Kbn240614

MARC AUTY

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FTSE 100 MARTIN THOMPSON +24.64 Taxing issues Column - Page 6 6800.56

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

Cars and choral music Interview - Page 3

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk

A new project to bring social media, email marketing and digital systems to the high street is under way in Honley.

Paula Atherill, of Creative Analysis, and Janet Bebb, of Social Progress, have joined forces to launch a digital hub in a former antique shop at Bridge House, Woodhead Road.

An open day will be held on Friday when there will be networking and a tour of the premises – enabling firms to build on existing relationships and forge new ones with other forward-thinking businesses in the area.

Paula and Janet’s plans for the venue include monthly retro-themed Friday networking sessions to tie into its former life as an antique shop. There will be an “expert” slot where a topic will be presented as well as open networking.

The refurbishment of the old shop included providing a new training room, a meeting room, a kitchen and washroom, new windows and carpets. The main entrance has been transformed into a modern and open office space.

Janet said: “I’m delighted to be moving into the ground floor of Bridge House and there’s already a buzz about the

■■ Janet Bebb (left) and Paula Atherill, who have joined forces to launch a digial hub

place. We have some exciting and funky ideas for the office which are designed to bring out people’s creative side.

“Paula and I realised some time back that there was an excellent synergy between our two core service offerings.”

Paula said: “I am very excited about bringing new skills, tools and expertise to the high street for local businesses to access. The collaboration between Janet and I fits perfectly. Social media is the ideal service to complement online data

and customer relationship management systems. We are both young businesses and we are focused on fast growth and employing local people.”

By teaming up, Creative Analysis and Social Progress offer the joint product “Social Feeder” which uses social media to drive traffic to a landing page that captures the visitor contact details and “feeds” them directly into a CRM system, ready to turn those leads into sales.

Both companies are set to recruit extra

staff to support this product and their other products and services.

Paula and Janet have already approached Huddersfield University for graduates and students looking for work experience. They have already employed journalism student Jayna Patel to help promote their grand opening.

Social Progress Ltd was founded in 2011 by Janet to offer social media training, consultancy and content management and help firms with brand awareness and the use of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest.

Janet has a wealth of experience in customer service, training, learning and development, business support, prestart support and enterprise.

Creative Analysis Ltd, formed in 2010, offers smart digital CRM systems to help businesses turn contacts into customers – while maintaining excellent customer relations.

Huddersfield-based Connexions Property Maintenance was main contractor for the transformation of Bridge House.

The premises also provide a base for non-profit organisation Youth Routes – in which Janet and Paula are both involved. Youth Routes encourages young people across Kirklees and Calderdale to achieve and learn outside their academic environment.

Textile industry out to impress as Le Tour date approaches Yorkshire textile firms will display their creative skills as part of the Tour de France celebrations.

A Textiles Showcase and Fashion Show will be held on Thursday, July 3, at the Grand Depart International Business Festival in Leeds.

The event will show how cutting-edge textile technology and creative design skills help Yorkshire produce the world’s finest suiting cloths, stunning interior textiles, luxurious yarns and a wide range of couture fabrics and textile accessories, which reach markets worldwide.

For an annual fixed fee, we provide businesses with an unlimited HR, Employment Law and Health & Safety support service.

Call us today on 01274 864999 or visit www.howarths-uk.com to see how we can help you.

The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) have teamed up with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the Campaign for Wool – which has the Prince of Wales as its patron – to create a comprehensive textiles showcase illustrating the many facets of the industry.

The event takes place at the Carriageworks in Leeds and features interactive activities including a cycling-themed hand-knitting “PicKnit” workshop where visitors will be able to try their hand at knitting, using some of Yorkshire’s most luxurious pure wool knitting yarns.

Mentors step up Two leading entrepreneurs have signed up to support a new business mentoring programme.

Carl Hopkins and Claire Young will support those starting up and growing their businesses by passing on their expertise and skills as well as leading efforts to recruit more mentors under West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency’s MYMentor programme.

MYMentor works with job seekers on the New Enterprise Allowance who have a business idea but need help to get it off the ground.

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Footsure addition Colne Valley pharmaceutical firm Thornton & Ross Ltd has completed a key acquisition.

The Linthwaite firm has acquired Flexitol from LaCorium Health. Flexitol is a range of dry skin treatments, best known for its footcare products.

2

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

CBI seeks ‘fair deal’ on tax for mid-sized firms Medium-sized businesses are getting a raw deal over tax, it is claimed.

Employers’ body the CBI said the medium-sized business (MSB) segment was thriving and a key contributor to the UK economy. It also had the potential to further drive business growth and job creation – but was being held back by the UK tax system.

A report by the CBI and Grant Thornton, called Stuck in the Middle, shows that the tax system is acting as a brake on MSB growth by disrupting cash flow, absorbing management time and dampening export ambitions.

It highlights that MSBs do not have the resources that large companies have to navigate tax rules, nor do they receive the targeted support that the Government directs at small businesses.

The CBI and Grant Thornton are calling on the Government to make a number of changes to the tax system, including to improve cash flow, widen access to research and development tax relief and to make it easier for MSBs to export.

John Cridland, CBI director-gener-

al, said: “Medium-sized businesses have the most potential to drive business growth and job creation. But all too often their resources, management time and ambitions are being sapped by a tax system which disproportionately hits firms of this size.

“We need our growing businesses to invest, innovate and break into new markets to secure the long-term health of our economy. The UK’s tax system should support these entrepreneurs to do this but in many cases it is actually working against them.

“Medium-sized firms are not able to benefit from the incentives that small firms do and at the same time most cannot afford to have an army of tax consultants on speed dial to help them wade through the complexities of the system.

“The Government must urgently review rules around R&D investment, international tax requirements and take steps to stop medium-sized firms from being treated like large companies when it comes to corporate tax payment.”

Jonathan Riley, national head of tax at Grant Thornton, said: “As the UK’s economy continues to gather pace as

we emerge from the recession, it is vital that all businesses do not face administrative burdens that impede their growth. This is especially true for MSBs.” He said: “We need this dynamic segment of business to fulfil their potential in order to drive UK growth as a whole and policy makers are beginning to recognise this and would do well to take heed of the issues uncovered during our research and our simple proposals that would mitigate these barriers.”

