Kirklees Business News 16/10/12 by Huddersfield

FTSE 100

VICKY NEWHAM Adding to her business

+ 12.29 5805.6

Full inter view - Page 3

DEBORAH TAYLOR-MCLEAN Ready to count the cost? Column - Page 4

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Firm has bottle for Glastonbury deal

A COMPANY supplying water to quench the thirsts of Glastonbury Festival-goers turned to a Huddersfield manufacturer to build a new bottling plant. Karmelle Liquid Packaging Solutions, based at Canal Street, off Leeds Road, was approached by Glastonbury Spring Water to design and build the equipment after the Somerset-based firm deciding it wanted to support British suppliers. Father-and-son team Brian and Shaun Dickinson came up with the finished design for the rotary mono-block filler, which automatically feeds bottles onto the production line, washes them and fills and caps them before they move onto a labelling machine – also supplied by Karmelle. Glastonbury, which draws its water from a spring below the famous Glastonbury Tor, specified a machine capable of filling 330ml bottles of still or carbonated spring water at a rate of 40 a minute. Under tests, the filling line proved capable of running at 80 a minute. Karmelle managing director Peter Krawczuk said: “Glastonbury wanted to buy British, but they were having difficulty finding a supplier.

“Italy is the market leader, but the firm wanted to find someone in Britain. “We had already sold them a labelling machine, so they approached us about the new filler. “We developed the machine with them to incorporate a range of mod-cons and they are very happy with the finished product.” Said Mr Krawczuk: “We are hoping that this contract to supply a complete filling line from start to finish will open the door for us to supply some of the big boys in the drinks sector. But the new line can be used for any liquid products, including bleaches or milks.” He said: “We have brought a new machine shop on line within the past two years and we are getting busier. Things are quite buoyant at the moment. We have also got a number of potential orders in the pipeline.” Karmelle, which was formed in 1985, has completed numerous contracts for clients locally, nationally and across the world. Earlier this year, it supplied a labelling machine to Linthwaite-based pharmaceuticals and household products firm Thornton and Ross.

New Zealand and British Wools. He is currently European business manager for the British Wool Marketing Board in Bradford and executive director for its Japanese office based in Tokyo. Speaking at the first meeting of the society’s 120th year, Mr Poole said Yorkshire still played a major part in the global the wool industry – with two major scouring companies in the region and numerous spinning mills supplying the carpet and cloth sectors, dyers, weavers and finishers. He said: “Rather than a shrinking industry, we can currently see high levels of investment in these companies in new technology as it become more viable to produce goods here rather

Safety on the roads INCIDENT management company FMG has put the accent on road safety. The firm has appointed Paul Holmes to the new post of strategic account director in charge of risk. And it has joined forces with charity Brake – of which it is a corporate sponsor – to stage a road safety day for employees at its Bradley mills headquarters in the run-up to Road Safety Week, which starts on November 19.

● Full story - Page 8

■ RIGHT LINE: Peter Krawczuk and Brian Dickinson, of Karmelle Liquid Packaging Solutions are helping festival-goers quench their thirsts

Other commissions have included supplying a production line to fill, seal and label plastic containers of fungicide for a factory in Ghana; providing

equipment to fill containers with agrochemicals at a factory in Flint, North Wales; and supplying a white spirit bottling plant for DIY chain B&Q.

Yorkshire mills ‘still vital’ to world textile sector A TEXTILE stalwart says West Yorkshire remains a major part of the world textile industry. And Huddersfield man Richard Poole said British industry must build on the “feel good factor” generated by the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics. Mr Poole was speaking as he took up the reins as president of Bradford Textile Society. Mr Poole has worked in the Bradford wool industry for 40 years, completing his further education at Bradford Technical College and working with well-known companies Thomas Henry Shaws, Wool Testing Services, and the Wool Auction House – the Committee of London Woolbrokers selling both

INSIDE

than Asia, with faster turnaround and high quality.” And he added: “After a year of high drama with the jubilee celebrations and sporting achievements in the Olympics, we have really come to fly our flag with pride and this can extend to our attitudes in supporting local UK business.” Mr Poole also stressed his support for young people entering the textile and fashion business to be involved in sciences and technology, chemistry, languages, geography, mathematics and the environment. He said: “These skills are needed for the continuing growth of the industry as we move into a more competitive ■ FLYING THE FLAG: Huddersfield man Richard Poole marketing.”

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‘Zombie’ threat ZOMBIE businesses are hampering the UK recovery, it is claimed. Peter Sargent, partner at rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor, said forbearance by HM Revenue & Customs and the banks meant a large number of companies continued to trade. But many of them were ‘zombie businesses’ unable to pay off their debts and damaging viable businesses by undercutting them.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

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Deal collapse hits bank group shares TAXPAYER-backed Royal Bank of Scotland saw its shares come under pressure as investors weighed up the impact of its collapsed £1.65 billion branch sale with Santander. The Spanish-owned bank pulled the plug on the deal, which covered 316 branches and 40 banking centres for small and medium-sized businesses, on Friday evening. RBS shares dipped 1% as broker Investec warned the lender was now likely to settle for terms that are £500 million to £1 billion worse than those originally agreed with Santander. Meanwhile, it emerged Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Money, which took control of nationalised Northern Rock in January, is weighing up a bid for the network of

branches. Other banking shares fared well with the likes of Barclays and state-backed lender Lloyds Banking Group adding more than 1%. Sir Richard is reportedly facing a battle with US private equity group JC Flowers – run by billionaire entrepreneur Christopher Flowers – over the EU-enforced disposal. RBS chief executive Stephen Hester is understood to be confident that he can secure an extension to the Brussels state aid deadline to sell the branches by the end of 2013. Investec analyst Ian Gordon said: “The original terms agreed appeared generous at the time, and even more so in the light of loss-making Lloyds Banking Group’s recent “giveaway” of its mandated 632 branch disposal

to the loss-making Co-op. “Early speculation cites Virgin Money and others as potential alternate bidders, though unless the European Commission’s terms are materially relaxed, we believe that a loss on disposal of £500 million or more now appears likely.” The Spanish lender agreed in August 2010 to buy the assets but it emerged it had pulled out as it became apparent that a revised target for the purchase to be completed by the end of the year would not be achieved. Credit Suisse analyst Carla Antunes-Silva said Santander’s move creates “additional uncertainty” for RBS and the prospect of “more value destructive alternatives”.

