STEFANIE HOPKINS Language skills
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Interview - Page 3
NICK GARTLAND Count on Carney Column - Page 4
An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
New markets await as firm gets mobile By Henryk Zientek Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
A COMPANY providing scalp coolers for people undergoing cancer treatment is a step closer to seeing its products adopted UK-wide. Paxman Coolers has teamed up with clinical healthcare provider Healthcare at Home to provide mobile scalp cooling equipment for thousands of cancer patients. The service can help to save a patient’s hair, but also significantly improve their self-esteem and confidence - while sparing them the discomfort and stress of having to traveling to and from hospital to undergo chemotherapy. Healthcare at Home’s team of highly experienced, trained nurses provide specialist care, medication and support to cancer patients in the comfort of their own home at a time and place of the patients’ choosing. Scalp cooling – or cold cap treatment as it is more commonly known – works by lowering the temperature of the scalp immediately before, during and after the administration of chemo. This can prevent or minimise the damage caused to hair follicles, meaning that hair loss is not inevitable. Since the partnership between Pax-
at Home are a marriage made in heaven and provide ‘angels’ just at a time when a person needs as many angels on their side as possible.” She said: “Scientific research and the medical profession are on the case with treatment and how a patient is treated as a person and the impact on self-esteem is fundamental, which is where the ‘angels’ from Paxman and HCAH step in.” Ruth Poole. group commercial director at Healthcare at Home, said: “Healthcare at Home prides itself on being able to offer patients the choice of continuing their care in the comfort of their own home. “Our partnership with Paxman means that we can, and will, provide the highest standard of care to cancer patients.” Claire Paxman, sales and training manager at Paxman, said: “We are delighted to be working with Healthcare at Home, the opportunity not only allows Paxman to help more chemotherapy patients retain their hair, but will ultimately raise awareness of scalp cooling amongst cancer patients, giving more ■■ Claire Paxman, of Paxman Coolers, with students at Huddersfield University patients the option to undergo the treatment. “We appreciate that not everyone is man and Healthcare at Home, the Yorkshire regions, which together have comfortable within hospital environnumber of patient referrals for the Pax- 44 users. ments so the option to receive scalp man scalp cooling system has risen rapIsobel Heaton, a Healthcare at Home cooling at home offers both flexibility idly, especially in the Midlands and patient, said: “Paxman and Healthcare and comfort which is great.”
Joint venture brings opportunities A DEWSBURY manufacturing firm has announced a joint venture to expand its business reach. Magma Ceramics and Catalysts, which employs 60 people at its headquarters in Earlsheaton, has merged with Morgan Advanced Materials, which has its fired refractory shapes operation in Bomborough on Merseyside, Magma is a specialist manufacturer of high quality, precision-cast ceramic components for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. The company said the link-up would create a larger and more effective combined business with access to a wider technology base and significantly improved growth prospects. The joint venture will be led by Mark Stuckey, managing director of Magma
Ceramics and Catalysts. Windsor-based Morgan Advanced Materials will take a 35% shareholding in the combined business and will have a seat on the board. Magma Ceramics and Catalysts was formed in 2010 via a management buy-out of Dyson Industries’ fired ceramic shapes business. The company’s focus since then has been on process improvement and substantive market focused growth of at least 50% a year. Magma has expanded its ceramic production process knowledge into the area of catalyst technology, establishing a catalyst development facility in Sheffield and manufacturing facilities in Brazil and Vietnam. The combination of a high degree of production process knowledge with
this technology is supporting the growth ambitions of the business. Magma has a pipeline of new products and market opportunities supporting continued high growth in both the ceramics and catalyst areas of the business. Morgan Advanced Materials is one of the largest UK manufacturers of carbon and ceramic products for industrial use. Mr Stuckey said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome all the employees joining Magma at this exciting time and look forward to your input into the continued growth of the business.” It is anticipated that the transfer will take full effect within the next four to six weeks with further announcements ■■ Magma managing director Mark Stuckey ton be made in due course.
INSIDE
Jo joins board DENBY Dale businesswoman Jo Haigh has been appointed to the board at the ICM Group. Ms Haigh, who is an award-winning non-executive director and author of several business books was named winner of the Sunday Times Non-Executive Director of the Year in 2013. She is also a regular presenter for the Institute of Directors. ICM Group, based on the Isle of Man with offices in London, Jersey, Antibes and Monaco, is a privatelyowned corporate service provider specialising in wealth management, yachting and aviation. Founded in 1984, it now has 70 employees.
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Here’s to Hannah INSURANCE company Caravan Guard has pledged to sponsor double Paralympic champion and local girl Hannah Cockroft. The renewed three-year sponsorship will take the athlete to the 2016 Rio Olympics and beyond. Hannah, who was among nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, became a household name after winning two gold medals in the 100m and 200m T34 races at the 2012 London Paralympics.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
national
Co-op polls public on group’s future THE Co-operative Group is asking people to have their say on the troubled mutual’s future after admitting it “lost touch” with customers and communities. It has launched an online nationwide poll in the biggest ever piece of research carried out by the group as it seeks to move on from a dismal 2013 following financial woes at its banking arm and the scandal involving its former bank chairman Paul Flowers. Group chief executive Euan Sutherland pledged to listen and act on views of those who take part in the survey, including customers, members, staff and the wider public. He said: “In recent years The Cooperative Group has lost touch with its customers and members and with the communities in which it operates - we haven’t been listening.” He added: “We will be asking people up and down the country what they believe The Co-operative should really stand for. “This is an unprecedented move for an organisation of the size and the scale of The Co-operative and the results will feed directly into our wider review of strategy and purpose.” The survey - available at www. haveyoursay.coop - asks a broad
range of questions, from how to improve its goods and services to thorny issues such as whether the Co-op should make political donations. Lord Myners, the former City minister who has been tasked with leading a review of the Co-op’s governance structure, revealed last month that the group’s controversial £1 million annual donation to the Labour Party was to be slashed as it looks to save money.
