ERIC JOYCE
FTSE 100 -42.54 6823.51
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014
Keeping his cool Interview - Page 3
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NICK GARTLAND City conundrum Column - Page 4
An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
Huddersfield is providing a new home for one of Europe’s top manufacturing organisations. Klüber Lubrication GB has moved to Pennine Business Park at Bradley as part of ambitious growth plans that will create more jobs and further develop the firm’s collaborative projects with leading engineering companies. And it represents a homecoming for Paul Holland, managing director for sales and marketing, who hails from Fixby and lives at Kirkheaton. He said the UK operation, which was previously based at Northowram, Halifax, had been looking to move into modern offices for some time to provide a base for its 26 staff and offer space for expansion. The new offices also provide room for an “active exhibition space” where customers can find out more about Klüber’s products, attend seminars and undertake training in the use of its products. The Bradley premises were officially opened by Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, who was welcomed by Mr Holland; Peter Webster, managing director for finance and administration; and main board directors Dieter Becker and Claus Langgartner. Mr Langgartner presented his English
■■ Barry Sheerman MP (left) with (from left) Claus Langgartner, Paul Holland and Peter Webster with the traditional German housewarming gifts of bread and salt – and a stein
colleagues with a traditional German housewarming gift of bread and salt together with a Bavarian beer stein. In return, guests were invited to sign a Huddersfield Town shirt, instead of a visitors’ book. Mr Langgartner said UK manufacturing was picking up after being “flat” during the recession and told employees: “This is a beginning. You are a very
important part of the Klüber Group.” Mr Sheerman said Klüber GB had “traded up” by moving from Halifax to Huddersfield, describing the town as the “jewel in the crown” of Yorkshire manufacturing. Klüber supplies a range of oils and greases for use in applications ranging from Formula One racing cars to wind turbines. Customers include Nestle, Sie-
mens Wind Power and Coca Cola. Mr Holland said the aim was to make the Huddersfield site a centre of excellence, adding: We have 250 years of experience among the people based at this site. “We train people here and support our colleagues in Scandinavia, the Benelux countries, Switzerland and South Africa.” He said: “Our growth strategy is underpinned by being able to deliver complete lubrication solutions to all industries through our highly qualified field team supported by a trained and knowledgeable office staff. “We invest heavily in all our people, so it was vital we take the existing team with us and have space to grow so we can deliver our ambitious but achievable growth targets with confidence.” Klüber GB, which opened the Halifax site in 1978, has started a recruitment drive with field staff being employed in key sectors such as marine, oil and gas. “West Yorkshire is a critical part of the equation because we need to be able to comfortably service Scotland and East Yorkshire and the Humber from our base,” said Mr Holland. “The marine sector has been a major growth area for us in recent years and we have already invested heavily in a new website specifically for that market. “We are now looking to boost our offering across sectors with new pioneering products.”
Half-year results put furniture maker in comfort zone
■■ Simon Bodsworth, marketing and development manager at Daval Furniture
A furniture manufacturer has posted “fantastic” half-year results following its first trade exhibition appearance. Slaithwaite-based Daval Furniture has seen sales increase by 15% against the first six months of last year. During the period, Daval attended international trade exhibition kbb in Birmingham, where the company won an innovation award for its Como bedroom. Daval also launched its state of the art handle-less kitchen Spa Fields – named after its Huddersfield address
– as well as a new painting department dedicated to taking customer personalisation and experience to the next level. Daval has also brought seven new retail stockists on board – all generated at kbb – who are featuring Daval kitchens and bedrooms in their showrooms. In response to its growth in business, Daval has also recruited five new warehouse staff at its Slaithwaite factory. Simon Bodsworth, marketing and development manager at Daval, said: “Many
UK manufacturers have experienced tough times throughout a number of recessions. “However, it is becoming more apparent that the economy is changing and Daval has experienced positive growth, especially in 2014 so far. “We recently launched seven new kitchens which have created a buzz amongst our stockists and we’re looking forward to launching our dedicated Daval showroom at our Slaithwaite-based head office this summer.”
Double winners A recruitment agency which has been growing since its formation has been named Business of the Month – for the second time – in the competition run by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith. Husband and wife team Adam and Victoria Dyson, of The Clever Fish Recruitment Ltd, based in Lindley, received their framed certificate from Deborah Melluish, of Eaton Smith, at a presentation held at Eaton Smith’s High Street offices. Now The Clever Fish Recruitment is in prime position where it has a sustainable, respected and measurable business model.
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Free house A Calderdale pub is among dozens of pubs being made available to let freeof-tie by Wellington Pub Company. Leisure property specialists Fleurets has been instructed to let 38 pubs on free-of-tie agreements. The properties are spread across England and Wales,. They include the Whitehall Hotel at Hipperholme. The free-of-tie lease allows the properties to be traded as a mixed bar/restaurant business or 100% restaurant format – lessees have the freedom to choose.