■ POSSIBLE BID: Sir Richard Branson

Women suffer in pay scales

One Trinity is way forward

WOMEN apprentices earn up to a fifth less than their male peers, according to a new report. It suggests that apprenticeships are more likely to go to men due to discrimination in the labour market, and the types of jobs for which training schemes are available. Unesco’s 10th Education for All Global Monitoring Report suggests that when it comes to apprenticeships, a gender pay gap still exists in the UK. It cites research which shows that female apprentices in the UK earn 21% less, on average, while doing their training. And the wage benefit for a woman

NEW chief executive of Trinity Mirror Simon Fox has announced a management reshuffle, which will see its national and regional divisions fall under one structure. The consolidated publishing operation, which includes the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, will be managed by Mark Hollinshead, current managing director of nationals. Mr Fox, who joined Trinity from struggling entertainment group HMV, said he would provide a strategic update early next year. Trinity recently said revenues fell 4% in the 26 weeks to July 1 as its

who has completed an apprenticeship is just 4%, compared with 20% for a man who has done the same training. It says research shows that in general worldwide “apprentices are often more likely to be men because of discrimination in the labour market and the types of occupations for which apprenticeships are available”. “Young women who have taken apprenticeships get paid less in them, find it harder to get a job and receive lower pay once they are in work,” it adds. The current hourly minimum wage for a UK apprentice who is under 19 is £2.65.

regional papers were hit by the economic malaise in northern cities and advertising slumped 10%. But the company added that underlying profits rose to £52.5m as it moved forward with a cost-cutting drive, which includes job cuts, changing regional titles to weekly publications and integrating its Scottish operations as Media Scotland. Trinity said the market for online deals was worth £100 million in 2011 and is set to grow to more than £1 billion by 2016. The company announced a plan to shut down its daily deals website, Happli.

Job boost for town with new cinema ALMOST 50 jobs are to be created with a new cinema in the centre of Calderdale. Vue Entertainment is opening a nine screen cinema in Halifax town centre. The 1,300-seat venue will open on Friday, October 26, as part of the new Broad Street Plaza shopping complex. The new shopping and entertainment destination will include a bowling alley, restaurants, a bingo hall and shops. The launch will include Halifax’s first VueXtreme auditorium, offering a super-cinema with a screen well over the size of two double decker buses, crystal clear picture quality, immersive surround sound and luxury stepped seating. Tim Richards, CEO of Vue Entertainment, said: “Vue Halifax will have the latest state-of-the-art projection technology. We expect this cinema to be a massive hit for the people of Halifax and the wider surrounding areas.” It will offer concessions for children, teens, senior and at off peak times plus Orange Wednesdays and Nectar Point offers.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £35.84 -0.18 Gannett 1102.61 -11.20 Hess Corp £32.76 -0.39 Microsoft 1834.98 +18.04 Motors Liquidation 46.67 Wal-Mart Stores £47.66 +0.49 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 3073/4 +21/2 BAE Systems 3261/8 -1 Rolls-Royce 875 -1 AIM Brady Plc 103 Man Brnze 9 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 2117/8 +2 BANKS Barclays 2367/8 +45/8 HSBC 6001/4 +5 Lloyds Banking Gp 403/8 +5/8 Ryl Scotland 2681/8 -23/4 Stan Chart 14611/2 +34 BEVERAGES Diageo 1772 +6 SABMiller £265/8 CHEMICALS Croda £223/4 +1/8 Elementis 98 2253/4 +2 Johnsn Mat £225/8 +1/8 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2981/4 -5/8 Costain 2393/4 +7

ELECTRICITY Drax Gp 526 +31/2 SSE 1433 +7 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 218 +1 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3711/4 +11/4 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 217 -13/4 Cable & Wireless 357/8 +1/4 Comm Colt Group 119 +1/8 KCOM 76 -13/8 Talktalk Telecom 180 -33/4 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2671/2 -1/4 Sainsbury 3573/4 +7/8 Tesco 310 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1340 +14 Tate Lyle 695 +21/2 Unilever £231/4 +1/4 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3323/4 -1 National Grid 6941/2 +31/2 1 Pennon Grp 721 /2 +1 Severn 1668 +1 United Utils 7231/2 -1/2 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 2171/4 +3/8 ICAP 3173/4 -1/4 London StockExch 957 +241/2 1 Man Group 90 /8 +1/8

Provident Financial 1396 +10 Schroders 1533 +2 Schroders NV 1193 -7 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 533 +21/2 REXAM 4503/8 +21/4 Smiths Grp 1048 -2 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 283/4 +1/2 Carphone Whse 167 -21/4 1 Dixons Retail 21 /4 -1/2 Home Retail 1023/8 -17/8 3 Inchcape 357 /4 +11/4 Kingfisher 2753/4 +71/4 M&S 3851/8 +47/8 1 Mothercare 221 /4 -1/2 Next £36 +1/4 WH Smith 6271/2 -81/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 658 +41/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 58 +11/4 Barrat Dev 1801/4 +31/4 1 Persimmon 746 /2 +71/2 Reckitt Benckiser £363/8 +1/4 Taylor Wimpey 57 +1/4 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 903 -1 INDUSTRIAL METALS 5 Ferrexpo 188 /8 -21/8 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 2071/4 -11/2 LIFE INSURANCE

