Kirklees Business News 19/03/13 by Huddersfield

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Network provides lesson in success

A BUSINESS networking group in Huddersfield has helped one of its members embark on a literary career. Businessman Andrew Miller has seen his first book, Hope Won’t Pay the Wages, published on Amazon after drawing on the experiences of fellow members of the Huddersfield 4Networking group. The idea for the book came to him through his membership of 4N, which meets at the Table Table restaurant at Aspley. Said Andrew: “It was a light bulb moment – 4N helped me to take the leap and stand out and do something different.” Andrew’s book argues that entrepreneurs can be left so demoralised by the stigma and shame of losing a business that their road to personal and commercial recovery can take up to two years. It says that these are wasted years – time when they are unable to contribute to building the UK economy by employing people, paying taxes and trading. Andrew gained many insights for the book from talking to business owners and entrepreneurs in

the 4N group – but not from those who had been really successful, rather from those who had faced their worst business nightmare of corporate collapse and survived. “Being a 4N member made it easy to approach people that I d i d n ' t k n ow b e fo r e,” s a i d Andrew. “I used the 4N breakfast meeting to engage Kirklees business leaders and speak to them about their own reality of business failure and success. “I got a lot of people wanting to help and share their experiences.” Andrew said the book had proved popular because as well as highlighting an area of business which needs greater support, it also provides that support. In addition, the lessons learnt by 4N members and identified in the book were applicable to every business owner, so that everyone reading it could take something away to use in their own enterprise. “All the way along, 4N has been fundamental in helping me to achieve something that 12 months before wasn't even a consideration,” said Andrew. “If I had not joined 4N none of this would have

happened in the timescale that it did – or, more likely, at all.” Brad Burton, motivational speaker and managing director of 4N Networking, hailed Hope Won’t Pay the Wages as “the first business book in ages that grabbed me” and added: “I’m seriously loving it.” Following publication of the book, Andrew has discussed his research with government. As a result, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is looking at business failure as a key topic to aid economic growth – with the possibility of a specific project getting the go-ahead from government. Said Andrew: “This is a very exciting opportunity. I’m hoping government can see the merit of my research and how it can provide them with a solution as part of their ongoing agenda to help small to medium businesses.” Andrew, who works as a turnaround coach at Wakefield-based ARM Coaching Services, has 16 years experience working in insolvency and turnaround for one of the big four global accountancy firms.

have to be wary about how many more petitions are now being issued, which is a clear sign that HMRC is cracking down on businesses that default on tax payments. “At the start of the recession, the Revenue took a fairly sympathetic approach when businesses were struggling but now they seem to be taking a much tougher stance. “Furthermore, RTI means PAYE information will be collected every time employers run their payroll, rather than having to wait until the end of the tax year. “HMRC hopes the new system will mean more individuals pay the right amount of tax during the year, which will mitigate the need for year-end adjustments – but it will also help HMRC to identify businesses that are accruing

Celebrate with cake A CAKEMAKER taking a slice of the action in export markets has won an award for its efforts. Huddersfield’s ProperMaid is one of four regional businesses to be named as the first-ever winners of awards organised by UK Trade & Investment to promote its popular Passport to Export programme for novice and new exporters. The Lindley company, led by founder Allison Whitmarsh, won the award for Most Improved Business Performance

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■ WORD POWER: Businessman Andrew Miller has achieved literary success with the help of Huddersfield’s 4Networking group

HMRC losing patience with poor paying firms TAX officials are running out of patience with businesses that have outstanding tax bills, a Kirklees-based accountancy firm has warned. Nigel Westman, partner at Clough and Company in Cleckheaton, said HM Revenue & Customs issued 5,302 winding-up orders in 2011-12 – up by 57% on the previous year’s figure of 3,367. And a major shake-up to Pay As You Earn could magnify the problem, Mr Westman said. From April, the Real Time Information programme, which is at the heart of the government’s welfare reform, will feed up-to-date information about employee income to the Department for Work and Pensions – enabling it to calculate accurately payments to which individuals are entitled. Mr Westman said: “Business owners

INSIDE

PAYE and NIC arrears. “This could result in more businesses incurring problems as HMRC do not regard VAT or PAYE as part of their cash flow.” Mr Westman said: “There is no doubt that HMRC is under pressure from the Government to up its game and increase its tax takings, but many businesses are finding themselves in a difficult position because of this harder line. “Businesses with outstanding tax bills can still apply for HMRC’s ‘time-to-pay’ scheme, although recent figures also show that increasing numbers of applicants are being rejected. “Any businesses considering applying for this should seek professional advice and take a pragmatic approach in their application to demonstrate that the business is viable and able to pay the debt.”

■ ARREARS: Nigel Westman, partner at Clough & Company in Cleckheaton

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Unsafe structures Research by insolvency trade body R3 shows that 27% of construction firms across the UK are at risk of failure in the next 12 months – with the same proportion at risk in Yorkshire and Humber. Chris Wood, of Clough Corporate Solutions in Cleckheaton, said that more than 62,310 construction and civil engineering companies registered in the UK are at risk of collapse – 4,245 of them in Yorkshire and Humber.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

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M&S shares boost from takeover talk SHARES in Marks & Spencer surged on speculation that the high street retailer is an £8bn bid target for Middle Eastern investors. The stock jumped 8% at one stage, adding more than £500m in value, after newspaper reports that the Qatar Investment Authority), the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund, is in talks with private equity and banks about an approach. M&S shares closed yesterday up 25.6p at 398.1p, or 7%. Despite the scale of the share price movement, there was no official stock market announcement to confirm or deny the speculation. A bid for the retailer would mark the biggest private equity takeover of a British blue chip firm since Alliance Boots was snapped up by US buyout firm KKR for £11bn in 2007. It would also see another British name fall into foreign hands after recent high-profile takeovers such as US group Kraft’s controversial acquis-

ition of Cadbury. M&S is often the subject of takeover speculation and there are significant hurdles for any such deal to get the go ahead. Apart from the price tag needed to win over management and investors, M&S has a hefty pension deficit of about £300m which means the scheme’s trustees have a significant say in any deal. Other bidders have tried and failed to bag M&S in the past, with BHS and Topshop tycoon Sir Philip Green launching an unsuccessful hostile £10bn bid in 2004. Private equity firm CVC, which owns Formula One, is said to have considered a bid for M&S last summer, but pulled out after its plans were made public. The takeover spotlight has once more fallen on M&S with its faltering sales in recent years. Chief executive Marc Bolland is leading a turnaround plan to revive its

performance, but progress has been hampered by difficult high street conditions. It reported its first fall in profits for three years in 2012 and followed this with a dismal performance in clothing over Christmas. Overall like-for-like sales in the UK fell 1.8% in the 13 weeks to December 29 after a bigger-than-expected 3.8% slump in general merchandise. Mr Bolland is hoping a new clothing

