Kirklees Business News 28/06/11

FTSE 100

KAY STOREY An eye for colour!

+24.62 5722.34

Full inter view - Page 3

MARK DALTON Repor ting moves online Column - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Company conveys secret of success

A COMPANY providing equipment for manufacturers of conveyor systems has unveiled the results of a £1m investment programme.

Pennine Industrial Equipment Ltd has created more than 20 jobs as part of its investment in new machinery designed for use on production lines in the food, drink and glassware industries.

The company, based at Commercial Road, Skelmanthorpe, staged two open days to update customers on the developments, which are designed to keep Pennine Industrial Equipment at the forefront of its industry.

Managing director Graham Hobbs said: “We are blowing our own trumpet about the £1m investment we have made in the past 12 months. We have created 10 full-time jobs and 15 part-time posts and we have invested in new products.”

The company has taken advantage of favourable exchange rates to bolster its export business – supplying customers in about 80 countries.

They include four companies in Italy which make wine glasses.

Other end-users include major names in the food and drink sector as well as manufacturers of wine glasses,

pint and half-pint beer glasses as well as pressed glass products, such as ashtrays.

Pennine Industrial Equipment, which has been based at Skelmanthorpe since 1983, also makes plastic components used to prevent metal moving against metal on the production line and safeguarding against metal particles contaminating foodstuff ranging from loaves of bread to chocolate bars.

Said Mr Hobbs: “We have increased market share and with the lower pound we have more customers coming to us from overseas.

“We have had to invest in new machinery and staff to keep up with demand.

“We still take on an apprentice each year and we also have a vacancy for a graduate engineer.”

Mr Hobbs said he was pleased with the success of the two open days. “We had a lot of products on display in one marquee – and we even had a 1930 Lagonda to attract attention!”

The company, which has 65 staff on its Skelmanthorpe site and five employees at its subsidiary in Birmingham, has further developments in the pipeline.

priorities – well ahead of exploring marketing, sales and new business opportunities.

In addition, 90% of owners of accountancy, finance or legal businesses agree that customer satisfaction is one of the top three important

High octane STAFF at the Birstall head office of global paints and coatings manufacturer PPG Architectural Coatings EMEA were joined by motor racing outfit Airwaves Racing at an open day. The event marked the firm’s partnership with paint brand Leyland Trade, which sponsors Airwaves Racing’s British Touring Car Championship team.

● Full story - Page 8

■ MOVING PARTS: Graham Hobbs (centre), managing director of Pennine Industrial Equipment, with Martin Sykes (left) and Martin Hallam displaying some of the products on show during the two open days

“Eighteen months ago we got planning permission for an extension to our facilities,” said Mr Hobbs.

“We are assessing the timing for that extension, which will represent a further £250,000 investment.”

Small firms put customers first, says bank survey SMALL firms are putting customer satisfaction first, according to research by Yorkshire Bank.

A poll of more than 500 small business owners in the UK found that almost nine out of 10 rated customer satisfaction was one of their top three

INSIDE

priorities – pipping the retail industry with 89% to the post as the most customer savvy industry.

Small business owners attached the least importance to legal advice, investment in the workforce and health and safety.

Bank director Gary Lumby said it was “absolutely right” that small firms should see customers as their main priority, adding: “When times are tough, ensuring that your existing customers stick with you becomes even more important.”

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Winning scheme HOLME Valley developer Towngate Homes picked up a prize for a housing scheme in Halifax at the Local Authority Building Control West Yorkshire Building Excellence Awards.

● Full story - Page 6

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

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

Slowdown in sales growth hits Ocado ONLINE retailer Ocado scraped its first ever half-year profit – but revealed that sales growth had slowed and more orders were delivered late as it struggled to keep up with demand.

The grocer, which sells Waitrose products to much of the UK, made pre-tax profits of £200,000 in the 24 weeks to May 15.

That compares with losses of £6.7m the previous year.

Ocado admitted that the proportion of orders delivered on time fell to 92.7% from 94.9% in the period.

The company blamed the decline on capacity issues at its main distribution centre in Hatfield. Efficiency of order picking at the centre also declined.

But Ocado said it would spend £80m in 2011 and 2012 increasing the capacity at the site and pledged its performance and efficiency would

improve as the investment paid off.

Sales increased by 20.8% to £296.7m down from 24.7% in the first 12 weeks of the period.

Ocado also revealed a tie-up with French supermarket giant Carrefour, which will see it trial a range of authentic French products, called Reflets de France from July 14.

