SANDRA RHODES
FTSE 100 +168.94 6298.92
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015
Constructing a career Interview - Page 3
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COLIN BARRATT Text here Column - Page
An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
A COMPANY supplying washroom products has secured its biggest-ever contract. Disposables UK, based in Meltham, has landed a two-year deal to supply paper hygiene products to the Socius network of independent distributors of non-food goods to the foodservice industry. The sum was not disclosed. Disposables UK, part of the Middlesex-based Northwood Hygiene Group, won the contract from Socius following a formal tender process. Both companies have enjoyed a long-standing business relationship. Peter Wilson, purchasing manager for Socius, said: “Disposables UK has been a strategic supplier to the Socius Network membership for over seven years and this new agreement cements our business relationship moving forward. “Disposables UK’s approach to customer service, product quality and brand values were key components in them winning this contract.” Paul Halliwell, brand director at Disposables UK, said: “We are excited and privileged to have been awarded the Socius Network paper hygiene contract. As a long standing supplier we take as much pride in their success, as they do in ours. “Their belief in our product ranges, including Bay West and Leonardo, and working closely together as a team, has brought us to this point and we look forward to an even stronger partnership over the coming months.” The announcement comes as Disposables UK bolsters its team with two key
appointments. Nick Wragg, joins as business development manager for the firm’s Optimum brand. He has more than 10 years experience in the distribution industry, having previously worked for several high-profile companies and will focus on broadening the company’s Optimum brand in the north of England. Elizabeth McManus, a marketing graduate from the University of Central Lancashire, has been appointed as marketing assistant to support manager Paul Mulready in delivering a marketing campaign across all Disposables UK’s leading brands. She has previously worked with organisations including Yorkshire Building Society, the University of Huddersfield and the University of Leeds. Disposables UK, which has been operating for almost 30 years, manufactures and distributes paper disposables and cleaning and hygiene products for the “away from home” market including pubs, clubs, hotels, sports stadia and universities. The company, named Business of the Year in the 2013 Examiner Business Awards, has supplied venues including the O2 Arena, arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, Twickenham and areas of the 2012 London Olympics complex. The Socius Network, founded in 2008 and based in Sussex, is one of the leading distributors of items such as paper cups, paper towels, food packaging, glassware and crockery to the catering market. Disposables UK, based at the former David Brown tractor plant at Meltham Mills, was acquired by Northwood Paper Sales Ltd for an undisclosed sum earlier this year.
■■ Paul Helliwell, brand director at Disposables UK, signs the contract with Peter Wilson, purchasing manager at Socius Network. Below - the sign at the firm’s Meltham plant
town, expand its offering and become more visible to employers and accessible for candidates. All eight staff, including branch manager Peter Talbot – who began his career with the group as a trainee in the Warrington branch – have moved to the new office. The branch will look to grow even further by taking on two more consultants an expand its services. The firm is already established as a major supplier of general staffing, tem-
Two fast-growing business networking organisastions have joined forces to offer more benefits to their members. Yorkshire Enterprise Network (YEN) and women’s networking group L4N UK – formerly Ladies 4 Networking – have launched a choice of joint packages as part of a wider programme of closer working. The new scheme gives businesses instant access to a range of benefits – from online promotion, directory listings and access to business advice to events, sponsorship opportunities and tenders as well as the L4N UK Passport to Success online resource
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Prime location and name change for recruitment firm A HUDDERSFIELD recruitment company has unveiled a new name – and a move to new premises. Prime Time Recruitment has transferred from Lockwood Park to The Media Centre in Northumberland Street. The company has also been re-named Cordant People, in line with the high street brand of its parent company, Cordant Recruitment. The firm said the move was part of a plan to grow a bigger presence in the
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porary and permanent roles across sectors from manufacturing, warehouse and commercial to catering and engineering. The new Cordant People branch will also be recruiting higher spec and specialist temporary and permanent roles. Cordant People also has a team in Lindley specialising in volume contact centre recruitment across West Yorkshire. Mr Talbot said: “This is an exciting time for growth in Huddersfield.
“Having been established for 15 years in the local market combined with the dedicated service of our team – which offers over 50 years combined service – means we are able to provide the dual benefits of being one of the largest recruiters in the UK with on-the-ground knowledge and local expertise.” Cordant People is the high street arm of nationwide recruitment giant Cordant Recruitment. It now has 51 branches across the country.
A COMPANY supplying crushed stone for the construction sector and roadbuilding has recruited new drivers for its 12-strong fleet of vehicles. PMW Quarries, based at Lower Cumberworth, turned to Honley-based Driver Recruitment Agency (DRA) to fill two vacanices for drivers. Following a threemonth temporary contract both have been taken on permanently. Paul Greenleaf, of PMW Quarries, said the company might be looking to take on more drivers next year
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
national
Lloyds Bank shares sale to favour small investors Shares in taxpayer-backed Lloyds Banking Group will be made available to retail investors in the spring, Chancellor George Osborne has announced. Some £2bn worth of shares will be up for grabs and will be sold at a 5% discount to the market price. In a bid to avoid wealthier investors snapping up the lot, anyone applying for fewer than £1,000 worth will be prioritised. Investors will also be awarded a bonus share for every 10 purchased if they hold their investment for more than a year. The bonus share incentive will be capped at £200 per investor. The Government pumped more than £20bn into Lloyds in a bid to prop up the bank in the midst of the financial collapse. It has been gradually selling shares off to institutional investors, but this marks the first chance for the general public to get involved. Mr Osborne said all proceeds from the sale will be used to pay down the national debt. Releasing more details of the sale, the Treasury said military personnel stationed overseas and their spouses would be able to participate, where possible.