FDI plea for region

management team, which includes ex-Jaeger boss Belinda Earl, will start to deliver when their first collections hit the shops in July. But M&S shares have taken a hammering, down 70% in the last year alone, making the firm an attractive takeover target. QIA is no stranger to the UK retail sector. Its Qatar Holding subsidiary bought Harrods three years ago for £1.5bn and it has a 25% stake in supermarket Sainsbury’s. It also has the financial firepower for such a deal, although it is believed to be keen to tie up with private equity funds to reduce its risk. Retail analyst Nick Bubb said: “M&S is certainly vulnerable to a bid, as trading and profits are under pressure, with nothing to show yet for big investments made in online and warehousing and the changes in the clothing team ahead of the key autumn season.”

Housebuilder CALA finds buyer

McColl in expansion plan

CONFIDENCE in the housebuilding sector received a further boost with a £210m deal for Edinburgh-based firm CALA. The business, which builds about 875 homes a year with an average selling price of £340,000, has been sold by Lloyds Banking Group to insurer Legal & General and private equity firm Patron. CALA’s sale comes after the recent successful £600m flotation of housebuilder Crest Nicholson and a raft of positive trading updates from the sector. The company, which targets the

RETAILER Martin McColl is to create 150 new convenience stores over the next two years after completing a debt refinancing worth more than £100m. The expansion will give the group some 800 convenience stores as it faces up to increased competition from supermarket heavyweights in the smaller store sector. Convenience stores already make up more than half of Martin McColl’s 1 , 2 6 0 s t o r e s, m a k i n g i t t h e third-largest owner of such outlets in the country.

more affluent areas of the UK such as the Home Counties, the Cotswolds and areas around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, said its trading performance so far this year has been “exceptionally strong”. It returned to profit one year ahead of schedule in 2011, having been loss-making since 2008, and recently announced a six-fold increase in profitability to £11.4m for the year to June 30. Chief executive Alan Brown said the deal, made up of £140m of equity and £70m of debt, was a significant step forward for the company.

The group, founded by Scottish footballer Robert Smyth McColl in 1901, also has 500 newsagents, having acquired rivals Forbuoys and Dillons in the late 1990s. It has doubled the number of its convenience stores in the last seven years and plans to drive its latest expansion by snapping up independent stores and converting its own existing newsagents. Finance director Jonathan Miller said the group had defied difficult economic conditions to refinance its debt pile with £126.5m in new loans.

THE North could crate more 120,000 new jobs in a decade if the region’s share of foreign direct investment returned to levels enjoyed before the abolition of the regional development agencies, claims to a report. The study – UK First? Improving Northern Access to Foreign Direct Investment – says that securing FDI has been a key element of economic development in the North, with companies like Nissan and Siemens leading the way. The report by think-tank IPPR North argues that FDI has supported the growth of key businesses and helped to create and protect jobs. But the number of FDI projects in the North has fallen by 27%since 2010 when a new approach to inward investment was introduced by the Coalition Government. The report said this trend was widening the North/South divide as London saw a 19% rise in FDI. Since 2004, London and the South East has secured more foreign investment than the rest of England put together. IPPR North said a greater share of Whitehall resources should go to strengthening the capacity of city regions to seek foreign investment. It calls for changing the way government monitors investment with less emphasis on counting the number of new projects and more emphasis on expanding existing projects and the number of new jobs created.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £43.54 -0.19 Gannett 1437.64 -1.98 Hess Corp £47.86 -0.11 Microsoft 1867.35 +12.57 Motors Liquidation 49.62 Wal-Mart Stores £47.89 -0.08 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 398 -16 BAE Systems 3837/8 +3/4 Rolls-Royce 1094 +9 AIM Brady Plc 871/2 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 2743/4 +1/4 BANKS Barclays 306 -141/8 HSBC 7201/4 +1/8 7 Lloyds Banking Gp 49 /8 -5/8 1 Ryl Scotland 297 /4 -105/8 Stan Chart 17261/2 -361/2 BEVERAGES Diageo £201/8 SABMiller £345/8 -3/8 CHEMICALS Croda £265/8 +1/4 Elementis 98 2633/8 -65/8 Johnsn Mat £227/8 -1/4 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2711/2 -65/8 Costain 2891/2 +2 ELECTRICITY

Drax Gp 593 +121/2 SSE 1459 -5 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 230 +3/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 433 -3 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 2703/4 -11/2 Cable & Wireless 411/2 Comm Colt Group 1283/4 -63/4 KCOM 82 -23/8 1 Talktalk Telecom 262 /4 +47/8 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2711/4 Sainsbury 3651/4 +23/8 Tesco 3825/8 -21/2 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1891 -8 Tate Lyle 8321/2 +141/2 3 Unilever £27 /8 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 350 -2 National Grid 735 +1 Pennon Grp 6321/2 -3 Severn 1645 -2 United Utils 684 -5 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 3245/8 +15/8 ICAP 3267/8 -31/8 London StockExch 1372 -13 Man Group 1001/2 +1/4 Provident Financial 1558 +25