3301/2 134 1711/4 8461/2 218 2847/8 MEDIA BSkyB 750 D Mail Tst 4683/4 1 HIBU /2 ITV 907/8 Johnston Press 12 Pearson 1234 Reed Elsevier 608 STV Group 927/8 Trinity Mirror 683/4 Utd Business 7221/2 UTV 1371/2 WPP 856 MINING Anglo American 17881/2 Antofagasta 1257 BHP Billiton 19261/2 Eurasian Natural 3193/4 Res Fresnillo 1916 Kazakhmys 690 Lonmin 4865/8 Rio Tinto £293/4 VEDANTA 1072 RESOURCES Xstrata 952 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 5671/2 Vodafone Group 1731/4 Aviva Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life

+23/4 +15/8 +11/4 -2 +11/4 +23/4 +21/2 -31/4 3

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Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

413 /2 877/8 6941/2 1720

+15 /2 +23/8 +31/2 -8

FTSE closed at

5805.6 up 12.29

NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1119 +32 RSA Insurance Gp 114 +1/2 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 1321 -7 -17/8 BP 4291/2 Cairn Energy 2853/4 +3/4 Royal Dutch Shell A £213/8 Royal Dutch Shell B £22 Total £31 +1/4 Tullow Oil 1415 +11 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

AMEC 1099 -4 Petrofac 1611 +16 Wood Gp(J) 842 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1134 +9 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £287/8 +1/4 GlaxoSmithK 13 Shire 1794 -14 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 532 +10 Captl Shop Cent 337 +3 Hamrsn 4727/8 +45/8 1 Land Secs 796 /2 +12 SEGRO 232 +13/8 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 2261/4 -3/4 Sage Group 3021/4 -11/4 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 5671/2 +11/2 Bunzl 1106 +12 Capita 739 +3 De La Rue 1049 1 Electrocomp 208 /2 +13/8 Experian 1069 +11 1 G4S 266 /4 +21/2 1 Hays 78 /8 -3/8 Homeserve 2253/4 +21/2 Menzies J 6271/2 -17 Rentokil 867/8 +13/4 1 Smiths News 133 /4 +31/4 Wolseley £265/8 -1/8 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 5771/2 -1

Psion Spirent Comms

873/4 1501/4

-1/4 +31/8

TOBACCO Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco

£321/4 £223/4

+1/8

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

115 £233/4 6871/2 5991/2 653/4 1845/8 1290 601 1604 158

-1/4 +1/4 +7 +2 +2 -61/8 -20 +21/2 -13 -21/4

1763/4 312 2057/8 1515/8 2801/2 2471/8 £233/4

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FTSE 100

INDEX 5805.61

+12.29

FTSE 250

INDEX 11855.67

+17.41

TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.49 dollars Bangladesh................. 122.84 taka Brazil.............................. 2.93 reals Canada....................... 1.50 dollars China ............................. 8.98 yuan Czech Republic ...... 28.45 korunas Denmark....................... 8.80 krone Euro............................... 1.18 euro Hong Kong................ 11.79 dollars Hungary................... 309.94 forints India.......................... 74.99 rupees Japan........................... 119.83 yen Mexico ....................... 18.37 pesos New Zealand .............. 1.83 dollars Norway ......................... 8.75 krone Pakistan.................. 144.05 rupees Philippines ................. 56.93 pesos South Africa................. 13.15 rand South Korea.............. 1551.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 194.30 rupees Sweden....................... 10.28 krona Switzerland.................. 1.43 francs Taiwan ...................... 40.97 dollars Turkey....................... 2.74 new lira USA ............................ 1.53 dollars

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS VICKY Newham always wanted to go into business. The owner of Lindley-based Solutions Accountancy and Bookkeeping Ltd first tried her hand at self-employment as a teenager living in Slaithwaite and attending Colne Valley High School.. “I had always been surrounded by ‘business’,” she says. “My parents were involved in various small businesses and at the age of 13 or 14 I set up a business of my own going around feeding people’s cats while they were on holiday. I made a bit of money out of it! “I always knew I wanted to run my own business. I don’t like being told what to do, I like knowing that everything I achieve is down to me – and that everything that fails is down to me.” After A-levels at Huddersfield New College, Vicky took a degree in business studies at Lancaster University. She undertook teacher training and was a lecturer in accounts at Bradford College before making another, more concerted Said Vicky: “We are Vicky and her team also effort at self-employment. finding things busier keep a watching brief – Initially, she ran Solutions because of the economic “interrogating” the Accountancy and climate at the moment. information they glean from Bookkeeping Ltd from a There are businesses handling clients’ monthly bedroom at her Cowlersley re-evaluating what they are management accounts to home. “I was lecturing doing and turning to highlight any potential part-time and running the outsourcing work such as problems and setting key business part-time,” Vicky bookkeeping because it is performance indicators for recalls. “I was also a more efficient and flexible. them to follow. full-time mother to my “We haven’t done “Our bookkeepers aren’t daughter, Elissa. I was anything revolutionary, but just data inputters,” she lucky in having parents and we are growing. says. “They are looking at friends around to help “People are very aware of what is happening in a because I couldn’t afford the climate. They are business and asking why.” childcare. feeling the pinch. A lot of Says Vicky: “In the good “I was fortunate working businesses are saying it is times, a lot of people don’t in a teaching job because I more difficult to get people think they have to worry too had long summer holidays to pay them. When they try much about budgets and to build up my business. to make a sale, the accounts. They think that if “In a mad moment, I potential client is taking they have money in the decided it would be a good longer to make a decision. bank there’s nothing to idea to rent an office – even They are more worry about. though I only had one or price-conscious. “But you should always two clients. “Having said that, there plan and set targets, “It’s much easier now. are many successful otherwise the money won’t The business makes money businesses around. It is a be in the bank for long. It is and my daughter is at lot to do with the people about good habits and school. There’s more running the business. In disciplines.” structure.” good times, a lot of Vicky’s experience in Indeed, five years on and businesses survive teaching helps here. She the business has boomed. DESPITE the people often gives seminars on key Vicky heads a team of 10 running them. Those that financial matters to based at Heritage are surviving now are doing businesses – and Exchange – but will soon be so BECAUSE of the people construction students at moving to bigger premises running them.” Kirklees College who might at Little Brunswick Street on the edge of Huddersfield town centre. “We are primarily a bookkeeping business,” she says. “We work with clients who will bring a carrier bag full of receipts and put them in order. We are working with clients who don’t have their own finance director or finance department.” Vicky’s business also works closely with Key Commercial Finance, headed by her business partner – and husband of two years – Tony Newham, who set up his business after a lengthy career in banking. Together, they offer a range of services to businesses, including ■ MONEY WISE: Vicky Newham, says companies cannot start-ups and those facing be complacent during the ‘good times’ the threat of insolvency.

