Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

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JONATHAN JAMES Career that clicked!

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COLIN BARRATT It’s good to go green Column - Page 4

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Cleckheaton firm gets new owners A CLECKHEATON factory is set to get new owners following the takeover of its parent group.

German-based TMD Friction Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of friction materials for automotive and industrial applications, has announced an agreement to sell the business to Japanese group Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. TMD includes TMD Friction UK Ltd, with operations at Hunsworth Lane, Cleckheaton, and in Hartlepool and Manchester.

The Cleckheaton business, which traces its origins to 1878, makes disc brake pads for cars and disc brake pads and drum brake linings for commercial vehicles.

The TMD group also makes similar products for racing cars as well as friction materials for rail and industrial applications. Its brands include Textar, Pagid, Mintex, Don and Cobreq.

In a statement, TMD said the group had grown rapidly over the past three years, taking major strides in fast-growing regions such as China, Brazil and the independent after-market.

It said the group was now well-positioned, having made “significant investment” in capacity and product development as well as through targeted acquisitions.

For the year ended 31 December 2010, TMD reported a 20% increase in sales to 637m euros.

NISH, which is listed on the Tokyo stock exchange, has an established position as a global player in the areas of brake, mechatronics, textiles and electronics.

NISH’s brake business is run globally by Nisshinbo Brake Inc. Its overseas subsidiaries include manufacturing facilities in Japan, South Korea, the USA, China, Thailand, and India.

■ OPPORTUNITY: TMD chief executive Derek Whitworth

Following the takeover, the combined business will have revenues exceeding 1bn euros and more than 6,000 employees.

The transaction is expected to be completed following competition authority approval.

Following completion, NISH will continue to operate TMD as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary.

Derek Whitworth, chief executive of TMD, said: “I am delighted to be joining the Nisshinbo group of companies.

“This is a great opportunity for TMD to continue our development with a strong and successful partner.

Their expertise, particularly in the markets where we are growing fastest will be invaluable as we seek to accelerate our expansion and continue to provide innovative and leading products to our customers.”

Koji Nishihara, president of NISB, said: “The combination of NISB and TMD under the ownership of NISH creates the largest, most capable, global automotive brake friction manufacturer in the world.”

‘Polluter pays’ warning to Kirklees companies KIRKLEES firms are being urged to look again at their insurance policies following a series of cases of industrial pollution by businesses.

Under EU directives, the “polluter pays” principle means that organisations causing damage to the environment have to pay for damage caused by pollution and the clean-up costs for contamination.

Peter Elliott, head of marketing for Bluefin Insurance Services, with

offices in Cleckheaton, said: “Pollution rightly remains a hot topic and most businesses display a really responsible attitude.

“But incidents of pollution continue to occur and many companies discover too late that their standard insurance policies are not comprehensive enough to pay for the clean-up and end up having to pay out huge sums of money from their own resources.”

One Yorkshire-based water supplier

was fined £10,500 and ordered to pay the Environment Agency more than £2,400 after letting sewage get into a stream that leads to a lake.

Seepage of oil from tanks, the growing practice of building on brownfield sites, the polluting of rivers and streams due to escape of effluent and disposal of waste were all issues that businesses have to face with growing vigilance, said Mr Elliott.

“According to the latest figures, the

average fine for businesses committing an environmental offence is £10,080,” said Mr Elliott. “It is important for all businesses to reassess their policies and ensure that they are adequately insured when it comes to pollution and the environment.”

Under UK law, magistrates courts can impose fines of up to £20,000 for pollution offences. For more serious cases, the crown court can impose unlimited fines and prison sentences.

INSIDE Surgery success A HOLME Valley dental surgery has been boosted by a six-figure loan.

Katrina Hayes-Sinclair, who acquired Holmfirth Dental Surgery at the beginning of this year and has been a qualified dentist for 18 years, has expanded and refurbished the business with support from Lloyds TSB Commercial.

● Full story - Page 5

The most trusted news brand in the business

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Follower of fashion FORMER public relations executive Jayne Sheridan, now teaching at Huddersfield University, has put textiles under the spotlight with her new book Fashion Media Promotion: The New Black Magic.

● Full story - Page 8

Solicitors for business inYorkshire www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk Huddersfield | Wakefield | Halifax | Leeds

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

Rivals unmoved by Tesco’s ‘price war’ S U P E R M A R K E T g i a n t Te s c o launched a price war after cutting the cost of 3,000 products as part of a £500m campaign.

Some 14,000 staff across the UK changed nearly 3m labels over the weekend on items such as milk, bread, and fruit and vegetables.

Tesco, which has lost market share in recent weeks as cash-strapped consumers shop around for the best deals, will cover the price cuts by slashing the number of multi-buy promotions and scrapping its double Clubcard points reward offer, meaning the scheme will revert to one point for every pound spent.

The price offensive is set to trigger an aggressive response from rivals Asda and Sainsbury’s – which have accused Tesco of using spin tactics – as well as from fourth-place rival Morrisons.

Richard Brasher, Tesco’s UK chief executive, said: “We’re giving customers a more straightforward shop – reducing the number of promotions and putting the emphasis on clear and reliable savings that everyone can benefit from.”

A typical price cut would include loose carrots, which will be reduced by 14p per kilo, which Mr Brasher said would save 747,000 households around £5.4m a year.

Elsewhere, a medium sliced white loaf will be cut from 69p to 55p, a pack of Braeburn apples will be down to £1.40 from £1.75, a bag of maris piper potatoes will drop to £1.39 from £1.74 and an Italian pepperoni pizza will slip from £3.59 to £2.85.

Tesco said it will also increase the value customers can get from Clubcard vouchers by improving the exchange

rates on the most popular rewards from three times to four times the value.

The most popular rewards include deals with Pizza Express, Cafe Rouge and Strada.

Asda upped the stakes in the supermarket pricing war this year with a scheme that sees it guarantee to be 10% cheaper than its rivals, while Ocado and Waitrose have matched their prices with Tesco’s. Sainsbury’s is also piloting a price-matching scheme in Northern Ireland.

Leeds-based Asda, the country’s second biggest supermarket chain,

said: “No amount of spin can change the fact our price guarantee ended price wars. No ifs, no buts, no fine print – 10% better value than our rivals on a comparable grocery shop or a voucher to make it so.

