tesco lose market share in recent months, with smaller

■ PROMOTIONS: Tesco has been fighting back with targeted offers

rival Sainsbury’s in particular piling on the pressure. Tesco reported its first drop in UK profits for two decades last month when half-year figures revealed a 12% fall to £1.1 billion. Recent figures from Kantar Worldpanel showed Tesco’s market share slipping from 31% to 30.5% in the 12 weeks

to October 28. A resurgent Sainsbury’s saw its market share rise to 16.8% as it benefited from its Paralympics sponsorship and investment in cheaper own-brand products. Tesco has been fighting back with targeted offers, using the data collected through its Clubcard promotion, while

Debt surge for water company THE UK’s biggest water company reported a slide in half-year profits as more recession-hit customers struggled to pay their bills. The London and Thames Valley supplier said customer bad debts grew £8 million on a year earlier to £33.4 million in the six months to September 30 and were expected to reach £70 million by its year end. It was also hit by declining consumption during the wet summer and earlier hosepipe ban, but revenues still improved 6% to £902.7 million after it was allowed by the regulator to increase prices by 6.7% in April. Underlying profits declined by

6.5% to £311.8 million and bottom-line profit fell by 13% to £127.6 million. Thames Water, which has 14 million customers, attracted criticism earlier this year for paying a £74.5 million dividend to its shareholders but no tax. The business, which is controlled by a private consortium of investors, said today it continued to benefit from allowances on investment, meaning it can delay its tax bill to a later period. Thames Water now has nearly £1 billion of deferred tax liabilities on its balance sheet.

also driving sales through its online grocery business. But the group is expected to have suffered from falling non-food sales in the third quarter, which will offset a rise in grocery sales, according to experts at Nomura. Nick Coulter, Nomura retail analyst, is pencilling in a 0.9% fall in like-for-like sales, excluding VAT and fuel, in Tesco’s third quarter. Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said Tesco may also be suffering from “a policy not to chase sales of lower margin items, particularly in the electrical arena”. Tesco’s international arm is also under pressure after the division – once the driving force behind the group – saw profits fall to £378m.

Gabby’s boardroom role SPORTS broadcaster Gabby Logan joined the ranks of female directors at British companies with a boardroom role at FTSE 250 Index company Perform. As one of the UK’s leading sports journalists, with commitments including BBC’s Match of the Day and its Six Nations Rugby coverage, the sports media business said it hoped to tap into her knowledge of the sports world. Perform, which floated on the stock exchange in 2011, distributes sports content such as video to more than a thousand partners, including book-

makers and football club websites. It also owns Goal.com, the largest football portal in the world by monthly users and page views. Chairman Paul Walker said the appointment will boost the company’s content distribution business as it taps growing demand for online media. He added: “We are looking forward to working with Gabby and are confident that Perform will benefit from her expertise as it continues to build on the success achieved to date.” The group is based in Feltham, London.

Page 2 Output is shrinking MANUFACTURING output shrank for the seventh month in a row last month, a closely watched survey revealed. But the pace of decline was slower than expected. The latest Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index (PMI) produced a headline reading of 49.1 for November, an improvement on 47.3 in the previous month but below the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. Economist Samuel Tombs said: “The small improvement in November does little to change the fundamental picture of a struggling industrial sector.”

Pickfords is saved PICKFORDS – the 400-year-old removal company at the heart of a Channel 5 documentary series – has been bought out of administration. The firm was immediately bought back by directors Yogesh Mehta and Timothy Romer under a new shell company called Pickfords Move Management in a move that preserves 900 jobs. The company traces its roots back to the 17th century when the Pickfords of Adlington, Lancashire, entered the wagon trade.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £34.84 +0.11 Gannett 1113.87 +1.86 Hess Corp £30.91 +0.09 Microsoft 1647.51 -5.90 Motors Liquidation 46.59 Wal-Mart Stores £44.56 -0.18 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 3491/2 -41/2 BAE Systems 3283/4 +13/8 Rolls-Royce 9051/2 +15 AIM Brady Plc 1011/2 Man Brnze 9 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 2213/8 -5/8 BANKS Barclays 2443/8 -15/8 HSBC 6357/8 -13/4 Lloyds Banking Gp 453/4 -3/4 5 Ryl Scotland 292 /8 -25/8 Stan Chart 1466 +11 BEVERAGES Diageo 1860 +3 SABMiller £281/4 CHEMICALS Croda £235/8 -1/8 Elementis 98 223 +1 Johnsn Mat £24 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2551/4 -31/8 Costain 249 +163/4

