Kirklees Business News 09/04/13 by Huddersfield

FTSE 100

JASON GLEDHILL It’s a capital appointment

+27.16 6276.94

Full inter view - Page 3

NEIL WILSON Is it really so unfair? Column - Page 5

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

9, April, 2013

Loans scheme the spur for start-ups “We know how to help people get going. “As a former director of the British Franchise Association I’m also keen to get the Start-Up Loan Scheme out in the broader franchise community. “We have a wealth of experience built up over many years in this area.” James Caan, who chairs the Start-Up Loans Company, said: “We welcome Printing.com’s involvement in the scheme and we are thrilled with the momentum the scheme continues to maintain. “To be an entrepreneur is more than having a job. It gives you the freedom to make your own mark, in the way in which you choose and create your own path to success. “It can be challenging and exceptionally hard work, but the rewards are immeasurable.” Tony Rafferty set up Printing.com when he was 24-years old with a £3,000 loan from his father and operated the business from home. The business is now a global firm and is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market. Mr Rafferty said: “In our sector, you still really can create a business with just a Mac, Adobe’s Creative Suite and a connection to the internet – provided you can afford the hardware and software. “I’m often struck by the level of support available to young people going into higher education, which far exceeds the backing for young entrepreneurs taking their first steps in business.” Printing.com hopes to help approximately 200 entrepreneurs in the next year, and the overall scheme aims to support 45,000 young business people by 2015.

Energetic response A BRIGHOUSE firm had landed a contract to help a care homes company get greener. Leeds-based LNT Group, chaired by Batley-born tycoon Lawrence Tomlinson, appointed renewable energy firm Q-Gen to install ground source heat pumps at six of LNT’s Ideal Care Homes.

● Full story - Page 6

The most trusted news brand in the business

examiner.co.uk

YOUNG people across Kirklees with bright business ideas have been urged to apply for five-figure loans. The Start Up Loans scheme provides loans of up to £10,000 and business mentoring to help young people set up in business. The scheme is being delivered by a number of companies, including Printing.com, which has operations at Mirfield Printing Ltd, as well as The Prince’s Trust charity. Applicants must be aged under 30 and apply through one of the delivery partners, who will interview and mentor hopefuls, as well as approve loans. The programme is backed by entrepreneur and former Dragons’ Den panellist James Caan, and is designed to help young people start their own businesses. The Government has backed it to the tune of £112m. Would-be tycoons in Kirklees have been urged to follow in the footsteps of successful applicants such as Paddock woman Maysoon Shafiq, who was awarded a £3,000 loan under the Start Up Loan scheme to support her business, Legal Platform. The business now has offices at St George’ Square, Huddersfield, and provides legal advice on issues relating to commercial law, family law, property, immigration, personal injury and crime. Tony Rafferty, chief executive of Printing.com, said: “Our main focus will be to help young entrepreneurs from the graphic arts sector, including graphic and web designers – but we want to hear from young entrepreneurs from other sectors, too. “Our business is partly based on a network of franchises and we already provide lots of mentoring.

INSIDE

Partners’ home win ■ ENTERPRISING: Dragon’s Den star James Caan (above), chairman of the Start up Loans Scheme; Tony Rafferty (top, left), founder of Printing.com, who is also backing the initiative, which provides cash and mentoring for young people with good business ideas; and Maysoon Shafiq, who has already received support for her new business in Huddersfield

Go to www.printing.com/entrepreneurs. Applicants are invited to submit their business plan or simply an out-

line of their idea. A Printing.com mentor will then get in touch and take them through the process.

There are a number of ways to protect your business and employment rights... then there’s Howarths Way There are a number of ways to protect your employment rights...

01274 864999 www.howarths-uk.com

TWO leading construction sector firms have been given a boost. Ignite Homes, formed by affordable housing specialist Southdale and housebuilder Strata, has joined the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency’s new Delivery Partner Panel.

● Full story - Page 7

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

Travelodge unveils franchising deals

HOTELS operator Travelodge has announced new franchising contracts for 20 of its hotels. Under the agreements, seven hotels have been sold to motorway services provide Moto while a further 13 have gone to individual operators. The move follows talks held with the landlords of 49 hotels – including one at Leeds Road, Mirfield – to identify new operators in the wake of Travelodge’s successful completion of a structuring and CVA in October 2012. Under the terms of the franchise agreements, the hotels transfer to new owners, but will continue to be operated and managed by Travelodge. The new owners will be responsible for fully refurbishing these properties in line with Travelodge’s new room design and refurbishment programme which was launched earlier this year. Travelodge also announced that it has transferred 18 hotels and the

■ BOOKED UP: Travelodge chief executive Grant Hearn

majority of staff to new operators, including Best Western, Ibis and Metro Inns. Existing bookings at these hotels

have either been transferred to adjacent Travelodge hotels or will be honoured by the new operators. Four of the properties under new ownership will be re-opened as new businesses. Two properties are being converted into student accommodation and the other two properties are being converted into an events and meeting rooms venue and staff accommodation for JCB. Travelodge will continue to work closely with the landlords of the remaining 11 hotels to find suitable new operators and in the meantime these hotels will continue to operate under the Travelodge brand as normal. Travelodge chief executive Grant Hearn said: “It is great news that we have been able to find new operators and introduce franchise contracts for the majority of these hotels. “We were always confident that we

would secure a future for these properties and the deals that have taken place just demonstrate the huge strength of the Travelodge brand and the success of our operations model. “Going forward, we are very excited to continue to grow our business, strengthen our product offering and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UK. “Our £57m refurbishment programme is well under way and by the end of this year we will have refurbished more than 50% of our hotel rooms. “By autumn 2014, almost 90% of Travelodge’s estate will incorporate the new room design. This equates to an average of more than 50 Travelodge rooms being refurbished every single day for the next 18 months. “Initial feedback from our customers in regards to the new room design has been fantastic.”

KSL eyes up bid for gym chain

BT dismisses rival claims

THE American owner of the Belfry golf course is reportedly circling the David Lloyd gym chain – thought to be worth about £900m. KSL Capital Partners is one of several private equity firms considering making an offer for the chain of fitness clubs, according to newspaper reports. KSL bought the Belfry in Warwickshire in early 2012 and last month snapped up the Malmaison and Hotel du Vin boutique hotel brands. Hatfield-based David Lloyd Leisure, which has 80 clubs across the UK, is controlled by property group London & Regional and private equity firm Caird Capital.