-1/4 Schroders £211/4 Schroders NV 1692 -35 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS REXAM 5231/2 -3 Smiths Grp 1328 +15 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 281/2 -1 Carphone Whse 2031/2 +4 Dixons Retail 35 +1/4 Home Retail 1561/2 +11/2 Inchcape 5091/2 Kingfisher 2873/8 +11/4 M&S 3981/8 +255/8 1 Mothercare 298 /2 +41/4 Next £413/8 +1/2 WH Smith 742 +191/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 739 -71/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 85 -1 Barrat Dev 240 +5 Persimmon 966 +13 Reckitt Benckiser £471/8 Taylor Wimpey 851/2 +13/8 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 1335 -12 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 1973/4 -81/4 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 265 +1/8 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 3231/4 -27/8

1723/8 2071/4 1115 2673/8 380 MEDIA BSkyB 891 D Mail Tst 7081/2 3 HIBU /8 ITV 1313/4 Johnston Press 131/4 Pearson 1204 Reed Elsevier 759 STV Group 141 Trinity Mirror 851/2 Utd Business 7141/2 UTV 1471/2 WPP 1080 MINING Anglo American 18731/2 Antofagasta 1066 BHP Billiton £201/2 Eurasian Natural 3217/8 Res Fresnillo 1456 Kazakhmys 5051/2 Lonmin 3171/8 Rio Tinto £323/4 VEDANTA 1132 RESOURCES Xstrata 11351/2 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 6871/2 Vodafone Group 185 NONLIFE INSURANCE Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life

-3/4 -11/2 -39 +3/8 +11/4 +7 +2 +5/8 -1/4 -4 +11/2 -3 -91/2 -5 -21/2 -3 -19 -16 -1/8 -247/8 -24 -33 -117/8 -3/8 -28 -29 +11/2 +13/4

Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

450 1193/4 735 £241/4

-103/4 +41/4 +1 -1/4

closed at at FTSE closed

6457.92 Down 31.73 Admiral Grp 1340 RSA Insurance Gp 116 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 11841/2 BP 4481/2 Cairn Energy 2891/4 Royal Dutch Shell A £213/4 Royal Dutch Shell B £221/8 Total £331/4 Tullow Oil 1247 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1072 Petrofac 1563 Wood Gp(J) 872 PERSONAL GOODS

+61/2 -11/8 -23/4 -1/8 -1/4 -3/8 -2 +12 +16 +3

Burberry Gp 1439 -11 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £301/2 -1/4 GlaxoSmithK XD 5 -1/4 Shire £201/8 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 5491/2 -51/2 Hamrsn 5021/2 -41/2 Intu Properties 3303/4 -11/4 Land Secs 816 -101/2 1 SEGRO 267 /4 -33/4 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 3601/8 +11/2 Sage Group 3431/2 +13/4 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 752 -101/2 Bunzl 1309 +11 1 Capita 893 /2 +12 De La Rue 932 +7 Electrocomp 257 -1/8 Experian 1170 +12 1 G4S 298 /4 -1/8 Hays 98 -1/2 Homeserve 2273/4 +3/4 Menzies J 780 -9 Rentokil 983/4 -1/4 Smiths News 178 +61/4 Wolseley £33 -1/8 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 9201/2 -8 Spirent Comms 153 -23/4 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £347/8 -1/8

Imperial Tobacco

£233/8

-3/8 TOURIST RATES

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

147 /8 £231/4 8381/2 1066 1103/4 2021/4 1513 719 £201/8 2701/2 2381/4 3443/8 2151/4 173 3091/4 3143/8 £255/8

+2 /4 -1/2 +31/2 -6 -1/4 -21/4 +2 +71/2 +1/8 -13/4 -1/4 +1 -23/4 +4 -21/4 -51/4 -1/4

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS AT a time when many hotels, pubs and restaurants are struggling to survive, chef Jason Neilson believes he has hit on a winning recipe. The co-owner of 315 Bar & Restaurant at Lepton says business is buzzing – with plans for further expansion.. The former White Horse pub at Wakefield Road has been transformed since Jason and business partner Terry Dryden bought the premises two years ago. Almost £3m has been invested in the business to create an eating establishment offering high quality modern British cuisine “with a twist” in a contemporary and stylish setting. The building was virtually demolished – all save the porch and facade – to create a bar area, three restaurants, a function room, eight bedrooms and an open kitchen seating area where diners can watch their food being prepared. The fittings and decor were the work of local interior designer Joan Webb, whose other projects have included city centre offices, hotels, Brighouse Civic Hall and Brighouse Library and Art Gallery. Terry, who ran an electrical contract providing facilities for all mum would bake and I “I was offered a job with business in Barnsley for occasions. used to like helping. My Marco Pierre White and many years before Jason, who takes dad made a little stool for Gordon Ramsay,” he says. building and running a charge in the kitchen, and me to stand on so I could “But I thought that would number of nursing homes, his wife Ruth, who runs reach the table and I used be a sideways move, so I first met Jason and his front-of-house, have built to watch Delia Smith on took a head chef’s job in wife Ruth when Jason was up a thriving business TV. Sussex. running Thorpe Grange which stands in stark “It was always “Later, I spoke to my Manor in Almondbury. contrast to the fortunes of something I wanted to do.” parents and decided to Later, Jason was at the some other eating Jason studied catering take a chance and open Spencer Arms at establishments. at Castle College, near our own restaurant. Cawthorne, but was ready Much of the success is Sheffield, and in his third “We had the Thorpe for a new challenge. down to Jason, who has year went on a 12-week Grange Manor for Jason says: “Terry had never regretted the placement to Raymond seven-and-a-half years kept his eye on the White decision to run his own Blanc’s famed restaurant, before selling it and taking Horse, which had been business rather than take Le Manoir Aux Quat' the Spencer Arms. It was empty for quite a while, up the opportunity to work Saisons He worked as a just a typical village pub, and suggested going into for some illustrious TV comis chef before leaving but we took the decision to partnership on it. chefs. three-and-a-half years turn it into a gastro-pub “What amazed me was Jason, who hails from later as the youngest and that turned the when he gave me a blank Sheffield, but now lives sous-chef. business around.” piece of paper and said: with Ruth and children Jason went on to work Jason defines his own ‘Write down what you Zachary and Jessica in in France at a three-star culinary style as modern want’. We drew up a Penistone, says: “Ever Michelin restaurant before British. “I like taking a wish-list and spent 18 since I was a kid I was returning to England to classic dish and giving it a months realising it. We interested in cookery. My take a job as a head chef. bit of a twist,” he says, “A took over the pub and demolished everything except the frontage. Everything else, we built from scratch.” Now the former pub is unrecognisable. Three restaurants comprise The Emley Room – a cosy lounge adjacent to the bar – the more formal Forest Room and the Garden Room, which commands wonderful views of open countryside towards Whitley Willows. The Ingram Suite is a versatile function room, which can host weddings and business conferences and boasts an adjoining marquee to allow events to be held outdoors. Ten bedrooms include a bridal suite and a family suite. Jason says the aim is to ■ BEST OF BRITISH: Jason Neilson at 315 Bar & Restaurant, Lepton “maximise the assets” by