There have been questions over Labour’s links to disgraced former Co-op Bank chairman Mr Flowers, who was a Labour councillor, and has been embroiled in scandal after he was arrested as part of a drugs investigation. Mr Sutherland said the group would consider axing political donations completely if the vast majority of those quizzed in the survey said it should. He said: “We are genuinely open-
Three face charges in Libor probe THREE former Barclays employees have been charged in relation to the alleged manipulation of Libor benchmark interest rates. The men were named by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as Peter Charles Johnson, Jonathan James Mathew and Stylianos Contouglas. They are accused of conspiracy to defraud between June 1 2005 and August 31 2007, and will appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on a date to be notified. The SFO said the investigation into Libor is continuing. The SFO announced in July 2012 that it was investigating allegations of Libor-fixing. It says it is continuing to work with City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority and the US Department of Justice, which are also conducting investigations. Three other men - Tom Hayes, Terry Farr and James Gilmour - face trial in relation to Libor rate-rigging allegations next year. They deny the charges. Banks have been fined billions of pounds by regulators in the UK, Europe and the US for allegations in relation to fixing of benchmark rates. These are used for hundreds of trillions of dollars-worth of loans and transactions around the world and are calculated using submissions from panels of banks about the rates at which they believe they can borrow every day.
ing ourselves up to listen. If we get an overwhelming response that says customers don’t see the link between funding a political party, it will be impossible for us not to take action and ignore it.” The survey will be open from today until March 24 and the results will be published at the group’s annual meeting in May. The food-to-funerals group is preparing to reveal results for 2013 at the end of next month - figures that will be “pretty ugly” due to the rescue of its bank arm, according to Mr Sutherland. Its banking business has fallen under the control of bondholders, including US hedge funds, as part of a refinancing to fill a £1.5 billion hole in its balance sheet. The group now faces a raft of inquiries into what went wrong at the bank, with regulators recently launching formal investigations that could see former senior managers fined or banned from working in the industry. But there have been bright spots for the group, with its 2,800-strong food chain cheering “strong” Christmas trading as like-for-like sales rose by 1% in the 13 weeks to January 4.
Rents strengthen at Hammerson
Bid to rebuild Reader’s Digest
A MAJOR shopping centre owner highlighted improved demand from retailers as the economic and consumer recovery takes hold in the UK. Hammerson, whose portfolio of 20 shopping centres in the UK and France includes the Bullring in Birmingham and Brent Cross in London, said its occupancy rate was well above its 97% target, at 97.7% last
A VENTURE capitalist who made millions from the TV company behind Bob the Builder has snapped up struggling Reader’s Digest UK for a nominal sum. Mike Luckwell acquired the magazine for a token price from Jon Moulton’s Better Capital, which rescued it from administration in 2010. Better Capital has decided
year. The company’s 2.1% rise in net rental income for 2013 was also slightly higher than expected, amid continued strong tenant demand for its shopping centre locations, which attract more than 250m visitors each year. Hammerson chief executive David Atkins said: “We have reported a good set of results in
a year when we saw the beginning of economic and consumer recovery in the UK. We are seeing improving demand from retailers, and Hammerson is creating the right product to meet their future requirements, which provides the conditions for selected growth in rental values.” Mr Atkins said the economic picture in France was less clear.
to exit the business after investing £23m, including the £13m purchase price. Mr Luckwell believes the title can help take “crumbs from Saga’s table” by concentrating on the over-50s market and exploiting financial services opportunities. He has pledged to continue monthly publication and said he hoped to strengthen the
business but was unable to give any immediate assurances on jobs following the deal late on Friday. Reader’s Digest, which has almost half a million subscribers, collapsed into a company voluntary arrangement in January last year after falling sales of books and CDs. Some 95 out of 125 employees lost their jobs.
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN
American Express Chevron Du Pont Exxon Mobil Gannett Hess Corp Microsoft Motors Liquidation Wal-Mart Stores Wrigleys
AEROSPACE & DEFENCE
Avon Rbbr BAE Systems Rolls-Royce
6501/2 4367/8 1006
AIM
Brady Plc Highland Gold Mining London Security GKN
64 693/4 1975
AUTOMOBILES & PARTS BANKS
Barclays HSBC Lloyds Banking Gp Ryl Scotland Stan Chart Diageo SABMiller
Croda Elementis 98 Johnsn Mat
£53.24 £67.88 £38.58 £56.29 1689.20 £47.55 £22.50 44.86 £45.33 £47.83
4137/8 256 6471/2 813/4 3513/4 1308
BEVERAGES
18651/2 £281/8
CHEMICALS
£251/8 2727/8 £33
CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS
Balfour Beatty Costain
313 /4 3113/4
+4 /4 +41/2
806 1383
+11 -6
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ELECTRICITY
Drax Gp SSE
-1/4 1
ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
-9 +5 -19 +1 /4 1
+17/8 +3 +91/2 +11/4 +91/4 +171/2 +27 +1/2
Laird
3213/4
+53/4
EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS
Alliance Trust
4461/2
+11/8
4041/4 551/2 1275/8 983/4 316
+73/4 +1 -1/4 -13/4 +41/2
FIXED LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
BT Grp Cable & Wireless Comm Colt Group KCOM Talktalk Telecom
FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS
Morrison W Sainsbury Tesco AB Food Tate Lyle Unilever
2363/8 3451/4 3273/8
+25/8
£281/2 6561/2 £237/8
+3/8 -1 +3/8
FOOD PRODUCERS
+23/4
GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES
Centrica
3183/8
+1/4
National Grid Pennon Grp Severn United Utils
820 7011/2 1793 757
GENERAL FINANCIAL
3i Group ICAP London StockExch Man Group Provident Financial Schroders Schroders NV
405 /2 4181/2 1957 825/8 1751 £26 £201/4
+5 /4 +23/4 +17 +1/8 +17 +3/8 +1/4
5221/2 1381
+31/2 +4
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GENERAL INDUSTRIALS
REXAM Smiths Grp
GENERAL RETAILERS
Ashley L Carphone Whse Dixons Retail Home Retail Inchcape Kingfisher M & S Mothercare Next WH Smith
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243/4 303 483/8 1831/4 6121/2 3863/4 4943/8 2543/4 £643/8 1075
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HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
Smith Nph
949
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Aga Rangemaster Barrat Dev