THE head of BT defended the telecoms giant against claims it is being unfairly propped up by the government to roll out fibre broadband across the country. Ian Livingston called its critics “copper Luddites” for trying to hold the UK back from fibre, which can be four times faster than existing networks. BT is spending £2.5bn of its own cash to connect two-thirds of the country to the new network by the end of 2014, but plans to tap government help to reach rural areas that are less commercially viable. Sir Charles Dunstone, billionaire

Blackstone, a US investment house, is also said to be mulling a bid. The fitness chain is named after former English tennis pro David Lloyd, who founded the business in 1980. David Lloyd has a focus on racquet sports, with about 700 tennis courts, 180 badminton courts and 140 squash courts across its UK sites. It has 440,000 members in the UK and Europe and 6,000 staff. Despite the prolonged economic downturn, which has squeezed gym chains, the report said David Lloyd is “trading well”, increasing its appeal to potential bidders.

founder of mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse, want regulatory intervention to ensure this state help remains in the public interest while TalkTalk chief Dido Harding spoke out against propping up a “monopoly provider”. Mr Livingston said BT had to pay the same cost to access its network as its competitors, adding: “These criticisms are coming from people I can only describe as copper Luddites. “They don’t want to see the UK getting fibre. BT fibre is open to any provider in the UK on the same terms as BT. There are 50 or 60 of them – that’s not what I call a monopoly.”

Page 2 Sale link for Noble THE UK’s biggest egg supplier is being primed for sale with an expected £400m price tag, it is claiomed. Chairman and Conservative donor Peter Dean and co-founder Michael Kent are set to open talks with private equity bidders and overseas rivals about selling a large stake in Hertfordshire-based Noble Foods, according to newspaper reports. Noble, which owns the Happy Egg and Big & Fresh brands, collects 72m eggs a week from about 500 farms across the country, delivering them mainly to supermarkets. Investment bank Rothschild is reportedly leading the sale, with buyout groups including PAI and CapVest said to be circling. Noble has more than 46% of the UK’s egg market and reputedly achieved earnings of about £50m last year.

Carpet firm safe A MAJOR carpet manufacturer has been bought out of administration as a going concern. Axminster Carpets Litd, one of the world’s largest makers of Axminster, Wilton and Tufted carpet, has been sold to a new company, Axminster Carpets (2013) Ltd, securing the employment of 100 staff and two outlet stores. The business will remain in Axminster, Devon.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £42.83 +0.04 Gannett 1360.51 +17.69 Hess Corp £46.99 +0.01 Microsoft 1867.75 -13.11 Motors Liquidation 49.15 Wal-Mart Stores £50.30 +0.24 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 395 +5 +21/8 BAE Systems 3883/8 Rolls-Royce 1090 +6 AIM Brady Plc 85 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 2571/4 +17/8 BANKS Barclays 2771/4 -23/4 HSBC 6793/4 -13/4 Lloyds Banking Gp 461/4 -3/4 1 Ryl Scotland 266 /8 -33/8 Stan Chart 1645 -19 BEVERAGES Diageo £201/8 +1/4 SABMiller £34 CHEMICALS Croda £27 +1/8 Elementis 98 2527/8 +43/4 3 Johnsn Mat £22 /4 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2253/4 -1/8 Costain 276 -33/4 ELECTRICITY

Drax Gp 617 -41/2 SSE 1517 +8 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 2081/2 -31/2 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 4285/8 +11/2 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 2653/4 -1/8 Cable & Wireless 403/8 +1/4 Comm Colt Group 121 -43/8 KCOM 811/8 +1/8 Talktalk Telecom 261 -1/4 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2747/8 +2 +23/4 Sainsbury 3735/8 Tesco 3741/8 +51/8 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1873 +12 Tate Lyle 8521/2 +15 Unilever £271/2 +1/4 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3693/4 -41/4 National Grid 785 +4 Pennon Grp 645 +5 Severn 1665 +16 United Utils 706 +1 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 304 -11/8 ICAP 2923/4 +3/4 London StockExch 1258 +20 1 Man Group 88 /8 +3/4 Provident Financial 1548 +20

+1/8 Schroders £207/8 Schroders NV 1696 +1 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS REXAM 5181/2 +31/2 Smiths Grp 1215 +7 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 29 +5/8 Carphone Whse 1881/2 -11/2 Dixons Retail 311/8 +3/8 Home Retail 1493/4 +13/4 3 Inchcape 492 /4 +35/8 Kingfisher 290 +13/8 M&S 3751/4 -11/2 Mothercare 294 -13/4 3 Next £41 /4 WH Smith 730 +6 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 752 +41/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 82 +1/2 Barrat Dev 2643/8 +1/8 Persimmon 1004 -7 Reckitt Benckiser £46 +1/2 Taylor Wimpey 853/4 -1/4 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 1237 -1 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 1551/8 -1/4 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 2551/2 -31/2 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 2963/4 +1

+1/4 1673/4 1953/4 +11/4 1029 -3 -41/2 2613/8 3293/8 +31/4 MEDIA BSkyB 874 +61/2 D Mail Tst 6981/2 +10 3 /8 HIBU ITV 1211/4 +1/4 Johnston Press 143/4 +1/8 Pearson 1141 +3 Reed Elsevier 755 +14 1 STV Group 133 /2 +1 Trinity Mirror 933/4 -3/4 Utd Business 6871/2 +3 1 UTV 152 /2 -23/4 WPP 1034 +10 MINING Anglo American 16441/2 +5 Antofagasta 9901/2 +291/2 BHP Billiton 1878 -11/2 Eurasian Natural 2471/4 +41/4 Res Fresnillo 1319 +10 +73/4 Kazakhmys 3725/8 Lonmin 2733/4 +7/8 Rio Tinto £297/8 +3/8 VEDANTA 1060 +13 RESOURCES Xstrata 10331/2 +13 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 677 +8 Vodafone Group 1843/4 +21/4 NONLIFE INSURANCE Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life

Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

3811/4 125 785 £223/4

-133/4 +1 +4 +7/8

FTSE closed at

6276.94 +27.16 Admiral Grp 1315 +4 RSA Insurance Gp 1083/4 -7/8 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 11271/2 +131/2 BP 448 +1 Cairn Energy 282 +9 3 Royal Dutch Shell A £20 /4 Royal Dutch Shell B £213/8 -1/8 Total £313/8 Tullow Oil 1191 +37 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1056 +4 Petrofac 1396 +12 Wood Gp(J) 848 +51/2 PERSONAL GOODS

Burberry Gp 1256 +9 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £33 +1/4 GlaxoSmithK XD 101/2 Shire 1945 +19 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 5491/2 +51/2 Hamrsn 4843/4 +87/8 Intu Properties 327 +25/8 Land Secs 820 +41/2 SEGRO 2521/4 +13/4 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 3441/4 -31/8 Sage Group 3301/4 +1/2 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 776 -71/2 Bunzl 1290 +18 Capita 8691/2 -6 De La Rue 925 +3 3 Electrocomp 238 /4 +13/8 Experian 1141 -6 G4S 2883/4 +1 Hays 941/2 +21/4 Homeserve 1921/4 +65/8 Menzies J 700 -2 7 Rentokil 95 /8 -1/8 Smiths News 176 -12 Wolseley £307/8 +1/2 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 8851/2 +71/2 Spirent Comms 1345/8 -65/8 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £351/2 +3/8 Imperial Tobacco £223/4 +1/4

TOURIST RATES

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

134 £223/8 824 1023 991/2 2007/8 1444 657 1938 2331/2 2077/8 3125/8 1925/8 156 2961/8 3023/8 £243/8

-1/2 +1/8 +91/2 -4 +1/8 +1/8 +16 +7 +25 -13/8 +3/8 +5 +1/2 -13/4 +23/4 +33/4 +1/4

FTSE 100

INDEX 6276.94

+27.16

FTSE 250

INDEX 13523.71

+43.50

Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.40 dollars Bangladesh................. 112.85 taka Brazil.............................. 2.72 reals Canada....................... 1.49 dollars China ............................. 8.50 yuan Czech Republic ...... 27.99 korunas Denmark....................... 8.37 krone Euro............................... 1.13 euro Hong Kong................ 11.29 dollars Hungary................... 315.73 forints India.......................... 73.91 rupees Japan........................... 143.82 yen Mexico ....................... 16.63 pesos New Zealand .............. 1.69 dollars Norway ......................... 8.38 krone Pakistan.................. 142.00 rupees Philippines ................. 54.18 pesos South Africa................. 13.06 rand South Korea.............. 1523.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 181.39 rupees Sweden......................... 9.44 krona Switzerland.................. 1.37 francs Taiwan ...................... 40.17 dollars Turkey....................... 2.59 new lira USA ............................ 1.46 dollars

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS JASON Gledhill is particularly pleased with his new job. A 25-year career in banking has taken him to almost every part of West Yorkshire, but he’s never worked in Huddersfield –.until now. And as the newly-appointed area commercial director for HSBC, covering Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, he’s keen to get to know more about the town. “I’ve been learning my new job with a new bank,” he says. Mirfield-born Jason, 42, who has lived in Pontefract, Dewsbury and Morley, has joined HSBC from Barclays, where he was based in Manchester with the corporate banking team. He began his career with Lloyds Bank in 1998 at Batley and went on to spend 20 years with the bank. “I went to Ackworth School in Pontefract,” he says. “When I left school, I wanted to get out there and do things. I was what you might call an active learner! I had no wish to go to university, but I was attracted to the financial industry. I don’t really know why. “My first job in the bank was making the tea and working on the counter. “My path from there took me through retail banking to branch management positions working in areas like customer service and business banking. It gave me a good grounding in the nuts and bolts of the bank.” There’s one major lesson Jason has taken to heart. He says: “In 1988, the ‘buzz’ phrase was ‘Customer First’. “Twenty-five years on, I still think in those terms. I ask myself ‘What would the customer think about the things we are doing?’ . Whatever a bank does, there is a customer at the end of it.” Jason is settling into his role based at HSBC’s New Street branch. “I’ve completed my 90-day plan learning about the organisation and I have met people in the organisation and our key customers,” he says. “After Easter, with all the internal planning done, I now have more time to be out and about.” A key message he aims to get across is that all banks are not the same. Says Jason: “I joined HSBC because if I think I am really good at my job, I want to be with the best bank. “Throughout all the problems the banking industry has faced, HSBC has continued to lend money. We loaned over £12bn to SMEs last year. We have grown lending by 3% when nationally it has fallen by 5%.” Jason sees HSBC’s

profile

Jason makes his mark global reach and the fact that it avoided the fate of Government ownership that befell other banks as key to that success. Its international connections are also helping UK firms to boost overseas trade. Says Jason: “I have a team of people focused on domestic business and a team focused on international trade. If a company requires help in matters such as foreign exchange, we have people who really understand how that works. “Not so long ago, we had a three-way video conference with a UK company that wants to trade in France and our HSBC colleagues in that country. “One of our international managers has supported a company wanting to build a manufacturing facility in Brazil. We have used videoconferencing to link up with HSBC in Brazil to progress matters. “As the BRIC

economies, such as Brazil, develop with a growing middle class with money to spend, we are seeing trade opportunities growing all the time.” Closer to home, Jason is getting to know Huddersfield’s professional community through networking events. “I have already attended the legendary First Friday Club,” he says. “HSBC has a lot of established links with local businesses and the professions. Now I am finding out about the people we work with.” He has also been taking soundings from customers about the current economic climate. “People still see trading as tough,” says Jason. “These are still difficult times, but those businesses involved in manufacturing – particularly advanced manufacturing – selling domestically or internationally seem to be doing okay.