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TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
national
Aedas demerger builds two separate businesses Architecture practice Aedas – which has its roots in Huddersfield – has announced the demerger of the business. Directors have split the business – with the firm’s 13 offices in China, South-East Asia, the Middle East and the US continuing to operate under the Aedas brand and the eight UK offices and offices in Russia, Poland and Kazakhstan operating as AHR – recalling its origins as Abbey Hanson Rowe. A statement said the demerger would allow both companies to focus on their respective strengths and grow the businesses in different directions. It said: “The intention is that both groups will continue to work together on projects in the future.” Keith Griffiths, chairman of Aedas, said: “This move reinforces Aedas’ primary aim to provide international design services to the major world cities through our network of 13 offices and 1,400 staff.” Brian Johnson, chairman of the new UK practice, said: “We believe that this is a very natural evolution based on how the practice has been operating in recent years and to all intents and purposes there will be no change for our clients or our 450
staff.” AHR, formerly Aedas UK, will continue to operate from its offices in Huddersfield, London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Shrewsbury and Glasgow, along with its offices in Russia, Poland, Kazakhstan and its associate office in Karachi, Pakistan. Later this year, AHR plans to open an office in Dubai, where it is working on a number of high-profile education and health projects. Mr Johnson said: “We are very excited to announce the launch of the AHR brand in the UK and across our
international offices. AHR has a longstanding history of producing awardwinning designs, something which we will continue into the future.” Robert Grayson, who heads the Huddersfield office with its staff of almost 100, said demerger provided a great opportunity for AHR to reaffirm its commitment to the Yorkshire region and the UK. “We are trying to make ourselves more applicable to the areas where we carry out our profession,” he said. “We are still heavily involved with all manner of public and private sector clients.”
Six-month sales exceed expectations Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said it performed “strongly” in the first six months of the year, with sales and prices at the upper end of expectations. The Buckinghamshire-based firm said in the half year to June 29 it increased the number of homes it built by 11% to 5,766, while average selling prices rose by 10% to £206,000. The company said it expected to see a profit margin of about 16% against 13.1% in the same period a year ago. The group, which teetered on the brink of collapse in 2009 due to its massive debts, has been helped by a strengthening economy, record low borrowing costs and the Help to Buy house loan scheme. It said it welcomed affordability checks introduced in April’s Mortgage Market Review and new rules last month from the Bank of England aimed at preventing a housing bubble. Under the Bank’s measures, lenders must ensure no more than 15% of new mortgages are given to people borrowing more than 4.5 times their income. Lenders will also have to stress test borrowers’ ability to repay loans if their mortgage rate were 3% higher than the rate at the time the loan was approved. Taylor Wimpey said the Government’s Help to Buy scheme remained “very popular” with customers, accounting for 42% of 4,755 private home completions in the first half of the year.
■■ Robert Grayson, head of AHR in Huddersfield and an impression of one of the pools (left) at the Huddersfield leisure centre, which has been designed by the architect firm
Aedas started out as Abbey Hanson Rowe 175 years ago. The Huddersfield office of the newly-named AHR operation is at NU House, High Street. It has strong links with its hometown, having worked for clients including Kirklees Council, Huddersfield University and Huddersfield New College. Projects include the award-winning 3M Buckley Innovational Centre as well as the new sports centre taking shape at the ring road.
Distress levels close to record low
Fashion show spotlights McNair
Levels of UK business growth remain at record highs and business distress rates are near record lows, according to the latest Business Distress Index from insolvency trade body R3. In Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East, 55% of business are showing one key sign of business growth in the latest
Slaithwait e - ba s e d McNair Designs, billed as the supplier of the best mountain shirts in the world, was among firms taking part in the Grand Depart fashion show before the Tour de France. The event was sponsored by Campaign for Wool and
edition of the long-running survey compared with 68% nationally. In contrast, just 34% in the region are showing at least one key sign of distress against 35% nationally. However, signs of growth and distress are still uneven around the country. While 73% of busi-
nesses in the South report at least one sign of growth, this falls to 69% in the Midlands and 59% in the North. And while 34% of businesses in the South and 30% of businesses in the Midlands are reporting at least one sign of distress, this increases to 43% in the North.
UK Trade and Industry to present luxury garments and fabrics from some of Yorkshire’s top textile companies. McNair Designs uses natural merino wool to create its shirt, which has been in development for over two years and tested by some of the best known snowboard-
ers in the world, including Winter Olympian and medal winner Jenny Jones. McNair is scaling up for the autumn/winter season. It has its own atelier in Slaithwaite to sew the shirts and also offer a made to measure service. It is also seeking machinists to join the business.
