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An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
Bathrooms firm is tapping into talent HUDDERSFIELD Town chairman Dean Hoyle is well-known for his entrepreneurial skills. Now he is taking the plunge into the world of bathrooms thanks to the club’s partner bathrooms4all and the town’s university. Dean will join Town legend Andy Booth, commercial manager Tracy Nelson, bathrooms4all chairman Craig Waddington and bathrooms4all product designer Lee Reed in judging the work of product design students from the university, who will be designing a new piece of bathroom furniture suitable for the UK market over an eight-week period. If the winning selection suitably impresses the judging panel, a prototype will be produced by the design team at bathrooms4all – and it could even go on sale in their stores nationwide. Tracy said: “We are thrilled that the football club could facilitate this new partnership between our partner bathrooms4all and the University of Huddersfield, I believe the deal should
massively benefit both parties.” She said: “Bathrooms4all can tap into the undoubted talent that exists in the university’s design students and could get a new product to sell in their stores, whereas the students will get the chance to work on a live project that could result in a real-life end product. “Bathrooms4all have been an incredibly proactive partner in our year together and this is yet another brilliant idea that we can’t wait to get started.” Lee said: “We’re looking forward to judging the final designs of the students and we’d also like to thank Chris Howard of the university for giving us the opportunity to work with his students. “We hope the final chosen design will be something that we can proudly add to our portfolio.” Chris, course leader at the university, added: “The product design course at Huddersfield is intended to prepare our students for real-world situations.
It provides a wealth of information, including more than 100 videos and 100 e-learning tutorials and tools; as well as further guidance for getting a business up and running, from writing business plans to securing funding. For established firms, the Growth and Improvement Service provides practical guidance to help people get more out of their business – such as
Political briefing TWo local politicians will debate business issues affecting local firms at a briefing organised by Huddersfield law firm Baxter Caulfield. Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney and Yorkshire MEP Timothy Kirkhope will meet business representatives on Friday at the Briar Court Hotel, Birchencliffe.
● Full story - Page 8
■ TAKING THE PLUNGE: Town ambassador Andy Booth (left) meerts students who are taking part complete a design project for bathrooms4all
“We do this by undertaking 'live' projects with companies and exposing the students to the pressures that presenting their work to the designers and executives of those companies brings. “We are delighted to be working
with bathrooms4all and Huddersfield Town and we look forward to some excellent student proposals which can impress them. Lee Reed, from bathrooms4all, is himself one of my former students and he knows the advantages of this type of collaboration.”
Revamped Business Link is ready to help THE revamped Business Link has launched new services to help Kirklees companies grow. Business Link, which now operates online, has set up start-up service My New Business and the Growth and Improvement Service at www.businesslink.gov.uk/newservices. My New Business helps people in the early stages of starting a business.
INSIDE
generating more sales, increasing profits, and saving time and money. The support, tools and short knowledge bites help established businesses deal with challenges and maximise o p p o r t u n i t i e s, f ro m p ra c t i c a l , day-to-day tasks to more strategic guidance on business development and expansion. Business Link has also enhanced its
Events and Business Support finders to help people find networking and business events throughout Yorkshire and public-funded sources of help. This could be anything from financial support, to advice on investing in new equipment or machinery, or taking new products or services to mark e t . G o t o w w w. b u s i n e s s link.gov.uk/newservices
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Brand identity STUDENTS at Kirklees College got the chance to show off their creative skills in a challenge to come up with ideas to re-brand its business department ready for the move to a new campus in 2012.
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Solicitors for business inYorkshire www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk Huddersfield | Wakefield | Halifax | Leeds
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
national
Slowdown follows record year for TUI
BRITAIN’S biggest holiday firm TUI Travel outperformed rival Thomas Cook – but warned that winter bookings in the UK had slowed in the face of weak consumer sentiment. The Thomson Holidays and First Choice owner reported a 12% year-on-year drop in winter 2011/12 bookings as at November 27, compared to an 11% decline at its last update on September 11, as capacity – hit by turmoil in Egypt and Tunisia – was reduced by 9%. But the recent weak trade followed a record full-year performance as higher margin holidays helped drive a 15% increase in underlying operating profits in the UK to £147m and an 18% rise in group profits to £471m in the year to September 30. TUI said sales of differentiated products – concept holidays unique to
TUI brands – such as water park SplashWorld, Holiday Village resorts and child-free Couples holidays, grew by 14% in the UK during the 12 months. The robust performance comes shortly after Thomas Cook spooked holidaymakers and investors when it turned to its banks for extra support in the wake of deteriorating sales. Shares in TUI were more than 2% higher following the full-year results. TUI said people were leaving it later to book, reflecting the continuing issues in North Africa and the consumer spending squeeze. TUI said capacity in the UK had reduced as it moved aircraft within the group to serve higher demand in its markets in Canada and Scandinavia. The group, which serves about 30m customers and operates in 180 countries, said average selling prices are up by 5%,
reflecting cost inflation of about 4% but also the higher proportion of differentiated products, which are up by 12% in current trading. Peter Long, TUI chief executive, said: “We are very pleased with our robust performance in 2011 and have delivered another year of profit growth, against a backdrop of unrest in key North African destinations and weak consumer sentiment in some source markets.” TUI said it was early in the booking cycle for summer 2012 as most of its markets launch their main edition brochures in December. So far it has sold 19% of the season’s programme, with bookings 11% lower than the year before, partly reflecting the reduction in capacity. Average selling prices are up by 9%. The final dividend is up 2.6% to 8p a share giving a total of 11.3p for the year.