“There are a lot of companies that are no longer going in reverse – they are starting to grow and be profitable.” Says Jason: “We keep hearing that the banks or closed for business. But four out of five small business loans are being approved. We are open for business and we want to help businesses grow. We want to talk. “If it is a good business with good management generating cash then we want to help.” Says Jason: “Throughout my banking career, I have always liked working with businesses that make things. You see something going into the back door of a factory that you don’t recognise – and see something coming out of the front door that you can see and understand. It’s great to be able to say you have helped that happen.” While Huddersfield is the centre of Jason’s working day, home – for

■ TOWN PLAN: Jason Gledhill, area commercial director for HSBC, is getting to know his new patch

Page 3

Jason Gledhill

the present – is in Rossendale. “I’m from Yorkshire and my wife is from Yorkshire – and she’s keen to move back,” Jason says. The family’s principal sporting allegiance is to rugby league club Leeds Rhinos, although Jason plays rugby union with Rossendale. “I used to play as a junior for Featherstone and Morley rugby league clubs,” he says. “Now I play ‘social’ rugby and help coach the under-12s team, where my son is a player. “When I was 23, I broke my leg quite badly playing rugby and I played golf instead. “I came out of retirement because my son got involved at Rossendale and I was asked to play. I hadn’t been on the pitch two minutes when I scored a try. I thought; ‘I can still do this!’ “I play on the wing because that way I can always pass the ball to someone else or kick it into touch to avoid a tackle!” Jason also watches football and cheers on Nottingham Forest. “My brother was a Liverpool fan in the late 1970s, so I took the next-best team at the time, which was Brian Clough’s Forest. “I always look out to see how Huddersfield Town and the Giants have done, though. “It is good for any town to have successful sports clubs. Town and the Giants help put Huddersfield on the map and when they win it puts a smile on people’s faces.”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Area commercial director Age: 42 Family: Married to Mags with children Will, 11, and Ellie, nine Car: Mercedes Holidays: We have an apartment in southern Italy First job: Working in my step-brother’s polyurethane factory in Wakefield Best thing about job: I enjoy the interaction with people. In my banking career I have always liked working with businesses that make things and supporting their progress Worst thing about job: Paperwork – it’s a necessary evil Business tip: Determination – don’t give up. Always keep your customers in mind. Put yourself in their shoes

HSBC Work: Commercial banking Site: Huddersfield Phone: 07920 416419 Email: jason.gledhill @hsbc.com Website: www.husc.co.uk

local

Page 4

Deadline looms for apprentices APPRENTICES and employers across Kirklees have less than a month to enter the 2013 National Apprenticeship Awards. Nominations close on Friday, April 26, for the awards, which aim to show how apprenticeships are working for a whole range of industries. This year sees an additional award category – for the best Apprenticeship Employer Newcomer. This award will celebrate employers who began employing apprentices only within the last two years, but can show immediate benefits from doing so. Other categories cover awards for small, medium, large and macro employers along with intermediate, advanced and higher apprentices. One winner will also be named Apprentice Champion of the Year. The awards ceremony will take place in November at The Skills Show. Go to apprenticeships.org.uk/awards.

Marketing tips MEMBERS of a Huddersfield-based networking group aim to put some spring into their marketing! Rachel Gough, of Inspired Marketing, will provide some key marketing tips at the next 4N Huddersfield meeting, which takes place at 8am next Tuesday at the Aspley Table Table, St Andrew’s Road, Aspley. Paula Atherill, 4N Huddersfield team leader, said: “Rachel Gough has a degree in business and marketing, a post graduate diploma from the Institute of Direct Marketing and 15 years of experience marketing different industries.” Email helen@theimplementer.co.uk or visit www.4networking.biz

KIRKLEES BUSIN

Keeping it local via the World Wide Web HEN the Yellow Pages came W through my door the other day, I was shocked to see just how

sparse it has become. Each year it gets thinner and thinner. I wonder how much longer will it be cost-effective to print? Apparently, 80% of the goods and services that we buy are within a 15-mile radius of our homes and we now prefer to use the internet to find these local services. In a recent Cisco survey, the number of smartphones and tablets in use by the end of 2013 globally, will outnumber humans. According to eMarketer, it already has in the UK – with an estimated 83m device connections. If you combine the growing number of GPS-enabled devices being used to search the internet, our local buying behaviour and our tendency in the UK to use Google more than any other search engine (around 70%), the end result highlights the growing importance of Google+ Local directory pages. Almost since the dawn of the internet, online service directories have been available. Yell is the Yellow Pages online

DIGITAL DIRECTION

Andrew Firth alternative. There are many others from our old friends Thompson Local and BT, as well as hundreds and thousands of online-only options. With so many to choose from, how do you choose? Do you go for the free listing or an advertisement? Statistics show that the majority of our online searches include a geographic search term, for example “hairdresser Huddersfield”, “builder Honley” etc. When you do a place specific search for a service, the first set of results you now see with Google is their +Local results; a map and a directory of businesses that offer that service. The clever bit is that when you do a

search from a GPS-enabled device, you don’t even need to type the town or city. In most cases, Google will show you the + Local results as they already know roughly where you are. With more people using devices than ever, it makes sense for all businesses to have a Google+ Local presence. It’s free and is by far the quickest way to see your business on the first page of Google. Setting up is easy and you get some great statistics that show you how the page is working, how many visits you get and what they searched for to find you. This is huge competition for the Yellow Pages and the others. I think the future continues to look uncertain for the local advertising stalwarts.

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

Funding focuses on SMEs

BEEN MADE REDUNDANT?

Want to be your own boss?

Always longed for that coffee shop, but scared of the high overheads? Or simply fancy a change of career?

Look no further!

We worK closely with Gaggia and together we offer a business opportunity for a Go-Go Gaggia smart car in your area. The car will come ﬁtted out with everything you need to start, and we will guide you in your new business venture. The perfect opportunity to create your mobile coffee shop, turning heads, getting people talking and all with the support of the biggest coffee brand in the world.