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN
American Express Chevron Du Pont Exxon Mobil Gannett Hess Corp Microsoft Motors Liquidation Wal-Mart Stores Wrigleys
£55.70 £76.10 £38.20 £59.66 1868.18 £58.03 £24.55 43.79 £44.36 £46.69
Ryl Scotland Stan Chart -0.25 -0.49 -0.22 -0.23 -11.68 -0.31 +0.15 +0.13
AEROSPACE & DEFENCE
Avon Rbbr BAE Systems Chemring Cobham Meggitt Rolls-Royce Senior
650 4263/8 2041/4 3151/4 5001/2 1057 2743/4
600 Group API Grp Brady Plc Highland Gold Mining Johnson Service Grp London Security M”S Intl Nichols Redhall Group Scapa Grp Youngs GKN
AIM
+9 /2 -3 -11/2 -13/8 -31/2 -6 -101/8
231/4 73 77 66 62 £24 189 935 257/8 1271/4 1034
AUTOMOBILES & PARTS
Barclays Bk Ireland HSBC Lloyds Banking Gp
1
+1/2 -2 -1 +1 -12 -11/4 -6
3655/8
-31/4
216 201/8 6031/4 751/8
-21/2 -1/4 -4 -5/8
BANKS
Barr (AG) Diageo SABMiller Croda Elementis 98 Johnsn Mat
3297/8 12071/2
-15/8 -171/2
6331/2 18941/2 £331/2
-6 -81/2 -3/8
BEVERAGES
CHEMICALS
£221/4 2681/8 £313/4
- /8
225 /2 1524 2633/4 803/4 1801/2
+4 /4 -11 +1 +1/4 -1
6811/2 1591
-9 +2
7
CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS
Balfour Beatty C”R”H Costain Low Bonar Marshalls Drax Gp SSE
1
ELECTRICITY
5941/2 288 3107/8 1261 831/4
-2 -7/8 -41/8 -25 -3/4
448 1361/2 5851/2 2731/4 2001/8 612 £267/8 3803/8 530 806 252 2171/4 711
-4 /4
EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS
Alliance Trust Br Assets Candover Inv Dunedin Inv Dunedin Sml Edin Invst Electra Private Equity Forgn & C Henderson Smllr Cos North American Inc Scot Am Scottish Mortgage Witan
1
-41/4 -33/4 -1/4 -2 -1/8 -11/8 -2 -5 -31/2 -6
3861/2 491/4 140 931/2 3223/8
-11/2 -5/8 +7/8 -1 +21/4
1791/4 3171/8 2891/4 114
-45/8 -41/2 -15/8 -11/2
FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS
Morrison W Sainsbury Tesco Thorntons
FOOD PRODUCERS
3
ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Domino Ptg Laird Morgan Advanced Ox Instmts Volex
FIXED LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
BT Grp Cable & Wireless Comm Colt Group KCOM Talktalk Telecom
AB Food Carrs Millg REA Hldgs Tate Lyle Unilever
£311/4 1800 482 663 £265/8
+25 +9 -31/2 -1/8
GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES
Centrica National Grid Pennon Grp Severn United Utils
3131/4 8491/2 810 1968 892
GENERAL FINANCIAL
3i Group Close Bros ICAP London StockExch Man Group Provident Financial Schroders Schroders NV Smith DS Smiths Grp
4027/8 1292 3741/4 £20 1131/4 £221/2 £251/4 1960
GENERAL INDUSTRIALS 272 /4 1293 3
GENERAL RETAILERS
Ashley L Carphone Whse Dixons Retail
251/4 3215/8 491/8
-13/8 -1 -5 -1 -21/2 -7 -1 -1/8 +1/4 -1/8 -1/8 -12 -8 /4 -10 1
-11/8 -23/4 -3/8
Local shares
Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp
120 /4 1801/2 8491/2 £273/8 1
FTSE closed at
+2 /4 -1 -1 +1/4
6823.51
down 42.54 Home Retail Inchcape Kingfisher M & S Mothercare Next Signet Jewelers WH Smith
1801/4 646 351 4331/4 268 £653/4 £643/8 1116
-51/2 -101/2 -103/4 -31/8 +131/2 -1/8 -7/8 -8
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
Smith Nph
1033
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Aga Rangemaster Barrat Dev Bellway Persimmon Reckitt Benckiser Taylor Wimpey
1503/4 372 1531 1281 £511/8 114
-2
-1/2 -93/4 -58 -24 -1/8 -31/8
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Fenner I”M”I Molins Renold Spirax-Sarco Weir Grp Ferrexpo
358 1487 173 651/2 £271/2 £273/8
-103/8 -23 -1/2 +1/4 -1/4 +1/4
143
+21/2
INDUSTRIAL METALS
INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION
BBA Aviation
3183/4
LIFE INSURANCE
Aviva Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life
1
-1/2
519 2271/4 2003/8 1378 3021/2 3795/8
BSkyB D Mail Tst ITV Johnston Press Pearson Reed Elsevier STV Group Trinity Mirror Utd Business UTV WPP
MEDIA
901 859 1813/4 41/8 1149 946 367 1671/2 675 200 1270
MINING
Anglo American Antofagasta BHP Billiton Fresnillo Kazakhmys Lonmin Rio Tinto VEDANTA RESOURCES
1510 8151/2 1995 927 3221/8 2467/8 £325/8 1132
-21/2 -3/4 -3/8 -21/2 -31/4 -2 -21/2 -2 +2 -31/2 -23/4 +51/2 -6 -8 -11 -111/2 -16 -1 +23/8 -1/8 -1/4 -11
MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Inmarsat Vodafone Group
7561/2 1967/8
-21/2 -11/2
1572 1026 £301/4 4791/4
+1 -35 -1/8 -1/8
1257 5133/4
-16 -51/2
NONLIFE INSURANCE
Admiral Grp Jardine LloydThomson Marsh McL RSA Ins Gp BG BP
OIL & GAS PRODUCERS
Cairn Energy Premier Oil Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B Total Tullow Oil
1997/8 3331/4 £24 £253/8 £411/4 8171/2
-31/4 -71/2 -1/8 -1/8 -7/8 -261/2
Menzies J Northgate Prem Farnell Rentokil Travis & P Wolseley
1224 1231 801
-7 +6 -111/2
ARM Hldgs IBM Spirent Comms
1429 3593/4
-29 +33/4
Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco
£441/2 1577 £461/2
+3/8 -2 +1/8
6861/2 639 573 3093/4 1019 3515/8
-7 -9 -101/2 -41/8 -21 -23/8
383
-31/8
OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
AMEC Petrofac Wood Gp(J)
PERSONAL GOODS
Burberry Gp PZ Cussons
PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY
Astrazeneca GlaxoSmithKline Shire Brit Land Gt Portland Hamrsn Intu Properties Land Secs SEGRO
REAL ESTATE
SOFTWARE & COMPUTER SERVICES
Sage Group
SUPPORT SERVICES
Berendsen Bunzl Capita Connect Group De La Rue Elctro Com Electrocomp Experian G4S Hays Homeserve Interserve
1043 1651 1161 1893/4 779 260 260 1006 2637/8 1437/8 3061/8 628
-16 -12 -4 +43/4 -11/2 -4 -4 -15 +13/4 -27/8 -57/8 -2
690 528 1987/8 1145/8 1654 £321/2
-10 -61/2 -31/4 -17/8 -29 -1/8
9021/2 £1091/2 97
-81/2 -1/2 -3/4
TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT
TOBACCO
£353/4 £267/8
-1/4 -1/8
95 £221/8 1041 1325 1253/4 1275/8 £233/8 8511/2 £243/8 3611/4 1401/8 1441/2 3987/8 273 97/8 1687/8 608 5491/2 3797/8 3891/4 £433/4 3411/8
-5/8 -1/8 -7 -36 -1/4 -13/4 -3/8 -171/2 -3/8 -63/8 -7/8 -11/2 -11/4 -41/8 +1/8 -11/8 -91/2 -125/8 -35/8 -8 -3/8 +1/8
TRAVEL & LEISURE
Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Marston’s Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Punch Taverns Rank Org Restaurant Grp Ryanair Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread William Hill FTSE 100 FTSE 250
INDEX
6823.51 15892.30
-42.54 -157.86
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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
profile
High-flier Eric gets his just desserts! He’s enjoyed a high-flying career in the RAF and faced the heat as a fireman. But things have cooled off considerably for Leeds-born Eric Joyce. He’s now a maker of delicious ice cream cakes, whose concoctions have won prizes in national and international competitions. Eric and wife Janice run ice cream parlour Vanilla Bean in Slaithwaite. The couple, who live at Marsden, are in the process of extending the business into a neighbouring property to provide a larger cafe and make more room for ice cream-making and storage. Janice had set up the business five years before Eric retired from West Yorkshire Fire Service at the age of 52. “I had plans for what I would do next,” he says. “I’d worked as a painter and decorator from the age of 13 to 17 with my dad and could turn my hand to that.” But when Janice was unable to mix the ice cream because of a wrist injury, Eric took up the mixign bowl. “I gradually got involved in the business, helping out by making the ice cream,” he says. One of the sales reps calling at the shop mentioned there was an ice cream cake course coming up at Rimini in Italy, so Eric took the opportunity to attend – and has never looked back. As well as making ice cream cakes, Eric has demonstrated the art at a national ice cream exhibition in Harrogate and has won awards for his honeycomb ice cream and Yorkshire toffee ice cream flavours. He judges competitions, too, and is chairman of the Yorkshire division of the Ice Cream Alliance, the industry trade body. Eric believes the secret to the success of his products is down to quality ingredients. The milk and cream he uses come from a dairy farm at Pole Moor and other products such as flavourings and cones come from trusted suppliers. Eric also makes flavourings to his own recipes using natural col-
ourings and buys the fruits he needs from a neighbouring greengrocer. “The traditional flavours of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and mint are always popular,” he says. “We have six ‘standard’ ranges and the others I rotate depending on the availability of seasonal fruits. People like something different.” Vanilla Bean also has a loyal following, including cycling clubs from Lancashire. “We have an old couple who come here every day from Holmfirth on the bus,” he says. “They get off the bus, call in and buy their ice creams and 20 minutes later they get back on the bus to Holmfirth. “I have an ice cream seller’s tricyle which I take up to the park at Marsden. “When Mikron Theatre were staging a new play about an ice cream man I was selling ice creams from the tricycle during the interval.” The Slaithwaite ice cream parlour has also featured on TV’s Hairy Bikers show – when Janice was making puddings for the local meals on wheels service. Concocting mouthwatering ice cream cakes seems a world away from Eric’s previous careers. Eric, who hails from Horsforth, worked with his father, a painter and decorator, between the ages of 13 and 17 before joining the RAF. “When I was a kid, there wasn’t much for a teenager where I lived,” he says. “My father has been a paratrooper during his National Service and I wanted to join the army, but my mother didn’t want me to end up going to Northern Ireland.” Eric got an interview at an RAF recruitment office and joined up. He served with the air force for more than 12 years – 10 of those years with RAF mountain rescue teams stationed firstly at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire as a senior aircraftsman for five years before transferring to RAF Valley on Anglesey and promotion to corporal.
