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CLARE SIMMS Designs on a career
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COLIN BARRATT Osborne’s mini-Budget Column - Page 5
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
Clean-up firm busy in year of the flood
SUMMER flooding brought misery to households and businesses across the UK. But a Huddersfield firm has been instrumental in cleaning up the mess – working flat out over several months on behalf of insurance companies to make properties habitable again. Now Advanced ChemDry is braced for a winter of burst pipes after its hectic summer. Advanced ChemDry was among specialist clean-up companies drafted in to dry out houses, shops and other buildings which suffered flood damage over the summer months. Owner Darrel Sykes said: “We were busy for most of the summer in the Calder Valley, which had three separate flooding events. The river Calder overwhelmed the flood wall in Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd while Todmorden was affected when the canal burst its banks.” Once the flood water retreated, Darrel and his team brought in equipment to dry out premises including shops and homes. The biggest property they tackled was the Valley Health Centre in Hebden Bridge, where the baby clinic in the basement of the building required cleaning and sanitising with special chemicals. “We were two months drying out properties,” said Darrel. “We ended up
with 30 to 40 houses and half a dozen commercial premises, including an accountancy firm, the Rope and Anchor pub in Todmorden as well as a spiritualist church.” Unusually, moorland farms and cottages were also affected as heavy rain ran off grazing land already saturated by previous downpours. More recently, the team – which includes Darrel’s stepson Jack – were called to St Asaph and Abergele in North Wales to tackle flood damage to a number of properties. One property was left with water four foot deep after flash flooding turned a beck at the back of the house into a raging torrent which burst through the kitchen door. Darrel said summer flooding was becoming a more regular occurrence, adding: “Since 2005, we have travelled the UK tackling flood damage. In 2007, it was particularly bad and we were working in Hull and Sheffield as well as Warwickshire. Two years ago, we were in the north and Midlands.” Darrel said Advanced ChemDry was now settling into its “bread and butter” business of dry cleaning carpets and upholstery in the run-up to Christmas – but was also expecting call-outs to tackle the aftermath of flooding caused by burst pipes as night temperatures plummet. Darrel achieved fame in 2006 when
■ DRY RUN: Jack Sykes (left), who has joined his stepfather Darrel at Advanced ChemDry, and damage to properties (below) in North Wales during a busy 2012 for the firm drying out homes, shops and offices for the company
he and head technician David Clapperton featured as the “Disaster Duo” on the BBC1 programme Disaster Master.
The company, formed in 1992 has its offices at Dalton, but has also expanded to occupy a 250sq ft unit at Heath House Mill, Golcar.
Company shows its cool at major exhibition A COMPANY supplying drinks dispense equipment aims to tap into new contracts after a major exhibition. Brewfitt Ltd, based at Fenay Bridge, attended the Brau Beviale Exhibition at Nuremburg, Germany. The event is one of the biggest and most respected exhibitions for the beverage and technology industry.
This was the first year Brewfitt had its own stand at the event. The company joined about 1,350 exhibitors and an estimated 30,000 beverage specialists from all over Europe at the three-day exhibition.. Brewfitt exhibited its award-winning CoolTube and 4Flow product, which enables pubs to save up to 40% on
electricity consumption compared with a standard dispense system. Brewfitt said use of the system could result in energy savings of £50m-plus a year across the beer industry – as well as saving the average pub between £3,000 and £5,000 a year in beer losses through line cleaning. Brewfitt managing director Curtis
Paxman said: “The Brau exhibition was an extremely worthwhile event as it provided us with the opportunity to showcase our technology to a number of key industry individuals. “The event not only exposed us to innovative and world class technology, but also allowed us to meet contacts we hope to work with in the future.”
Season’s greeting from Kirklees Business News. There will be no edition next week, but we return on New Year’s Day
INSIDE Reverse gears ENGINEERING expert Tom Furness is going into reverse. Tom, 25, who completed his MSc degree in mechanical engineering at Huddersfield University and hails from the town, has landed a post as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership associate with Wetherby-based firm NTR Ltd, where he is working on a project to automate the process of repairing damaged tools – using a procedure known as reverse engineering
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Kitchen completed A HOUSING support group has received a kitchen for its new premises in Dewsbury. Fusion Housing, which also has operations in Huddersfield, has received the kitchen from Dewsbury-based Rixonway, a leading manufacturer working in affordable and social housing. The kitchen was installed prior to the Fusion Housing employees moving into their new premises.
● Full story - Page 6
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
national
Energy investment ‘will increase bills’ MAJOR projects to improve the UK’s gas and electricity networks will add an average £12 to bills over the next eight years, the regulator said. Ofgem’s final recommendations allow companies such as National Grid to spend a total of £24.2bn on investing in new and upgraded infrastructure – more than the £22.7bn proposed by the regulator in July. But the figure is still short of the £29.4bn originally requested by the industry, raising the prospect of a referral to the Competition Commission. National Grid will respond to Ofgem’s recommendations by March, but in the summer it accused Ofgem of not going far enough to incentivise companies to carry out the work needed. The cost of this investment in infrastructure projects, such as laying undersea cables linking Scotland with England and Wales, will mean tariffs lift by an average of £8.50 in 2013/14 and £7.30 the following year, rising to £15.10
in 2020/21. The price rises are not cumulative. The UK’s high voltage electricity grid, high pressure gas network and some of its low pressure gas networks are run by National Grid. The rest of the low pressure gas network and the low voltage electricity network are run by other companies. These companies pass on fees to consumers and households via energy suppliers, which will rise under the proposals. The majority of the money – up to £15.5bn – would be used to upgrade and renew the high voltage electricity network in England and Wales and the high pressure gas network across the UK, creating some 7,000 jobs in the supply chain. A further £7bn would be spent on making sure the gas networks to homes and businesses remain safe and reliable and would connect 80,000 households to the gas network for the first time. Countryside campaigners welcomed
news that up to £500m could be used between 2013 and 2021 to pay for burying existing National Grid transmission lines that run through National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Campaign to Protect Rural England said National Grid had also undertaken to avoid putting new 50-metre high pylons through precious landscapes where possible. But pylons and cables stretched through beauty spots such as Longdendale in the Peak District, the New Forest National Park west of Southampton and towards Verwood in Dorset, the South Downs National Park, particularly around Petersfield; the Cotswolds and the North Wessex Downs, the CPRE said. The campaign group said the money would not cover the full expense of putting all these lines underground, but would go some way towards improving landscapes.