■■ The government has so far recouped £15bn of the £20.5bn spent rescuing Lloyds Bank in the financial crisis and currently owns just under 12% of the bank
“There will be a nationwide TV, print and digital information campaign to provide further details ahead of the sale,” it said. “This will outline the next steps for people who wish to apply for shares.” Those interested in buying shares can receive updates when more
details become available about the sale, by visiting www.gov.uk/ lloydsshares and entering their email address. When the sale is opened to the public, investors will be able to apply either online or by post. Investors stand to pocket up to £200 in a year from the first £1,000 they
Glencore is key to FTSE 100 revival The London market surged following reports that commodity giant Glencore is in talks to sell its agriculture business. The FTSE 100 Index closed 169 points higher at 6299 yesterday in a market with no fallers while France’s Cac 40 and Germany’s DAX were about 30% higher. In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up almost 200 points in early trading. Shares in under pressure trader and miner Glencore rose by 21% or 20p to 115p after strong gains in Asia overnight sparked by reports that it was in talks to sell its agriculture unit, valued at about 10bn US dollars (£6.6bn). But in London the firm said it was “not aware of any reasons for these price and volume movements”. The London-listed Swiss-based firm, which has lost about two-thirds of its value this year, recently pledged to investors to make disposals and cut its 30bn US dollars (£20bn) debt mountain by a third. Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland all made ground while the oil sector was also up on a rise of more than 2% for Brent Crude to over 49 US dollars. BP lifted almost 5% or 16.6p to 368p, while Royal Dutch Shell was also 5% higher, or 84p, to 1706p. Shares in ITV rose 4.4p to 252.2p, despite England’s exit from the Rugby Union World Cup.
invest, an analyst has predicted. Hargreaves Lansdown senior analyst Laith Khalaf said: “Based on £1,000 invested, you could expect a £50 price discount, an anticipated £50 dividend in 2016 – if the market price remains at today’s level at the time of the sale – and a further £100 in bonus shares a year down the line,” he said. “Of course the dividend is not guaranteed, but that still looks like a pretty attractive package.” He said the offer was likely to be oversubscribed, adding that it was likely to see a lot of demand from pensioners and first-time investors. The Government has so far recouped £15bn of the £20.5bn it spent rescuing Lloyds and currently owns just under 12% of the bank. Mr Osborne said the task was to “finally get the British Government out of owning great chunks of our banking system”. He said: “We’ve made a lot of progress with Lloyd’s, but this final chunk, this final sale, will be the biggest privatisation in over 20 years, and I don’t want all of those shares to go to City institutions. “I want them to go to members of the public.”
Retailer bids to restructure debts
Views divided on interest rates
US fashion chain American Apparel has filed for US bankruptcy protection. The Los Angeles-based company, which runs 260 shops and concessions in 19 countries, said in a statement it had reached a restructuring deal with 95% of its secured lenders to reduce its debts. The firm added that the restructuring will take about six months and its international
Almost a third of adults in Yorkshire and the Humber say an interest rate rise of 1% or more in the next 18 months would make them financially better off, says to a survey. Research by insolvency trade body R3 also found that 32% believed a rate rise would make no difference to them while 27% said it would leave them worse off The regional picture reflects
stores will not be affected. It has 18 stores and concessions in the UK including locations in London, Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester and Brighton. Chief executive Paula Schneider said: “This restructuring will enable American Apparel to become a stronger, more vibrant company.” The move would allow the firm to “refocus our business efforts on the execution of our
turnaround strategy.” Lenders will write off about 200m US dollars (£131m) of bonds in exchange for equity in the company, reducing its 300m US dollars (£198m) debt to no more than 135m US dollars (£89m) and cutting annual interest payments. In August, the said it might not have enough cash to keep the firm going for the next 12 months as losses widened.
national trends which show 31% believe that an interest rate rise would improve their financial situation, 31% saying it would make no difference and 28% saying it would have a negative impact. Chris Wood, Yorkshire R3 committee member and partner at Clough Corporate Solutions in Cleckheaton, said an interest rate rise would have a bigger impact
on those who expect to lose out than it will on those who expect to gain. “The cost of added interest on a mortgage of hundreds of thousands of pounds is much greater than the benefit of increased interest on savings of tens of thousands of pounds,” he said. Mr Wood said UK-wide there had a slight irise in the proportion concerned about the impact of a rate rise.