The CBI and Grant Thornton are calling on the Government to raise the threshold for the Quarterly Instalment Payments system from £1.5m to £5m. Under the current tax system, when a business’ annual taxable profits reach £1.5m it has to pay tax up front on a quarterly basis instead of annually. Many MSBs are caught by these rules even though they don’t have the cash reserves to manage them, diverting their finances away from investment.

It also wants changes to the SME R&D tax relief to allow all growing businesses to benefit as long as they do not have a controlling investment

Blaze-hit Asos is back in business Online retailer Asos has resumed trading after a major fire “compromised” about £22m of stock at its main warehouse.

The fashion website was forced to suspend orders after the blaze in Barnsley on Friday night affected 20% of stock at the site.

The fire is believed to have been started deliberately and is being investigated by South Yorkshire Police. About 500 workers were evacuated from the five-storey building.

Asos said the clean-up process started on Saturday morning and meant it was able to resume taking orders at 2am yesterday. The company is fully insured for the loss of stock and business interruption, although the disruption meant its shares fell by 3%.

Asos said: “None of the technology, automation or structure of the building has been affected by the fire. Our initial estimate is that approximately 20% of the total stock at the site has been compromised by fire damage and the sprinkler systems.”

At the end of May, Asos held £159m of stock at cost, of which about 70% is held at Barnsley. The retailer sells fashion and beauty products around the globe and last year made sales of more than £750m.

The fire follows on from Asos issuing its second profits warning in three months earlier this month.

■■ CBI director-general John Cridland

stake from a larger company.

The CBI said equity finance is an important alternative finance product for MSBs to be able to access, but growing firms are sometimes deterred from using it.

Destination Boston for Branson

Lacklustre debut for AA shares

The first route to be flown by Virgin Atlantic’s new fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners is to be London to Boston, US, the airline has announced.

Sir Richard Branson’s airline has ordered about £3bn-worth of the state-of-the-art, ultragreen Dreamliners, with the first due to arrive in late September.

The AA was valued at £1.4bn on its first day of trading on the stock market – before enduring the same lacklustre stock market debut as former sister company Saga.

The motoring organisation, which has 4m members, priced its shares at 250p in a flotation which has led to the exit of its private equity own-

On October 28, the first 787 will start a six-times-a-week service from Heathrow airport to Boston. Virgin is to take delivery of 17 Dreamliners in the next few years. It will be the first European carrier to take the larger 787-9 version of the Dreamliner. Its aircraft will initially be configured with 31 upper-class, 35 premium econ-

omy and 198 economy seats.

In December, a Heathrow to Washington DC Dreamliner service will start, operating five times a week initially.

Then in January Virgin will start a 787 service from Heathrow to Newark, in the US, operating five times a week. Daily Heathrow-New York flights will begin in February.

ers and allowed the company to raise £184.7m.

Control of the business has passed to a management buy-in team led by former Green Flag boss Bob Mackenzie and backed by institutional investors including Aviva and Legal & General.

In conditional dealings, the stock fell as low as 231p in a

performance echoing last month’s sale of shares in over50s holidays and insurance company Saga, which was also part of Acromas Holdings.

Saga and the AA were combined in a £6.2bn deal in 2007 to form Acromas, owned by private equity firms CVC, Permira, and Charterhouse.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN

American Express Chevron Du Pont Exxon Mobil Gannett Hess Corp Microsoft Motors Liquidation Wal-Mart Stores Wrigleys

£56.02 £78.07 £39.92 £61.15 1728.19 £58.00 £24.52 44.09 £44.55 £47.01

AEROSPACE & DEFENCE

Avon Rbbr BAE Systems Chemring Cobham Meggitt Rolls-Royce Senior

AIM

600 Group API Grp Brady Plc Highland Gold Mining Johnson Service Grp London Security M”S Intl Nichols Redhall Group Scapa Grp Youngs GKN

6141/2 4235/8 2071/2 3163/8 532 1053 2693/4

221/4 731/2 77 661/2 563/4 £24 2041/2 1006 291/2 1231/4 1050

AUTOMOBILES & PARTS BANKS

3671/4

-0.14 +0.28 -0.30 +0.12 +2.35 +0.42 +0.02 +0.06 +4 -43/8 +1 -81/2 -41/2 -32 -27/8 -1/2 -4 /4 -1/4 3

- /2 -10 1

-11/4 +20 -47/8

Barclays Bk Ireland HSBC Lloyds Banking Gp Ryl Scotland Stan Chart Barr (AG) Diageo SABMiller Croda Elementis 98 Johnsn Mat

2341/4 20 6063/8 751/2 330 1277

BEVERAGES

635 /2 18381/2 £333/4 1

CHEMICALS

Drax Gp SSE

-36 /2 -151/2 -1/8 1

£24 2807/8 £301/8

-1/8 -33/4 -7/8

2333/8 1579 256 811/4 160

-43/8 -43 -3/4 -11/4 -3/4

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS

Balfour Beatty C”R”H Costain Low Bonar Marshalls

-1/4 -5/8 -3 -11/4 -71/4 +12

ELECTRICITY

6371/2 1583

-71/2 +4

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Domino Ptg Laird Morgan Advanced Ox Instmts Volex

738 292 324 1420 801/2

-34 -4 -75/8 -15 +1/2

446 /4 1391/4 569

-4 /4 -1/4 -3

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS

Alliance Trust Br Assets Candover Inv

3

1

Dunedin Inv Dunedin Sml Edin Invst Electra Private Equity Forgn & C Henderson Smllr Cos North American Inc Scot Am Scottish Mortgage Witan

278 205 6071/2 £27 3757/8 5281/2 8133/4 252 1028 715

-1 -43/4 -3 +1/8 -31/8 -11/2 -31/4 -1 -12 -31/2

FIXED LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

BT Grp Cable & Wireless Comm Colt Group KCOM Talktalk Telecom

3847/8 495/8 1423/8 92 321

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS

Morrison W Sainsbury Tesco Thorntons AB Food Carrs Millg REA Hldgs Tate Lyle Unilever