1721/2 4171/4
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+71/2 +81/2
Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp
190 /4 178 820 £225/8 1
+2 /4 +23/4 +71/2 +1/4 1
FTSE closed at
6731.00
I”M”I
1415 £495/8 1237/8
+30 +3/8 +25/8
1530
+23
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Ferrexpo
INDUSTRIAL METALS 171 /8
+11/2
3207/8
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INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION
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LIFE INSURANCE
Aviva Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life BSkyB
MEDIA
1053 2073/4 263/4 1117 9151/2 340 208 6991/2 2573/4 1360
MINING
up 72.38 Persimmon Reckitt Benckiser Taylor Wimpey
D Mail Tst ITV Johnston Press Pearson Reed Elsevier STV Group Trinity Mirror Utd Business UTV WPP Anglo American Antofagasta BHP Billiton Fresnillo Kazakhmys Lonmin Rio Tinto VEDANTA RESOURCES
+6 +15/8 -1/2 -2 +61/2 +23/4 +51/2 +1/2 +14
1552 949 1912 974 2375/8 3261/2 £355/8 9361/2
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701 2221/2
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1455 1060 981/4
+13 +1 +23/8
1084 4873/4 1945/8 £211/4
+12 +11/4 +31/2
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MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Inmarsat Vodafone Group
NONLIFE INSURANCE
Admiral Grp Jardine LloydThomson RSA Insurance Gp
OIL & GAS PRODUCERS
BG BP Cairn Energy Royal Dutch Shell A
Royal Dutch Shell B Total Tullow Oil
£23 £361/4 770
OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
AMEC Petrofac Wood Gp(J)
1109 1318 6761/2
+16 +1 +51/2
1522
+22
PERSONAL GOODS
Burberry Gp
+1/8 -1/8 +11/2
PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY
Astrazeneca GlaxoSmithKline Shire
£403/4 16831/2 £321/2
+1/8 +19 +1/4
680 5601/2 3171/2 1064 3607/8
+151/2 +17 +15/8 +20 +53/4
4207/8
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9741/2 1466 1062 7791/2 2643/8 1078 2341/2 1365/8 330
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REAL ESTATE
Brit Land Hamrsn Intu Properties Land Secs SEGRO
SOFTWARE & COMPUTER SERVICES
Sage Group
SUPPORT SERVICES
Berendsen Bunzl Capita De La Rue Electrocomp Experian G4S Hays Homeserve
Menzies J Rentokil Smiths News Wolseley
6711/2 1253/4 210 £331/2
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939 £1097/8 1045/8
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113 £251/4 920 1727 1531/2 1343/4 £207/8 880 £201/2 4441/4 1501/4 4735/8 2905/8 151 5953/8 3713/4 4431/4 £411/4 3467/8
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TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT
ARM Hldgs IBM Spirent Comms
TOBACCO
Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco
TRAVEL & LEISURE
Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Rank Org Ryanair Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread William Hill
+8
TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia 1.76 dollars Bangladesh 122.64 taka Brazil 3.58 reals Canada 1.75 dollars China 9.09 yuan Czech Republic 30.81 korunas Denmark 8.69 krone Euro 1.17 euro Hong Kong 12.34 dollars Hungary 338.41 forints India 91.55 rupees Japan 162.41 yen Mexico 19.78 pesos New Zealand 1.87 dollars Norway 9.72 krone Pakistan 165.62 rupees Philippines 63.80 pesos South Africa 17.04 rand South Korea 1549.00 won Sri Lanka 207.04 rupees Sweden 10.32 krona Switzerland 1.43 francs Taiwan 44.29 dollars Turkey 3.45 new lira USA 1.60 dollars
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
profile
All it needs is a little faith STEFANIE Hopkins has worked with some of the biggest names in business. Now the founder of Faith PR is aiming for bigger things herself following a move to offices at Centre 27 Business Park in Birstall. The modern office accommodation is a far cry from Faith PR’s starting point – a converted garage at the Brighouse home Stefanie shares with husband Carl and children Zachary and Mia. The garage served as headquarters for her business after she established it just over seven years ago. But she says: “It got far too small. We had started to grow the business and we also wanted to separate work from home life. We were running out of space.” Faith PR has been based at Birstall since August last year. The company is now staffed by a sixstrong team. “These offices are easier for people to get to,” says Stefanie. “It’s also a lot more professional being able to invite clients to these premises.” Along with the move, Stefanie has been joined by Carl - a successful businessman in his own right - as commercial director. He brings 30 years of marketing experience to the task as former owner of the UK’s oldest independent marketing agency, JDA. Carl has also appeared on Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire and was last year recognised as the 35th most influential marketer in the UK outside of London. Stefanie says: “I used to work for Carl at his full service agency in Leeds in the account management department. “I got seconded into the PR department and when
Carl sold the business in 2007 I stayed on for about four months. Now he’s working for me, which is quite good!” Carl still has his own business interests, but devotes 50% of his time to Faith PR. Now the agency has expanded to cover not only PR but social media and design as well as carryiong out marketing audits. Clients include international beauty company Oriflame UK Ltd, ice cream maker Yummy Yorkshire, Mia Tui bags, The Personnel Partnership, Catherine Green Textiles, La Cachette Restaurant & Bar, Sous le Nez Restaurant, Fantastic Media and law firm Legatus Solicitors. Landing the Oriflame account, in particular, was a big success for Stefanie. Several London agencies were among those who pitched for the highly sought-after contract which was awarded to Faith PR after a pitch process which culminated at the firm’s Stockholm headquarters. Commenting on the current economic picture, Stefanie says: “Business is still tough, but things are getting better. There seem to
Stefanie Hopkins
be more businesses looking to do more PR, but things seem more competitive now. Price is still a factor when companies decide who to work with.” Stefanie was born in Dusseldorf to German parents who moved to this country when she was four. Stefanie grew up in London, but moved to Leeds after graduating from Nottingham University in modern languages. Stefanie can speak German, French and Spanish. “I started working for Fine, a full service agency in Guiseley,” she says. “I was working on the Bentley account. I had wanted to use my languages, but I didn’t want to go into teaching or exports. I stayed there for 18 months before joining JDA.” In her marketing role, Stefanie worked with major names such as Dulux and Asda. She also carried out work for the IP Trust, an industry body raising awareness of intellectual property issues and DVD piracy. Stefanie says: “I have always liked the diversity of work and the fact that no two days are the same.