Eric Joyce
Eric met Janice at RAF Leeming, where she worked in the officers’ mess. Eric was also stationed at the base at the time that Prince Andrew was training to be a pilot. During his years with RAF mountain rescue, Eric witnessed some harrowing scenes when his team was dispatched to plane crash sites. On one occasion, they were sent from RAF Valley to the Isle of Man in the aftermath of a fatal plane crash involving a trainee pilot. At other times, the team were called out to help with climbers and walkers who had been injured or killed. He says: “There was a lot of comraderie and I keep in touch with some of the people I knew. Being in the forces gives young people a bit of discipline. “As members of the mountain rescue team we were looked on as a bit ‘wild’. We would work hard and play hard and you had to have a bit of a sense of humour. When you get a call-out, you’re first on the scene and the scene when you arrive isn’t nice.” Eric left the RAF as military cutbacks began to take effect – missing out on the opportunity of further promotion and a posting to RAF bases in Scotland. In 1988, he joined West York-
■■ Eric Joyce, of Vanilla Bean
shire Fire Service. “At 30, I was the oldest one on the training course,” he says. “But I won a prize for being the fittest!” After training at the Birkenshaw headquarters, he spent most of his service at Dewsbury fire station. During that time, Eric was among a group of firefighters who cycled 270 miles in 24 hours to help raise funds to restore a neglected memorial to six firemen who had lost their lives in the line of duty and relocate it from a park in Bradford to the Birkenshaw HQ. He also competed for the brigade in mountain bike competitions. He says: “Like the RAF, it was a job in uniform, but it was a different environment and the discipline was less rigid. “In the fire service, you could say what you wanted, which you certainly couldn’t do in the RAF. The physical work didn’t bother me and I was used to working as part of a team.” Now he’s found his new calling in a part of the world he loves. He’s too busy with work to find time for hobbies – although he still runs the Fiat camper van which used to take him to mountain biking events and on holidays in France. Eric and Janice hope to grow the business to the point where he and Janice can employ an apprentice – and pass on the skills of ice cream cake making. They are also enthusaistic about backing other small firms. “We went to Downing Street last year when the government was launching its small business initiatives,” he says. “We were invited along with about 100 other people to talk to David Cameron, George Osborne and Vince Cable.” Mixing with powerful politicians aside, Eric and Janice are happy to be part of a thriving local community. “We have grown as Slaithwaite has developed,” he says. “There are plans for the mills and there has been some new housing. Slaithwaite is up and coming with fabulous independent shops and a thriving community.”
Role: Ice cream chef. Age: 56 Family: Married to Janice with daughter Amber, 33, and son Sean, 29 Holidays: We haven’t time for holidays at present, but we used to go to France and I enjoyed mountain bike racing First job: I had a paper round and worked in the local Co-op Best thing about the job? I like the creative side of the job, making ice cream cakes Worst thing about the job? When someone accidentally switched off the freezer when they thought they were turning off the lights and £400 of ice cream cakes were ruined Business tip: Do your research about the type of business you are thinking of going into and be prepared to work a lot of hours before you get anything back
Vanilla Bean Work: Ice cream parlour Site: Carr Lane, Slaithwaite Phone: 01484 841611 Email: vanilla_bean@bt.internet.com Web: www. freddoblu.co.uk
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TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
local
It’s such a real conundrum! 2014 so far has presented market participants with something of a conundrum. Bond yields have fallen consistently, which few people were predicting at the start of the year, and this would often signal that growth is falling short of expectations with potentially negative implications for corporate earnings estimates and share prices. Indeed, earnings estimates for 2014 are lower now in almost every major region than they were at the start of the year, following a pattern set in the last three years. However, despite being deemed to be no longer unequivocally cheap, equity markets have continued to make progress. There have been two major sources of growth disappointment. The final reading for the United States’ first quarter GDP was minus 2.9%, a figure that according to original forecasts should have started with a plus. The region was badly affected by a freezing “polar vortex”, inventories were reduced and health spending under “Obamacare” was lower than expected. Consensus GDP growth forecasts for the year
monthly purchases of bonds by the central bank now down to $35bn from an original $80bn. The next big step will be to raise the Fed Funds overnight rate, but that moment is not imminent. Employment growth has continued at a steady pace, suggesting that the underlying economy remains in a peaked at 2.9% in February and have since sustainable recovery mode. declined to 2.2%. As a result of this, though, marChina provided the other main source of conkets continue to expect interest rates to remain cern. The Chinese government is currently “lower for longer” which would be supportive of damping the economy in two areas. For over a riskier financial assets. New Federal Reserve year now there has been a clampdown on corchairwoman Janet Yellen has done nothing to rupt practices and conspicuous consumption by dispel this view, continuing to make “dovish” government employees (and this has also filpolicy comments. The Fed continues to reduce tered down into the private sector). its programme of Quantitative Easing, with Secondly, it has also been attempting to control what many perceive to be a bubble in the property market but withNick Gartland, senior financial planning out causing collateral damage director, Investec Wealth & Investment elsewhere in the economy. This has proved to be a tricky balancing act because much of the economy’s
CITY TALK Nick Gartland
Business support group makes successful debut A new business support group enjoyed a successful launch event in Brighouse. We Mean Business has been launched by businesswomen Nikki Lockwood, Becky Ashwell, Rachel Gough and Beverley Shutak to offer support for small firms, sole traders and those thinking of starting a business. Almost 60 people attended a networking event to get the venture under way. Future meetings will be held from 9.30am to 11.30am on the second Wednesday of each month at Bailiff Bridge Community Centre. The not-for-profit organisation aims to help gener-
ate business through networking, peer mentoring and business referrals. Rachel said: “We saw a gap in the market to help people who are scared of networking come to networking events. “We also want to help local people develop their business and get help with issues they face as well as celebrate successes they achieve – as being in business can be a lonely place. “We’ve had an amazing response and the feedback we have had is that it is a brilliant idea and will make a big difference.” For details of future events email becky@ dotandcrossproofreading. ■■ The We Mean Business team of (from left) Nikki Lockwood, Becky Ashwell, Rachel Gough and Beverley co.uk Shutak
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Member firm of the London Stock Exchange. Member of NYSE Liffe. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Investec Wealth & Investment Limited is registered in England. Registered No. 2122340. Registered Office: 2 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QP.
recent growth has been reliant on the provision of credit. In the face of Purchasing Manager surveys that persistently read below 50, suggesting slowing growth or even contraction, the central bank eased its policy in May and June and the economy appears to be responding positively. However, part of its most recent reform process has been to encourage the deregulation of financial markets and to remove moral hazard from them. This means that there are likely to be casualties, but we would view these as a necessary part of the maturing process. The other two main agents of monetary policy in the world, Europe and Japan, continue to be very accommodative, with the European Central Bank finally cutting rates again in June and also introducing new policies to provide cheap funds to banks. The Great Financial Crisis remains firmly imprinted on the minds of central bankers, and markets will continue to bet, not unreasonably, that they will err on the side of over-stimulation rather than risk another collapse.