-27/8 -1/4 -33/8 +1/8 -21/4

186 /8 3151/4 292 1081/4

-2 /8 -11/2 +15/8 -1/4

£305/8 1837 4871/4 6811/2 £267/8

-1/4 -48 +43/4 +1/2

319 8441/2 776 1943 8831/2

- /4 +1 -2 +7 +81/2

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FOOD PRODUCERS

1

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES

Centrica National Grid Pennon Grp Severn United Utils

GENERAL FINANCIAL

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3i Group 4021/4 Local Close Bros shares 1289 ICAP 3791/4 Carclo 112 London StockExch 1913 Marshalls 160 1 1/ Man Group 103 National Grid 844 /2 8 Provident £221/4 Weir Gp Financial £27 Schroders £251/2 Schroders NV closed 1971 FTSE at

6800.56 313 /

GENERAL INDUSTRIALS

Smith DS Smiths Grp

1288

Ashley L Carphone Whse Dixons Retail Home Retail Inchcape Kingfisher M & S Mothercare Next Signet Jewelers WH Smith

251/2 309 481/4 1715/8 618 3651/4 4325/8 211 £631/4 £641/2 1051

1

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down GENERAL 24.64 RETAILERS

-13/4 -6 3 1/ ++4 /4 4 -3-19 /4 +1-7/8 -3/8 -1/8 -9 -1/8 -4 -43/4 -5/8 -25/8 -11/2 -15/8 -11/8 -2 -1/4 -3/8 -18

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

Smith Nph

1059

HOUSEHOLD GOODS

Aga Rangemaster Barrat Dev Bellway Persimmon Reckitt Benckiser Taylor Wimpey Fenner

1611/4 3503/4 1461 1216 £521/8 1065/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING 341

-20

-1/4 -93/4 -10 -14 -5/8 -13/4

I”M”I Molins Renold Spirax-Sarco Weir Grp Ferrexpo

1516 174 651/2 £283/8 £27

INDUSTRIAL METALS 124 /4 1

-15 +1 +3/4 -3/8 +2 /8 3

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION

BBA Aviation

303

LIFE INSURANCE

Aviva Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life

BSkyB D Mail Tst ITV Johnston Press Pearson Reed Elsevier STV Group Trinity Mirror Utd Business UTV WPP Anglo American Antofagasta BHP Billiton Fresnillo Kazakhmys

MEDIA

MINING

510 2265/8 1947/8 1338 3021/2 3743/8 8901/2 8161/2 1713/8 33/4 1119 9521/2 370 1513/4 6551/2 2123/4 1257

-11/4 -1 +1/8 -5/8 -7 -43/4 -1 -8 -2

Lonmin Rio Tinto VEDANTA RESOURCES

2595/8 £311/4 1161

+111/4 +1/2 +44

MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Inmarsat Vodafone Group

7381/2 1911/2

-21/2 -3/8

1534 1048 £305/8 4961/4

-7 +1

NONLIFE INSURANCE

Admiral Grp Jardine LloydThomson Marsh McL RSA Ins Gp

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

BG BP Cairn Energy Premier Oil Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B Total Tullow Oil

12701/2 520 206 3395/8 £241/4 £251/2 £433/8 872

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES

-4 +81/2 +1/2 +21/2 -5 -23

14701/2 +14 779 +81/2 1938 +361/2 861 +14 +13/4 3063/4

AMEC Petrofac Wood Gp(J)

1233 1245 809

PERSONAL GOODS

Burberry Gp PZ Cussons

+4 /8 5

+31 +13/8 +3/8 +43/8 +1/8 +1/4 -3 -16 +1 +11/2

1459 3503/4

+4 -83/8

£433/4 15711/2 £43

-1 -20 -5/8

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca GlaxoSmithKline Shire Brit Land

REAL ESTATE

676

-101/2

Gt Portland Hamrsn Intu Properties Land Secs SEGRO

618 5611/2 3051/8 1013 3423/4

-2 +1 +1/2 -7 -11/4

3871/8

-41/8

973 1620 1153 183 8341/2 2651/2 2651/2 9981/2 2581/2 1473/8 3207/8 588 670 5131/2 2051/8 115 1599 £317/8

-71/2 -25 -13 +31/4 -111/2 -31/4 -31/4 -61/2 -41/4 -3/8 -41/8 -51/2 -21/2 -11/2 -43/4

908 £1063/4 95

+19

£351/2 £267/8

-1/2 -1/4

SOFTWARE & COMPUTER SERVICES

Sage Group

SUPPORT SERVICES

Berendsen Bunzl Capita Connect Group De La Rue Elctro Com Electrocomp Experian G4S Hays Homeserve Interserve Menzies J Northgate Prem Farnell Rentokil Travis & P Wolseley

-29 -1/2

TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT

ARM Hldgs IBM Spirent Comms

TOBACCO

Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco

TRAVEL & LEISURE

-3/4

Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Marston’s Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Punch Taverns Rank Org Restaurant Grp Ryanair Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread William Hill

1003/8 £231/8 1000 1423 1301/2 1313/8 £231/2 8231/2 £235/8 3797/8 1423/8 1441/4 3905/8 2553/4 10 167 578 5423/4 3811/4 3841/4 £44 3345/8

-1/2 +1/8 -7 -29 -3 -15/8 -1/8 -171/2 +5/8 -43/4 +3/8 -25/8 -73/4 -55/8 +1/4 -83/4 -201/2 -111/8 +17/8 -31/4 -61/4

INDEX FTSE 100 FTSE 250

6800.56 15675.31

-24.64 -116.11

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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

profile

Marc’s world of music and motors A switch from the tax office to the motor trade has proved a good move for Yorkshireman Marc Auty.

The Wakefield-born businessman was a tax inspector and later worked for an accountancy firm before changing gear to work in vehicle leasing and sales.

In September, 2012, he set up his own business, Northern Vehicles, based at Lindley’s Heritage Exchange and with a second site in Shrewsbury, to provide vehicle contract hire, leasing and discount purchase for individuals and businesses.

Says Marc: “I have been in the motor trade since 2000 through a mixture or sales and rental.

“It has led me through a variety of businesses all over the country – and back to Yorkshire again!

“We are a traditional leasing and rental company and offer any form of vehicle finance and we can rent out anything from a van or a truck to a combine harvester – or from a Ford Fiesta to an Aston Martin.”

But he says: “We specialise in filling the gap – for those clients who don’t want to commit to a typical two, three or four-year rental contract, but only need vehicles for a few months.

“Perhaps they have people on short-term contracts who need a company car. Mini-lease allows them to do that.