■■ Carl and Stefanie Hopkins, of Birstall-based Faith PR
I like writing copy and I like being creastive. It can be a fast-paced environment and you have to keep your skills up to date.” She says: “I work with a lot of owner-mnaged businesses, which is great because you can see the positive impact that PR has for them. The results aren’t always easy to quantify, but you can always see the what happens when a company doesn’t do PR. “We put a strategy together for the client incorporating different elements - such as media relations, copywriting, social media and newsletter production. “In some cases, we are an extension of their own marketing department and we become part of their team.” Stefanie says social media is a major issue for firms. “It is important to participate because people will talk about you and your business whether you are involved in the conversation or njot,” she says. “Social media has grown so much. It’s an extension of a firm’s customer relations and it is definitely an area I have had to build into our business offering.” Stefanie also has a plan for Faith PR. “We want to grow the business,” she says. “Our client base has been built through referrals, but we will be more pro-active. “I would like to do more work in the manufacturing sector and work with more regional buinesses, as well as internationally.” With children aged two and four, Stefanie and Carl have plenty to keep her busy on the homefront. “They take up most of our spare time,” she says. But I enjoy pilates and swimming when I get the time and I keep my language skills up to date..”
Role: Director and owner Age: 36 Family: Married to Carl with children, Zachary, four, and Mia, two Car: Land Rover Holidays: I love ski-ing, although I haven’t been for a while. We also like to go somewhere hot and sunny - especially to Spanish-speaking countries First job: I worked in a newsagent’s but spent a lot of my time reading the magazines! Best thing about the job? The variety of the work and the positive impact we can have on a business Worst thing about the job? The feeling of responsibility for your employees and the need to keep the business coming in Business tip: Manage expectations. You should always have a goal in mind and being single-minded will help you get there
Faith PR Work: PR, design and communications Site: Birstall Phone: 0845 8624086 Email: havefaith@faith-pr.co.uk Website: www.faith-pr.co.uk
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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014
local
Rachel receives export accolade AN employee at a Dewsbury textile firm has been recognised for exporting excellence. The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s international support arm MY Export Hub has awarded its first Foundation Certificate in Exporting to Rachel Hakier, a member of the marketing team at Minova Ltd, which specialises in exporting cloth for men’s suits. The Lockwood-based chamber and MY Export Hub support businesses in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield by offering a range of support to exporting companies, including advice and assistance, documentation services and a full calendar of British Chamber-accredited training in export skills at a highly competitive rate. . Rachel who has worked as Minova Ltd’s logistics administrator for three years, said: “The chamber and MY Export Hub are very important to Minova Ltd. MY Export Hub especially supports us in quick and efficient processing of export documentation.” In particular, Rachel commented on the benefits of the online e-z Cert system, saying “it allows us to create express certificates which assists our customers as their orders can be sent within the same day.” Rachel said the training had better helped her to fulfil her role at Minova Ltd. “I have been able to attend the courses in exporting at the chamber which has vastly improved my knowledge,” she said. “The courses are a full day with tests at the end of the day which is intense, but the course trainer is great at helping you absorb all of the information.”
More passengers take to the skies MANCHESTER Airport has reported a 4.3% rise in passenger numbers for the first month of this year compared with the same month in 2013. Some 1.2m passengers – including many from the Kirklees area – travelled through the airport in January, taking the moving annual total for Manchester Airport to 20.7m. The escalation in passenger figures marks the airport’s 20 consecutive month of year on year growth, with performance attributed to people seeking a post-Christmas break by seeking the sunshine or hitting the ski slopes. Ken O’Toole, chief commercial officer, said: “January is usually a quieter month following the busy Christmas period. However, the increase in passenger numbers this January highlights that more people have opted to take a post-Christmas break.” Popular routes during the month included favourites like Dubai, Alicante and Tenerife.
To promote your business to over 49,000 Examiner readers and over 230,000 online users Call: Anne Joseph 01484 437745 email: anne.joseph@trinitymirror.com
KIRKLEES BUS
Carney focuses on hard facts IN the past month, one of the larger financial news stories has been focused on Bank of England Governor (BoE) Mark Carney’s credibility. The primary catalyst for the attention was the publication of the latest unemployment data for the three months to last November. The headline rate fell from 7.4% to 7.1%, well below expectations, but also perilously close to the 7% level at which the BoE had promised last summer to reassess its policy. Twenty-four hours later, Mr Carney was forced to provide clarity on his promise from the previous summer, where he indicated that inflation will also be taken into consideration when decisions are taken on moving the Bank of England Base rate. This was not new news as the employment target had been set as a dual measure along with inflation, but this did not stop some from taking great offence and suggesting that Mr Carney has lost control of the situation and imperilled the market’s confidence. If we take a few steps back it appears that Mr Carney is just being pragmatic and erring on the side of the least bad policy error – in an economy still carrying plenty of debt, a bit too much inflation (helping to chip away at the borrowings burden) is vastly preferable to just a little bit of deflation. What does all this mean for investors? Mr Carney’s words may help to shed some light: “The degree of stimulus will remain exceptional for some time. That should help reassure British business that the path of interest rates will be consistent with a sustained recovery.” So a rate rise will only occur if conditions are improving sustainably and if the economy can bear it. That means that the search for income will continue to be a tough one and investors will be drawn more and more towards riskier assets. If base interest rates remain low, then longer bond yields will be anchored to some degree as well. This may bring other risks - the right interest rate for the economy might not be appropriate for financial markets, encouraging speculation and unsustainable valuations – but we are not there yet. Our expectations for the UK and the wider world markets over 2014 are broadly positive. Consensus earnings compiled by Goldman Sachs suggest the following regional growth rates: US +11.9%; Europe +12.9%; Japan +9.8%; Asia ex-Japan +11.8%; Emerging Markets overall +8.2%; The World +10.9%. Bloomberg has an earnings growth forecast of 10.7% for the UK’s FTSE 100. If PEs stay much the same (we believe that many developed world markets are now close to or slightly above their long-term averages), investors will see markets rise in line with earnings and also receive their dividends. For example the current FTSE 100 yield is 3.6%, suggesting a potential total
CITY TALK Nick Gartland
■■ FMG chief executive
FMG ge top con
■■ Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney
return of 14.3%. This return would be more than adequate and make up for what are likely to be only negligible returns from Gilts in a balanced portfolio. In fact, much higher returns from Gilts are only likely to accrue in the event of unexpected economic weakness, which would have a negative effect on earnings. In that case further gains from equities would require the PE ratio to continue upwards into what we consider to be less sustainable territory. While we don’t discount this possibility completely (driven as it would be by further loosening of monetary policy, either actual or anticipated), it doesn’t feel like a high probability outcome, which is why earnings releases (and forward earnings guidance) will be so important. One area of the market that has delivered encouraging news over the last fortnight is healthcare, a sector which is relevant to all of us in our daily lives as well as from an investment perspective. Glaxosmithkline and Astrazeneca, two of the UK’s major players, both released statements with detail on how their product pipelines and business strategies were progressing. Glaxosmithkline remains very upbeat about new products, citing particular progress with new respiratory and vaccine products. Astrazeneca put more detail on its
