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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
Media firms buck the gloomy trend BUSINESSES based at Huddersfield’s Media Centre are outperforming their counterparts elsewhere in Kirklees, it is claimed. A survey of businesses based at the centre in Northumberland Street show that they are twice as likely to have grown last year, three times more likely to have increased employment and are two times more likely to feel positive about the future when compared to the average business in the Kirklees. The pictures is much more positive than last autumn’s Kirklees Employer Survey from Kirklees Council. In its survey, the Media Centre found that 71% of its tenants reported an increase in turnover during the past year compared to an average of 31% for the Kirklees survey. When asked if they expected turnover to grow over the next year, 75% of Media Centre tenants agreed as opposed to a Kirklees average of only 53%. Media Centre chief executive Brent Woods said: “We’re really pleased that
our clients are reporting they are performing and feeling more positive about the future than the average Kirklees business. “The survey shows that the creative industries continue to enjoy growth, especially those working in design, marketing and electronic publishing. “It also shows how difficult economic times can be an opportunity for entrepreneurial business starters – more than 24% of our occupying companies have existed for less than two years. “The Media Centre’s mix of great location and flexible services helps to foster a positive, collaborative, environment where businesses find it easier to thrive.” The survey also showed that 21% of business based at the Media Centre work within the design sector, while advertising, software and electronic publishing made up 22% of its tenants. The Media Centre opened in 1995 to support the development of creative industries in Kirklees.
It operates four commercial and residential buildings in Huddersfield town centre and is home to more than 70 businesses. It opened its Lord Street building in November, 2001, oppose the main Media Centre building and opposite the historic open market. These offices were designed by award winning architects Bauman-Lyons, providing a wide range of studio and office spaces to meet the needs of creative businesses. In 2002, the Creative Lofts were opened to provide live-work spaces for the creative iIndustries. In 2007 The Media Centre completed its creative quarter with the opening of the Friendly Street development by the Queen. The stunning landmark building, which fronts Southgate.provides 52 work spaces. The centre also hosts a range of events, exhibitions, presentations, seminars, conferences, networking and social events.
■ PROFITABLE: Mark Robson, regional director of UKTI
■ QUALITY: Business leader Lord Digby Jones
Atlantic challenge DEWSBURY firm Duvalay, which provides sleeping bags and mattresses for people away from home, adapted its award-winning range of memory foam boat mattresses to help firefighters John Haskell and Jamie Windsor get some much-needed sleep as they completed the toughest challenge of their lives – rowing across the Atlantic to raise cash for charity
● Full story - Page 8
■ POSITIVE: Media Centre chief executive Brent Woods
Emerging markets key for manufacturers KIRKLEES manufacturers must look beyond markets at home and in Europe or risk being cut adrift, a leading businessman has warned. Lord Digby Jones said: “Despite the obvious difficulties in domestic markets, the prospects are particularly buoyant for regional companies who are either exporting direct to emerging markets or who are involved in the supply chain into those markets. “Businesses can take advantage of a competitive exchange rate and the UK’s reputation for open and transparent dealing.
INSIDE
“What is required is the sale of goods and services that are at the value added, innovative, quality end of the market. “It is imperative that businesses dip their toe in the water sooner rather than later, and exploit the wider and deeper markets that a developing world provides.” Lord Jones delivered his message at a conference organised by UK Trade & Investment, the government’s export support arm, to focus on advanced engineering opportunities in emerging high-growth markets.
The event included specialist workshops outlining global investment programmes in aerospace and oil and gas exploration, as well as advanced engineering projects in Russia and billion pound investment programmes. Mark Robson, UKTI international trade director for Yorkshire, said: “Companies that trade overseas are more profitable than those that do not. “Many engineering companies are already very active internationally, but any that are not should be asking themselves why they are not?”
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Rental worries RETAILERS face a rental headache, claims an insolvency expert in Kirklees. Chris Wood, a partner at Clough Corporate Solutions in Cleckheaton nd Yorkshire committee member of insolvency trade body R3, warned that many retail chains were struggling in the wake of Sunday’s deadline for quarterly rent payments – which are paid in advance in nearly 90% of cases.
● Full story - Page 7
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
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Higher charges cut losses for easyJet LOW-COST airline easyJet said that half-year losses would be smaller than expected as its revenues were boosted by higher baggage charges. The Luton-based group, which operates more than 580 routes across 30 countries, said revenue growth per seat in the six months to March 31 will be better than expected at 10%, with about half the improvement driven by higher fees and charges. EasyJet also received a boost from the unseasonably mild weather, which led to “unusually” low levels of cancelled flights, while an uplifting TV advertisement featuring music from Liverpudlian rockers The Wombats also helped. The improved performance means the group now expects to report a pre-tax loss for the six months to March 31 of between £110m and £120m, compared with previous
expectations of £140m to £160m and a £153m loss last year. The group, like many airlines, always reports a loss in the first half of its financial year. The group previously reported higher revenues for the first three months of its financial year as it raised its first-bag charge by 16.9% to £4.70 per seat. Total fees and charges increased by 26.7% to £5.88 per seat. Meanwhile, the carrier said disruption and de-icing costs were £18m lower than the same period last year, when the UK was hit by a prolonged period of severe weather conditions. The group, which has a 200-strong fleet of aircraft, said total cost per seat for the whole year is expected to increase by 2%, assuming no significant disruption arising from events such as airspace congestion during the Olympics.