“Someone might want to rent a 4x4 during the winter months then switch to a soft-top for the summer.”

Northern Vehicles also has national coverage. “It doesn’t matter to us if the customer is in Inverness or Cornwall,” says Marc. “Recently, I took a call from someone wanting to hire two vans in Caerphilly. From taking the call at 8am on Monday, I got them on the road by midday the same day.”

Having a host of contacts has helped Marc grow the business.

And he recognises the potential for further expansion. “There are 35m cars on the road across the UK and a population of 55m,” he says. “That means more

than half of the population will travel in a car at some point most days.

“From an employment point of view, it has been suggested that the company car is the most emotive part of anyone’s remuneration package after salary. It’s the ‘perk’ that everyone wants and the question everyone asks is ‘what car do you drive?’

“But cars attract a lot of snobbery. There are people who wouldn’t be seen dead at the wheel of a Hyundai – despite the fact that they are great cars these days. They only want to drive a BMW or a Mercedes or a Lexus.

They would see it as a downturn in their fortunes to wake up on a Sunday morning to see a Hyundai on the drive.”

At the same time, having a flash car can send out the wrong message. “One person I know downgraded from a BMW to a Volkswagen during the recession because he was concerned about the image it projected when his clients were struggling.”

Marc’s first job on leaving school was as a clerical assistant with HM Inspectorate of Taxes – now HM Revenue & Customs. He rose to become a tax inspector, working mainly in the area of employment tax, dealing with

Marc Auty

issues such as company cars and PAYE. He also worked in the tax office at accountancy firm Ernst & Young in Leeds.

Marc went on to join the motor trade, working in Burton-on-Trent and spent eight years in the Midlands before moving back north.

He now lives near Selby with partner Sally.

However, he says: ”My biggest customer is based in Portsmouth, which could hardly be further away. I travel quite a bit – but I do it because no one else does! The vast majority of companies will sort out vehicle leasing over the phone, but corporate customers like to deal face-to-face.

“If a customer has 100-odd vehicles in the fleet, the least you can do is to take the trouble to go and see him once a quarter. It’s about providing the personal touch.”

Marc is a member of a BNI networking group which meets in Brighouse – and cannot recommend it highly enough. Members are required to provide referrals for each other at the early morning get-togethers.

“We pick up a lot of work from BNI,” he says. “We get a lot of referrals. It’s certainly very good at helping start-ups and smaller businesses make connections. It’s

■■ Marc Auty has sung at the Vatican and Notre Dame in Paris

like having your own sales team because there are 21 other business people all trying to find you work.”

Marc doesn’t just hit the right note in business.

“I do a lot of singing,” he says. “I used to sing with Huddersfield Choral Society, but I struggled to get to rehearsals because of other commitments.

“I now sing bass with St Austin’s Choir, which is a Catholic choir based at St Austin’s Church in Wakefield. We mainly sing sacred music from the 14h and 15th centuries. In 2012, we sang at St Peter’s in Rome and last month we were singing at Notre Dame in Paris. We put a trip together. With the Vatican, you have to make a formal application. I suppose being a Catholic choir helps!”

Said Marc: “When I was a kid, I thought singing was for girls, but one day I volunteered to help a charity production. I said I’d help shift the scenery and that’s how I got into it. I’ve been singing now for 25 years.

“We sing a lot of music from the Renaissance pweriod. We sing music by English composers like Thomas Tallis and William Byrd, whose music reflects the time of the Tudors and the change from England being a Catholic country to one where Catholics were in hiding.”

Said Marc: “There has been a resurgence in singing with TV shows like The Choir and performers lik Military Wives, which has made singing ‘sexy’ again.

Once people start to sing, they start to explore classical music, opera and choral music.

“There are all sorts of studies suggesting that singing is good for you – helping people with respiratory problems, for instasnce.”

And he can’t resist a motoring analogy. “Five years ago, people wouldn’t be seen driving a Skoda. People make jokes about them. Now Skoda is one of the fastest-selling marques. Singing is a bit like that – it’s become ‘sexy’.”

Role: Director Age: 42 Family: Partner Sally Holidays: We will be going to Madeira this year, but we like holidaying in the UK and visiting places we haven’t been to before First job: I was a paper boy before working as a clerical assistant at HM Inspectorate of Taxes in Leeds Best thing about the job? The variety of customers we have Worst thing about the job? The hours. I have to be accessible whenever my customers want me Business tip: Just go for it. Some people are stuck in jobs they don’t like with the threat of redundancy hanging over their heads. They have skills and expertise in different areas, but they are frightened of change. If you put in the effort and have confieence you will succeed

Northern Vehicles Work: Vehicle contract hire, leasing and discounted purchasing Site: Heritage Exchange, Lindley Phone: 01484 485333 Email: info@northernvehicles.co.uk Web: www.northernvehicles.co.uk

Who will be the next Business of the Month?

If you are proud of what your business has achieved; why not tell us about your success story and you could be a winner of our prestigious award.

For further details please contact: Ian Greenwood, Eaton Smith Solicitors, 14 High Street, Huddersfield HD1 2HA T: 01484 821389 E: iangreenwood@eatonsmith.co.uk

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4

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

local

Sundae best for TV Dragon Theo Ice cream producer Yummy Yorkshire has gained an online business boost from TV Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis.

The Denby Dale-based company has been chosen as one of six lucky businesses to win Theo’s Small Business Sunday, a weekly social media initiative.

Every Sunday evening, small businesses tweet Theo with a short description of their business with the hashtag #SBS and the winners are then retweeted

by Theo to his 443,000 followers.

On Sunday, June 8, Yummy Yorkshire’s tweet was one of the six winners selected from a total of 711 tweets sent to Theo.

As a result, Yummy Yorkshire has seen an increase in traffic to its website as well as a significant increase in Twitter followers, taking its total to 7,839 from 7,587.

Yummy Yorkshire co-founder Louise Holmes said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won Small Business Sunday as there is so much competition.

“It has given us huge social media exposure which we would not have been able to achieve without Theo.”

Small Business Sunday was started by Theo in October, 2010.

Only privately-owned businesses can enter the online initiative to gain positive media publicity which can lead to increased interest.

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KIRKLEES BUS

Putting the banks under the spotlight The banking sector has often been accused of favouring big business over small and medium-sized businesses. It certainly seems that way.