profile

Jason adds to the menu

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Jason Neilson

lot of chefs fall down because they try too hard. I learned a lot from being in France – going from having five or six sauces on the plate to offering the customer a piece of fish or meat, a garnish and a sauce to go with it. “The key is to start simply and build from there.” He says: “One of my biggest sellers is fillet of steak and chips! But I build up a simple dish by including things like a mushroom pate and tomatoes.” Leading a team of 40 staff, including casuals, throws up challenges, but Jason relishes his role. “I still enjoy the buzz of a busy kitchen,” he says. “Running this place is always challenging. “We catered for 500 people over two days for Mother’s Day weekend and I don’t think we have a weekend this year which hasn’t been booked for a wedding.. “But I am quite relaxed in the kitchen. I’m not into screaming and shouting because at the end of the day the only people who suffer are the customers. “They are here to have a good time and if there is friction among the staff because I have been throwing my weight around that comes across to the customer. “If the staff are happy and everyone has a smile on their faces, that will also come across to the customer.”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Co-owner Age: 40 Family: Married to Ruth with children Zachary, seven, and Jessica, five Car: Citroen 4x4 Holidays: Ruth and I are going to celebrate our 40th birthdays in the Maldives First job: A two-week work placement which turned into a year working in the kitchen of a health club restaurant in Sheffield Best thing about job: I still enjoy the buzz of a busy kitchen and meeting the everyday challenges Worst thing about job: Dealing with staff issues and problems Business tip: Set your stall out and don’t constantly swap and change what you do. Change is good, but you should try to stick to your business model

315 Bar & Restaurant Work: Bar and restaurant Site: Wakefield Road, Lepton Phone: 01484 602613 Email: info@315barandrestaurant .co.uk Website: www.315barandrestaurant .co.uk

Can your business afford to ignore Health & Safety? With Competent Health and Safety advice from just £25 a month you don’t need to Wilby Risk Management offer a range of services including: Competent Advice Risk Assessments Assistance with CHAS applications contact us today on 01422 358525 or email healthandsafety@wilbyltd.co.uk

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International aid A MULTI-BILLION pound fund to help small and medium-sized enterprises expand overseas has been launched by HSBC. HSBC’s International SME Fund will make at least £5bn of lending available to businesses with a turnover of up to £25m. Jacques-Emmanuel Blanchet, head of UK commercial banking, said: “Trading internationally is critical not only for the British companies that want to remain competitive in the future, but also for the wider UK economy. Last year, our International SME Fund proved to be very successful and helped more than 28,000 UK businesses to take advantage of international opportunities.”

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

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KIRKLEES BUSIN

New regulations under construction HE likely contents of the reviT sions to the Construction (Design & Management) Regula-

tions are due to go out to public consultation later this year. Although the exact detail of the new regulatory package will not be known until May, 2013, at the earliest when it is presented to the Health and Safety Executive board, the new CDM regulations would not be the fine-tuning the HSE CDM Review indicated last year. Headline changes would include the removal of both Regulation 4 relating to Competence and the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP); the introduction of CDM duties for all projects where more than one contractor is working on a project and the design phase duties of the current CDM Co-ordinator being placed with a new “Project Preparation Manager”. Designer, Principal Contractor and Contractor duties, however, appear to be remaining more or less unchanged. It is also expected that the project notification threshold will remain the same as under the current regulations; even though these differ from those in the European Unions’ Temporary & Mobile Construction Sites (TMCS)

RISKY BUSINESS Mark Weeks

Directive. One of the most contentious changes is likely to be the introduction of CDM duties for all projects, commercial or domestic, where more than one contractor is working on a project. On these projects, one of the contractors will have to take on the equivalent duties of the CDM Co-ordinator for the construction phase. The HSE said they would be concentrating on improving the construction industry’s understanding of the TMCS Directive, the reduction of pre-qualification bureaucracy and replacing the Approved Code of Practice with a series of guidance notes. These proposed changes fly in the face of the HSE’s own CDM Review and the government’s acceptance of the recommendations in Prof Ragnar Löfs-

ted’s Report (published in 2012) – both of which suggested the current Regulations were working well, were not broken and only required minor changes in the way they were understood and being implemented. Health and safety within the UK’s construction industry has improved significantly over the past 15 years; helping our industry to become a world leader with an enviable reputation and exporting its skills around the world. Whilst a desire for a reduction in bureaucracy and a drive for simplicity should be applauded; it should greatly concern the government and the general public that these unnecessary drastic changes could seriously undermine and set back the excellent progress made in health and safety risk management by the construction industry.

Mark Weeks is a risk management consultant at Wilby Ltd

‘Budget for business’ SMALL businesses across Kirklees could be given a vital boost in tomorrow’s Budget, says a tax and accountancy specialist. “Freezing business rates would give a major boost to many local businesses,” said Nick Brook (pictured right), who runs TaxAssist Accountants in Huddersfield. “We would also like to see the Chancellor increase the VAT registration threshold and widen the Employers National Insurance Contributions holiday for start-ups. “These simple measures would provide significant savings for many small

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businesses across Kirklees, allowing for more businesses to survive and grow.” TaxAssist Accountants, which has its Huddersfield offices in Lockwood, has been taking soundings from its 43,000 UK small business customers and has held forums across the country with local MPs, local government representatives, banking, finance and business rescue specialists, to raise the big issues facing small business. The national network is feeding the results back to policy makers, commercial banking teams and business organisations at national and local level.