“Others can huff and puff as much as they like. Shoppers want savings not spin, pounds in their pockets, not points on plastic.”

Sainsbury’s came out fighting as well, accusing its larger rival of misleading customers.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “This is classic smoke and mirrors from Tesco, giving with one hand and taking with the other. Removing double Clubcard points will save Tesco £350m.”

Tesco’s market share slipped to 30.4% from 30.8% in the three months to September 4, according to retail analyst Kantar.

Busy summer boosts Travelex

Cake supplier celebrates

A BUSY summer at Britain’s airports helped foreign cur rency giant Travelex report higher sales and earnings for the three months to August.

The group, which has 1,000 foreign exchange bureaux and 500 cash machines globally, said sales were up by 6%. Underlying earnings rose by 2% – boosted by strong performances in the UK, Europe and the USA. Heathrow saw record passengers in July, while a new service in the UK – where customers bought money online and picked it up at the airport – had also done well.

The summer update came as the

THE maker of low-fat cakes for the Weightwatchers brand said supermarket shoppers continued to have a taste for its products despite the downturn.

Finsbury Foods, which is the UK’s second largest supermarket cake supplier and also makes cakes for Thorntons and Disney, posted underlying profits of £5.8m for the year to July 2 – an increase of 8.3% after sales rose by 12.6% to £189.6m.

Thorntons-branded sales jumped by 17% and Disney by 16% following heavy promotional activity and the success of Disney films such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Cars 2. Weight-

group published first-half figures to June that showed revenues rose by 9% to £356.5m. Underlying profits were 17% ahead at £49.9m.

The consumer group, Consumer Focus, has issued a super complaint against travel currency providers, arguing that customers needed reassurance that bureaux de change were offering customers a good deal.

Travelex chief executive Peter Jackson said the company was relaxed over the prospect of an inquiry, suggesting the main thrust of the complaint was aimed towards the banks and credit card groups rather than independent operators.

watchers products also gained market share.

Finsbury said it was focused on making its products more affordable, despite facing rising costs for butter, sugar and wheat.

Chief executive John Duffy said that “keeping things affordable for the customer was essential”, adding that where possible the group will modify its product range to offset price increases.

Sales rose by 12% in its cakes business over the year to £139.6m.

Finsbury’s bread arm lifted sales by 14.2% to £50m. Bottom-line group profits rose by 22% to £5.9m.

Page 2 Land sale agreed STRUGGLING mail order flowers and gifts firm Flying Brands has agreed to sell land around its Retreat Farm HQ in Jersey to a local property developer for £2.1m.

The cash raised will pay off a £1.7m loan and provide working capital.

Last week, Flying Brands warned it was close to breaching its bank covenants after poor autumn trading.

The company said the performance of its Gardening Direct business had been significantly below expectations, while its other businesses were also performing below hopes.

At the time, the firm said that without further action it would need to further renegotiate banking arrangements or seek a waiver from banks.

The firm recently agreed a new refinancing deal after a profits warning in April.

Parting company DESIGNER clothes firm All Saints has parted company with chief executive Stephen Craig, a few months after completing a critical refinancing.

Mr Craig cited a lack of clarity between his role and that of chairman and founder Kevin Stanford for hid decision to quit.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £29.52 -0.33 Gannett 577.69 -6.43 Hess Corp £32.74 -0.34 Microsoft 1594.91 -15.42 Motors Liquidation 48.19 Wal-Mart Stores £32.71 +0.07 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 2911/2 +3/4 BAE Systems 2715/8 -21/4 1 Rolls-Royce 599 /2 +31/2 AIM Brady Plc 721/4 Dawson Intl 13/4 Man Brnze 36 -1 Uniq 951/4 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 1681/4 -41/2 BANKS Barclays 156 +10 HSBC 4997/8 +17/8 Lloyds Banking Gp 351/4 +11/8 Ryl Scotland 235/8 +3/4 Stan Chart 12751/2 +31/2 BEVERAGES Diageo 1235 +21 +1/8 SABMiller £207/8 CHEMICALS Croda 1671 -9 Elementis 98 120 -43/8 Johnsn Mat 1531 -29 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2525/8 +41/2 3

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ELECTRICITY Drax Gp 4977/8 +67/8 Intl Power 3155/8 +101/4 Scottish & Sthrn 1281 -3 Energy ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 1291/2 -17/8 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3241/4 +25/8 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 171 +21/4 Cable & Wireless 385/8 -7/8 Comm 1 Cable & Wireless 29 /2 -1/4 Wwide Colt Group 1031/2 -1 KCOM 703/4 +3/4 Talktalk Telecom 127 +2 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2871/8 +27/8 Sainsbury 2707/8 +45/8 3 Tesco 371 /8 +61/4 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1137 +48 Tate Lyle 5921/2 -5 Unilever 1981 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 2925/8 +55/8 National Grid 6231/2 -31/2 1 Pennon Grp 683 /2 +201/2 Severn 1494 +30 United Utils 6011/2 +21/2 GENERAL FINANCIAL 1

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ICAP 432 -43/4 London StockExch 827 -10 Man Group 2275/8 -33/4 Provident Financial 1013 -5 Schroders 1228 +34 Schroders NV 1000 +30 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 4101/2 -97/8 REXAM 3067/8 +6 Smiths Grp 922 +10 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 211/2 +1/4 Carphone Whse 3511/4 +11/4 Dixons Retail 111/2 +1/2 Home Retail 116 -7/8 1 Inchcape 279 /4 -41/4 Kingfisher 2415/8 +3/4 M&S 327 -7/8 3 Mothercare 333 /8 +141/4 Next £251/2 -1/8 WH Smith 4951/8 -25/8 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 581 +31/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 87 +1/4 Barrat Dev 803/8 Persimmon 4561/4 -41/8 Reckitt Benckiser £325/8 +5/8 Taylor Wimpey 341/2 +5/8 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING Charter 854 -21/2 IMI 7291/2 +4 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 2831/4 -131/4

