DARREN STRINGER Computer re: cycling Full inter view - Page 3
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AMANDA VIGAR Taking HMRC to task Column - Page 5
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
£12m centre to be hub for enterprise HUDDERSFIELD aims to be at the hub of efforts to boost UK businesses and the economy with the completion of a £12m innovation centre. The 3M Buckley Innovation Centre is set to open its doors officially in the new year – but is already working with a range of companies in its stated aim to help them develop products, access finance and forge ahead in new markets. Managing director Patrick Allen said: “The current economic downturn has meant that many businesses are struggling to keep afloat. There has been an increase in the number of business start-ups as people struggle to get back onto the employment ladder following redundancies. “We want to support these businesses and give them the best possible start in what are very difficult times. Through 3MBIC we can do just that – whether it’s financial advice, commercial support or simply giving small businesses access to state-of-the-art meeting rooms for client meetings. “All of the above ultimately gives them the momentum to secure clients and succeed in business.” The centre, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huddersfield University, draws on expertise from the university’s academic and research arms as well as the entrepreneurship of a range of mentors to help firms overcome issues in developing their businesses. The centre, which was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Kirklees Council, offers flexible workspace, meeting rooms
and laboratories equipped with high-performance computer systems and high-tech kit for the manufacturing and engineering sectors. Facilities in its Innovation Avenue include an acoustic camera, which uses sound vibrations to predict potential points of failure in items such as gearboxes and turbines. Surface metrology equipment is being used to test and investigate the materials used in items such as oil and gas pipelines, propeller blades and replacement hip joints. And 3D printing will be able to help companies product low-cost prototypes of items such as engine components. Companies can take space as tenants at the centre or make use of its facilities on an ad hoc basis. The centre aims to attract 100 tenant companies and up to 1,000 associate firms. Companies already using its facilities include Huddersfield valve firm Severn Unival, marine engineer Whale Technologies, TRAC Measurement Systems and the National Physical Laboratory, which has set up research facilities in one of the centre’s temperature-controlled labs. Centre chief executive Prof Liz Towns-Andrews said “This is a new way of the university working with business.” She said the university – with its 24,000 students, 2,800 staff and large number of postgraduates – had ambitions to be a “serious” player in the field of research, adding: “This centre is the next step in that process.”
LNT Solutions retained the contract to supply its innovative SPP 100 range after impressing the customer with its environmental credentials. Martyn Paul, managing director of LNT Solutions, said: “Traditional de-icing methods are corrosive. Our SPP 100 range is more effective at lower temperatures below minus 25C, but more importantly it doesn’t corrode platforms or rolling stock as badly as rock salt, therefore it keeps
Getting on board LAW firm Chadwick Lawrence has become the new sponsor of Huddersfield Town’s boardroom on match days. The boardroom, which plays host to invited dignitaries, guests and both clubs’ directors on a match day, will be rebranded the Chadwick Lawrence Boardroom for the remainder of the 2012/13 season. Chadwick Lawrence has been a long-time supporter of Town and is currently a club partner.
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■ CENTRE POINTS: 3M Buckley Innovation Centre managing director Patrick Allen (left) and Graham Leslie, Professor of Enterprise and Entrepeneurship at Huddersfield University
The university already works with major names including Rolls-Royce, Cadbury and the NHS as well as local firms such as Paxman Coolers, Westin and David Brown. It has a strategic partnership with Siemens to look at creating a particle accelerator which could help in the treatment of cancer. Galpharm Pharmaceuticals founder Graham Leslie, the university’s resident professor of entrepreneurship drew on his own experiences helping turnaround failing companies to highlight how the centre could help firms developing
new products and providing “proof of concept” to funders, suppliers and customers. He said: “After I sold Galpharm, I wanted to set up a Yorkshire Business Academy to improve the success rate of start-up firms. When I came to see Prof Bob Cryan, the University vice-chancellor he asked me to support his plan for the 3M Buckley I n n ov at i o n C e n t r e w i t h P ro f Towns-Andrews. Hopefully, together we epitomise the way academia and enterprise can work together.”
Batley-born boss helps commuters keep their feet A COMPANY headed by Batley-born tycoon Lawrence Tomlinson will help commuters in the South get to work and back this winter. LNT Solutions, part of Mr Tomlinson’s LNT Group, has won a contract to supply de-icers to three major rail companies in the GoAhead group – Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express and London Midland. They will be used on platforms to prevent accidents in bad weather.
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maintenance costs down. “The product has six times greater spreadability than rock salt and is more cost-effective in the long term.” Mr Tomlinson, chairman of the Leeds-based LNT Group, is the driver behind the development of the SPP 100 range in a bid to bring a more environmentally ethical product to the market. "By opting for a more environmentally sound, yet effective product, Go
Ahead’s passengers will remain mobile and safe while platform damage will be mitigated,” he said. "LNT Solutions will continue to develop innovative products for the vital transport networks confident of market demand." The Leeds-based company continues to successfully bid for contracts with airports and rail providers in the UK, Europe and North America.
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Brand leaders STUDENTS from Huddersfield University have been back to school. Branding, design and online agency 10 Associates worked with more than 100 students during a one-day Brandschool session. Students will now use what they have learnt to create feedback to a live brief, which will challenge them to come up with a new brand identity for chocolate retailer Thorntons.