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A FIFTH of firms in Yorkshire are exporters, a survey has revealed. But fewer than one in five companies UK-wide currently trade overseas – with costs cited as the biggest barrier to breaking into export markets. Figures from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking showed that Yorkshire is the fifth in the list of UK regions for exporting with 19% of companies selling their products and services overseas. However, 11% have never considered exporting as an option. Nationally, 17% of firms export while 10% have never given exporting a thought. Some 40% do not export and have no plans to do so in the future.

Asked why they had decided not to export, 16% of Yorkshire firms said it is too costly for small and medium-sized enterprises to export. The survey of 2,000 UK businesses showed that 40% of firms in the South East are already exporting – the highest proportion of any part of the UK. But 79% of Welsh companies do not currently export and have no plans to do so in the near future. Agricultural firms having the highest proportion of established exporters at 32% while most other sectors have below 20%. Only a quarter of manufacturers are currently engaged in exporting and half of all manufacturing firms surveyed have no plans to do so.

Start Up bid succe

A HUDDERSFIELD w the first in the coun changes to a loan s encouraging young entrepreneurs. Maysoon Shafiq (pic who lives at Paddoc awarded a £3,000 lo Government’s Start chaired by Dragon’s James Caan. The 27-year-old law successful in her bi the criteria was cha people aged 24 to 3 Previously, the sche to young people age Now she has launch with offices at St Ge provide legal advice relating to commerc property, immigratio and crime. Maysoon, who used computer and office a law degree at Hud University before co studies at the Colleg She has 10 years ex sector, having worke Prosecution Service Service and a numb A launch event was Maysoon’s family an as business contact She said: “I have alw set up a business fo already had a numb clients calling in and looking to recruit so next six months.” Maysoon’s success Start Up Loan Schem milestone – with 2,0 young entrepreneur received support to business venture of The Start-Up Loans administers the sch chaired by Mr Caan, start 1,000 new busi month alone. The scheme typicall of about £4,500 alon support. The Gover £117.5m available to Loans scheme up to Mr Caan said the sc exceeded its initial t “Whilst we are well target numbers, I be only scratching the “Two thousand youn highly motivated pe their future into thei Forty people a day a start their own busin Start-Up Loans.”

NESS NEWS

Loan ess

woman is among ntry to benefit from scheme aimed at people to become

ctured above), ck, has been oan under the up Loan scheme s Den panellist

graduate was id for funding after anged to allow 30 to apply. eme was only open ed 18 to 24. hed Legal Platform eorge’ Square to e on issues cial law, family law, on, personal injury

d the loan to buy a e furniture, gained ddersfield ompleting her ge of Law in York. xperience in the ed for the Crown e, the Witness ber of law firms. attended by nd friends as well ts. ways wanted to or myself. I have ber of potential d I hope to be ome staff over the

s comes as the me reaches a 000 aspirational rs now having o help get their ff the ground. Company, which heme and is , has helped to inesses in the last

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local

Credit move is no surprise

FTER extensive speculation A dating back to the credit crisis of 2008, the UK finally lost

its AAA credit status following the downgrade by Moody’s. However, with the popular view seeing the downgrade as inevitable, the fallout from what could be termed a done deal will hopefully now be relatively limited rather than the start of a new fall in the pound, which year to date, has dropped 8.30% against the US dollar to a rate of less than $1.50. The good news from all this is that a lower pound ought to boost export growth and traditionally is good for the equity market, especially a FTSE 100 Index earning around 70% of its profits overseas and paying a large proportion of its annual dividends in US dollars. The downside is the likely increase in utility bills and fuel costs, though motorists will be pleased to see the beginning of a price war between leading supermarkets in an attempt to attract drivers to their pumps. Moving to equity markets, we have seen a number of global indices, including the FTSE 100, trading close to multi-year highs. Investors appear more comfortable that the systemic risks which have weighed on markets for a number of years have declined, with a renewed focus on fundamental growth and earnings prospects. In the past two years, markets have also begun positively, only to then fall. Whether this will be repeated in 2013 remains to be seen – technical indicators are implying that a pullback in the market is due and a number of issues, particularly in

CITY TALK Nick Gartland

Europe, have the potential to again cause worry. Nevertheless, although there are a number of obstacles still to be overcome, we are optimistic that conditions will remain supportive for risk assets going forwards. Aligned with our thoughts that global equities can continue to climb higher and reach new highs, we would however note that, in the short-term, some consolidation in markets should be expected, given the speed of the rally and the high level of complacency beginning to emerge. For example, a number of markets are now looking technically “overbought”, earnings growth expectations for this year could still be too optimistic and bullish sentiment is now very high. Recent developments in Italy and the current situation in Cyprus have also served as a reminder to investors that the eurozone remains an uncertain place and continues to pose a threat to the global economic recovery. The future stance of the US central bank also requires close monitoring as Quantitative Easing has been a key driver for a number of assets, from gold to equities and any potential reduction in the rate of monetary easing may not be met favourably by the market. Fundamentally however, there is

Nick Gartland, Senior Financial Planning Director, Investec Wealth & Investment

Fresh approach MAJOR brands have signed up to a competition run by a Huddersfield firm to improve the way supply chains work. Fresh Connection, which is run by specialist consultancy SCALA, based at the Media Centre in Northumberland Street, is expected to be keenly contested again this year – with Mars, Kraft-Cadbury, Waitrose, Unilever, Birds Eye, Kimberly Clark, Jordans & Ryvita and Westmill among the big name businesses taking part. The annual interactive web-based competition helps high-profile brands to train staff and refine supply chain management processes. The contest is being supported once again by Toyota Material

Handling, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the FSDF. The UK grand final will take place on Wednesday, June 12. Steve Agg, chief executive of the CILT, said: “The Fresh Connection is an innovative programme for developing current and future managers at all levels in the industry and offers a unique platform to enable participants to extend their supply chain knowledge.” The UK champions will go on to compete in the global final with 20 other countries, which will take place in Turkey in September. Companies wishing to take part can call Alison Hobson on 01484 437486 or email alison.hobson@scalagroup.co.uk.

no question that corporates are in a very strong financial position, with record amounts of cash to deploy through M&A and investment. Indeed, this year there have already been a number of significant deals (Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital’s purchase of Heinz for $28bn serving as an example), which are perhaps a sign that companies are feeling more confident deploying capital. Risk asset valuations also continue to remain supportive and we remain optimistic that decent returns can be generated over the long-term. In our view, therefore, any short-term sell-off in markets, which is anticipated by some, could well represent a buying opportunity for investors.