To ﬁnd out how you could own your very own Go Go Gaggia franchise call 07845 564812 or email info@gogogaggia.co.uk

07845 564812 www.gogogaggia.co.uk

A MAJOR £100m invoice finance fund has been launched by Yorkshire Bank to help small businesses cope as bill payment times lengthen in the tough economic climate. It follows Yorkshire Bank research which shows that small enterprises across the region face an average seven-week wait for monthly invoices to be paid – a delay which, in some cases, is threatening their survival. Yorkshire Bank, which assists thousands of SMEs throughout the region, has ring-fenced the

£100m cash flow finance package from its £1bn Business Expansion Fund launched last autumn. The £100m fund is now available to both new and existing Yorkshire Bank customers through its confidential invoice discounting service. Yorkshire Bank head of invoice finance, Martin Rothera, said the £100m fund would provide “real support for many businesses which face difficulties through no fault of their own”. He said: “Late payments can put immense pressure on small businesses as cash flow dries up, leading to pressure on their ability to pay their own bills. “Providing an invoice finance service which suits new and existing customers is a key part of our support for Yorkshire businesses, particularly those which are working harder than ever to compete in some very challenging economic conditions. “From our research,

we know that cash flow and invoices being paid on time are still a primary concerns for SMEs. Cash flow is the lifeblood of a business and invoice finance is an extremely useful tool for SME owners. It’s something which more businesses could benefit from accessing.” Invoice finance allows businesses to access up to 85% of an invoice’s value as soon as it is issued, rather than waiting for it to be settled. Yorkshire Bank says that in the last year, it has seen many businesses seeking to strengthen their own invoicing and credit control procedures using invoice finance and credit protection products. Many small businesses were concerned about the threat of late payments – with one in 10 saying they would be forced to drastically restructure their business or close if customers took 90 days to pay invoices.

Making m connecti

A COMPETITION de firms improve the w chains work has se in interest. Fresh Connection, a web-based competi specialist consultan at the Media Centre Northumberland St The annual compet high-profile brands refine supply chain processes. Now organisers hav event to their progr big increase in boo one-day event. The take place on April Hall, near Towceste Northamptonshire. Major names in the retail, logistics and are signing up to ta contest, which has Wednesday, June 1 champion will go on the global finals – in countries take part Turkey. The competition ha refined to reflect the consumer risks from problems and opera as well as changes demand patterns. SCALA has been w Newton, previously Cadbury/Kraft, to m Mr Newton said: “T new inclusion and f strengthens the Fre challenge. Companies taking p Connections now in Kimberly Clark, Jor Westmill Foods, Mo Bird’s Eye, Waitrose Norbert Dentressan FuturMaster. Businesses can stil contacting Alison H 437486 or emailing alison.hobson@sca

Breakfas for Fruity

A FIRM supplying s lunch boxes is bac provide youngsters breakfasts. Fruitypot, based at supplying Ashbrow Sheepridge, with a products for the Ea Breakfast Club run Huddersfield Town The scheme was la that young people the right way – with breakfast and prov a complimentary he for a full school yea The scheme – run i with Dalton-based and Kirklees Colleg six primary schools expand in the futur Fruitypot managing Booth said: “We ar supplier for the Ear Breakfast Club.”

NESS NEWS

more ions

esigned to help way their supply een a big upsurge

an interactive ition is run by ncy SCALA, based e in treet, Huddersfield. tition helps s to train staff and n management

ve added an extra ramme following a okings for the extra event will 17 at Whittlebury er in

manufacturing, software sectors ake part in the its UK finals on 12. The UK n to compete in n which 20 other – in September in

as also been e business and m supplier ational difficulties in customer

working with Keith y a director with make the changes. This is a significant further esh Connection

part in Fresh nclude Unilever, rdans & Ryvita, ondelez, Mars, e, Borg Warner, ngle and

ll take part by Hobson on 01484

alagroup.co.uk

st time ypot!

snacks for school cking a drive to s with healthy

t Bradley, is w School, selection of its arly Kick-Off n by the n Foundation. aunched to ensure start their day in h a nutritious vides children with ealthy breakfast ar. in conjunction Total Foodservice ge – has targeted s, but plans to re. g director Sarah re delighted to be a rly Kick-Off

local

Running rule on dismissals

T has been another busy Ibrought month in the ongoing claims against Haringey

Council over the “Baby P” saga in 2008, with a number of interesting legal issues surrounding the latest legal challenges brought by two former employees. The past month has seen the appeal of two dismissed employees being heard by the Court of Appeal over the “Baby P” scandal. The case of Christou and Another v London Borough of Haringey has now been decided by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal has upheld the Employment Appeal Tribunal’s Judgement that the dismissal of the two social workers involved in the “Baby P” case was fair, notwithstanding that they had previously been taken through a disciplinary process in relation to the same facts, but had only been issued with written warnings. The employees had sought to argue that their dismissals had been unfair due to an “abuse of process” and that the principle of res judicata

EMPLOYER’S BRIEF Neil Wilson

applied, which could have prevented the Council from re-opening the disciplinary case against them. This principle prevents claims from being pursued twice on the same, or substantially similar, facts, to ensure the finality of Judgements in the English Courts and to prevent multiple claims being brought on the same grounds. The Court found, however, that as the matter in question was an internal disciplinary hearing and the proceedings were not therefore capable of being judicial in nature, res judicata could not apply and instigating further action against the employees was found to be fair when viewing the disciplinary process and fairness of the subsequent dismissals as a whole. While both the Court of Appeal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal in the above case held that the Employment Tribunal was

entitled to support the employer’s decision to discipline the two employees twice for the same offence and then dismiss the second time around, employers should treat this decision with some caution. Employers should be very cautious of relying on it to support a decision to discipline an employee for a second time for the same offence where no new evidence has come to light. As the Employment Appeal Tribunal stressed, cases in which it is appropriate and fair for an employer to change their view as to the appropriateness of a disciplinary sanction previously imposed, and to embark on second disciplinary proceedings arising out of the same conduct, are likely to be extremely rare.

Page 5 Coach firm backs child safety scheme A HUDDERSFIELD firm has become the first coach operator in West Yorkshire to join a scheme to improve safety for youngsters travelling by bus to and from school. E Stott & Sons, based at Milnsbridge, is backing BUSK – Belt Up Our School Kids – which recognises safe operators. Under the initiative, schools, universities and colleges can contact an operator and ask if the firm is a member of the Simply Safe scheme – and know if the company takes children’s safety seriously. The Simply Safe scheme includes Benchmark, a points system which awards operators with a star for every five points they gain in demonstrating what they do to promote safety. Operators can achieve from three to six stars, which can be displayed on their coaches. Stotts has gained all six. Director Carl Stott (pictured) said: “As members of the Confederation of Passenger Transport and CoachMarque, we felt that Simply Safe was something that we had to be part of for our company to continue to stand out from the competition. “Benchmark is long overdue. You get star ratings in other sectors like restaurants and hotels so why not coaches? This can only be a good thing for our industry.” Stotts website – www.stottscoaches.co.uk – is being updated with a link to BUSK website www.busk-uk.com where people can read more about these schemes.

Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors

Red tape works BOSSES benefit from “well-defined” employment rules says a Huddersfield law firm. And far from complaining about “red tape” employers welcomed the “much-needed support and confidence” provided by the regulations, particularly in the area of disciplinary and dismissal procedures. Baxter Caulfield’s comments reinforce research by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, which asked 40 business owners their views on employment law. The overwhelming majority said

they feared being taken to an employment tribunal, mainly as they viewed them as being “unpredictable.” Baxter Caulfield is now encouraging businesses to follow some basic rules to avoid disputes about contractual agreements. Businesses are encouraged to put everything in writing and to seek legal advice to ensure that they stay on the right track legally with their employment obligations. Paul Booth (pictured), a partner and employment law expert at Baxter Caulfield, said: “The survey makes for extremely interesting reading, as it highlights the fact that there’s a perception reality gap among employers. “The research, although limited, suggests that many business owners, rather than railing against employment regulations, benefit from well-defined procedures. “These workplace rules and regulations often have the effect of helping to reduce anxiety in the sometimes fraught area of employer/employee relations.” The survey revealed that employers considered employment regulation to be both necessary and fair .

It’s time you got more from your accountant Thinking… outside the books

added value services include…

Tailored programme to maximise profitability Tailored tax efficient solutions Regular updates & support to help your business FREE use of our facilities for your meeting Support all day, every day

Call Freephone: 08000 32 32 03 and quote KBN /1211 to give us the chance to help you achieve your goals, or contact us through our website at:-

www.walker-sutcliffe.co.uk

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

Page 6

Business rates blow for firms HARD-PRESSED firms across Kirklees could be saving themselves million of pounds in overpaid business rates, claims a report. The study by business rates specialist CVS said companies faced the onslaught of rising rent bills, above-target inflation and a likely postponement by the Government of the business rates revaluation date to 2017. But delays in the appeals procedure to get business rates bills reassessed meant firms continued to find themselves under financial pressure. Don Baker, chairman of CVS, said businesses would have to continue managing increasing overheads – including rates based on inflated 2008 rent levels in comparison to current rental levels in some areas and sectors. Mr Baker said the combination of rent and rates bills following what, for many businesses had been a tough start to the year, threatened the viability of firms in the North East. Compounding the problem was the slow appeals system. The rateable value used to calculate rates bills is assessed by the Government's agency, the Valuation Office, using property market rental data available at April 1, 2008. Mr Baker said those in the leisure industry could appeal to reduce their assessment and their rates bills, but the appeal process took 12 to 18 months to produce a conclusion due to the “cumbersome and bureaucratic” processes at the Valuation Office. CVS have found that about 50% of their appeals result in a reduction to the rates bill. CVS figures show there is a £1.8bn burden placed on UK businesses due to the backlog of 240,000 appeals currently stuck in the slow and bureaucratic appeals process. in the North East, CVS has saved firms more than £57m – but estimates that there is still £667m of potential savings available across the region. CVS has helped save Huddersfield firms £596,065 on their business rates to date – but estimates a potential £13.4m of business rates savings could be made.

■ HOT HOUSE: Bowbridge Court in Newark, one of LNT Group's Ideal Care Homes to be fitted with ground source heart pumps supplied by Danfoss and installed by Brighouse-based Q-Gen as part of energy-saving efforts

Energy efficient A BRIGHOUSE firm has landed a contract to help a care homes company get greener. Leeds-based LNT Group, chaired by Batley-born tycoon Lawrence Tomlinson, has appointed renewable energy company Q-Gen to install Danfoss-built ground source heat pumps at six of LNT’s Ideal Care Homes across the North and Midlands. The move came about after Mr Tomlinson challenged his construction company, LNT Construction, to use renewable energy in order to provide a more affordable, sustainable source of energy for the care homes they build. Christine Cooper, managing director of LNT Construction, said: “We are really proud that we are running sustainable and energy efficient heating systems in our homes. “Although this has involved a major capital investment, it will be paid back within eight years, which makes good commercial sense for the LNT Group as well as helping us towards becoming carbon neutral in the longer term.” She said: “We chose ground source heat

pumps because we recognised the efficiency they offered, which gave us a much greater energy output over other renewable energy sources. “We are always reviewing ideas and new technologies to ensure that we deliver the most efficient and cost-effective build to our customers.” Each care home has been built with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind – with all the six homes also featuring solar thermal, which uses the sun’s energy to generate hot water during the daytime. LNT Construction used the most energy efficient method of heat distribution for the care homes by using underfloor heating, rather than radiators. LNT’s Ideal Care Homes expects to save 40% on its annual energy bills as a result of the heat pumps. Q-Gen was chosen to carry out the installation as it is an approved Danfoss installer with experience in both the domestic and commercial sector. The company is now completing its sixth care home installation for Ideal Care Homes at Haydock in Merseyside. This follows

installations at care homes in Newark, Castleford, Leicester, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Wigan. Q-Gen director Liz MacFarlane said: “We worked closely with Danfoss on this project and their technical expertise has been second to none. “We have been a Danfoss-approved installer for three years and are well aware of the quality of their products, which gives us the reassurance that Ideal Care Homes will enjoy many years of reliable, efficient service from their heat pumps.” Chris Dale, director of Danfoss Ltd, said: “By investing in ground source heat pumps, Ideal Care Homes has chosen a highly energy-efficient method of providing heating and back-up hot water to its new residential care homes. “This will help to minimise the carbon footprint of each building, as well as protecting the company against the rising cost of conventional fuels.” Ideal Care Homes has 34 care homes across the North and Midlands.