BBA Aviation 1613/4 +21/4 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 295 +173/4 Lgl & Gen 971/2 +57/8 5 Old Mutual 106 /8 +25/8 Prudential 561 +141/2 1 Resolution 249 /4 +93/8 Standard Life 1997/8 +51/4 MEDIA BSkyB 6831/2 +13 D Mail Tst 347 +35/8 1 ITV 59 /2 +13/4 Johnston Press 47/8 Pearson 1137 +4 Reed Elsevier 4971/4 +103/4 STV Group 1051/4 +1/4 Trinity Mirror 411/4 +1/4 Utd Business 4441/4 UTV 1231/2 WPP 609 +71/2 Yell Group 41/8 MINING Anglo American £225/8 +1/8 Antofagasta 950 -21 BHP Billiton 1747 -141/2 Eurasian Natural 550 -4 Res Fresnillo 1524 -112 Kazakhmys 782 -32 Lonmin 1067 -10 5 Rio Tinto £29 /8 -1/4 VEDANTA 1070 -43 RESOURCES Xstrata 820 -6 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 4877/8 +101/8 1

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Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

2741/2 971/2 6231/2 1601

+11/2 -1/4 -31/2 +55

FTSE closed at

5089.37 Up 22.55 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1333 RSA Insurance Gp 1097/8 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 1144 BP 3843/4 Cairn Energy 2811/8 Royal Dutch Shell A 19591/2 Royal Dutch Shell B 19991/2 Total £271/8 Tullow Oil 1290 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 838 Petrofac 1229 Wood Gp(J) 519 PERSONAL GOODS

+62 +27/8 -181/2 -3/8 +2 -29 -24 +3/8 -6 -31/2 -19 -12

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £277/8 +1/8 Axis-Shield 405 -50 GlaxoSmithK XD 20 Shire 1965 +17 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 477 +1/4 Captl Shop Cent 3041/4 +77/8 DTZ Hldgs 27 -1/8 Hamrsn 367 +1/2 1 Land Secs 633 /2 -1 SEGRO 217 +1/2 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Autonomy Corp £253/8 +1/8 Invensys 2231/4 +21/4 Logica 741/8 +1/4 Misys 2147/8 -6 7 Sage Group 257 /8 +1/8 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 4273/8 -3/4 Bunzl 770 +1 Capita 702 -111/2 De La Rue 793 +3 Electrocomp 1911/4 -23/8 Experian 7041/2 +91/2 G4S 2601/4 +57/8 Hays 723/8 +3/4 7 Homeserve 471 /8 +111/4 Menzies J 488 +11/2 Rentokil 73 +1/8 Smiths News 823/4 -1 Wolseley 1437 +12 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 564 -101/2 Psion 531/2 -1/4 1

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TOURIST RATES

TOBACCO Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco

£271/8 £211/4

+1/8 +3/8

LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airlines Gp Ladbrokes Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Rank Org Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread

1221/4 £201/2 5261/2 353 33 3201/4 1356 4413/4 1055 1471/8

-11/8 +2 +1 -11/2 +61/2 +12 -1/4 +17 +5

1211/2 2521/2 2321/8 1221/4 2411/2 1511/4 1600

-15/8 +7/8 +51/4 -51/4 +3/4 +21/4 +5

FTSE 100

INDEX 5089.37

+22.56

FTSE 250

INDEX 9839.24

+23.74

Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.52 dollars Bangladesh................. 109.45 taka Brazil.............................. 2.53 reals Canada....................... 1.53 dollars China ............................. 8.82 yuan Czech Republic ...... 26.23 korunas Denmark....................... 8.16 krone Euro............................... 1.10 euro Hong Kong................ 11.44 dollars Hungary................... 301.30 forints India.......................... 67.58 rupees Japan........................... 112.17 yen Mexico ....................... 18.92 pesos New Zealand .............. 1.87 dollars Norway ......................... 8.67 krone Pakistan.................. 127.45 rupees Philippines ................. 58.02 pesos South Africa................. 12.00 rand South Korea.............. 1612.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 160.79 rupees Sweden....................... 10.27 krona Switzerland.................. 1.34 francs Taiwan ...................... 41.29 dollars Turkey....................... 2.68 new lira USA ............................ 1.48 dollars

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS YOU could say Jonathan James is happy to be home.

The Huddersfield-born solicitor is back in town having joined law firm Austin Kemp, based at Northumberland Street, as head of its private client and family law department.

Jonathan, who now lives in Brighouse, was previously managing partner at the Altrincham office of law firm Stowe, having also worked from its Harrogate premises.

The lengthy daily commute is something he doesn’t miss – and for that reason alone, Huddersfield wins its case hands down.

Says Jonathan: “Instead of taking an hour-and-a-quarter in each direction to get to work, it now takes me 10 or 15 minutes. I reach home on an evening and I’m not physically exhausted!”

Jonathan was born in Leeds, but moved with his family to Huddersfield when he was three-and-a-half.

He grew up in Edgerton and attended Oakes School and Bradford Grammar. In his teens, as exams beckoned, he remained uncertain about a choice of career.

“Like all lads of 17 or 18 I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he admits. “I didn’t have much enthusiasm for anything.

“When I did give it some thought, accountancy seemed a good idea at the time, but it didn’t suit me.

“However, it left me with the ability to read accounts and I’m very comfortable with figures – just don’t as me to prepare a set of accounts as I wouldn’t know where to start.”

Instead, Jonathan joined the civil service and began work with the Crown Prosecution Service as a law clerk helping take cases from magistrates to crown court.

Jonathan soon decided that law was the career for him – and it was the human drama played out in the courtroom that appealed.

“Every case is a story,” he says. “And who isn’t interested in stories? I prefer dealing with people to dealing with pieces of paper.

“You see a lot of pieces of paper in this profession, but you are also dealing with people.”

Jonathan moved from the CPS to a private practice in Bishop Auckland, where he got his law qualification and completed his training.

He then moved to Chambers & Co in Brighouse, where he spent almost three years dealing with crime, divorce and personal injury cases.

Later, he worked for Baxter Caulfield and Lister Croft before joining Stowe, having moved more towards family law work.

“Originally, I had no intention of doing family law,” says Jonathan. “But like lots of people, I ended up doing things I hadn’t really planned on doing.

“My job is about helping people with genuine problems.

“Some areas of law can

profile

Page 3

Open and shut case be cold and calculated, but I enjoy helping people sort out their lives and removing some of the distress.

“You cannot do everything as a lawyer, but you can sort out some of the practicalities.”