turnaround strategy, citing the progress it has made in the field of immunotherapy, a new and exciting field in pharmacology that in its most basic form is the science of aiding the body’s own immune system to better recognise and fight off cancerous cells. Given the importance to UK investors (especially those seeking income) of Glaxo and Astra, it’s worth noting where they are in their cycles – after all, for all their apparent defensive characteristics, pharmaceutical companies definitely exist in a cyclical world. In the 1980’s pharmaceutical stocks were growth stocks. New science led to the discovery of transformational “blockbuster” drugs, which put share prices into overdrive. The early 90s were blighted by the Clinton healthcare reforms (lower drug prices for all), before a bull run that culminated in a merger frenzy at the end of the millennium which gave us many of the companies that we know today. Valuations peaked at a Price Earnings ratio of well over 20 and the decade-long slide down from there was a painful journey. As valuations bottomed out below 10x PE, we were able to begin to look forward to a new era of drug development and we now find ourselves with interesting opportunities ahead at reasonable valuations. Glaxo remains one of our favoured companies and Astra also offers rewards.
Nick Gartland, Senior Financial Planning Director, Investec Wealth & Investment
FLEET management won a five-year cont management services businesses, PH Jones The contracts will p management and driv ices for PH Jones veh servicing and repairs f Dyno-Rod vehicles, th ing and drains busine Huddersfield-based with major businesses tors on risk managem improve processes, minimise the effects in ness through measure ing, educational pro driver licence checki ing. FMG has provided management services biggest fleets and brin ence to its contracts w Jones. John Catling, chief FMG, said: “We’re de with well-respected and Dyno-Rod. By businesses, sectors an been able to put toge tion to mitigate risk an “Our incident mana been employed by the recent years and we h ed with the Highwa Vehicle Recovery Ma 2008. “We work hard to u before recommending no ‘off the shelf’ answ standing a company then recommending deliver results.”
Business seizing p A THIRD of chief executives and managing directors have taken control of energy efficiency decisions in their organisations, according to a report by the EEF emanuacturing group and energy supplier npower. And almost twothirds of manufacturing companies
5
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014
SINESS NEWS
local
Make sure you watch your feet
e officer John Catling
ets two ntracts
t specialist FMG has ntract to provide fleet es for two British Gas and Dyno-Rod. provide vehicle repair ver development servhicles, which provides for social housing and he UK’s leading plumbess. d FMG has worked s from a variety of secment and reduction to educate drivers and ncidents have on busies such as fleet auditogrammes, telemetry, ing and online train-
d comprehensive fleet s for some of the UK’s ngs 25 years of experiwith Dyno-Rod and PH
f executive officer at elighted to be working businesses PH Jones understanding these nd their drivers, we’ve ether a bespoke solund reduce cost. agement services have e UK’s biggest fleets in have also been entrustays Agency National anager Contract since
understand a business, g a solution. There are wers, it’s about undery and diversities, and a package that will
s chiefs power cite reducing their carbon footprint as the reason for implementing or considering energy efficiency measures. The survey recognises that many firms perceive “significant” barriers to investment in energy management, including the perception of extensive payback periods.
ACCORDING to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips and trips are the most common of all workplace hazards and make up over a third of all major injuries and over half of reported incidents to members of the public. More than 10,000 employees suffered serious injury because of a slip or trip last year. This can consequently be very costly for companies who have to pay out large sums in compensation. However many effective solutions are available and are generally cost effective and simple to implement. All employers should assess and manage the risk of workplace slips. Most slips occur in wet or contaminated conditions and most trips are just due to poor housekeeping. The solutions are often simple and cost effective. A suitable assessment of the risks should identify the necessary controls and these should include (in no particular order) prevention of contamination, management of spillages and cleaning regimes. effective matting systems, choice of suitable footwear, design of workplace and work activities, maintenance of plant and the work environment, specification of appropriate flooring, housekeeping and effective training and supervision Slips result from some unintended or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface. Slip and trip accidents can happen for a number of reasons but all too frequently we jump to conclusions about why they happen rather than really looking for the true cause or we decide that it is just one of those things and do nothing. Research by the HSE has established that all of the following can contribute to the risk of slipping –
RISKY BUSINESS Mark Weeks flooring (the type of surface, its roughness, contamination; cleaning (the method of cleaning, whether the manufacturer’s recommendations have been followed); footwear (the type of shoes worn, the material from which the sole is made); people and movement (whether walking or running). It may not be possible to control or influence each of these, and they will differ depending on the industry. For example, a shop owner will not be able to dictate what footwear is worn but should arrange for the clean up of spillages promptly and try to ensure that customers walk rather than run. Similarly many of those in control of property will not have the opportunity to specify what flooring is installed but can try to minimise contamination and ensure that cleaning procedures are efficient and suitably frequent to reduce the risk of slipping. If you have a responsibility for premises, ensure that new flooring surfaces are installed so that they are, as far as is practicable, free from tripping and slipping hazards; conduct routine inspections to ensure that all surfaces are free from slip and trip hazards; ensure that routine maintenance is carried out to remedy defects; ensure that cleaning procedures are suitable for dealing with contamination, and spillages; establish cleaning rotas and routines that are sufficiently
frequent to deal with all un expected problems; ensure cleaners are suitably trained in the best, most effective procedures; set up a programme to ensure that spills are identified/reported and cleaned up immediately. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 says that employers have to ensure their employees and anyone else who could be affected by their work (such as visitors, members of the public, patients etc.) are kept safe from harm and that their health is not affected. This means slip and trip risks must be controlled to ensure people do not slip, trip or fall. Employees must use any safety equipment provided and must not cause danger to themselves or others. Manufacturers and suppliers have a duty to ensure that their products are safe. They must also provide information about appropriate use. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 build on the requirements of the Act and include duties on employers to assess risks (including slip and trip risks) and where necessary take action to safeguard health and safety. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires floors to be suitable for the workplace and work activity, kept in good condition and kept free from obstructions. Also, people must be able to move around safely.