Retail sector looking brighter THE outlook for the retail property sector in Yorkshire is still optimistic, according to latest research by global property consultancy Knight Frank. The opening of the £350m Trinity Leeds development last month was just one indicator of a brightening picture for the sector, claimed Knight Frank retail specialist Dan Hyde. He said: “Obviously, Trinity Leeds is grabbing the headlines – and rightly so – but there are other retail success stories in Yorkshire too. Taken together, the stories provide evidence that the retail sector in Yorkshire is fighting back.” Mr Hyde pointed to Halifax’s £25m Broad Street Plaza scheme, which comprises 280,000sq ft of mixed-use retail development, including a 24/7 gym, Vue cinema, 429-space multi-storey car, Premier Inn and various restaurants.

He also highlighted Wakefield Trinity Walk, a partially-enclosed shopping centre with more than 40 stores and 1,000 car parking spaces. Meanwhile, Sheffield and Bradford were pinning their retail hopes on the Sevenstone and Broadway developments respectively – with both projects looking likely to get off the ground in the next few years. Knight Frank’s latest UK Retail report said retailer demand would continue to be driven mainly by the structural changes being brought about by the internet. The report said: “This is not good news for smaller high street traders and unprofitable shops continue to close with a number of operators remaining under threat from tough trading conditions and high levels of debt.” It said the recent failures of HMV, Jessops, Blockbuster and

Republic would push up national vacancy rates and put further downward pressure on rental values. However, there was renewed interest and aggressive bidding for the best stores within these portfolios – while Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones had begun to revive the Jessops brand. The report said investors had continued to target prime locations with solid tenant line-ups and areas with under-supply. It said: “This year has got off to a robust start in the shopping centre investment market – with numerous exchanges and likely completions in the coming weeks. “Investor appetite is expected to remain robust for prime shopping centres and leisure, while sentiment for good secondary stock with asset management opportunities is improving.”

■ HEADLINES: Dan Hyde, retail specialist with property agency Knight Frank

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

Page 7

Partnership fired up to benefit from new deal A PARTNERSHIP between two leading construction sector companies with links to Huddersfield has been boosted by its inclusion in an important new house building framework. Ignite Homes has been included in the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency’s prestigious new Delivery Partner Panel, which is projected to procure house building work worth £4bn over the coming years. The news comes just eight months after Ignite Homes was formed after national construction and affordable housing specialist Southdale teamed up with luxury house builder Strata. Southdale, based at Halifax, partnered Kirklees Council in the refurbishment of properties across Brackenhall and Deighton while Doncaster-based Strata has undertaken three housing developments in the same areas to provide more than 250 properties. The new panel, which is available to a wide range of public sector bodies will be used to streamline home building procurement, is known as DPP2 and will begin its work from next month. It will also be a vehicle for housing-led regeneration using the land assets of the Homes and Communities Agency. It replaces

the original Delivery Partner Panel which was set up in 2010 by the Homes and Communities Agency. DPP2 membership will last for four years. Southdale managing director Paul Moore said: “We’re very excited about this. It’s very good news for Ignite Homes but really, the hard work starts here. “Ignite Homes was formed in July last year when two successful specialist firms teamed together. Being included in the DPP2 lot that covers much of the North of England shows that was an important step to take.” Ignite Homes has been included on a list of construction companies and Registered Providers in the DPP2 lot covering Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and the North West. Jim Wren, chief executive of Doncaster-based Strata, said: “Being included in DPP2 is very important for Ignite Homes and is testament to our wealth of experience and the quality of the work we do and how we do it. “ It is also a recognition that the teaming up of our two firms just last summer is already promising much for the future.”

industrial premises

LUCK LANE, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 4QT REDUCED RENT £14,000 p/a

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

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

● 274.78 sqm (2,957 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 headroom 6DL ● Good FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES 2) ● 2 x inspection pits 395m2 (4,250ft

Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ● Loading doors ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential ● Off road car parking available uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to ● EPC Rating :D planning consent

prominent retail premises

■ BUILDING UP: Jim Wren (left) and Paul Moore of Ignite Homes industrial premises

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● 448.72 sqm [4,830 sqft]

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL Loading Doors ● Double FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES 2) ● 3 Phase Electricity and Gas 395m2 (4,250ft Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ VacantSupply possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential ● Good Office Content uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to ● consent EPC Rating : F planning

freehold commercial building

VICTORIA STREET, HOLMFIRTH, HD9 7DF £265,000 / May Let

WESTBOURNE ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 4LF £13,500 p/a

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● 82.68sqm (890sqft)

4 RANGE LANE ● Popular suburban location Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES ● Excellent display frontage

395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area Hectares (0.33position Acres) ● 0.13 Prominent corner ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for of retail ● Suitable for a variety alternative occupational residential uses complete uses or possible redevelopment, subject to ● consent EPC Rating: C planning

retail premises

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

CROSS CHURCH STREET, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 2PT £10,500 p/a

● 34.65sqm (373 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE ● Basement Storage Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTELretail PREMISES ● Secondary position

395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ● Close to the Kingsgate ■ Vacant possession Shopping Centre for for refurbishment ■ Suitable alternative occupational residential Good display frontage complete uses or●possible redevelopment, subject to ● EPC Asset Rating C planning consent

MARK STREET, PADDOCK, HD1 4ST £14,000 p/a

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● 267.74 sqm (2882 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE a Restaurant with ● Currently Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMERLiving HOSTEL PREMISES Accommodation 395m2 (4,250ft2) ● 0.13 Prominent position Site Area Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ● Freehold with vacant ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential possession uses or possible complete to D subject redevelopment, ● EPC Asset Rating planning consent

retail premises

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

■ industrial LAND

■ offices OFFICES

■ retail

INDUSTRIAL

■ investment

INVESTMENT

■ land TRINITY STREET, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 4DA £14,000 p/a ● 55.97 sqm (602 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL ● Double fronted FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES 2) 395m2 (4,250ft ● Basement storage

Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possessionposition ● Prominent ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential Rateable Value £6,300 possible complete uses or ● redevelopment, subject to ● consent EPC Rating: G planning

T. 01484 530361 www.bramleys.com

RETAIL

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Mark Cannon

Applebys Solicitors A LAW firm with offices in Huddersfield and Bradford has made a key appointment. Applebys Solicitors, which has its local office at Westbourne Road, Marsh, has appointed Mark Cannon to the wills and probate team. He will head the private client department. Mr Cannon (pictured) was born and educated in Bradford and is currently pursuing joint careers. He is a Church of England vicar looking after six rural churches on the Lancashire-Yorkshire border. He was ordained in Bradford Cathedral in 1985 and worked in Skipton and Baildon before moving to the Lake District where he ran a residential youth centre. Mr Cannon is also qualified as a solicitor and has been working in Lancashire since 2005. He said: “It is a real pleasure to return to Yorkshire and to be able to combine the two vocations of the law and the church. “I enjoy meeting with clients, understanding their situations and working to give them the best solution possible. “It’s been good to combine both jobs as I have occasionally been privileged to conduct the funerals of clients for whom I have acted.” Mr Cannon will provide wills and probate services to Applebys’ Bradford and Huddersfield offices.