Jonathan says family cases can be difficult. “In most ordinary cases, you are talking about commonsense.

You have two people who don’t want to live together any more. They want to live apart and it’s about dividing up what they own between them.

“Sometimes, they are blinded by their emotions and that’s when they need someone to help them.

“The worst cases are those about children. It depresses me when you see what parents are prepared to do to the children so that they can continue their ‘war’ between themselves. It is human nature at its worst.”

■ HELPING: Jonathan James, head of private client and family law at Austin Kemp Solicitors in Huddersfield

Jonathan’s other role is as a deputy district judge, hearing cases at courts across the North West.

He is committed to a maximum of 50 days a year – travelling by train to places like Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Preston and Lancaster.

“I particularly like Blackpool,” says Jonathan.

“I’ve lived most of my life in the centre of the country so it’s good to get to the seaside.

“The court isn’t far from the front, so I can usually take a lunchtime walk.”

As a judge, Jonathan relishes the “intellectual challenge” of bringing his 25 years experience of the law to bear on a variety of cases, such as landlord and tenant disputes, personal injury claims and contract disputes.

Unlike the daily grind of travelling to Altrincham or Harrogate, Jonathan finds his trips over the Pennines less stressful.

“I’m on the train,” he says.

“I’m sitting reading and whatever people say about the train service, it’s pretty reliable. I’m not driving on the M60 or the M62.”

He also enjoys working with a young law firm like Austin Kemp. “They’re very nice, quiet people,” he says.

“They get on with their work.

I’m probably the noisiest person in the office.

“What I also like is that they don’t come with a huge number of preconceptions.

“What you learned over the last 20 years may be completely useless to you now.

“It’s what you have learned in the past two years that’s most important.”

While Jonathan concedes that he has – generally speaking – a “Monday to Friday” job, he has dealt with cases which required him to

Jonathan James

spend the entire weekend preparing for a court hearing on Monday.

“If the work has to be done, it has to be done, whether that means working in the evenings or the weekend,” he says.

When he gets the chance to retreat from the world of law, Jonathan’s passion is for landscape photography.

He says: “It started when my sister’s boyfriend, who was a good photographer, gave her a framed photo as a present and I thought: ‘I could do that’.

“I get ideas from books and a lot of magazines and I look at maps to work out locations. ”You need to check the weather forecast and

know what time of day to be there and where the light is going to fall.

“You need to know what sort of light you need if you are going to work in black and white or colour. A fair bit of the pleasure is in doing the planning.

“I’m doing quite a lot of photography in black and white and infra-red at the moment.

“Some of my best photography in the past 12 months was during the cold spell.

“I went to Ogden Water where there’s a little river feeding into the reservoir and the ice in the field was phenomenal.”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Senior associate Age: 48 Family: Married to Beverley with children Katherine, 20, Andrew, 19 and Rachel,15 Holidays: Caravanning in the Dordogne, France Car: Kia Sorento First job: Working in my grandfather’s bakery in Bristol making vanilla slices!

Best thing about job: Being in Huddersfield Worst thing about job: The rare occasions when you see one parent lose their relationship with their children.

It’s horrible Business tip: Don’t let your business take over your life. Business is important, but no one ever died wishing he had spent more time in the office.

Austin Kemp Solicitors Work: Full service law firm Site: Northumberland Street, Huddersfield Phone: 01484 483033 Email: jonathan.james@austin kemp.co.uk Website:www.austin kemp.co.uk

On the board with Getting to the Core The KBC is the place to be In the new Revell Ward Suite on Level 3 For business support there’s no better place And an opportune time to meet face to face It’s our third year running as an exhibitionist And this year we promise a bit of a twist Our theme of the day will be “Getting to the Core” So bob down and see us if you want to know more!

Offers and giveaways there are bound to be So come down and see us at the KBC.

STAND 48

Kirklees Business Conference Galpharm Stadium

Revell Ward Suite

www.revellward.co.uk

local

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Coming together for KBC event TWO communications companies have joined forces for this week’s Kirklees Business Conference.

Specialists in mobile communications, Code Blue Communications have partnered with landline/broadband providers ME Consultancy and will be exhibiting alongside each other at the day-long conference, which takes place on Thursday at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium.

Regulars at the Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy and the regional Yorkshire Mafia events, the two companies have spotted areas in which they can combine their resources rather than compete.

Mark Evans, managing director of ME Consultancy, said the link-up allowed both companies to offer a wider service, resulting in savings for both companies’ clients.

Russell Goldthorpe, of Code Blue Communications, said: “This event is an important part of our business calendar. We have a UK-wide customer base, but our headquarters is here in Huddersfield and we always enjoy the networking that KBC provide.”

Along with an exhibition, seminars and networking, Kirklees Business Conference will feature speakers including Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle, paralympic champion Simon Jackson, entrepreneur Kirsty Henshaw, Huddersfield University vice-chancellor Prof Bob Cryan and motivational speaker Nicky Pattinson.

LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A BUSINESS? Use our knowledge and experience to guide you through the process: ➢

Valuation advice

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Negotiating the deal

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Raising finance

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Tax mitigation ideas

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Getting the job done Our independent and partner-driven approach ensures clients receive advice they can rely on and trust.

To discuss your plans in confidence please conatct David Butterworth

W&S

Wheawill & Sudworth Experience you can count on

P: 01484 423691

E:david.butterworth@wheawills.co.uk W: www.wheawills.co.uk

Independent financial planning services for companies and individuals Eastwood & Partners (Financial Services) Ltd

Pennine House, Lowfields Close, Lowfields Business Park, Elland HX5 9DA 01422 377737 www.eastwoodfinancial.co.uk Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority

KIRKLEES BUSIN

Driving ahead for a ‘greener’ future USINESSES and individuB als wanting to do their bit for the environment can take

advantage of various tax breaks when looking at investing in “green cars” or energy and water saving equipment.

Here are a few ideas to be thinking about.

Under the Enhanced Capital Allowances regime, businesses of any size are able to claim a 100% tax write-off on their spending on qualifying cars and plant and machinery.

For example, if a business buys a car with a Co2 emission of 110g/km or less, such as an Audi A1 1.6 TDI 105PSh with a Co2 emission of 99g/km for instance, it will be able to claim a 100% tax write off on the cost of the car against taxable profits in the year the car is bought.

