FTSE 100
CHRIS HOPKINS Supercharged business
-110.00 5465.52
Full inter view - Page 3
JASON BANNISTER It’s in the contract! Column - Page 6
An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
High-flying charity in business link-up A FINANCIAL services provider is flying high after linking up with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Eastwood & Partners (Financial Services) Ltd has been engaged to handle pensions and employee benefits for the YAA’s 18 employees and has also become a corporate sponsor of the Elland-based charity. Eastwood & Partners, which is also based at Elland, landed the deal after impressing YAA’s senior management team and making a presentation to employees. Paul Gowland, director of fundraising for YAA, said Eastwood & Partners had been recommended, adding: “As a charity, we always look at three different companies when seeking suppliers of products or services and Eastwood & Partners’ presentation and professionalism was way above anyone else’s. “When we talk to anyone about becoming a provider to YAA, we try to do business with someone local. It means all the staff – from a part-time financial assistant to
the chief pilot – can get quality advice in their own environment.” Karen Wynard, head of corporate services at Eastwood & Partners, said: “We are really pleased to be involved with YAA and looking after its employees who do such a brilliant job. It is a good time for people to look at planning their pensions because of the pension reform that is coming into effect.” She said Eastwood & Partners would also be highlighting the work of YAA at its conferences and seminars to give other businesses a “gentle corporate introduction” to the work of the charity. Corporate support is vital for the YAA, which was called out to incidents in the HD postcode area more than 60 times last year and which operates across the Yorkshire region. The charity, launched in 2000 and based at South Lane in Elland, covers a population of about 5m across 4m acres.
Getting a little shirty A COLNE Valley company is putting its shirts on Huddersfield Town. Linthwaite-based pharmaceuticals firm Thornton + Ross has renewed a sponsorship deal which will see its Radian B brand emblazoned on Town’s away shirts for the fourth successive year. Employees celebrated the tie-up by visiting Town’s Canalside Sports Complex and wearing the current away shirt – as the new kit is yet to be revealed.
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■ FLIGHT PLAN: Andy McCracken (left), managing director of Eastwood & Partners (FInancial Services) Ltd; and Karen Wynard, its head of corporate services; with Paul Gowland, director of fundraising for Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Landmark for enterprise agency scheme A HUNDRED new businesses have been set-up in mid-Yorkshire through an enterprise scheme that aims to help long-term jobseekers into self-employment. The national scheme is being run in West Yorkshire by West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency in partnership with Job Centre Plus on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. It is designed to give jobseekers with a viable business idea the financial support and professional advice they need to get their idea off the ground. Since its launch last August, more than 250 people have received help through the agency and 100 new businesses have already been created as a result of the scheme. Dean Stead, 26, of Morley, became
INSIDE
■ CENTURY: Business mentors have helped the agency reach its landmark for helping businesses
the 100th person on the scheme to start his own business when he launched DS Computers at the start of the month. After six months out of work, Dean took up the opportunity to access the
scheme through Batley Job Centre and now he’s running his own computer repair business from home. Participants on the scheme are given a weekly payment for their first 26 weeks of trading to help take the financial pressure off in the early stages as the business grows. Dean was also able to access a £1,000 loan through the scheme to cover the cost of a van for his business and like every participant he was assigned his own business mentor. All the mentors are volunteers from the business community who give up an hour every fortnight to support a participant as they prepare to start trading and beyond. Michael Branford, managing director of Crest IT, based at Batley
Business Park, was matched to Dean because of their shared interest in technology and computers. The agency is still looking for business people to volunteer as mentors to support someone who is about to take their first steps into self-employment. Marketing and enterprise manager Melissa Healy said: “Setting-up on your own can be daunting, but having a business mentor to guide you can make a huge difference. “Most business people will remember what it was like to start out alone and this is a rewarding opportunity to share all that experience with someone who is new to it all.” Go to www.mycci.co.uk or contact Melissa Healy on 01924 786500.
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Franchise launched A DESIGN and print company in Huddersfield has launched its first franchise. The Design Mechanics, based at Marsden, has created its first franchise business providing design and print from a genuine price list. The new business is being operated by franchisee David Hall, who will cover Huddersfield and Halifax.
● Full story - Page 5
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
national
Gala day for Rank as shares improve SHARES in Mecca Bingo owner Rank were boosted as investors welcomed a £205m deal with Gala Coral to become the UK’s biggest casino operator. The proposed acquisition of Gala’s 23 casinos will give Rank’s Grosvenor division 58 UK sites – taking it above Malaysian firm Genting, which has 45 locations, including Crockfords casino in London’s Mayfair. All but four of Rank’s casinos are outside London, with the company focused on the faster roll-out of its G Casino format, which attracts a younger, less formal crowd. The Rank business employs more than 3,500 people. Rank’s properties include the Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casino complex at Folly Hall in Huddersfield. Shares closed 6.8p ahead at 123.5p yesterday, valuing the group at more than £476.9m. James Cooke, an analyst at Panmure
Gordon, said the deal was “relatively inexpensive compared to similar UK casino transactions” and the quality of the group would be improved by making two-thirds of its earnings from casinos. Rank chairman and chief executive Ian Burke said: “This acquisition will deliver a step change in Rank’s earnings by capitalising on our proven record of operational excellence in the British casino sector and will be earnings enhancing in the first full year of ownership.” ■ NUMBERS GAME: Mecca Bingo He added that the deal would allow owner Rank Group plans to add 23 Grosvenor Casino to expand into 11 Gala casinos to its gaming empire new cities. The sale of the casinos will allow Gala Coral to concentrate on its Gala for a break-up since a big debt restrucbingo and Coral bookmaking divi- turing in 2010 saw many lenders left sions, as well as strengthen its finances with shares in the company – fuelling amid a net debt figure of £1.3bn at the speculation that Rank would look to buy the casinos. end of 2011. Rank is listed on the London Stock The company has been seen as ripe
‘Robust’ start to year for Dignity THE UK’s largest provider of funeral services reported higher profits as demand for pre-arranged funeral plans continue to hold up. Dignity, which includes Highfield Funeral Services at Trinity Street in Huddersfield among more than 600 locations, unveiled a 4% rise in operating profits to £23.4m in the 13 weeks to March 30, as revenues rose by 3% to £61.1m. The group, which in 2011 held 62,300 funerals, said the year started “relatively quietly” but business had been “noticeably busier” in March compared to the previous year. Dignity said sales of its pre-arranged funeral plan, which
allows customers to plan a funeral in advance and make provisions towards the cost through its Dignity Guaranteed Funeral Plan, continue to be “robust”. The Group acquired seven funeral locations and has opened seven satellite locations since the start of the year. It also began operating one crematorium and three cemeteries on behalf of Haringey Council in late April and remains on track to open its crematorium in Essex in the second quarter of 2012. Mike McCollum, Dignity chief executive, said: “This is a good performance by the group.”