■ SHOCK: Up to £24.2bn will be spent on infrastructure upgrades
Aggreko loses Olympic spark
Hopes for a 4G bonanza
THE firm that supplied power to the Olympics and Paralympics has warned it will struggle to fill the London 2012 void next year. Aggreko shares closed down 461p at 1664p as it admitted that it was unlikely to “fully mitigate” against the £59m London 2012 contract in 2013. The fall was also a response to the loss of military revenues as US troops withdraw from Afghanistan and the possibility that some Japanese clients will not renew their contracts. It is the second warning from
HOPES that next year’s sale of 4G airwaves could generate a windfall for the Government have been fuelled by successful auctions elsewhere. Mobile operators in the Netherlands paid a total £3.1bn for the country’s 4G spectrum on Friday, easily surpassing expectations of about £366m. In Ireland, operators overcame a challenging economy to generate £700m. Brian Potterill, PwC’s director of telecoms strategy, now expects the UK’s 4G auction will raise the high-end of his previous £2bn to £4bn
Aggreko in as many months after it said in October that unfavourable c u r re n c y m ove m e n t s a n d a n increase in bad debt provisions would affect results for this year. With Aggreko missing out on £100m of repeat revenues, it said its performance for 2013 was likely to be slightly lower than this year. Having been one of the fastest growing stocks in the FTSE 100 Index, Aggreko’s shares are now back where they started 2012. The group expects to increase revenues by 12% to £1.6bn this year with profits 12% higher at £365m.
estimate. Despite many operators finding it increasingly difficult to boost returns from mobile data, he said demand for capacity was showing no sign of relenting. Shares in Vodafone, which bought £1.1bn worth of the Dutch spectrum, closed 2.75p lower at 158.2p as a result of concerns it could spend more than expected when it comes to the UK’s turn to sell mobile frequencies. The Government’s tax and spending watchdog this month estimated a £3.5bn boost to the public finances.
Page 2 Rich pickings WEST Yorkshire menswear specialist Skopes has appointed Mike Rich to the role of head of retail. Mr Rich takes responsibility for the retail division with plans to conduct a full review of the business, strengthen its customer base and build on newly-enhanced product ranges. He joins the Leeds-based company with extensive experience working in the retail departments for fashion brands such as the Burton Group. Previous roles include concession director for Evans and Principles and retail operations director at the Baird Group. Said Mr Rich: “Skopes is a well established, forward thinking business looking to take the next step in developing its retail operation. My passion is retailing and I want to use my skills and experience to help take Skopes to that next step.” Skopes managing director Simon Cope said: “Mike’s extensive industry experience and passion for retail makes him an excellent addition to the company.”
Joining the board SUPERMARKET chain Sainsbury’s said Jean Tomlin, human resources director for the London 2012 Organising Committee, will join the company as a non-executive director from January following the retirement of former newsreader Anna Ford.
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £35.21 +0.25 Gannett 1112.62 +26.54 Hess Corp £32.29 +0.59 Microsoft 1674.48 +20.06 Motors Liquidation 46.28 Wal-Mart Stores £42.76 +0.34 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 3601/4 +1/4 BAE Systems 3381/2 -1/4 1 Rolls-Royce 859 /2 -101/2 AIM Brady Plc 101 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 2255/8 -21/8 BANKS Barclays 2567/8 +11/4 HSBC 6411/2 -1/8 7 Lloyds Banking Gp 46 /8 +1/8 3 Ryl Scotland 301 /4 -5/8 Stan Chart 1500 +21/2 BEVERAGES Diageo 1836 +11/2 SABMiller £277/8 -1/8 CHEMICALS Croda £231/2 -1/8 Elementis 98 2333/4 -33/4 Johnsn Mat £241/8 -1/8 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 267 -3/4 Costain 2403/4 -13/8 ELECTRICITY
Drax Gp 562 +21/2 SSE 1443 -1 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 2105/8 -13/8 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3791/2 +7/8 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 2363/4 -7/8 Cable & Wireless 361/8 -3/8 Comm Colt Group 935/8 -13/8 KCOM 711/4 -3/4 1 Talktalk Telecom 225 /4 -11/2 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 266 +13/8 Sainsbury 3485/8 +1/2 3 Tesco 341 /4 -1/4 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1530 +12 Tate Lyle 7511/2 -31/2 1 Unilever £24 /4 -1/8 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3343/4 -1 National Grid 703 -5 Pennon Grp 6251/2 +1 Severn 1566 -1 United Utils 7041/2 +11/2 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 2161/4 +13/4 ICAP 3085/8 +43/4 London StockExch 1070 +18 Man Group 82 +11/2 Provident Financial 1368 -9
Schroders 1658 +11 Schroders NV 1330 +10 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 641 +21/2 REXAM 4423/4 -11/4 Smiths Grp 1153 +8 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 273/4 +3/4 Carphone Whse 1981/2 -21/2 Dixons Retail 28 +1/2 Home Retail 1277/8 -13/4 Inchcape 4385/8 +5/8 Kingfisher 275 -11/4 3 M&S 391 /4 -21/4 Mothercare 359 -3 Next £371/8 -1/4 WH Smith 6711/2 +81/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 671 +2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS 1 Aga Rangemaster 73 /4 +11/8 Barrat Dev 2003/8 -11/4 Persimmon 797 -41/2 Reckitt Benckiser £391/4 +1/8 1 Taylor Wimpey 63 /2 +1/2 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 1066 -3 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 243 +83/4 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 2233/4 +3/4 LIFE INSURANCE
3693/8 -1/2 1441/4 -1 3 174 /4 -1/4 880 -1 2491/2 +1/4 3335/8 +11/4 MEDIA BSkyB 766 +2 D Mail Tst 5391/2 -21/2 3 /8 HIBU ITV 1011/4 -3/8 Johnston Press 143/4 Pearson 1175 -10 Reed Elsevier 628 -21/2 STV Group 1025/8 +1/8 Trinity Mirror 94 -11/4 Utd Business 719 -6 UTV 125 -17/8 WPP 870 -4 MINING Anglo American 18561/2 +30 Antofagasta 1359 +4 BHP Billiton £211/4 +1/4 Eurasian Natural 2705/8 +5/8 Res Fresnillo 1940 -10 Kazakhmys 7821/2 +241/2 3 Lonmin 294 /8 -11/4 Rio Tinto £343/4 +3/4 VEDANTA 1115 +10 RESOURCES Xstrata 10471/2 -21/2 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 600 -11/2 Vodafone Group 1581/4 -23/4 Aviva Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life
Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp
4113/4 100 703 1788
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5912.15 Down 9.61 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1151 RSA Insurance Gp 1243/4 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 1032 BP 427 Cairn Energy 259 Royal Dutch Shell A £213/8 Royal Dutch Shell B £22 Total £313/4 Tullow Oil 1205 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1014 Petrofac 1680 Wood Gp(J) 7201/2
+16 +1/8 -91/2 +1/2 -25/8 1