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
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UBS fined £2p.7bn over ‘rogue’ trader THE Financial Services Authority has fined Swiss banking giant UBS £29.7m for failings which allowed convicted rogue trader Kweku Adoboli to cause losses totalling £1.4bn. Tracey McDermott, FSA director of enforcement and financial crime, said: “UBS’s systems and controls were seriously defective.” She went on: “As a result, Adoboli, a relatively junior trader, was allowed to take vast and risky market positions and UBS failed to manage the risks around that properly. “We know from past experience that failures to manage risk properly can cause firms to fail and cause systemic harm.” UBS became aware on September 14 last year that unauthorised trading had taken place on the Exchange Traded Funds Desk in the Global Synthetic Equities trading division in London. Adoboli disguised the underlying positions by the use of late bookings of real trades and the booking of fictitious
trades. The FSA – in an investigation with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority – uncovered several “particularly serious” failings which put wider market confidence at risk and allowed Adoboli to commit financial crime. The computerised system operated by UBS to assist in risk management was not effective, the regulators said, while its trade capture and processing ■ OFF KEY: The FSA has criticised system had “significant deficiencies”. controls at UBS after the conviction of Inadequate front office supervision ‘rogue trader’ Kweku Adoboli (right) was discovered, including poorly executed and ineffective supervision believed he had the “magic touch”. The 32-year-old admitted the enormarrangements within the GSE divious losses, but claimed he was pression. Adoboli was at one point on the sured by staff to take risks, culminating verge of causing losses of £7.5bn and in a catastrophe which wiped £2.8bn off the hole he eventually left was the the bank’s share value. James Carlton, a partner specialising largest trading loss ever in British in areas of business crime and regulabanking history. Prosecutors claimed Adoboli – who tion at Fox Williams, said: “This case was heavily involved in spread-betting illustrates that Kweku Adoboli, while in his spare time – was a gambler who ‘rogue’, could not have achieved what
he did without there being significant failings within the overall trading operations and UBS clearly accepts a degree of corporate culpability for this. “This case continues to underline the need for all financial institutions to have in place, and to continually monitor, highly comprehensive control systems which effectively balance the conflicting needs between regulatory compliance and corporate profit.”
Pork supplier set to hike prices
Bank governor is named
A MAJOR supplier of sausages and bacon to supermarkets is in talks with its customers to increase its prices. Cranswick, which supplies Sainsbury’s and Tesco, said UK pig prices were at a three-year high with further rises anticipated. But the Hull-based group, which supplies the Jamie Oliver brand, said the relative price of pork to other meats had helped it to grow its half year underlying turnover 5% ahead of last year, in the six months to September 30. The group – formed by farmers in
CANADIAN banker Mark Carney was named as the next governor of the Bank of England. Chancellor George Osborne announced the appointment of Mr Carney, currently governor of the Bank of Canada and chairman of the global Financial Stability Board. Mr Carney will take over from present governor Sir Mervyn King when his second five-year term of office ends on June 30 next year. As governor, Mr Carney will have responsibility for setting interest rates, regulating banks and other financial
the 1970s – saw total sales 6% ahead in the same period, helped by the performance of its newly acquired Milton-Keynes-based premium cooked and roast meat producer Kingston Foods. Darren Shirley, analyst at Shore Capital, said as the group entered the second half of the year it was facing something of a “perfect storm” with rising animal feed prices and a reduction in herd sizes because of the costs of EU welfare reforms. The group continued to invest in the six months under review.
Greek tragedy
firms, and heading a new committee designed to spot and ward off future crises. The job is one of the most powerful in Britain, with the Bank of England taking on extra responsibilities for banking supervision as part of an overhaul of financial regulation following the economic crisis. The Chancellor told MPs that Mr Carney was “the outstanding central banker of his generation with unparalleled expertise in financial regulation” who would “bring a fresh perspective”.
ONLINE bookmaker Betfair said it will pull out of the Greek market amid confusion over gambling regulation in the troubled country. The group, which has not yet applied for a permit to operate in Greece, questioned the cost and conditions attached to permits required for gaming firms to trade in the country. Betfair believes there are significant legal issues with a decision made by the Greek Gaming Commission that includes provisions for financial penalties against gaming operators that continue to operate in the market without a permit. The company, whose exchange allows punters to set their own odds against one another, said before the decision to exit the market was made it expected to earn about £13m in revenues this year in Greece. Betfair earlier this month withdrew its online sports betting exchange in Germany because of a tax levied on stakes on sports events from July, 2012. It was also hit by a decision made by Cyprus to introduce gaming legislation that restricts the products that operators can offer in the country. Shares in Betfair closed up 7.5p to 760p after the announcement. Ivor Jones, analyst at brokers Numis Securities, slashed his underlying earnings forecast for the full financial year by £3m to £87m, but said Betfair would remain a leader in online gambling.
SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £34.97 -0.32 Gannett 1106.39 -6.87 Hess Corp £31.01 -0.91 Microsoft 1701.42 -28.10 Motors Liquidation 46.83 Wal-Mart Stores £43.57 -0.26 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 3451/2 -13/8 BAE Systems 312 +13/4 Rolls-Royce 873 -2 AIM Brady Plc 101 Man Brnze 9 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 2171/4 -11/4 BANKS Barclays 2401/2 -133/4 HSBC 620 -57/8 1 Lloyds Banking Gp 45 /8 -11/4 1 Ryl Scotland 285 /8 -87/8 Stan Chart 14371/2 BEVERAGES Diageo 18731/2 -4 SABMiller £281/8 -1/4 CHEMICALS Croda £233/8 Elementis 98 214 -21/8 Johnsn Mat £23 -1/4 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2483/8 -11/2 Costain 2321/4 -21/2
ELECTRICITY Drax Gp 534 -61/2 SSE 1396 -10 ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 2211/4 -43/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3733/4 +5/8 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 2267/8 +1/4 Cable & Wireless 347/8 -3/8 Comm 5 Colt Group 104 /8 +15/8 KCOM 711/4 -1/4 Talktalk Telecom 2113/8 +3/8 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2603/4 -7/8 Sainsbury 3313/4 -13/4 Tesco 3171/2 -1/2 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1450 Tate Lyle 769 -41/2 Unilever £237/8 +1/8 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3201/4 -2 National Grid 714 +3 Pennon Grp 607 +2 Severn 1556 -15 United Utils 6691/2 -3 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 2111/4 -3/4 ICAP 291 -11/2 1 London StockExch 975 /2 -10
-3/4 Man Group 767/8 Provident Financial 1303 +1 Schroders 1581 -8 Schroders NV 1270 -20 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 5891/2 REXAM 434 -55/8 Smiths Grp 1057 -5 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 27 Carphone Whse 192 -11/2 Dixons Retail 267/8 +7/8 1 Home Retail 110 /8 -1/4 Inchcape 4173/4 -27/8 Kingfisher 2761/4 -41/2 M&S 3761/4 -41/2 Mothercare 296 -4 Next £36 -1/8 WH Smith 6391/2 -71/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 6551/2 -2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 633/4 +11/8 Barrat Dev 1863/4 -11/4 Persimmon 7591/2 -11 3 Reckitt Benckiser £38 /4 +1/8 3 Taylor Wimpey 56 /4 -1/2 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING IMI 1005 -12 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 2083/8 -35/8 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 2003/4 -21/8
LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 3417/8 Lgl & Gen 1421/2 Old Mutual 1681/2 Prudential 8821/2 Resolution 2347/8 Standard Life 3061/8 MEDIA BSkyB 777 D Mail Tst 5271/2 1 HIBU /4 ITV 963/4 Johnston Press 123/8 Pearson 1184 Reed Elsevier 624 STV Group 1021/4 Trinity Mirror 791/2 Utd Business 728 UTV 121 WPP 846 MINING Anglo American 1720 Antofagasta 1246 BHP Billiton 19461/2 Eurasian Natural 272 Res Fresnillo 1979 Kazakhmys 6791/2 Lonmin 2841/2 Rio Tinto £30 VEDANTA 1065 RESOURCES Xstrata 10161/2 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 574
-41/8 -5/8 -25/8 -61/2 +11/8 -13/4 -1/2 +8 -3/8 -5 -1/2 -2 -5 +51/2 -2 +1 -15 +1 -21/2 +3 -14 -67/8 -1/8 -14 -31/2 -61/2
Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp
4181/4 971/2 714 1780
+63/4 +3 -5
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5786.72 Down 32.42 Vodafone Group 1575/8 -1 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1099 +1 RSA Insurance Gp 1147/8 +1/4 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 10711/2 -5 BP 4313/8 -41/8 Cairn Energy 263 -31/2 Royal Dutch Shell A £207/8 Royal Dutch Shell B £211/2 Total £311/8 -1/8 Tullow Oil 1366 -27 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1022 -14 Petrofac 1594 -36
Wood Gp(J) 8051/2 -41/2 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1237 -3 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £283/4 -1/8 GlaxoSmithK XD 17 Shire 1771 -26 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 537 +2 Captl Shop Cent 3423/4 -3/4 5 Hamrsn 463 /8 -3/8 Land Secs 796 +1 -1 SEGRO 2261/2 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Invensys 2203/4 -21/4 Sage Group 3083/4 +1 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 5801/2 -1 Bunzl 1063 -2 Capita 728 -7 +71/2 De La Rue 9981/2 Electrocomp 2123/4 +1/8 Experian 1029 +2 G4S 2433/8 -33/4 Hays 773/8 -1/4 Homeserve 2403/4 -1/8 Menzies J 5751/2 -151/2 Rentokil 871/2 +1/2 Smiths News 1583/4 -11/4 7 Wolseley £27 /8 -3/8 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 7401/2 -2 Spirent Comms 1531/4 +7/8
TOBACCO Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco
£321/2 £25
+1/4 +1/8
LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Rank Org Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread
1121/4 £251/8 7161/2 7061/2 783/4 1811/4 1225 607 1682 1703/8 1911/4 331 1663/4 1491/4 2743/8 2675/8 £231/2
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FTSE 100
INDEX 5786.72
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FTSE 250
INDEX 11843.60
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS AS a schoolboy growing up in Leeds, Darren Stringer’s ambitions were decidedly “low tech”. “I wanted to be a welder.” he says. “I was not overly academic. I was an average student. “My mum was a hairdresser and one day – at the time I was starting to look for work – one of her customers said they were recruiting at the company in Leeds where her son worked. She said he worked for a firm called Systime, but she didn’t know what he actually did!” And that’s how Darren’s 32-year career in IT got started. “I decided to apply for a job and I got an interview. I was set on as a trainee IT engineer. When I went for the interview I was scared to death. When my mum asked me how it went I couldn’t even remember because I was so scared. But I got the job.” Ten years later – having moved on from the firm – Darren met by chance the man who had interviewed him and given him the job. Says Darren: “I thanked him for giving me the opportunity and asked why he gave me the job. He said it was because in the interview I'd asked him lots of questions and that because I had an inquiring mind, I would want to learn.” Darren certainly seized the opportunity, rising to become a service engineer at the age of 21. “That was my ambition, because it meant I’d get a company car,” he says. “I thought: ‘Happy days, I’ve made it!’” He went on to join ICM Group in Birstall, where he worked for 18 months before joining Peter Wilkinson, now recognised as one of the UK’s wealthiest businessmen, to work in IT engineering – before moving into sales, where Darren’s background in IT engineering proved invaluable. “Engineers tend to be pragmatic and logical,” he says. “As the company took on more and more suppliers, Peter asked me to move into a commercial role – which meant learning about procurement, finance and legal issues – transferable skills.” When Peter formed Planet Online, Darren joined as director of operations in 1997. And when the business was bought by Energis the following year, he helped it grow from a £22m turnover business employing 100 people to one generating £154m of sales and employing 500. Darren became group procurement director, working with offices in the UK, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. “I would look for