Page 5 Opportunity to get investment cash DIGITAL entrepreneurs in Kirklees have been urged to compete for a slice of £500,000 of social investment funding. The Tech for Good Challenge is a partnership between Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of the homeless charity, and Nominet Trust with support from several corporate partners, including LDC. It is also supported by The Big Lottery. The challenge aims to identify England's most innovative early-stage ventures whose imaginative use of digital technology is expected to have a profound impact on the future life chances of young people. Up to 20 teams will be selected for an intensive mentoring programme with 10 finalists chosen to receive investment of up to £50,000, as well as ongoing support. John Garner, one of the region's most active private equity investors, said he hoped local entrepreneurs would step forward and seize the opportunity to develop their businesses. “Yorkshire has a well-deserved reputation as a hotbed of digital innovation and technology expertise,” he said. “This is a perfect opportunity to secure not only funding through the challenge, but also to access a pool of business expertise to help fuel the growth of their enterprises. “We're keen to see the region flex its creative muscle and play a big role in this, as well as playing a part ourselves in mentoring those businesses that can make a real positive social impact.” Early-stage ventures that fit the criteria are invited to submit information about their enterprise, product or service via a form at http://bigissueinvest-csv.com/. Applications close on April 15. LDC is part of Lloyds Banking Group..

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Commercial Huddersfield Town Centre ●

Prime Retail Location

●

Overlooking Market Place

●

850 square Feet

●

Large Window Displays

●

5 Year Lease

QUEENS ROAD

●

Large freehold property

●

Coach house & Apt block

●

3 added elements to rear

●

Provides multi student lets

●

Great business potential

●

Off Leeds Road

£11,000 pa

£26,000 pa

Ground Floor Lock Up

●

535 sq m/ 5752 sq ft

●

Close to Kingsgate

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Office/Warehouse

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Could achieve £110K p.a

●

NEW

●

£25,000 per annum

Electric Shutters

●

90 sq m inc basement

●

Almondbury

£21,000 pa

●

Huddersfield Town Centre

£950,000

NEW STREET

REDUCED

NEW

Edgerton

£25,000 pa

●

Huddersfield Town Centre

900 sq ft

Ground Floor + Basement

Prominent Position

Other Floors Available

£25,000 pa

REDUCED

●

A2 permission

●

Approx: 1641 sq ft

●

Ground + 1st floor space

●

Reduced Price

●

5 Year Lease

●

Flexible Terms Available

Ample parking spaces

Just off Leeds Road

£5,500 pa ●

Ground Floor Shop

●

Offers Over £5,500 p.a.

●

View 20th, 27th March

●

2 pm till 3.30 pm

●

Sealed Bids

●

Deadline 5th April

●

Approx 692 sq ft

Huddersfield Town Centre

£12,500 pa ●

Approx: 581 sq ft

●

Mezzanine Floor

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Frontage onto Westgate

●

B. Arcade Display Windows

●

Recessed Display Door

www.boultonsestateagents.co.uk 54 John William Street, Huddersfield HD1 1ER 01484 515029 established transport yard

BRETTON STREET, DEWSBURY, WF12 9DB £45,000 p/a /(MAY SELL)

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to planning consent

● 1.22 Ha (3 acres)

4 RANGE LANE ● Workshop Halifax, HX3 6DL 590sqm FORMER(6,350sqft) HOSTEL PREMISES

395m2 (4,250ft2) ● 0.13 Development Site Area Hectares potential, (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession subject to planningfor for refurbishment ■ Suitable alternative occupational residential Securecomplete Site uses or ● possible redevelopment, subject to ● EPC Rating C planning consent

development opportunity

BRIGGATE, BRIGHOUSE, HD6 1EL £150,000

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● 178.37 sqm [1,920 sqft]

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3planning 6DL ● With consent for the FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES 2) 395m2 (4,250ft demolition of the existing

Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ● building and construction of a ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential dance studio and 8 residential uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to units planning consent

industrial premises

NILE STREET, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 3PL £1 PSF

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● 4,478sqm (48,204sqft)

4 RANGE LANE ● Short Halifax, HX3 Term 6DL Lease FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES ● Predominantly single storey 395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area Hectares (0.33 Acres) ● 0.13 Outskirts of Huddersfield ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for town centre alternative occupational residential possible uses or ● Large complete secure yard redevelopment, subject to ● consent Inexpensive Rents planning

substantial detached property

LYNDHURST ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD, HD3 3HZ £180,000

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● 174.78sqm (1,881 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE possession ● Vacant Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL ● Suitable for PREMISES a variety of

395m2 (4,250ft2) purposes, including Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession residential development, for for refurbishment ■ Suitable alternative occupational residential subjectcomplete to planning uses or possible redevelopment, subject to ● consent EPC Rating: D planning

prominent commercial building

VICTORIA STREET, HOLMFIRTH, HD9 7DF £265,000 May Let

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● 267.74 sqm (2882 sqft)

4 RANGE LANE ● Currently a Restaurant with Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMERLiving HOSTEL PREMISESabove Accommodation 395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area Hectares (0.33 Acres) ● 0.13 Prominent position ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for ● Freehold with vacant alternative occupational residential possession uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to ● consent EPC Asset Rating D planning

high quality offices

MANOR ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD, HD4 6UL £18,000 p/a