The tax write-off reduces to 20% of cost if the Co2 emission range is 111/160g/km and reduces further to 10% once the 160g/km level is breached.

“Green cars” are fuel efficient and carry a reduced or, in some cases, no road fund licence charge.

To obtain the 100% tax write-off, the car will also need to be purchased new. Second hand cars will not qualify, and the expenditure needs to be incurred on or before

TAX TALK Colin Barratt

March 31, 2013.

A list of cars with a Co2 emission level of 110g/km or less can be found at http://carfueldata.direct . g o v. u k / s e a r c h - c o m p a n y -car-tax.aspx If a “green car” is provided as a benefit to an employee of the business, the low Co2 rating will result in a lower tax bill for that employee as well as a reduced employer’s national insurance cost.

Where a car with a Co2 emission of no more than 160g/km is leased, the business can claim all of the hire charges for tax purposes. For cars with a Co2 greater than this figure only 85% of the hire charge is tax-deductible.

Enhanced capital allowances are also available to businesses choosing to invest in water or energy saving equipment. As long as equipment meet certain standards, items such as efficient taps and toilets, leakage detection equipment, energy efficient boilers, com-

bined heating and power systems, and refrigeration equipment can qualify for the beneficial tax treatment.

Where equipment does not in itself qualify for the 100% allowance but components of it do, then the 100% allowance will still be given on the component parts.

Guidance on the equipment eligible for enhanced allowances can be found at http://etl.decc.gov.uk /etl/default.htm It is worth checking with the supplier of equipment to ensure that entitlement to enhance capital allowances is not missed.

Evidence that the expenditure qualifies for 100% allowances will also need to be obtained in case of a Revenue & Customs enquiry.

Becoming a ‘green’ business can help save the environment while at the same time reducing overheads and mitigating tax liabilities.

What are you waiting for?

Colin Barratt is tax partner at Wheawill and Sudworth chartered accountants, Huddersfield

ISAs? It’s child’s play!

RIGINALLY announced O towards the end of 2010, Junior ISA accounts are now

expected to become available from November 1, 2011.

The Junior ISA will be available for any UK-resident child (under the age of 18) born on or after January 3, 2011, or those born before that date who were not eligible for a Child Trust Fund.

The key features of a Junior ISA are: ● They can now receive contributions up to a maximum of £3,600 per tax year (when originally announced the limit was £3,000) ● They can be taken out by parents or guardians (on behalf of a minor child) or by a child aged 16 or over ● There are a choice of cash or stocks and shares accounts – each child will be able to have one cash and one stocks and shares account at any one time (within the total overall maximum contribution limit) ● Tax efficient income and gains

FINANCIAL FOCUS Karen Wynard

Although, unlike the old CTF, there will be no Government contributions to the Junior ISA these accounts still represent an excellent opportunity to save tax-efficiently on behalf of a child.

As with Child Trust Funds, Junior ISA accounts are owned by the child although they are not able to access the account until they are 18.

Of course, Junior ISAs are not the only way to save tax-efficiently for children and, therefore, professional financial advice is essential.

I n a d d i t i o n , Ju n i o r I S A accounts will be provided by a range of institutions from high

street banks and building societies, i nve s t m e n t f u n d m a n ag e r s, friendly societies and stock broking services.

It’s therefore advisable to seek guidance from your financial adviser if you are thinking of opening an account for a child or grandchild to ensure that you make the right choice.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount invested.

Levels and bases of and reliefs from taxation are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor.

Karen Wynard is head of corporate services at Eastwood & Partners (Financial Services) Ltd

■ DONE DEAL: Gary Fawcett (left) managing director of BTR UK Ltd, wi Gareth Davies, managing director of the Galpharm Stadium

Suite deal for stadium bosses

GALPHARM Stadium staff are celebrating suite success.

Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd has welcomed Warrington-based BTR UK Ltd as the new sponsor o its Football Trust Suite.

The suite is one of the stadium’s well-equipped conference, banqueting and events facilities.

The suite will undergo a complete refurbishment over the next few months – giving it a new look as w as its new name.

BTR UK Ltd, which specialises in computer recycling and disposal, and the stadium both hope to ben from the sponsorship deal as they look to increase awareness in new markets.

Gary Fawcett, managing director o BTR UK Ltd, said: “I'm very please that BTR UK is sponsoring the sui at the stadium. BTR UK and what i does is a well-kept secret and I see this sponsorship as a key ingredie in raising the awareness of the go things BTR UK does across Europ Gareth Davies, managing director the stadium, said: “I am delighted welcome BTR UK Ltd as partners The Galpharm Stadium. We look forward to a long and successful partnership.

“As part of the deal, BTR UK will enjoy prominent brand awareness networking opportunities, along w use of the venue’s corporate facilities throughout the year.”

Friday feeling a The Vox Bar

FRIDAY’S a good time to start winding down for the weekend.

And members of the First Friday C will be taking a laid-back approach their next informal networking eve on Friday, October 7, at The Vox B in Wood Street, Huddersfield.

The get-together, organised by Krishna Patel, of accountancy firm Revell Ward, aims to provide a relaxed atmosphere for local business people to meet and chat.

The hour-long session gets under way at 12.30pm.

Email krishna.patel@revellward.co.uk fo further details

INESS NEWS

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Bank adds bite to dental plans A HOLME Valley dental surgery has seen a huge rise in custom in the last few months after being boosted by a six-figure loan.

Kat r i n a H ay e s - S i n c l a i r a c q u i re d Holmfirth Dental Surgery at the beginning of this year when she bought out her previous partner.

Now Katrina, who has been a qualified dentist for 18 years, has expanded and refurbished the business using a loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial.

Since the implementation of the expansion strategy, Holmfirth Dental Surgery has gone from strength to strength. Having surpassed the set NHS target at the end of March, the practice has diversified its services to offer cosmetic dentistry.

The launch of the new specialist dental implant service has resulted in a huge boost in patient numbers for the surgery, with last month seeing numbers rise to the practice’s largest patient base to date.

Katrina also used the funding provided by Lloyds TSB Commercial to part-refurbish the surgery and invest in equipment to comply with new legislation set out this year by the Care Quality Commission.

Katrina said: “The increase in demand the business has received since launching our cosmetic dental care has been outstanding.