profile
It’s all about bytes & bikes! the best products across all these territories,” he says, “I would be dealing with five different nationalities. I learned an incredible amount about people and I really enjoyed myself.” Eventually, Darren left to return to sales – briefly working for an IT firm in Cheshire – before embarking on self-employment and setting up Brighter Connections as an all-round IT practice. “I’d had the itch for about five years,” he admits. “When I started on my own, I felt I had a good base of skills. But I had no customers and that was my biggest anxiety. But I knew I was capable of selling.” Darren launched the business from offices at a Paddock mill where the firm was based for eight years. Brighter Connections moved to its current address at Edgerton about a year ago. It now employs 14 people and has built up an impressive client list by offering technological solutions, software packages and professional services. The firm has adopted “profit from IT” as its
statement of intent, says Darren, adding: “We aim to help customers transform their IT function from a cost centre into a profit centre. We are not there just to take money off them for fulfilling their immediate needs for a PC or a laptop. “It is about what we can provide to make their business more cost-effective and give it a more competitive edge. The aim is to put the customer at the centre of the transaction.” Among its successes, Brighter Connections has completed contracts for clients including Huddersfield accountancy firm Revell Ward and vehicle management group FMG – in the latter case saving them a five-figure sum by providing an innovative system allowing 25% of FMG’s staff to work from home with access to all necessary applications in the event of bad weather stopping them getting into the office. “We try to demystify It for our clients” says Darren. “We make sure our proposals are easy to understand, relevant to the customers’ needs.” He says: “From the
■ LINK MAN: Darren Stringer, managing director of Edgerton-based IT practice Brighter Connections
start, I wanted Brighter Connections to be a customer-orientated business. We got ISO accreditation in our first year of trading.” The credit crunch in the last three months of 2008 were “pretty miserable” and business fell by 50%. “Clients told us it was nothing we had done wrong,” says Darren. “It’s just that the credit crunch stopped everyone in their tracks. “Business started picking up again in January, 2009, and we turned over 10% less than we had the previous year while making a small profit. The year after that, our business doubled in size. At a time when the market was very tough, our clients found out that what we had been telling them in the good times about our ethics and behaviour was still holding good. “Customers started entrusting us with bigger and bigger contracts. What happened in 2009 was that we moved from being an available or approved supplier to a preferential supplier because we were trying to create a partnership with our clients. “We have seen relatively steady growth, but our goal for the next 12 months is to expand turnover by 40%, but keep the same ethics. We can expand without having to compromise our ethics.” Darren, who lives at Fixby with his wife and two daughters, says: “I think Huddersfield has so much to offer. There’s an energy and a can-do attitude. We have 20 customers based in the south of England. We are 200
Page 3 Darren Stringer
miles away, but they say one of the reasons they like us is that we have a no-nonsense attitude.” Huddersfield is also great cycling country, he says. “I’ve always been interested in sport, but as I got older I couldn’t play football any more. I started running, but I bumped into a couple of guys who were into cycling. I like being outdoors, so I got a bike and instead of going out for two hours and running 10 miles, suddenly I could go out for two hours and cover 30 miles!” Darren was bitten by the bug, gaining coaching accreditation with British Cycling and co-founding the Kirklees Cycling Academy to develop cycling among youngsters aged six to 18. The academy is based at Spen Valley Sports College, where training takes place indoors during the winter months. “We have 50 members,” says Darren. “We have some regional and national champions and kids getting onto the bottom rung of the Olympic Development Programme, based at Manchester. We are the 92nd most successful club out of 1,600 in terms of points accrued in road and track racing. “We had a 20% growth in membership after the Olympics and the success of the British riders. Now we are trying to get a group of people together to campaign for a tarmac race track in the Huddersfield area which would be open to schools and other cycling clubs. It’s early days, but we are determined to get a facility up and running.”
HENRYK ZIENTEK
Role: Managing director Age: 48 Family: Married to Michelle with daughters Chloe, 16, and Ellie, 13 Holidays: We alternative each year between European destinations and holidays in the UK, such as Norfolk, The Lake District and Scotland Car: Audi Estate – you can gets lots of stuff in it! First job: Trainee IT engineer Best thing about job: I have met and continue to meet so many incredible people. IT is moving some fast that it’s a never-ending challenge, so there is never a dull day Worst thing about job: Technology means you can be contacted 24/7, 365 days of the year and people expect you to respond within minutes whether their issue is trivial or vital Business tip: Keep an open mind and be responsive to having your ideas challenged. Never stop learning
Brighter Connections Work: IT Employs: 14 Sites: Edgerton Phone: 03707 551515 Email: darren@ brighter-connections. com Web: www.brighterconnections.com
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Export drive helps firms beat gloom EXPORTING is helped Yorkshire manufacturing firms defy the recession, according to business advisory firm Deloitte. Despite the economy lapsing into a double-dip recession in 2012 fewer manufacturing firms have entered into administration this year, thanks in part to a 30% increase in Yorkshire exports to Asia over the past 12 months. Simon Manning, head of manufacturing at Deloitte in Yorkshire, said there were 208 manufacturing administrations in the first three quarters of 2012 – down from 250 in same period in 2011. At the same time the number of retail insolvencies increased year on year. Deloitte said the improvement was in part due to the manufacturing sector’s growing success in export markets beyond the eurozone. Office for National Statistics figures show Yorkshire exports to Asia and Oceania rose from £387m in the second quarter of 2011 to £505m this year.