ELECTRICITY Drax Gp 5411/2 +1/2 SSE 1429 +4 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 2201/4 -21/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3753/4 +7/8 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 2323/8 -11/8 Cable & Wireless 351/8 +3/8 Comm Colt Group 101 +1/2 KCOM 681/4 -1/8 Talktalk Telecom 220 +5/8 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2661/4 -25/8 Sainsbury 3363/4 -43/4 1 Tesco 322 /2 -25/8 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1482 +4 Tate Lyle 770 -3 Unilever £24 -1/8 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3281/2 +25/8 National Grid 701 -4 Pennon Grp 6221/2 +31/2 Severn 1616 +1 United Utils 685 +31/2 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 2111/4 -3/8 ICAP 2931/4 +13/4 1 London StockExch 975 /2 -2 Man Group 77 +1/4

Provident Financial 1300 +13 Schroders 1621 +25 Schroders NV 1306 +1 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 607 -6 REXAM 4373/4 +1/8 Smiths Grp 1097 +2 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 271/4 -1/4 Carphone Whse 195 -31/2 Dixons Retail 27 -1/2 Home Retail 1113/4 +1/8 1 Inchcape 429 /8 +11/2 Kingfisher 2751/4 -23/4 3 M&S 389 /4 -7/8 3 Mothercare 308 /4 Next £363/8 -1/4 WH Smith 6471/2 -21/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 6621/2 +5 HOUSEHOLD GOODS 1 Aga Rangemaster 68 /2 -1/4 Barrat Dev 1971/8 +2 Persimmon 7931/2 -71/2 Reckitt Benckiser £395/8 +3/8 1 Taylor Wimpey 61 /2 +1/2 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 1060 +6 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 2207/8 +13/4 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 2111/2 -21/4 LIFE INSURANCE

3503/4 1453/4 1713/4 8971/2 2393/4 3221/8 MEDIA BSkyB 772 D Mail Tst 529 1 /4 HIBU ITV 1003/8 Johnston Press 133/4 Pearson 1195 Reed Elsevier 6501/2 STV Group 1021/4 Trinity Mirror 871/4 Utd Business 737 UTV 128 WPP 856 MINING Anglo American 17421/2 Antofagasta 1287 BHP Billiton 19651/2 Eurasian Natural 268 Res Fresnillo 1989 Kazakhmys 7151/2 Lonmin 2593/4 Rio Tinto £311/4 VEDANTA 1064 RESOURCES Xstrata 10331/2 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 5891/2 Vodafone Group 1607/8 Aviva Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life

+1/4 3

+ /8 -71/2 +21/8 +21/8 +13 +2 +11/2 +1/4 +17 +8 +51/4 +1 -13/4

+10 -1 +31/2 -21/4 +1 +2 +15/8 +1/4 -7 -1/2 +2 -1/4

Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

442 100 701 1877

-1/4 -1/4 -4 -13

FTSE closed at

up 4.42 5871.24

NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1131 RSA Insurance Gp 1191/4 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 10701/2 BP 4301/8 Cairn Energy 2657/8 Royal Dutch Shell A £207/8 Royal Dutch Shell B £211/2 Total £311/4 Tullow Oil 1371 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1053 Petrofac 1637 Wood Gp(J) 776

+12 +13/4 +1/2 -11/2 -23/4 -1/8 +1/8 -6 +9 +9 -1

PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1286 -1 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £293/4 +1/8 GlaxoSmithK XD 101/2 Shire 1811 +5 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 554 +4 Captl Shop Cent 3433/4 -13/4 Hamrsn 475 +33/4 Land Secs 8141/2 +61/2 SEGRO 240 +33/4 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 3161/4 +3/4 Sage Group 3141/2 +27/8 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 580 Bunzl 1037 +8 Capita 768 +51/2 De La Rue 970 +71/2 Electrocomp 2093/4 -7/8 Experian 1046 +9 G4S 2491/4 +2 Hays 775/8 -1/8 1 Homeserve 244 /8 +43/8 Menzies J 590 -101/2 Rentokil 90 3 Smiths News 150 /4 +11/4 Wolseley £285/8 -3/8 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 7701/2 -31/2 Spirent Comms 150 -5/8 TOBACCO

Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco

£327/8 £251/4

+1/8 +1/4

LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Rank Org Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread

109 £251/4 724 7271/2 90 1837/8 1232 610 1671 1711/4 195 3091/4 1721/4 139 2907/8 269 £24

+3 +12 +4 -23/4 -2 +3 +25/8 +1/4 +1/8 -13/4 -31/2 -15/8 -21/4

TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.46 dollars Bangladesh................. 122.98 taka Brazil.............................. 3.06 reals Canada....................... 1.52 dollars China ............................. 8.93 yuan Czech Republic ...... 28.55 korunas Denmark....................... 8.73 krone Euro............................... 1.17 euro Hong Kong................ 11.79 dollars Hungary................... 309.95 forints India.......................... 77.09 rupees Japan........................... 125.60 yen Mexico ....................... 18.48 pesos New Zealand .............. 1.82 dollars Norway ......................... 8.67 krone Pakistan.................. 145.71 rupees Philippines ................. 56.12 pesos South Africa................. 13.39 rand South Korea.............. 1513.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 195.69 rupees Sweden....................... 10.19 krona Switzerland.................. 1.41 francs Taiwan ...................... 40.72 dollars Turkey....................... 2.70 new lira USA ............................ 1.53 dollars