The airline said it also benefited from the demise of rivals, with the likes of Spanish carrier Spanair and Hungary’s Malev going bust in January. Looking ahead, easyJet said about 30% of seats for the second half of the financial year were booked.
Barr serves up ice cream
Queen’s bank faces £8m fine A PRIVATE bank that counts the Queen among its clients was fined £8.75m by the City watchdog for failing to do enough to ensure it was not handling laundered money. Coutts & Co, which is owned by Royal Bank of Scotland, did not have the proper checks in place when it started relationships with high-risk customers considered vulnerable to corruption, the Financial Services Authority said. Hitting the bank with its second fine in four months, the FSA said the failings were “serious and systemic” and went on for nearly three years, leading to an “unacceptable risk” of the bank handling the pro-
■ PLANE FACTS: easyjet expects the business climate for airlines to remain difficult over the coming year
The group’s expectations for financial performance in the latter half of the year are unchanged, as it expects a higher fuel bill. EasyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall said: “We continue to expect the environment for airlines to remain difficult.” Shares in easyJet closed 7% or 34.4p higher at 495.8p on the FTSE 250 Index. The airline’s board last month won a battle with its founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, after shareholders overwhelmingly backed its multimillion-pound pay plans. Sir Stelios, who speaks for 37.4% of the company’s shares, failed to convince enough investors to join him in voting against the company’s remuneration report, as well as the re-election of four directors including chairman Sir Michael Rake.
ceeds of a crime. The regulator found deficiencies in nearly three quarters of the high risk or “politically exposed persons” whose files it examined – although there was no evidence that Coutts had actually handled stolen money. The fine is the largest ever issued by the FSA in connection with anti-money laundering issues. It could have been as high as £12.5m, but Coutts was given a 30% discount after agreeing to settle at an early stage. The latest penalty means RBS, which is 82% owned by the taxpayer, has been fined £25m by the FSA in the past two years.
SOFT drinks firm AG Barr has launched an ice cream for the first time with a new range of tropical flavours under its Rubicon brand. The group, best known for its Irn-Bru brand, has begun selling mango, passion fruit and lychee flavoured ice cream tubs and push-up lollies under ambitious plans to grow the tropical drink label, which uses England cricketer Graeme Swann as a brand ambassador. The Cumbernauld-based group reported a 6.6% rise in pre-tax profits to £237m in the year to January 28 – helped by strong sales of its tropical brands Rubicon and KA.
And it announced further details of plans to open a new factory in the UK, with a £40m plant in Milton Keynes unveiled as the chosen site, which will create up to 100 jobs after it opens in the summer of 2013. A spokesman for the group said the move into the frozen market was designed to tap into a growing demand for more exotic ice cream flavours. The group said: “We believe this will further support the long-term development of the brand by delivering a new way for consumers to enjoy the delicious exotic flavours and taste of the Rubicon brand.”
Moderate pay deals MANUFACTURING pay settlements continue remain at normal levels through the key bargaining period – with no sign of companies dealing with mounting pay pressures. The latest survey by manufacturing body the EEF and JAM Recruitment showed that the average pay settlement was 2.5% during the three months to the end of February. The number of companies imposing a pay freeze was down at about one in 10 while the “vast majority” of settlements continued to be below 3%. The survey of more than 200 firms also showed that while 30% of respondents regarded significant upward pressure on pay as a risk to growth, only 5% of companies regarded it as their most significant risk. The issue ranked fourth behind shortage of raw materials, the financial crisis and access to external finance. Andy Tuscher, EEF region director, said: “Pay settlements have remained below long run average levels with a sense of economic realism prevailing in the key bargaining rounds at the start of the year. “With inflation tracking back towards target, the potential for escalating pay pressures in the year ahead shouldn’t pose a concern for policymakers.” JAM Recruitment’s chief executive John Morris said widespread “modest” pay rises indicated moderate growth in the manufacturing sector.