It also expanded the number of its Ocado branded products by 100 to 350 in the period.

The online grocer faces stiff competition from other supermarkets’ online offers, which will be stepped up as Morrisons enters the market.

Waitrose will also go into direct competition with Ocado within the M25 from next month and recently launched its biggest ever e-commerce marketing campaign.

Although the two companies are increasingly treading on one another’s

toes, they recently signed a deal that will allow Ocado to continue to sell Waitrose products for the next 10 years.

Ocado said it continued to see strong demand in recent weeks, although it is still dogged by capacity issues.

It said it was making progress in increasing its capacity and expects further profitable revenues growth for the rest of the year.

It has spent £10.4m on upgrading its systems in the half-year and intends to start increasing the amount of orders it can handle from September.

Ocado recently opened a new depot in Wimbledon and a new distribution centre in Warwickshire, is on-track to open at the end of 2012.

Shares in Ocado closed 9% or 17p down at 170p each.

■ ONLINE OFFERING: Ocado faces stiff competition from supermarkets

HMV sells Canada retail chain

Takings slip for Wolfson

BELEAGUERED retailer HMV took has announced a £2m deal to sell its 121 stores in Canada.

The sale of HMV Canada to retail restructuring firm Hilco follows the group’s recent agreement to offload Waterstone’s to Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut for £53m.

The disposals, which will enable HMV to focus on its estate of about 260 stores in the UK and Ireland, – including one in Huddersfield’s Kingsgate Centre – enabled chief executive Simon Fox to secure a new £220m borrowing facility covering the next two years.

HMV Canada’s first store opened in 1986, from which it has grown to

A MAKER chips for household gadgets saw shares slump after it revealed the impact of the consumer spending squeeze on revenues.

Edinburgh-based Wolfson Microelectronics, which supplies BlackBerry maker RIM and sat-nav group TomTom, said sales in the three months to June were towards the lower end of previous guidance because of product delays faced by some customers and pressure on consumer sales.

The group now expects sales of £23m in the second quarter of 2011 – about 15% down on its previous forecast.

become a market leader with flagship stores in Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal and sales of £222m in its last financial year.

Mr Fox said: “Having received shareholder approval for the disposal of Waterstone’s, and with a refinancing in place, the group is focusing on clear and tightly defined plans for transforming HMV into a broad-based entertainment business.”

HMV, which is has been hit by competition from supermarkets and the internet, hopes to revive its core business by selling more gadgets such as iPads and through its live entertainment division.

Revenues in the previous three months rose by 44% to £27m, driven by more than doubled year-on-year growth in mobile phones, particularly smartphones, gaming, eBooks and PC/tablets.

Wolfson said it now expects sales growth for the full year of between 10% to 20% compared to previous consensus forecasts of 30%. It said the precise outcome will depend on the timing of product launches by its customers.

Shares slumped by more than 20% on the update, even though Wolfson said its take-up of its products was accelerating.

Page 2 Optimism recovers BUSINESS confidence rebounded in June to a level last reached in May, 2010, according to the Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Business Barometer.

Some 51% of companies polled said they were more optimistic about economic prospects than three months ago while only 15% said they were less optimistic – resulting in a balance of plus 36%.

That is an improvement of 22% on the May figure.

The bank said that economic growth looked set to pick up in the second half of the year – possibly the fourth quarter – if this trend continued.

Lloyds Bank said the past few months had seen unusual swings with a balance of plus 22% in April followed by minus 16% in May. However, the trend had remained upwards in this second quarter, averaging plus 27% against plus 4% in the first quarter.

Asked about prospects for their own firms, 49% of companies expect trading prospects to increase and only 3% expect a decrease.

The survey showed that Yorkshire and the North East were the most optimistic about trading prospects, while optimism was below average in Scotland, the South West and South Wales.

Trevor Williams, chief economist for Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets, said the survey suggested that the Uk would come out of its “economic soft patch” in the second half of the year.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £30.64 +0.38 Gannett 848.36 +1.25 Hess Corp £42.99 -0.23 Microsoft 1567.74 +46.33 Motors Liquidation 46.96 Wal-Mart Stores £32.89 +0.08 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 316 +5 -1/8 BAE Systems 3053/8 Rolls-Royce 6061/2 -21/2 AIM Brady Plc 70 Dawson Intl 17/8 Man Brnze 47 -3/8 Uniq 771/2 -1/2 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 2153/4 +23/8 BANKS Barclays 2371/2 +1/4 HSBC 6061/4 +31/4 3 Lloyds Banking Gp 43 /8 Ryl Scotland 351/8 -1/2 Stan Chart 1540 +21 BEVERAGES Diageo 1270 +10 SABMiller £215/8 +5/8 CHEMICALS Croda 1840 -31 Elementis 98 165 -21/8 Johnsn Mat 1881 -28 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 3011/8 -1/2