profile

Vicky goes by the book

Page 3 Vicky Newham

be thinking of becoming self-employed on completing their courses. “There are a lot of people in their early 20s setting up in business – and they are often very driven,” she says. “There is nothing magical about being successful in business. You need to keep at it and you need to be honest with your clients. Do what you say you are going to do and do it right.” Vicky sets something of an example when it comes to good habits. “I like to get into the office as early as possible,” she says. “I like early mornings, so if I attend a networking event I prefer the early morning ones! “I do the marketing for the business, so I visit current clients to check things are okay, meet new clients and talk to the ‘introducers’ such as the banks and accountants. “My days are very full, but I try to finish at a reasonable time. If I finish early to attend the school nativity play I don’t worry about it. Working hard in business isn’t about doing as many hours as you can – it’s about how effectively you use the hours you are there. “I try to have weekends free. When I was lecturing as well as running the business, I had no choice but to work weekends and evenings. Now I don’t have that pressure.” Vicky now lives in Birkby, which also means she is spared the drudgery of the daily commute. “I have clients in Doncaster and Manchester and North Yorkshire, so I have to drive on business,” she

says. “But I would not want to commute again. Now, if I forget something, I can drive back home for it!” Vicky says: “I value family life. We like to go walking and we like to go on a lot of holidays. Travel is one of my pet things – even if it’s only for a two or three-day short break in Europe. “I like long-haul destinations and cruises. We have cruised in the Med a few times and been to the Panama Canal. “I try to get exercise during the week – I do Zumba. But first and foremost I love my business and anything to do with business. “I will read books about inspiring business people. “I can’t imagine going back to what I was doing before this all happened.”

Role: Owner Age: 32 Family: Married to Tony with daughter Elissa, six Holidays: Long-haul destinations and cruises Car: Renault Clio First job: Saturday job working in a sweet shop in Queensgate Market Best thing about job: Having a team which works well together and seeing clients benefit from the advice we give them Worst thing about job: The pressure of running a business and being responsible for your clients and the people who work for you Business tip: Work hard and always have integrity in whatever you do

Solutions Accountancy and Bookkeeping Ltd Work: Accountancy and bookkeeping Site: Lindley Employees: 10 Phone: 0845 8387334 Email: enquiries@solutions bookkeeping.co.uk Webwww.solutionsbook keeping.co.uk

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Who will be the next Business of the Month? If you are proud of what your business has achieved; why not tell us about your success story and you could be a winner of our prestigious award. For further details please contact: Ian Greenwood, Eaton Smith Solicitors, 14 High Street, Huddersﬁeld HD1 2HA T: 01484 821389 E: iangreenwood@eatonsmith.co.uk Business Of The Month Awards - Rewarding Success Since 1995

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KIRKLEES BUSIN

Is this going to cost you? HE Health and Safety ExecT utive’s cost recovery scheme, known as Fee for

Intervention, began on October 1. FFI empowers the HSE to charge those who break health and safety laws for related costs, including inspection, investigation and taking enforcement action. This makes it more important than ever that businesses take health and safety seriously and ensure adequate procedures are in place to comply with health and safety regulations. The FFI hourly rate for 2012/13 is £124 and will apply when an inspector identifies a contravention of health and safety law; is of the opinion that the contravention is serious enough to require written notification (i.e. it is a material breach); and notifies the person contravening the law of their opinion, in writing, by a notification of contravention, Improvement or Prohibition Notice, or prosecution. HSE stressed that law-abiding businesses will not pay a penny and that the HSE will only recover costs from duty-holders who are found to be in material breach of health and safety law.

RISKY BUSINESS Debra Taylor-Mclean

This means that firms who manage their workplace risks properly will not pay. The HSE have defined a material breach as follows: “A material breach is when, in the opinion of the HSE inspector, there has been a contravention of health and safety law that requires them to notify the dutyholder, in writing, of that opinion.” Detailed advice on the scheme’s operation is now available in a newly published guidance document on the HSE’s website. The guidance includes a number of examples of material breaches but does not cover every scenario where FFI might apply. It also explains how the scheme will operate in accordance with the HSE’s existing Enforcement Man-

agement Model and the Enforcement Policy Statement. The process for handling queries and disputed invoices is also covered, although full guidance on these procedures will be published on the HSE website in advance of the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012, under which FFI is being introduced, coming into effect. With disputes all initial inquiries will be treated as a query for which no fee is payable. However, if duty-holders are not satisfied with the responses to their queries, they can formally dispute the invoice by writing to the HSE and setting out the specific reasons why they do not believe the charge is valid. A fee is payable for handling disputes.