Exchange but majority-owned by Guoco, the investment vehicle of Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan. The business also has more than 100 bingo clubs under the Mecca brand and owns the Bluesq sports betting and gaming business. Rank is paying an initial £182.5m for the Gala casinos with the rest paid in stages until 2015 when certain conditions are met. The deal also includes three non-operating licences, but excludes the Gala casinos in Dundee and Gibraltar and the non-operating licence for Westminster. It is subject to the approval of Rank shareholders and competition authorities but is due to complete in September. A number of the Gala sites are expected to be rebranded under the G Casino name.
Holiday firm sounds alert A WARNING by Thomas Cook that it is in danger of collapse if shareholders fail to back two planned disposals prompted a big fall in its share price. The warning came as one analyst said the recent poor performance of its shares, which have slumped by 90% over the past 18 months, showed the City believes there is a one in three chance of it failing. The tour operator posted documents to shareholders over the weekend in which it explained the financial importance of the planned sale and leaseback of part of its aircraft fleet and the disposal of five Spanish hotels.
Failure to support the fundraising move would jeopardise the company’s recent £1.4bn deal with lenders, including Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays, to extend the maturity of its bank loans to 2015. The deal has been hailed as a key step in strengthening confidence in the holidays firm, which came close to collapse last year. The firm said it was confident that shareholders will deliver the required majority when they vote on the disposals at a general meeting in London on May 29. Shares in the company closed down by 11% or 2.3p to 19p.
Page 2 Markets hit again THE continued political stalemate in Greece triggered more heavy falls for world markets – as party leaders failed to make progress forming a coalition government. The FTSE 100 Index fell 2%, or 110 points to close at 5465.5 yesterday after Greek President Karolos Papoulias was unable broker a deal as the anti-bailout party Radical Left Coalition party refused to join a coalition government. The uncertainty, which analysts said could ultimately lead to Greece leaving the single currency, hit financial stocks as banks and insurers dragged London’s leading shares index to a fresh low for 2012. The FTSE 100 Index saw £28.5bn wiped from its value, while the Dax in Germany and the Cac-40 in France were down about 2% and Wall Street’s Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.7% lower as the London market closed. Barclays was the biggest faller – down 6% or 13p at 189.8p, while Royal Bank of Scotland dropped 1.1p to 21.9p and Lloyds Banking Group shed 1.7p at 29.4p. The mining sector suffered heavy losses as Greek fears were compounded by concerns over China’s growth, after reports that the country had cut its reserve requirement ratio – the amount of cash banks are required to hold as reserves. Eurasian Natural Resources dropped 23.7p at 492.8p.
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £36.61 -0.39 Gannett 819.02 -10.54 Hess Corp £29.12 -0.63 Microsoft 1908.85 -24.51 Motors Liquidation 46.53 Wal-Mart Stores £36.80 -0.07 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 3041/4 -21/2 BAE Systems 2745/8 -43/4 Rolls-Royce 829 -13 AIM Brady Plc 841/4 -3/4 Dawson Intl 13/8 1 Man Brnze 32 /4 -21/4 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 190 -23/4 BANKS Barclays 1893/4 -13 HSBC 5453/4 -83/8 3 Lloyds Banking Gp 29 /8 -13/4 Ryl Scotland 217/8 -11/8 1 Stan Chart 1367 /2 -1/2 BEVERAGES Diageo 1545 -181/2 SABMiller £25 -1/4 CHEMICALS Croda £211/4 -1/4 Elementis 98 1967/8 -41/4 Johnsn Mat £213/4 -7/8 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 260 -81/8
200 -103/4 ELECTRICITY Drax Gp 5741/2 +3 Intl Power 4193/8 +3/8 SSE 1332 -11 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 1841/8 -31/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3443/8 -65/8 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 2047/8 -43/4 Cable & Wireless 305/8 -3/4 Comm Cable & Wireless 341/8 -3/8 Wwide 3 Colt Group 111 /4 -21/4 KCOM 691/4 -21/4 Talktalk Telecom 132 -3/4 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2787/8 -21/8 Sainsbury 3137/8 -11/2 Tesco 3183/4 -5 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1213 -15 Tate Lyle 690 -111/2 Unilever £203/4 -1/4 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3137/8 -31/2 National Grid 673 -91/2 Pennon Grp 743 -3 Severn 1704 +11 United Utils 642 Costain
GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 1831/4 -65/8 ICAP 3445/8 -5 London StockExch 1005 -23 Man Group 83 -47/8 Provident Financial 1162 -4 Schroders 1279 -43 Schroders NV 1039 -26 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 641 -17 REXAM 3977/8 -53/4 Smiths Grp 1026 -19 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 24 +1/4 Carphone Whse 1331/4 -31/4 Dixons Retail 16 -1 -23/4 Home Retail 781/2 5 Inchcape 344 /8 -14 Kingfisher 2831/8 -63/4 M&S 3511/4 -83/4 Mothercare 1613/4 -11/4 Next £297/8 -1/8 WH Smith 520 -111/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 597 -91/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 70 -31/4 Barrat Dev 124 -61/4 1 Persimmon 574 /2 -20 Reckitt Benckiser £341/4 -1/4 Taylor Wimpey 445/8 -13/4 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 9041/2 -151/2
INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 2391/4 -135/8 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 1971/2 -21/2 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 2903/4 -107/8 Lgl & Gen 1101/2 -3 Old Mutual 1477/8 -41/2 1 Prudential 715 /2 -101/2 Resolution 2115/8 -21/8 Standard Life 2083/8 -51/4 MEDIA BSkyB 6931/2 D Mail Tst 4091/4 -71/8 ITV 821/2 -13/4 Johnston Press 6 Pearson 1159 -8 Reed Elsevier 501 -71/2 STV Group 1071/2 +1 -21/4 Trinity Mirror 313/4 Utd Business 554 -181/2 UTV 1337/8 -45/8 WPP 8021/2 -201/2 3 Yell Group 3 /8 -1/8 MINING Anglo American £211/4 -5/8 Antofagasta 1016 -24 BHP Billiton 1798 -66 Eurasian Natural 4923/4 -233/4 Res Fresnillo 1381 -36 Kazakhmys 737 -27 Lonmin 854 -461/2 Rio Tinto £303/8 -1
Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp
362 911/2 673 1510
-10 -1/2 -91/2 -43
closed at at FTSE closed
5465.52 Down 110.00 VEDANTA 1053 RESOURCES Xstrata 1013 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 4353/4 Vodafone Group 1695/8 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1132 RSA Insurance Gp 1007/8 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 1290 BP 4037/8 Cairn Energy 3011/4 Royal Dutch Shell A £201/8 Royal Dutch Shell B £207/8
-36 -39 -113/8 -23/8 -13 -23/4 -461/2 -111/4 -87/8 -1/2 -3/8