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PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1258 -6 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £291/4 GlaxoSmithK XD 11/2 Shire 1923 -10 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 559 -2 Captl Shop Cent 3561/8 +13/4 5 Hamrsn 483 /8 -31/4 Land Secs 809 -41/2 3 SEGRO 242 /8 +21/8 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 3201/4 -41/2 Sage Group 2907/8 +15/8 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 5881/2 -11/2 Bunzl 1052 -13 Capita 755 -71/2 De La Rue 9321/2 -51/2 Electrocomp 2237/8 +13/8 Experian 1013 -2 1 G4S 250 /4 -21/4 1 Hays 82 /8 Homeserve 2407/8 +11/4 Menzies J 615 7 Rentokil 92 /8 -1 -21/4 Smiths News 1521/2 Wolseley £281/8 -1/4 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 745 +2 Spirent Comms 1431/2 +13/4 TOBACCO
Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco
£32 £241/4
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LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Rank Org Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread
1081/4 £243/4 735 737 941/2 1905/8 1262 6421/2 1646 1791/2 1945/8 3163/8 1951/2 1433/4 3043/4 2821/4 £241/4
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FTSE 100
INDEX 5912.15
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FTSE 250
INDEX 12218.58
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS CLARE Simms always had designs on a career calling for a sense of creativity. At school, Clare was torn between fashion design and interior design. But by the time she was studying A-levels at Huddersfield New College, her career path was becoming clearer – and at Leeds University she undertook a BA in interior architecture. Perhaps Clare’s choice of career isn’t too surprising, given her family background. Parents Heather and Ian Lister set up Websters Interiors 33 years ago in Brighouse, focusing on domestic interiors. After graduating, Clare joined Cardinal Project Management in Shipley and worked for Marks & Spencer, designing store layouts for its branches across the country. After four years at Cardinal, Clare joined the family business, where she also works with husband Mike Simms. “Coming back to the family business was just the way things went,” she says. “I had been doing retail for quite a while and it was a really good grounding in the industry, but it was quite nice to have the opportunity to tackle domestic projects. The two are very different, but they both involve space planning skills and the use of computer-aided design. I had done a lot of CAD work. The main thing is to understand the relationship between space and people – and how they interact.” Says Clare: “When I joined the firm, the trend was very much towards traditional interiors. The market was 70-30 traditional against contemporary. Mike and I brought in a lot more emphasis on contemporary looks. Although we have introduced contemporary design, traditional remains a strong part of the business – and I enjoy working in traditional fabrics and furniture where it’s the right look for the right building just as much as working in contemporary.” Websters Interiors handles projects ranging
profile
Clare has an eye for design from providing a new look for a single room such as a kitchen or bathroom to complete refurbishments for existing houses and design-and-build for new properties. The company, based at 2-4 Bradford Road, calls on a number of established manufacturers of furniture, fabrics and furnishings and employs a team of degree-qualified designers to provide a bespoke service at the “high-end” of the market. And despite the general gloom surrounding the housing market, the recession has failed to halt the steady growth of the firm, Clare says. ““In some cases, people who have been unable to sell their houses because the market has slumped are renovating or extending their homes so they have nice surroundings and when the market picks up they will have a more valuable home to sell.” Client confidentiality prevents Clare saying too much about the projects, but she reveals: “We work all over the North of England. We have had a number of contracts
recently in Liverpool, Cheshire and The Wirral. We also do a lot of work in London and we have worked in France, Majorca, Jersey, the Isle of Man – even Mustique. We have been really lucky over the past three years and turnover has grown substantially.” Traditional or contemporary, there are discernible trends, says Clare. “The main trend we see is that the way people live and use space has changed. People favour open spaces. The dining area opens onto the kitchen and the sitting room. It’s ‘casual’ living for people who want their homes to look nice, but want to interact. For instance, traditionally, you would build a playroom at one end of the house – and it would never be used because the children want to be near their parents who are in the kitchen or living room.” Clare, who has worked for the family business for the past 11 years, enjoys her work, but says: “There is no typical day for me. I spend 60% to 70% of my time out visiting clients on-site or in their homes and the rest doing CAD work and creating specification sheets. The design team spends a lot of time on-site. We all project-manage our own contracts
■ PUTTING ON THE STYLE: Clare Simms, design director at Websters Interiors, Bradford Road, Brighouse
Page 3 Clare Simms
and see the scheme through from initial design to completion. Projects can take anything from a few weeks to 12 months depending on what’s involved.” The company capped a successful spell by undertaking a major rebrand this autumn – including a new website, a new design studio and a showroom refurbishment. The new look was unveiled at a launch event which included cocktails, fashions from Leeds-based boutique Room 7 and a theatrical cooking demonstration by chef Eric Paxman, of Eric’s Restaurant in Lindley, as well as a display of new interior collections fresh from London Design Week. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the company’s chosen charity, the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice at Bradley. Although the company has a new look, Clare says: “The essence and values of Websters remains the same. However, we recognise that the retail environment has changed over the last few years and with the growth of advanced technology in the sector, we felt the time was right
to invest in an increasingly service-led offer. “The new showroom and website will provide clients with a more interactive, technology-focused service to highlight the exceptional results that our experienced design team can achieve. It also provides the perfect studio-based platform to complement the designers’ visits to client’s homes.” Clare admits that work takes up much of her time. Clare, Mike and their children Charlotte and William live at Ilkley, so when they’re not at work, they enjoy walks on Ilkley Moor. They also have a holiday home in South Devon, which provides a summer retreat. Clare’s professional skills have also been put to use at Ilkley Rugby Union Club, where Mike plays and coaches the juniors. When the club was building a stunning new clubhouse, Clare was the obvious choice to help out. “I get pleasure from helping out and I get a bit possessive about it all,” she says. “I didn’t want to let anyone else do the decorating! Interior design may be my job, but if you love your job it should be your hobby as well!”
