Kbn060114

ROGER PEARSON

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FTSE 100 MARTIN THOMPSON -130.64 Boost for homebuyers Column - Page 7 6417.16

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Cycles and computers Interview - Page 3

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

The pace of the UK economic has slowed but is still continuing, according to a Huddersfield-based business group.

The latest quarterly economic survey from the Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce today said a number of key economic indicators have stabilised during this fourth quarter of the year.

It added: “Although this time we have seen a fairly mixed bag of results, it is fair to say that the UK recovery is continuing, albeit at lower levels than we would like.

“There is no doubt that economic conditions throughout the world remain difficult and our survey results throughout 2014 have been a reflection of the uncertainties which still abound for business as we enter the new year.”

The survey, which polls chamber member firms across Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield, said home sales and orders bounced back to regain some momentum during the fourth quarter of 2014.

Export sales and orders remained

By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk

difficult to secure, but exporters said they had arrested the significantly reduced levels of activity reported in the third quarter.

Exporters cited exchange rates as their most pressing concern – with the continued strength of sterling against the euro and the US dollar making UK goods and services much less competitivelypriced in overseas markets.

While business confidence had recovered to a degree, cash flow was an increasing concern.

Chamber policy head Steven Leigh, said: “While it is good to see that Office for National Statistics and Office for Budget Responsibility figures confirm that the recovery continues in the UK, it should not be overlooked that a number of world issues, which will materially affect the prospects for business in 2015, have not gone away.

“In addition to exchange rates,

depressed market demand in Europe and reduced levels of economic activity in other important world trading nations are having a big effect on global markets.”

Mr Leigh said: “The chamber continues to lobby hard for our members and for the wider business community in our region for the best possible business conditions.

“Only by creating genuine wealth can we truly achieve sustainable recovery and consistent economic growth.”

Meanwhile, the latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank, which tracks the balance of opinion on a range of important indicators, reported a slide in business confidence – largely driven by lower expectations for profits and orders over the next six months.

Leigh Taylor, area director for SME Banking in the North East at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Although business confidence has slipped back, it is important to remember that the UK recovery remains on track.”

■■ Cash flow and exchange rates are key issues for Kirklees firms, says the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

New company registrations for Huddersfield top 1,600 A record number of new businesses got off the ground in the UK last year – more than 1,600 of them in Huddersfield – according to new figures.

Analysis by national enterprise campaign StartUp Britain showed that 581,173 businesses were registered with Companies House in 2014 – beating the previous record of 526,446 businesses logged in 2013 and 484,224 in 2012.

Top performers on the entrepreneuri-

al map according to post code include Greater London with 184,671 businesses registered followed by Birmingham with 18,337 and Manchester with 13,054.

The survey also reported high levels of growth in Yorkshire and Humberside and the East Midlands.

In Yorkshire, there were 36,823 company registrations. In West Yorkshire, Huddersfield post codes accounted for 1,641 with Leeds at 6,778; Bradford at

For an annual fixed fee, we provide businesses with an unlimited HR, Employment Law and Health & Safety support service.

Call us today on 01274 864999 or visit www.howarths-uk.com to see how we can help you.

Funding success A group backing Yorkshire businesses has hailed 2014 as a success.

Finance Yorkshire has fully invested its £90m fund into companies in Yorkshire and Humber ahead of schedule.

The fund has made 694 investments in businesses across the region to create or safeguard 8,716 jobs and increase overall turnover in Yorkshire and Humber by £223m.

Recipients include firms in Huddersfield, Shelley and Brighouse.

examiner.co.uk

Recovery slowing but still continues, says chamber

INSIDE

3,701; Wakefield at 2,730 and Halifax at 1,057. Elsewhere in the region, Sheffield saw 8,052 registrations with York at 3,184 and Hull at 2,219.

Other UK hotspots for business startups included Brighton with 8,344 registrations, Glasgow at 8,173 and Bristol at 8,130, Commennig on the increase, Luke Johnson, chairman of the Centre for Entrepreneurs, said: “Starting a business

is easier, quicker and cheaper than ever thanks to new technology. Entrepreneurs have higher profiles than in the past and are seen as role models.”

Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that as well as a rise in start-ups, there has been a marked drop in the number of business failures.

The number of firms leaving the Companies House register last year fell by 6% from 253,000 to 238,000 .

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Back home A PR agency has returned to its home town of Brighouse.

Faith PR, which was founded in 2007, has moved from Birstall into new premises at Thornhill Beck Lane as part of its expansion and aim to become the area’s leading PR and communications agency.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

New Tesco chief ready to unveil recovery plan New Tesco boss Dave Lewis will set out his plans to turn around the fortunes of Britain’s biggest supermarket when it publishes latest trading figures on Thursday.

The former Unilever executive is due to unveil his strategy to shore up the group’s position in the UK grocery sector and bolster its cash war chest.

A sell-off of Tesco’s outposts in Asia and central Europe as well as noncore brands such as UK download business Blinkbox are among the options open to Mr Lewis as he seeks to focus on its main supermarket operations.

The chief executive has focused on increasing product availability and staff in stores, but analysts expect head office jobs could be at risk.

Mr Lewis has also not ruled out the possibility of a cash call on shareholders as the group gears up for the latest round of the intense price war that has gripped the sector amid a squeeze by discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Details of his plans are expected to be unveiled alongside a trading update which will include third-quarter figures as well as Tesco’s six-week

performance covering the key Christmas period.

It is expected to reveal a further slide in sales to end a dismal 2014 which saw the departure of Mr Lewis’s predecessor Philip Clarke as well as a £263m accounting scandal and a series of profit warnings.

The announcement comes during a key week for retailers as they publish festive trading figures, with Marks & Spencer’s due on the same day and Sainsbury’s due to publish tomorrow. Morrisons reports next week.

Tesco, which has plans for a new superstore in Huddersfield, has said its update will include measures it plans “to improve the competitiveness of the UK customer offer and to strengthen the balance sheet”.

It remains haunted by the accounting scandal, which surfaced in the autumn and involved rebates from suppliers being moved around to different periods in its profit-and-loss figures, going back at least as far as 2012/13.

The Serious Fraud Office is investigating.

■■ Tesco chief Dave Lewis is set to unveil plans to turn round the business

The affair was partly responsible for the latest £500m profits warning last month as Tesco shakes up the way it deals with its supply chain.