Total £271/2 -1/2 Tullow Oil 1393 -70 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1011 -25 Petrofac 1563 -32 -32 Wood Gp(J) 7401/2 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1445 -22 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £265/8 -1/2 GlaxoSmithK XD 5 1 Shire £20 /8 -1/4 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 500 -6 Captl Shop Cent 312 -73/8 1 Hamrsn 423 /2 -61/4 Land Secs 738 -13 7 SEGRO 217 /8 -31/8 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 209 +61/2 Logica 693/4 -41/4 7 Misys 348 /8 +17/8 1 Sage Group 265 /2 +33/4 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 4763/4 -61/8 Bunzl 1015 -7 1 Capita 644 /2 -7 De La Rue 1024 +311/2 Electrocomp 2123/4 -73/4 Experian 921 -71/2 G4S 2663/4 -3/8 Hays 763/8 -33/8 Homeserve 249 +5/8
Menzies J 616 Rentokil 831/8 Smiths News 981/4 Wolseley £223/8 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 4911/4 Psion 551/2 Spirent Comms 1587/8 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £31 Imperial Tobacco £25 LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital 1401/4 Carnival 1967 Compass Grp 6291/2 easyJet 5181/2 Enterprise Inns 68 FirstGroup 2051/2 Go-Ahead Gp 1123 Greene King 4871/2 Intercontl Htls 1471 Intl Cons Airlines 1593/8 Gp Ladbrokes 1671/8 Mitchells & Butlers 2531/4 Natl Express 2063/4 Rank Org 1231/2 Stagecoach Group 2405/8 TUI Travel 1773/4 Whitbread 1887 INDEX FTSE 100 5465.52 INDEX FTSE 250 10813.60
-9 -3/8 -13/4 -1/2 -153/4 +1/2 -51/4 -3/8 -1/2 -51/4 -35 -13 -151/2 -1 -45/8 -22 -7 -34 -6 -53/4 -53/4 -83/4 +63/4 -43/4 -75/8 -51 -110.00 -202.81
TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.52 dollars Bangladesh................. 123.81 taka Brazil.............................. 2.82 reals Canada....................... 1.53 dollars China ............................. 9.07 yuan Czech Republic ...... 28.98 korunas Denmark....................... 8.81 krone Euro............................... 1.19 euro Hong Kong................ 11.84 dollars Hungary................... 325.13 forints India.......................... 76.01 rupees Japan........................... 122.47 yen Mexico ....................... 19.43 pesos New Zealand .............. 1.91 dollars Norway ......................... 9.00 krone Pakistan.................. 137.45 rupees Philippines ................. 58.65 pesos South Africa................. 12.29 rand South Korea.............. 1609.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 195.37 rupees Sweden....................... 10.71 krona Switzerland.................. 1.43 francs Taiwan ...................... 41.39 dollars Turkey....................... 2.72 new lira USA ............................ 1.53 dollars
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS CHRIS HOPKINS is one energetic businessman. The managing director of Brighouse-based Ploughcroft Building Services Ltd hasn’t let the grass grow since setting up the roofing firm with his father in 1997. For in the space of 15 years, he’s turned it into one of the UK’s biggest names in renewable energy – with a string of awards to its name and high profile backing from Dragons’ Den investors Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden. Energetic doesn’t tell the half of it. Chris, who grew up in Luddenden, near Halifax, says: “I’m not one to sit around and do nothing. “When I was in my teens, I’d help the local farmer collect eggs and milk the cows before going to school. I’d do a paper round and then I’d be washing pots and pans at The Java Restaurant in Sowerby Bridge. “I have always been a very active person – that’s why I’m so busy in my work and enjoy coming into work every day.” Chris also took up bodybuilding when he was 14 and reached a high standard. He says: “I used to get picked on at school because I couldn’t read too well. I am pretty dyslexic. I started training to build up my muscles and put the bullies off picking on me. It worked brilliantly. “The bullying stopped once they saw me working out in the gym and in PE lessons!” Chris took up bodybuilding seriously, rising to become UK under-21 champion and second to the world champion in the novice category as an adult. Now he draws parallels between the discipline and effort needed to succeed as a bodybuilder and the sort of determination to do well in business – with both requiring the right training and presentation skills. “I have adapted everything I learned in bodybuilding to my business role,” says Chris. “It works, but it is a long-term thing. Building a good physique took me 15 years – from 14 to 30 when I was at my peak. It has also taken 15 years to build up Ploughcroft.” But Chris believes his business is nowhere near its “peak”. He launched his roofing business based on a love of tall buildings. “I remember going to St Paul’s Cathedral and looking down from the inside of the dome,” says Chris. “I learned everything I could about roofing and set up Ploughcroft in 1997. “For seven years, we were a small roofing business covering Huddersfield and Halifax until in 2004 I decided I could design a roofing college to teach other roofers.” Training bodies were sceptical, but a year later
profile
Chris relishes power game Chris has achieved his ambition and Ploughcroft was recognised as an accredited centre by industry training body CITB. It was a development which led to a break with his dad, who thought Chris was “crazy” to set up a college teaching rival firms how to mend roofs. Chris bought his father out and began running courses in the evenings and weekends – unlike the other colleges – when mature roofers who were working all week could attend. As “green” issues became more pressing, Chris introduced solar panel installation training to his roofing college and in 2007 designed the UK’s only NVQ in solar roofing. Now the training business operates from centres at locations across the UK. In 2008, when the recession hit, Ploughcroft was turning over £1.9m, but made losses of £200,000 as it felt the impact of the downturn on the construction industry. “In 2009, I sold my car and put the money into the business,” says Chris. “I was at my overdraft limit and I went without a wage for six months to be able to continue. But I believed absolutely in the company.” Chris moved into solar installation on behalf of major names, including Vaillant, British Gas, SSE and Plumb Center, which turned the business around. In 2010, it made profits of £750,000 and its reputation was growing among experts in the renewable energy field. Construction workers made redundant during the recession were following the Ploughcroft path – setting up their own businesses as