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS HE has worked for businesses of all types and sizes. Now Bury-born Patrick Allen – who served his “apprenticeship” on his uncle’s fruit and veg stall and went on to a senior role with the Co-op – has embarked on a new challenge in the heart of Huddersfield. Patrick, 51, has been appointed managing director of Huddersfield University’s £12m 3M Buckley Innovation Centre – with the task of helping companies ranging from start-ups and SMEs to major corporations become true world-beaters. The centre, which is set to open its doors officially in the new year, aims to work with companies to develop new products, access finance and expand in to new markets in order to boost their own business, create jobs and bolster the economy. The centre at Firth Street will draw on the expertise of the university’s academic and research arms, an array of hi-tech equipment and a team of experienced mentors to help firms meet the challenges they face developing their businesses. Taking the role of managing director of 3MBIC is a challenge Patrick relishes. “It’s the challenge of doing something new,” he says. “I’ve been given the opportunity to work with colleagues who are professionals in their own fields and by working together develop a unique concept. “It is about building relationships with the companies we want to bring in here. It’s something I have done in the past – building relationships with supply chains and customers. Because of my background, I can also empathise with businesses of all sizes – start-ups, small businesses and larger organisations.” Patrick says: “I grew up in Bury and all my family were running their own businesses. My first job was running a fruit and veg stall in Bury with my uncle. It gave me a great grounding.” Patrick left the family businesses for academia. Having gained a degree in philosophy and social psychology, he realised an ambition to become a university lecturer. He also gained an MBA and went on to join accountancy firm Parnell Kerr Forster in its corporate advertising department before moving to Electronic Data Systems in London. He returned to the north to run his own marketing consultancy and soon found things were less simple. “One of the major problems was having ‘credibility’,” he

profile

Patrick takes centre stage!

Page 3 Patrick Allen Role: Managing director Age: 51 Family: Married to Amanda with sons William, eight, and Freddie, six Holidays: Greece Car: Volkswagen Golf First job: Working on my uncle’s fruit and veg stall Best thing about job: Putting a team together and seeing the excitement they get from being successful. It is a very proud moment. Worst thing about job: Seeing someone try really hard and not have things go their way. The disappointment they feel can be quite touching Business tip: Have the courage of your convictions

says. “People knew Patrick Allen representing PKF or Electronic Data Systems, but Patrick Allen representing Patrick Allen? Who’s he?” Gaining his PhD at Bradford University helped in the credibility stakes – landing him globetrotting roles for clients including Allied Domecq, Emirates and IBM. The next change in direction came with an invitation from client Yorkshire Co-operatives to join the business – a move which eventually saw Patrick appointed marketing director for United Co-operatives, where he helped build turnover from £300,000 to £2.5bn in three years. On its merger with the Co-operative Group, Patrick became executive director of marketing and played a key role in reviving what had become a tired brand – helping to build a £14bn turnover business with one of the highest profiles in

corporate Britain. The Co-op group’s market share rose dramatically from a position outside the top 50 of British retailers to a place in the top six. He headed a 450-strong team which helped the retailer achieve the ranking of sixth most valuable retail brand in 2009. He was also voted Marketer of the Year in 2010 by Drum Magazine. Patrick is aiming to repeat that success at the 3MBIC, where he hopes to help “create a culture for growth”. “As business people, you are so busy that you never get the chance to lift your heads up to see what’s happening around you,” he says. “By building a community network of companies big and small we aim to help clients to grow their businesses and generate more jobs. “We don’t open officially until the new year, but we are building our marketing programme. As people

■ DRIVING FORCE: Patrick Allen, managing director of Huddersfield University’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre

see the building and ask what it’s all about, we are already taking tenancy agreements.” Patrick says the role of the university was crucial to the success of the project. “It is a great testament to Bob Cryan, the university vice-chancellor, and his vision for a wider university,” he says. “We sometimes under-estimate the contribution of the university to the local economy. The university in a business itself, contributing £200m a year to the economy. “Huddersfield University is an exemplar of how to get out into the community. It has research contracts with organisations such as Network Rail and employer partnerships with local firms – partnerships which will also come into their own in this centre.” Says Patrick: “It is not just about intellectual capacity, it is about applied capacity – for example how things like neutron beams can be applied to help companies develop products. It’s about bringing together invention and commercialisation – and the centre is a crucible for that.” Helping mastermind the launch of the 3MBIC keeps Patrick more than busy, but he still finds time for his love of sport. Patrick, who lives at