It now expects trading profits of £1.4bn for the year to February, down from a previously pencilled-in £1.9bn

Wetherspoon lifts beer ban JD Wetherspoon has lifted a ban on Fosters and Kronenbourg 1664 in its UK pubs after the chain settled a month-long row with brewer Heineken.

Wetherspoon’s 926 pubs, which include The Cherry Tree and The Lord Wilson in Huddersfield tow centre, stopped selling Heineken’s products last month because of a dispute over supply terms at a new site near Dublin.

The pub company said it had now come to a new commercial agreement with the brewer, although drinkers at its pubs in Ireland will still be unable to buy Murphy’s or Heineken.

Wetherspoon will stock Beamish, Fosters and Symonds Cider in its Irish pubs, but drinkers will not have access to Guinness or Murphy’s.

Wetherspoon fell out with Guinness maker Diageo over prices charged by the pubs goperator at its first Irish pub, the Three Tun Tavern in Blackrock.

Heineken later refused to supply its lager and Murphy’s stout to a new Wetherspoon pub at Dun Laoghaire and demanded personal guarantees on the payment of the pub’s bill from chief executive John Hutson.

That led to Wetherspoon removing Heineken products from all its premises, equivalent to £60m a year of business. Other Heineken products in Wetherspoon’s pubs in the UK include Strongbow, John Smith’s Extra Smooth and Amstel.

and compared with £3.3bn the year before.

Analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald say the latest profit warning implies UK trading profit being wiped out for the second half.

They are pencilling in a trading loss for the domestic business of £84m for the six-month period to February.

Cantor’s Mike Dennis is expecting a possible £4bn of asset sales and a £2bn write-off in the value of Tesco’s current stores and future pipeline, as well as a new pricing strategy and savings including £250m from headoffice closures.

He said supply-chain issues needed “further explaining by Tesco management” – with the level of impact of its supply chain shake-up implying that there should be a total re-audit of several years of the group’s accounts.

Tesco’s woes have seen its first-half profits crash by 92% to £112m.

Mr Lewis took personal charge of the supermarket’s day-to-day UK operations last month as part of a management shake-up in the wake of the accounting scandal that saw several executives suspended.

Stores have acres of unused land

Rolls-Royce motors to a record

Britain’s struggling supermarkets are sitting on more than 1,000 acres of land which they are not currently building on, new figures show.

Property agent CBRE found that while the pipeline of new grocery stores in the UK is 46.61m sq ft, just 2.8m sq ft is being built.

This means that 43.81m square feet of land is lying empty - either subject to a proposal for a new food store or

Luxury car company RollsRoyce has revealed the highest annual sales in its 111year history.

The Sussex-based company delivered a record 4,063 cars in 2014 – up 12% on its 2013 total and the fifth year in a row it has increased sales.

Last year’s rise means sales have risen five-fold since 2009.

The year of 2014 saw sales increase by 13% in the UK,

with permission already granted.

Figures show store-building work has fallen by 20% compared with a year ago. Britain’s four leading supermarkets Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons - are battling tumbling sales amid a squeeze from discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Retailers have faced accusations that they have been hoarding land which could find other uses such as housing.

But the slowdown in sales and the shift away from a “space race” for more, bigger stores presents them with a challenge about what to do with the building plans they already have in place.

Sainsbury’s said in November that it was taking a £287m hit to its profits after cancelling a number of new site plans, plus a £341m writedown on existing stores which were showing little or no profit.

40% in Europe as a whole, 30% in the USA and 20% in the Middle East. Australian sales were up 75% in 2014, with Japan 60% higher.

The best-selling Rolls’ dealership was in Abu Dhabi in the Middle East.

The USA is the firm’s biggest market, followed by mainland China, the UAE, the UK and Saudi Arabia.

Sales were boosted by strong orders for the Ghost

Series II launched in November and the Wraith which enjoyed its first full year of sales.

Rolls has created 200 permanent jobs in the past 18 months, with more than 1,500 now working at its HQ at Goodwood in West Sussex.

This fifth consecutive record year saw Rolls-Royce Motor Cars break through the 4,000 car sales level for the first time in its history.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN

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

£59.85 £71.15 £47.37 £59.27 1984.77 £46.36 £30.47 49.23 £56.60 £52.49

AEROSPACE & DEFENCE

Avon Rbbr BAE Systems Chemring Cobham Meggitt Rolls-Royce Senior

AIM

600 Group API Grp Brady Plc Highland Gold Mining Johnson Service Grp London Security M”S Intl Nichols Redhall Group Scapa Grp Youngs GKN

+0.22

7881/2 462 2291/2 3211/4 5131/2 8531/2 3071/2

+211/2 -71/4 -4 -3/8 +3 -11 +4

181/4 48 821/2 321/2 611/2 £233/8 1451/2 8871/4 121/2 1323/4 1050

+11/8 +1/2

AUTOMOBILES & PARTS 334

BANKS

-1.20 -2.74 -1.00 -1.66 -27.57 -2.30 -0.22

-1/2 -1/2 -1 -43/4 +1 -1 +15 -93/4

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

2343/4 241/4 6037/8 745/8 378 9471/4

-81/2 -5/8 -81/8 -11/2 -111/8 -15

5831/2 1821 £321/4

-5 -8 -3/4

BEVERAGES

CHEMICALS

£253/4 255 £337/8

-1/4 -31/8

2047/8 1503 2751/2 503/4 256

-71/2 -39 -41/2 +1/4 +15

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS

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

ELECTRICITY

4211/2 1584

-33 -22

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Domino Ptg Laird Morgan Advanced Ox Instmts Volex