diversifying into renewables. Ploughcroft’s training centres were suddenly making healthy profits. Chris says: “By 2011, we had established ourselves in Yorkshire, but I wanted us to be national. The question was how to do it. I could spend millions on a massive marketing campaign; or I could merge with a bigger company. I did have talks with two plcs, but I turned them down.They were just too clinical about the business. The third option was to go on Dragon’s Den.” The move proved a good one. “It wasn’t about the money,” he says. “I knew that if I could get two financial investors who were recognised by the public as business-savvy, credible and trusted entrepreneurs we could catapult Ploughcroft onto the national stage.” Chris succeeded beyond his wildest dreams – securing the backing of
Dragons Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden. “We have monthly board meetings over the phone,” says Chris. “I take them through the financials and we discuss our strategy. I never wanted them to tell me how to run my business, but they are helping to project the face of Ploughcroft as the company for renewable energy in Britain.” Further developments are under way. Ploughcroft is promoting wind energy in partnership with a local supplier of turbines. Chris sees wind energy as potentially the biggest source of renewable energy for the UK. Chris isn’t likely to run out of steam any time soon! He is proud of the company’s achievements and its well-regarded Eco Roof Visitor Centre based at its St Peg’s Mill
Page 3 Chris Hopkins
headquarters. Jon Mitchell, Yorkshire TV weatherman, will attend an open day at the visitor centre on Saturday for an event including solar roof demonstrations. “I still go to the gym, cycle or run every day,” he says. “I need half an hour of physical activity in the morning or I arrive at work too highly strung! The staff make sure I go because I am full of energy in the mornings! “I don’t consider coming to the office as work. My ethos in running a business is to help people first by finding solutions to challenges which face everyone. Although money is very important, I am not driven by profit. The driving force is to help future generations.”
HENRYK ZIENTEK
■ HOT HOUSE: Chris Hopkins, managing director of Ploughcroft Building Services, at the company’s headquarters and Eco Roof Visitor Centre in Brighouse
Role: Managing director Age: 41 Family: Married to Helen with children Aleksandr 17, Natalya 15, twins Elle and Shauna, 12 Holidays: Cornwall and the Lake District Car: Mercedes Vito van First job: Washing up at The Java Restaurant, Sowerby Bridge. Best thing about job: I love finding solutions to difficult challenges Worst thing about job: Disciplinary issues Business tip: Try to find a win-win situation for all stakeholders
Ploughcroft Building Services Ltd Work: Renewable energy installations Site: Brighouse Phone: 01484 723344 Email: chris@ploughcroft. co.uk Web: www.plough croft.co.uk
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KIRKLEES BUSIN
Small firms urged to take part in software contest KIRKLEES firms have been invited to take part in a competition to help
them upgrade their software. The Small Business Software
Accelerator Competition will give the winners a chance to work with an outstanding development team providing bespoke software with no upfront costs. The competition will be launched at the Business Startup Exhibition next week at ExCel in London. The contest is being run by London-based software development company Condaal Ltd founded by Edwin Groenendaal and Simon Conway. Said Simon: “We are offering small companies with great ideas and big ambitions access to our expertise and – crucially – a route to development without upfront costs.” Go to www.condaal. com
Tips for a better business - from Balance Accountants
3.Don’t try to compete on price
There are very few cases where low prices can be sustainable in the long term. If you make a sale or gain a contract based purely upon price this year then next year it is quite possible that another competitor will come along and undercut and take the business away from you. So what do you do then? Well a natural reaction is to reduce your prices further in order to regain the business. But, as you can imagine, the end result is a downward spiral in prices until it is no longer viable to provide the product /service. The alternative is to provide a product/service that is differentiated from your competitors by being better. By providing better value for money.That way you won’t necessarily be competing with the cheap and cheerful product/service of your competitors.You will become known for being the best and customers who are looking for quality will gravitate towards you. Balance Accountants specialise in helping business owners to have better, more profitable and more enjoyable businesses. If your business is not performing as well as you want it to then you should contact us now. Balance Accountants,Victoria Court, 91 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3JA Tel: 01484 685 413 Fax: 01484 682206 www.balanceonline.co.uk info@balanceonline.co.uk
Cameras turn to UK industry
■ DESIGN LINE: Kay Storey, owner and creative at KDesign, with (from left) design and technology students Fiaz Shahpal and Jake Briggs and Rastrick High School design and technology teacher Greg Clark in the ballroom at the Midland Hotel in Bradford
Students secure logo design prize TWO design and technology students at Rastrick High School have been recognised for their efforts in a “live” design brief. Cleckheaton-based Kay Storey, of KDesign, was asked by fellow members of the Yorkshire Business Club if she could come up with a logo for the club’s social network sites and promotions. At about the same time, Greg Clark, design and technology teacher at Rastrick High School, asked Kay if she could make a presentation to his students about her work. The result was a “live” brief with the eight students on the course to come up with a logo for the club. Kay made two visits to the school to provide advice and guidance to the 15-year-olds during the nine-week project. The brief called for the logos to be contemporary, clean and clear with sim-
plicity the key. Two finalists were chosen and invited by hotel general manager Gary Peacock to a two-course lunch at the hotel where they presented their logo ideas to club members. The winning logo was designed by Jake Briggs with Fiaz Shahpal as runner-up. Both boys received £50 spending vouchers as prizes. Yorkshire Business Club, formed nine years ago, meets over lunch at the hotel twice a month. After networking and lunch, each member gets 60 seconds to tell the rest of the group about themselves and their business and what they are looking for in terms of referrals for new business. One member also gives a 10-minute presentation about their business to help other members give better referrals.