Debra Taylor-Mclean is risk management consultant at Wilby Ltd

Warning over impact of UK ‘zombie’ companies ZOMBIE businesses are hampering the UK recovery, says an insolvency expert. Peter Sargent, partner at rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor, said the current downturn was unlike previous recessions. He said: “Having witnessed various recessions, the current downturn is not following the traditional pattern. We are continuing to face a flat economy, but we have not seen the same high level of corporate insolvencies and, therefore, unemployment has not risen as previously and nor have we seen the knock-on effect of growing numbers of personal insolvencies. “There are a number of reasons for this, but largely it is due to low interest rates as well as the forbearance of HM Revenue & ■ TAX CALL: Peter Sargent, partner at Begbies Traynor Customs and of the banks which have, in many cases, adopted a continue to trade, which at first more flexible approach and not sight would appear to be good called in debts. news. However, many of these are “This has obviously enabled a in fact ‘zombie businesses’ which large number of companies to

are not able to pay off their debts; they continue to exist as trading entities, but are damaging viable businesses by undercutting them.” Mr Sargent, who lives at Meltham also highlighted the problem of businesses failing to pay HM Revenue & Customs. “The reality is that we need businesses to pay taxes in order to fund public services,” he said. “There seems to be a common view that it’s fine for HMRC to be the last to be paid, but if businesses fail to honour their tax debts, ultimately we as taxpayers have to make up that shortfall. What’s more, the profitability of other businesses is being undermined by those who do not pay their taxes on time. “Despite the current spirit of forbearance which is giving businesses breathing space, it is incumbent on directors to do all they can to turn their businesses around in order to honour their responsibilities to creditors, including HMRC.”

Fiona keeps her cool with TV’s Dragons

A KIRKLEES company has won plaudits from Dragon’s Den stars Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis as the winner of a national award. Cleckheaton-based children’s skincare company Naturally Coo Kids, run by Fiona Wood (pictured) has been named among the Smarta 100 – the UK’ 100 most dynamic and innovative small firms – in the competition run by smarta.com and telecoms firm O2. In total, 2012’s Smarta 100 are generating revenues of more than £200m a year and employing more than 1,104 people. More than a quarter of the 100 are female-run businesses and two thirds are self-funded, with just 9% borrowing from a bank. Fiona, owner and founder of Naturally Cool Kids said: “This has been an amazing journey for us over the last 18 months and to be a winner in the Smarta awards is fantastic. “This opportunity will provide us with lots more coverage in building our brand.” Smarta board member Deborah Meaden said: “This year’s Smarta 100 showcase the fantastic breadth of small businesses making waves in the UK business scene. “Some demonstrate managerial magnificence, overseeing teams of dozens to grow their businesses quickly and creatively. “Other Smarta 100 winners are sole traders, or just individuals – and how impressive that, even single-handedly, they have proven that being innovative and dedicated can give you the edge.” Theo Paphitis, one of the judges in the competition, said: “The Smarta 100 has proved yet again how many exciting, innovative and successful small businesse and start-ups there are in the UK today, and I really find them inspiring. “Some of the 100 are disrupting established industries, some are creating completely new markets and others are simply doing an exceptional job in age-old marke places – but knocking the socks off their competition.” Fiona is now hoping for further success – as one of the female entrepreneurs shortlisted in the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards, which take place on November 16 in Leeds.

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University takes military honours

HUDDERSFIELD University has been recognised for supporting members of its staff who served in the Reserve Forces. University Vice-Chancellor Prof Bob Cryan was presented with a special certificate after reaffirming the organisation’s support. The certificate – one of only 80 presented each year – is signed by the Chief of the Defence staff and the Secretary of State for Defence. It was presented by Richard Lenton, regional SaBRE campaign director for Yorkshire and Humber. Prof Cryan said: “We are delighted to be recognised in this way and are very proud to be able to demonstrate our support for the Reserve Forces. “Not only do reservists provide a vital role to our armed forces, but we know that in the past both we and our employees have benefited enormously from the transferable skills they learn, particularly in decision-making, leadership and team work. “Ultimately, this means better personal development for the employee and a better business for all.” With more than 10,000 companies and organisations throughout the UK supporting and encouraging over 8,000 volunteer Reservists, SaBRE – Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers – encourages businesses to support employees who are keen to be reservists. Mr Lenton said: “Becoming a Reservist can benefit businesses by developing vital life and management skills for their employees, from motivation, self-discipline and confidence to organisation and leadership. “Through educating employers and speaking directly to the decision-makers within companies, we want to encourage employers and employees to sign up.” He added: “It can be hard to comprehend the contrast between a Reservist and employee’s civilian work and the activities they carry out during mobilisation.

A CLECKHEATON firm has been highly commended in a regional competition highlighting training and apprenticeships. Graphic design business Matthews Brand Solutions, which has offices at Riverside Drive, received the accolade in the category for medium employer of the year in the Yorkshire heat of the National Apprenticeship Awards and National Training Awards. The firm was among 24 companies and apprentices shortlisted for the awards which were contested at a joint awards ceremony organised by the National Apprenticeship Service at the Leeds College of Music.