649 3097/8 3091/4 1199 683/4

-4 /2 +7/8 -33/4 -81 -13/4

4711/2 1281/2 397 2561/2

-5 -2 -11/2 -71/2

1

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS

Alliance Trust Br Assets Candover Inv Dunedin Inv

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

187 6401/2 £301/4 4211/8 557 8851/2 244 242 749

+1 -9 -1/8 -11/4 -11/2 +2 -53/4 -43/8 -6

FIXED LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

BT Grp Cable & Wireless Comm Colt Group KCOM Talktalk Telecom

3923/8 491/8 1305/8 88 3045/8

-85/8 -3/4 -33/8 +1/4 -13/4

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS

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

176 /2 2331/2 1815/8 891/2

-6 /4 -97/8 -63/8 -1/2

£31 1735 340 5971/2 £253/4

-1 +40 -71/2 -2 -3/8

268 /4 9093/4 908 1988 912

-8 /8 +13/8 -11/2 -12 -61/2

1

3

FOOD PRODUCERS

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES

Centrica National Grid Pennon Grp Severn United Utils 3i Group

1

GENERAL FINANCIAL 4423/8

5

-115/8

Smith Nph

Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

93 256 9093/4 1764

+5 +15 +13/8 -119

FTSE closed at

6417.16 1488 4493/4 £22 1653/8 £243/4 £263/8 £203/4

-28 -131/8 -1/4 +41/2

3197/8 1077

-27/8 -19

GENERAL INDUSTRIALS

Smith DS Smiths Grp

GENERAL RETAILERS

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

301/2 454 2051/4 710 3281/8 4563/4 172 £673/8 £86 1355

+10

Aga Rangemaster Barrat Dev Bellway Persimmon Reckitt Benckiser Taylor Wimpey

1181/2 457 1914 1553 £513/4 1333/4

-3/4 -31/2 -3 -12 +1/8 -11/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

down 130.64 Close Bros ICAP London StockExch Man Group Provident Financial Schroders Schroders NV

1175

HOUSEHOLD GOODS

- /2 1

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

2133/4 1224 82 58 £283/8 1764

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

-1/8 -119

INDUSTRIAL METALS 55

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION

BBA Aviation

+1/4 -71/8 -23/4 -3 -81/4 -201/4 -4 -1/8 +21/8 +9

+3 -28

-31/4

4703/4 3571/2 2425/8 1837/8 14631/2 3873/8

-135/8 -71/2 -33/8 -57/8 -28 -121/4

D Mail Tst ITV Johnston Press Pearson Reed Elsevier Sky STV Group

MEDIA

805 2093/8 1663/4 1160 1081 868 368

-151/2 -37/8 +3/4 -16 -11 -271/2 +3

-41/2 -93/8 -55/8 -17

157 4663/4 171 1325

MINING

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

11261/2 722 13161/2 7681/2 249 1665/8 £287/8 5561/2

-581/2 -26 -611/2 +31/2 -113/4 -81/2 -7/8 -22

791 2161/2

+1 -51/2

MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Inmarsat Vodafone Group

NONLIFE INSURANCE

3525/8

LIFE INSURANCE

Aviva Friends Life Gp Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Standard Life

Trinity Mirror Utd Business UTV WPP

Admiral Grp Jardine LloydThomson Marsh McL RSA Ins Gp

1303 8901/2 £371/4 4311/4

-12 -12 -1/8 -61/4

8413/4 3893/4 1751/2 1531/8 £203/4 £211/4 £311/4 3963/8

-221/2 -203/4 -53/4 -115/8 -7/8 -11/8 -2 -173/4

10553/8 665 5781/2

-46 -37

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

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

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

AMEC Petrofac Wood Gp(J)

PERSONAL GOODS

Burberry Gp PZ Cussons

1607 2971/2

-17 -71/2

£45 /8 13691/2 £447/8

-131/2 -1/2

766 /2 7411/2 605 3293/4 1162 3827/8

+4 /2 +8 +1 -27/8 +10 +31/8

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca GlaxoSmithKline Shire

7

REAL ESTATE

Brit Land Gt Portland Hamrsn Intu Properties Land Secs SEGRO

1

1

SOFTWARE & COMPUTER SERVICES

Sage Group

4673/4

SUPPORT SERVICES

Berendsen Bunzl Capita Connect Group De La Rue Elctro Com Electrocomp Experian G4S Hays Homeserve Interserve Menzies J Northgate Prem Farnell Rentokil Travis & P

1093 1752 1068 160 509 213 213 1071 272 1473/8 340 5411/2 353 593 1721/2 1173/4 1812

+1 -30 -17 +21/4 -7 -13/4 -13/4 -24 -13/4 +1/2 +25/8 -121/2 -2 -31/8 -21/4 -25

Wolseley

£363/8

-1/2

987 £1047/8 773/4

-1 -11/2 +1/2

£341/8 £28

-3/8

TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT

ARM Hldgs IBM Spirent Comms

TOBACCO

Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco

TRAVEL & LEISURE

Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Marston’s Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Punch Taverns Rank Org Restaurant Grp Ryanair Stagecoach Group Whitbread William Hill FTSE 100 FTSE 250

INDEX

1131/2 £293/4 1076 1703 109 1031/2 £241/4 7321/2 £253/4 4931/2 1085/8 1401/4 3781/4 2505/8 1181/2 160 6601/2 7761/4 3661/4 £467/8 3593/8

6417.16 15921.68

+5/8 +1/2 -21 +20 -21/4 -21/2 -1/8 -6 -1/8 +61/2 -4 -13/8 +3/8 +21/8 -5/8 +11/2 +93/4 -21/4 -1/4 -1/4 -130.64 -130.28

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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

profile

Roger’s happiest on two wheels!

Roger Pearson has to keep up to speed with the latest in IT for his job – but when it comes to commuting to work, a low-tech pushbike is his preferred mode of transport.

The joint managing director of Lockwood-based IT services firm P2 Technologies, who lives at Upper Cumberworth, says: “I commute on the bike two or three times a week – to help save the planet and ease congestion in the Holme Valley!

“I don’t like to waste a minute.

The 25 minutes I spend sitting in a car driving from Upper Cumberworth to Lockwood is a waste of 25 minutes in my book. If I go by bike, I have a clear head, I’m getting fresh air and exercise and I’m all fired up and ready to go.

“On the way home, I can think about any little issues from work – which means I don’t even notice that steep climb up Sude Hill to the Sovereign!

“I also cycle with a couple of pals from Holmfirth. Last year, we did almost 200 miles to Cleethorpes and back in 14 hours.”

Roger set up P2 Technologies with fellow joint managing director Martin Page eight years ago after more than 25 years combined experience in IT. They had both worked for a Liversedge-based company providing IT services to firms in the legal profession. Roger was installations manager handling a variety of projects and was the man in charge when the company won its first £1m contract. “It involved working in Portsmouth for four months,” says Roger. “But it looks great on the CV!” Roger and Martin teamed up when the firm was acquired by a stock market-listed company and they set up P2 Technologies in offices at Lockwood Park.

He says: “The involvement with legal firms was good grounding for what we do now, working with professional firms such as law firms and accountants, although we also work with manufacturers.” Clients include ones Roger worked with before P2’s formation. They include small companies that are nevertheless highly dependent on their IT systems.

Roger says P2’s role is to help make clients’ IT systems as efficient and effective as possible.