Charity challenge CHARITIES in Kirklees are being offered help to link up with businesses. A new venture called SkillWill has been set up by Scarborough-born businessman Ed Ryder to create networking groups to link professional and business volunteers with local charities who need support. At a time when many charities and voluntary groups have seen a drop in funding and an increase in workloads, SkillWill aims to provide a way for skilled local people to offer their expertise and support. Following successful events in Leeds – where almost 250 people met at evening networking meetings to connect organisations and volunteers – the scheme is expanding throughout the Yorkshire region and nationally. Mr Ryder said: “At our networking events, volunteers get ‘speed date’
charities and discuss what skills they are willing to offer and what commitment they can make. “The charities get access to help that they wouldn’t be able to afford, as well as advice and ideas from a wide array of professionals. We have human resources, IT, legal, marketing and finance experts who are now making a real difference to organisations facing particularly challenging times.” Mr Ryder said the informal events are proving successful – with SkillWill estimating £250,000 worth of time already being volunteered in West Yorkshire. The Huddersfield event will held from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, May 23, at Cathedral House, St Thomas Road, Longroyd Bridge. Go to www.skillwillhuddersfield.eventbrite.com
PROFESSIONAL and amateur photographers have been invited to focus their cameras on “the beauty of industry” to enter the EEF Made in Britain Photography Awards. Winners will share a prize fund o £5,000 worth of photographic equipment from Canon and gain national recognition at a Westminster awards reception in December. The awards are free to enter in three categories – professional, amateur and young people aged 14 to 19. EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, wants to see images of modern manufacturing that capture British products, components or processes – anything from turbines to silicon chips or portraying any part of the journey in inventing, designing or making British products. “There's a boldness and beauty to British manufacturing that we're looking to capture through stunning photography," said Terry Scuoler (pictured), EEF chief executive. “Our aim is to give British manufacturing greater visibility and to challenge the myth that ‘Britain doesn't make anything anymore’.” The government's Make it in Great Britain campaign is also backing the awards – with Business Minister Mark Prisk commenting: “Manufacturing is creative and innovative industry. EEF's Manufacturing Photography Awards will help raise awareness of how interesting and dynamic the industry is, while tackling outdated perceptions.” The closing date is 28 Septembe 2012. Entries will be shortlisted by a national panel of photographic and industry experts in October and winners will be announced at a special ceremony in Westminster in December. The gallery of winning and shortlisted images will be showcased throughout 2013. To enter, go to www.eef.org.uk/photo or call 020 76541501.
Jo is bound for Belfast
BUSINESSWOMAN Jo Haigh is a keynote speaker at a conference in Northern Ireland. Denby Dale-based Jo will addres the Women in Business event to be held on Thursday at Stranmill University College in Belfast. Jo, a partner at fdsGroup and fdsCFS, has more than 20 years of knowledge of corporate governance.
NESS NEWS
local
Giants want companies to share in celebrations
y
COMPANIES with a reason to celebrate during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee have been invited to mark the occasion with Huddersfield Giants. The club’s business development manager, Robbie Hunter-Paul, is inviting all the staff from companies founded in 1952 to see the Giants’ clash with Wigan Warriors on Friday night for just £6 per employee. The club has already arranged for 1,000 children in red, white and blue to take part in dancing before
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■ FIRST FRANCHISE: Stewart Leahy (right), managing director of The Design Mechanics, welcomes David Hall, who is taking on its first franchise operation covering Huddersfield and Halifax
Franchise bears fruit
A DESIGN and print company in Huddersfield has launched its first franchise. The Design Mechanics, based at Marsden, has created its first franchise business providing design and print from a genuine price list. The new business is being operated by franchisee David Hall, who covers Huddersfield and Halifax. Stewart Leahy, managing director of The Design Mechanics, said it had taken five years of preparation to create a franchise model for the business. “Our aim was to establish the first-ever franchise business providing quality design and print from a genuine price list,” he said. “The main challenge has been to create systems and procedures that allow a ‘non-designer’ to work with clients and take amazing, high quality design briefs and then manage the project through to completion.” All creative design and print production will remain a centralised operation, allowing The Design Mechanics to maintain its high standards of design and quality control. For this reason, Stewart and his business partner, creative director Dave Pannell, advertised for a franchisee with a business or marketing background.