Harrogate, coaches Ripley Rockets under-sevens football team. His six-year-old son Freddie plays for the team while older son William, eight, is in the under-nines. “It’s great fun,” says Patrick. “You don’t have to think about anything other than teaching football. They come off the field smiling. It’s about them enjoying themselves and being the best they can be. That’s no a bad philosophy for what we do at the centre.” Patrick played football for university sides and rugby for London Scottish. He says: “I’m still tempted to pull on the boots occasionally, but my wife Amanda isn’t so keen on me getting my nose broken! I still play squash and do gym work to keep fit. It gets harder every year, but you have to keep at it! Living in the Yorkshire Dales, I also enjoy walking.” Patrick says: “Television for me means sport. The London Olympics was great and it still brings a lump to my throat to watch the medal ceremonies – seeing these athletes who have worked so hard for four years and how that hard work suddenly boils down to that 10-second sprint or that one event makes me quite emotional.”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

3M Buckley Innovation Centre Work: Growing businesses Employs: Six Site: Firth Street, Huddersfield Phone: 01484 473331 Email: info@3mbic.com Web: www.3mbic.com

local

Page 4

Matchless show by Mirfield agency A SOCIAL marketing campaign to help people quit smoking has proved an award-winner. Mirfield-based brand marketing consultancy, Purebrand, won a national award from the British Heart Foundation and organisers of national No Smoking Day for its campaign, Quit Together Peterborough. The campaign, which used Facebook to encourage smokers to support each other to kick the habit, beat more than 80 other entries to land the category for Best Media Coverage in the British Heart Foundation’s No Smoking Day Awards 2012. Purebrand was appointed by NHS Peterborough to help encourage the one in four smokers in the city to quit. Purebrand managing director Simon Ryan (pictured) said: “Whilst the real validation for what we’ve created is in seeing the way that smokers have engaged with the campaign, it’s also great to get national recognition for the hard work the team here at Purebrand put in to making Quit Together Peterborough a success. “Our goal is to be known as a marketing agency that delivers results and this award will help us to achieve that reputation.” Duncan Bannatyne, ambassador for No Smoking Day, said: “Purebrand showed bags of energy and creativity in the way it helped inspire smokers to quit on No Smoking Day – and I hope other organisations will take up the mantle next year and follow their outstanding example.”

KIRKLEES BUSIN

Family-friendly ways forward N 2011, the Government proIemployment posed various changes to law in the UK with

the aim of making existing provisions more family-friendly. Consultation was entered into and the Government has now published a response with regard to proposals to extend flexible working rights. The current position is that parents of children under the age of 17 (18 if disabled) and some carers have the right to request flexible working arrangements if they have 26 weeks of service. The right is limited to one request in each 12 month period. The changes that are now proposed to the system include: ● The right will be extended to all employees with at least 26 weeks continuous employment. What this means is that employees will not have to qualify by virtue of being a parent or a carer and so any employee in the UK would be able to make an application for flexible working. ● The current statutory procedure in place, which provides for a standard form to be completed before a rigid process is triggered, would be replaced by a requirement for employers to

EMPLOYER’S BRIEF Neil Wilson

consider requests in “a reasonable manner, within a reasonable period of time”. A code of practice and guide will be provided setting out how employers should approach requests and, importantly, Employment Tribunals will be entitled to take into account this code of practice in any subsequent litigation. This is similar to the Tribunal’s power to review the code of practice on discipline and grievance procedure in discrimination and unfair dismissal complaints. ● The right for an employee to make a request will still be limited to one in any 12-month period. The government appreciates that more frequent requests would increase the burden on business and, in addition to this, a single request can take a number of weeks or even months to consider so multiple requests will complicate the process

further. ● There will be no exemption for businesses with fewer than 10 employees which was proposed during the consultation. It appears the reason for this is twofold – European directives requires all businesses to give all parents the right to request flexible working. In addition, the Government feels it would be sending out a conflicting message that flexible working is good for all business and employees if there was any different system for smaller employers. It is expected that the changes will be introduced by 2014 with codes of practice issued by the conciliatory body ACAS in 2013. We await further news on the final wording of the Regulations before they are laid before Parliament.

Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors

Award for Parker Hannifin A DEWSBURY firm has joined an elite group of businesses. Parker Hannifin’s Racor Filter Division Europe, which specialises in engine filtration and fuel delivery, won the EEF North East Region Green and Growth Award in the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2012. The company was recognised for its research and development into ways for engine manufacturers to reduce nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbon and particulate emissions. The SuperImpactor crankcase ventilator, a high performance emission control system, is the result of this work. It eliminates environmental pollution while maintaining engine performance and is a smaller, lighter and more economical system, with higher efficiencies than its closest rival. The innovative system has increased business growth in Europe, ■ ENGINE ROOM: Nick Linklater (left), of award sponsor ENER-G, with (from Middle East and Asia markets by 7% in left) Adam Pearce and Adrian Mincher, of Parker Hannifin, and EEF’s June Smith the last year – with future growth predicted to be more than 20%. The annual business awards are seized the business opportunities habits, this company has been hosted by EEF, the UK manufacturers’ successful in taking to market an offered by the green agenda and are organisation, and recognise excellence helping towards the UK’s effort to build emissions reducing product that in enterprise, innovation, a low carbon economy. addresses a long-term, global issue.” environmental performance and skills Parker Hannifin Manufacturing will Congratulations to their entire team on development among UK go forward to compete against other this impressive success.” manufacturers. regional winners from across the UK in The judges praised Parker Hannifin Andy Tuscher, EEF regional director Manufacturing, saying: “Theirs is a EEF’s National Awards final on for the North, said: “Manufacturing is clear story of managed innovation that January 31, 2013, in London. vital to economic recovery and not only addresses the green agenda, The SuperImpactor project was companies like Parker Hannifin part-financed by the European but also a commercial one. By Manufacturing are setting the Regional Development Fund. managing customer expectations and benchmark for success. They have

■ BRIEFING: Hudd Sheerman addresse

Manufac in the sp

MANUFACTURING their latest develop organised by the C Kirklees Manufactu And Huddersfield M Sheerman expresse local manufacturers address to guests a at the Briar Court H Birchencliffe. CKMA put the focu that have successfu developed their org through exporting – benefited from the of the UKTI interna services. Ian Farquhar, mana wind energy at Loc David Brown Gear S the 41 attendees a insight into how the developed into the market and outlined opportunities that t the future. Rosehill Polymers L and Heights Group companies to give presented – demon Yorkshire manufact compete and win ex in the global marke innovative products

Birthday

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NESS NEWS

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ary meeting will be o 9.30am on er 13, at the ails are available at .uk/event/ phoning Cathy of on 01484

Social media and its perils S social media usage continA ues to become more and more ingrained into our everyday lives

and conversational activities, it is increasingly difficult to distinguish between opinion and libellous talk. So how do you know where the boundaries lie? The definition of freedom of speech is “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to seek, receive and impart information through any media and regardless of frontiers”. But should we all have freedom of speech when it comes to social media? Recent high profile cases over the use of Twitter to disclose information buried beneath super-injunctions has led to libel cases. Lord McAlpine’s high profile case demonstrates how the forwarding of someone else’s comments will also leave a case to answer. It seems that every week there is a new scandal involving a rogue footballer’s “innocent” tweet. We all recognise the importance of effective social media in business, but at the root of every social media post and every comment is an individual one. Yet once the send button is pressed,

local

DIGITAL DIRECTION

Andrew Firth the comment is out there in the public domain and available for scrutiny. A recent study by a social media monitoring service Reppler, found that more than 90% of recruiters visit a potential candidate’s social media profile as part of the screening process. Some 69% of recruiters have rejected a candidate based on content found on his or her social networking profiles. Social media users be warned. The fall-out from Lord McAlpine’s case should make more social media users think before they comment, but when hidden behind the veil of a business or brand, will diligence still apply? As we have seen, it’s not just the originator of the comment that faces prosecution, everyone who forwards or re-tweets a comment made by someone else will be judged as though they made the comment themselves. Having a social media policy is a business must-have. Social media train-

ing for businesses should also be standard, particularly where multiple parties are making comments and engaging with others; posts whether tweets, status updates or comments represent the organisations views. Business owners should embrace the opportunities that social media provides whilst properly understanding the pitfalls it can present. After the event is too late, the damage has been done. Social media may represent free speech but unlike a live address, it’s not always the speaker that is held accountable! Time will tell how social accountability will progress and no doubt legal cases will change the shape of the social media landscape. After all, it is just one channel of communication and like all forms of marketing needs to be planned, thought-out and be goal-driven.