From speaking to SMEs on a daily basis, it appears that high street banks still say an emphatic “no” to smaller businesses seeking finance to grow, or even to renew broken or out-dated equipment.

While we know that banks have been badly affected by the tumultuous recessionary years, they do seem to forget one fundamental fact: SMEs are the very lifeblood of our economy.

Now it seems that high street banks may be hindering smaller businesses from gaining access to finance from alternative providers and forcing them to take out business accounts to get a loan.

Delays in financing may put the company under undue financial pressure and lead them to taking out more expensive borrowing than necessary.

This may be simply because they need to replace vital equipment and don’t have time to go through all the hoops that the banks want them to!

More diversity and competition in

THE BUSINESS BATTLEAXE Amanda Vigar the banking sector is vitally important if we are going to have a lasting recovery built on business investment and exports.

A new survey, commissioned by Chancellor George Osborne, will reveal that smaller companies still feel that they are being shut out by the banks when it comes to lending.

The survey, undertaken by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), will rank the different banks based on how well they are meeting the needs of small companies.

It’s good news that the Government is backing a new and independent website called Business Banking Insight

(BBI) which is designed to give clarity around the services smaller businesses receive from their banks.

The website will identify how SMEs rate their banks based on performance, service and business understanding.

The review was launched in November, under the remit of identifying the best SME bank in the UK, as well as providing data to allow SMEs to find the bank most suitable for them.

It feels like this is too little too late, however, as SMEs are looking at getting back on track right now for recovery.

We ask our 12 SME business owners in the next Business Jury (www.businessjury.co.uk) whether SMEs are really getting a fair deal from banks.

Amanda Vigar is managing partner at Holmfirth-based accountants V&A Bell Brown LLP

Jo joins an illustrious line-up of winners Denby Dale businesswoman and serial entrepreneur Jo Haigh has achieved national recognition for her 25 years in business – winning the business service category of the First Women Awards 2014.

The awards, co-founded

by Real Business and the CBI, recognised some of the UK’s most ground-breaking women in areas including finance, retail and manufacturing. The event at the London Marriott Hotel was hosted by journalist and broadcaster Mishal Husain.

Jo was in esteemed company with other winners including Vidhya Karthikeyan, the 26 year old senior researcher at BT who has already filed for 16 different patents; Annemiek Hoogen-

boom, director for the People’s Postcode Lottery which has raised £38.4m for charity so far; and sportswoman Tanni Grey Thompson, who won a lifetime achievement award.

Jo said she was delighted to be recognised as a trailblazer, adding: “The promotion of women in business, manufacturing, finance, research and development is essential for the continued growth of our country, but more importantly we must help women believe they can achieve great things.”

Jo is a practising corporate financier who set up fds in 1989.

She has more than 25 years of in-depth knowledge of corporate governance and is also a multi award winning

and cricket are adding to the pressure on employers’ holiday rotas, according to Nick Brook, who runs Taxc Assist Accountants in Lockwood.

Mr Brook warned that despite the pressures, employers had to avoid scoring an own goal by skimping on the paperwork involved.

Research from Close Brothers found a quarter of

Last cha enter aw

Kirklees businessw left to enter a top awar The Forward Ladie Awards, which saw tw dersfield last year, wi ber 28 . For the first tim a new category for engineering and man a total of 12 categories ner will be chosen as of the 12 category win This will be the fir working group Forwa by businesswoman G this year.

She said “The Wome have always been the ward Ladies calendar no different. The awar professional women and we hope that will our ethos to celebra enormous contributio the regional economy and support that they Last year’s winner field’s Grazyna Bylink with skincare produc and Amy Wray, manag gatde Properties at Ho The outstanding bu year title was awarded aging director of Ha company CNG, who w rate leader of the year.

The closing date for For details on how wiba2014.com/

Yellow ■■ Jo Haigh (fourth left) with other winners

entrepreneur, trainer, speaker and author.

Her previous awards include Sunday Times Non Executive Director of the

Year, Institute of Directors Business Adviser of the Year and Business Woman of the Year in the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards.

Employers urged to avoid an own goal ENGLAND’s World Cup dream may be over – but employers face a potential nightmare over summer staffing arrangements, according to a Huddersfieldbased tax expert.

Some 34,000 students are expected to look for temporary work in Yorkshire this summer – while interest in the World Cup, Wimbledon

■■ Amy Wray (left) and

small and medium-sized firms are worried about staff absenteeism while 23% are concerned that productivity will drop and 46% are expecting more requests for leave – despite England’s early exit from the football tournament.

Mr Brook said: “Small firms across Huddersfield will be taking on students

throughout this summer and with the World Cup putting even more pressure on employers’ summer holiday rotas and work schedules, it could be tempting to pay workers cash in hand to cut costs and avoid paperwork.

But employers who don’t comply with employment law and RTI rules run the risk of financial penalties.”

A networking event in France aims to help industry turning.

The Lockwood-ba Chamber of Comm businesses to come a working event from 9 Cedar Court Hotel, Ai Connections Coun ber’s popular netwo every first Thursday o ues rotating between and Wakefield.

July’s event will se Yorkshire Air Ambu France theme, with th ing attendees to wear the day and donate charity.

Chamber marketin Donald said: “We wa in-a-lifetime visit of L special as we possibly Go to www.mycci.c

5

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

SINESS NEWS

local

Key addition for Thornton & Ross

d Grazyna Bylinka

ance to wards

women have just days rd. es Women in Business wo winners from Hudill be held on Novemme the awards include science, technology, nufacturing. There are s, and the overall winthe most outstanding nners. rst awards since netard Ladies was bought Griselda Togobo earlier

en in Business Awards e highlight of the Forr and this year will be rds continue to attract of the highest calibre l continue. It is part of ate and recognise the on made by women to y and to the mentoring y give to each other.” rs included Hudderska, a regional manager cts supplier Oriflame, ging director of Appleolmfirth. usiness woman of the d to Jacqui Hall, manarrogate-based energy was also named corpor. r entries is this Friday. to enter go to www.

alert!

nspired by the Tour de p keep the wheels of

ased Mid Yorkshire merce is inviting local along to a special net9.30am to 11am at the inley Top. nt is one of the chamorking events. It runs of the month, with venn Calderdale, Kirklees

ee proceeds raised for ulance in a Tour de he Chamber encouragr something yellow on each to the lifesaving

ng manager Ellie Macant to make the onceLe Tour to Yorkshire as y can.” co.uk

A Colne Valley pharmaceutical firm has completed a key acquisition.