That means keeping up with a fast-moving sector. He says: “The latest thing is Cloud computing, but it’s also a ‘cloudy’ word and covers a whole host of things.

“We are working with customers to help them find the right Cloud solution. Everyone is moving towards Cloud, but our aim is to ensure a firm with 15 computer users can get access to the same technology as one with 1,000 users.”

It seems a career in IT was always on the cards for Roger, but that wasn’t necessarily the case.

He grew up in the steel town of Stocksbridge and admits: “If I had done what people told me to do I would be working in the steel mill. “ I have some pals who work in the industry. But at the time, computers were the new thing. My family had computers at home and I got into programming. I got a degree in computer science at Sheffield University.”

That doesn’t mean Roger has no experience of other lines of work. “My first job was being a paperboy,” he says. “I had a double round and I also organised all the other deliverers. I played piano in a hotel bar for three hours on Friday and Saturday nights. I even got a tip from one

Roger Pearson

guy, who must have been enjoying his stay. I also worked on a garage forecourt pumping petrol.

“I also did a Prince’s Trust course. I’d spent three years staring at a computer screen at university and I needed to do something else. We did some work at a special school; clearing land; dry stone walling; and putting up fencing at a sheltered housing complex. It was interesting doing something which was a total change of pace, meeting different people and organisations.”

Now stability is the key to success for P2. “Stability is very important to me,” says Roger.

“That’s why we get on with our customers. We are a stable outfit.

We’re not as super-flash as some, but we do a really good job.

“Trust is a massive factor for us.

It’s not like selling a mobile phone.

Our business is very much about service and relationships.

“I take time to get to know people and explain what we do. All our business comes from references, which is where you build the trust factor. You have to go out of your way and show what you are about. Trust has to be earned.”

Roger started out as a computer engineer, but now heads a 10-strong team alongside Martin – overseeing services provided to about 40 customers. P2 also works with third party suppliers who

■■ You have to go out of your way for your customers, says Roger Pearson

provide the firm with HR, PR and accountancy services. It means P2 can focus on what it’s good at doing, he says.

“I’m highly motivated,” says Roger. “I get up, go to work and do as much as I can during the day.

My work is mapped out for months in advance. I like to have things planned as much as possible. We started in the recession – and some companies have come to us because of the recession to see how more cost-effective their systems could be.”

The IT world has changed even in that short space of time. “Ten years ago, people did most of their work on the premises,” says Roger.

“Now everything is interconnected and people can work remotely as well as at the office. That means people can be more efficient and businesses can work more flexibly.”

Customer service remains vital, however. “We have a highly sociable team working for us,” says Roger. “They want to make our customers happy.”

Roger obviously provides the template – because he’s as far removed from the archetypal socially-awkward IT geek as it’s possible to imagine. “I have always been a chatty lad and maybe that helps,” he says. “I just want to get things done. The drive has always been there. I am still a technical person, but I am using my skills in a different function.

“I need to know what’s going on and put the pieces in the right places. I have learned how to manage the ‘people’ side of things. I have done bits of training here and there, but most of those ‘people’ skills come from within.

“Qualifications are important and it’s good to get that ‘mark’.

But you have to mix it with experience. If you have the ‘badge’ and no experience you can be a loose cannon in the workplace.”

Apart from cycling, Roger enjoys music – playing piano and guitar. Singing is something of a family tradition, so at Christmas Roger was playing the piano while his relatives sang carols.

“I like my music,” he says.

“Music provides that little bit of magic in life.”

Role: Joint managing director Age: 42 Family: Married to Debbie Car: Honda Holidays: My ideal holiday is to go off on a bike ride and swim in a river. We go camping in the Dales, Cornwall and Devon. We put our boots on and go for a walk to the harbour or the beach First job: I was a paperboy and also worked in my uncle’s butcher’s shop.

I’ve also played piano in a hotel bar and worked on a garage forecourt Best thing about the job? When a customer contacts us and we have done what they needed us to do. I get great satisfaction from seeing our team sort out a difficult problem Worst thing about the job? I hate seeing things left untidy. I have to have things mapped out Business tip: Be a good Scout. Be prepared. Things always go better if you have planned properly

P2 Technologies Work: IT services for businesses Site: Lockwood Park, Lockwood, Huddersfield Phone: 01484 779020 Email: info@p2tech.co.uk Web: www.p2tech.co.uk

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4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

local

KIRKLEES BUS

Agency targeting former teachers A Brighouse recruitment agency has launched a campaign to get more teachers back into the classroom after long career breaks.

Provide Education works with 2,200 teachers helping them to find supply teaching posts – and sometimes permanent jobs – in schools across the region.

Job candidates range from newly-qualified teachers to those with many years’ experience .

About 5% on the books are teachers who have returned to the profession after a significant time away.

Now the agency wants to attract more teachers who took break from the classroom, but are thinking about returning .

The campaign is being

backed by Suzy BadminReynolds (pictured) who has returned to the chalkface, with the agency’s support after 15 years away.

Suzy qualified as a primary teacher in 1987 and taught for 10 years before taking a career break to bring up her two sons and run a property renovation and letting business with her husband, Graham.

Suzy, who decided to return to teaching last year. praised of Provide Education’s support.

Good times.

Bad times.

Whatever financial problems you are experiencing in your business, we can help.

Don’t get hooked

by HMRC requests My in-box has been overflowing – sadly, it’s not with heartfelt New Year wishes, but with phishing emails.

There’s been the usual collection of fake missed deliveries “in time for Xmas”; offers to help me enlarge something I don’t have; and fake remittances with malware for attachments.

As ever, if I don’t recognise who they’re from they just get deleted – if they’re for real, someone will ring me to chase up.

I’ve also been preparing myself for the annual round of fake HMRC repayment letters where the spammer implies that you have overpaid tax and can click on a link to get it back.

We’re pretty much there on this year’s personal tax returns, so I’m waiting for this bunch of feeble attempts to con me to start flooding in.

Believe me, I have a chuckle at a good fake, one that has a good story to it. The Nigerian astronaut stuck on the space station was one of the best 419 scam emails I’ve ever seen.

I suppose they appeal to my sense of humour. They still go in the bin but they do give us a laugh at Battleaxe

THE BUSINESS BATTLEAXE

■■ WSI Yorkshire’s Stev and John Paul Drake (ri director Dale Woods

Amanda Vigar

Help wi heavy l

HQ. What I wasn’t expecting and don’t appreciate, is getting letters from HMRC, which while not fakes are “fishing” for all sorts of detailed information that is nothing to do with the client’s actual tax affairs.