Andrew Firth is managing director of Ascensor Website Design & Digital Marketing

Firm is a vision of success A COMPANY mixing architecture and graphic design are the latest winners of a monthly business award. Elland-based Virtual Resolution, a full service, architectural visualisation and graphics studio, was presented with the Business of the Month Award for October by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith. Virtual Resolution was formed in 2009 by Tim Power and John Hales. Mr Power, managing director, had spent several years working as a regional manager for a leading group of international architects before the decision to set up Virtual Resolution offering clients a full range of services in graphic design and 3D modelling services. Mr Hales, technical director, brought into the business a wealth of skills and experience within the field of architectural visualisation and graphic design. ■ HIGH RESOLUTION: Steven Pollitt (third right), presents the award to John Since 2009, they have successfully Hales (second right) and Tim Power (right), of Virtual Resolution, with (from left) grown the business despite difficult Steve Haynes, of UKTI; Sam Sutcliffe and Michael Fox, both of Torevell Dent economic times. They have seen a marked increase in developing The Business of the Month Award is Mr Power said: “I’m delighted that high-profile clients. Their greatest run in association with the Mid Virtual Resolution has been success was to be chosen as Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and “visualiser” for ASDA Walmart and sole recognised. As a local company in a UKTI. It is open to firms in Calderdale, specialist field it is great to be able to supplier for presentational 3D bring employment and skills to the area Kirklees and Wakefield. information for all new and proposed Contact Ian Greenwood at Eaton and its good to know that our hard supermarket schemes in the UK and Smith on 01484 821389. work is paying off.” throughout Europe.

Page 5 Employers urged to bid for funding EMPLOYERS in Kirklees have been urged to bid for a share of a £150m pot to improve their training activities. A second round of the Government’s Employer Ownership of Skills pilot was launched by skills minister Matthew Hancock last month. The scheme enables businesses to bid for funding to create projects which will deliver the skills they need to grow. Employers can find out more about the project at a free workshop from noon to 2pm tomorrow at the offices of DLA Piper in Leeds. The event will be hosted by Neil McLean, a UK commissioner and chairman of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership. Mr McLean said: “Across the UK, but particularly in the Yorkshire region, our research shows there is a clear need for more businesses to address their skill needs now if they are to be competitive. “Ambitious employers must think carefully about how they can develop their workforce, taking account of skills which are missing or identifying those which have the potential to support business growth. “Through collaborating across a sector, region or supply chain to form partnerships with training providers and other organisations, businesses can design, develop and implement the types of innovative projects we know can have a lasting impact. “I would urge employers of all sizes to attend this event to learn more about how the pilot might be of benefit.” Latest figures from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills show that a third of all vacancies are hard to fill in the Yorkshire and Humber region – suggesting a shortage of suitable applicants in the area. The regional figure is slightly worse than the average for England where 22% of vacancies are difficult to fill. For further details of the event, visit www.ukces.org.uk/employerownership

Cat makes its purr-fect choice A HUDDERSFIELD human resources consultancy has been appointed to provide HR support to a growing creative marketing agency. The Personnel Partnership, led by Honley-based Helen Straw, will act as a “virtual HR team” for Wakefield-based Cat Creative Marketing. Its first task will be to help lay the foundations for future growth with issues such as creating contracts of employment, legal compliance and ensuring that relevant HR policies and procedures are in place. Cat Creative Marketing provides social media management, marketing and web development services for businesses. Director Cat Yaffe said: “We were looking for a HR resource that could meet our needs and offer a personalised, tailored service. Helen and The Personalised Partnership were an obvious choice and we look forward to a long mutually beneficial relationship.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Company has the key to unlock UK doors market A HUDDERSFIELD company has opened the door to national recognition. Lockwood-based Composite Doors Yorkshire is receiving orders from across the UK – after securing its local reputation. Managing director Richard Pogson (pictured) said: “As people learn more about composite doors and realise their benefits, we have seen our sales steadily grow in the Yorkshire region. “But our ability to tailor make these doors to specific customer requirements, including bending and shaping and integrating top lights and side panels, has seen us receive more online enquiries from customers around the UK who have been unable to source exactly what they want closer to home.” Among its successes, the company has supplied some Milano composite doors from its Italia collection to a customer in Glasgow and has supplied and installed doors in Newcastle. Requests for doors have also come from as far afield as Wales and Lancashire.

Mr Pogson said: “The benefits associated with composite doors are one of the main reasons behind the success. We are supplying one of the fastest growing products in home improvement and are now one of the most successful composite door manufacturers in the industry.” The UK-made doors boast a number of security features and are highly rated for their “green” credentials. All of the timber used in the composite doors comes from managed forests and each door can be recycled at the end of its life.

property

Empty properties tax ‘hurting region’ TAXES on empty commercial properties are crippling hopes of recovery, it is claimed. A survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed that almost 90% of members in the north of England believe that charges placed on shops and offices are significantly undermining the region’s economic recovery. When commercial premises such as a shop or an office become vacant, the owner is not required to pay business rates for three months. However, after this period, these charges – known as Empty Property Rates – are applicable at the full rate, leaving many with a tax bill which they have no means of funding. More than two-thirds of respondents in England and Wales claimed that commer-