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN
American Express Chevron Du Pont Exxon Mobil Gannett Hess Corp Microsoft Motors Liquidation Wal-Mart Stores Wrigleys
£50.65 +1.60 £54.92 +1.16 £33.58 +1.11 £50.62 +0.59 1033.76 +17.14 £36.46 +1.06 £30.74 +0.70 49.45 £43.21 +0.37 £52.72
AEROSPACE & DEFENCE
Avon Rbbr BAE Systems Chemring Cobham Meggitt Rolls-Royce Senior
AIM
600 Group Brady Plc Highland Gold Mining Johnson Service Grp London Security M”S Intl Nichols Redhall Group Scapa Grp Youngs GKN
960 4593/8 236 3041/8 4891/4 7281/2 2613/8 15 /8 85 52 88 £21 175 1400 57/8 1933/4 1240 5
AUTOMOBILES & PARTS
Barclays Bk Ireland
281 /8 1
BANKS
+251/2 +141/4 +21/2 +93/8 +121/4 +24 +6
2561/4 263/8
-4 +1/4 -13 +1/4 +51/4 +5 +7 +75/8 +1/2
HSBC Lloyds Banking Gp Ryl Scotland Stan Chart Barr (AG) Diageo SABMiller Croda Elementis 98 Johnsn Mat
5211/4 771/4 3283/4 709
BEVERAGES
+135/8 +3/4 +8 +421/4
525 18101/2 £375/8
+1/2 +28 +1/4
£27 /8 2353/4 £251/8
+ /2 +41/2 +1/2
2601/4 1768 3751/4 681/4 3641/4
+85/8 +57 +81/2 +1/2 +71/2
2621/4 1552
+107/8 +28
CHEMICALS
5
1
CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS
Balfour Beatty C”R”H Costain Low Bonar Marshalls Drax Gp SSE
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Laird Morgan Advanced Ox Instmts Volex
3791/4 2951/4 6031/2 611/2
+61/4 +33/8 +37
4841/4 1353/4 2121/2 2331/2 200 709 £323/4
+103/4 +21/4 +71/4 +41/4 -11/2 +9 -1/8
EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS
Alliance Trust BlckRck Incm Stat Candover Inv Dunedin Inv Dunedin Sml Edin Invst Electra Private Equity
Forgn & C Henderson Smllr Cos North American Inc Scot Am Scottish Mortgage Witan
4267/8 646 767 244 2507/8 7591/2
+87/8 +9 +16 +13/4 +71/4 +181/2
4301/4 577/8 911/4 3181/8
+93/4 +15/8 +3/4 +93/8
FIXED LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
BT Grp Cable & Wireless Comm KCOM Talktalk Telecom
FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS
Morrison W Sainsbury Tesco AB Food Carrs Group REA Hldgs Tate Lyle Unilever
168 /4 2665/8 1861/2
+6 +71/4 +63/4
£34 /4 145 268 583 £273/4
+ /8 -31/2 +8 -5 +3/4
230 9343/8 805 £221/2 9691/2
+5 +23/8 +10 +3/8 +241/2
4863/4 1546 4757/8 £251/2 1611/4 £32
+151/8 +29 +93/4 +1/4 +81/8 +3/8
1
FOOD PRODUCERS 1
5
GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES
Centrica National Grid Pennon Grp Severn United Utils
GENERAL FINANCIAL
3i Group Close Bros ICAP London StockExch Man Group Provident Financial
Reckitt Benckiser Taylor Wimpey
Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp
146 /4 3641/4 9343/8 1301 3
+1 /2 +71/2 +23/8 +77 1
Fenner I”M”I Molins Renold Spirax-Sarco Weir Grp
6298.92
Ferrexpo
up 168.94 Schroders Schroders NV
£28 /8 £221/2
GENERAL INDUSTRIALS
Smith DS Smiths Grp
3841/8 1009
+ /8 +1/2 7
+81/4 +12
GENERAL RETAILERS
Ashley L Dixons Carphone Home Retail Inchcape Kingfisher M & S Mothercare Next Signet Jewelers WH Smith
27 4471/4 1383/4 745 3651/8 515 2243/4 £78 £901/2 1594
+121/8 +43/4 +141/2 +41/8 +81/2 +1 +11/8 +31/2 +25
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
Smith Nph
1169
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Barrat Dev Bellway Persimmon
645 £25 £201/2
+3/4 +33/4
169 1010 701/2 73 £291/8 1301
+2 /4 +39 +11/2 +3/4 +5/8 +77
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
FTSE closed at
7
£61 1995/8
+27
+8 /2 +3/8 +1/2
INDUSTRIAL METALS
1
371/4
+11/2
2671/4
+31/2
INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION
BBA Aviation
LIFE INSURANCE
Aviva Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Standard Life
D Mail Tst ITV Johnston Press Pearson Reed Elsevier Sky STV Group Trinity Mirror Utd Business UTV WPP
1
Anglo American Antofagasta
475 /4 +133/4 2501/2 +73/4 2003/4 +71/4 1 1483 /2 +62 4081/4 +111/2 3
MEDIA
MINING
766 2521/4 74 1188 1142 1077 440 1511/4 5121/2 1711/2 1417 5791/2 5371/2
+15 +43/8 -13/8 +21 +13 +32 +81/4 +12 +11/2 +42 +257/8 +28
BHP Billiton Fresnillo Kaz Minerals Lonmin Rio Tinto VEDANTA RESOURCES
1065 6521/2 1041/2 231/4 £231/8 4293/4
+23 +19 +123/4 +4 +3/4 +61/4
9811/2 2121/2
+71/2 +63/8
1509 1026 £351/4 4111/4
+16 +24 +5/8 +65/8
MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Inmarsat Vodafone Group
NONLIFE INSURANCE
Admiral Grp Jardine LloydThomson Marsh McL RSA Ins Gp
OIL & GAS PRODUCERS
BG BP Cairn Energy Premier Oil Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B Total Tullow Oil
1035 +471/4 368 +161/2 1541/8 +7 79 +81/2 1 1689 /2 +811/2 1706 +84 +11/4 £313/4 3 208 /4 +16
OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
Amec Foster Whl Petrofac Wood Gp(J)
767 794 6561/2
+35 +52 +291/2
1406 2987/8
+46 +21/4
£42 /2 13121/2 £46
+ /4 +31 +7/8
PERSONAL GOODS
Burberry Gp PZ Cussons
PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY
Astrazeneca GlaxoSmithKline Shire
1
3
REAL ESTATE