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £36.53 +0.61 Gannett 982.43 +8.78 Hess Corp £37.69 +0.14 Microsoft £20.37 +0.29 Motors Liquidation 47.05 Wal-Mart Stores £38.34 +0.23 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 2971/2 +11/2 BAE Systems 3043/4 -3/8 1 Rolls-Royce 830 /2 +5 AIM Brady Plc 91 Dawson Intl 15/8 Man Brnze 25 -11/4 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 2133/4 +31/2 BANKS Barclays 2475/8 +31/8 HSBC 561 +23/4 Lloyds Banking Gp 351/2 -3/8 Ryl Scotland 273/4 -1/4 Stan Chart 1596 -3 BEVERAGES Diageo 15391/2 +291/2 SABMiller £257/8 +1/2 CHEMICALS Croda £211/2 +5/8 Elementis 98 185 -1/4 Johnsn Mat £233/8 +1/2 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 298 +41/8
2311/4 +1 ELECTRICITY Drax Gp 540 +12 Intl Power 3823/8 +95/8 SSE 1348 +36 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 2101/2 +61/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3725/8 +21/8 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 2301/8 -2 Cable & Wireless 33 +3/4 Comm Cable & Wireless 363/4 -3/4 Wwide 1 Colt Group 103 /8 +15/8 KCOM 691/4 +3/4 Talktalk Telecom 146 +21/4 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 3041/4 -11/2 Sainsbury 3191/4 +27/8 Tesco 339 +13/8 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1225 +15 Tate Lyle 7151/2 +131/2 Unilever £205/8 +1/8 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3193/8 +43/4 National Grid 6411/2 +41/2 Pennon Grp 722 +11 Severn 1567 +3 1 United Utils 614 /2 +31/2 Costain
GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 207 -3/4 ICAP 4087/8 -87/8 London StockExch 1023 +14 Man Group 1331/2 -1 Provident Financial 1173 +11 Schroders 1625 +22 Schroders NV 1254 +8 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 7041/2 +91/2 REXAM 436 +41/4 Smiths Grp 1049 +29 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 217/8 -3/8 Carphone Whse 1651/4 +1/4 3 Dixons Retail 19 /8 -1/8 Home Retail 1215/8 -13/8 Inchcape 3851/2 +71/4 Kingfisher 3123/4 +5/8 3 M&S 386 /4 +31/8 Mothercare 191 +1 Next £301/8 +1/4 WH Smith 555 +7 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 638 +4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 91 -1 Barrat Dev 1503/4 +45/8 1 Persimmon 662 /2 +21 Reckitt Benckiser £36 +1/4 Taylor Wimpey 517/8 +11/4 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 976 +201/2
INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 2971/2 -21/2 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 2183/4 +51/4 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 3443/4 -17/8 Lgl & Gen 1341/2 +17/8 1 Old Mutual 161 /8 +31/8 Prudential 795 +12 Resolution 2747/8 -45/8 Standard Life 2333/4 -1/4 MEDIA BSkyB 6941/2 +2 D Mail Tst 4603/4 +133/8 ITV 883/4 +3/4 Johnston Press 73/4 +1/4 Pearson 1228 +9 Reed Elsevier 5601/2 +111/2 1 STV Group 115 /2 -1/8 Trinity Mirror 381/2 -1/4 Utd Business 635 +17 UTV 149 +11/2 WPP 880 +181/2 Yell Group 33/4 -1/4 MINING Anglo American £245/8 Antofagasta 1188 +16 BHP Billiton 1928 +101/2 Eurasian Natural 6261/2 -51/2 Res Fresnillo 1688 +28 Kazakhmys 925 -101/2 Lonmin 1088 +5 Rio Tinto £335/8 -1/8
Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp
3791/2 102 6411/2 1787
-31/4 +41/2 -27
closed at at FTSE closed
5902.70 Up 47.81 VEDANTA 1307 -8 RESOURCES Xstrata 10951/2 -10 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 4713/4 -1/8 Vodafone Group 1741/4 +3/4 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1173 +9 RSA Insurance Gp 1151/4 +3/8 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 1519 +27 BP 4817/8 +43/8 Cairn Energy 3403/4 -11/4 Royal Dutch Shell A £221/2 +1/4 5 Royal Dutch Shell B £22 /8 +3/8
Total £341/4 +1/4 Tullow Oil 1570 +97 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1122 +19 Petrofac 1719 +45 Wood Gp(J) 738 +171/2 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1547 +34 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £281/2 +1/8 GlaxoSmithK XD 31/2 Shire £213/8 +1/8 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 499 +1 +3 Captl Shop Cent 3403/4 +47/8 Hamrsn 4187/8 Land Secs 7241/2 +5 SEGRO 2391/4 +31/4 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 2011/8 +45/8 Logica 993/8 +21/8 Misys 359 +2 +23/4 Sage Group 2941/2 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 530 +5 Bunzl 1013 +161/2 Capita 738 +10 De La Rue 928 +4 Electrocomp 2591/4 +83/4 1 Experian 995 /2 +51/2 G4S 2773/8 +43/8 5 Hays 86 /8 +1 Homeserve 239 +5/8
Menzies J 595 Rentokil 855/8 Smiths News 89 Wolseley £251/4 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 5971/2 Psion 64 Spirent Comms 1531/4 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £323/8 Imperial Tobacco £251/2 LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital 1515/8 Carnival £203/8 Compass Grp 668 easyJet 4953/4 Enterprise Inns 55 FirstGroup 2963/4 Go-Ahead Gp 1296 Greene King 5231/2 Intercontl Htls 1453 Intl Cons Airlines 1827/8 Gp Ladbrokes 160 Mitchells & Butlers 2751/4 Natl Express 2501/2 Rank Org 1291/4 Stagecoach Group 2641/2 TUI Travel 1951/8 Whitbread 1779 INDEX FTSE 100 5902.70 INDEX FTSE 250 11734.73
-3 +1 -1 +1/2 +4 -1 +11/4 +3/8 +1/8 -1/2 +1/4 +2 +343/8 +2 +53/8 +1 +61/2 +11 +5/8 +3 -11/4 +21/4 -3/4 +33/8 +3/4 +18 +47.81 +168.06
TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.44 dollars Bangladesh................. 122.28 taka Brazil.............................. 2.56 reals Canada....................... 1.51 dollars China ............................. 8.94 yuan Czech Republic ...... 27.05 korunas Denmark....................... 8.46 krone Euro............................... 1.14 euro Hong Kong................ 11.69 dollars Hungary................... 314.06 forints India.......................... 71.71 rupees Japan........................... 124.73 yen Mexico ....................... 18.00 pesos New Zealand .............. 1.81 dollars Norway ......................... 8.70 krone Pakistan.................. 135.52 rupees Philippines ................. 58.41 pesos South Africa.................. 11.39 rand South Korea.............. 1577.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 194.85 rupees Sweden....................... 10.20 krona Switzerland.................. 1.37 francs Taiwan ...................... 41.00 dollars Turkey....................... 2.70 new lira USA ............................ 1.51 dollars