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● 209.12sqm (2,251sqft)

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL location ● Prestigious FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES 395m2 (4,250ft ● Good2)car parking

Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ● Pleasant working ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential environment complete uses or possible redevelopment, subject to ● consent EPC Asset Rating E planning

T. 01484 530361 www.bramleys.com

■ industrial LAND

■ offices OFFICES

■ retail

INDUSTRIAL

■ investment

INVESTMENT

■ land

RETAIL

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

A GRADUATE surveyor has achieved exam success. Rebecca Stafford (left), of Ingbirchworth, near Huddersfield, has achieved her Central Association of Agricultural Valuers exams. The association is a specialist professional body practising in a wide range of agricultural and rural work. By passing the exam, Ms

Stafford is qualified to provide professional advice and valuation expertise on issues affecting the countryside, including tenancy matters, the sale and purchase of farming land, taxation, valuation, conservation issues and farming structures. Ms Stafford, 23, works for chartered surveyors H&H Land and Property.

Industrial/Land

Calder Trading Estate, off Leeds Road, Bradley, Huddersfield 483 m2 (5,203 sq ft) on up to 1.4 acres Self contained workshop with large yard area just off A62 Leeds Road. Easily accessible to J25 M62

FOR SALE/tO LEt

may split

R ED EN U t C ED

Indusrial

Fieldhead Lane, Drighlington 3,676m2 (39,564 sq ft) High quality factory and offices on secure site being strategically located less than 1 mile from Junction 27 of the M62/M621

tO LEt

Reavailable due to abortive negotiations

Industrial

Unit 10 Barncliffe Business Park, Shelley 292m2 (3,143 sq ft) Good quality single storey industrial unit in popular complex with good parking. Well located for M1

tO LEt www.michaelsteel.co.uk

only £230 per week exclusive

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

Lo t6

Lo t1

Guide: £25,000+

Halifax Road/Swales Moor Road, Queensbury, BD13 2NN 1 The land comprises 2 ﬁelds of meadow land extending to 5.82 Acres (2.35 Hectares)

Halifax Road, Queensbury, BD13 2NN 1 The land comprises 10 ﬁelds of pasture land extending to 11.8 Acres (4.82 Hectares) fronting and accessed from Halifax Road

Guide: £60,000 – £80,000

Guide: £45,000 – £70,000

Church Street, Slaithwaite, Huddersﬁeld, HD7 5AS 1 Potential for retail or ofﬁce use 1 Lapsed planning consent for A1 retail 1 Close to town centre 1 Overlooking canal

Guide Price: £1500+

Dean Bottom Works

Storthes Hall Lane, Kirkburton, Huddersﬁeld, HD8 0PP 1 8,406 sq ft plus secure yard 1 Good frontage with parking 1 Site area 0.34 Hectares (0.84 Acres) 1 Investment/development/break up opportunity

Guide: £180,000+

11.8 Acres Pasture Land

Lo t8

Guide: £175,000 – £225,000

East of Swales Moor Road, Queensbury, BD13 2NN 1 The land comprises meadow land and woodland extending to 9.75 Acres (4.82 Hectares)

Former Public Convenience

Lo t7

Halifax Road, Queensbury, BD13 2NN 1 Residential redevelopment opportunity 1 Potential for 4/5 dwellings 1 Quiet backwater location 1 Backing onto Greenbelt

Guide: £30,000 – £45,000

9.75 Acres Meadow Land

Land and Buildings at Catherine Slack Farm

Scotland Farm

Jack Bridge, Colden, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7HR 1 5 bedroom character farmhouse 1 Numerous period features 1 Set in 12.6 Acres (5.11 Hectares) of grazing and woodland 1 Panoramic rural location 1 GIA area c.3750 sq ft (348m2) 1 Double garage and stable block

Lo t9

5.82 Acres Meadow Land

Lo t2

Guide: £200,000+

Guide: £400,000 – £425,000 2 Spinneyﬁeld

Fixby, Huddersﬁeld, HD2 2HX 1 4 bedroom period residence 1 Grade II Listed 1 Numerous ornate features 1 Requiring comprehensive renovation 1 Secluded backwater location 1 0.369 Acre plot

Guide: £175,000 – £200,000

Lo t1 0

Surveyor’s further success

Former Council Ofﬁces, Day Centre & Residential Facility

The Grange, Ossett Lane, Chickenley, Dewsbury, WF12 8LY 1 PP for demolition and 20 new ﬂats 1 Prominent Corner Site – 0.61 Acres 1 6,878 sq ft (639.28m2) building on 3 ﬂoors 1 Building suitable for a variety of uses STPP

Newsome, Huddersﬁeld, HD4 6RD 1 Stone cottage 1 Renovation project 1 Elevated semi rural position

Lo t3

tions in Cleckheaton, said: “Difficulties in raising funding for development, together with the cuts in public spending, are both key issues facing the industry. “Due to public sector contracts drying up, it is understandable the construction sector is struggling. The ‘crane count’ in towns and cities clearly indicates the fall in activity and there is little relief in sight. “In addition, commercial developers are finding it extremely difficult to raise funds and can often only do so on the back of an anchor tenant. “However, there is some comfort for smaller builders as the ‘skip count’ indicates that home owners are choosing to upgrade their properties rather than sell up and move in the current market.”

72 Jackroyd Lane

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A FALL in UK construction output comes as no surprise, says an insolvency expert. Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that the construction sector suffered a 6.3% plunge in activity during January. Separate research by insolvency trade body R3 shows that 27% of construction firms across the UK are at risk of failure in the next 12 months – with the same proportion at risk in Yorkshire and Humber. For all businesses, the comparable figures are 21% and 22%. R3 figures show that more than 62,310 construction and civil engineering companies registered in the UK are at risk of collapse – 4,245 of them in Yorkshire and Humber. Chris Wood, Yorkshire R3 committee member and partner at Clough Corporate Solu-

at Cedar Court Hotel, Lindley Moor Road, Ainley Top, Huddersfield, HD3 3RH

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Quarter of building companies ‘at risk’

Tuesday 19 March 2013 – 7pm

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Movers and shakers

Page 8

Sweet success for cakemaker

AndyChallener

Howarths EMPLOYMENT law specialist Howarths has appointed Andy Challener to its Cleckheaton-based team. Mr Challener joins the firm after 10 years practising at leading law firms Gordons and Eversheds. He takes responsibility for providing employment law advice and support to client companies throughout Yorkshire, including representing clients at employment tribunals. Mr Challener is pictured (above, right) with (from left) Howarths director Gavin Howarth, para-legal Rozina Rehman, non-practising solicitor Charlotte Lloyd and legal secretary Charlie Spalding. Gavin Howarth, director and non-practising solicitor, said: “It is fantastic that Andy has joined the legal team and there is no doubt that his appointment will add to the strength and depth of Howarths and the service we provide to businesses.”