■ COLD PRINT: TUI says winter bookings are weaker
Eurozone crisis hits staffing firm
Anger over NR bonuses
A LEADING recruitment firm warned the eurozone crisis and economic uncertainty were draining confidence across most of its markets. Michael Page International, which employs about 1,400 people in the UK, said tough conditions meant it would miss City forecasts for annual profits, causing its shares to fall by about 10%. The slowdown has also hit the company’s faster-growing Asia Pacific market, while a freeze on public sector hirings following the Government’s package of spending cuts has caused UK profits to stall. The company said: “Since October, markets have continued to
A MEMBER of Network Rail’s governing body has voiced “severe doubts” that the rail firm’s performance will justify any bonuses for its bosses this year. The issue is set to be raised at a meeting on Thursday of NR’s 95 public members amid a pledge by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to balance austerity in the public sector with a crackdown on “abhorrent” top corporate pay. New NR chief executive Sir David Higgins stopped bonuses for 2010 while the system was investigated, but a new scheme is being planned which critics say would allow executives to
weaken as the eurozone crisis and the lowering of growth forecasts worldwide have reduced client and candidate confidence levels. “This increased uncertainty and lower confidence is affecting most areas of our business and, as a result, our gross profit growth rates for the last two months have slowed further.” Michael Page reported profits growth of 16% for October and November against a 26.5% rise across the third quarter of its financial year. Pre-tax profits will be marginally below the bottom end of analysts’ current range of forecasts for between £86.5m and £114.2m.
be paid 60% on top of their salaries. Lord Berkeley, a public member of NR, said in a letter that executives should renounce any bonuses this year. He dismissed the argument large bonuses should be paid to attract good managers pointing out that NR is effectively a public monopoly which can never go bust. He voiced severe doubts that NR’s performance justified bonuses for this year. Commenting on public perception, he added that the High Pay Commission had published a report warning that large pay deals were “corrosive” to the economy.
Page 2 Start-ups increase NEW business start-ups are expected to outnumber company failures by more than four to one this year. A survey by business intelligence experts Creditsafe said company insolvencies were likely to rise by 4% during 2011 – but start-ups are predicted to rise by 18% with 471,466 new firms this year compared with 400,570 in 2010. Yorkshire is expected to see 28,802 new businesses up and running this year, putting the region ahead of Scotland (26,253), the East Midlands (19,870), the North East (11,711), Wales (8,868) and Northern Ireland (5,350). Across the UK, the first three quarters of 2011 saw a net 386,000 increase in registered limited companies. The whole of the year is expected to see about 455,000 new businesses added to the UK market after insolvencies are taken into account. London is the centre of business start-ups with almost 160,000 new businesses expected to be set up by the end of the year while the South East is the second most popular location for fledgling businesses. David Knowles, business development director at Creditsafe, said: “This year has been difficult, but the entrepreneurial spirit of the British public is alive-and-kicking. “Overall, growth in the UK business population has actually accelerated in 2011.”