Jamie Sheard

P2 Technologies A FIRM providing business IT support has recruited a new apprentice for the third year running. Lockwood-based P2 technologies has welcomed Jamie Sheard, 18, to the team as part of the Microsoft Advanced Apprenticeship Programme. Jamie, who lives at Honley, joins the business with a keen interest in IT after studying the subject at GCSE level at Honley High School. He hopes to expand his knowledge of the IT industry during his apprenticeship and use his previous customer service skills to benefit P2’s customers. He joins the company for 12 months and will shadow experienced engineers for a period of time before taking responsibility for a number of important tasks in the team. Director Roger Pearson said this was key to helping young individuals grow and learn the responsibility required to work in “real-life” businesses. He said: “We are very pleased to welcome Jamie to our team and aim to introduce him to the fast-moving technological world.” Jamie follows in the footsteps of Sarah Parnaby, who joined P2 on the Microsoft Advanced Apprenticeship Programme over the year. After successfully completing her apprenticeship, Sarah is now a full time engineer at P2.

Movers and shakers

Page 8

Secure hold on monthly award THE latest Business of the Month Award conferred by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith is certainly in safe hands. Calder Security has been named winner of the award, which is run by Eaton Smith in conjunction with the Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and the government’s export support arm UKTI. Calder Security was formed in 1976 and successfully built up a locksmith and safe business serving the general public. In 2006, Simon Cook, an engineer at the firm, bought the company and due to his leadership, investment in new technology and improved efficiency increased turnover by 20% each year – moving much of its business into the commercial market. The Wakefield-based company is now one of the leading security companies in Yorkshire, splitting its business equally between domestic and commercial customers. Alison Palmer, partner at Eaton Smith Solicitors, who sits on the judging panel, said: “Calder Security impressed the judges as it has adapted to the emergence of electronic security systems and technology, h a s a c h i e v e d s u b s t a n t i a l g row t h year-on-year, has established itself as a major player in the security market and has moved into the commercial sector servicing high profile companies. “Calder Security was also commended

■ KEY MOMENT: Simon Cook (second right), managing director of Calder Security, receives the award from Alison Palmer (centre), of Eaton Smith, at the law firm’s offices in High Street, Huddersfield, watched by (from left) Annie Bradley, of UKTI; Danny McAllister, of Simpson Wood; and Ellie Lyon, of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

for sourcing its employees locally, for recently obtaining ISO 9001 and for its ambitious plans for the future.” Eaton Smith hosted a lunch for Calder Security where managing director Simon Cook met with representatives from the judging panel and received the award on behalf of the company. He said: “We’re delighted to be named Business of the Month. We’re working very hard to build the business and the success we’ve had over the last few years is testament to this at a time when many of our

competitors are struggling. “Our objective is to grow the business even further and we have exciting plans to achieve this over the next year.” The Business of the Month Award is open to firms in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Each month, a new winner is chosen and all 12 then go through to the annual Business of the Year Award in July. Contact Ian Greenwood at Eaton Smith on 01484 821389.

Andrew’s a winner twice over A MEMBER of the corporate recovery and insolvency team at Cleckheaton-based Clough Corporate Solutions has passed key exams – and won two national prizes in the process. Andrew Waudby (right) not only passed the three Joint Insolvency Examination Board exams, he achieved the highest mark in the personal insolvency paper and attained the highest mark overall for a candidate from a smaller-sized practice. The qualification means he can now apply to become a fully licensed insolvency practitioner, after which he will be able to handle

a full range of corporate and personal insolvency cases including administration, liquidation, company voluntary arrangements, bankruptcy and individual voluntary arrangements. He will also help to guide businesses through all types of possible financing paths. Mr Waudby, who lives in Drighlington, joined Clough & Company in 2004, where he qualified as a chartered accountant before subsequently joining Clough Corporate Solutions in 2009. He said: “I’ve spent many hours studying for the exams and have also gained vital practical experience over the last four years

so I’m delighted that I have been able to qualify and repay Clough & Company for their support throughout my studies. Chris Wood, head of Clough Corporate Solutions, said: “Passing the JIEB exams is a major achievement in itself and to come top in two areas is fantastic, summing up the level of determination and tenacity that translates into all areas of Andrew’s work. “It also highlights our firm has the technical knowledge which together with our well known commercial acumen, allows us to provide quality solutions for our clients.”

Olympian effort recognised FLEET incident management company FMG has been hailed for helping to keep the traffic moving during last summer’s London Olympics. Huddersfield-based FMG has received a special supplier recognition commendation from Highways Agency chief executive Graham Dalton for its contribution to ensuring “the effective management for England’s strategic road network” during last Summer’s Olympics. FMG holds the National Vehicle Recovery Manager contract for the Highways Agency, overseeing vehicle recovery and co-ordinating incident responses across the motorway and major

roads network in England. During last summer’s event, the company worked alongside the Highways Agency to implement plans aimed at relieving congestion and coping with increased traffic volumes. This involved setting up additional bases near to venues and strategic stretches of road so that recovery operators could be deployed to deal with incidents at a moment’s notice. Their efforts ensured that millions of athletes and fans get to their destinations. Graham Phillips, head of contracts at FMG, said: “This was a unique challenge and this endorsement from the Highways Agency is a real testament to the hard

work of our people. “We set up an additional 19 on-road support units at strategic locations during the games. “This helped to ensure we were able to assist the Highways Agency in keeping the roads moving at this very important time for the country.” “Having to be prepared to change plans at very short notice made the situation even more demanding. “Through advanced planning and accurate prediction of traffic flows, we have worked with the Highways Agency to ensure a safer and smooth running games.”