HENRYK ZIENTEK
Role: Design director Age: 33 Family: Married to Mike with children Charlotte, five, and William, three Holidays: Devon and ski-ing in France Car: Volvo XC90 First job: Summer holiday job at the family firm Best thing about job: Space planning to help the client get the most out of their property – and seeing the finished result Worst thing about job: I can’t think of anything I don’t like about the job! Business tip: Always listen to the customer and always try your best to look after them
Websters interiors Work: Traditional and contemporary interior design Employs: 10 Site: Bradford Road, Brighouse Phone: 01484 715307 Email: thestudio @webstersinteriors .com Web: www.websters interiors.com
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LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A BUSINESS? Use our knowledge and experience to guide you through the process: ➢
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Independent financial planning services for companies and individuals Eastwood & Partners (Financial Services) Ltd
Pennine House, Lowfields Close, Lowfields Business Park, Elland HX5 9DA 01422 377737 www.eastwoodfinancial.co.uk Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority
KIRKLEES BUSIN
Any last requests? Get your Will right! CCORDING to a recent report A in the Financial Times, 663 Wills were disputed last year,
which was around twice as many as in 2006. The major causes is believed to be the increased financial hardship that many people are currently suffering due to the economic downturn, more complex family structures (as the number of people getting divorced continues to rise) and the increasing number of adult children acting as carers who feel that they should be better provided for on the death of the person for whom they were caring. When can a Will be challenged? Two reasons for challenging a Will are if either the Will is invalid or someone feels that they have not been adequately provided for The main circumstances when a Will won’t be valid are if it was not executed properly (e.g. not signed and witnessed), the testator (the person making the Will) was mentally incapable or it was made under undue pressure from another person. Even if a Will was valid when it was written, it will be automatically revoked if the testator gets married, destroys their Will or makes another Will. Getting divorced also cancels any benefits to a former spouse unless the wording clearly states that divorce should not affect the former spouse’s entitlement. As a general rule a testator is entitled to leave their estate to whomever they wish, but if the Will fails to make “reasonable financial provision” for certain classes of people, the Court has the power, under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, to ensure that they are provided for. There are essentially six categories of people who can contest a Will under the Act – a wife or husband of the deceased, a former wife or husband of the deceased who hasn’t remarried, children of the deceased, step-children of the deceased, a partner who lived
FINANCIAL FOCUS Karen Wynard
with the deceased for at least the last two years immediately prior to their death and any other person who immediately before death was being maintained, either wholly or partly, by the deceased. If you think you have grounds for complaint, then it is important to move quickly, preferably before probate is granted (which is the point from which the estate can start to be distributed unless a caveat is granted which stops the assets from being distributed), and in any event normally no later than six months after grant of probate. The longer you take to lodge a challenge the weaker your case is likely to be, although if a caveat has been given, this lasts for six months and often leads to disputes being resolved between the affected parties before the court stage is reached and before any assets have been distributed. However, it is important to note that legal action can slow down any inheritance and can be costly for all sides. Once it has been determined that the applicant is entitled to bring an application, the key issue will be to determine what is deemed to be “reasonable financial provision” for that person based on the facts of the case, taking into account the size and nature of the estate and the relationship between the applicant and the deceased. For example, if the applicant is a spouse of the deceased “reasonable financial provision” means such financial provision as would be reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for a husband or wife to receive, whether or not that provision is required for their
maintenance. For any other applicant, (including a former spouse or someone else who was financially dependent on the deceased when they died), ‘reasonable financial provision’ means such financial provision as would be reasonable in all the circumstances of the case to receive for their maintenance. In the case of a successful non-spouse claimant, therefore, and especially if the claimant is a financially dependent relative, it is more likely that the court would award maintenance payments, rather than a one-off lump sum. In summary, it remains as important as ever to ensure you have a valid Will – and that you review it regularly to make sure it is up-to-date – because without one, the intestacy rules apply, which is likely to result in the estate not being distributed as you would have wanted and in some cases people you would have liked to benefit may not be entitled to receive anything at all. It is also worth mentioning that, in certain circumstances, a suitably drafted Will can also help minimise any Inheritance Tax that may otherwise be charged on your estate. This doesn’t mean that your Will won’t be subject to challenge of course, but by ensuring it is properly executed and is updated as appropriate to reflect changing personal and family circumstances, the risk of this occurring should at least be minimised. Please note that the Financial Services Authority does not regulate Will writing and taxation and trust advice.