Linthwaite-based Thornton & Ross Ltd has completed the purchase of the Flexitol brand from LaCorium Health.

Flexitol is a well-established range of dry skin treatments, best known for its footcare products.

The purchase includes all intellectual property, trade marks and stocks relating to the brand in the UK and Eire. Thornton & Ross takes over the marketing of the brand with immediate effect.

The existing distribution company, UDG Ltd, will continue to process orders, deliver product, invoice and receive payments until further notice.

Dieno George, chief executive of Thornton & Ross, said Flexitol would add to the company’s growing range of well-known UK brands.

He said Flexitol would also benefit from Thornton & Ross’ “considerable strength and experience in manufacturing pharmaceutical quality cream products and medical devices”.

Thornton & Ross Ltd produces a number of medicinal and household products, including Covonia cough medicines, Hedrin head lice treatment, the Care range of medicines and

■■ Thornton & Ross’ premises at Linthwaite which is now home to the Flexitol range

the Cetraben and Zero dermatological brands as well as Zoflora fragranced disinfectant. The business is part of STADA Arzneimittel AG which is based in Bad Vilbel, Germany.

Luc Slegers, STADA regional director for Europe, said the acquisition of

Flexitol was part of the STADA Group’s development of a strong branded portfolio and would build on the Centre of Excellence for over-the-counter and prescription dermatology, which the company has established at Thornton & Ross.

LaCorium is based in Australia and will retain the rights to Flexitol in all territories outside the UK and Eire.

STADA acquired the family firm of Thornton & Ross in August last year in a £221m deal.

Five more years for coach firm’s top contract A bus and coach operator based in Huddersfield has secured a further five-year deal with coaching giant National Express.

Milnsbridge-based E Stott & Sons Ltd has renegotiated the deal to operate on National Express’ scheduled express coach services.

The two routes operated

by Stotts are the 351 Sheffield to Blackpool and 351 Leeds to Blackpool which operates 362 days a year.

The renewed contract has enabled Stotts to buy two new Volvo coaches to National Express specifications costing almost £500,000.

The Portuguese-built Caetano Levante coaches are supplied to National

Express specification and include passenger comforts such as full leather seating, air conditioning, wheelchair access, cctv and full vehicle telematics.

Stotts, which came away with three awards for Best Small Operator, Best Fleet and the Sustained High Achievement Award at the National Express Operator Awards, will be switching the current 2010 coaches used on the routes into their coach fleet – which will enable them to offer their customers wheelchair accessible coaches for the first time.

Director Carl Stott, said: “We have worked for National Express for nearly 10 years now and we are one of a

■■ The Caetano Levante coaches acquired by E Stott & Sons Ltd

select group of preferred operators.

“We were delighted that National Express gave us the opportunity to continue this service as it fits in well with

our operations – and to come away from the awards evening with three awards was the icing on the cake.”

The new coaches are now in service.

Companies worried about cyber crime CYBER crime remains a key concern for businesses, says a leading accountancy firm.

A round-table discussion hosted by EY concluded that companies urgently need to prioritise cyber security and put in place incident response strategies to deal with security breaches.

EY’s 13th Global Fraud

Survey found cyber crime to be one of the biggest concerns for UK businesses, with 74% of respondents saying that it was a high risk to their organisation compared to 49% globally.

Victoria Spencer, head of EY’s forensic practice in the North of England, said the conversation in the region

needs to move on from awareness to cyber crime prevention.

EY recently announced a £650,000 investment in its first dedicated forensic technology facility outside London. The new facility in Manchester is expected to create 50 jobs.

Said Ms Spencer: “Cyber

crime in the North of England is high on the corporate agenda, given the importance of our thriving financial and professional services sector, which is highly regulated and our emerging knowledge-based industries that are often reliant on large amounts of data and analytics.”

Healthcare provider passes fitness test for investment Spire Healthcare – the parent company for Spire Elland Hospital – has been named Hospital Group of the Year at the 2014 HealthInvestor Awards.

The event is one of the main events for the health sector and is run by trade publication, HealthInvestor.

Chris Harrison, director for Elland Hospital, said: “We are delighted to be a part of the Hospital Group of the Year.

“We are pleased the judges recognised the investments made in the company and the hard work and dedication everyone at Spire Healthcare gives to providing high quality patient care.

“I hope this highlights to our local community of Huddersfield, Halifax and Dewsbury that they have access to a high quality, award-winning hospital, right on their door-step.”

Spire Healthcare won

due to its strong performance during 2013.

Highlights of the year included continued investments in hospitals, maintaining its high patient satisfaction rates and having exemplary clinical outcomes.

In 2013, there were no cases of MRSA bacteraemia reported across Spire hospitals and according to data from the Department of Health, three Spire hospitals ranked in the top 25 providers for hip replacement, with four also ranking in the top 10 for knee replacement.

Spire Healthcare is one of the UK’s largest private hospital providers with 39 hospitals and 13 clinics nationwide.

The company was formed from the sale of BUPA Hospitals to private equity company Cinven in 2007, followed by the purchase of Classic Hospitals and Thames Valley Hospital in 2008.

UK manufacturing in focus Keen photographers in Kirklees are being urged to train their lenses on iconic images of British industry.

The EEF/Lombard Make it Britain photography competition is under way with winners set to snap up a share of £5,000 of state-of-the-art Canon photography equipment.

Manufacturing body the EEF and asset finance provider Lombard have teamed up to find the perfect images that capture the essence of British manufacturing today.

Photographs can por-

tray any stage of manufacturing, from design and process through to the finished product, and can cover traditional or high-tech sectors.

The competition, in its fifth year, aims to raise the profile of UK manufacturing by showcasing the industry’s creativity, diversity and heritage through inspiring photography. The deadline is Sepember 30.

It is part of EEF’s Make it Britain campaign championing Britain’s manufacturing. Go to www.eef.org.uk/photo/

6

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

Don’t miss out on tax allowances British businesses could save billions of pounds if they claimed full tax relief on the commercial properties they own, according to City experts Deloitte.