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Page 6

All enquiries to Alec Michael at Michael Steel & Co on 0113 234 8999 or email alec@michaelsteel.co.uk

cial property floor space is currently vacant for periods of more than six months, meaning that the problem of unmanageable taxes is widespread at a time when businesses are most stretched. Business rates collected from ratepayers are initially acquired by central government and then redistributed back to local authorities as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. These funds then contribute towards financing local services. With the economy situation continuing to impact so significantly on towns across the north of England, the RICS said the knock-on effect was also being felt in capital values. Some 80% of respondents believe that the price of retail premises will decrease as a direct result of EPR. The RICS said it would

■ EFFECT: LSH head of property Richard Wackett

like to see changes made in the government’s Autumn Statement tomorrow to extend the exemption time for commercial property owners. This would mean that should a retail property owner lose their tenant, no charges would be applicable for six, rather than three,

months. This would be extended to 12 months for owners of harder to let property, such as offices and industrial units. Richard Wackett, head of rating for property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “The charges that property owners are facing are having a detrimental effect on many businesses. “If the government takes the initiative in the Autumn Statement to offer property owners a longer exemption period, this would give commercial landlords some much-needed breathing space and contribute towards getting the business sector moving again.” The RIC said that 89% of respondents believe EPR restricts economic growth and 88% considered it a significant deterrent for speculative building.

Commercial Huddersfield Town Centre

Huddersfield Town Centre

£10,000 pa

£14,500 pa

WESTGATE

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Characterful Property in T.Centre

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Huddersfield Town Centre

£12,500 pa

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3655 sq. ft. total - £45,000 p.a. 14 Westgate - 581 sq. ft inc mezzanine floor. - £12,500 p.a.

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16 Westgate - 3035 sq.ft. inc 1st floor £22,500 p.a.

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18 Westgate - 345 sq. ft. - £10,000 p.a

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Retail and coffee shop uses

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Offices arranged over 2

Range of individual offices

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Meeting rooms Open plan reception area

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Approx 2000 sq ft

Approx 740 sq. ft.

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Offices arranged over 2 floors

Large Footfall

Return Frontage to Wood

Stepped rent available

£69,950

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Prime Retail Location

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Overlooking Market Place

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850 square Feet

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Large Window Displays

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5 Year Lease

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£29.500 per annum

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Honley village centre

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Gas central heating

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Neutrally decorated

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1st and 2nd floor

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Alarmed

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Bradley

£3,000 pa

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Prominent Shop To Let

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£29,500 pa NEW STREET

location ●

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Street

Huddersfield Town Centre

floors ●

£4,500 pa

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Honley

KIRKGATE

Reduced

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Approx 370 sq. ft.

Suitable for Resi

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Former sandwich shop

redevelopment

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Previously a beauticians

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shops

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Copthorne Square Rent free periods available

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www.boultonsestateagents.co.uk 54 John William Street, Huddersfield HD1 1ER 01484 515029 2nd floor office premises

LORD STREET, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 1QF £12,000 p/a

● 136.66 sqm (1,470 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

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4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTELbuilding PREMISES ● Landmark

395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ● Mostly open plan for for refurbishment ■ Suitable alternative occupational residential uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to ● consent Good natural light planning

office premises

● 176.05sqm (1,895 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 quality 6DL offices ● Good FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES 2) 395m2 (4,250ft ● Lift access

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industrial

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

HALF MOON STREET, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 2JF £6 psf

MELTHAM MILLS ROAD, MELTHAM, HD9 4DS Rents on Application ● 958.9 sqm (10,322 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE 1415 sqm (15,231 Halifax, to HX3 6DL FORMERsqft) HOSTEL PREMISES

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single storey industrial units

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double fronted retail unit

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T. 01484 530361 www.bramleys.com

■ industrial LAND

■ offices OFFICES

■ retail

INDUSTRIAL

■ investment

INVESTMENT

■ land

RETAIL

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Chris Rowland, Paul Hodgson & Rebecca Smith

P2 Technologies HUDDERSFIELD-based IT services specialist P2 Technologies has made three appointments. Chris Rowland (centre) joins Lockwood-based P2 as IT service manager and has a senior role responsible for continuing to deliver exceptional service to P2’s customers as the helpdesk team grows. Mr Rowland has 20 years’ experience in IT management and technical experience. He has worked both as an IT service provider and an in-house IT manager for a global plc, during which time he built and managed several IT helpdesk teams and managed installation projects in excess of £1m. Paul Hodgson (left), an IT specialist with 15 years experience, has been appointed to co-ordinate day-to-day operations of the helpdesk and joins the second line team maintaining on-premises and cloud systems for P2’s professional services customers. Rebecca Smith (right) joins P2 to provide IT purchasing and service support to P2’s customers. Mr Smith has a background in technical sales and service with nine years’ experience.