Costain

217 +1 ELECTRICITY 3 Drax Gp 489 /4 -15/8 Intl Power 3081/8 +11/8 Scottish & Sthrn 1391 -1 Energy ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Laird 2001/8 +15/8 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3733/4 +13/4 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 1977/8 +3/4 Cable & Wireless 391/2 +2 Comm 1 Cable & Wireless 52 /4 -1/4 Wwide Colt Group 1433/8 +3/8 KCOM 741/4 -1 1 Talktalk Telecom 144 /2 +1 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2917/8 -1/8 Sainsbury 3271/8 -11/4 1 Tesco 396 /2 -3/4 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1085 +13 Tate Lyle 630 +3 Unilever 1986 +16 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 3233/4 +1/4 National Grid 5951/2 +41/2 Pennon Grp 666 +15 Severn 1415 +27 +19 United Utils 5871/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 268 +1/4 ICAP 4303/4 +2 London StockExch 937 -101/2 5 Man Group 227 /8 -73/4 Provident Financial 9261/2 -11/2 Schroders 1429 -9 Schroders NV 1195 -12 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 6221/2 REXAM 3721/8 -1/2 Smiths Grp 1107 +3 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 191/4 -1/2 Carphone Whse 412 +63/4 1 Dixons Retail 15 /2 -1/2 Home Retail 1601/4 +11/4 Inchcape 3981/8 -11/8 Kingfisher 2697/8 +1/4 M&S 368 +35/8 Mothercare 3905/8 +1/4 Next £223/4 -1/8 3 WH Smith 473 /4 -21/4 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 640 +31/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 110 -13/4 Barrat Dev 1101/2 +13/4 Persimmon 4697/8 +81/8 Reckitt Benckiser £335/8 +1/8 5 Taylor Wimpey 36 /8 +1/8 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING Charter 5961/2 +211/2 IMI 9831/2 +1/2

INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 4397/8 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 2083/8 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 4197/8 Lgl & Gen 1095/8 Old Mutual 1251/4 Prudential 6871/2 Resolution 288 Standard Life 2011/2 MEDIA BSkyB 8431/2 D Mail Tst 4421/2 ITV 671/2 Johnston Press 51/2 Pearson 1131 Reed Elsevier 538 STV Group 1263/8 Trinity Mirror 403/4 Utd Business 5181/2 UTV 1251/2 WPP 742 Yell Group 51/8 MINING Anglo American £287/8 Antofagasta 1283 BHP Billiton £231/8 Eurasian Natural 7161/2 Res Fresnillo 1375 Kazakhmys 1264 Lonmin 1395 Rio Tinto £425/8

+81/4 +7/8 -23/4 -3/8 +3/4 +41/2 +1/4 -1/4 +81/2 +13/4 +1/8 -4 +4 -1/8 -11/4 +10 +1 -11/2 -1/8 +1/4 +17 +1/8 +5 +18 +9 +5 +1/4

Local shares Carclo Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

3081/2 109 5951/2 £201/2

+23/8 -3/4 +41/2

FTSE closed at

5722.34 Up 24.62

VEDANTA 1905 +57 RESOURCES Xstrata 12611/2 -91/2 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 5421/2 -10 Vodafone Group 1633/4 +3/4 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1634 +3 RSA Insurance Gp 1301/2 -1/4 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 13031/2 +281/2 BP 440 +27/8 Cairn Energy 3835/8 +43/8 Royal Dutch Shell A £211/4 +1/8 Royal Dutch Shell B £211/4 +1/8

Total £341/8 +1/8 Tullow Oil 1218 +2 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 1049 -11 Petrofac 1500 -14 Wood Group 607 -11/2 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 1360 -3 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY 1 Astrazeneca £30 /4 -3/8 Axis-Shield 320 -5 GlaxoSmithK XD 81/2 Shire 1890 +17 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 5751/2 +31/2 Captl Shop Cent 384 +17/8 1 DTZ Hldgs 45 /8 -27/8 3 Hamrsn 463 /8 +21/4 Land Secs 827 +51/2 SEGRO 3041/4 -3/4 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Autonomy Corp 1630 +6 Invensys 3103/4 -21/8 Logica 1293/4 -1/4 Misys 4153/4 +25/8 Sage Group 2813/8 +3/4 SUPPORT SERVICES Berendsen 4961/8 +43/4 Bunzl 762 +12 Capita 7121/2 -1 De La Rue 7521/2 -1/2 7 Electrocomp 260 /8 -11/4 Experian 752 -6 1 +1/8 G4S 274 /8