Taking on several hundred more patients over the last few months has been a direct result of our most recent service, and the feedback from both regular and new patients has been consistently positive.”

Page 5

■ LOAN ARRANGER: Dentist Katrina Hayes-Sinclair and Lloyds TSB relationship manager Steve Midgeley, outside her Holmfirth surgery

Steve Midgeley, healthcare banking consultant for Lloyds TSB Commercial, said: “Diversifying the services offered by any business is a proven method of attracting new clients and generating multiple streams of revenue – and this is evidenced by the huge increase in custom at the surgery following the launch of the specialist cosmetic services.

“At Lloyds TSB Commercial we have a team of dedicated healthcare relationship managers across the country who have been specially trained to provide guidance in the dental sector.

“By using this specialist knowledge we were able to provide the surgery with the appropriate funding and financial structuring.”

Town hero joins celebrations at Stafflex offices A RECRUITMENT company has celebrated its move to bigger and better premises.

Huddersfield Town ambassador Andy Booth was invited to cut the ribbon to officially open the new offices of Stafflex.

He was joined by managing director Brian Stahelin and director Paul Balderstone for the ribbon-cutting. An open day was also held for staff to meet clients and representatives of the town’s business community.

It came as a recent survey suggested one in five employers plan to increase their use of temporary staff – an area in which Stafflex operates – between now and the end of the year.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation said a survey of 600 firms also showed that just under two-thirds planned to keep their agency workforce at the

same level.

Stafflex moved to premises at International House, Chapel Hill, almost 12 years to the day after it began trading from offices at Wakefield Road, Aspley.

The company employs 10 staff and provides workers of all types to help customers overcome production highs and lows and save them the administrative burden of hiring, firing and payroll.

Stafflex has supplied workers including engineers, production managers, receptionists, hair-stylists, project managers, direct marketing consultants and computer technicians.

Growth in the industrial, commercial and education divisions also prompted the move to Chapel Hill, where the premises provide space of further expansion.

■ CUTTING CREW: Town ambassador Andy Booth (centre) cuts the tape with director Paul Balderstone (left) and managing director Brian Stahelin at the Stafflex offices in Chapel Hill

Law firm seeks award success A LAW firm which boosted its online offering with the help of a Huddersfield entrepreneur has been shortlisted for a top award.

Freeserve founder Ajaz Ahmed (pictured) linked up with Leeds and Bradford solicitors Last Cawthra Feather to develop a new online legal service, LEGAL365.com. Mr Ahmed acted as consultant on the project, which aims to give the firm a boost in the deregulated market for legal services.

Now Last Cawthra Feather has been shortlisted for the prestigious Law Society Excellence Awards 2011 in the category of Innovation. The firm was shortlisted for demonstrating cutting edge business practice and client service.

Managing partner Simon Stell said: “To be shortlisted for the Law Society Excellence Awards is a fantastic achievement and one that as a firm we are very proud of. It is a true testament of the hard work and dedication of all members of the firm”.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on Tuesday, October 18.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Retail firms must become energy wise HARD-pressed retailers are being urged to look again at how they use and monitor energy usage as a way of cutting overheads.

The call has come from Brighouse-based energy management consultancy Orchard Energy, which advises many big retail names including Barker and Stonehouse, Barratts Priceless, Costcutter, Sheffield’s Meadowhall centre and the Ridings shopping centres in Darlington and Bristol.

Managing director Gareth Henderson said simple efficiency measures could shave thousands of pounds off annual energy bills at a time when the retail sector faces some of its toughest trading for conditions for decades.

“We tend to find that retailers with multiple sites are on half-hourly metres which are bigger and more expensive than they need, but can be easily downgraded,” said Mr Henderson.

“Sites that rely on store managers to take readings can find themselves paying inaccurate estimated bills which are rarely rectified, a problem that can be overcome by installing smart meters that take automated readings.”

Mr Henderson said: “Forward purchasing is another way retailers can reduce and manage costs, helping with budget forecasting and protecting them from fluctuations in what is currently a very volatile energy market.”

Barbara Winston, centre manager at the Ridings Shopping Centre, said retailers were under unprecedented pressure to keep costs under control.

“Our costs are rising significantly, particularly in relation to energy, at a time when many retailers are struggling to keep their heads above water.

“Our business has taken advice on energy purchasing and on reducing the administrative burden associated with managing energy contracts and red tape.

“There’s a general lack of awareness in the retail sector about the efficiency measures that can be taken but our spending in this area is constantly under review, particularly as energy represents one of our biggest overheads,” she said.

Accountants for Small Businesses • Business Accounts and Taxation • Bookkeeping and VAT • Fixed Fees Agreed in Advance

• Tax Returns • Payroll • CIS • Start Ups Welcome

Call Nick Brook for a free initial discussion without obligation on

property

Page 6

Bidders drive up property’s price A VACANT detached property in Dewsbury sold for nearly three times its guide price at a recent property auction.

The three-storey building on High Road, which has planning consent for conversion to six apartments, sold for £103,000 off a guide price of just £35,000-plus at the latest Eddisons property auction.

Tony Webber, of Eddisons, said: “There was huge interest in this property which helped drive the price well beyond the original guide.

“The fact that planning permission is already in place for residential conversion added to its attraction.”

Meanwhile, a vacant parcel of land in Mirfield extending to more than an acre sold for £11,000.

The land adjacent to Huddersfield Road, Battyeford, had been offered on the instructions of British Waterways.

Residential stock finding favour with buyers included a large vacant property on Bankfield Road, close to Huddersfield town centre.

The part fire-damaged inner terrace property is arranged as six bedsits and sold for £65,000, despite being in need of complete repair and refurbishment.

Eddisons reported that 130 of the 192 lots – 67.7% – which came under the hammer at the sale in Leeds and Manchester were sold, generating proceeds of more than £9m.

Mr Webber said: “The market remains extremely price sensitive, with buyers cautious when deciding what to bid for.

“However, the proceeds generated prove that there is still a willingness to purchase, providing stock is sensibly priced and seen to offer good value for money.”

The next auction takes place at 12.30pm on October 27 at Leeds United Football Club, Elland Road, Leeds.