We’ve even been asked to provide personal bank statements for the wife of a client, who isn’t a shareholder or a director of the business!

Now, if they’ve got good reason to ask that’s fine. But HMRC doesn’t actually have the right to demand anything they think they might like to see.

The taxpayer has every right to push back and demand to know why any

item is relevant. And believe me, we have been.

When we do, nine times out of 10 HMRC backs down – the latest was an admission that they’d made a mistake in asking – but far too many people just provide the information without thinking.

Our policy is to ensure that clients pay the right amount of tax (not too much and not too little) but with HM Treasury short on tax take I suspect we can expect more of these seemingly innocent “phishing” expeditions.

Just remember: if you take the right advice you can then push back and put it in the bin.

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

Call us for a consultation on

01422 348 448

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

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• A firm led by people who have actually run businesses • Through the year support and advice delivering comfort and value • Management information and account specialists • VAT, payroll and tax support • Year end reporting and full compliance service • Planning and support for your business and you Contacts Phone: 01484 688 616 Email: enquiries@bellbrown.com Web address: www.bellbrown.com Part of the V&A Vigar Group

■■ Andrew Sugden (centre) presents the award to Munir Mamuje (fourth left), managing director of m2r Ltd, with (from left) Roger Underwood, of Eastwood & Partners; Jason Metcalfe, of Hanson Chartered Surveyors; Alyas Hussain, of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce; and Simon Pither, Yasser Sain, Charlotte Watson and Amy Anderson, all of m2r Ltd

Globetrotting recruiters impress judges An international recruitment agency has been named Business of the Month.

Wakefield-based m2r Ltd, established in 2001, was judged the winner in the competition run by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith in conjunction with the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and government export support arm UK Trade & Investments.

The multi-award winning

i

firm offers recruitment services throughout the UK and overseas. Initially, it focused on recruiting staff to a variety of sectors, but in 2013 rebranded and streamlined the business to focus 100% into education and training.

It now works exclusively with international schools, colleges, universities and private language centres handling the recruitment and expatriation of staff into China, Malaysia, and various

Gulf countries including the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The judging panel was impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication shown by managing director Munir Mamujee in his efforts to seek business development opportunities in countries which are usually very difficult to operate in by making regular trips to build up contacts and clients.

Panel members were also

impressed by the firm’s contribution to the region and local community.

Mr Mamujee said: ”I am extremely proud to have won this award and it is a great achievement for the whole team who work extremely hard to support our growing list of international clients.

“We are looking forward to a great 2015 where we can really stamp our authority on the overseas education sector.”

A HUDDERSFIELD rise in overseas ord online presence with local firm.

PDQ Lifting, which ing lifting gear to a va worked with interne WSI Yorkshire for the bid to become more p Now the online acti ed two websites as w engine optimisation ( resulted in compani coming across the firm Dale Woods, dire which has a depot a “PDQ Lifting has wor Yorkshire for about 10 have updated our m been in charge of our “The SEO aspect h pleasing as it gives u the first page of many people are searching or lifting gear.

“We sell across the the way people get to is predominantly via through our website.”

Recent orders have ing slings that were sh in Georgia. The custom internet search.

Steve Harvey Fran firth-based WSI York see how effective t Throughout the pa approach to SEO com website has gained beyond what was in level SEO campaign.”

WSI Yorkshire was s vides internet market across the UK.

Mane att

Horse box manufact in the harness as s famous Bramham In als.

The Meltham-base as title sponsor for th year and will disdpla trailers to HGV lorrie runs from June 11 to Wetherby.

Managing directo “Bramham is a supe from strength to stre continues to draw com the world who compe of the sport. The stu scape offers Equi-Tre which to showcase and trailers.”

5

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

SINESS NEWS

ve Harvey Franklin (left) ight), with PDQ Lifting

ith the lifting

company has seen a ders after boosting its h the help of another

h specialises in providariety of industries, has et marketing experts e past eight years in a prominent online. ivity, which has includwell as ongoing search (SEO) campaigns, has ies outside of the UK m and placing orders. ector at PDQ Lifting, at Bradley Mills, said: rked closely with WSI 0 years. Recently, they main website and have r SEO. has been particularly us a good presence on y search engines when g for lifting equipment

e UK and Europe and o know about this now a our exposure online ” e included one for lifthipped to a steelworks mer found PDQ via an

local

Powerful display earns two prizes Northern Powergrid – the region’s electricity distribution company – has scooped two awards at the 2014 PRide Awards for its work to empower and communicate with its customers.

The company, which transports electricity across its network in the North East, Yorkshire and north Lincolnshire, took silver in the categories for Best Use of Digital and Best Use of Media Relations.

The awards, which reward the work of leading PR teams, recognise the successful introduction of Northern Powergrid’s online “Report a Problem” service and its approach to engaging the media to help tell customers about the impact of winter storms on its network.

Emma Cottle, Northern Powergrid’s internet services manager, said Report a Problem was part of a larger investment in its website to improve its online services.

She said: “It has made it quicker and easier for our customers to report issues such as graffiti at substations or trees growing close to our power lines.

“The improved information helps us prioritise work and informs our engineers and contractors so that we can respond more effectively.

“Introducing the service was a major project so it’s great that our hard work

■■ The team from Northern Powergrid with host Harry Gration (centre) and the award for Best Use of Digital at the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire PRide Awards

has been recognised.”

Joanne Kerrigan, Northern Powergrid’s external communications manager, said: “Keeping our customers informed during network disruption is a key priority.

“During the 2013 winter storms the team worked hard to help get the message out about network damage and how our people were working in chal-

lenging conditions to repair and restore power for our customers as soon as possible.”

The silver award for Best Use of Digital came at the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire PRide Awards in Leeds.

The award at Best Use of Media Relations was presented at the North East PRide Awards, which were held in Newcastle.

Perrys renews link-up with the Terriers

turer Equi-Trek is back sponsor of the world nternational Horse Tri-

Car dealer Perrys has renewed its partnership deal with Huddersfield Town.

Perrys, which encompass both the Jaguar and Rocar Moores Land Rover brands, is reaffirming its long-standing commercial support of the club by sponsoring Town for the fifth consecutive season as part of the deal.

To mark the link-up, Tracy Nelson, Town’s senior commercial manager, joined Steve Garth, from Jaguar, and Antony Kidger, of Rocar Moores, at the John Smith’s Stadium alongside two vehicles from the dealership – one carrying Town branding.