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Agency scores top marks with ‘school’ STUDENTS from Huddersfield University have been back to school. Branding, design and online agency 10 Associates worked with more than 100 students during a one-day Brandschool session. Creative director and joint owner Jill Peel together with designer and former Huddersfield University graduate James Bornshin ran the session to pass on the collective knowledge and experience from the agency team while showcasing the work that they have completed for clients across a range of sectors. Students will now use what they have learnt to create feedback to a live brief, which will challenge them to come up with a new brand identity for chocolate retailer Thorntons. The students will be required to put their new-found knowledge into practice before presenting back to the team at Mirfield-based 10 Associates next month. The students, who are studying communication design at the university, ■ BRAND IMAGE: 10 Associates creative director and joint owner Jill Peel were shown examples of the work in with former Huddersfield University graduate James Bornshin, who delivered a Brandschool session for 100 Huddersfield University students which 10 Associates are involved. Margot Swift, senior lecturer at the Said Jill: “It’s always really insightful c o n s i d e r a c a r e e r w i t h i n o u r university, said: “Brandschool was a perfect introduction to the world of to work with students as they have the industry.” branding for the students. It really got background knowledge about a subShe said: “We have a real pool of them to think in a more lateral way and ject, but many have yet to really engage creative talent within this area and we – along with the insights from previous with a live piece of work. want to ensure that students who have work – Jill presented a really engaging “Brandschool creates outstanding chosen to learn in Huddersfield will workshop. results for businesses so we are pleased also consider furthering their careers “This engagement with industry is that we are able to transfer the tools here when they come to the end of their just what the university is looking for – into an education setting. courses.” introducing the students to top class “Students can get a real insight into Brandschool was launched and work produced by locally-renowned the skills required in a real life situation registered by 10 Associates in 2007. companies.” and we want to encourage them to
‘Hotels at risk of failure’ ALMOST a fifth of hotels in Yorkshire are “at risk of failure” according to a shock report. Research by insolvency trade body R3 claimed that 19.75% of hotels in the region could go under during the next 12 months. Nationally, the figure stands at almost 21%. The warning follows the news that MWB Group, the company behind Hotel du Vin and Malmaison, is set to appoint administrators this week. R3 said the hospitality sector faced significant financial pressures – underlined in September when budget hotel chain Travelodge was narrowly saved from administration after landlords agreed to a rent reduction. R3’s research indicates that as many as 22% of companies in the industry are classified as “zombies” – only able to pay the interest on their debts – compared to an average across all industries of just under 10%. Chris Wood, Yorkshire R3 committee member and partner at Clough Corporate Solutions in Cleckheaton, said: “The hospitality and leisure sectors have been among the
■ RISK: Chris Wood, of R3 and Clough Corporate Solutions worst affected when it comes to corporate insolvency. “Not only are many of them suffering from the legacy of pre-recession rent
levels, but they have also been a victim of the fall in consumers’ discretionary spend, combined with another wet British summer with bookings further depressed by concern over Olympics disruption.” He said: “The proposed administration of the company behind Hotel du Vin and Malmaison shows that financial distress is being felt at all levels from budget chains through to luxury hotels. “In Yorkshire and the Humber, of the 400 hotels identified, 79 are classed in the overall negative band, indicating that these businesses may be at risk in the next 12 months. “It is, of course, in no way inevitable that companies showing these risk signs will fail, particularly if the right steps are taken quickly. “We advise all businesses facing financial difficulties, or indeed the prospect of such difficulties, to seek advice at the earliest possible stage. With the traditionally busy Christmas period fast approaching, let us hope that it provides a much-needed boost for hotels after another tough year.”
Finance chance t
FINANCE directors helped their organis been urged to enter Excellence Awards The awards, now in are held in associat Institute of Chartere England and Wales from the CBI and Ll Group. Last year, Angus Co Aggreko, was name the Year after overs profits to £324m du year Aggreko also r sharpest share pric company on the FT In 2013, the awards the best-performing 100, 250 and 350 co as the best Young F Company FD and F A new category has launched. The Insp Year award will cele finance directors an who go beyond the support, motivate a team; build a positi business’ contribut and act as a spokes figurehead on an is business interest. The Excellence Awa business banks, au software suppliers, and non-audit advis Nominations can be the Young FD of the Company FD of the the Future categori close on March 1, 2 Excellence Awards place on May 9 in L Go to fdx.realbusin
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ORGANISERS have inaugural meeting o business associatio success”. Representatives of attended the meetin Milnsbridge Baptis The organisation w move the village fo of disruption cause strengthen the brid through the village traders said they ha affected. One of the organisd Selbie, of Selbie Op Street, Milnsbridge meeting went well a brilliant ideas were those in attendance make a difference t for its residents and He said the associa promote local busin the image of the vil promote local even together an effectiv campaign “to really in a positive directi of local councillors
NESS NEWS
chiefs’ to shine
whose skills have sations grow have r the FDs’ 2013. n their ninth year, tion with the ed Accountants in s with support loyds Banking
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local
When tax is all too taxing THE BUSINESS BATTLEAXE Amanda Vigar
KAY, I’ll admit it – I am one O for getting on my soapbox, but I make no excuses for that!