Firms must warm to fire safety law RISKY BUSINESS Mark Weeks Fire safety is a very important aspect of running a business as workplace fires have devastating effects. Preventative measures need to be put in place and it’s important to understand who should be responsible for risk assessments and fire equipment. In England and Wales, if you’re an employer, owner, landlord or occupier of business or other non-domestic premises, you’re responsible for fire safety and are known as the “responsible person”. As the “responsible person” you must: • carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of the premises • tell staff or their representatives about the risks you’ve identified • put in place, and maintain, appropriate fire safety measures • plan for an emergency • provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training In shared premises, it’s likely there’ll be more than one responsible person. You’ll need to coordinate your fire safety plans to make sure people on or around the premises are safe. For common or shared areas, the responsible person is the landlord, freeholder or managing agent. As the “responsible person” you must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of the premises. This will identify what you need to do to prevent fire and keep people safe.
You must keep a written record of your fire risk assessment if your business has 5 or more people. You’ll need to appoint a “competent person” to help, e.g. a professional risk assessor, if you don’t have the expertise or time to do the fire risk assessment yourself. If you’re not sure if your risk assessment has been carried out properly your local fire and rescue authority might be able to give you advice although they can’t carry out risk assessments for you. You must have a fire-detection and warning system. You may need different types of detectors depending on the type of building and work carried out in the building. The types of equipment you need depends on your business premises. You’ll need to have any equipment properly installed, tested and maintained and train your staff to use them if necessary. You must carry out regular checks to make sure that the systems put in place work correctly, that staff understand the correct procedures in the event of a fire. New staff should be trained when they start work. All employees should be informed of any new fire risks. You should carry out at least one fire drill per year and record the results. You must keep the results as part of your fire safety and evacuation plan.
Mark Weeks is a risk management consultant at Wilby Ltd
h t 9 1 ar e y 5
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014 â€
AR
I
B US
YE
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SS OF THE
CONGRATULATIONS! WINNER
LSi LTD
Cleckheaton based supplier of promotional merchandise and clothing was formed in 1994 by Lloyd Simpson. With steady growth over the past 19 years, LSi has become one the leading corporate merchandise producing companies in the UK and the largest of its kind in Yorkshire. In 2013, LSi moved into impressive new offices, with a warehouse and a state of the art showroom which is the largest of its kind in this country. LSi has an impressive client base, including Ronseal and Theakstons and with record sales figures in the last year, the trend looks set to continue, with the future looking bright for this fine local business.
2nd PLACE TOWNDOOR LTD
3rd PLACE ANDREW LOCKE PLUMBING LTD
Enter our Business of the Month Award
Contact Us
Established by Eaton Smith in 1995, the award has been won by a diverse range of businesses over that time. No matter how large or small your business or workforce, all applications are treated equally.
If you would like more information on how to enter, please contact:
Founded in 1988, this family run Huddersfield business specialises in the development and rental of commercial property. Towndoor has over 90 units of various sizes and applications spread across 7 sites throughout Huddersfield and Leeds, including trade counters, garages, warehouses and office space. Having experienced year on year growth and increase in profits, this well respected local business deserves great credit, as it continues to re-invest profits into the expansion of the portfolio, with attention to detail in improving the quality of premises provided.
Monthly winners are automatically entered into our Business of the Year Awards, held every July, when the preceding twelve monthly winners and members of the business community attend the annual breakfast awards ceremony. So if you are proud of what your company has achieved and it is based in Kirklees, Calderdale or Wakefield why not tell us about your success story.
This long established plumbing, heating and tiling business based in Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield operates throughout Yorkshire and beyond, on domestic and a variety of commercial properties. The business has grown steadily over the years and now employs 18 staff, which is quite an achievement considering what has been the longest slump in the building industry for many years.
Deborah Melluish Eaton Smith LLP T: 01484 821300 E: deborahmelluish@eatonsmith.co.uk W: www.eatonsmith.co.uk Follow us: @EatonSmithLLP
Eaton Smith is proud to help businesses across the region achieve their objectives by providing support on local, national and international legal matters and transactions.
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH AWARDS - REWARDING SUCCESS SINCE 1995
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TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
Wellington boost A Calderdale pub is among dozens of pubs being made available to let free-of-tie by Wellington Pub Company. Leisure property specialists Fleurets has been instructed to let 38 pubs on free-of-tie agreements. The properties are spread across England and Wales,. They include the Whitehall Hotel at Hipperholme. The free-of-tie lease allows the properties to be traded as a mixed bar/restaurant business or 100% restaurant format – lessees have the
freedom to choose. Lessees will also have freedom to plan, operate and select their preferred brands from a chosen brewer or wholesaler without any interference from Wellington. Wellington Pub Company’s standard leases are normally for a term of 20 years, although longer terms may be negotiable on properties requiring capital investment. Wellington Pub Company owns the largest free-of-tie pub estate in the UK with about 800 tenanted public houses.
The other pubs on the listb include seven beibng hasndled by Fleurets’ London office, five in south east England, eight in the south west, 10 in East Anglia, three in the Midlands and five in the north east, including the Whitehall Hotel. Fleurets, which has regional offices in Leeds, is the larges firm of chartered surveyors in the Uk specialising exclusively in the sale and valuation of hotels, restaurants, pubs and leisue property.