Said Mr Leahy: “The franchise element of our business focuses on advising businesses on their marketing materials. It’s essential that the franchisee can empathise with the businesses we work with and quickly understand what they need to achieve. “David Hall is exactly the kind of person we were looking for. He brings a considerable amount of client-facing experience and marketing knowledge to the role and is a highly professional character. “It’s his ability to get on with anyone and understand any type of business instantly that made his application stand out from other potential franchisees.” Mr Hall, who will take on The Design Mechanics’ sales office in Marsden, said: “Although I was looking for a new role that didn’t involve as much travel as my previous job, I hadn’t considered taking on a franchise until I saw The Design Mechanics’ proposal at the Kirklees Business Conference. “Having been in sales and marketing practically all my working life, I was intrigued to see how Stewart and Dave had turned a design agency into a franchise concept. As soon as I saw what they were doing and how the process works, I was sold on the idea.”
Taking PRide in their efforts PUBLIC relations companies in Kirklees have been urged to enter a prestigious award scheme. Firms are being encouraged to enter their best communications and PR campaigns Yorkshire & Lincolnshire PRide Awards. The awards is run by the Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development. Winners will be unveiled in November. Entry forms can be downloaded from the CIPR website. The deadline for entries is Monday, June 11. Search Yorkshire & Lincolnshire’s PRide Twitter #PRideYL for information.
the match and has 1,500 Union Jack flags to give out. Hade Edge Brass Band, fireworks, half-time junior games for the Jubilee Cup and special themed English foods will also feature. All households in Kirklees with the house number 60 and all people born in 1952 have also been invited to watch the game for the reduced entry fee. Said Robbie: “We have put an enormous amount of entertainment support and community effort into this game and have identified it
as a marquee match. “We have also branded it as our Official Jubilee game.” Companies can register for the offer by calling 01484 484117. Those born in 1952 can purchase tickets direct from the Galpharm ticket office by bringing a driving licence or proof of age. Those living at “number 60” should bring a recent utility bill as proof of their address. For more details, go to www.giantsrl.com
Dealership gets on board A COMPANY supplying commercial vehicles has moved up a gear by partnering Huddersfield Town. The club has welcomed Brighouse-based Northern Commercials as an official partner. The company, founded in 1971, and with
sites at Brighouse, Leeds and Manchester, is already a long-standing commercial customer of the club. Roger Peel, managing director of Northern Commercials, said: “Huddersfield Town is at the very heart of the
community and by supporting the club we feel that we are giving something back to the area.” Town commercial director Sean Jarvis said: “Northern Commercials is a welcome addition to our family of partners.”
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
■ PARK LIFE: The unit taken by Norland Managed Services at Cliffe Park on Bruntcliffe Road, Morley
Business park is proving popular PROPERTY consultants Carter Towler and Knight Frank have secured another significant out-of-town office letting in West Yorkshire. Norland Managed Services, maintenance and electrical facilities provider, has taken a five-year lease on 5,070sq ft at Cliffe Park on Bruntcliffe Road, Morley. The move will enable the rapidly-expanding Norland to double its staff to 60 during the next 12 months. Pete Bradbury, of Carter Towler, said: “This is an excellent letting in a challenging market. This is the second deal we have completed at Cliffe Park in the last month, which speaks volumes about the overall quality of the park. Cliffe Park is a well-established business park, comprising 12 self-contained office buildings totalling 65,000 sq ft set within landscaped grounds and other occupiers include: Neopost, Willmott Dixon Construction, Q Hotels, the Elliott Group, the OSS Group Ltd, Pinnacle PSG, KMN Group and Tekla. Long-established tenants at the park the OSS Group Limited have recently committed to a new long-term lease of their 2,500 sq ft unit. There are three units, plus two single floors, available to lease, from 1,200 sq ft to 12,500 sq ft. Craig Bonner, the financial manager of Norland’s northern region, said: “This move is very much part of our growth plans.”
property
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Endeavouring to meet contractual obligations ONTRACTUAL obligations are usuCThat ally absolute. is to say if a party does not conform
exactly to what the wording of the contract states then there is a breach. This can cause difficulty when performance of a contractual obligation requires an unrelated third party carrying out a task – for example a local authority granting planning permission or a contractor carrying out building works. In these instances, a party will often try and move away from an absolute obligation to carry out the task and qualify his position by saying that he will “try” and perform the obligation in question. These qualified obligations are known as “endeavours” clauses. There are three common levels. The highest level is that a party will use his “best endeavours” to achieve the objective. Whilst a “best endeavours” obligation is not an absolute obligation, it is not toothless. Here, the contracting party may have to take steps “which a prudent, determined and reasonable obligee (ie a person who has the benefit of the clause) acting in his own interests and desiring to achieve the end result would take”. This may involve the obligor (ie the person who is under the duty) spending significant amounts of money but not to the extent that such expenditure would be ruinous.
INFORMED DEVELOPMENT
Jason Bannister
The next step down is for the obligor to use “reasonable endeavours” to achieve the end result. This level of endeavour involves balancing the obligation against all the relevant commercial considerations under the contract. Whilst this obligation may require the obligor to spend money the obligor is not required to sacrifice his own commercial interests in attempting to fulfil the task. Sitting in-between “best endeavours” and “reasonable endeavours” is an obligation upon the obligor to use “all reasonable endeavours”. This obligation exhibits characteristics of the best endeavours and reasonable endeavours clauses and depending on the circumstances the obligation may or may not require the obligor to spend money or sacrifice his own commercial interests. The above are general propositions laid down by the courts stating how an endeavours
clause may be interpreted. However, the courts have stated that interpretation is fact (or contract) specific and the duties implied under an endeavours clause in one contract may not be the same under a different contract. Much depends on the underlying commercial deal that the parties have agreed. Contracting parties should not enter into obligations lightly. Qualified obligations, on the whole, are better than absolute obligations for the majority under a duty to do something. However, qualified obligations introduce an element of uncertainty into a contract. It is often difficult to say before hand exactly what is requested when it is requested to use reasonable endeavours to do something. Legal advice should be sought to ensure that the appropriate level of “endeavour” is requested. Both parties will need to understand what this means to avoid disputes at a later stage.