Martin Greenshields

FDYL MARTIN Greenshields has joined Cleckheaton-based interim finance directors specialist FDYL following a career spent in commerce and industry in South Yorkshire. Mr Greenshields (pictured), a Freeman of the Cutlers Company, began his career as a chartered accountant with Grant Thornton in Sheffield before taking roles with Firth Vickers Special Steels – part of the Johnson Firth Brown Group – Padley & Venables in Dronfield and 3i. He later spent more than 20 years as finance director of George H Cook & Co Ltd, a privately-owned steel stockholder in Sheffield. For the past six years, he has worked in corporate finance in Sheffield with specialist adviser Hardy Transaction Management, advising both vendors and acquisitive companies and groups, mainly in the engineering sector.

Movers and shakers

Apprenticeships in good health! YORKSHIRE Ambulance Service has been named one of the nation’s top apprenticeship employers. The service, which won the apprentice employer of the year category at the Regional Apprentice Awards, has followed that up by being named one of the top 100 in the country by the National Apprenticeship Service. The announcement came at the Skills Awards event held as part of the Skills Show in Birmingham. YAS is one of only four NHS trusts to be given this accolade in recognition of excellence for apprenticeships. The four now fly the flag for NHS apprenticeships among the 100 employers, who include Rolls-Royce. Frank McMahon, of YH Training Services Ltd, said: We’ve been working with YAS for three years now to develop and expand their apprenticeship programme and are proud to see them achieve the accolade of being in the top 100 apprenticeship employers and being named as the Apprentice Employer of the Year 2012.” In 2011, both the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and YH were rewarded for their hard work – together with the commitment of the apprentices – when YAS was named as employer of the year” and YH Training Services was named as NHS Training Provider for Yorkshire and Humberside in the 2011 NHS Yorkshire and Humber Apprenticeship Awards. Said Mr McMahon: “To start with one apprenticeship opportunity in August, 2009, when we developed our partnership,

■ PICTURED OF HEALTH: Patient transport service locality director Diane Williams (centre) with (from left) apprentices Matthew Gudgeon, Rachel Henderson, Kelly Allwood and staff development officer Gill Dyson

to being named as one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers in November, 2012, is a phenomenal achievement and we look forward to our continued partnership with them in the coming years.” YAS uses apprenticeships to provide an opportunity for existing staff to develop and share their skills as well as to recruit new staff. As a result, YAS has apprentices

A FORMER head girl at Greenhead College has qualified as a solicitor. Carly Jackson (pictured), who also attended Huddersfield Grammar School and studied at Durham University and York College of Law, joined Dickinson Dees in Leeds two years ago. She has now qualified as a solicitor with its corporate team. Ms Jackson, 25, said: “I have worked across a number of departments during my training, but have specialised in corporate work during the past 12 months. “I’m delighted to be joining the corporate team on a more permanent basis.”

ranging in age from 16 to 52. YAS is also the first NHS ambulance service to have implemented apprenticeships into frontline services working as part of the non-emergency team and is currently working with other NHS ambulance services in England to establish similar schemes.

Advocate’s recognition

Carly Jackson

Dickinson Dees

Page 8

■ BANK STATEMENT: Lloyds TSB Commercial has appointed three new relationship directors to join the Yorkshire regional team (pictured)

Trio join business team THREE new relationship directors have been appointed by Lloyds TSB Commercial in Yorkshire to support small to medium-sized enterprises in the region. Richard Butterfield, Dave Moore and Sheryll Driver, will join the existing team of 11 relationship directors across the region. Mr Butterfield will mainly look after the bank’s regional property portfolio, while Mr Moore will head up support for the manufacturing sector, and Ms Driver

joins after working in both the corporate and commercial space across the area. The team will support Lloyds TSB Commercial’s customer base across Yorkshire, providing dedicated banking services and products for customers with an annual turnover of up to £15m. Martyn Kendrick, area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Yorkshire, said: “This new team is set to significantly enhance the support we offer to local businesses.”

A LAW firm with offices in Huddersfield is among the awards. Keith Allen (pictured), senior advocate with Northern fraud crime and regulatory practice ABR Solicitors, has been recognised as the Male Advocate of the Year at the Annual Leeds Criminal Lawyers Dinner. Mr Allen has been praised as being a “good lawyer who does well in the Crown Court" and "one of the most creative lawyers I've come across". ABR Solicitors, which has offices at Market Street in Huddersfield and in Leeds, Liverpool and Harrogate, has also been acknowledged in Chambers and the Legal 500 as the leading firm in crime in the region. Rob Rode, senior partner of ABR Solicitors, said: “We are delighted with this award which is a testament to the high level of service we provide to our clients. “We are committed to ensuring the highest possible level of representation to our clients.” ABR Solicitors handles numerous high profile and complex cases nationwide and has a total of 18 criminal lawyers.