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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015
Marketing is her mission Interview - Page 3
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COLIN BARRATT Gains to be made Column - Page 4
An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
Eight Huddersfield companies are among Yorkshire’s best-perfoming businesses, a survey has revealed. The eight are listed among the region’s top 250 companies in the Yorkshire Report compiled by business services firm BDO. Together, the 250 firms have revenue exceeding £100bn and cash in the bank totalling £3.2bn. Huddersfield’s excellent eight generated revenue of £796m and together employ 4,739 people. They have also amassed export sales of £185m. The eight are vehicle recovery and fleet management firm FMG, haulage company Hoyer Petrolog UK Ltd, nursery products firm Mamas & Papas, services provider Mavisbank Ltd, signage and branding specialist Principle Holdings Ltd, pharmaceuticals manufacturer Thornton & Ross, engineering firm VTL Group and air industry supplier Wesco Aircraft Europe Ltd. Analysis which splits the region’s top 50 firms – those with turnover of £300m-plus – and the mid-market 200 reveals it is the medium-sized businesses that are driving growth and prosperity for Yorkshire. Turnover, overseas sales and employee numbers are growing faster in the mid-market than they are among Yorkshire’s biggest businesses. Turnover has
■■ Terry Jones, partner and head of BDO LLP in Yorkshire, said companies in the region were growing strongly – as evidenced by the inclusion of businesses such as Linthwaite’s Thornton and Ross (above) in BDO’s Yorkshire Report listing 250 top-performing firms
grown by 13.2% for mid-sized firms against 5.2% for the largest 50 companies while employment levels are up by 11.6% compared with 2.8% and overseas sales have rocketed by 19.3% opposed to just 3.6% in large firms. Terry Jones, partner and head of BDO LLP in Yorkshire, said: “Yorkshire firms have recovered well and are growing strongly, with cash in the bank, employment and overseas sales all on the up.
But what’s really clear is how important the mid-market is to our regional economy and future prosperity.” Manufacturers account for 72 of the region’s top 250 companies. The region’s manufacturers saw profits before tax jump by 38% to more than £1bn in the reporting period. The sector also accounts for more than half of all overseas sales made by the 250 companies. The retail sector continues to be the
largest contributor to revenues with a £44.3bn contribution. However, profits have plummeted following another tough year for food retailers Asda and Morrisons, which account for more than 90% of the sector’s revenues. Manufacturing was the second biggest contributor with revenues at £12.4bn, followed by the food and drink sector which recorded a 22% jump to £11.3bn.
Report shows ‘promising results’ for regional economy
■■ Senior partner Stephen Newman
A LAW firm has detected “green shoots” in the regional economy. The latest Economic Index Report published quarterly by Huddersfield firm Baxter Caulfield noted “promising results” from its key business data on job creation, new investment and contract wins during the three months to the end of May, 2015. The report found that at least 1,178 jobs had been announced or created throughout Yorkshire and the Humber during the period. An estimated £40.83m of new investment had been made by private sector businesses while an estimated £20.22m worth of contracts had been won by private sector businesses in the region. Key announcements during that time included the completion of Holmfirth
Dyers’ Park Valley Mills site, which will create 70 jobs. Other major investment includes Banks Renewables, part of The Banks Group, investing £14m in the fiveturbine Hook Moor Wind Farm, which will create 30 jobs. Other announcements include a major power plan scheme, the Knottingley Power Project, which has been given consent by the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The project will be located at the site of the former Oxiris Chemical works in East Knottingley and will create 50 permanent jobs. Stephen Newman, senior partner at Baxter Caulfield, said: “It’s really good news for the regional economy that there appears to be a renewed sense of confi-
dence among businesses. This sense of positivity leads naturally to investment in our regional economy and to the creation of new jobs. “Since our quarterly Economic Index report was first published two years ago, we have been able to measure the economic fortunes of businesses located throughout Yorkshire and the Humber. “ Mr Newman said: “Whilst the picture has not been universally good, there is a definite upward trajectory in success, represented most keenly by increasing levels of confidence, which lead to vital investment by businesses of all shapes and sizes – something which is particularly important for our home-grown owner-managed businesses.”
Cutting the cake LAW firm Chadwick Lawrence has marked the 10th anniversary of its Employer Support Protect (ESP) Scheme with members of the employment law team and representatives from its first ever client – cutting tool supplier Cutwel Ltd, of Cleckheaton – gathering to celebrate a decade in business. The law firm’s employment department has delivered specialist employment law, health and safety and HR support to hundreds of businesses across the region. The ESP team has developed relationships with prominent organisations such as Kwik-Fit, Huddersfield Town FC and Leeds Rhinos.
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Energy savings Elland-based energy management specialist Orchard Energy has helped a family-run hotel chain save money on its energy bills. The owner of the Waterfront Lodge and Prego at Brighouse, the Briar Court Hotel and Da Sandro’s at Birchencliffe and speciality food and drink supplier Continental Quattro Stagioni, has been a client of Orchard Energy for the last 10 years. Orchard identifed a new contract 12 months in advance of renewal that would bring significant cost savings.