Mark Weeks is a risk management consultant at Wilby Ltd
It’s less taxing for small firms SMALL businesses in Kirklees are being urged to consider a scheme that allows them to be taxed on money that flows in and out of their business, rather than using full accounting rules. The “cash basis” scheme can be used by sole traders and other unincorporated businesses with an annual income of less than £79,000 to simplify their accounting processes, saving both time and money. Using the scheme involves a business simply working out the cash received in a tax year, less any money spent on allowable business expenses. This means small businesses won’t need to spend time at the end of the tax year making complex accounting adjustments, and other calculations designed for larger businesses. Many small businesses are likely to benefit from the simplicity of the cash basis, particularly those providing services, such as hairdressers, window
cleaners, taxi drivers, gardeners, painters and decorators, plumbers and electricians. In addition, unincorporated businesses can choose to use “simplified expenses”. This involves using flat-rates, instead of making complex calculations of actual business expenses. It can be used for the following expenses - business costs for vehicles, business use of your home and private use of a business premises as a home. HM Revenue and Customs has produced a short animation at bit. ly/1bMdnYc and a YouTube video at bit. ly/1g6JoyO to help small businesses decide if the schemes are right for them. HMRC’s Carol Lunney said: “The cash basis and simplified expenses schemes can help save small businesses time and money. With a new tax year on the horizon, now is the time to start thinking about them. So, if you’re eligible, go online and find out more about the schemes at GOV.UK.”
Energy group in hunt for new FD ELLAND-based utilities management business the Orchard Group has revealed plans to appoint a new financial director to oversee all three of its companies. Group managing director Gareth Henderson said the move marked a new direction for the organisation with the aim of uniting the growth plans of its energy brokerage Orchard Energy with those of its waste management consultancy Orchard Environmental and IT and telecoms company Orchard Networks. “We are looking to appoint a high calibre accountant who can be hands-on with finances across the group as well as having the commercial expertise
to work alongside the senior management team to plan a path for growth for the whole organisation,” he said. Mr Henderson founded Orchard Energy 10 years ago and went on to establish the environmental services consultancy and IT support and telecommunications arm. “We are seeing an increasing number clients seeking support from across the group rather than working with a single Orchard business,” said Mr Henderson. “By taking a group wide approach to growth we hope to maximise the opportunities that are created from the natural synergy between our three businesses.”
Wealth & Investment. A wealth of know-how With more than 150 years’ experience of serving clients by investing their money wisely, Investec Wealth & Investment have the knowledge and expertise you need regarding your investments, pensions or other financial matters. Please bear in mind that the value of investments and the income derived from them can go down as well as up and that you may not get back the amount that you have put in. For further information please visit our website, call Simon Kaye on 0113 245 4488 or email simon.kaye@investecwin.co.uk investecwin.co.uk Individuals
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6
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
System fit for purpose A HUDDERSFIELD firm specialising in CCTV has completed a major contract to supply a sophisticated security and time management system to the construction site of a £13.7m leisure centre in Cheshire. The main contractors on site decided to invest in a fully integrated security system with smart access control to ensure the safety and security of the high-profile construction site, while also improving time and
attendance monitoring of workers. Emley-based CCTV Monitoring, which specialises in providing CCTV and access control solutions for construction sites, was appointed to design and install the system, which includes full CCTV security, system turnstile, biometric access control and smart software. The latest biometric technology was used to provide a reliable and cost-effective way of
Cornmill Farm – Whole Farm
Mill Lane, Wheatley Valley, Halifax, HX2 8SE 5 bedroom farmhouse with various farm outbuildings set in 18.5 Acres.
monitoring worker attendance, while also ensuring that the site is kept secure at all times. By removing the need for additional access cards or fobs, the biometric access control system combats the potential problem of “buddy clocking and pass back”. The system also ensures that CSCS cards are up to date, preventing people gaining access to site who are not properly trained. David Forward, managing director at CCTV
Monitoring, said: “We are working with a growing number of contractors who are recognising the benefits of having a fullyintegrated, smart access control system installed on site. “The software can be tailored to monitor carbon emissions and workforce locality, something which contractors are under increasing pressure to do.” The leisure centre will include a 25m swimming pool, gym and spa.
Reservoir upgraded
108 Hall Lane
Bradford, BD4 7DF Tenanted shop investment – rental income £2,400 pa. Established café business for over 70 years.
Guide Price: £475,000 – £525,000 AVAILABLE AS A WHOLE OR AS 4 INDIVIDUAL LOTS AS FOLLOWS:
Guide Price: £25,000 – £30,000
Cornmill Farm – Farmhouse
Garton Drive
5 bedroom character farmhouse in picturesque setting.
Eccleshill, Bradford, BD10 8AU Building land in quiet cul-de-sac position – planning consent for 2 semi detached.
Guide Price: £250,000 – £275,000
Guide Price: £60,000 – £80,000
Cornmill Farm – Outbuilding and 0.26 Acre Paddock
On instructions from Calderdale Council
Car Park/Development Site
Lapsed planning consent for conversion to 2 bedroom house or ideal stable block and paddock.
James Street, Elland, HX5 0HB 0.279 Acre site/car park offering development potential.
Guide Price: £40,000 – £50,000
Guide Price: £30,000 – £50,000
Cornmill Farm – Barn, Cowshed, Yard and Paddock set in 1.44 Acres
On instructions from Kirklees Council
Guide Price: £40,000 – £50,000
Guide Price: £75,000 – £95,000
Cornmill Farm – 17.1 Acres Grazing and Equestrian Land
Alder Street
Comprising 5 stock proof fields of gently sloping grazing land with gated access.