Karen Wynard is head of corporate services at Eastwood & Partners (Financial Services) Ltd
A buyer in your business? BOSSES seeking potential buyers for their business should look for a “hidden asset” in their own management team, says a Denby Dale-based businesswoman. Serial entrepreneur Jo Haigh (pictured) said: “When you start grooming to sell your business, you may well be thinking that profit would be a desirable commodity to enhance value. “In fact although it can be important, lots of companies that make losses sell for
millions of pounds. In other words, profit is in no way the sole reason for maximising sale value. “Within every company, there are numerous hidden assets – some more valuable than others, but for the most part the most important asset lies in the management team that will remain with the business post-deal.” Said Ms Haigh: “As an owner-manager, I know first-hand how difficult it is to trust and delegate and how
very disappointing it is when you are let down. “The problem is that if you do not build this team of competence around you, it becomes much more difficult to realise value in your business when it’s time to exit. “The other hugely valid reason for having a great management team is they may potentially be your buyer of the future and the more exit options you have clearly the better.”
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local
More on the mini-Budget HE Chancellor delivered a T mini-Budget against a tide of continuing economic woe with
the intention of stimulating sustained growth. For those aged under 65, the amount they can receive tax-free will increase as the personal allowance is to rise from £8,105 to £9,440 from April, 2013. This increase is greater than previously announced and is part of the Coalition Government’s plan to raise the allowance to £10,000. As previously announced, the higher age-related personal allowance will not be increased and its availability will be restricted to people who were born before April 6, 1948, leading to accusations of a so called “Granny Tax”. The gradual withdrawal of the personal allowance for those with income above £100,000 will continue and from April, 2013, the allowance will be lost where income exceeds £118,880. The marginal rate of tax for those with income in this band can be as high as 60%. The basic rate of tax remains at 20% although the band of income taxed at this rate will fall from £34,370 to £32,010, which is likely to mean many more individuals paying tax at 40%. The rate of tax on income above £150,000 is being reduced from April, 2013, from 50% to 45% (42.5% to 37.5% on dividend income). Tax-savings will be available if an
TAX TALK Colin Barratt
individual is able to defer income until after April 5, 2013. The maximum amount of tax relievable savings an individual can make towards their pension is to be reduced from April, 2013, from £50,000 to £40,000 per annum while, at the same time, the lifetime allowance is to be reduced from £1.5m to £1.25m. Although these reductions will not affect the majority, it may be useful to review one’s pension contributions in light of the above mentioned tax changes to ensure payments are timed to obtain the highest relief available. Indeed, the use of pension contributions may play an important role from January, 2013, for those with children who face a loss of the Child Benefit where their income exceeds £50,000. Since the Coalition Government came to power, there has been a gradual reduction in the main rate of Corporation Tax for companies with taxable profits in excess of £1.5m. Successive reductions have seen the rate fall from 28% to what will be 23% from April 1, 2013. The proposed rate reduction to 22% from April, 2014, will now instead be 21%. The tax rate for companies with taxable profits below £300,000 will
Colin Barratt is tax partner at Wheawill and Sudworth chartered accountants, Huddersfield
Lacking spirit! ALMOST a third of owner-managers in Yorkshire have broken the news to staff that there is no budget for Christmas festivities this year, according to a survey. The latest Close Brothers Business Barometer shows that 32% of respondents in the region said they planned to axe their company’s Christmas party, with a further 28% saying that they would go ahead with their party but that it would be on a smaller scale than usual. Lee Hayes, regional sales director for Close Brothers Invoice Finance in Yorkshire, said: “It would appear that many businesses are still in austerity mode. “While it’s good news that they’re still trading, it’s not so great for staff who are working harder than ever and had been looking forward to
celebrating with a few drinks and a nice meal at the expense of their employer this Christmas. “As for those who are going ahead with their party, two-fifths stated that staff would have to contribute to the cost.” A quarter of those surveyed in Yorkshire said that trading conditions for their business have worsened over the past 12 months. Said Mr Hayes: “If money is tight, then of course you need to look closely at your expenditure. However, if businesses do away with this type of reward for staff, it could affect morale and productivity. “It’s important to find an alternative way to recognise their contribution and therefore maintain motivation coming into 2013, which looks set to be another tough year.”
continue to be 20%. For shareholders in private limited c o m p a n i e s, t h e p ay m e n t o f dividends instead of bonuses will be more attractive than ever. In a surprising but welcome announcement, the amount a business can immediately write-off against profits by investing in plant and machinery is to be increased from £25,000 to £250,000 from January 1, 2013. The increase will be for a two-year period. Those businesses planning significant capital outlay over the next few months should carefully consider the timing of their expenditure so as to maximise the tax relief available, particularly where their accounting period straddles January 1.
Page 5 Industry leader wins recognition A FLEET incident management and accident reduction specialist has been recognised for its industry leading approach of focusing on prevention rather than cure. Huddersfield-based FMG won the Safety Initiative of the Year Award at the annual industry Fleet Van ceremony in recognition of its driver behaviour technology, Ingenium Dynamics. The innovative device reduces accidents in commercial vehicles and business fleets. The company offers a range of services to make business fleets safer. The smart technology was singled out for its immediate impact on driving up standards. The system monitors the way an individual drives, identifies areas for improvement and incentivises business drivers to change their driving style. Companies using the technology have seen insurance premiums drop, fuel spend fall and in some cases accident rates almost halved. The system is adaptable to rank drivers in terms of their percentage scores and many organisations use this to reward better driving. FMG chief executive John Catling (pictured) said: “Safer driving makes good business sense. Accidents cost a company money, not to mention the potential emotional costs, which are often not taken into account. “Our smarter ways of working mean that we are able to identify where problems exist and put in a range of solutions to minimise driver risk.”