Brit Land Gt Portland Hamrsn Intu Properties Land Secs SEGRO
+201/2 +16 +12 +7 +39 +95/8
5171/2
+13
1021 1846 1248 158 489 1777/8 1777/8 1072 2451/8 1561/4 412 5971/2 4151/4 4541/4 1083/4 150 1980 £371/2
+9 +42 +35 -11/2 +61/4 +25/8 +25/8 +38 +7 +43/8 +43/8 +4 +31/4 +11/4 +3 +13/4 +29 +3/4
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
963 £971/2 753/4
+28 +21/8 +1/4
FTSE 100 FTSE 250
£363/4 £333/4
+1/2 +1/8
SOFTWARE & COMPUTER SERVICES
Sage Group
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 Wolseley
TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT
ARM Hldgs IBM Spirent Comms
TOBACCO
Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco
TRAVEL & LEISURE
8571/2 8741/2 6351/2 3371/4 1306 4423/8
1141/4 £343/8 1077 1808 1113/4 991/4 £243/4 802 £233/4 5841/2 1011/4 1543/8 3201/8 2885/8 119 2671/2 693 9933/4 3387/8 £471/2 3525/8
+11/4 +3/4 +25 +60 +41/4 +1 +1/4 +61/2 +1/2 +131/2 +31/8 +13/8 +91/4 +21/4
+101/2 +42 +17/8 +3/4 +33/8
INDEX 6298.92 +168.94 17110.28 +314.20
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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS She’s made her way to the top in the male-dominated world of construction. And Sandra Rhodes, who lives at Lindley, says she couldn’t be happier in her role as commercial director for specialist contractor Lakesmere Group’s northern operations. The privately-owned company is one of the UK’s leading roofing, cladding and facade specialists – working with construction firms such as Balfour Beatty, Carillion and BAM on projects on schools and universities, hospitals, sports stadia, railway stations, car parks and airports. Sandra heads two teams of commercial managers and quantity surveyors who are currently working on about 30 projects ranging in value from £1m to £8m. The teams – one based at Altrincham, Greater Manchester, and another based in Glasgow – are responsible for matters including agreeing terms and conditions with clients, handling project budgets and costs and managing cash flow. Sandra and the Manchester team have been involved in several key Yorkshire-based projects, including the redevelopment of Leeds railway station. Other schemes undertaken in the region have included First Direct Arena in Leeds and Bradford College. Says Sandra: “We have carried out projects across the whole of the UK and internationally. It is a fabulous business, well-respected and probably the leading subcontractor in our line of work.” But she still finds time to help one deserving cause close to home. She has been a trustee of the Elland-based Yorkshire Air Ambulance for the past 11 years. Lakesmere, which received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise earlier this year, was founded in 1993 and has grown to employ about 900 people at eight UK regional offices and six international offices. In the year to January 31, 2015, group turnover was £95.6m, an increase of 11% from the 2014 figure of £86m, while profits before tax rose by 23% from £1.99m to £2.44m. Turnover this year is expected to reach about £100m – with the Manchester and Glasgow offices contributing about £25m of that. Sandra says construction was hard-hit by the recession, but adds: “There are definitely more opportunities opening up in the construction sector. “The recovery has started in the south and it is moving northwards. “There are a lot of opportunities opening up along the M62 corridor and a number of high profile projects in Scotland.” Sandra grew up in Fartown and attended Fartown High School. She freely admits: “I didn’t have any career plans as such. I wanted to get out of school, get a job and get some money in my pocket – and feel like a young adult.” She joined a Youth Opportunities Programme focusing on office skills, administration and finance before spending four years with building supplies
profile
The career that Sandra built business Heywood Williams – firstly at Heywood Installation Services at Red Doles Lane and then at Heywood Glazing Systems in Brighouse. It brought her abruptly into the male-dominated world of construction – but Sandra was in no way fazed or intimidated. Says Sandra; “I started as a receptionist and then became contract co-ordinator, working in the depths of the construction department! I absolutely loved it.” She also discovered an interest in the technical aspects of the firm’s glazing products. Her interest in glass and its properties developed further when she moved to work at a Bradford specialist glazing firm and later at Huddersfield-based Scholes Windows. When Sandra took a career break in the 1990s to have children, she embarked on two house-building projects – acting as project manager and getting back into the nitty-gritty of construction. She also went to night school to update her accountancy skills.