Fewer failures

■ BY THE RIGHT: Richard Lenton (centre), of SaBRE, presents the certificate to Yvonne Harding and Prof Bob Cryan, of Huddersfield University

“Some of the roles Reservists can find themselves responsible for are providing force protection, emergency relief, contingency planning and regularly providing the lead role in reconstruction efforts in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq – all skills which transfer across in the work place.” Reservists in the Yorkshire and Humber areas serve in the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marines, the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and can be mobilised wherever needed to work alongside Britain’s regular Armed Forces. Reservists are an integral part of the UK Armed Forces and are trained to a high standard.

Open for business! MEMBERS of the Huddersfield business community attended the opening of a new legal service in Huddersfield. YES Personal Injury Lawyers, which provides help and support to people across the UK, has opened an office at High Street in Huddersfield town centre to help people claim compensation if they have suffered an injury that wasn’t their fault. Anne Pendlebury, head of YES Personal Injury Lawyers, a division of Eaton Smith, said: “We are part of a large modern law firm and are well aware that people who have been injured like to deal with their claim in different ways. “We are easily accessible via the internet, by email and by telephone but we also appreciate that many people prefer to sit down with us and chat things over at what can be a very traumatic time for them. “That isn’t an available option with many personal injury claims companies and we want to change that.” She said: “By opening an easily

Cleckheaton firm among winners

YORKSHIRE has seen a fall in the number of corporate insolvencies, latest figures reveal. PwC showed the number of failures fell by 21.4% across the region during the third quarter of the year. The figure of 364 insolvencies compares with 463 for the previous three months. Insolvencies were down by 17.5% on the 441 recorded for the third quarter of 2011. Hospitality and leisure was the worst-hit, according to the national figures – with 1,464 business failures in the third quarter against 1,304 for the same period in 2011.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Society’s new branch

YORKSHIRE Building Society is set to open its fourth new branch of 2012. The society, which has its roots in Huddersfield, will open its doors in Malton, North Yorkshire, at the end of November. It follows on from new branches opening in Pudsey, Bingley and Ilkley. The latest outlet, creating four jobs, will bring the total number of branches in the Yorkshire Group to 228. The Bradford-based society plans to open another eight new branches by the end of 2013. Chief executive Chris Pilling said: “We are very excited to soon be a part of the Malton community and a fixture of the town’s high street. “Our branches and agencies are at the heart of our organisation and we are proud to be one financial organisation opening new branches when others are closing theirs.” The Yorkshire’s branch network has grown considerably over the past few years following its mergers with Barnsley, Chelsea and Norwich & Peterborough building societies. All branches of each society have remained open, taking the total number of branches from 135 in 2008 to 228.

Town gets the all-clear

HUDDERSFIELD Town has been given the “all-clear” after checks on how spectators would be evacuated from its home venue. Cleckheaton-based Ferno, which makes medical equipment for the emergency services, carried out an evacuation audit for the club to assess its evacuation processes and procedures in the event of an emergency at the John Smith’s Stadium. Following changes to legislation such as the Equality Act 2010 and the fire safety Regulatory Reform Order 2005, venues such as football stadiums are legally obliged to make sure that all spectators have equal access to facilities. Property owners also have to take responsibility for the evacuation of everyone on their premises – paying particular attention to vulnerable and disabled people who may be especially at risk in an emergency. Huddersfield Town already has several Ferno products at the stadium and requested the evacuation audit to ensure they had the best plans in place should they people to get out quickly. Ferno managing director Jon Ellis said: “We have worked with several sports clubs and property owners operating across a whole range of industries and sectors who are struggling to understand and meet the standards set by health and safety legislation. “Our evacuation audit is a new form of risk assessment which considers all the potential aspects of an emergency evacuation including the management of disabled people, treating the injured, the effects of smoke, lighting and crowd control.” Sean Jarvis, commercial director at Huddersfield

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warehouse accommodation

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4 RANGE LANE Halifax, 1,446sqm HX3 6DL (15,781sqft) FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES ● Cost effective industrial 395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) properties ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment forterms ● Available on flexible alternative occupational residential Popular industrial location uses or ● possible complete redevelopment, subject to ● consent Various units available planning

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property

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Town said: “We’ve successfully worked with Ferno for several years and found the evacuation audit to be extremely useful in terms of highlighting exactly what we’d need to do in an emergency and how our evacuation plans could be improved upon. “All being well it’s a situation we’ll never need to face, but with the Hillsborough disaster back in the headlines it really hits home just how important it is that there are plans in place and that everyone knows what to do in an emergency.” Huddersfield Town uses a wide range of Ferno emergency medical equipment, including evacuation chairs and stretchers to carry injured players of the field and medical staff at the ground have received full training in how to use them safely. The Evacuation Audit is suitable for all leisure venues including sports stadiums, music venues, theatres and cinemas as well as hotels, schools, universities and workplaces. Other clubs to benefit from Ferno’s evacuation audit include Derby County, Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and the Leicester Tigers. Ferno is a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of emergency patient-handling equipment and mortuary products and exports to more than 95 countries worldwide.

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Site manager gets regional accolade A SITE manager working in the Holme Valley has been named regional winner of a national competition. Richard Burridge, 38, who works for family firm Burridge Homes Ltd, will represent the North East region in the single plot category of the National House-Building Council’s 32nd annual Pride in the Job Awards for site managing the construction of Marsh House in Scholes. Mr Burridge was one of five site managers to be recognised as the region’s winners at a prestigious dinner held at York Racecourse. He is the North East’s first ever single plot winner in the category’s debut year. The NHBC Pride in the Job Awards are dedicated to house-building site management in the UK. They reward site managers for the contribution they make to the house-building process, delivering high quality homes and directing projects from start to finish. Mr Burridge won his regional award for overseeing the build of Marsh House – a single home worth just under £750,000. Neil Jefferson, customer and business development director for NHBC, said: “Richard is delivering new homes of outstanding quality and should be rightly proud of his achievement. This award marks him out as a top site manager for house building in the UK and I wish him the best of luck in the national final.” Mr Burridge now progresses to Pride in the Job’s Supreme Gala event, which will be held next January in London when five UK Supreme Winners will be announced. He said: “I am delighted that we have been recognised by the NHBC for our work at this particular site because it is exactly the type of build we want to be known for.” Mr Burridge began his career as a joiner and has worked in housebuilding for 20 years. He has been a site manager for the last six, working for his father’s company.