■ IN DEMAND: This three-storey building at Dewsbury sold for almost three times its guide price at a recent Eddisons property auction

Tenants take NU office space TENANTS have been found for a recently-refurbished office complex in Huddersfield.

RO Properties has let the newly-refurbished second floor of NU House at Market Street.

Business Employment Services Training Ltd, which specialises in training for the building services engineering sector, has taken 3,210sq ft on a six-year lease at a rent of £8 per sq ft.

In addition Ingeus, one of the UK’s leading welfare-to-work providers, has taken the remaining 5,090 sq ft on a five-year lease at

a rent of £8.40 per sq ft.

NU House is subject to a rolling programme of refurbishment, which includes new suspended ceilings, energy-efficient lighting, comfort cooling, new carpets and solar reflective window blinds.

Jorge Frutuoso, of RO Properties, said: “Refurbishment is a key part of our strategy to provide competitively priced, high quality office space where new build is out of the question.

“If you are offering the best space and are prepared to be flexible, you are far more likely to attract a tenant.

“We have only just completed the refurbishment of NU House and the space is let which shows our strategy is working and that there is demand for high quality, well-located office space at realistic rents in Huddersfield.”

Some 2,386sq ft of space remains available at NU House, the former Norwich Union building, which stands opposite the law courts and close to the town’s train and bus stations and police station.

Eddisons and Knight Frank acted for RO Properties, while Ross Counsell, of Drivers Jonas Deloitte, advised Ingeus.

01484 424961

Lettings agency joins SAFEagent scheme

118-120 Lockwood Rd, Huddersfield HD1 3QX

A LETTINGS agency in Huddersfield has become the latest firm to join a campaign offering reassurance to tenants and landlords.

Holmfirth-based Wam Lettings has joined the SAFEagent campaign, showing that tenants’ and landlords’ money is protected by a

or email nickbrook@taxassist.co.uk

client money protection scheme.

More than 1,200 lettings and management agents are now registered to use the SAFEagent logo. The launch of SAFEagent follows a number of high-profile cases where unscrupulous lettings agents have absconded with tenant and landlord funds.

Paul Hollingsworth, managing director of Wam Lettings, said: “We want every tenant and landlord that we welcome through our doors to have peace of mind when it comes to client money protection. And, this is exactly what we can reinforce now that we bear the SAFEagent logo.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

TO LET

Detached Industrial Unit Lowfields Business Park, Elland

1 1,133m2 (12,198 sq ft) plus mezzanine 1 Modern unit with private yard and car park 1 Offices 1 Excellent location with main road access 1 Rent: £62,000 p.a plus VAT

■ SHOP TALK: Manchester’s Trafford Centre is among Britain’s top-performing retail malls

Mall vacancies at 10-year low BRITAIN’S top shopping centres and high streets have the lowest vacancy rates for 10 years, according to a survey by property consultancy DTZ. The survey said vacancy rates across these sites on average now stand at 2.55% against 3% a year ago.

Hugh Radford, head of UK retail at DTZ, said: “These figures may well come as a surprise to many commentators given the ongoing tough retail trading environment and uncertain global economic outlook.

“These figures do, however, only apply to the top 20 malls and high streets in the UK, which are rare, super-prime locations.”

The sites include the Trafford Centre at Manchester, Birmingham’s Bull Ring, Briggate in Leeds, Bluewater and Brent Cross.

The figures from DTZ Retail show that London in particular, buoyed by tourist spending and the resilience of consumers, continues to perform well despite the global economic recession.

Vacancy in Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street and Westfield, London, is effectively at 0%.

Mr Radford said one reason for the low

vacancy rates in super-prime centres was the growing trend for international retailers to focus on these locations.

He said: “International retailers currently acquiring space in the UK, such as Forever 21, Hollister and Victoria’s Secret, are focusing on the top 10 or 20 locations before moving on to continental Europe and Asia.

“Previously, you could expect these retailers to choose between the top 25 or 30 locations but their focus has narrowed – a trend that we have long predicted.

“Consumers want to shop in fewer locations and be offered a full and broad range of products, rather than being offered a smaller range in more locations.

“We don’t see the number of locations that international retailers are targeting increasing in the medium term.”

DTZ said the picture for secondary retail sites was very different – with some locations faring well, but many others appearing to have gone “beyond the point of no return”.

Those sites would have to shrink to adapt to reduced current and future demand, the survey said, with other uses such as offices and housing taking the place of shops.

Award for finance director A DIRECTOR of a construction company working on projects in Huddersfield has won a regional award.

David Shann, finance director and company secretary at GMI Construction, was named Young Finance Director of the Year at the Yorkshire Finance Director of the Year Awards in Harrogate.

Before joining GMI in 2004, David spent 10 years working in the financial sector building his experience up from a wide range of industries.

He was appointed to his current role in 2005.

David said: “I am delighted to have won this award as it’s such an honour to be recognised amongst some of Yorkshire’s

best financial directors.”

As a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, David has played a significant part in driving the GMI business forward.

He has also taken on the role of finance director for new business GMI Renewable Energy Group PLC. GMI Construction, based in Leeds, is contracted to build Kirklees College’s new engineering centre at St Andrew’s Road, Huddersfield.

It is also involved with the development of a Travelodge and Costa Coffee outlet as part of the Spindlegate development at Leeds Road.

FOR SALE

Retail/Commercial

5 & 7 Croft Street, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, WF16 0EX

1 Business unaffected 1 Hair and beauty salon and cafe/bar 1 272.93m2 (2,938 sq ft) 1 Town centre location 1 Offers in the region of £175,000

FOR SALE

Former Methodist Church

Rochdale Road, Walsden, Todmorden, OL14 7SL

1 Detached two-storey church 1 Gross internal area 528.41m2 (5,688 sq ft) 1 Site area 0.04 Hectares (0.095 Acres) 1 Potential for conversion or redevelopment in whole or part 1 Offers in the region of £225,000

TO LET

Industrial

Units 4b, 4c & 4d, Armytage Road, Brighouse, HD6 1QF

1 Modern single-storey workshop units 1 5,000 – 15,000 sq ft 1 To be refurbished 1 Self contained with yard/loading 1 Adjacent to J25 of M62 motorway 1 Rent: On Application

TO LET

Prestigious High Spec.