In 1998, with her two children now attending school, Sandra joined a small management consultancy, rising to director level. When that business was sold in 2002, she was appointed director of its new business unit. Demonstrating a determination to further her expertise, Sandra became a member of the Institute of Directors and went on to gain a masters degree in entrepreneurship and business at Huddersfield University, She also became a chartered director – an achievement in which she understandably takes great pride. In 2002, she went freelance, working on several small business projects and buying a property in Slaithwaite, which she converted into three flats. “I got the hard hat, goggles, mask and steel toe-capped boots on again,” she says. “It was an eight-month project and I enjoyed doing it – it was really rewarding. It felt right to be back in construction, even if it was a small project.” Sandra went back into paid
employment, leading a multi-million pound IT projects for Alfred McAlpine, followed by another spell freelancing before she joined Lakesmere in June last year. Looking back on her career path, Sandra says: “A lot of it is down to the individuals you meet on your ‘journey’ and the people who are willing and able to give you the opportunity to learn and grow, “You are supposed to go to university and go on to get a job. Academic study came later for me. It wasn’t right for me at the time.” Combining work and study later in life to gain her qualifications took self-discipline, she says, but adds: “You are more committed to it because you realise that it has great value. “When it’s your choice to do something, it is not such hard work. It doesn’t feel like you are being forced to do it.” As much as she loves her job, Sandra values time outside work. She says: “I spend 20 hours a week in the car, but I enjoy having two teams in different locations and I enjoy having a broad client base – it makes every day interesting and there are always challenges. “But I love holidays. I’ve enjoyed travelling for many years.” Sandra has taken up another challenge – this time of a sporting nature. She says: “I’ve been trying to learn to play golf for the past three years! “My partner is a very good golfer and we’ve played a bit over the summer at Woodsome Hall. “But I’m not good enough to join a club yet. We recently had a company golf day and I didn’t take part. “My hand-eye co-ordination isn’t brilliant! But I’ve promised that I’ll be a good enough golfer ■■ Sandra Rhodes enjoys working with ”some fantastic people” at Lakesmere to play next year!”
Sandra Rhodes Role: Commercial director Age: 50 Family: Partner Trevor with daughter Amber, 23, and son Brett, 22 Car: Mercedes SLK Holidays: I love New York and I have been to Vancouver, which is stunning. We have also been to the Caribbean and South America First job: I worked Saturday mornings in the local greengrocer’s shop Best thing about the job? It’s a really exciting business. I have the pleasure of working with some fantastic people. It’s a privilege to work in such as people-focused and client-focused business Worst thing about the job? The commute on the M60 and M62. It can take me two hours to go 36 miles when the traffic’s at its worst Business tip: There are challenges in every business. If there are issues to be resolved, have a face-to-face meeting. Don’t send emails!
Lakesmere Work: Roofing, cladding and building facade specialists Sites: Altrincham and Glasgow Phone: 0161 4660210 Email: srhodes@lakesmere.com Web: www. lakesmere.com
4
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
news
Tax move has a sting in the tail ■■ KITS is attracting more girls to engineering training
Girls get a taste for engineering A DRIVE to recruit females into engineering has resulted in seven girls taking up apprentices with Brighousebased KITS. Staff at KITS are working with local schools and Calderdale & Kirklees Careers Service to draw attention to the opportunities available to females in engineering. A KITS spokesman said: “By encouraging girls into engineering careers we will not only be increasing diversity and inclusion – a business imperative – but enabling us to fill the substantial future job opportunities that have been predicted in this sector. “Engineering continues to stand out as one of few remaining maledominated industries, but if the sector is to achieve the growth potential that is predicted for the coming decade, a concerted effort is needed to attract more women into the profession.” Research by EngineeringUK found that
only 8.7% of professional engineers in the UK are female – while UK figures are the lowest in Europe. It said the UK was heading for an engineering skills crisis and that if the gender imbalance was not addressed over the next decade, the country’s reputation for engineering excellence could be derailed. EngineeringUK said the sector will need to recruit 2.2m candidates over the next five to 10 years to meet demand. An ageing workforce is also increasing the pressure on recruitment, research suggests. Some 92% of hiring managers expect their company to need more engineers over the next five years compared with any time previously. The KITS spokesman said: “Engineering provides an interesting and varied career for motivated individuals – male or female. Few other industries offer the opportunity to address serious global challenges such as climate change, ageing populations and food shortages. “
The threshold above which inheritance tax (IHT) is payable on an individual’s estate has been unchanged at £325,000 for over six years and is frozen at that level until April, 2021. A change was made by the coalition government to enable any unused part of one spouse’s £325,000 exempt band to be transferred to the other spouse. On the death of the surviving spouse, the threshold could therefore be £650,000. This means that a lot of estates will be taken out of inheritance tax completely. Those above the threshold will suffer IHT of 40% on the excess. A significant part of an individual’s estate is often their home and with the nil rate band remaining constant, more estates may fall into the scope of IHT if house prices increase. The thought of having to sell a family home in order to pay death taxes could be a worry. In the summer budget the Chancellor to some extent addressed such concerns by announcing the introduction of an additional nil rate band when a residence is passed on death to direct descendants, such as children or grandchildren. This “main residence” nil rate
TAX TALK Colin Barratt band will initially be £100,000 in 2017/18 rising incrementally until it reaches £175,000 in 2020/21. The additional band can only be used in respect of one residential property, which has at some point, been a residence of the deceased. A residence extends to cover the grounds and gardens enjoyed with that residence but would not include any land set aside for development purposes. The main residence band does not cover buy to let properties. Where an estate includes a number of residential properties it will be up to the personal representatives of the deceased to nominate which property will qualify for the main residence nil rate band. Any unused main residence nil rate band will be transferred
to a surviving spouse or civil partner provided the first death occurred after 8 July 2015. When added to the £650,000 existing nil rate band this could in a future year provide a total nil rate band of £1 million for a married couple or civil partners. It is also proposed that this new main residence nil rate band will be available when a person downsizes or ceases to own a home on or after 8 July 2015 and assets of an equivalent value, up to the main residence nil rate band, are passed on death to direct descendants. For those with particularly large estates there is a sting in the tail as the additional main residence nil rate band will be tapered by £1 for every £2 where a net estate, before any inheritance tax exemptions or reliefs, exceeds £2m.