Jason Bannister is a solicitor with Armitage Sykes in Huddersfield
Travis Perkins left high and dry by heavy rains WICKES owner Travis Perkins warned that record levels of rainfall had hit trade. The largest supplier of building materials in the UK said group revenues rose by 4.4% in the four months to the end of April, as growth in its general and
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specialist merchanting divisions were offset by declines in plumbing and heating and retail. The retail division, which includes 200 Wickes and 107 Tile Giant stores, saw like-for-like sales in the period drop 5.2%. The Northampton-based group
said after a good first quarter, the wettest April since records began led to a weaker performance, while the weather continued to hit activity in May. Geoff Cooper, Travis Perkins chief executive, said: “We are pleased with the good progress in
the first quarter, in particular the balance between continued share gains and our achievements on gross margins.” Earlier this year, the group announced a £24m deal to buy the 70% of retailer ToolStation that it does not already own.
Improving signs for region’s firms WORKLOADS among construction companies in Yorkshire edged upwards in the first three months of the year, according to a new survey. The latest RICS Construction Market Survey showed that 1% more chartered surveyors across the region reported increases rather than decreases in workloads. This is a notable improvement of the negative reading seen towards the end of 2011 when the net balance was minus 18%. Predictions for construction activity across the region saw a marked improvement in the first quarter of the year. Some 9% more Yorkshire and Humberside respondents expect workloads to rise over the coming 12 months – the most positive reading since the end of 2009. This is also reflected in a modest improvement in expectations for employment in the sector – even though profit margins are viewed as likely to remain under pressure. Most parts of the country saw workloads rise or remain steady during the first quarter. Surveyors in London and the South East reported
■ CAUTIOUS: Kevin Wood, RICS construction spokesman while those in the North recorded the first positive reading since the final quarter of 2007. Input costs – such as raw materials and labour – continued to increase in
balance of 31% more respondents reported a rise in outlays. Kevin Wood, RICS construction spokesman in Yorkshire, said: “The start of the year saw a cautious level of optimism develop across the construction industry. “Workloads increased across the sector in the region, albeit modestly, and although conditions remain extremely tough, this rise in activity looks as though it could continue over the next 12 months. “Hopefully, confidence will not be dented by the return to negative growth and if increasing workloads are sustained we could also see a growth in the numbers of jobs available in the industry.” Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist, said: “There are still significant hurdles to overcome. Finance for development remains a problem as does macro-economic uncertainty. “On top of this, the public sector will continue to scale back its capital spending programme putting ever more pressure on the private sector and institutional investors to deliver.”
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Property deal done COLLIERS International Building Consultancy has been appointed on a three-year agreement to provide Siemens Real Estate with building surveying services across the whole of its UK properties. The work, which is being led by the team in West Yorkshire, covers more than 2m sq ft of offices and industrial buildings – about 60% of which are in northern England. Colliers International is also one of only two parties globally to provide valuation services to Siemens PLC and has also been awarded a contract to provide agency advice on parts of the portfolio across North West Europe. Colliers’ service department is already involved with Siemens Energy’s proposed wind turbine facility at Alexandra Docks in Hull. The value of the investment by Siemens and developer Associated British Ports will be £210m.
property
Five-figure refit for fish and chip shop
A FISH and chip shop has re-opened its doors under new ownership and management following a £50,000 refurbishment. And Tony Wells, general manager of the Lindley Fish Bar on West Street, Lindley, is making it a double celebration after securing the highest possible score in the Food Standards Agency national Food Hygiene Rating. The premises, formerly known as West Street Fisheries, has served fish and chips for more than 70 years after being relocated in the 1950s to make room for a nearby housing development. Tony first trained as a master baker working in family bakeries and food sales for a decade before moving into senior positions in the automotive industry. He said: “The business was bought by my wife Isabel in January after we spent three years transforming Westgate Fish Bar in Westgate, Elland. “I have project managed the refurbishment over three months and the only thing remaining from the previous owners is the frying range which has been fully refurbished. The rest of the premises is unrecognisable from its former days.”
The refurbishment programme has involved removing walls to double the size of the customer serving area, new windows and the installation of food preparation facilities at the back of the premises with top-of-the-range stainless steel refrigeration and freezers. “A patio area has been created at the front to accommodate outside dining in the summer and a breakfast bar will be added to facilitate inside dining. A team of five is now employed for food preparation, frying and counter service, including former Huddersfield College catering manager Neville Cawley as senior fryer. “It’s been a huge project but we wanted the very best environment, premises and staff to serve the food we take so much pride in making,” said Tony, who is National Federation of Fish Fryers trained. “The response has been incredible. People feel they’ve got their fish shop back and we owe it to the locals to make it the best, traditional fish and chip shop experience they’ve had.”
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All enquiries to Alec Michael at Michael Steel & Co on 0113 234 8999 or email alec@michaelsteel.co.uk
■ BATTER THAN EVER: Traditional fish and chips and a five-star Food Hygiene Rating make a double celebration for Tony Wells outside the Lindley Fish Bar. Mr Wells project managed the refurbishment over three months and the only thing remaining from the previous owners is the frying range which has been fully refurbished.
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
David Arundel
Chadwick Lawrence Law firm Chadwick Lawrence has appointed David Arundel as partner in the corporate recovery and Insolvency department, based at its new Leeds office. Mr Arundel, who is pictured, above right, with corporate recovery and insolvency partner Asma Iqbal and managing partner Jeremy Garside, has worked as a solicitor in the city for almost 20 years, initially at Hammond Suddards before moving to Clarion. He advises insolvency practitioners on all issues concerning administrations, liquidations, voluntary arrangements and bankruptcies. He has particular expertise in restructuring businesses with or without an insolvency procedure to secure the survival of the business as a going concern. Chadwick Lawrence has offices in Huddersfield, Halifax, Morley, Pudsey, Wakefield, Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield. Mr Garside said: “Attracting people of David’s calibre further strengthens our position as an operator in the Leeds market and also enhances our overall offering in the wider Yorkshire area.”