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£211/8 -1/8 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 4953/4 -73/4 Captl Shop Cent 320 -43/8 DTZ Hldgs 7 Hamrsn 3851/4 -51/8 Land Secs 677 -6 SEGRO 218 -71/4 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 2091/8 +3/8 Logica 787/8 +2 1 +61/8 Misys 255 /8 3 Sage Group 287 /8 -31/4 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 4251/2 +21/8 Bunzl 8281/2 -11/2 Capita 636 +41/2 De La Rue 884 +21/2 Electrocomp 209 +23/4 Experian 844 +41/2 5 G4S 255 /8 -1 Hays 705/8 -1/2 Homeserve 2805/8 +105/8 Menzies J 5121/2 +21/2 Rentokil 66 +7/8 Smiths News 821/4 -1/4 Wolseley 1903 -21 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 5891/2 -11 -21/2 Psion 511/4 Spirent Comms 124 +17/8 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £293/8 -1/4 Imperial Tobacco £23 +1/8 LEISURE & HOTELS Shire
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1431/2 £225/8 586 3861/4 403/4 3163/4 1227 4693/8 1116 1577/8
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS ARE you sitting comfortably? If not, Bob Lynch is just the person to help. With more than 30 years’ experience in the office furniture and equipment sector, there’s not much Bob doesn’t know about the subject. Now the Wirral-born businessman, who has enjoyed signal success running his own consultancy, is taking his business to a new level by opening a showroom at Oakes Mill, New Hey Road, Oakes, to bring a wider range of products to a wider audience. “I set up Transform Office Interiors about 15 years ago, but I have always operated on a consultancy basis, going out to see the client and deal with their enquiries where it really mattered,” he says. For a few years, Bob, 55, ran the business from Milnrow, but recently decided to come back to Huddersfield, saying: “Experience tells me that people buy from local people and being based in Lancashire wasn’t working for me. “I intend to focus mainly on West Yorkshire – and in particular Huddersfield. Now I have a site close to the M62 alongside one of the busiest roads into town.” While Bob’s talent is says. “If something is not helping to transform other right, I don’t sleep at night. I people’s offices, during the go out of my way to put it past few months he has had right. Our customers are not to set about upgrading and buying from us every week, revamping his own 1,000sq ft but next year or the year premises to provide after we want to know they showrooms, an office, are confident about coming storage space and a delivery back to us. They won’t come area. back if you don’t put the little Transform Office Interiors things right – a new castor occupies the former pump on a chair or a new key for room that served the original the office cupboard.” mill in its hey-day. Work Bob acknowledges that included removing structural equipping the office with new steelwork and pipes as well chairs and desks may not be as an old pulley system. A high on the list of priorities window to the front of the mill for hard-pressed firms, but has been knocked through to says: “I am taking a positive view. There are companies provide a doorway to the with money and while there ground floor showroom from New Hey Road and there are is a reluctance to spend it, firms are looking to expand plans for a first floor and that means they will showroom. have to invest. One feature that has to “They may be keen to stay is a water tank at the move to larger premises, but front of the building which for various reasons have to serves the mill’s sprinkler stay at the same address. If system. they are taking on more staff, Bob envisages the they will need to re-configure showrooms displaying the firm’s key products, including the office and that’s where we can help. We will handle chairs, desks, office partitions and floor coverings, the project from planning to installation. suspended ceilings, lighting “A little bit of investment in and cable trunking. The company has also undergone a rebrand with new signs, brochures and business cards as well as a revamped website – with the aim of appealing to members of the public as well as commercial clients. “More and more people are working from home at least some of the time,” says Bob. “But the ergonomics of seating remain the same, whether you are talking about one chair for a home office or hundreds of chairs for hundreds of staff.” Bob says the key to success is giving the individual customer the same attention as a major ■ POSITIVE: Bob Lynch, of corporate client. Transform Office Interiors, “We pride ourselves on our based at Oakes Mill, Oakes
profile
Page 3 Bob Lynch
Meet the chair man! your staff is a great motivator. Health and safety is a key issue. If I was an employee, I would find it very rewarding if my employer invested in me as an individual and gave me an ergonomic chair to sit on that meant – for the eight, nine or 10 hours I spend at work every day – I was working in a comfortable and pleasant environment.” Bob was born and brought up in The Wirral and is a die-hard Liverpool fan. His first job after leaving school was as a motor mechanic. “I certainly didn’t envisage being involved in office furniture,” he says. Later, Bob got the chance to work in sales. He moved to Huddersfield in the 1970s to join the sales team at soft drinks firm Ben Shaws’ Willow Lane site. “After a few years, I was approached by a neighbour and friend who asked if I would consider working in the office furniture sector. “I worked for a company in Leeds. Initially, I took an interested in office equipment – word processors, typewriters and the like. I have a logical and methodical mind and it appealed to me. “There was an open commission system so the more I sold the more I earned. The market was quite buoyant during those early years and I quickly gained some momentum. Like many successful salesmen before, him, self-employment was the ambition. “It was always a goal to have my own business,” he says. “It’s not a ‘control’ thing – it’s about getting a sense of satisfaction. I had seen the shortcomings of other companies and I knew I could offer better solutions and service if I was in
Role: Owner Age: 55 Family: Married to Sara with sons Adam, 28, and Fraser, 21 Holidays: Skiathos, Greece, for the culture and character Car: Saab 95 First job: Motor mechanic Best thing about job: Having a vision and turning that into reality for the customer Worst thing about job: It doesn’t leave much spare time! Business tip: Plan your work and work your plan. Prioritise and re-prioritise
control.” Bob’s methodical mind has been more than useful in juggling all the issues that arise running a business while trying to set up the new premises. He’s a great believer in lists and making sure you tackle the important tasks first. “Prioritise and re-prioritise,” he says. “I will make lists in the morning and get my red pen and decide which one is top priority and I will go at that until it is done before moving on to the next thing on the list.” Sales are top priority, he insists. “I have never watched the clock – which is a godsend in itself – and I am only happy when we are performing well and with satisfied customers. “It is harder to run my own
business than I thought it would be – and the economic climate has impacted on it, but it has brought new challenges and given me the opportunity to widen the product portfolio.” Another way to escape the strains of business is a round of golf. Bob plays at Elland, but strictly for relaxation. “People say there’s a lot of business done on the golf course, but I’m not so sure,” he says. “I’ve played on and off for a number of years and more regularly in the last couple of years. It’s about exercise and fresh air and reducing stress levels. You can’t think about work when you’re thinking about how to hit the ball better!”