Colin Barratt is tax partner at Wheawill and Sudworth chartered accountants, Huddersfield
Funding to bridge the skills gap More than 30 Kirklees businesses have so far secured funding for skills training through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Figures show that since the fund was launched in February this year, more than £500,000 has been awarded to 150-plus businesses to invest in skills – enabling them to maximise their training budget and support staff development. A recent LEP survey showed that 74% of businesses have identified skills gaps in their workforce. From the investment, some organisations have trained more than 40 employees in areas such as leadership and management to improve performance and help staff move into higher level roles. Funding has also supported specialist training such as parametric modelling, which involves using the computer to design objects by modelling components with real-world behaviours and attributes. Firms are also taking the opportunity to learn Russian, Swedish and Italian to help then tap into the export markets. LEP board chairman Mark Ridgway said the grants of between £500 and £50,000 culd help employers have the opportunity to work with a team of expert skills advisors, discuss their long term growth plans and skills needs and put together a robust training plan for their staff. Funding is available to eligible SMEs until March, 2017. Go to www.the-lep.com
Getting it all on film
■■ Stuart Leach (left), general manager at Huddersfield RUFC, with Ewan Gallagher (centre) and David Gallagher of XCL Managament, which has announced a partnership wioth the club for the 2015-16 season
Company adds weight to the pack A SPECIALIST recruitment firm has joined the pack. Huddersfield RUFC has announces a new partnership with XCL Management, which specialises in recruitment into the construction, facilities management, environmental and engineering sectors. XCL Management has offices in Manchester and Bristol and will open an office at Lockwood Park this month.
David Gallagher, managing director of XCL Management, used to sponsor both the rugby union club and Huddersfield Town when he ran Prime Time Recruitment. Mr Gallagher said: “I am delighted to be linking up to the club once again, having had a very good and fruitful relationship with them when I owned Prime Time Recruitment. “I look forward to rebuilding
all our strong ties and forging new ones and seeing HRUFC have a great season.” HRUFC general manager Stuart Leach said: “We are pleased to have XCL Management on board as a partner for National 2 North 2015/16 season. “We have a long standing relationship with David and Ewan Gallagher and welcome them back to Lockwood Park.”
A LEAFLET distribution business based in Huddersfield has teamed up with the BBC. Lockwood-based Mr Flyer is taking part in a national traineeship programme to prepare 16 to 24-year-olds for entry-level jobs and apprenticeships as part of the BBC’s “Make it Digital” year of 2015. Working with Huddersfieldbased YH Training, Mr Flyer has offered work experience to traineeship participant Stephen Dixon, 19, who recently completed his studies at Kirklees College and wanted to develop his skills in the filming industry. Stephen has to complete a digital project that he can use in his portfolio – and has been given the task of creating a video named “A day in the life of a distributor” to showcase the benefits of working as a leaflet distributor at Mr Flyer. Mr Flyer general manager Michael Gladstone said: “Stephen has made a great start to his work experience with us and we are looking forward to seeing the completed video which will help us with our digital marketing efforts.”
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6
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
Fitting way for company to mark 40 years trading A COMPANY supplying bar fittings, seating and lighting to restaurants, bars, shops and hotels around the world has celebrated 40 years in business. Elland-basesd Andy Thornton marked the milestone by also confirming its outstanding trading figures for the past two years – following on from tough times during the recession. Sales have risen by almost 50% in two years to July, 2015, and now stand at £12.6m for the latest financial year. Annual profits after tax have more than doubled. The company has also recruited an extra 25 people during the two-year period – mostly from Calderdale and Kirklees – as well as investing heavily in production, office and warehousing facilities, vehicles, IT systems and marketing. Managing director Charles Tolley said: “On top of these two consecutive years of fantastic financial results, we have the comfort of a record orderbook of £3.3m to take into our new financial year. “This shows a 24% increase on the same period last year and gives us great confidence for another successful year. “We are maintaining a strong foothold in our core market, the hospitality sector, whilst continuing to develop
relationships in a relatively new market to us, the retail design sector”. The business was set up in 1975 by Andy and Kate Thornton to buy, restore and sell architectural antiques, working out of old farm buildings in Rastrick. The first market was the west coast of USA, where the couple supplied salvaged artefacts to bars and restaurants looking for authentic pieces of architecture. Nowadays the thriving business is rooted in the UK, where it has built a formidable reputation in its key markets. Andy Thornton has been recognised many times for business excellence and was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export in 1994. The company now employs 105 people and has workshops, showrooms and offices in Elland and Greetland. As well as being a major manufacturer and supplier of furniture and lighting, the company remains one of the largest suppliers of architectural antiques and original props in the world. It also has a skilled metal fabrication department, which specialises in the design, manufacture and site installation of major metal structures such as bandstands, shelters and entrance canopies.
■■ Pintura in Trinity Centre, Leeds, features fittings supplied by Andy Thornton
Customers include some of the biggest businesses, including Heineken, Center Parcs, Morrisons and Hugo Boss. Regular customers include Leedsbased Jed Feltham, whose Leelex Group regularly uses Andy Thornton products in his venues. His latest res-
taurant/bar Pintura in Trinity Centre, Leeds, features Andy Thornton furniture and furnishings in all areas. Andy Thornton marked its 40th birthday with a party for almost 200 people, including employees and partners, past employees, key advisors and suppliers at Berties @ La Cachette.