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
Hard work key to start-up success A WILLINGNESS to work hard is the most important attribute when starting up a business, according to a survey among graduate entrepreneurs. Almost two-thirds of graduates in Yorkshire who have gone on to launch their own enterprise said that hard work is the most important attribute when starting a business This was followed by determination (52%) and drive and energy (44%). The study by Lloyds TSB Commercial canvassed the opinions of recent graduates and university students towards enterprise and included some who have already started their own business. The research was commissioned as part of the launch of the annual Lloyds TSB Commercial Enterprise Awards, which scours the nation for Britain’s best university and graduate businesses. When graduates in Yorkshire who have already set up a business were asked about the practical steps they considered the most important for getting their start up off the ground, the most commonly ranked as “extremely important” was financial planning (41%). That was followed by funding or investment to start up; getting the knowledge on how to run a business; and marketing the business, each with 32%. All entrants to the Enterprise Awards will be considered for two titles – Best Start Up, which will be awarded to a business in its early stages; and Best Enterprise. which will be awarded to the business judged to show the most potential to grow over the next five years to become
a successful SME within its respective sector. The study revealed that eight out of 10 students and graduates (83%) would like to see more advice available at university on how to set up a business. When asked about the help and guidance available to young entrepreneurs, nearly two-thirds (62%) of young student and graduate business owners felt that there wasn’t sufficient support or didn’t know about the level of support available in their local area. The research found that the most popular sector for UK graduates who have gone on to establish their own business is the design and creative industry. Almost a quarter of all respondents have set up their enterprise in this field. IT services (15%) and publishing, media, marketing and advertising (10%) are the next most popular sectors. Martyn Kendrick, area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Yorkshire, said: “There are a lot of savvy young entrepreneurs in the region who recognise the qualities that are vital to setting up a sustainable business. “This needs to be matched by the support and guidance available to them as they start their enterprises to ensure their future success. “Through the launch of our second annual Enterprise Awards, we are helping aspiring businessmen and women across Yorkshire to achieve their ambitions by giving them the support they need and showcasing the work done by some of the UK’s brightest entrepreneurs.”
FDs still concerned about bank lending COMPANY finance directors in Yorkshire remained concerned about the effects of bank lending policies, a survey has revealed. Research by business services firm Grant Thornton showed that 54% of FDs in the region thought that lending policies were driving up debtor days for SMEs, an increase of 12% on a year ago when a similar survey posed the same question. In 2011, some 83% of respondents said that bank lending policies were encouraging businesses to hold onto cash reserves at the expense of the general economy. This time, the figure stands at 77% – but still shows a lack of
confidence in liquidity in the commercial lending market. Jonathan Riley, senior partner at Grant Thornton in West Yorkshire, said there had been a slight improvement in the tendency of firms to spend cash reserves. But SMEs were seen to be funding growth by bearing the cost of additional debtor days. The survey showed that a third of finance directors considered changing banks in the past year, just half the number when the 2011 survey was carried out and a welcome sign for lenders who had seen a great deal of turnover in recent years.
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Reverse gear is the way forward REVERSE engineering is the way forwards for Tom Furness. After completing is MSc degree in mechanical engineering at Huddersfield University, the 25-year-old landed a post as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership associate with Wetherby-based firm NTR Ltd – Europe’s leading specialist in the repair of cutting tools used for turning, boring, milling and drilling. Under the terms of a KTP, a firm collaborates with university experts and an associate is appointed to carry out research in the ground and act as a link. Tom, who hails from Huddersfield, pays frequent return visits to the university, where his KTP supervisor is Dr Simon Fletcher. But he is principally based at NTR, working on a project to automate the process of repairing damaged tools – using a procedure known as reverse engineering to learn as much about the existing, manual processes and then using the knowledge gained to create computer numerical control programs. Tom said companies already make big savings by coming to NTR to buy reconditioned tools. The new automated techniques he is working on will cut costs further by increasing volumes and reducing turnaround times. Tom began work at NTR while he was still completing his masters degree. Now he is concentrating on his work
■ REVERSE GEAR: Tom Furness, of Huddersfield, who has landed a post as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership associate
with the two-year KTP and has recently been helping to integrate a new CNC machine into the Wetherby factory. He said the experience of being a KTP associate was an excellent start to his engineering career: “It bridges the gap between university and working
life,” said Tom. “I am based at the company but still in contact with the university and get all the support I need.” As for the future, he is keeping his options open but one of his goals is to travel and work in Europe.
Yorkshire funding group achieves £30m landmark A VENTURE capital and loan fund operating across Yorkshire has invested almost £30m in more than 200 small and medium-sized enterprises over the past two-and-a-half years. Finance Yorkshire has completed 280 investments, ranging from £15,000 to more than £1.2m, in Yorkshire, the Humber and North and North East Lincolnshire. Its investments have created and safeguarded more than 5,190 jobs and generated a private sector leverage of more than £56m, which equates to £2.06 for every pound invested. Business services, advanced engineering and manufacturing, ICT software, telecoms, healthcare and bioscience are some of the key industry sectors Finance Yorkshire has invested in over the last two years. Chief executive Alex McWhirter said: “EResults so far show that we are making a real impact in Yorkshire and Humber. “We are completing an average of ten investments each month. ”However, there is still a lot of hard
work to be done and we will continue to speak to financial intermediaries and businesses about investment opportunities. “We are fortunate to have so many excellent SMEs in a wide range of industry sectors across Yorkshire and Humber and the challenge for us is to make sure that we bring together the most appropriate finance package to support those growing companies that are pursuing investable and well managed business ideas. “By bringing together the great ideas and a desire to grow with the right financial backing we can help to create a significant impact on the region’s economy.” Finance Yorkshire provides seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from £15,000 to £2m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to meet their funding requirements for growth and development. Finance Yorkshire, which is supported financially by the European Union, has attracted £30m investment from the European Regional
■ EXCELLENT: Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire Development Fund, £15m from Yorkshire Forward’s Single Programme and £45m match funding from the European Investment Bank.