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS RUGBY-mad Matthew Wilson realised his sporting ambition when he was signed up by his hometown club as a teenager. These days, he’s tackling weighty business issues as commercial director at Milnsbridge-based The Horizon Group, which supplies products including signs, furniture and other items of fabrications to sectors including transport, healthcare, education, leisure and construction. Matthew, 34, who was brought up in Fixby, was signed by Huddersfield Giants when he was 17 on a three-year deal. He played mainly for the academy and reserves before quitting at the age of just 20 – having had few opportunities to break into the first team. “Rugby was all I was interested in,” he says. “It was just unfortunate that when I was at the club, we had five first team coaches in four years. “Not many of the new lads got an opportunity – although Marcus St Hilaire, Paul Jackson and Ryan Hudson all went on the successful careers. “I started playing rugby union when I was eight, but my best friend at the time got me to go to Underbank Rangers from the age of 13. “I went to the Giants and was signed up. I was over the moon. I was playing for the under-19s in the academy during the week and for the reserves on Saturdays. “I’m still a massive Giants fan and watch them play. I’m very confident they can do all three – win the Super League, the Grand Final and the Challenge Cup. They have the squad and I like the way Nathan Brown is picking and switching his team to match the opposition.” Seeking employment after leaving the Giants, Matthew was offered a job at Horizon Signs by managing director Keith Ball . He spent five years with the firm at Britannia Road before leaving in 2004 to set up his own business supplying whiteboards and pinboards for schools and colleges. He sold the business in 2007 to a rival firm based in Scotland, but continued to work for them for 18 months before becoming frustrated by the way things were done. “They couldn’t get things out of the factory on time for the customers,” he says. We were behind with our projects. “I had always kept in touch with Keith and his son Ross at Horizon Signs, so I returned to the company.” In 2009, Matthew set up Horizon BSF to focus on providing products for the education sector and has never looked back. Now he is commercial director for The Horizon Group, which has been formed with the merger of Horizon Signs, Horizon BSF, transport sector signs specialist Horizon PTI,
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He’s a real team player Fabrications and paint finish facility Horizon Powder Coating. The merger means different parts of the group can collaborate on projects, pool resources and offer more competitive rates. Horizon BSF is providing items including whiteboards, pinboards, racking, shelving, mobile storage units, lockers and changing room benches to the contractors on schemes to build or refurbish schools and colleges across the country. The company got a boost from the Building for Schools programme, which was launched under the previous government. But it has maintained momentum and can boast healthy order books taking it well into next year. Not surprisingly, Matthew says he’s too busy to play rugby now, adding: “I have probably played about five games in 14 years!” Busy doesn’t cover it!
Work on the books includes supplying products for 12 schools in Birmingham, four schools in Southampton and others in Elgin, Scotland. The company is also supplying hundreds of items for new student accommodation at York University and equipment for police stations in Wakefield. Says Matthew: “A lot of my time is spent out on site meeting commercial managers for the main contractors. “I try to be very ‘hands-on’. I do all the technical drawings and data sheets for the rooms for which we are supplying furniture and fixtures.” Conscious of the problems faced by his previous employer, Matthew says managing resources is the key to getting products out on time to the customer. “We try to control the amount of work we get through,” he says. “We do a good job and we
Matthew Wilson Role: Commercial director Age: 34 Family:Married to Rachel with children Daniel, 13, and Freya, six Holidays: The Canaries, Turkey and ski-ing Car: Mitsubishi pickup – it’s great for visiting building sites First job: Working on the milk round for my uncle Best thing about job: Variety of work and meeting different people Worst thing about job: Spreadsheets Business tip: Never give up. Be tenacious.
offer a really good service. We know our capabilities and we can accommodate more staff and use more space if we need.” Matthew, who has worked from the shopfloor up, said:”I am hungry for work and I don’t want to miss out on opportunities. “If I find out about a contract somewhere I will go down every path I can possibly go down to find out how I can get involved. I’m aggressive, but in a nice way!” Away from work, Matthew finds little time to relax. “I have moved house a number of times and I have always been interested in
doing up the property,” he says. “We got a derelict barn above Halifax which we have converted in about six months. We started in summer 2005 and I said we would be in by Christmas. We moved in on December 22 – although without any internal doors! “We have some land with the property, so I’m always busy putting up fencing or dry stone walling. “It taught me a bit about managing a building site – which comes in useful for what I do at work.”
HENRYK ZIENTEK
Looking to trade overseas?
Work: Manufacturing bespoke products for the education, transport, healthcare, leisure and construction sectors Site: Milnsbridge Employees: 28 Phone: 01484 460909 Email: sales@the horizon-group.co.uk Website: www.the horizon-group.co.uk
On the board with
One of the major themes of last week’s Budget was the Government’s aim to encourage trading and in particular export trading. In fact, the Chancellor set an ambitious target to double annual UK exports to £1 trillion by 2020. It is increasingly important to recognise that many business opportunities are now global – businesses that even a couple of years ago would have focussed solely on the UK are looking for and successfully accessing opportunities around the world. In our 2012 budget seminar (themed ‘Think Global, Act Local’) our aim was to put you ahead of the game and to give you the information that you need to consider any export opportunities. If you would like a copy of the slides or our Tax Facts please visit our website.