Office Suite

Unit 1, Cartwright Court, Bradley Business Park, Huddersfield, HD2 1GN

1 Office units available from 1,009 sq ft 1 Established business park location 1 Ease of access to J24 & J25 of M62 1 Rent: On Application

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Movers and shakers

Page 8

Following the fashion trends

Jim Sparling, Debbie Mullen & Andrew Shakeshaft

Barclays Corporate BARCLAYS Corporate has appointed Jim Sparling, Debbie Mullen and Andrew Shakeshaft to its team covering Yorkshire.

Mr Sparling (above left) has been promoted to head a newly-expanded Northern credit team based in Leeds and Manchester.

Replacing him as corporate director in Leeds, Ms Mullen (centre) has been promoted from the North Yorkshire team. She is a former head of the leveraged finance team and a former Banker of the Year.

Mr Shakeshaft joins from Santander and prior to this worked at RBS. He has more than 20 years experience in the industry.

Lee Collinson (right), Barclays Corporate head of Yorkshire, said: "Growing our corporate offering is a key pillar of our long-term corporate banking strategy.”

A JOURNALIST whose career in Huddersfield brought her into contact with the town’s textile trade has written a major work on fashion and the media.

Jayne Sheridan (pictured), who worked in public relations in the town during the 1980s and now teaches fashion communication at Huddersfield University, has won high praise for her book Fashion Media Promotion: The New Black Magic.

The 250-page book – which Jayne says is aimed at business people and fashion students, but is set to appeal to a wider audience – examines how media such as film helps to sell fashion.

“Fashion has used the media in a brilliant way,” she said.

“Fashion is so visual and that

means it suits the digital age where pictures are now just as important as words.”

Jayne, who lives at Rishworth, said the subhead of the book’s title reflected how “fashion casts its spells and weaves its dreams” and how fashion promotes itself using media.

“It’s not just about fashion using the magazines, newspapers, radio and television, but Hollywood,” she said.

The first chapter looks at how Gone With The Wind star Vivienne Leigh provided a showcase for Christian Dior’s collections and how Audrey Hepburn changed the way women in Europe and America saw themselves. “They were people who realised that how they looked made a difference to how they were treated,” said Jayne.

The second chapter examines how important art is to fashion with examples of “museum couture” and the designs of Vivienne Westwood.

The book later talks about other industry icons such as Mary Quant and Paul Smith as well as how footballer David Beckham’s move to AC Milan presented a “sensational shop-

MP suited by mill visit

Carly Moon

Purebrand MIRFIELD-based strategic marketing consultancy Purebrand has appointed Carly Moon as business development manager – following an expansion drive which involves opening a Cardiff office and recruiting more staff.

Ms Moon (pictured) joins the agency from GoodEgg recruitment consultancy, which she helped establish in early 2010, specialising in recruiting for the marketing and design sector.

She worked with Purebrand to help recruit a number of its senior team.

Before that, she worked as an account handler and studio manager representing clients including Marketing Leeds and the Royal Television Society.

In her new role, she will help further expand Purebrand's growing client list and establish the company’s new presence in Cardiff, a move prompted by being commissioned to deliver a marketing campaign for a public health programme.

Purebrand managing director Simon Ryan said: “With Carly's appointment our goal is to build on our growth by showcasing our creative and strategic skills to a greater number of businesses and organisations. We're also on the look-out for a new account executive and a creative designer to join the team in Yorkshire.”

■ PARTY PIECE: MP Jason McCartney (left) visits Bower Roebuck with chief designer Raymond Ellis (centre) and managing director Ronald Hall COLNE Valley MP Jason McCartney was given a guided tour of one of the area’s leading textile mills.

The Conservative MP visited Bower Roebuck & Co at New Mill to learn more about the company’s success in supplying high quality cloth for suits worn by some of the country’s top celebrities and sporting heroes.

Footballer David Beckham wore a suit made from cloth supplied by Bower Roebuck & Co when he attended the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton earlier this year.

The company, formed more than 100 years ago, has supplied cloth worn by figures including US president Barack

Brosnan and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Much of the cloth finds its way to Savile Row tailors and leading fashion labels such as Ralph Lauren, Hermes, Paul Smith, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada and Tom Ford.

Chief designer Raymond Ellis said: “Jason was very impressed. We have encouraged him to come and see our London showroom when he’s at Westminster.”

Mr Ellis said the meeting also allowed the firm to brief the MP on its efforts to update equipment, adding: “We have spent a lot of money over the years, but we remain very ken to re-invest in the business.”

ping prospect” for wife Victoria.

Jayne Sheridan will be signing copies of her book between 11.30am and 3pm on Saturday.

October 1, at Waterstone’s, New Street. Huddersfield.

She said: “I began researching the book when I started teaching at Huddersfield University in 2006, although I worked with companies producing performance fabrics during my PR days.

“My starting point is that West Yorkshire is the centre of the textile industry and Huddersfield is an important part of that story.

“In that sense, the book couples Huddersfield with the world centres of fashion such as N ew Yo rk , L o n d o n a n d Paris.”

Google clicks at business forum ANOTHER major industry figure has stepped up to join the speakers at a major business conference.

Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe (pictured), head of diversity, talent and inclusion at Google for Europe, Middle East and Africa, will address the Women's’ Business Forum on Thursday at Rudding Park in Harrogate.

Mark, who will fly in from Zurich for the event, is a leading expert on diversity and inclusion. He will address an audience of 600 senior business men and women from the UK, Europe and the USA at the event, which is organised by Holmfirth-based Heather Jackson.

He said: “Google is a company that is famous for innovation. We are successful because we do things differently. I will be sharing some of those experiences on the day. ““I’m delighted to be speaking at this year’s Forum. It’s an ideal opportunity to discuss all the issues.”

Mark joined Google from his role as global head of diversity at Barclays Group.

He is ranked among the 100 most influential people in the 2011 Pride Power List and earlier this year established The Inclusive Foundation provides grants, advice and assistance to charitable and voluntary organisations working in equality, diversity and inclusion across the UK and Europe.

He is a governor of the Museum of London and a trustee of CareTrade Charitable Trading Company.

Said Heather: “I’m absolutely delighted Mark accepted the invitation to speak.

Having such a well-respected figure in this field from one of the world’s most innovative brands shows the high-level at which the Women’s Business Forum is now.”

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