Perrys Jaguar, based on Northgate, Huddersfield,

ed firm has signed up he fourth consecutive ay its full range – from es – at the event, which o 14 at Bramham Park,

Jobhunters urged to sharpen up their CVs

nklin, owner of Holmkshire, said: “You can the work has been. ast 12 months our mbined with the new fantastic results, way ntended from a local

set up in 2004 and proting services to clients

traction

or Tom Janion said: erb event which goes ength every year and mpetitors from all over ete at the highest level unning parkland landek a superb location in our latest horseboxes

Professionals searching for a new job in 2015 should start to prepare now.

Recruitment company Hays said an estimated six in 10 people were planning to move jobs in the coming year – while 70% of employers were planning to increase their staff numbers.

Hays regional managing

and Rocar Moores Land Rover on Leeds Road, Bradley, represent the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in Huddersfield, but also cover the West Yorkshire area.

Said Tracy: “We’re delighted that our long-standing, excellent working relationship with Perrys Jaguar and Rocar Moores will continue into the second half of the 2014/15 season.

“Both retailers have been excellent supporters of the club for a number of years now and are great to deal with. I believe they also add a lot to our commercial portfolio.”

Steve Garth, head of business at Perrys Jaguar, said: “We are extremely proud to

director Pam Lindsay-Dunn said a well-written and upto-date CV would give jobhunters the best chance of securing one of the growing number of jobs in the Yorkshire area.

She said: “Your CV is your tool to sell yourself to a potential employer and first impressions count.

■■ Tracy Nelson, of Huddersfield Town, with Steve Garth from Jaguar and Antony Kidger from Rocar Moores

continue our support of Huddersfield Town, which is such a major part of the local community.”

Antony Kidger, head of business at Rocar Moores

“If you are adding a covering letter, this should be tailored to the specific job opportunity.

“Remember to include information that is relevant to your career and employment history and think about your key achievements and emphasise these on your CV to stand out.

Land Rover, said: “Working with the team at Huddersfield Town is always a pleasure and we look forward to continuing our relationship long into the future.”

“When adding information about your employment history, include examples of your key responsibilities or projects.

“If you have any employment gaps on your CV, give explanations for these as employers will want to have a clear outline of your history.”

Bosses turning to family and friends for business advice Small business leaders in Yorkshire are just as likely to seek business advice from family and friends as they are to speak to professionals, according to a new survey.

Research carried out for Growth Vouchers – a Government programme that helps businesses towards the cost of professional advice in areas such as finance and cash flow, management skills and sales and marketing – found that 56% of decision-makers in Yorkshire’s small firms have approached someone in their personal life as well as professionals outside their close circle for business advice.

However, 43% of business leaders in Yorkshire said they are most likely to trust guidance from a professional above other sources of advice.

Furthermore, 68% of small business leaders thought they would gain from some form of professional advice – with 37% thinking they would benefit most from help with digital technology followed by 32% for sales and marketing.

Among those not seeking advice, the most common reason given was that the business was “doing okay”. Some 23% said seeking professional advice was not a high priority for them . Other reasons were lack of time and not knowing how to access advice.

Some 53% of small business bosses who

have taken advice from friends and family said they did so because they felt people closer to themselves or their business were likely to understand the issues better than a stranger, Business minister Matthew Hancock (above) said: “Expert business advice is incredibly important for many of the UK’s smaller firms and helps make sure they reach their potential.

“We know professional advice can be costly and that there is a lot of choice out there, so we are simplifying the Government’s businesses support schemes to make it easier to find and access the right support at the right time.

“This is all part of our plan to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business.”

Small businesses must be based in England and employ fewer than 250 staff in order to be eligible for a Growth Voucher worth up to £2,000 to cover half the cost of professional advice.

Visit www.greatbusin e s s. g ov. u k / g ro w t h vouchers/

6

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

news

Finance provider hails £90m funding success A group backing Yorkshire businesses has hailed 2014 as a success.

Finance Yorkshire has fully invested its £90m fund into companies in Yorkshire and Humber ahead of schedule.

The fund has made 694 investments in businesses across the region – several of them in Kirklees – to create or safeguard 8,716 jobs and increase overall turnover in Yorkshire and Humber by £223m.

Finance Yorkshire is the first European JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprise) initiative to become fully invested in England. The fund is backed by grants from the UK Government and European Regional Development Fund and finance from the European Investment Bank.

Investments made during the past 12 months have included an equity-linked investment of £250,000 to Shelley-based soil investigation firm Rogers Geotechnical Services Ltd. Among others, Huddersfield-based infection control products firm MTP Innovations landed £400,000 to promote its innovative product range in the NHS and target new and broader markets.

And Brighouse-based Cloud services provider Vapour Media received a second significant investment from Finance Yorkshire.

Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire, said: “I am delighted that we are the first JEREMIE fund to become fully invested in England.

“Despite operating in a challenging economic climate, we have exceeded our performance targets.

It’s a success story of which Yorkshire and Humber can be proud.

“Many SMEs across the region have found it difficult to access finance via the traditional routes over recent years. We have been able to provide investment to fill this finance gap for many businesses, enabling them to expand and create jobs in the region.

“The fund will now be managed through the next five years during which time it is anticipated that a significant legacy fund can be created for the region for investment back into more businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber.

“Finance Yorkshire is working with stakeholders to secure further funding to ensure there is continu-

■■ Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire, said the fund had exceeded its performance targets

ity to business investment in the region during 2015 and we expect to make a further announcement on this very soon.”

James Newman, chairman of Finance Yorkshire, and chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said: “This is a significant milestone for everyone associated with the fund.

“Finance Yorkshire’s investments have given businesses a timely boost that has led to other private sector direct investment and more employment opportunities being created.

“With growth firmly back on the business agenda, the economic impact of this fund cannot be underestimated.

“It is, therefore, vital that a second JEREMIE fund is created in 2015 so that all the good work done by Finance Yorkshire is not lost and it can continue to support businesses in Yorkshire and Humber.

“I am hoping that all four of the Yorkshire and Humber LEPs will support this important initiative so we can all build on the excellent performance so far for the benefit of the region’s economy.”

In November, 2014, Finance Yorkshire was named Alternative Finance Firm of the Year at the Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards, organised by Yorkshire Business Insider magazine.