■ SIGNS OF THE TIMES: Matthew Wilson, commercial director of The Horizon Group
The Horizon Group
Lesley Sutton Tax Director
01484 538 351
theboard@revellward.co.uk Twitter@RevellWard
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London launch NETWORKING group Forward Ladies has made its debut in London with a high-profile event at the Trafalgar Hotel. The group, founded in West Yorkshire, runs more than 350 events a year as well as speaker programmes.
KIRKLEES BUSINESS
So that’s how to impress a lender SBC continues to grow in H the UK and our net lending to UK SMEs – the real
indicator of lending growth – grew by 4% year on year in 2011, despite the UK market shrinking over the same period by 6%. While there have been reports that some businesses are facing challenges in accessing finance, the reality is that there is funding available for strong, forward thinking businesses. In fact, HSBC has recently announced £4bn worth of funding to support ambitious businesses in their growth plans and encouraging economic growth through international trade. So what should businesses do to make sure their application for funding is successful? The five key areas to consider are: ● Build a strong business plan a business plan should contain information on where the company is now and where you want it to be in five, 10 and 15 years time, detailing how you anticipate getting there. Make sure that your business plan is up-to-date, including historical
BANKER’S BLOG Jill Hague
performance and key figures and trends ● Make sure budgets and forecasts are realistic - use last year’s figures as a guide and share forecast information with other key budget holders in your business to e n s u re a c c u ra c y a n d avo i d over/under estimation. When forecasting, review how your products have sold so far and consider economic factors, such as changes in the market and how your competitors are faring. This will help you to make a more accurate forecast of future demand and budgets needed to support it. Banks will expect to see forecasts for the next three years, so demonstrate that you are forward planning ● Look after your cash flow demonstrating that you have good cashflow management skills will prove that you are able to cope with any unforeseen expenses or delays in payment ● Have a clear rationale - be very transparent about why funding is needed and how it will help
your business to grow. Include your growth expectations for the business and show how you have come to your conclusions by citing thorough research and history of your company ● Seek professional expertise the lynchpin of accessing finance is seeking professional advice. Having a strong working relationship with managers at your bank is a good starting point as they will have unrivalled knowledge helping businesses to access finance and can support with creating strong funding applications. Thorough planning, research and forecasting will help businesses to create a strong case to access finance. Sharing this information with a trusted adviser will also give businesses additional confidence in processing an application for finance. So make sure you work with your professional advisers to help your business grow.
Jill Hague is HSBC area commercial director for Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield
Back on the road
■ POLISHED PERFORMANCE: REV’DUP director Paula Mallinson and daughter Kitt with some of her products
A COMPANY supplying cleaning and polishing products for motorcycles is back on the road to make some new biker friends. Netherton-based REV’DUP has already attended the world famous “Squires Cafe Bar” at Newthorpe, near Leeds, to demonstrate its products – and make customers’ bikes shine like they had just been ridden out of the showroom. REV’DUP director Paula Mallinson said: “It’s great to be back out among the biking community after the winter break. “Its like meeting up with family and friends as bikers always make you feel so welcome!” She said: “This is so much more than just a Job, it’s a new way of life for me and the company.” REV’DUP plan to be at as many bike shows and venues as possible this year – with outings to the BMF Show at Kelso, Scotland and the Mag Yorkshire Pudding Rally at Sheffield already confirmed. Plans are also being made for this year’s TT races on the Isle of Man and a major event in London.
■ PARTNERSHIP: Jeremy Garside (left), of Chadwick Lawrence, with Gareth Davies, of Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd
Suite success for stadium
THE company running Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium has signed a new sponsorship deal. Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd has teamed up with Huddersfield-based legal firm Chadwick Lawrence. From April 1, the hospitality suite on first floor of the stadium will become The Chadwick Lawrence Suite. The suite comfortably accommodates 100, but can also be divided into smaller rooms. It is used extensively on matchdays and for conferences and banqueting. In the past three months, it has also benefited from a £36,000 refurbishment. KSDL managing director Gareth Davies said “We are particularly pleased to announce this partnership, which will be in place for at least the next three years. “Last year, we made the decision to appoint Chadwick Lawrence as our legal partners and since then the relationship has steadily evolved. This announcement is the natural next step.” Jeremy Garside, managing partner at Chadwick Lawrence, said: “We are delighted with this new sponsorship agreement. Since becoming the stadium’s legal partners, we have forged an excellent relationship with them, we hope that this new agreement, further cements this partnership.”