Fartown, Huddersfield, HD1 6HZ 1,491 sq ft workshop and yard/car park close to town centre. Suitable for a variety of uses.
Guide Price: £55,000 – £75,000
Guide Price: £30,000 – £40,000
6 Woodlands View
On instructions from Kirklees Council
Farm outbuildings suitable for residential conversion subject to planning consent, set in 1.44 Acre paddock.
Residential Building Land
Whitcliffe Road, Cleckheaton, BD19 3SO 0.27 Acres former school site with planning permission for 5 townhouses.
Boothtown, Halifax, HX3 6HL 2 bedroom stone terrace overlooking the park, requiring comprehensive refurbishment.
Residential Building Land
Guide Price: £50,000 – £55,000
Guide Price: £50,000 – £60,000
5 Briggs Villas
On instructions from Kirklees Council
Adjacent to 53 Brow Road, Paddock, Huddersfield, HD1 4TP Planning consent for 2 flats.
55 Queen Street
Queensbury, BD13 2EP Spacious 3 bedroom stone terrace close to village centre requiring comprehensive refurbishment.
Ravensthopre, Dewsbury, WF13 3BT Two bed terrace, close to town centre requiring full modernisation.
Guide Price: £55,000 – £60,000
Guide Price: £30,000 – £40,000
On instructions from Calderdale Council
Harrison House
10 Harrison Road, Halifax, HX1 2AF 14,457 sq ft period office, training, educational building suitable for a variety of uses subject to planning consent.
Guide Price: In Excess of £150,000
■■ Meltham Mills reservoir has undergone a £750,000 improvement programme
A COMPANY providing workspace for dozens of businesses has completed a major improvement project at a reservoir from which it draws water. Meltham-based Towndoor Ltd has devoted four years of effort to ensuring that the reservoir at Meltham Mills meets new safety requirements from the Environment Agency. The agency introduced new safety standards for many of the country’s reservoirs following an incident in which sustained rainfall and a cloud burst over Sheffield brought a reservoir near Meadowhall close to failing – threatening human life and risking a main electric grid substation. The Environment Agency increased the required safety margins needed on all reservoirs over a certain size, insisting that they be designed to cope with a wave surge generated by a 1 in 10000 year storm event. In a routine inspection of Meltham Mills reservoir in 2010, a flood risk assessment said that the reservoir failed the stringent new requirements. As the then owner of the reservor, Windy Bank Fishing Club, was unable to meet the costs of the safety improvement works needed to bring the reservoir within the new guidelines, Towndoor was declared to be “joint undertakers” because the company and some of is
tenants draw water from the reservoir – and was held liable for both designing and implementing safety improvement works . Four years later – after two re-designs, a full ecological survey, the relocation of a badger sett, the essential removal of a number of mature trees under guidance from Kirklees tree officers and obtaining planning permission for the works – a design was approved minimizing the amount of concrete to be used and utilizing modern geotextile materials and stone gabion structures instead of concrete walls to speed up naturalisation of the site. Towndoor Ltd took ownership of the site and the design was finally completed and project managed by the company’s in-house architectural services and property manager Nick Charlton. Work restarted in June last year following a further delay when the route of an old footpath was found to cross the site. Towndoor director Dan Bamforth said: “The works are now entering their final stages of forming the lower channel works and landscaping, but completion has been further delayed by the onset of asustained period of heavy rainfall.” The completed works – costing over £750,000 and providing long-term safe-
ty from potential serious flooding to the community and residents of Meltham Mills – will include lowering the top water level and increasing the freeboard by increasing the southern weir from eight metres long to 24 metres long; providing a 30 metres by 11 metres approach channel to accommodate the new weir with a 750mm deep silt collection trap at the point of entry of Greave Dyke to aid water flow and a 52 metres long tapered slipway with a secondary weir lined with stone gabions down its length to control the discharge water flow. The work will also provide a 100 metres long section of lower channel with reinforced earth sides formed in varying flood plateaux to cater for varying degrees of storm event – from a one in 10 years event through to a one in 100 year event up to the full one in 10,000 years required by the new rules. It also includes repairs to a Victorian foot bridge and the re-establishment of a defined footpath through the ancient woods complete with stepping stones over the new lower channel section. The project will also include a small memorial garden in memory of Towndoor founder Stuart Bamforth, for the benefit of tired walkers.
TO LET
Industrial
TO LET
Industrial
Old Fieldhouse Lane, off Leeds Road, Huddersfield 3,179 - 14,064 sq ft
Staincliffe Trade Centre, Halifax Road, Dewsbury 422m2 (4,543 sq ft)
Good quality single storey unit with high quality offices and good on site parking on self-contained site just off A62 Leeds Road
Single storey industrial/trade warehouse unit with nearby occupiers Plumb Centre and CEF - immediately available
TO LET
Retail
FOR SALE
Development
Former Outdoor World Showroom, High Street, Huddersfield 359m2 (3,862 sq ft)
Carr Lane, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield 0.33 hectares (0.81 acres)
Large centrally located showroom/retail premises close to bus station. Could suit alternative use such as a restaurant (STP)
Redevelopment site suitable for various uses including residential development, subject to planning
www.michaelsteel.co.uk
All enquiries to Alec Michael alec@michaelsteel.co.uk
Commercial Residential, Commercial & Industrial Surveyors, Estate Agents, Auctioneers & Property Management Consultants To Let
MELTHAM ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD HD4 7BE
WESTBOURNE ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD HD1 4LF
For Sale
Prominent garage workshop with substantial display forecourt
Commercial Building with ancillary accommodation
ÂŁ19,500.00 Per Annum
68.09sqm (733sqft)
Workshop extends to approx 817sqft with a further 784sqft of storage to the lower ground floor
Situated in a main road location
Prominent main road position
An excellent opportunity to acquire commercial premises in a popular suburban location for owner occupation or investment purposes
EPC Asset Rating: TBC
EPC Asset Rating: C
Forecourt with ability to display approximately 24 cars
To Let
COLNE VALE ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD HD3 4NX
ROYD STREET, HUDDERSFIELD HD3 4QY
To Let
Single Storey Industrial Unit
Single Storey Industrial Unit
346.78sqm (3,732 sqft)
ÂŁ10,400.00 Per Annum
Excellent loading
218.46sqm (2,351sqft)
3 Phase electricity
Popular industrial location
Good yard space and car parking
Approximately 3 miles from Huddersfield town centre
Good eaves hight
3 Phase electricity
Popular industrial location
Good loading
EPC Asset Rating: TBC
EPC Asset Rating: E
14 St Georges Square, Huddersfield HD1 1JF
t: 01484 530361
e: commercial@bramleys1.co.uk
www.bramleys.com/commercial
8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Mike Crawley
Team expands
movers and shakers
Seat on the board for a top non-exec By Henryk Zientek Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
BUSINESS adviser Grant Thornton has expanded its Yorkshire tax practice with the appointment of Mike Crawley as a senior manager. Mr Crawley began his career as a tax inspector with HM Revenue & Customs before joining Pannell Fitzpatrick & Co – later PKF – in Leeds in 1976, where he rose to become tax director and local head of tax. He has acted for a number of high profile names, including Leeds
& Holbeck Building Society, Leeds Rhinos RLFC and the University of Leeds. Mr Crawley, who joins from BDO where he was tax director following the merger with PKF, has wide ranging experience of advising the entrepreneurial private business sector and extensive taxation planning expertise in this area. Mike joins from BDO where he was tax director following the merger with PKF.