Finance Yorkshire provides seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from £15,000 to £2m to help a range of small and medium-sized businesses meet their funding requirements for growth and development.

The project is supported by the European Union.

It has attracted £30m investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development, £15m from UK Government and £45m match funding from the European Investment Bank.

ICM seeks views of Kirklees firms on tighter Prompt Payment Code

■■ Philip King, chief executive of The Institute of Credit Management, wants to involve Kirklees firms

Kirklees firms hit by late paying customers have been urged to give their views on how to strengthen the Prompt Payment Code.

The call comes from the Institute of Credit Management (ICM) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) following the launch of a survey seeking feedback on how to improve enforcement of the code.

The Prompt Payment Code aims to spread good practice across both the public and private sectors. Signatories commit to paying their suppliers within agreed and clearly defined terms and to ensuring that there is a proper process for dealing with any issues that may arise.

A new joint ICM-BIS survey will test initial proposals to strengthen the enforcement mechanisms of the code.

This includes setting up an Enforcement Board, which could have powers to remove a signatory from the code.

Views are also being sought on whether a maximum payment term should be introduced for code signatories.

CIM chief executive Philip King said: “The ICM is committed to working closely with BIS to further strengthen and refine the Prompt Payment Code.

“Clearly, this is something that we want businesses to willingly and honestly engage with, and not simply become a ‘tick box’

exercise. But0 it is important that we explore proposals for new initiatives such as an Enforcement Board to ensure the integrity of the code is maintained.”

Business Minister Matthew Hancock said: “Late payment is entirely unacceptable and I am determined to make sure that small businesses are treated with the respect they deserve.

“The Prompt Payment Code should crack down on poor practice and we want to hear how businesses think the code can be strengthened.”

The overall level of late payment owed to small and medium sized businesses is about £40bn, according to BACS figures.

Workplace harmony key in 2015 Good relations between employers and employees are key to building a solid recovery, Kirklees firms have been told.

Sir Brendan Barber, chairman of employment relations service Acas, said 2015 would see continued industrial action in the public sector due to tensions over pay while the introduction of tribunal fees for employment tribunal claims would continue to prompt debate around access to justice.

He said Acas would be developing further guidance on the use of zero hours contracts this year and aimed to continue its role in resolving disputes through its collective and early conciliation services.

Sir Brendan said: “All of these issues will no doubt feature strongly in the 2015 general election debate.

“We believe that prevention is always better than the cure and research shows that businesses that established good relations with their workers were less likely to have been damaged by the recent recession. It is clear that good relations at work is key to building a solid recovery.”

Sir Brenda said employment had held up remarkably well after the 2008 recession, but there had been a sharp drop in productivity.

The workplace could play a big role in correcting that through management and employment relations, he added.

Said Sir Brendan: “With the economy now beginning to show distinct signs of recovery, workers are expecting this good news to be reflected in their pay packets. This is certainly happening in some parts of the private sector, but pay has not risen in the same way within the public sector.”

Deadline for filing People due to file Self Assessment returns for the first time have been urged to register now for HM Revenue & Custom’s online service.

About 733,000 people in Yorkshire have to file a Self Assessment return. They can register by visiting www.gov.uk.

But registration can take up to seven working days to complete as it involves HMRC sending out an activation code in the post.

HMRC is urging people not to leave things to the last minute if they want to avoid the rush to beat the January 31 filing deadline.

Self Assessment online customers can now opt to receive HMRC communications electronically, rather than via traditional print and post channels. This is a new service that will make the Self Assessment process paperless.

Go to www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns or phone the helpline on 0300 2003310.

7

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

Agency is back in Brighouse

■■ The Faith PR team (above) has moved to bigger premises back in Brighouse

A fast-growing PR agency has returned to its home town of Brighouse.

Faith PR has opened new premises at Thornhill Beck Lane as part of its ambition to become the area’s leading PR and communications agency.

The agency, founded in 2007 by PR consultant Stefanie Hopkins, has recently secured several account wins and has outgrown its Birstall office where it has been based for 17 months.

Now it has returned to Brighouse where Stefanie and her business partner and husband, Carl Hopkins, also live.

Stefanie said: “We felt the time was right to move back to Brighouse and invest in the town. Throughout the

recession, Brighouse has bucked the national trend and continued to innovate and attract new business.

“There are some exciting developments planned for the area such as ROKT’s high wire plans for the town’s grain silos.

“Plus, with the improved links to London, the area is becoming more and more desirable for people to live and work in.”

Said Carl: “Having lived in Brighouse for 15 years I have seen it prosper and now want to be part of its future. By moving Faith PR back into our hometown we hope to bring both business and jobs to the area and be part of the thriving business community.”

Faith PR is now based at Thornhill Brigg Mills, which was recently renovated by local development company Henderson Property.

The new Brighouse base will house Faith PR’s team of eight, which has recently expanded with the appointment of account manager Ellie MacDonald, who joined from the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Last year, the agency was nominated as Business of the Year in the 2014 Network She Foundation International Women’s Day Awards.

Faith PR was also shortlisted in this year’s CIPR Pride Awards for its work for Denby Dale-based artisan ice cream producer Yummy Yorkshire.

2015 could prove a Happy New Year for house movers INFORMED DEVELOPMENT Martin Thompson The Chancellor George Osborne announced in his Autumn Statement sweeping reform to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) with an estimated 98% of home buyers benefiting from it.

The changes, which took effect on December 4, replace what was widely regarded as a badly-designed slab tax.

This system was heavily criticised as the structure often resulted in substantial increases in stamp duty as prices moved above the next band threshold.

The system from December 4 is not charged at a single rate of the whole purchase price, but rather only the proportion of the purchase price that falls within each stamp duty band.

The effect of the changes is that anyone buying a property for less than £937,500 will pay less stamp duty or the same as

they would under the old regime.

Anyone buying for more than £937,500 will pay more stamp duty under the new rules.

The new stamp rates are as follows: There will be no stamp duty on the first £125,000; 2% between £125,000 and £250,000; 5% between £250,000 and £925,000; 10% between £952,000 and to £1.5m; and 12% over everything above.

The changes follow pressure from leading industry experts and developers who attacked the old system as archaic, preventing first-time buyers from securing a foothold on the property ladder.

Given there are approximately 1,000,000 residential property transactions a year – most of which will benefit from the new system – this may be a happy new year for many home movers.