Dragon quest KIRKLEES exporters pursuing opportunities in China have been urged to team up with one of the UK’s most prominent manufacturing trade associations. The PPMA Group of Associations, a non-profit making group representing UK manufacturing, is offering its Dragon Service to local manufacturers looking to export to China. Go to www.ppma.co.uk/china or email grant.collier@ppma.co.uk
S NEWS
Following the leaver EMPLOYER’S BRIEF
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Neil Wilson
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MPLOYERS will often attempt to protect their business interests by including post termination restrictions in the contract of employment. Most commonly, these will relate to a restriction on soliciting customers and clients of the business once an employee has left. A recent case in the High Court has examined the extent to which an employer must show there has been solicitation before a positive finding will be made. The employer in this case provided financial advice to investors and under the contract of employment prevented employees from soliciting, canvassing or endeavouring to solicit or canvass business from any active customer. Seven employees left the business to join a competitor. A significant number of clients requested that their files be moved from the old employer to the new employer. The former employer brought proceedings alleging that the former employees had breached their contracts by soliciting clients to transfer their files. The High Court concluded that there had been no solicitation of former clients by any of the employees. The very fact that there had been a transfer of business was not sufficient to prove that there had been solicitation, and the court took notice of the following facts: ● The new employer proceeding cautiously to ensure that the employee’s comp l i e d w i t h t h e i r n o n s o l i c i t at i o n obligations
● The new employer stated that the covenants from the previous employment were breached their employment would be terminated ● Clients transferring their files were asked how they had heard about the new employer, which in turn provided evidence that there had not been solicitation by the employees ● Evidence given by some of the individual clients showed that there were other reasons for transferring their business rather than active solicitation ● There was a high degree of client dissatisfaction with the previous employer and the new employer has a better presence in the local community with regular face-to-face contact which produced lasting relationships of trust and confidence The focus of previous disputes in the courts has more frequently been on the lawfulness and enforceability of the particular restrictive covenants. This case now highlights the importance of evidence where breach of restrictive covenants is alleged. A belief that there must have been a breach simply because of the number of clients transferring their business is insufficient. Conversely, if new employers and the defendants can produce evidence to show awareness of obligations, a discouragement of solicitation and alternative reasons for the transfer of customers, this will assist in defeating claims brought by former employers.
Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors
They’re well-suited HIGH street menswear retailer Greenwoods has enlisted Birstall-based agency Fantastic Media to boost its online business. The partnership aims to generate about £750,000 for the menswear specialist over the next 12 months. Bradford-based Greenwoods, which has stores in Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Wakefield and Barnsley, was keen to attract new, younger audience – but realised its online store wasn’t performing as well as it could and wasn’t engaging this target market. Fantastic has designed and developed a new website – allowing Greenwoods to significantly expand its online product range and introduce other resale brands to the site. A digital customer relationship
management and full lifecycle marketing campaign form the next part of Fantastic’s strategy and these elements are now underway, having already driven over 2m visitors to the site in less than a month. Greenwoods chief executive Neil Roberts said: “We recognised that now was the time to strengthen our online offering or risk being left behind. “Fantastic Media had the experience that we were looking for and the skills to drive our online business forward. We’re delighted with the results so far and looking forward to a productive long term partnership with the agency!” Richard Jones, operations director at Fantastic Media, said: “Greenwoods is a name on every UK high street, and we’re looking forward to extending that presence online.”
local
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All at sea? Not this firm! A DEWSBURY company providing sleeping bags and mattresses for people away from home is used to supplying its products to people on the move – but not to customers who cover 3,000 nautical miles in 45 days! Duvalay owners Liz and Alan Colleran adapted their award-winning range of memory foam boat mattresses to help two firefighters complete the toughest challenge of their lives. With the help of Liz and Alan’s special mattress, John Haskell and Jamie Windsor were able to get a restful few hours sleep as they rowed across the Atlantic Ocean for charity in some of the worst weather conditions for 15 years. Liz said: “When I was asked to help John and Jamie on their Atlantic Dash it really captured my attention. It gave us an opportunity to support a great cause and prove our products could stand up to even the most extreme conditions.” The made-to-measure mattress had to be no more than 5cm thick to fit the “Woodvale Pairs” class
■ CABIN PRESSURE: Liz Colleran, of Duvalay boat, which was also designed specifically for the race. The mattress was fitted with a water resistant fabric cover that was both breathable and stretchy, allowing the memory foam to mould exactly to the contours of John’s and Jamie’s bodies – counteract the pitching and rolling of the boat and provided extra comfort while they slept. Said John: “The cabin of the boat was small and a bit like a coffin, so only one of us could sleep in there at a time. “The Duvalay mattress gave us some much needed home comforts
and meant that when you crawled into bed, you sunk into the mattress and went straight to sleep. It was heaven. “The walls of the cabin were also padded with memory foam bumpers and sometimes, you would be thrown about so much by the storm, you would wake up on the other side of the cabin. The padding helped protect us and made sure we woke up feeling fresh as a daisy. We can’t praise the products enough for their comfort and durability.” The Atlantic Dash helped John and Jamie raise £23,000 for The Fire-fighters Charity, Help for Heroes, the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and Breast Cancer Care. The Duvalay range is popular with caravanners, holidaymakers, truckers and boat enthusiasts. The range shot to fame in 2011 after its appearance on hit BBC2 show Dragons’ Den, where Liz and Alan secured an £80,000 investment for their innovative memory foam sleeping bag from serial entrepreneur Hilary Devey.
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Pledge to back apprenticeships CONSTRUCTION group Southdale has made a major commitment to apprenticeships. The Halifax-based construction and development specialist, which worked with Kirklees Council on a major housing development at Brackenhall, has vowed to continue supporting training and development opportunities with a target of employing four apprentices on each of its sites. The pledge comes after the company received CVs from more than 200 young people hoping to secure an apprenticeship. Regional director Trudie McCormick (pictured) said: “This volume of interest reflects the levels of enthusiasm for work in Yorkshire, especially at a time when there are growing numbers of young people not in education, employment or training. “Southdale has developed a reputation as a champion of youth opportunity, whether employing young people or working with schools and colleges to give experience to students. “I believe this reputation is deserved and at least part of the reason for the strong interest we have seen this year. “We intend to build upon that with further apprenticeship recruitment.”