Transform Office Interiors Work: Office furniture and equipment Site: Oakes Phone: 01484 462227 Email: sales@trans formoffice.com Web: www.transform office.com
HENRYK ZIENTEK
On the board with Autumn Statement 2011 The Chancellor delivered his Autumn statement last Wednesday, this gave an idea of the tax changes we may expect next year. Key tax saving opportunities include:
50% income tax relief for anyone who has up to £100,000 to invest in a new business start up under a new Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme; 100% capital allowances for businesses in certain Enterprise Zones; and reduction in the rate of corporation tax from 26% to 25% but no further reductions announced.
Revell Ward Tip:
Our website www.revellward.co.uk will give further details on these and any other tax savings opportunities as they become available.
Lesley Sutton Tax Director 01484 538 351
theboard@revellward.co.uk Twitter@RevellWard
www.revellward.co.uk
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KIRKLEES BUSIN
A shot in the arm for firms BANKER’S BLOG Jill Hague
AST month, HSBC announced L that it was participating in the Government’s Regional Growth
Your first-hand experience of being in business could benefit someone who is about to set-up on their own. All we need is one hour every fortnight. It’s not a lot but you could make a huge difference to someone else’s life. MYMentor is a network of people from all backgrounds supporting jobseekers in Kirklees who want to be self-employed.
www.mycci.co.uk Connecting & Supporting Business
Fund. We will receive £25m from the fund, which will be used to support small and medium-sized businesses in England that are recruiting new employees to purchase assets such as machinery and vehicles. The total fund of £1.4bn operates across England and is available now until 2013. The objective is for it to support projects and programmes that lever private sector investment creating economic growth and sustainable employment. It aims particularly to help those areas and communities currently dependent on the public sector to make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity. The bank is creating an “Assisted Asset Purchase Scheme” that will enable qualifying businesses to receive additional funds of up to £500,000 to put towards the acquisition of assets, which would not be funded under normal commercial terms. In order to qualify for RGF funds, a borrower must be able to demonstrate that they will create additional employment, have a turnover of up to £25m and that the asset purchase would not go ahead without RGF support. The Assisted Asset Purchase Scheme will provide a grant of up to £25,000 for each additional full time positions created by the acquisition of a new asset.
HSBC is committed to supporting strong viable businesses and our own Assisted Asset Purchase Scheme highlights this. The scheme will provide critical support for businesses that are looking to grow and recruit, enabling them to purchase the assets they need to achieve their goals. Business Minister Mark Prisk said at the launch: “HSBC's Assisted Asset Purchase Scheme will help SMEs that want to invest and create jobs – but that cannot currently access commercial funding. “They will deliver a shot in the arm to local communities and help small businesses drive local growth. All of the RGF funding will be provided as grants to small businesses with the bank employing their regional network to administer the scheme for free.” The cost of administering the bank’s allocated funds will be covered by HSBC. The £25m of government investment is coming from round one of the Regional Growth Fund. Any interest earned on this investment will be used for further grants or returned to the government. As part of this initiative, the UKTI in conjunction with sponsors HSBC and Price Waterhouse Coopers are hosting a series of regional events. They are designed to bring together intermediaries, advisers and businesses helping them expand and share advice on exporting for growth. The first event in our area will be held on the February 6.
Jill Hague is HSBC area commercial director for Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield
They’re in fashion A MAJOR boutique brand has fashioned a new three-year contract with an employment law specialist in Kirklees. Moda In Pelle has re-signed a three year contract for employment law services with Cleckheaton-based Howarths Employment Law. Howarths, which was formed in 2003 by Andy and Helen Howarth, will continue to work closely with Moda In Pelle – providing services including advice on all employment law issues, drafting and implementing company policies in line with ever-changing legislation, tribunal representation and conducting ILM-accredited management training. Howarths business development director Tracey Hopkins said: “We are delighted that Moda In Pelle has re-signed with us for a further three years. “Retaining such a prestigious client in times when competition is fierce is a great boost for our team. We have developed our relationship with Moda in Pelle throughout the past few years and look forward to supporting the company going forward.”