As well as being an accountant who tries to break the dour mould that our profession happily wears like a straitjacket, I like to speak my mind. I also do not suffer fools gladly and that can come in extremely handy when dealing with cases against HM Revenue & Customs. This week, at V&A Bell Brown in Holmfirth, we are celebrating a well-earned victory against HMRC. The taxman has seen reason in light of our completely rational case on behalf of a client who had accidentally overpaid their tax by thousands of pounds. We presented a perfectly rational argument backed up by clear evidence which demolished HMRC’s nonsensical position. The only problem was that the victory was a little
hollow given that it took two-and-a-half long years to get the client’s money back! Why did it take so long, I hear you ask? Well, at first because HMRC denied that there had been an over-payment, despite strong evidence to the contrary. My guess is that they did not mount a correct and thorough enough investigation into the case until they were “handbagged” (by me, of course!) into doing so. Even once they’d admitted the overpayment, they refused to repay it until the client proved why it had made the over payment. Now HMRC plans to make taxpayers legally responsible for checking that the taxman is taking the correct amount of tax. It’s proposing to change current rules which waive underpayment of income tax if the root causes are delays and mistakes by HMRC offi-
Amanda Vigar is managing partner at Holmfirth-based accountants V&A Bell Brown LLP
Britvic workers taste success WORKERS at a Huddersfield soft drinks plant have scooped two top prizes in the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2012. Britvic’s Birkby factory, which manufactures Juicy Drench and Pennine Springwater, led judges to crown the firm Beverage Company of the Year 2012 – thanks to a joint nomination with Britvic’s factory in Leeds. The two factories received further praise by winning Training Programme of the Year 2012. The Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards provide a benchmark for those wishing to aspire to world class standards in food excellence. The awards are dedicated to recognising and rewarding the very best food and drink manufacturing companies. The judging panel, led by Paul Wilkinson who chairs Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, said: “Britvic Soft Drinks’ factories in Leeds and Huddersfield haven’t just
talked about continuous improvement, they have lived it. “Britvic has shown excellent results in terms of downtime reduction, energy savings and water usage, together with good quality assurance results. “They have also empowered shop floor staff and encouraged them to take control of their working environment to raise efficiency. “Britvic has introduced a truly excellent series of educational programmes.” Clive Hooper, operations director at Britvic Soft Drinks said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to see the hard work in both Huddersfield and Leeds pay off in terms of the recognition Britvic received at the Food Manufacturing Awards. “The employees at both locations work hard and are committed to ensuring efficiency and great results. We’re so pleased that they have now received the praise they’re due.”
cials. HMRC receives around 166,244 complaints each year in response to demands for underpaid tax (quite a few from V&A Vigar Group!). HMRC shouldn’t be trying to pass the buck to taxpayers because it’s too complicated for them to manage. Instead politicians should address the root cause of the problem – the needlessly and ridiculously complicated tax system. A simplified tax system will make it far easier for HMRC to do their job and ensure that all taxpayers pay no more or no less than their fair share. It will also ensure that cases like the one this week are sorted out in a reasonable time.
Page 5 Lack of funding is ‘damaging SMEs’ ALMOST half of small and medium-sized firms in Yorkshire are finding it harder to grow their businesses because of lack of funding, according to a survey. The latest Close Brothers Business Barometer showed that 44% of SMEs in the region were finding it more difficult than usual to achieve growth – while a fifth are finding it “near impossible”. Lee Hayes (pictured), regional sales director for Close Brothers Invoice Finance in Yorkshire, said: “We’re now officially out of recession, so it’s no wonder SMEs are focusing on expansion and driving the economy back towards prosperity. “Their plans and the tenacity and determination that firms in this region have shown are to be applauded. “However, without access to vital funding, these plans will come to naught. It is more important than ever that credit flows to businesses and while traditional lending may not be readily available, there are a number of other options for companies to ensure that they can not only plan, but realise growth in the months ahead.” The survey found that just over a fifth of businesses in Yorkshire were unable to pursue growth due to a lack of resources or skills in their organisation. “Our research clearly shows that access to finance is one of the most pressing issues facing local businesses,” said Mr Hayes.
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
Page 6
Mixed news for property owners INFORMED DEVELOPMENT
■ HOME TRUTHS: Nick Clegg must not neglect the contribution SMEscan make to the drive to build more houses, says the FMB
‘Time to mobilise’ THEe Government must do more to help encourage the development of small sites to help tackle the housing problem. That’s the view of the Federation of Master Builders in response to the latest housing announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “While the Deputy Prime Minister’s support for major housing projects is very welcome, they take time to bring forward. “If the Government wants quick results it needs to provide more immediate assistance to the large number of dormant SME house builders who could mobilise quickly to deliver housing jobs and growth on much shorter timescales.” He said: “The last time we built over 200,000 homes in England was in the late 1980s when SME house builders delivered over two-thirds of our
housing. “Since then, the number of smaller house builders has declined by 69% and they now deliver only around a third of our housing.” Mr Berry said: “It is very difficult for Government to directly support projects on small sites, but it could be doing more to help speed up its deregulatory agenda to help reduce the burden on house builders. “It must start by making a commitment not to impose any new burdens on the house building sector, as well as committing to addressing the excessive requirements for information and contributions demanded by the planning system. “Above all, the Government must ensure that schemes such as Funding for Lending and the new £225m fund for stalled projects will make finance available to SME developers.”
Concorde is on the move A LEADING IT group chaired by a former boss of Birstall-based ICM Group has moved to new premises. Concorde IT Group has acquired the Ossett premises of Team17 Digital Ltd, the award-winning developer of the Worms artillery strategy game series. Concorde, which is chaired by former ICM Group founder Barry Roberts, has moved to the Wakefield Road site after running out of space its Leeds headquarters.
The new site is set in two acres of grounds and provides more than 21,000sq ft of modern offices and warehousing four miles south of Concorde’s existing HQ. Concorde take possession of the building in early December. Mr Roberts will spearhead the team responsible for moving the staff, network, communications and the warehouse to the new facility in time for opening in the new year.
No drain on their resources A COMPANY manufacturing drainage products has recruited two apprentices. Cawthorne-based Naylor Drainage, which employs a number of people from the Kirklees area, has taken on apprentice mechanical engineers Jacob Hobson, from Scholes, and James Winterbotham, of Penistone. The mechanical engineering framework that Jacob and
James will follow includes day release to Barnsley College – a mixture of on and off-the-job learning which ensures that they gain the best skills for Naylor’s business. Naylor chief executive Edward Naylor said: “Apprenticeships ensure that we have the skills and qualifications for our business for the future and I am delighted to welcome Jacob and James to Naylor.”