■■ Sean Anderson (left), Jonathan Selwood-Hogg (centre) and David Gardner
Firm is building for the future
A construction company aiming to double its turnover to £20m has appointed a Huddersfield man to help it expand into Yorkshire. Jonathan Selwood-Hogg has joined Northern Construction Solutions as business development director. His appointment comes as the company refreshes its brand to become simply NCS and unveils a new website to support its ambitions to target growth and national coverage. In his new role, Mr Selwood-Hogg (centre) will support directors Sean Anderson and David Gardner,
The rebrand comes as NCS opens a new regional office in Leeds, Mr Anderson said: “It’s an exciting time for us at NCS with our new office in Leeds. We’re continuing to win work across the country and we’re taking on much larger contracts. “We know Jonathan very well having worked with him in the past at a national contractor and we know he shares our vision for the company and will be a huge asset over the next few years.” NCS, based in County Durham, was formed in 2002 and employs 60 staff .
TO LET Gledholt Sidings Business Park
Paddock, Huddersfield, HD1 4RR 1 Starter/storage units 1 500 – 1,000 sq ft Rent: From £95 Per Week
TO LET The Coach House
HUDDERSFIELD
£3,500 pa
Offers around £59,950
HUDDERSFIELD
21 Belmont Street, Huddersfield, HD1 5BZ 1 Superb modern HQ office building 1 3,616 sq ft with private car park
Rent: On Application
TO LET Fort Works
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Taylor Hall Lane, Mirfield, WF14 0HW 1 Various sized workshop/starter units 1 542 – 2,373 sq ft
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HAIRDRESSING SALON 252 SQ FT £67.30 PER WEEK WITHIN EXTRA CARE HOUSING SCHEME RATES NOT ASSESSED YET
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FOR SALE DETACHED SINGLE STOREY LOCK UP SHOP PROMINENT ROAD POSITION APPROX 340 Q FT
CROSLAND MOOR
Rent: From £85 Per Week
TO LET Colne Vale Business Park
LONGWOOD £350,000
HUDDERSFIELD
Colne Vale Road, Milnsbridge, HD3 4NY 1 Last two inustrial units 1 662 & 3,961 sq ft plus compound
Rent: On Application
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FOR SALE/TO LET 142 Blackmoorfoot Road
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Crosland Moor, Huddersfield, HD4 5RE 1 Large retail showroom with offices and parking
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Rent: £19,500 Per Annum Price: £249,000 Freehold
ROYD STREET 54 John William Street, Huddersfield West Yorkshire, HD1 1ER
RUSHBROOK HOUSE CURRENTLY OFFICES POTENTIAL RESIDENTAL POTENTIAL BUILDING PLOT 2235 SQ FT OFFICE ACCOM
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014
FOR SALE
Industrial/Development
Albert Works, Albert Street, Lockwood, Huddersfield 1,328m2 (14,300 sq ft) on approx 1.2 acres Part income-producing industrial complex benefitting from consent for new build units
TO LET
Industrial
7
TO LET
TO LET
Industrial
Bradley Junction Industrial Estate, off A62 Leeds Road, Huddersfield 347m2 (3,733 sq ft) Modern industrial/warehouse unit on secure site just off A62 Leeds Road, available from April 2014. Joint Agents: Eddisons
FOR SALE
Development
Gledholt Business Park, Paddock, Huddersfield 150m 2 (1,614 sq ft)
Carr Lane, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield 0.33 hectares (0.81 acres)
Modern single storey industrial/warehouse unit on secure site with good loading and parking
Redevelopment site suitable for various uses including residential development, subject to planning
All enquiries to Alec Michael alec@michaelsteel.co.uk
www.michaelsteel.co.uk
Commercial Residential, Commercial & Industrial Surveyors, Estate Agents, Auctioneers & Property Management Consultants BECKVIEW BUSINESS PK, HUDDERSFIELD HD2 1UR
To Let
ACRE STREET, HUDDERSFIELD HD3 3DU
Single Storey Industrial Unit
Retail Shop/Offices Premises
69.18sqm (744sqft)
110.36 sqm (1,188 sqft) with Basement
Popular industrial location
May Split
Just off the main Leeds Road (A62) and in close proximity to the M62 motorway network
Prominent Location Popular Trading Position
Situated within a secure shared yard
Suitable for a variety of trades
EPC Asset Rating D
EPC Asset Rating C
To Let
SAVILE STREET, HUDDERSFIELD HD3 4PG
CROSS CHURCH STREET, HUDDERSFIELD
Three Storey Commercial Property 335.41 sqm (3,610 sqft) Prominent main road position close to centre of Milnsbridge Rateable Value £3,450 3 Miles from Huddersfield town centre EPC Asset Rating E
14 St Georges Square, Huddersfield HD1 1JF
t: 01484 530361 e:
To Let
commercial@bramleys1.co.uk
www.bramleys.com/commercial
To Let
Ground Floor Retail Premises 34.65sqm (373 sqft) Secondary retail position Close to the Kingsgate Shopping Centre Good display frontage EPC Asset Rating C FEXIBLE TERMS AVAILABLE
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TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
movers and shakers
Clever Fish nets the prize for business David Stanley & Joanne Zalesinski
Expansion plans for 600 UK Heckmondwikebased 600 UK has further expanded its UK and European direct sales operation. The firm has appointed team members David Stanley and Joanne Zalesinski (pictured) as primary sales contacts for Colchester and Harrison training lathes and the Pratt Burnerd International (PBI) workholding divisions of the business. Mr Stanley has become European sales manager for PBI and will be responsible for generating sales throughout the continent, He joined PBI 20 years ago as a grinder and progressed through the company to become the main technical sales contact for Pratt Burnerd International customers. Ms Zalesinski has become 600 UK’s primary educational sales contact. The education sector has traditionally been a strong area for Colchester and Harrison and Ms Zalesinski has
been appointed to consolidate and further expand 600 UK’s significant presence in the sector, which supports the future of British engineering. She joined PBI 10 years ago and was initially involved in production planning and manufacturing support roles, but more recently worked in customer service roles for workholding, lathes and lathe spares. Her new role is to promote Colchester and Harrison training lathes to the education sector and to be the main point of contact with training facilities, schools, further education colleges and universities. Howard Bamforth, 600 UK sales director, said “It is great to see that we have two outstanding candidates who have progressed in our UK manufacturing facility in Heckmondwike to make an immediate impact on our selling operation.”