Savings are not just confined to large public limited companies.

CA Tax Solutions says it could save about £25,000 for a typical small to medium sized business with a commercial property – with the biggest tax benefit the firm has generated being more than £10m.

Under the capital allowances scheme, every commercial building in the UK, from manufacturing plants to retail shops is entitled to tax relief on the items such as lighting cabling, radiators and air conditioning units.

The Deloitte research outlines 96% of owners have not taken advantage of this allowance, losing out on an estimated £70bn to

INFORMED DEVELOPMENT Martin Thompson £80bn.

However, Government have changed this tax benefit.

From April, 2014, if you are selling your commercial property you must have identified the available allowances before you sell, have these allowances in your accounts and notified HM Revenu8e & Customs. If this is not done the allowances are lost.

Availability of capital allowances can be an important consid-

eration on the sale or purchase of a commercial building.

Business owners without receipts for the work can still benefit; specialist firms send forensic surveyors to draw up a list of all the fittings in every room, using computer models to calculate a price making a claim easier.

Therefore, a business that buys a commercial property will need to take extra care if it still wishes to claim capital allowances on parts of its acquisition cost.

A purchaser’s ability to claim capital allowances will be dependent on the vendor’s position and whether the vendor has made an appropriate claim.

Vendors are going to be under pressure to get capital allowances claims up to date before a property is sold.

Martin Thompson is a partner in Commercial Property at Armitage Sykes in Huddersfield

TO LET Gledholt Sidings Business Park

Paddock, Huddersfield, HD1 4RR 1 Starter/storage units 1 500 – 1,000 sq ft Rent: From £95 Per Week

TO LET The Coach House

21 Belmont Street, Huddersfield, HD1 5BZ 1 Superb modern HQ office building 1 3,616 sq ft with private car park

Rent: On Application

TO LET Fort Works

Taylor Hall Lane, Mirfield, WF14 0HW 1 Various sized workshop/starter units 1 542 – 2,373 sq ft

Rent: From £85 Per Week

TO LET Colne Vale Business Park

Colne Vale Road, Milnsbridge, HD3 4NY 1 Last two inustrial units 1 662 & 3,961 sq ft plus compound

Rent: On Application

FOR SALE/TO LET 142 Blackmoorfoot Road

Crosland Moor, Huddersfield, HD4 5RE 1 Large retail showroom with offices and parking

Rent: £19,500 Per Annum Price: £249,000 Freehold

■■ Paul Moore, (left) managing director of Southdale, with Mark Pickles (centre) and Nick O’Connor, of Greendale

Greendale enjoying a real purple patch A business focusing on sustainable energy is celebrating a successful first year.

Greendale, a division of construction and development specialist Southdale, has posted impressive results in helping homes reduce their carbon footprint.

Greendale, which specialises in refurbishment, planned maintenance and energy efficiency work, has saved more than 60,000 tonnes of carbon emissions in its first year of trading with the installation of energy efficient measures to 1,000 homes throughout West Yorkshire.

This work helps to combat fuel poverty – giving savings to household energy bills. The work involves the insulation of attic rooms and walls and is totally free, being funded through the Government’s Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), funds.

Greendale can also offer a range of funding options for energy efficiency installations, including Green Deal finance and Green Deal Home Improvement funding.

Halifax-based Greendale, which employs 10 people and is currently recruiting for a further eight positions, is planning to build-on its success by expanding its geographic reach, allowing it to recruit more staff in office and sitebased roles and, as part of its five-year growth plan, aims to reach a turnover of

£50m by 2019.

In addition to the success of its “green” business, Greendale has secured more than £4.5m worth of refurbishment work for a host of clients, including Places for People, St Vincent Housing Association and Chevin Housing Group.

They have also been appointed as principal contractor on the prestigious redevelopment of the Woodnook area of Accrington, Lancashire.

The division is led by directors Nick O’Connor and Mark Pickles, who have more than four decades of experience in the construction industry between them.

The company reported a turnover of £2m in its first year, which it expects to increase to £10m next year.

Mr O’Connor said: “It has been a hugely successful first year for Greendale, which has benefited many homes and businesses in West Yorkshire.

“We are making a real effort to tackle fuel poverty in the region and our first year results are a reflection of the progress we have made in reducing the area’s carbon footprint through effective maintenance and energy efficiency work.”

Mr O’Connor added: “These are exciting times for the company and I am looking forward to seeing Greendale continue to progress and grow in numbers, in line with our sustainable growth plan.”

HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

FOR SALE

Development Industrial

FOR SALE

Development

Old Bank Road, Earlsheaton, Dewsbury 0.16 hectares (0.39 acres) gross

Part Foldhead Mill, Newgate, Mirfield 0.5 hectares (1.23 acres) gross

Former mill building with consent for conversion to 20 apartments or suitable for more traditional residential scheme (STP)

Income-producing industrial complex with redevelopment potential (STP) within walking distance of Mirfield town centre

FOR SALE

Investment

Northgate, Almondbury, Huddersfield Multi-occupied mixed residential/commercial investment, in central position, generating £39,000 income per annum

www.michaelsteel.co.uk

7

TO LET

FOR SALE /MAY LET

Retail

303 Old Wakefield Road, Moldgreen, Huddersfield 351m 2 (3,773 sq ft) Large retail showroom with upper floor, located just off main Wakefield Road only a short distance from University

All enquiries to Alec Michael alec@michaelsteel.co.uk

Commercial Residential, Commercial & Industrial Surveyors, Estate Agents, Auctioneers & Property Management Consultants To Let

SAVILE STREET, MILNSBRIDGE HD3 4PG

CROSS CHURCH STREET, HUDDERSFIELD

To Let

Ground Floor Workshop

Ground Floor Retail Premises

147.32 sqm [1585 sqft]

34.65sqm (373 sqft)

3 Phase Electricity

Secondary retail position

Loading Door

Close to the Kingsgate Shopping Centre

Yard Space and Car Parking

Good display frontage

EPC Asset Rating D

EPC Asset Rating C

To Let

ACRE STREET, HUDDERSFIELD HD3 3DU

UNIT 4 BECKVIEW BUSINESS PARK, HUDDERSFIELD HD2 1UR

To Let

Retail Shop/Offices Premises

Single Storey Industrial Unit

110.36 sqm (1,188 sqft) with Basement

69.18sqm (744sqft)

May Split Prominent Location Popular Trading Position

Popular industrial location Just off the main Leeds Road (A62) and in close proximity to the M62 motorway network

Suitable for a variety of trades

Situated within a secure shared yard

EPC Asset Rating C

EPC Asset Rating D

14 St Georges Square, Huddersfield HD1 1JF

t: 01484 530361

e: commercial@bramleys1.co.uk

www.bramleys.com/commercial

8

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

movers and shakers

TV stars Claire and Carl lending a hand

By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter

Graduates join the team Law firm Chadwick Lawrence has announced three solicitor graduates for its conveyancing, commercial and wills & probate departments.