Martin Thompson NUMBER of frauds involving A title theft have appeared in the property market over recent
years – mostly due to the Land Registry data now being open to view. One of the most recent is a scam aimed at estate agents and their clients who are absent landlords. A fax, which appears to be from HM Revenue & Customs, requires that a form NRL1 be completed with personal information about the absent landlord and critically identifying properties with an absent owner. As in all of these types of frauds, the information together with bogus documents are then used to change the ownership of the property at the Land Registry – thus allowing the fraudsters to mortgage or sell the property. Those most at risk are landlords, owners who live abroad, the elderly in
care homes or where title to property has not been registered. The Land Registry dealt with 71 property fraud claims in 2010 alone and has prevented in excess of 100 fraudulent applications since 2009. The Land Registry’s chief registrar, Malcolm Dawson, has commented: “We take the issue of fraud very seriously and work closely with other organisations, including the Law Society to do all we can to reduce the opportunities for fraud and to identify and take corrective action when it has happened.” There are a number of actions that a property owner can take to ensure that they do not become victims of Land Registry fraud. It is possible, for instance, to register a restriction at the Land Registry for any dealing not to be registered without specific consent being sought.
There has been some better news for property owners as squatting in residential buildings was made a criminal offence from September 1, 2012, pursuant to the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. However, this does not help a land owner where there is no building on the site. Meanwhile, the Proceeds of Crime Act has been used to claim money from developers where they had ignored planning notices. This trend has continued with a Norwich Crown Court judge imposing a £1.4m fine on a landlord for converting a house into flats without planning permission. The landlord has been placed under a restraint order to prevent him selling assets before he has paid the fine. He has six months to pay or alternatively he could face a 10-year prison sentence.
Martin Thompson, is a partner in Commercial Property at Armitage Sykes in Huddersfield
Double success for team at town’s letting agency A LETTING agency in Huddersfield has won two awards. Martin & Co at St Peter’s Street in the town centre was shortlisted for two awards at the company’s annual conference. The office, headed by franchise owners William Taylor and Alex Barron, scooped the title for Best Established Business and was also a finalist in the category for Best Business for Growth in the awards presented in Northamptonshire. The trophies were presented to Helen Bracewell, of the Huddersfield office, by Martin & Co managing director Ian Wilson. Mr Wilson said that Mr Taylor and Mr Barron had achieved superb results in developing their business year-on-year and had “instantly embraced everything that Martin & Co stands for – integrity, professionalism and straight-talking, good advice”. He said: “Landlords and tenants alike clearly know where they stand and I have been really impressed with the positive feedback I have received”. Said Mr Taylor: “Being recognised twice is a real honour and a tribute to the hard work, dedication and passion of our staff. “It also follows close on the heels
■ PRIZEWINNERS: Business partners Alex Barron (left) and William Taylor, of Martin & Co, with colleagues Emma Haley and Helen Bracewell and their awards of Martin & Co winning the Best Large Letting Chain category at the ESTAS this year – having won gold in 2009 and 2012 and silver in 2010 and 2011).” Said Mr Barron: “Such success can
only help our business further and give much needed confidence to our clients in this largely unregulated industry in which the right choice of letting agency is of paramount importance.”
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property Page 7 Raising the bar at town’s top stadium It pays to be ‘green’
A COMPANY supplying blinds and curtains has raised the bar! Lockwood-based Swift Blinds and curtains Ltd has been enjoying online success since the launch of its e-commerce website – www.directblinds.co.uk – in early 2011. Now the company has supplied blinds for the bar area behind the goals at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield – helping stadium chiefs meet their legal requirement to prevent people drinking from viewing the field of play while a match is under way. Pictured with the new blinds are (from left) Swift Blinds and Curtains directors Nicolas Swift, Chris Swift and David Roebuck with Huddersfield Town ambassador Andy Booth. Mr Roebuck, sales director, said: “We launched the site in early 2011 and it has become one of the leading sites for made-to-measure blinds in the country. It is a growing part of our business and an extremely important part of our future planning. “We were initially surprised by the number of people who were prepared to order blinds online, measuring and installing for themselves as
■ BLINDING LIGHT: Town Ambassador Andy Booth (right) with (from left) David Roebuck, Nicolas Swift and Chris Swift, of Swift Blinds, who supplied blinds for the bar areas at the John Smith's Stadium we have traditionally done this for customers. “However, we have found all types of customers are going onto Direct Blinds in large numbers to buy direct and obtain the best value prices.”
Swift Blinds and Curtains also service customers requiring full measuring and installation via their showroom on Lockwood Road. Said Mr Roebuck: “We supply
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the whole of the UK and blinds have also gone out to mainland Europe. Interestingly we have also had enquiries from as far away as Australia and the United States.”
THOUSANDS of businesses are missing out on lucrative contracts from local councils and Government departments because they don’t have a vital “green” credential. The quality standard ISO 14001 is used by councils and other official organisations to certify a tenderer’s environmental policies – but as more adopt a policy of using local businesses as suppliers, a large number are effectively banned from tendering. “Millions of pounds worth of work for statutory organisations is up for grabs, but most now require the 14001 qualification before they will even consider using companies,” said Marie Sever, a consultant in quality management. “ISO 14001 is the cornerstone standard, specifying a framework of control for an environmental management system against which an organisation can be certified by a third party,” she said. Ms Sever, of nationwide training organisation Quality Systems And Training, based in Shropshire, said the result was that large numbers of contracts were going to big organisations that were well-versed in what was needed to establish their green credentials. SMEs in particular were under the impression they were committing themselves to a lot of trouble, time and expense – but most of the qualification was about rational and logical thinking. “Whether they like it or not, there is a general acceptance in national and local Government – along with a growing number of private companies that put work out for tender – that everyone has to care for the environment and demonstrate the impact their activities have on the environment.”