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shops and offices

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4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL ● Attractive lease terms FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES 395m2 (4,250ft ● Good2)secondary location

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unit with yard and forecourt

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Slump in demand for retail property DEMAND for retail space in Yorkshire fell further during the third quarter of the year, a survey has revealed. The latest report by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, showed an 1% decline in demand for shop space in the three months to September. Interest in high street sites has now fallen for five consecutive quarters. The latest figure was coupled with a marked increase in unoccupied floor space – as a net balance of 18% more surveyors in the region reported a rise in availability. Unsurprisingly, this resulted in a continued fall in rental expectations of minus 23%. Overall demand for commercial property also continued to stutter in the region with 5% more surveyors reporting falls rather than rises in interest from potential occupiers as the economic climate continues to weigh heavy on the region’s businesses and their appetite to expand. As a result of this negativity, regional surveyors’ expectations for future rents continued to slide with a net balance of 15% predicting values to drop over the coming three months. Overall

■ STRUGGLE: RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn rental expectations have now remained negative since the end of 2007. Turning to the investment market, the negative picture continues across Yorkshire with capital value expectations falling across the region. Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist, said: “Unsurprisingly, with the retail sector still struggling to find its feet, fewer companies in Yorkshire and Humber looked to take on new premises last quarter. Consequentially, the amount of empty floor space continued to rise. This was the case in most parts of the country and it was a similar story for the commercial property sector as a whole.”

property

Funds needed to lift housing

LACK of finance needed to build homes and buy homes is at the heart of the housing crisis, it is claimed. That was the consensus that emerged from a meeting hosted by the National Federation of Builders and the Federation of Master Builders during the Conservative Party Conference. In a discussion on the impact of localism on the construction industry, Clr Gary Porter, vice-chairman of the Local Government Association, said local authorities were willing to help tackle the housing crisis and argued for the next tranche of quantitative easing to be pumped through local authorities to be used to kick-start house building. Speaking at the fringe event, John Howell MP said some local authorities needed to work harder to embrace the Government’s planning reforms and deliver the new housing and infrastructure local communities and neighbourhoods need. Brian Berry, FMB chief executive, said: “It’s good to hear from the LGA and from our members that some local authorities are already renegotiating Section 106 agreements in order to help deliver more homes.

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only £200 per week

All enquiries to Alec Michael at Michael Steel & Co on 0113 234 8999 or email alec@michaelsteel.co.uk

■ CONFERENCE PITCH: Brian Berry (left), chief executive, of the Federation of Master Builders; MP John Howell and Julia Evans, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders

“We want to see this flexibility replicated across all local authorities so that the local population can reap the economic and social benefits of new housing in the right places. “Coupled with this willingness, councils now need more opportunities to invest in helping builders build and buyers buy.” Julia Evans, chief executive of the NFB, said: “We know that finance is at the heart of our current difficulties. Recognition of that is a start, but we need solutions.

“The idea of putting future quantitative easing through local authorities is certainly one which should be explored. “We need finance to flow to where it is needed. Local authorities are at the coal face of delivering the housing we need and they are used to working with smaller volume builders to develop smaller sites. “A constructive dialogue between local authorities and local builders is key to getting us out of current predicament.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Jim Farmery, Andrew McConnell & Alan Ward

Media Centre THE Media Centre in Huddersfield has appointed Jim Farmery, Andrew McConnell and Alan Ward as non-executives on its board. Mr Farmery, a graduate of Huddersfield University, has a wealth of experience in the creative and digital industries – working with Pace Micro Technology before becoming director of projects and programmes at regional development agency Yorkshire Forward. He is currently director of business investment at Creative England, the national agency dedicated to supporting digital and creative service industries. Mr McConnell began his career as a chartered accountant in Huddersfield, spending more than 20 years with Huddersfield firm Revell Ward. Since 2002 McConnell, has been director of finance at Huddersfield University. He is also chairman of the British Universities Finance Directors’ Group. Mr Ward joined BT in 1984 where he has led a wide range of major projects, including the strategic deployment of fibre networks across Western Europe. He is now head of BT’s Corporate ICT Research Practice, where he leads a team of analysts accountable for setting the innovation direction for enterprise services in BT. Margaret Coleman, who chairs the Media Centre board, said: “I welcome Jim, Andrew and Alan who will each complement the existing skills and networks of The Media Centre’s board.”

Lauren Titley

Osborne Technologies HUDDERSFIELD woman Lauren Titley has been appointed marketing executive at a Barnsley IT and audio company. Ms Titley (pictured), who lives at Milnsbridge, has joined Osborne Technologies Ltd, based at Dodworth. She has been recruited to help sell the firm’s new product, a self-contained, multi-sensory room for people with special needs called the SensoryPod. She will be promoting the innovation to schools, colleges and visitor attractions. Ms Titley, 25, was born in Liversedge and attended Heckmondwike Grammar School and Huddersfield New College before graduating from Central Lancashire University with a degree in advertising and marketing. Her studies took her to the University of Connecticut, USA, for a year and her five years’ experience in sales and marketing have also included a year working in the States, promoting a quantity surveying firm in California.