■ BOOST: Tracey Hopkins (left), of Howarths Employment Law, with Kelly Flynn, of Moda In Pelle
Rising to brand new challenge
STUDENTS at Kirklees College got the chance to show off their creative skills – while getting an insight into the world of business. They were challenged to come up with ideas for branding the college’s busines department in readiness for the opening of the new college campu next September – with their suggestions being fed directly bac to the senior management team an college principal. Lydia Butterworth (pictured), business tutor at Kirklees College said: “Students are our number on focus at Kirklees College and as such, the business team has worked hard to organise this fantastic event. It’s really exciting, because the results are going to have an actual impact on decision-making and therefore the future of Kirklees College.” The students, who are taking business courses at the college’s Huddersfield and Dewsbury centres, combined work on the branding project with a visit to the Galpharm Stadium, home of the college’s official education and training partner, Huddersfield Tow to hear speakers from organisation including Delicious Desserts and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The day was rounded off with priz for the group of students with the winning ideas as judged by local business people and college tutor
Banking group expands team
BANKING group Santander UK is expanding its Yorkshire corporate banking operations after a year of strong growth across the region. The bank increased business lending by 71% in 2010, lending £353m to regional businesses – a has matched this in the first three quarters of 2011. Regional director Neil Williams is recruiting several relationship directors and is looking to expand into Bradford, Doncaster and Wakefield. It already has corporat business centres in Leeds, Hull an Sheffield. Santander Corporate Banking als plans to recruit additional credit experts to the Yorkshire team. Cre partners work alongside the relationship directors, attending customer meetings and helping to deliver appropriate lending faciliti to customers and prospects. Mr Williams said: “I’m delighted w the progress being made in Yorkshire. Across the region, we’v already lent more to SMEs in the first three quarters, than we did during the whole of last year. 2010 was an excellent year too and our performance this year confirms th we have gathered real momentum the region.”
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Take note of legal changes HE Government has T announced proposals to “shake up” employment laws in
the UK and a consultation exercise will now be launched seeking the views of employees and businesses. The announcement follows the recent decision to increase the unfair dismissal qualifying period from one to two years, which is likely to take effect on April 1, 2012. The new proposals include a rapid resolution scheme which should allow job disputes to be settled more quickly. This should hopefully ensure that more simple employment law claims are settled within three months; reducing the burden on the Tribunals and the costs to businesses. Furthermore, it is expected that it will be compulsory in the future to lodge all Employment Tribunal claims through ACAS first – ACAS is a conciliatory body whose role is to try and settle claims before they reach the Employment Tribunal. If the claims have to go to ACAS first, there is more chance that conciliation will work and compromises can be reached. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the proposals is to introduce the concept of “protected conversations”. This is expected to mean that employers will be able to hold frank discussions with employees about poor performance without fearing that they can be used as evidence in Employment Tribunals.
EMPLOYER’S BRIEF Neil Wilson
This effectively extends the “without prejudice” rule which has, in recent times, only been held to apply to formal meetings. The protected conversations are likely not to apply where discriminatory acts are involved so employees will still be able to rely on such conversations if any element amounts to discriminatory conduct. With regard to consultation over redundancies, there are currently time limits which apply where employers are considering terminating the contracts of over 20 employees. The government is looking at reducing minimum periods for redundancy consultation to 60, 45 or even 30 days. In addition to the above, other proposals which are expected include introducing financial penalties for employers who breach employment rights, with discretion being given to employment judges to issue such penalties. Also, there will be a review of the Employment Tribunal rules and procedure which may have the effect of introducing a costs regime for submitting claims and proceeding to a hearing. Finally, employment judges may sit alone in future cases on unfair
dismissal matters whereas currently there are two ”wing members”. Business Secretary Vince Cable has explained that the proposals will help firms to expand without making existing staff feel insecure and it is estimated that the Government will save £10m, with employers benefiting by up to £40m. There is, of course, opposition to the plans and the GMB union has commented that the changes “will make it harder for hundreds of thousands of workers to bring cases of victimisation, unfairness and bullying at work”. The Shadow Business Secretary has also voiced concern abut “watering down people’s rights” and stated that the Government should be more focused on getting people into work considering the current level of u n e m p l o yment. Consultation is likely to open soon and further a n n o u n c ements will be made as the proposals take shape.
Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors
Real festive flavour A COFFEE shop in Huddersfield is celebrating Christmas – and its first year of trading – with its own exclusive coffee. Time Circa 2010 launched Christmas Festival Coffee, just in time for the Festival of Light in Huddersfield town centre and a year to the day since it opened its doors at Hammond’s Yard, off King Street. Co-director Andrew Dunne said: “We thought a Christmas coffee would be a good idea and we also wanted to mark the Festival of Light. “We have come up with a traditional espresso blend using beans from East Africa, India and South America. “It is a luxury coffee blended exclusively for us by our supplier which will make a richly indulgent espresso, cappuccino, latte or americana.” Time Circa 2010, based in one of the town centre’s oldest buildings, opened last December and has quickly established a reputation as a coffee shop and a venue for the arts – having hosted a Shakespeare play, musical concerts, poetry readings and art exhibitions.