Hays 981/4 Homeserve 513 Menzies J 501 Rentokil 915/8 Smiths News 861/2 Wolseley 1930 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 5811/2 Psion 92 Spirent Comms 148 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £263/4 Imperial Tobacco £201/2 LEISURE & HOTELS Bwin.Party Digital 129 Carnival £237/8 Compass Grp 597 easyJet 3501/4 Enterprise Inns 67 FirstGroup 3373/4 Go-Ahead Gp 1578 Greene King 4983/4 Intercontl Htls 1228 Intl Cons Airlines 2455/8 Gp Ladbrokes 1473/4 Mitchells & Butlers 3181/4 Natl Express 2483/8 Rank Org 1497/8 Stagecoach Group 2473/4 TUI Travel 2261/4 Whitbread 1573 INDEX FTSE 100 5722.34 INDEX FTSE 250 11549.06

-1/8 -1/2 +1 -3/4 -1/4 -3 -61/2 +4 -7/8 +1/4

+31/2 +1/2 -7/8 +43/8 -14 +63/8 +16 +33/8 +15/8 +17/8 -11/4 +1/8 -31/4 +1/2

+24.62 +20.81

TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.45 dollars Bangladesh................. 111.35 taka Brazil.............................. 2.28 reals Canada....................... 1.50 dollars China ............................. 9.23 yuan Czech Republic ...... 25.29 korunas Denmark....................... 8.00 krone Euro............................... 1.08 euro Hong Kong................ 11.78 dollars Hungary................... 272.25 forints India.......................... 63.37 rupees Japan........................... 122.70 yen Mexico ....................... 16.96 pesos New Zealand .............. 1.85 dollars Norway ......................... 8.40 krone Pakistan.................. 128.96 rupees Philippines ................. 59.47 pesos South Africa................. 10.34 rand South Korea.............. 1508.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 164.92 rupees Sweden......................... 9.94 krona Switzerland.................. 1.27 francs Taiwan ...................... 40.28 dollars Turkey....................... 2.46 new lira USA ............................ 1.52 dollars

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS KAY Storey realised early in life that she was destined for a colourful career.

She jokes: “I had a good idea I’d end up as designer – because I couldn’t sing!

“At school assembly at Christmas all the children would group around the piano to sing carols. I’m tone deaf, so every year they’d say ‘Kay can do the Christmas posters’. I’ve been ‘colouring in’ since I was seven years old. It was something I excelled at!”

Having an eye for colour and form has paid dividends for Kay, who has been running her own creative brand and marketing agency, K Design, since 1998. For the past four years, she has been working from home – a converted village shop tucked between Birstall and Cleckheaton, which puts her in easy reach of many of her clients.

“After finishing school, I went to Wakefield Art and Design College. I loved drawing and always have done. I completed an OND in graphic design and then went to Sheffield to do an HND in design communications. I was lucky enough to walk into a job the week I left college.”

Kay joined Skopos Design to work on everything from press advertisements to brochures. “ It was a good grounding in the industry,” says Kay. “After that, I worked at various studios and freelanced for a lot of the best agencies around Leeds.”

Kay decided to try her hand at self-employment after being made redundant. “I decided I didn’t want to work for anyone else any more. I had been a senior designer for a company in Saltaire and one of my friends who had been a freelancer was moving to Manchester. She gave me her contacts book of clients because it was no longer any use to her.

That gave me a good start!”

Kay admits that the first two years working for herself were difficult, but said: “The past 12 months have been very good and I have been winning new clients.”

Kay is philosophical about the facts of economic life. “Whenever there is talk of a recession, the first thing companies do it rein back spending on design and marketing because they see it as a quick way to save money.

“Now things are improving a little and they are waiting to see what happens. They are still coming up with new products and services, but nobody knows about them.

Now is the time they need marketing and design again to put their products and services in front of the public.”

Says Kay: “Our sector is the first to come and the first to go, but I think things are quite positive at the moment.

profile

Kay sets right tone!

“The best time for firms to gear up marketing and design is when the competition is still hesitating.”