Roger Clapham, Rabina Ditta & Cheryl Ford

ABR Solicitors A LAW firm specialising in fraud crime and regulatory services has opened offices in Huddersfield. ABR Solicitors which already has premises in Leeds, Liverpool and Harrogate, has launched a new practice at Bank Chambers, Market Street, and has recruited experienced advocates Roger Clapham, Rabina Ditta and Cheryl Ford. ABR Solicitors offers a range of fraud crime and regulatory services, defending prosecutions and investigations of all kinds. It also advises businesses about regulatory compliance to avoid prosecutions. The practice was recently ranked number one in the Legal 500 in Yorkshire and the Humber. Senior partner Rob Rode said: “The opening of this new Huddersfield office is part of our ambitious plans to build on our criminal law expertise by establishing a network of offices throughout the country.”

Movers and shakers

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Safety lessons for FMG team! INCIDENT management company FMG has put the accent on road safety. The company – billed as the UK’s only incident management company dedicated to reducing the frequency and impact of incidents – has appointed Paul Holmes to the new post of strategic account director in charge of risk. H e j o i n s t h e H u d d e r sfield-based firm with a wealth of experience in automotive safety, having previously been fleet director at AA DriveTech. His appointment comes shortly after FMG announced its corporate sponsorship of road safety charity, Brake, with whom the company is working on a number of initiatives in the run-up to Road Safety Week, which starts on November 19. A programme of events on the theme of road safety got under way with a Road Safety Day for staff at FMG’s Bradley Mills headquarters. Colleagues were encouraged to take part in a series of events aimed at safer driving. Brake and The Institute of Advanced Motorists were among those presenting on a range of issues to employees throughout the day.

■ PRESSURE POINT: Andrew Vater (left), of Kwikfit Mobile, with (from left) Yvonne Willan, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists; Martin Howard, of Brake; Paul Holmes, of FMG; and Clare Bracken, of claims insurance business Young Marmalade

Employees were also able to take advantage of a three-minute service for their vehicles. About 100 cars were checked for things like oil levels and tyre pressure on the nearby John Smith’s Stadium car park. Mr Holmes said: “Our approach to incident prevention gives us a unique insight into the f l e e t i n d u s t r y a n d we ’re

delighted to be working alongside Brake in the run up to Road Safety Week. “Our own Road Safety Day was designed to give all our people the chance to think about the way they drive and hear from the experts, proving we practice what we preach. “I’m excited to be working for F M G, w i t h t h e i r s t ro n g emphasis on accident preven-

Joanne leads financing move A HUDDERSFIELD woman is spearheading a new service to provide low-cost funding to the UK’s smallest businesses. Joanna Holloway is the managing director of UC Finance, which has set up a service to provide freelancers and contractors with the essential low-cost funding facilities frequently denied them by the high street banks. Ms Holloway was brought up in Honley and attended Honley High School and Greenhead College. She started her career with First Direct in Leeds. Before joining UC Finance, she held senior roles at RBS Invoice Finance and RBS Insurance during which she developed her management and business development skills. UC Finance’s Timesheet Finance product is aimed at

■ MONEY MATTERS: Joanna Holloway, of UC Finance freelancers, contractors and one-man limited companies. It enables them to borrow up to 80% of the value of their contracted work. The service, created in response to a sharp decrease in lending by traditional banks, has been set up to help

self-employed workers improve their cash flow with access to a fast, flexible and affordable alternative to overdrafts and expensive payday loans. Chief executive Alasdair McGill said: “Freelancers and contractors represent a significant proportion of the workforce, yet they are all too frequently ignored by a banking system that doesn’t treat them with the respect or the degree of seriousness they deserve. “The harsh reality of this situation is that it leaves them with few affordable options when it comes to raising funds and creates a significant obstacle for anyone trying to start out working for themselves. “Timesheet Finance has been created to fill a glaring gap in the market for individuals struggling to find fair treatment elsewhere.”

tion. I’ll be involved in building and promoting a driver risk suite of services to expand on FMG’s already considerable offering in that area.” John Catling, FMG chief executive, said: “Paul’s appointment underlines FMG’s commitment to accident prevention and he’s already been busy promoting our message internally and to our wider customer base. “We’re excited to continue our relationship with Brake as a corporate partner and our Road Safety Day will hopefully get people thinking about business driving. “ Martin Howard, of Brake, said: “We’re pleased to work with companies like FMG to promote the message of safer driving. “According to statistics, road crashes account for 39% of work-related deaths in the European Union. This is wholly unacceptable and we aim to work with industry and business to change this. We’ve worked with FMG on a campaign to help third parties understand the business case for safer driving.”

Networking event planned for Elland A NETWORKING event is planned for business people across Huddersfield and Halifax. Elland-based Simply Networking has joined forces with The Ian M Franklin Consultancy Ltd and its associate firm StickFest Ltd to stage the event from 3pm to 5pm on Wednesday, October 24, at Bertie’s Banqueting Rooms in Elland. Co-organiser Ian Franklin said: “Having organised informal networking events since 2003 in Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool we are excited to announce our Halifax launch. “The launch is free of charge. It will be relaxed with no commitments, no pressure to speak in public or to pass referrals, simply an opportunity to meet lots of other businesses.” For details and to book go to www.networking4business.com

Met Club does lunch PICTURESQUE Bagden Hall Hotel at Scissett is the venue for a networking lunch tomorrow. The meeting takes place from noon to 1.30pm and has been organised by the Harrogate-based Met Club. Organiser Lorraine Malatesta said: “There will be no formal seating plan and people will be able to move around the table after each course, therefore being able to speak to most people.” Contact Lorraine on 01423 525622 or email lorraine@themetclub.co.uk