Page 5 Time for a little enterprise THE search is on for Britain’s best university and graduate businesses. Thousands of young people are being given the chance to compete for regional and national recognition in the Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards – with the winner set to win £50,000 to invest in their business and comprehensive business mentoring. There are an estimated 55,000 student businesses in Britain – operating in sectors as diverse as design, IT, catering and media. Lloyds Banking Group has joined forces with the National Consortium of University
Entrepreneurs, a charity set up to encourage entrepreneurial activity in universities. The competition is open to entrepreneurs currently studying at universities across England, Scotland and Wales or those who graduated within the past five years and have been trading for more than a year. Entrants will be considered for two titles – Best Start up and Best Enterprise – with regional heats starting next February. Two winners from each heat will compete for the two awards in March. Go to www.lloydstsb.com /enterpriseawards
Who will be the next Business of the Month? If you are proud of what your business has achieved; why not tell us about your success story and you could be a winner of our prestigious award. For further details please contact: Ian Greenwood, Eaton Smith Solicitors, 14 High Street, Huddersfield HD1 2HA T: 01484 821389 E: iangreenwood@eatonsmith.co.uk Business Of The Month Awards - Rewarding Success Since 1995
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Call for bosses to recruit young staff A BUILDING firm which has worked on projects in Huddersfield is urging others to employ more young people. Southdale, which partnered Kirklees Council on the re-development of housing at Brackenhall, said businesses had a “moral and commercial obligation” to take on apprentices and young people in their local communities. Trudie McCormick, of Halifax-based Southdale, said: “It is vital that new blood is brought into our country’s industries, because otherwise we will reach a point where there are huge skills shortages.” Southdale has a 15-year history of employing young people and any company wishing to supply or be a sub-contractor to our business, must sign an agreement to take on at least one apprentice. The firm works in the social and residential housing and public sector.
Bid to end blight of empty stores
A NEW project headed by a Huddersfield-born woman aims to help high street shops win back customers. The project, Town Centre Rejuvenation, is being spearheaded by Kate Hardcastle, co-partner at Holywell Green-based business transformation specialist Insight with Passion. It comes as many town and city centre retailers face declining sales in the face of rising costs, a decline in shopper numbers and tougher competition from supermarkets and online offerings. Kate said the blight of empty stores in many town centres – with 14.3% of shop units new vacant across the UK – was estimated to cost the country almost £900m in lost business rates and lost shopworkers’ wages. The new project, which follows a pilot scheme run in Huddersfield, will target eight towns and cities across Yorkshire. In each case, local retailers and small businesses will get free advice from the IwP team on ways to transform their businesses and win back customers. Kate, who delivers presentations and seminars on this issue across the world, said empty shops affected everyone in the country. She said: “When we began to look at this issue, it was one that we wanted to make people consider from their own point of view. “Empty shops don’t just blight an area, they hit us in the pocket. It’s time to say ‘enough is enough’. We can’t wait for report after report. Towns and cities across the country need less head-shaking
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and more action.” Said Kate: ““It’s not true to say consumers just want to shop online. We crave human interaction in our shopping experience and we have worked with clients in Dubai, Australia and the UK to show that if you change how you interact with customers you can see real results in your turnover.” Bradford is one of eight towns in Yorkshire where the project will be rolled out in 2012 – where a fifth of shops in the city centre have closed in the downturn. Others targeted next year include Batley and Birstall, Commercial Street in Leeds, Wakef i e l d , D o n c a s t e r, H u l l , Rotherham and Bingley. Businesses taking part will be given a “toolkit” that they can take back to their own stores. “The project is based on our concept of Retail Theatre,” said Kate. “It’s about making businesses stand out, understanding what the consumer wants, how you can appeal to them and also show them how you’re meeting their needs. “It’s not about small businesses spending loads of money and getting in expensive consultants. It’s about delivering a better service and better products.” One of the key issues Kate will be encouraging the businesses to address is that of customer service, which she believes is one of the real issues driving customers away from the high street. She said: “Who wants to go somewhere where staff are rude, don’t answer your questions properly, can’t tell you about the product they’re selling? Customer
■ VACANT EXPRESSION: A new project to tackle empty shops and declining sales on the high street has been launched
service is the central thing I want to bring back to the high street. It doesn’t cost a penny and it’s easily done.” Town Centre Rejuvenation
seminars will take place on February 6 in Bingley, February 13 in Bradford, February 20 in Batley and Birstall and February 27 at Commercial Street, Leeds.
New offices for Towry WEALTH adviser Towry is switching the site of its West Yorkshire office. The company is moving to the £10m Toronto Square development in Leeds. Towry is taking 11,000sq ft on the fifth floor on a 10-year lease. Towry was previously based at St Paul’s Street in the city. It is the largest single letting at Toronto Square so
far and takes the total space let since the beginning of the year to almost 30,000 sq ft. Sarah Johnson, property and facilities manager at Towry said: “The office move brings the team right into the centre of the Leeds business district. “The new premises will provide a high quality environment for both our
clients and professional contacts and demonstrates our commitment to growing our business in Leeds.” Toronto Square is a 90,000sq ft development, completed in 2009. It boasts environmental features including air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, areas of green roofs and a recycling hub.