Martin Thompson is a partner in Commercial Property at Armitage Sykes in Huddersfield

Protect ‘front line’ council planning units, says FMB Council planning departments should be treated as front line services and protected from local authority spending cuts, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Commenting on the recommendations of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee Report on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “The committee is right to stress the importance of maintaining adequate levels of investment in planning departments.

“Although councils are under a great deal of financial pressure, with more cuts to come, there are some areas which must be prioritised over others and planning is one of them.

“Our country is in the midst of a crippling housing crisis and if we are ever to start building enough new homes, we need planning departments to be sufficiently resourced to ensure these homes can be built.”

Mr Berry said: “I am also pleased that the committee recognises that although the NPPF is not perfect, it merely requires some adjustment and not a complete overhaul. The last thing we need is for the next government to embark on another major review of the planning system as the one we currently have is broadly speaking working fairly well.

“Another major planning review could act as a barrier to small house builders at the very time government wants them to increase their delivery of new homes.”

1 Commercial & Industrial Property Consultants 1 Business & Asset Valuers & Auctioneers 1 Property Managers 1 Residential Sales & Letting Agents 1 Registered Property Receivers

View all of our available properties at walkersingleton.co.uk

8

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

movers and shakers

Bright sparks ready to make their mark

By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk

Max Jones

New restaurant manager Elland eatery La Cachette has appointed Max Jones as restaurant manager.

Mr Jones (pictured) previously worked in London with the “godfathers of modern restaurant cuisine” Albert and Michele Roux.

He has also spent several years behind the scenes in the kitchen, working as a chef for the French brothers in London before swapping his whites for a suit to run a restaurant just outside York – which he then went on to own for nine years before moving to West Yorkshire.

He said: “I am really excited to join La Cachette. I love the quirkiness of the place and as the translated meaning of the name La

Cachette suggests, it really is the hidden gem of the Calderdale restaurant scene. ”Joining La Cachette presents a fantastic opportunity for me to do what I love in an established and well-loved French restaurant. I’m looking forward to the new year and mixing things up a little with some new ideas and approaches.”

Glenn Futter, head chef at La Cachette, said: “I’m more than pleased to welcome Max to our team and look forward to our customers meeting him.

“His extensive experience speaks volumes and we intend to build on our high standards both in the kitchen and front of house.”

Sara Crowther

Accountancy appointment Huddersfield firm My Management Accountant has appointed a new team member.

Sara Crowther (pictured), of Shelley, is a fully qualified accountant who spent 15 years working on insolvency cases with companies like HLB Kidson and, more recently, Geoffrey Martin and Co. In her new post with MMA, she will be concentrating on client compliance issues.

MMA, based at The Media Centre in Northumberland Street, offers a range of financial management tools to ensure individual business affairs are conducted and managed in the most efficient, costeffective and legally compliant manner.

Its core accounting services include management accounts, profit improvement, budgets and forecasts, business

plans, key performance indicators, cash flow management and compliance. The company also delivers solutions for bookkeeping, payroll, human resources and insolvency issues.

Managing director Martin Bown said: “As we enter a new year for growth, we are delighted to welcome Sara to the company. She has the kind of skills that the company will be able to fully utilise as we ensure our clients enjoy a strong

A Huddersfield-based security, electrical and audio visual systems company has welcomed two new employees.

Ti Installations, based at Marsh Mills, Marsh, has appointed Stephanie Rose to coordinate all office-based operations while City & Guilds trained Jonathan Scott joins Ti to help service the increasing number of commercial and domestic projects being won by the firm throughout the UK. Ms Rose has worked in both Yorkshire and London in areas including health and safety, which will complement Ti’s commitment to delivering the highest on-site standards and training.

She also has experience in customer relations and general office administration.

Mr Rose is also responsible for handling an ever-increasing number of web and telephone enquiries as well as booking appointments, progressing employees’ personal development plans and managing Ti’s website and social media accounts. She is also helping to spearhead Ti’s new maintenance programme.

Mr Scott joins Ti as a multi-skilled electrician.

Ti joint managing director Mark Copley said: “Like us, Jonathan demonstrates a real passion for completing jobs to the highest possible standard. He realises the dangers associated with cutting corners in the electri-

■■ New recruits Stephanie Rose and Jonathan Scott (centre) with Ti Installations managing directors Mark Copley (left) and Kris Johnson

cal industry, so works hard to educate customers as to the importance of safety and professionalism.”

Fellow managing director Kris Johnson said: “We had originally planned to recruit another electrician and office administrator in the first quarter of 2015. However, we are completing one successful project after anoth-

er, which creates more word of mouth recommendations and stimulates additional enquiries for us to follow up on. Things are going very well, so we’ve brought the appointments forward. Our recent New Business of the Year commendation at the Examiner Business Awards evidences how far our company has come in only a short time.”

Appentices join gas systems firm Pneumatic products and process systems distributor Thorite, which has a branch at Barge Street in Huddersfield, has recruited six apprentices in a wide range of roles.

They include 19-year-old Joseph Cotterill, of Huddersfield, who has been working as an apprentice marketing assistant at the firm’s Bradford head office, where he is producing a wide range of digital literature and special product pro-

motions – a role which also enables him to develop his passion for photography.

The other apprentices are apprentice compressor service engineer Lewis Gordon, 18, of Gateshead; apprentice service engineer Samuel Edmands, 19; apprentice pipe fitter Christopher Scott, 16; IT systems apprentice Dominik Hull, 22; and apprentice systems engineer Adam Dyson, 16, all of Bradford.

■■ Thorite apprentices (back row left to right) Dominik Hull, Lewis Gordon and, Sam Edmands with (front) Joe Cotterill, Adam Dyson and Christopher Scott

Transport chief role just the ticket Paul Matthews has taken the helm as managing director for First’s bus business in West Yorkshire, which covers Huddersfield.

Mr Matthews has joined the business from sister company Bristol and the West of England where he has been managing director since June, 2013.

In his new post, Mr Matthews will report to Dave Alexander, regional managing director for

Northern England and Scotland.

Mr Matthews was previously chief executive of the UK arm of French-owned transport group RATP Dev. His role there included overseeing the Metrolink tram operation in Manchester.

He also oversaw London United, operating almost 700 buses across the capital; Bournemouth Yellow Bus and Bath Bus Compa-

ny, which operates open-top bus tours of many tourist locations in the UK. Between 1995 and 2006, he was managing director of Go North East, where he developed partnerships with local authorities across the region.

Mr Matthews joined First Group in 2012 to support the reshaping of its UK bus business.

■■ Paul Matthews, of Firstgroup