Rachel Main (second left), Nadine Owens (second right) and Aminder Panesar (centre) all graduated to solicitor status having successfully trained with Chadwick Lawrence for the past few years.

They are pictured with managing partner Neil Wilson (left) and senior partner Paul Campbell.

Ms Owens joined Chadwick Lawrence in 2011 as a paralegal having completed her law degree and legal practice course. She completed her Masters in Professional Legal Practice while working as a paralegal and was

offered a training contract in November, 2012.

Ms Panesar graduated in law from Leeds University in 2005. Before that, she gained a BSc in pharmaceutical sciences at Huddersfield University. She joined Chadwick Lawrence, which has offices at Huddersfield, in 2012 and has gained experience in both personal injury and domestic conveyancing. She is now a member of the conveyancing team.

Ms Main has been with the firm for six years and joined as a trainee after completing her law degree at Nottingham University. She specialises in drafting all types of commercial contracts from terms and conditions to franchise agreements and trade-mark licenses.

Jennifer Short

Fruitful move for Orchard Elland-based Orchard Energy has appointed a new associate director of sales as it prepares to expand across the Midlands and South of England.

Jennifer Short (pictured) will be promoted from her current role as regional manager of the firm’s Bristol office to become associate director of sales for the southern region.

She joined Orchard Energy in 2009 as part of its team in Brighouse.

The Brighouse office relocated to Elland in 2012, where the company’s UK headquarters are now based.

Jennifer was responsible for establishing the firm’s Bristol and Cardiff offices in 2011.

She will now help the energy consultancy set up a new regional base in Northampton, which will become fully operational in September.

“There will initially be three new posts created in Northampton, with

henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk

Two leading entrepreneurs have signed up to support a new business mentoring programme.

Carl Hopkins and Claire Young will support those starting up and growing their businesses by passing on their expertise and skills as well as leading efforts to recruit more mentors under West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency’s MYMentor programme.

MYMentor works with job seekers on the New Enterprise Allowance who have a business idea but need help to get it off the ground.

Dozens of business people from across West Yorkshire are part of the mentoring team who support those about the take the first steps into self-employment.

West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency is now looking to recruit more mentors to support those starting their companies and Carl and Claire will be leading those efforts in the coming months.

Carl Hopkins, a marketer of 30 years’ experience, is commercial director of Birstallbased PR and marketing firm Faith PR. He owned the UK’s oldest independent marketing agency, JDA, until selling the business in 2007 and also featured on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire.

Carl said: “Starting and running a business can be a particularly lonely time, which is why I am always so keen to help those who have a great idea for a company turn their vision into reality. I look forward to working with the West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency to help inspire budding entrepreneurs.”

Claire Young was in the final of BBC One’s The Apprentice in 2008. She now works on several projects designed to help young people in enterprise.

Claire runs School Speakers, a business providing quality motivational speakers for schools, colleges and universities, and a social enterprise called Girls Out Loud which aims to inspire young girls, between the ages of 13 and 18.

■■ Carl Hopkins and Claire Young are all set to provide mentoring to would-be entrepreneurs

She said: “I am passionate about inspiring and empowering people to go into business, so I am looking forward to lending a helping hand to those starting up their own companies.

“The West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency gives opportunities and encouragement to those who have a business idea and I am looking forward to being a part of the MYMentor team in the future.”

Andrew Choi, executive director of West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency, said: “We are delighted to welcome Carl and Claire to our MYMentor network and look forward to having them share their considerable business

experience with our entrepreneurs in the coming months.

“Our message to potential mentors is that, whether you’re a sole-trader, business owner or experienced professional, your support could make a huge difference to someone who is starting out on their own.”

Volunteer mentors are asked to spare at least one hour every two weeks to guide someone as they write their business plan and support them during their first 26 weeks of trading.

For more information about the role of the mentor, call 01924 786500 or email info@ wyea.co.uk.

Hotels director is set to check out room for future growth as the office builds momentum,” said Ms Short.

“Recruitment is also under way to expand our teams in Bristol and Cardiff as we prepare to grow our presence in Wales and the South. ”Managing director Gareth Henderson, who founded Orchard Energy a decade ago, said the planned expansion in the Midlands and the South reflected the firm’s commitment to maintain face-to-face contact with each of its clients.

The owner of a Huddersfield hotel has announced that a senior figure is stepping down.

John Horvath, group director of Cedar Court Hotels, will leave his post in August after 22 years with the business.

Mr Horvath, a well-known figure across the region, has been with Cedar Court Hotels from its early days when he was appointed as general manager of the company’s single hotel in Wakefield.

Since then, he has been a key member of the senior management team responsible for the continued success of the company and the expansion of the group to include four 4-star hotels – including the Cedar Court at Ainley Top – and the 5-star Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa in York.

Mr Horvath said: “I’ve had a wonderful 22 years with Cedar Court Hotels, during which I have been fortunate to help the company grow to become Yorkshire’s largest independent hotel group.

“I have had the immense pleasure of working with some exceptionally talented and dedicated people throughout all areas of the company.

“I’m extremely proud of what has been achieved during my time with Cedar Court Hotels and I’m confident that it will continue to go from strength to strength in the future.

“For me, the time is right for me to pursue several exciting new opportunities within the hotel and leisure sector. I’ll also be continuing my roles with the Theatre Royal Wakefield and WACCL – an organisation which supports Wakefield District’s children and young people.”

Kevin Henry, Cedar Court Hotels’ group managing director, said: “John has been an extremely important part of the considerable development and growth of Cedar Court Hotels over many years; his energy and commitment to the company has been second to none. “

■■ John Horvath plans to pursue new opportunities