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Let’s get ready for a Green Deal KIRKLEES firms have been urged to start training their workforce now as the Government’s Green Deal energy efficiency policies gather momentum. The call comes from the Green Deal Skills Alliance – a body made up of CITB-ConstructionSkills, Asset Skills and SummitSkills – as research suggests the district will see strong demand for household energy-saving measures available under the Green Deal. Research commissioned by the GDSA shows that condensing boilers are likely to be the most popular energy efficiency measure in Yorkshire. Employers and training providers rate the region at 5.5 out of 10 for how readily training was available to offer Green Deal type skills and knowledge. This figure compares to the
highest rating of 7.08 out of 10 in the east of England and the lowest rating of 5.26 out of 10 in London. Overall, the majority of employers polled thought that although larger firms were more likely to dominate the Green Deal market, real opportunities for SMEs to win work would be made available through subcontracting for larger firms. Steve Housden (pictured), sector strategy manager for Yorkshire and Humber, said: “We know there is disquiet within the industry about larger firms dominating the Green Deal market. “We are working hard to support SMEs in Kirklees so they can discover and unlock the scheme’s commercial and employment opportunities through our Cut the Carbon campaign and our work as part
of the Green Deal Skills Alliance. “We also recognise that there has to be training available before upskilling can begin – and without consumer demand training providers cannot afford to develop training. “To address this issue, we are working with the Government to ensure there are no shortfalls of Green Deal type training. “Finally with our GDSA partners we are developing the standards and qualifications in the form of our Green Deal Competency Framework to ensure assessors and installers have the right skills to carry out Green Deal work.” Kirklees firms can research the existing training and accreditation requirements for the scheme at www.cskills.org /cutcarbon.
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
Retailers face rental worries RETAILERS face a rental headache, according to an insolvency expert in Kirklees. The decision by video game chain Game to call in the administrators yesterday has highlighted the problems facing high street retailers. But Chris Wood, a partner at Clough Corporate Solutions in Cleckheaton and Yorkshire committee member with insolvency trade body R3, said Game – which is facing a rental bill of £21m – was not the only business at risk. Sunday was the deadline for quarterly rent payments, paid in advance in nearly 90% of cases, he explained. And businesses in the retail sector were more likely than any other to be concerned about their debt levels – and many of them were unable to fund expansion.
■ RISKS: Chris Wood, of Clough Corporate Solutions
Said Mr Wood: “Negotiating with your landlords is key to staving off administration. In addition we would be happy to see more businesses paying rent on a monthly or ‘pay as you go’ basis so retail businesses are able to plan
their cash flow more effectively. “We are also calling for greater clarity surrounding the issue of rent due in the event of an insolvency and whether it counts as an expense of administration. Is it fair for landlords to demand full payment when only a small part of the premises was used during the (short) period of administration? “The net effect means it is harder to trade a business during an administration. A recent survey of R3 members found that on average, nearly a third of potential trading administrations are now pre-packed or liquidated because of uncertainty surro u n d i n g t h e e x p e n s e s regime. “This is clearly not ideal during the current difficult economic conditions.”
Industry safety plea CONSTRUCTION companies in Kirklees are being urged to train their workers to improve safety on the building site. CITB-ConstructionSkills, the industry training board and sector skills council for construction is rolling out a new Health, Safety and Environment Test, which comes into place from April 1. This comes at a time when the Health and Safety Executive has been clamping down on construction site safety. Between February 20 and March 16, the HSE inspectors have been visiting Yorkshire construction sites as part of an inspection initiative aimed at reducing death and injury in the construction sector. Anyone taking the Health, Safety and Environment Test after April 1 will need to familiarise themselves with the updated question bank and the new features of the test in order to give themselves the best chance of completing it. The test includes a number of new elements whilst retaining core fundamentals,
including: a fully refreshed and updated question bank including the new universal hazard symbols; an increase in the number of questions on respiratory risks and the hazards they can pose; knowledge questions on the environment; behavioural case studies which assess how a candidate responds to highlight safe working practices on site. New revision information is available, including the video ‘Setting Out’, a unique training video which highlights the required behaviours of both the site management and the workers. Kevin Fear, head of health and safety strategy at CITB-ConstructionSkills, said: “Whilst construction workers need good awareness of the health, safety and environmental issues that affect construction sites, further improvements to the industry’s accident record will only be made once we have workers responding appropriately to the conditions that they will find on site.” Visit www.cskills.org
Firm’s five-star performance BARRATT Yorkshire West has achieved the maximum five-star housebuilder rating – for the third year running – in an annual customer satisfaction survey run by the Home Builders Federation. The independent UK-wide survey, completed by 23,000 UK homebuyers during October, 2010, to September, 2011, revealed that more than 90% of all respondents are happy with the quality of their new homes and would recommend Barratt Yorkshire West. Sales director Ian Ruthven said: “We take
an enormous amount of pride in the consistently high levels of quality and service that we deliver for our customers across the Yorkshire area. “It’s a great achievement for our employees to be recognised as leaders in customer service.” Stewart Baseley, executive chairman at HBF, said: “The results are a testament to the efforts made by our industry to deliver products and services that consumers are happy with, despite the difficult business environment.”