Sheryl Doe
Eyes on a digital future The Valli Group of Opticians has appointed Sheryl Doe as a dispensing optician and its digital media manager. Ms Doe (pictured) has more than 10 years’ experience in the optical trade, having previously worked as a dispensing optician and manager with large companies. The mother of four, who also has a grandchild, said: “I’m looking forward to bringing my experience in high end optics and internet retailing to the Valli Group and helping to grow the business exponentially.” The Valli Group has Valli opticians practices in Meltham, Lockwood,
Honley and Mytholmroyd, alongside S D Haigh Opticians in Almondbury, Mamtora Opticians in Hebden Bridge and Barbara Watson Eye Care in Wakefield. The company also runs a domiciliary eye care business and a corporate eye care business.
By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
A recruitment agency which has enjoyed continual growth since its formation has been named Business of the Month – for the second time – in the competition run by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith. The Clever Fish Recruitment Ltd was founded in 2010 by husband and wife team Adam and Victoria Dyson. Victoria had been made redundant towards the end of 2009 – and being seven months pregnant at the time knew it would be difficult to secure a new role. Based from home and working long hours, the Dysons soon started to gather momentum and started to build a client base. With Adam’s background in industrial and engineering recruitment and Victoria’s expertise in commercial recruitment, their combined experience and skills enabled them to be open to all opportunities and to recruit for all positions. To help grow the business, they used every hour possible on the phone looking for new business. Evenings were spent sending out emails, adding their company to free online business pages and doing everything they could to raise their profile. Now The Clever Fish Recruitment is in a position where it has a sustainable, respected and measurable business model. Adam and Victoria received their framed certificate from Deborah Melluish, of Eaton Smith, at a presentation held at the law firm’s High Street offices and attended by the award judges.
■■ Deborah Melluish (third left), of Eaton Smith, presents the award to Victoria and Adam Dyson watched by Paul Clarke (left), of Boston Clarke; Alyas Hussain (second left), of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce; and Steven Pollitt (right), of Eaton Smith
The judging panel felt that Adam and Victoria deserved to be commended for their hard work and determination in creating a new business that’s “family-friendly, honest, hands-on and professional”. Adam said: “Both Victoria and myself would like to say a big thank you to all of our clients for supporting us and all the candidates we have placed in permanent jobs and those people who are currently working for us in temporary roles.
“We are delighted that we have won this award for the second time and appreciate the recognition for our hard work and efforts.” The Business of the Month Award is run in association with the Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and government export support body UKTI. The competition is open to firms in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Contact Ian Greenwood on 01484 821389.
Darren in the spotlight for design The boss of a Huddersfield design agency took centre stage alongside some of the biggest names in the industry at a business conference. Darren Evans, of The Engine Room, joined Red or Dead founder Wayne Hemingway; Kayleigh Davis, a senior designer for plastic bricks maker Lego; and Mat Hunter, of the Design Council, as keynote speakers at this year’s Business Innovation for Growth Conference at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire. Darren spoke about design management and its place in business strategy and The Engine Room’s focus on its relationship with its users. He said: “The interpretation of a ‘brand’ is changing. A business’
■■ Darren Evans (left), of The Engine Room, speaks during the conference
brand is now much more about the ‘customer experience’ and the resulting perception that customers hold in their minds. “I believe that if a designer can
design a business card then they can also design a business. Design thinking and user-centred approaches are enabling businesses to overcome new chal-
lenges that our ever-changing environment faces, by getting into the shoes of their customers and their stakeholders.” The conference combined a mixture of keynote speakers, workshops, seminars and practical demonstrations bringing business leaders together to promote innovation within business and how to adapt to a client’s everchanging needs and expectations. The Engine Room, based at The Media Centre, Northumberland Street, is a two-time winner of the Design Effectiveness Award. Clients have included Ellandbased Orchard Group, Holmfirth accountancy firm Balance, Aspley firm Polyseam and healthcare business Medilink.
Companies set to share their export experiences Achieving export success is the focus of a business event this month. Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman will join government export support arm UKTI and the Mid
Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce for the MY Export Hub event from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Friday, July 25, at the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, Firth Street, Huddersfield.
The free event will provide the chance to hear from UKTI on opportunities for UK businesses and on the funding and support available to help companies trade internationally.
Speakers will also include exporters Richard Paxman, of Fenay Bridge-based scalp cooling systems firm Paxman Coolers, and Graham Capell, of Wesco Aircraft, based at Clayton West.