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
Kitchen firm in timely donation A HOUSING support group has received a kitchen for its new premises in Dewsbury. Fusion Housing, which also has operations in Huddersfield, is a voluntary sector organisation providing specialist housing and debt advice, housing support, learning opportunities, employment support and the provision of recycled furniture and white goods to people in need throughout Kirklees. The group was formed with the recent merger of the Single Homeless Accommodation Project and CHAS Housing Advice. Both organisations have been serving the people of Kirklees for more than 35 years. Fusion was previously based across four sites, but has secured new premises at Empire House in Dewsbury and Pearl Assurance House in Huddersfield. Dewsbury-based Rixonway Kitchens, one of the leading manufacturers working in affordable and social housing, donated a kitchen in beech from its Trieste range, which was installed prior to the Fusion Housing employees moving into their new premises. Paul Rose, chief executive of Rixonway Kitchens, said: “We are always happy to provide support in communities where we work and we’re delighted our donations will allow Fusion Housing’s budget to be spent on its front line services.” Mike Greaves, small business and finance manager of Fusion Employment – a social enterprise subsidiary of Fusion Housing – said: “Moving premises is a very costly exercise and the donation from Rixonway Kitchens has helped us greatly. Rixonway is a well known and respected employer in the local area and we are very pleased to have forged this link.”
■ KITCHEN CREW: Zena Luck (left), housing support worker at Fusion Housing in the new kitchen with collagues (from left) housing support worker David Ryder, advice service manager Adrain Wilkinson, service manager Heather Pollard and team leader Zuber Daji Fusion Housing primarily offers housing advice and support to homeless people and people in danger of losing their homes, learning opportunities, preparation for employment and is the only charity to offer recycled white goods and furniture free at the point of delivery. This kitchen donation is the latest example
of Rixonway’s involvement with community based projects. Recently the company donated kitchens to Ronald Ross School in Wandsworth, the Pontefract Collieries Football Club in South Yorkshire, The Burnt Oak Community Centre in Barnet and The Harrogate Homeless Project in Harrogate.
chippie. Mr Richards purchased his first fish and chip shop in Pudsey with the assistance of Lloyds TSB Commercial. Wendy Hallas, of the bank’s Huddersfield Business Centre, said “We are always on the lookout for opportunities to support Iocal businessmen and women and I was in no doubt that Barrie was an ideal prospect to support. We were delighted to able to back him with his new venture and way of life.” To help ensure success in his new venture, Mr Richards followed Ernest Wilson’s advice and enrolled on a training course with the National Federation of Fish Friers. His business performed very well and turnover increased. Having established his first shop, Mr Richards sold it a year later through Ernest Wilson and bought another chippie that they had for sale. He increased
PROPERTY agency Eddisons has announced the completion of three deals in Kirklees together worth more than £1.1m. The Huddersfield office of Eddisons has sold land extending to 1.36 acres at Colne Road, Huddersfield. The site, which has had planning consent previously granted for residential and student development, was bought by Carbon Investments Ltd on behalf of retained clients, for a price exceeding the guide of £550,000. Meanwhile, an 8,000sq ft unit at Pennine Business Park on Bradley Road in Huddersfield has been sold to a private individual off a guide price of £600,000. Eddisons acted as joint agent with Walker Singleton, who concluded the sale on behalf of Commercial Development Projects Ltd. Elsewhere, the former Broomfield Methodist Church in Cleckheaton has been sold to City Developments Ltd, off a guide price of £220,000. The single-storey detached property on Shaw Street extends to over 1,500sq ft and may suit a variety of uses, subject to planning.
showing no signs of slowing down. This comes at a time when fears have been raised over the lack of agent regulation in the lettings sector. Almost 90% of tenants who responded to a separate RICS survey called for compulsory regulation for lettings agents on order to protect consumers. The number of landlords placing their
A LAW firm with offices in Huddersfield has opened a new office in West Yorkshire. Leading northern fraud crime and regulatory practice ABR Solicitors, which has offices at Market Street in Huddersfield and at Leeds, Liverpool and Harrogate, has opened a fifth office in Keighley. The entire team from John Holden & Jamieson Fitzpatrick has joined ABR and continues to operate from Holden House in Henry Street. Nigel Jamieson commented: “ABR Solicitors is well-known as a leading practice in the region, consistently providing high quality representation from all of its offices. Being part of a larger, specialist criminal practice is a very positive move for us.”
turnover at that store by four times and went on to sell it for a substantial profit. This time, he opened up an empty unit as a fish and chip shop – growing turnover from a standing start to more than £3,000 a week before selling again through Ernest Wilson. Richards Family Fisheries is now running its fourth shop at Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, having had an amazing opening day on November 5. Said Mr Richards: “There is life after redundancy! I am so glad that I walked into Ernest Wilson’s that day and with their support and that of the NFFF and Lloyds TSB Commercial I have established a new career with new skills which I find fulfilling and challenging at the same time. “There is never a dull moment and I find the ability I now have to make, back and implement my own decisions thrilling.”
Tenant demand remains strong DEMAND for rental property in Yorkshire has continued to rise, according to figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The latest RICS residential lettings survey showed interest from would-be renters in the region came in at a net balance of plus 12% during the three months to October – suggesting that the booming rental market is
Agents complete £1.1m-plus deals
New office opens
Agency chips in to help Barrie A FORMER marketing director is running a thriving takeaway business – thanks to help from a West Yorkshire business transfer agent and commercial bankers based in Huddersfield. Former marketing director Barrie Richards, who was made redundant, launched his first fish and chip shop in Pudsey after talking to staff at business transfer agent Ernest Wilson about buying a business and securing finance from Lloyds TSB Commercial in Huddersfield. Now his Richards Family Fisheries brand is wining plaudits on visitor recommendation websites. Fish and chips remain the number one takeaway food in the UK – with more than 10,000 fish and chip shops selling more than 300m portions each year, The industry is worth about £1.2bn – meaning that £1 out of every £100 spent on food is spent in a
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properties on the region’s market held firm during the last quarter. With the lettings market still buoyant, the cost of renting a home continued to rise. With some 24% more respondents reported rises rather than falls in rental values. Rents have now consistently been on the rise since the early part of the year.