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
Movers and shakers
Page 8
Network group goes for growth ■ IN THE FRAME: Competition winner Fiona Finchett receives her framed winning shot from store manager Mario Capostagno
Castle Hill image proves a winner A COLOURFUL shot of Castle Hill taken from her garden has earned 16-year-old Fiona FInchett first prize in a competition run by sofa retailer DFS. Fiona was presented with a framed version of her photo by store manager Mario Capostagno. And a copy of the image has also gone up on the wall at the store at Phoenix Retail Park, Leeds Road. To mark the opening of its Huddersfield store, DFS asked local people which three local landmarks they loved the most and Castle Hill was named the favourite. Then DFS launched a photography competition to find the best photo of the local beauty spot to hang in the store. Fiona’s image was chosen from more than 50 high-quality entries. DFS area manager Adam Hankinson said: “We were staggered by the wonderful quality of all the entries submitted, but Fiona’s image really captured the beauty of Castle Hill in all its glory. “We hope the people of Huddersfield will come in to see the picture for themselves.”
Steve Hammell
Grant Thornton STEVE Hammell has joined Grant Thornton’s Yorkshire corporate finance advisory team as director. Mr Hammell (pictured) spent six years with National Australia Bank working in corporate banking, most recently leading the regional commercial real estate team. Before that, he worked in corporate finance at PwC for nine years having qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen. Mr Hammell has 15 years’ experience of advising plcs and high growth private companies. He has also worked extensively with private equity and banking institutions and has been particularly active in the food and beverages sector as well as support services, commercial real estate, industrial manufacturing and leisure. In his new role at Grant Thornton, he will specialise in mid-market mergers and acquisitions advice, particularly private equity transactions, across the Yorkshire region.
A NETWORKING group has moved to the next level. Huddersfield Town has signed a partnership with West Yorkshire-based Yorkshire Business Growth to manage the Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy. The enterprise academy was set up in 2009 to provide a focal point for businesses in the Yorkshire region to come together, exchange ideas and learn new aspects of business practice through a series of networking events. As a result of this partnership, YBG will manage and promote the quarterly enterprise academy events. The academy will continue to be free of charge for businesses to be a part of and is open to all businesses – big or small. YBG has a group of “Enterprise Scouts” who work with businesses and help them become familiar to the football club and the work that it does. Paul Scott, senior partner at YBG, said: “YBG are pleased to be working with Huddersfield Town in ‘powering the Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy’. “It is a fantastic opportunity for YBG and our partners to work with the Premiership-quality team at the football club. “The quality of the Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy events, together with the highly focused brief from the club, means that we can be very inventive in the style, nature and range of the events as we take the enterprise academy concept to businesses in the region.
■ LEVEL PLAYING FIELD: Mark Jacobs, Town advertising manager, is pictured with YBG partners Anthony Jackson and Paul Scott, and Ajin Jacob Abraham, international development manager at the football club
“Our hope is that for the 2012/13 season, our audience is Championship standard.” Mark Jacobs, advertising manager at the club, said: “The enterprise academy is another innovation from the club to get new businesses in the Yorkshire region involved with the club. “There is more to the football club than
what happens on the pitch for 90 minutes. The club has a wonderful reputation in the community as a ‘business hub’ for making things happen in the region.” The enterprise academy has a LinkedIn group with a membership of more than 275 people.
Dean joins an all-star line-up HUDDERSFIELD Town chairman Dean Hoyle (right) is all set to fulfil a West Yorkshire fixture. Dean will be in Wakefield next month as part of a star line-up of speakers at a major business conference. Danny Matharu, Birstall-based organiser of the highly successful Kirklees Business Conference, is switching his attention to the Wakefield Business Conference, which takes place on April 26 at the town’s Cedar Court Hotel. Dean, founder of Card Factory,
attracted a bumper audience when he spoke about his experiences in business at the Huddersfield conference last year. At WBC, he will feature in a “Best of the Best” line-up with other speakers who have appeared at previous conferences – saleswoman Nicky Pattinson, motivational speaker Brad Burton and presenter Nick Hill. The WBC event, part of the wider 'Yorkshire Business Conferences programme for 2012, has already signed up
hundreds of businesses to attend. It will include seminars, an exhibition featuring more than 40 local companies and unlimited networking opportunities. Said Danny: “The whole purpose of WBC is to encourage our businesses to trade with each other more and hence create a stronger local working economy.” For details on the event, go to www.wakefieldbusiness conference.co.uk or call 01924 284524.
Forward thinking from Etta NETWORKING group Forward Ladies has announced a bigger and better Women in Business Awards for 2012. The annual competition – now into its third year – aims to recognised Yorkshire’s outstanding businesswomen. Previous winners of the top award are Kate Hardcastle, of Holywell Green-based business transformation company Insight with Passion, and Sarah Dunwell,
of Leeds-based social enterprise CREATE. Forward Ladies founder Etta Cohen (pictured right) said professions were invited to enter the awards by nominating themselves or getting a friend or colleague to nominate them. A 500-word award entry is required, along with a 50-word biography, high quality photograph and supporting documentation. Entry is via
website http://wiba2012.com/ The closing date for entries is Friday, June 29. Shortlisted entries will be invited to a ceremony on November 16 at the Queens Hotel in Leeds. Four new awards – for Professional Services, SME, Retail and PA of the Year – have been added to the eight categories previously recognised. An overall winner is chosen from the category winners.