Anna Barnard
Anna’s arrived PARALEGAL Anna Barnard (pictured) has joined the conveyancing department at Jordans Solicitors, which has offices at Dewsbury. Polish-born Ms Barnard is fluent in both Polish and English, which the firm regards as an invaluable skill that has helped clients who prefer to speak Polish when buying or selling a property and for other personal and business needs. Ms Barnard graduated honours in law from Huddersfield University in 2011 and completed her Master in Law and Practice. After graduating, she worked for a large conveyancing company where she gained valuable experience which
she has brought to Jordans. Anna is also a member of the Halifax Junior Law Society. Stepehn Proctor, partner and head of property law at Jordans, said: “We are pleased to welcome Anna to the expanding team at Jordans. “With her experience and language skills she will be a great asset.”
Fresh insight BUSINESS transformation company Insight With Passion has appointed Rowena Allen to the team. Ms Allen joins the business, which is based at the Media Centre in Huddersfield, after eightr years with Halo Furnishings, where she
was marketing manageer. She brings a wealth of marketing experience to her new role, having worked in the field for more than 13 years. She said: “I’m thrilled to be working with IWP. They are a very dynamic and forward thinking consultancy.
DENBY Dale businesswoman Jo Haigh has been appointed to the board at the ICM Group. Ms Haigh, who is an award-winning nonexecutive director and author of several business books was named winner of the Sunday Times Non-Executive Director of the Year in 2013. She is also a regular presenter for the Institute of Directors. The ICM Group, based on the Isle of Man with associated offices in London, Jersey, Antibes and Monaco, is a privately-owned corporate service provider specialising in wealth management, yachting and aviation. Founded in 1984, it has grown steadily over the years and now has 70 employees. Mark Byrne, ICM Group director specialising in aviation and wealth management, said: “Even with the economic turbulence encountered since 2008 we have enjoyed continuous growth and with confidence returning we believe that our expansion will continue. “Although growth is always welcome, it inevitably comes with increased complexity and new challenges. “Our clients and our staff have always been at the heart of what we do and we want to make sure it remains that way. “We feel that we have reached the next stage of the company’s development and recognise that we need to enhance our ability to think strategically whilst remaining focused. “With size comes greater responsibility and sound corporate governance will give us the necessary discipline to ensure our decision making is based on rigorous analysis and excellent risk management. “Jo’s background and experience will considerably enhance our board and her independence as a non-executive will ensure that our assumptions are tested and our actions
■■ Jo Haigh front, right) with the ICM Group board of directors (from left) Sarah Fry, David Jackson, Chris Allix, Siobhan Hill and Mark Byrne.
are timely and appropriate. “We were overjoyed when Jo accepted our invitation and we look forward to working with her. We have found a world-class entrepreneur who will make a huge difference to how we run and expand our business.” Ms Haigh recently launched her fifth book, The keys to the boardroom: How to get there and how to stay there. With five best-selling books to her name, 300 companies bought and sold and more than 40 non-executive roles, Ms Haigh said: “Over the years, I have been very fortunate to hold a number of prestigious roles as nonexecutive director.
“This is my second chair position and I was flattered to be asked to join ICM for whom I have massive respect. “I most enjoy working with growing and ambitious businesses and ICM is no exception. I spent two very productive days with the board and then the senior management team before Christmas and attended the first board meeting of 2014 in January. “I am hugely impressed by their skills and enthusiasm to continue to build an even better business.” This new appointment comes as the ICM Group celebrates its 30th anniversary and prepares for a big move to new headquarters in Douglas.
Hannah secures sponsorship deal INSURANCE company Caravan Guard has pledged to sponsor double Paralympic champion and local girl Hannah Cockroft. The renewed three-year sponsorship will take Hannah to the 2016 Rio Olympics and beyond. Hannah, who was among nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, became a household name after winning two gold medals in the 100m and 200m T34 races at the 2012 London Paralympics. Caravan Guard first sponsored Hannah in 2009 and continued to do so throughout her Paralympic training alongside huge name sponsors such as BT and BMW. The sponsorship renewal comes just a few weeks after Hannah’s success at the Australian World Series in January. Said Hannah: “I’m really grateful to Caravan Guard for its sponsorship and support. Having the
belief of a local company behind me will not only help me financially but will also motivate me in the lead up to hopefully taking my last unfulfilled title at the European Championships this summer.” In a break from her busy schedule, Hannah visited Caravan Guard’s Halifax office to accept a cheque from director Ryan Wilby. He said: “We are thrilled to sponsor Hannah again in 2014. As a local girl who has made such a huge name for herself, it’s a privilege to support her any way we can.” Hannah will appear in a special Sports Relief edition of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in March before her gruelling training schedule kicks-off ahead of the European Championships in August. For now, she’s focusing on her first year studying at Coventry University and looking for moe
■■ Hannah Cockcroft receives her sponsorship cheque from Caravan Guard director Ryan Wilby