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Donna Sheldon
The Athena Programme A HOLFMFIRTH-based trainer with extensive experience in child protection and safeguarding has been hand-picked to take up a new role with safeguarding specialists The Athena Programme. Donna Sheldon (pictured) is one of five new specialists recruited by the Lancashire-based safeguarding specialist, which was founded in 2007 and has trained more than 4,000 people in safeguarding skills.. Ms Sheldon runs her own business, DMS Consulting, where she has written and delivered training materials for a number of local authorities, primary care trusts and childcare organisations. She said: “I’m delighted to be working with The Athena Programme, which is well known for its expertise in this area. I’m looking forward to some new challenges and to putting my own experience to good use.” Donna’s appointment, together with that of four other specialists, effectively doubles the staff of The Athena Programme. The new team has 94 years’ experience in the sector and enables the company to expand its safeguarding consultancy and training programmes across the UK. Managing director Sarah Goodall said, “We have hand-picked the best talent from around the country to expand our geographic reach and provide another layer of expertise to support the existing Athena team. “Safeguarding is an issue that is on the radar, with daily headlines highlighting organisations that fail to provide appropriate protection for children and young people. “We are operating in many different business sectors and are winning new contracts through recommendation and the reputation for excellence we have built up. “The new associates will enable the business to further expand whilst maintaining the quality of service we offer.”
Movers and shakers
Flying colours! A BUSINESS helping older people stay in their own homes has passed a Care Quality Commission inspection with flying colours. A CQC report said the Kirklees team at Home Instead Senior Care met all the required standards of care set by the watchdog body and received high praise from feedback collated from clients and staff. James Little and Catherine Halliday, who run the Armitage Bridge-based business, said the results were extremely important as they provided a clear indication that a care company is operating as it should and gives clients and their families confidence that they are choosing a care service with high standards. They said: “We are pleased to have received the stamp of approval from the CQC just in time for Christmas. “Amidst reports in the media that care organisations are lacking in crucial areas of care, it is really important that people are able to access information about quality providers in their area to give them peace of mind, especially over the festive period.” Mr Little said: “Unannounced inspections are an effective method of gauging the standard of a service. The essential standards span 16 areas from respect and involvement through to record keeping and staff support. “At Home Instead we see these standards as a bare minimum. For us it is about the comments that clients and staff members make which evidences that we are at the forefront of the quality care sector. Home Instead Senior Care provides services ranging from offering companionship and conversation, help with travel arrangements, monitoring diet and eating and home help services such as light housekeeping, preparing meals, caring for house plants and pets and help with shopping.
■ STANDARDS: James Little and Catherine Halliday
Stadium to host major conference
Firms get more time to enter competition KIRKLEES firms have been given more time to enter the National Council for Work Experience Awards. The deadline for entries has been extended by a few weeks to give companies across Yorkshire more time to enter over the busy festive period. Companies offering internships to students or graduates now have until Friday, January 11, 2013, to enter or to be nominated by a student or careers adviser. All UK organisations are eligible to enter at www.work-experience.org/awards. Thirteen award categories cover the full spectrum of organisations from large and small operations to those in the public and charitable sectors. Both short and long-term internships are eligible for an award as well as those that have been recently set up. Mike Hill, chief executive of the Higher Education Careers Services Unit that runs the NCWE Awards said: “This year marks the 10th anniversary of the NCWE Awards and they have grown to become the most established and prestigious awards in their field. “Businesses boasting an NCWE Award have used it to validate the quality of their scheme, helping them to attract more high calibre interns. If you would like to be recognised for the quality of your placement opportunities I urge you to enter.” Finalists will be notified in January, 2013, when they will be invited to the awards ceremony in central London in March, 2013.
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■ BOXING CLEVER: Siblings (from left) David, Louise and Mark Bullett have all notched up 20 years service at BM Packaging
Upholding relative values IT’S certainly a family affair at one Huddersfield company. BM Packaging, based at Healy House, Netherton, has three siblings on the books – and they have all celebrated 20 years service. Mark and Louise Bullett work as senior operators at the firm while brother David is warehouseman with the company. All three received a thank-you in their
wage packets for notching up two decades at the company. Director Tony Latham said: “David was probably our first employee when we started in Elland in 1990 and he was followed by Mark and Louise. We moved to Healey House in 1993.” Louise, 49, and David, 48, both live in Meltham while Mark, 46, lives in Huddersfield.
HUDDERSFIELD will host a major event for manufacturers in 2013, it has been announced. Manufactured Yorkshire – MY13 – will take place at the John Smith’s Stadium on May 9 to bring together the region’s manufacturers and their supply chains for a day of learning, collaboration and networking to strengthen their links. Organiser Danny Matharu (pictured) said the event was aimed at “plugging a massive hole in the Yorkshire conference calendar”. All delegate places are free, but as the focus of MY13 is specifically on manufacturers and their supply chains, availability for exhibitors and delegates from service sector businesses will be strictly limited. Danny, who organises the popular annual Kirklees Business Conference at the stadium, said several seminars were being lined up for MY13, including ones on employment and skills and the future of manufacturing. There would also be Q&A sessions with expert panels on exporting and becoming supply chain-ready. Said Danny: “We are already on track for 500 delegates from the manufacturing sector to be present on the day.” Go to www.manufacturedyorkshire.com