Jonathan Wilkinson

Huddersfield Town HUDDERSFIELD Town has appointed Jonathan Wilkinson as marketing co-ordinator. Mr Wilkinson (pictured), who lives at Elland, has 10 years experience in the field and joins from Wakefield College, where he worked as marketing officer. He will play a key role in developing and implementing Huddersfield Town’s profile and marketing of events and campaigns, as well as those of the club’s training ground, Canalside Sports Complex.

Andrew Venn

Harratts A CAR dealership with operations in Huddersfield has announced a key appointment. Harratts, which has a Volvo dealership at Leeds Road, has appointed Andrew Venn as head of operations. The group is one of Yorkshire’s largest car dealerships with 300 staff at 13 locations across Huddersfield, Wakefield, Sheffield, Pontefract and Leeds. Mr Venn (pictured) will oversee its day-to-day management and help expand the organisation from a thriving family business to a class-leading motor retailer. Mr Venn has more than 25 year’s industry experience working with brands such as Honda, Volvo, Vauxhall, BMW and Porsche. The former franchise director with Pendragon brings a wealth of sales and customer service expertise to the role.

A CAKEMAKER taking a slice of the action in export markets has won an award for its efforts. Huddersfield-based ProperMaid is one of four regional businesses to be named as the first ever winners of awards organised by UK Trade & Investment to promote its popular Passport to Export programme for novice and new exporters. The Lindley-based company, led by founder Allison Whitmarsh, won its award for Most Improved Business Performance after taking its “cakes with a twist” into Europe with its recently-announced contract to supply the UK armed forces based in Germany. Allison said: “We went on a trade mission to Brussels which led to us getting the contract with NAAFI. Exporting is something we have always wanted to do, but we were so busy we had to put it on the back burner.” The company, which is backed by Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden, joins Sheffield-based green technology manufacturer Energy Man-

agement Systems, Grimsby firm Chill Fresh Ltd and Sheffield’s Bag It Don’t Bin It as regional winners. They were nominated by UKTI’s regional team of international trade advisers who are working with the companies to identify and pursue overseas opportunities. Mark Robson, regional director for UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “It’s great to see such a diverse range of businesses honoured in the Passport to Export Awards – from green technology through to fresh fish, recycled bags and some weird and wonderful cakes! “It underlines what we offer as a region in terms of quality and innovation – and each and every one of the winners deserves praise for taking the initiative and getting out there to compete in the global marketplace. “I hope they prove an inspiration for others to follow and I look forward to toasting the success of many more companies like them at future awards.” Further information on UKTI support and services can be found at ■ WINNING RECIPE: Allison Whitmarsh receives the award from UKTI’s Mark Robson www.ukti.gov.uk

Director swaps roles with apprentice A KITCHEN company cooked up a “job swap” for one of its oldest and newest apprentices. Rixonway Kitchens, based in Dewsbury, marked National Apprenticeship Week by sending operations director Nick Greenall back to the shopfloor and giving apprentice engineer Calum Gardiner the chance to find out what the future could hold for him within the company. Nick, who began his career as an apprentice engineer 35 years ago, introduced Calum to a range of production and distribution meetings which gave him the chance to see and understand what happens first hand behind the scenes at Rixonway. Sixteen-year-old Calum, who has been an apprentice at Rixonway for nine months, is usually responsible for the repair and preventative maintenance of production machinery in the factory. He said: “It was really interesting seeing how Nick

■ OFFICE WORK: Rixonway Kitchens operations director Nick Greenall with apprentice engineer Calum Gardiner runs the business from his side and definitely showed me what opportunities there are if I keep working hard. “At the moment, I really enjoy

my hands-on role as an apprentice engineer and the opportunity Rixonway have given me to learn a trade.” Nick said: “The day has been

a real success. I have really enjoyed having Calum with me and showing him a side of the company he doesn’t normally see. It has given us both a better understanding of the challenges we both face and I’m excited to be working with Calum in his role later in the week.” Rixonway Kitchens is a Yorkshire and the Humber Apprenticeship Ambassador for the National Apprenticeship Service and is committed to promoting the key benefits to businesses across the region. The company currently employs five apprentices in a variety of roles, including accountancy, administration, warehouse management, distribution, engineering and transport. Rixonway chief executive Paul Rose said: “We have always supported apprentices at Rixonway and have seen great benefits from employing them.”

More satisfied customers Marketing award AN insurance group with offices in Huddersfield is among the winners at the UK Customer Satisfaction Awards 2013. Insurer LV= took the trophy for Best Return on Customer Service Investment at the awards ceremony, which was held at the Lancaster London Hotel and organised by the Institute of Customer Service.

The group has operations at Folly Hall Mills in Huddersfield, which also houses its Britannia Rescue business. LV= secured the award by its investment in a large-scale training programme and multiple additional benefits which are expected to continue to deliver returns to the company for several years.

A HUDDERSFIELD spa has won an award for marketing. Alexandra House Health and Wellbeing Spa at Edgerton received a 2012 All Star Award from marketing adviser Constant Contact Inc. The award goes to businesses and non-profit organisations

successfully using online marketing tools to keep in touch with their customers and boost business. Spa owner Maxine Stead said: “We’re delighted to be recognised by Constant Contact for achieving strong marketing results and connecting with our customers.”