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
Movers and shakers
Page 8
Debbie Mullen
Barclays BARCLAYS has appointed Debbie Mullen as head of corporate banking in Yorkshire. Ms Mullen (pictured), who was previously corporate director for Barclays in North Yorkshire, replaces Lee Collinson and will jointly lead the Yorkshire team with Chris Forrest, looking after business customers typically with a turnover in excess of £5m. Well-known in the Yorkshire corporate market and with over 27 years banking experience, Ms Mullen has considerable experience in leadership, finance and relationship management. She said: “Yorkshire is an important market place for Barclays and I’m relishing the challenge of driving Yorkshire businesses forward and supporting them through these tough economic times. Yorkshire is traditionally a hot bed of entrepreneurship and I’m committed to ensuring that we provide the right level of support helping businesses that are making the most of the opportunities the current climate presents.” Mr Collinson, who led the Barclays corporate team in Yorkshire for seven years, now takes up the newly-created role of head of key clients for the North of England. He will lead a team across the Northern region responsible for dealing with listed and larger private clients with a turnover greater than £250m.
Natalie Faulkner-Lowe
Orchard Environmental WASTE management firm Orchard Environmental has appointed Natalie Faulkner-Lowe to the new post of external accounts manager. Ms Faulkner-Lowe (pictured) will work alongside the internal account management team to strengthen client relationships and raise awareness of the Elland firm’s range of strategic waste and recycling services. She joins the company from laundry firm JLA, where she was responsible for marketing and project management. Her appointment brings the company’s staffing level to 14. Business manager Justin Holley said: “Natalie’s role will be to support our growing account management team and promote Orchard as a one-stop shop for waste, recycling and environmental management.”
■ INTERNATIONAL LINKS: Agents and partners from around the world attended a two-day product presentation and training event at the Skelmanthorpe premises of Pennine Industrial
Partners across the globe A COMPANY making parts for conveyor systems hosted visitors from across the world. Pennine Industrial, based at Commercial Road, Skelmanthorpe, staged new product presentation and training days for agents and partners.
The company has 22 agents and partners around the globe who help to promote its range of conveyor chains and sprockets into the glass industry. The firm now sells to customers in more than 55 countries. Many of its partners attended the
Polar Ford hits a peak
■ SHOP TALK: Marc Fossaluzza and Garry Winckley, of Polar Ford and Ford Retail, with the ABP Franchised Bodyshop Group of the Year Award
Friday get-together A BUSINESS networking event without the formalities takes place this week. The Last Friday Club meets up from 12.30 to 1.30pm on Friday, November 30, at Bar Eleven in Halifax. The event is run by the Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Ramsdens Solicitors, NatWest and Begbies Traynor. Spokeswoman Sinead Sopala, of Ramsdens , said: “These monthly, lunchtime business networking meetings are very informal with chatting, mixing, mingling and an opportunity to make new contacts. It's completely free - just turn up and the first drink is on us. There are no fees and no pressure!” Email sinead.sopala@ramsdens.co.uk
A CAR dealership in Huddersfield has won an award for the work done by staff at its bodyshop. Polar Ford, based on St Andrews Road, Bradley Mills, was recognised by the Auto Body Professionals Club for providing outstanding customer service and consistently going the extra mile in a challenging environment. Polar Ford, part of the Ford Retail Group, was named Franchised Bodyshop Group of the Year at the awards ceremony, which took place in front of an audience of 400 people. The annual awards are held to acknowledge the work carried out within the bodyshop industry as well as recognising the challenges
presented by an ever-changing market. The ABP Club was founded in 2004 and now has more than 1,750 members – bodyshop professionals and individuals from all sectors of the industry such as insurers, accident managers, suppliers and trade bodies. Garry Winckley, group aftersales director at Polar Ford, said: “We are delighted to receive this award. “To receive recognition from your industry peers is something that we are tremendously proud of and it is testimony to the hard work and dedication shown by our staff to focus on delivering the highest possible standard of repair and customer service.”
two-day event – travelling from Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, India, Egypt, Turkey, the USA, Mexico, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Holland and Italy. A number of the firm’s agents were recognised for 20 years service during a celebration dinner.
Place in the boardroom LAW firm Chadwick Lawrence has become the new sponsor of Huddersfield Town’s boardroom on matchdays. The boardroom, which plays host to invited dignitaries, guests and both clubs’ directors on a match day, will be rebranded the Chadwick Lawrence Boardroom for the remainder of the 2012/13 season. Chadwick Lawrence has been a long-time supporter of Town since the 2008/09 season and is currently a club partner. Over the last few years, Chadwick Lawrence and Town have also teamed up to host the Yorkshire Business Forum – with the last two forums welcoming legendary broadcaster John Motson and football icon and former England manager Kevin Keegan as guests in front a 300-strong crowd of local and regional business guests. Town commercial director Sean Jarvis said: “Our boardroom is a very important element in the match day experience for visiting dignitaries and club guests and to have a highly respected name such as Chadwick Lawrence sponsoring it is thoroughly befitting of the surroundings. “Chadwick Lawrence has become one of the club's closest partners since it officially became a part of the Huddersfield Town 'family' during the 2008/09 season and we are delighted that its support has continued into the 2012/13 season.” Chadwick Lawrence managing partner Jeremy Garside said: “We are proud to have been given the opportunity to sponsor the boardroom, where the club showcases the rewards of its rich history and heritage. We are delighted to be associated with this.”