Julie Hale
Movers and shakers
Dining club with food for thought
A DINNER club with the difference is broadening minds and tantalising tastebuds. The Intellectual Dinner Club was formed in 2009 by four women living in Huddersfield and Holmfirth. The aim was to provide the opportunity to socialise while sampling the delights of local cuisine in Kirklees. Taking inspiration from the 18th century women’s movement, The Bluestockings, the group decided to focus on a different theme for intellectual stimulation at each of their monthly get-togethers. The group has started to gain recognition worldwide for its honest and unpretentious restaurant reviews, interesting themes and lively discussion. The girls were also snapped by award-winning photographer Stephen Schofield for a consumer magazine at one of their monthly dinners at The
Three Acres in Shelley. The Intellectual Dinner Club blog is followed by people from all over the world and has started to attract the attention of restaurants throughout the country. Earlier this year, the girls worked with a national PR company, which contacted them after noticing their lively blog. Since then they have been invited to sample local cuisine in various restaurants and discuss their experiences on the blog. The club has been praised by writer and broadcaster Ian Clayton, who commented: “The Intellectual Dinner Club is doing a marvellous, bonny thing.” Most notably, the girls were invited to Swinton Park in Masham, North Yorkshire, to spend a day cooking with c e l eb r i t y c h e f Ro s e m a r y Shrager.
■ BRAIN FOOD: Club members (from left) Amanda Boothroyd, Phoebe Johnson, Caroline Bateman and Catherine Oinonen at Les Caveaux, Holmfirth
They have received encouragement from publishers and literary agents to turn their personal experiences as members of the club into a book. Now they have embarked on
Putting their shirts on Town!
Huddersfield Accountants
JULIE Hale has been elected president of the Huddersfield and District Society of Chartered Accountants. Halifax-born Ms Hale (pictured) attended Whitcliffe Mount Grammar School, Cleckheaton, and studied at Sheffield University where she gained a degree in economics and business studies. She spent four years working in the motor industry in Birmingham after which she qualified as an Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales chartered accountant with KPMG. Ms Hale returned to Yorkshire in 1984 and joined Armitage & Norton in Huddersfield, which was taken over by KPMG in 1987. In 1990, she left the profession to run her own contract accounting agency for a short time before focusing on the financial services industry and working in strategic planning at National & Provincial Building Society. She became finance director of execution-only stockbroker YorkSHARE and group finance manager at the Yorkshire Building Society. In 2001, she joined Broker Network in Harrogate as finance and operations director. The company floated on AIM in 2004 and was bought by Towergate in January, 2008. Ms Hale, who was named Yorkshire Finance Director of the Year for a plc in 2007, left Broker Network in May, 2008, following the sale and has since been operating a consultancy practice mainly acting as part-time finance director for small and growing businesses. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, running, and singing with Huddersfield Choral Society. She has also taken up coxing with Bradford Amateur Rowing Club.
Page 8
■ TEAM COLOURS: John Chamberlin (front) and employees from Thornton + Ross line up in Town’s away shirts at the club’s Canalside complex A COLNE Valley company is putting its shirts on Huddersfield Town. Linthwaite-based pharmaceuticals manufacturer Thornton + Ross has agreed to renew a sponsorship deal which will see its Radian B brand emblazoned on Town’s away shirts for the fourth successive year. John Chamberlin, director of consumer marketing for the company, was accompanied by 15 of his colleagues on a visit to Town’s Canalside Sports Complex to mark the announcement. They wore the current away shirt – as the new kit is to be revealed this summer. Thornton + Ross first joined forces with Town in March, 2009. As well as its Radian B logo appearing on the away shirts, the company has one of its delivery vans specially liveried up with the Town crest. It has also been an active participant in other initiatives, such as the
Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy. The company was formed in 1922 – the year Town first won the FA Cup – and employs more than 425 local people. Town commercial director Sean Jarvis said: “We are absolutely delighted that Thornton + Ross have renewed their partnership with us for the 2012/13 season, as over the last three years they have been a fantastic supporter of the club.” Mr Chamberlin said: “After three productive and enjoyable years, during which we have built a great relationship with Huddersfield Town through our sponsorship of their away shirts, it wasn’t a difficult decision to renew the arrangement for another year. “We are delighted to continue to be associated with our local team and look forward to next season.”
a “12 in 2012 challenge” – a year-long project aimed at inspiring people to achieve one personal goal each month. Go to www.intellectualdinner club.blogspot.co.uk
Ladies lead at business event FEMALE business leaders take centre stage at a forthcoming business conference. Calderale Business Conference takes place on Friday at The Shay in Halifax as part of the wider Yorkshire Business Conferences programme for 2012. Hundreds of local firms have already registered for the event, which will feature an exhibition with more than 40 companies promoting their products and services and ample networking opportunities, including a 4Networking Breakfast Meeting. Speakers will include Claire O’Connor, founder of babyballet and a Calderdale Champion; Sarah Dunwell, co-founder and chief executive of Create Foundation; “Dragon Slayer” and health food pioneer, Kirsty Henshaw; former glamour model turned lingerie firm boss Nikki Hesford and Nicky Bramley, of Business Growth Calderdale. For details call event director Danny Matharu on 01924 284 524.
Seminar dates FREE workshops to help employers understand their legal obligations when employing people will be staged in Kirklees this summer. Howarths The Employment Law Specialist will host the events at its premises at St John’s Place, Brooke Street, Cleckheaton. The sessions will be held from noon to 2pm and will cover issues such as disciplinary action and dismissal, redundancy, grievance hearings and discrimination awareness. For details, email lindsey@howarths-uk.com