Biomass project brings cleaner energy to textile mill A TEXTILE mill on the moors above Huddersfield is enjoying cleaner energy. Green energy consultancy Think Renewable Energy has completed a 200kW biomass project at Pingle Mill (right), which has been manufacturing cloth and yarn since the 1700s. The factory has been extended and improved by woollen yarn maker R
Gledhill Ltd which first started manufacturing at the mill in 1936. The new biomass system is eset to generate 528,380kWh a year – cutting overheads and allowing for further investment in innovation and product development. A spokesman for the textile firm said: “Switching to biomass will ensure we remain competitive and will help
us to adhere to the environmental standards that our customers demand from their supply chain,” he said. The project included the design of a new plant room and fuel store in keeping with the historic mill premises. Chris Paddey, director of Think Renewable Energy, said the textile industry was a key growth area for commercial renewable energy.
Record profits for Sadeh Lok A HOUSING association based in Huddersfield has highlighted a “strong” performance in its 2015 annual report. Sadeh Lok, based at Edgerton, reported improvements in key areas of performance in the year to March – while posting its highest-ever profits at £690,000 and reducing its running costs by £103,000 to £1.2m. The organisation increased turnover to £5.33m from £5.22m last time while its operating surplus rose to £1.96m from £1.85m last time. After one-off items. Sadeh Lok posted a surplus for the year of £690,000 against £273,000 before. Among other figures, Sadeh Lok reported 89.49% overall satisfaction from residents against 88.5% in 2014 while current tenant rent arrears were down at 2.8% from 3.2% last time. The average number of days to re-let empty properties was 25 compared with 38 before while rent lost through empty properties was down to 0.97% from 1.12% before. There were 14 service complaints against 32 last year while the proportion of repairs carried out on properties in a single visit stood at 90% compared with 87% previously. Judith Crowther, who chairs the association, said in the report: “This year has seen a strong performance by Sadeh Lok despite the challenges presented by welfare reforms and the uncertainty of the political landscape. “We have maintained sectorleading improvements in income collection and the management of rent arrears whilst retaining high levels of customer satisfaction and staff engagement.” Sadeh Lok, formed in 1988, manages more than a thousand properties across Kirklees, Wakefield and Rotherham. In April, Sadeh Lok joined the Incommunities Group, one of the largest social housing providers in the UK.
7
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
Link-up is just the job! A COMPANY supplying crushed stone for the construction sector has recruited new drivers for its 12-strong fleet of vehicles. PMW Quarries, based at Lower Cumberworth, turned to Honleybased Driver Recruitment Agency (DRA) to fill two vacanices for drivers – and following a three-month temporary contract both have been taken on permanently. Paul Greenleaf, of PMW Quarries, said the company might be looking to take on more drivers next year – and would certainly be using DRA to provide cover during the holiday period. PMW Quarries has also recruited an additional office worker as demand for its services grows with the onset of the economic recovery. Contracts have included ones to deliver aggregate to the new Haribo sweet factory at Castleford, for social housing schemes and during the early days of construction to he new Huddersfield leisure. The company, which was founded more than 35 years ago by husband and wife Peter and Marlene Watson, transports thousands of tons of aggregate to building sites and builders’ merchant outlets as well as for road construction. The company has invested in
replacement vehicles and now has a fleet of 12 MAN trucks. It is also upgrading its website to be mobilefriendly and additional enhancements. Andy Thorp, of DRA, said demand for drivers from the haulage industry was increasing – but a shortage of skilled drivers was affecting the sector. “The general haulage industry is showing an improvement,” he said. “There is plenty of work out there, but we can’t get enough drivers!” The firm was launched in 2013 by Andy and his father Peter. Andy has about 12 years experience in driver recruitment while Peter has a background in financial services, having run his own business for more than 30 year. DRA has clients in Huddersfield, Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Brighouse, Wakefield, Sheffield, Barnsley and surrounding areas. Commenting on the tie-up with PMW, Andy said the client had been sceptical about using a recruitment agency, but said: “Over the last couple of years, we have gained their trust culminating in them asking us to recruit staff for them. “From our point of view, we are really pleased that they have been able to help a local company.”
■■ Above – PMW Quarries directors Paul Greenleaf (left) and Danny Watson (second left) with Andy (second right) and Peter Thorp of Driver Recruitment. Below – PMW’s fleet of 12 vehicles lined up at the company’s Barnsley Road depot
Opening new doors Brighouse PR and marketing agency Faith PR has secured a contract with one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of timber doors. Following a tightly fought competitive five-way pitch, Faith PR was chosen by Barnsley-based Premdor to deliver a six-figure marketing campaign to launch a new range of timber internal doors to both the trade and consumers. The campaign will include direct mail, advertising and instore activity as well as ongoing public relations, social media management and a new brochure and website. Faith PR will also create the brand for the new range. Premdor has almost 90 years’ experience in door and joinery manufacturing and is one of the best known brands among construction professionals and consumers. It employs more than 400 staff at its head office in Barnsley, one of the largest door manufacturing facilities in Europe. Premdor is the latest company to choose Faith PR in the last few months. Recent client wins include business support organisation Forward Ladies, Hipperholme Grammar School and national energy broker Orchard Energy.