Society scoops awards YORKSHIRE Building Society swept the board at the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards. The society, which has its origins in Huddersfield, was named best national building society as well as winning
the categories for best overall lender, best online lender and best intermediary lender. The Bradford-based society was also highly commended in the categories for excellence in treating customers fairly and
innovator of the year – the latter for its tracker-to-fixed rate mortgage. Group direct product manager Chris Smith said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised at these awards.”
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
Small builders ‘squeezed out’ KIRKLEES builders could still face being squeezed out of the Green Deal market, it is claimed. The Federation of Master Builders said the government should ensure that small building companies have an equal opportunity to offer Green Deal finance to their customers. Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the federation, said: “The Green Deal offers an enormous opportunity to transform the nation’s building stock to make it greener and more energy efficient as well as help generate thousands of new jobs in the building industry. “It’s great news that the government has listened to us and recognises that SME builders are in direct contact with householders and are therefore well-placed to advise householders on specific works that might be appropriate under the Green Deals. “However, that potential is at risk if small building firms can only offer Green Deal finance by tying themselves to major companies. “The danger is that the large energy and utility companies will hoover up the Green Deal market and squeeze out local builders which is very bad news both for the building industry and local economies.” Mr Berry said: “The government needs to
ensure that accredited Green Deal builders have equal access to Green Deal finance so that they can offer these new finance packages to their customers. “It is the local builder who is best placed to advise customers on retrofit work when they are carrying out other home improvement works and these ‘trigger points’ for Green Deal work will be lost if local builders can’t access the Green Deal finance.” He said: “The Government needs to create a Green Deal finance delivery vehicle that local accredited builders can access and offer to customers wanting to undertake Green Deal work. “With rising energy prices, the market for retrofit work is certainly there and is worth at least £3.5bn every year – but consumers will need to be convinced that the Green Deal makes financial sense to them. “It’s pleasing therefore to see the proposed cash back incentive in the consultation, but a reduced rate of VAT for Green Deal approved measures is needed in addition to boost demand and create much-needed jobs in the building industry. “Local building companies first need to be given the opportunity to do the work otherwise the Green Deal will be a lost opportunity.”
Helping to save time MAJOR investment in IT systems is helping kitchen fitters save time. Dewsbury-based Rixonway Kitchens, one of the leading manufacturers working in affordable and social housing, is saving Apollo building contractors 12 working days of time a year with its Call Off Manager system. Call Off Manager is a new addition to Rixonway’s X-net system, a secure online portal for both clients and contractors to access a range of business information, allowing clients and contractors greater control over their orders. Apollo has found that it can offer a greater service to its clients by using Rixonway’s Call Off Manager system. Apollo senior buyer Danny Worrell said: “Through this improved software, our clients are given a much more flexible time-frame with orders, particularly when they need to alter a design after the kitchen has been ordered. “They are also able to order kitchens with a shorter notice period and take advantage of quicker delivery times. “The benefits of saving time for Apollo as a business have been huge. For the buying department alone, we have saved 12 working days’ worth of time in the first year of using the Call Off Manager system. “We are also able to monitor
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■ WINING RECIPE: Rixonway sales and marketing director David Anderson and stop order duplications, further impacting on time and cost savings.” Clients of Rixonway Kitchens can now log in to Call Off Manager and view priced kitchen designs, removing the delay in waiting for a quotation prior to placing an order. Once the order is placed, clients can then track their unique production and delivery schedule online, greatly reducing time and administration costs. David Anderson, Rixonway Kitchens sales and marketing
director, said: “The system was designed by Rixonway Kitchens to reduce the amount of administration time for its customers when managing the delivery of their orders. “Contractors are able to call off their kitchens online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Rixonway has invested significantly in machinery and the expansion of its manufacturing facility. The firm delivers more than 12,000 units a week from its plant at Dewsbury.
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
■ DRAGON TAMERS: The winning team at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School with the judges
Child’s play for Yorkshire Mafia YOUNGSTERS from a Kirklees primary school pitched their business ideas to the head of networking group The Yorkshire Mafia in a Dragons’ Den-style challenge. An educational enterprise programme that teaches children as young as nine about running a business invited pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Dewsbury to take part. The Schools Teaching Enterprise Programme was recently launched to introduce primary school children to the basics of business and help develop their self-belief to succeed as an entrepreneur at an early age. A class of Year 5 pupils from St Joseph’s pitched their business ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs which included Geoff Shepherd, founder of business membership group The Yorkshire Mafia; Gareth Boot, owner of the PIC Group; and school head Maureen Fletcher. The Dragons’ Den style event was the culmination of a two-day enterprise programme delivered by STEPteam, which saw the nine to 10-year-olds learning the basics of business and putting together plans for a business of their own. The winning plan was ‘Reuse Recycle’, a business selling eco-stationery made from recycled products, which the school intends to help the students roll out and run. Said Geoff: “In 20 year’s time it will not be today’s business leaders that shape our financial future and dictate the prosperity of our national economy. They won’t be the ones creating employment opportunities, generating wealth and driving UK PLC forward – it will be our children.” Kathryn Rushfirth, managing director of STEPteam and co-founder of the programme adds: “The aim of the programme is to introduce children to the business world at a young age and help sow the seed of desire to become an entrepreneur. “It’s also a fantastic opportunity for businesses to get involved with their local schools.” Businesses interested in sponsoring a school to take part in the programme should email sponsor@stepteam.org
Chris Horswood
Colliers International PROPERTY specialist Colliers International has appointed Chris Horswood to its valuation team covering Yorkshire and the north east. Mr Horswood, who gained an MSc in real estate management from Northumbria University, worked at Jones Lang Lasalle for four years. He joins Colliers as a senior surveyor and brings the numbers in the team based in Leeds to six. The appointment follows a series of new client acquisitions including Aviva and Huddersfield-based Britannia Rescue’s owner LV=.