8
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
movers and shakers
Networking groups deliver the goodies Ashley Fox & Mark Booth
Making new connections A HUDDERSFIELD IT firm has strengthend its technical team. Brighter Connections has taken on IT apprentices Ashley Fox and Mark Booth, both of Huddersfield, on a 12-month programme – working four days a week at the Edgertonbased firm combined with one day’s study at Kirklees College. Ashley, 19, and Mark, 21, beat other applicants to be offered the roles. Both studied a two-year Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in IT and came out with a top distinction grade. Managing director Darren Stringer said: “As a business, we felt it was important to offer young people a viable alterna-
tive to university which allows them to earn some money, gain experience in the workplace and benefit from focused on-the-job training which is supplemented by college study.” Ashley will specialise in networking and security while Mark is focusing on Microsoft technologies and converged infrastructure. Mark built his first computer at the age of 11 and started coding at the age of 14. He said: “I used to take computers apart and rebuild them and then started to do some work for a charity that would get people to fix computers which they would then send to Africa.”
Helen Grieves
Solicitor rejoins PI panel Helen Grieves (pictured), founder of Huddersfield-based personal injury solicitors Grieves Solicitors, has been appointed to the Law Society Personal Injury Panel for the third time running. The qualification, which lasts for five years, is awarded to solicitors who have excelled in personal injury work. To obtain membership on the panel, the Law Society must be satisfied that a solicitor has not only displayed special expertise of personal injury law, but has also shown they are able to pursue claims appropriately and with their clients’ best interests in mind. Helen founded Grieves Solicitors in 1997 and was the first woman to set up a personal injury firm in Huddersfield, specialising exclusively in accident claims. Over the past 18 years, she and her team of lawyers have obtained millions of pounds for those
who have been injured in a whole manner of ways, including trips and slips, workplace accidents and road traffic incidents. She said: “This is the most rewarding job I have ever done. It gives me great satisfaction to see my clients receiving their deserved compensation cheque.” Before becoming a solicitor, Helen had various other jobs working in exporting and marketing. She also spent some time abroad in Gibraltar as an offshore company formation executive.
By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
Two fast-growing business networking organisastions have joined forces to offer more benefits to their members. Yorkshire Enterprise Network (YEN) and women’s networking group L4N UK – formerly Ladies 4 Networking – have launched a choice of joint packages as part of a wider programme of closer working. The new scheme gives businesses instant access to a range of benefits – from online promotion, directory listings and access to business advice to events, sponsorship opportunities and tenders. The benefits also include the L4N UK Passport to Success online resource, which helps businesses to grow and increase profits. YEN director Sheraz Malik said: “We were in the process of putting
■■ YEN director Sheraz Malik (centre) with L4N director Judith Wright (left) and L4N UK director Marina Simioli
together our new membership packages when I was introduced to the L4N UK directors. “It was soon evident that our two organisations had a similar ethos and we’re moving in the same direction – so it made sense to collaborate and bring even more businesses together. “We already have quite a good gender balance at our meetings,
but we have been looking at ways of improving this even further and ensuring that our events are equally attractive to men and women. “Although the joint membership will be only be available to women, there will be benefits for everyone as all our members will have access to a wider audience and a broader range of businesses
at our monthly meetings and online.” L4N UK director Marina Simioli, who hosts the Huddersfield L4N UK meetings, said: “Our group is dedicated to providing opportunities for women in business to network, gain support and confidence, learn new skills and develop collaborative associations with other women in business. “There’s no denying that men and women network differently. Women like to build relationships first and the feedback we’ve had over the years is that they often feel more confident in a womenonly networking environment when first starting out or returning to business after a period away. This new relationship will mean that our members can progress into mainstream networking on a level playing field, building on the confidence they have gained and building on the skills they have learned with L4N.”
Flood of delegates for conference A COLNE Valley firm providing leak detection and environmental protection systems has hosted a conference for distributors from around the globe. Marsden-based Andel Ltd welcomed delegates from as far afield as Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, the USA, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Singapore and China to the three-day conference, which included a tour of the firm’s research and development department. Delegates also received advance notification of the company’s product and service rollout plans for the next five years. Mark Harris, Andel commercial director, said: “We have a very
ed by the firm’s founder 23 years ago, as well as a remote monitoring tank guard system. This uses cloud computing technology to monitor and provide status updates at inaccessible sites and installations. Founded in 1992, Andel Ltd designs and manufactures specialised leak detection and environmental protection systems for customers in a wide range of sectos. ■■ Marsden-based flood detection and environmental protection firm They include air, rail, bus, truck Andel Ltd hosted a two-day conference for its distributors worldwide and marine operators, national and local government, health, education, police, fire, ambitious development plan, worldwide distributors to meet rescue, the armed forces, water, including a multi-fold increase in our technicians and R&D staff.” gas, electricity and telecoms, fuel export sales. We therefore wanted Andel is set to launch its Bund- storage and distribution services, to use the opportunity for our Guard version 5, originally invent- banks, retailers and charities.
Businesswomen victorious in regional awards Two Kirklees businesswomen have emerged victorious in a regional award scheme. Kate Hardcastle, of business transformation consultancy Insight with Passion, and Sam Pearce, of the Potting Shed Spa in Batley, were among the winners in the Forward Ladies Yorkshire and North East Women in Business Awards. Kate won the category
for Inspiring Leader of the Year while Sam took the category for SME Business of the Year with 10 employees or fewer. Winners in the 11 categories in the regional finals will now compete in the national final, on November 20 at the Queens Hotel in Leeds – after taking part in a live session with award judges on November 4, at the Leeds offices of headline sponsor HSBC.
Microsoft, technology partner for the awards, will also offer finalists a full review of their ICT set up to explore how their organisations can use technology across a range of business functions to drive business results. Griselda Togobo, managing director at Forward Ladies, praised the “outstanding” standard of entries in the 2015 regional ■■ Griselda Togobo (centre) and winners at the awards awards.