Movers and shakers
Page 8
Building supply firm gets shirty A BUILDING products group – which supplied materials to build the Galpharm Stadium – is hoping to share in success with Huddersfield Giants. The Myers Group is one of the club’s new official kit sponsors, with its logo featuring on the back of the players’ shirts. Giants star Lee Gilmour was at Myers Build & DIY at Crosland Hill to mark the tie-up and promote a prize draw to win a signed shirt. The draw will take place on Tuesday, December 20, at Myers Build & DIY. S p o ke swo m a n T h e r e s a Flacks said: “The Myers Group is a traditional family-run business in its fourth generation, supplying the local community of Huddersfield with everything for building, renovating & DIY through its network of companies.” The group’s businesses include Naylor Myers Building Supplies, Boards Timber Merchants, Johnsons Wellfield Natural Stone Supplies and HSH Skip Hire. Also part of the Group is
Readymix Huddersfield which celebrated its 50th anniversary in July 2009. Readymix Huddersfield, close to the Galpharm Stadium, includes subsidiary companies Mini Mix, Conveyormix & Mobile Concrete Pump Hire. Said Theresa: “Together, these companies supplied the vast amount of concrete required to build the then McAlpine Stadium, the home of Huddersfield Giants. “We are very proud to have the Myers Group logo displayed on the new Huddersfield Giants shirts. “We do our very best to support the local community wherever possible, so to be associated with our local team is a great privilege. We wish Huddersfield Giants all the very best in the forthcoming season.” Huddersfield Giants managing director Richard Thewlis said: “It is wonderful for us to have the Myers logo on our shirts and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial
■ SIGN HERE: Lee Gilmour, pictured with (from left) Sharon Cook, Mick Clough and Jane Webb, adds his signature to the Giants shirt featuring the Myers Group logo
partnership. We look forward to helping them further their brand through our community
Appointments all adding up
■ NEW STARTERS: Joining Clough and Company are (from left) Chris Newby, Craig Blackburn, Jack Link, Sohaib Sheikh and Lucy Gittins A CHARTERED accountancy firm with offices in Cleckheaton is defying the economic downturn and expanding with the appointment of five new recruits. Clough and Company, which also has offices in Keighley, has appointed Chris Newby, of Gomersal, and Jack Link, of Shipley, as trainee accountants. Both have completed their A-levels and will begin studying towards the Association of Accounting Technicians qualification. Trainee accountants Lucy Gittins, of Bramley, and Sohaib Sheikh, from Allerton, both join from previous employers. Lucy is studying for her final year of AAT, whilst Sohaib continues to work towards his Associate Chartered Accountancy qualification. All four will spend the next three years shadowing experienced team members across the firm’s numerous departments. Clough & Company has also appointed
an audit senior as a direct result of increased business in its thriving audit department. Craig Blackburn, of Cleckheaton, spent five years at Auker Rhodes LLP and will now work in a team of 14, auditing accounts for businesses in the property, retail and manufacturing industries. Steven Gash, practice chairman of Clough & Company, said: “These five appointments reflect our commitment to recruit and train the most talented professionals in order to provide the very best accountancy services to our valued clients. “At a time when many professional services firms are making cuts or merging we have built up a respected business that hires, trains and keeps its talented staff to provide our clients with unrivalled continuity.”
work in the schools, amateur clubs and charitable organisations that we are linked with.”
MPs join the debate TWO local politicians will be discussing hot topics for businesses at a briefing organised by a Huddersfield law firm. Baxter Caulfield, based at Station Street, will host the session with Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney and Yorkshire MEP Timothy Kirkhope on Friday at the Briar Court Hotel, Birchencliffe. The event gets under way at 10am. The MPs will give their thoughts on the local economy and the business environment and take questions from those attending. Stephen Newman (pictured), senior partner at Baxter Caulfield, said: “In these challenging times it will be fascinating to hear the views of the politicians. “Businesses can gain an insight into the advice and assistance that can be accessed from Central Government and the European Union.” Places are available on a first come first served basis. Email caroline.walker @recognitionpr.co.uk to reserve a place.