K Design works for clients ranging from small businesses to international companies in sectors as diverse as engineering and floristry. The firm also works with “third sector” organisations, such as charities. Kay specialises in corporate branding and logos, working on everything from business cards and corporate brochures to major trade stands gracing the NEC in Birmingham.

Says Kay: “I put 100% effort into all my projects, whether it is creating business cards, new signs for premises, vehicle livery or a major marketing programme. The best thing about my work is the variety. Every week I will be working on something different. You never know what will be next.

■ PRIMARY COLOURS: Kay Storey, showed a talent for design at an early age

“A lot of the time it doesn’t feel like work. Last week, for example, I was working on illustrations for a new advertising campaign and a Christmas brochure for a hotel.”

Working from home allows Kay to use her time to best advantage. She says: “I am quite disciplined about work, but I feel I’m entitled to four or five weeks holiday a year the same as anyone else! But it has to be factored in – and there are days when I will work long hours.

“Creativity isn’t a nine to five thing. Creative people will get up in the middle of the night to jot down an idea that has just come to them.”

Kay is supported by a team of people, including a copywriter and web designer, who are all experts in their field and who she can call on to work on projects. She says: “It’s a more ‘American’ way of working – small teams often working from home.

Technology means people can work online, work can be sent for approval as a PDF and there are video and conference calls.

“However, face-to-face meetings are still the best way to do business with clients. It is really important – and it means clients end up as friends when you work for someone for a long time.”

Despite working from home, Kay keeps a high profile in the local business community through her membership of women’s networking organisation Forward Ladies and the Bradford-based Yorkshire Business Club. She also regularly attends events at the Media Centre in Huddersfield.

Travel is one of Kay’s great loves. “I lived in

Page 3 Kay Storey

Sydney when I took a year out,” she says. “I thought about staying out there, but I came back because of the family. I still have a lot of friends in Sydney, but it is a long way to go and a tiring trip. I worked for a few agencies out there. I also travelled around Asia on my way back and visited Hong Kong, which is massive for design.

“I love travelling. I go to Turkey every year – which is where I recharge my batteries!

But I also want to go to Argentina and Brazil.

Travel broadens the mind and those experiences are invaluable.”

Kay includes scuba diving among her hobbies. She is a qualified Dive Master taking groups into the water. She has also undertaken parachute jumps and likes to fill her spare time – like her work time – by being creative. “I do evening classes in things like making stained glass windows,” she says. “If I’m doing something creative with every minute of my day, I’m happy. I’ve even renovated my house from scratch. Once I’ve finished painting the stairs and the small room, it’s done!”

Meanwhile, Kay is keen to bring the value and importance of design to a wider audience.

“The Design Council had a campaign last year to educate companies about how design and marketing can really make a difference to a product or service,” she says. “People are becoming more aware,

but there are still a lot of people who just ‘don’t get it’. A business card, vehicle livery or brochure is a sales tool for your company, so it ought to look professional.

“Everyone is influenced by design, even though they aren’t consciously aware of it.

“Companies have to make their brand appealing to potential customers and to stand out in the market – by using the right colours and the right typography. That is what I’m trained to do.

“You can tell the companies that have invested in design and marketing – they are the companies that are growing.

“You can have the best product in the world, but if nobody knows about it, what have you spent your time working towards?”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Creative and owner Age: 38 Holidays: Turkey and Switzerland, but I hope to visit South America and the Galapagos Islands Car: Fiesta Zetec First job: Saturday job taking admission money and handing out tickets at Nostell Priory Best thing about job: The fact that it doesn’t feel like a job Worst thing about job: Building a business in a difficult economic climate Business tip: You only get out what you are prepared to put in. Treat people properly and they will repay you

K Design Work: Creative brand and marketing agency Sites: Hunsworth, Cleckheaton Phone: 01274 877092 Email: info@kdesign world.com Website: www.kdesign work.com

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KIRKLEES BUSIN

Third factory for busy valves firm

■ EXPANSION: Denis Westcott, managing director of Koso Kent Introl, based at Brighouse

AN engineering firm has opened a new factory following a seven-figure investment.

Valve maker Koso Kent Introl has opened the 18,000sq ft premises just a few hundred yards from its original factory at Armytage Road, Brighouse, as part of efforts to boost manufacturing capacity, improve efficiency and maintain existing quality standards.

The new factory is the company’s third facility in Brighouse, where it has been based for more than 40 years.

The new site houses the firm’s aftermarket team responsible for service and spares and creates extra capacity for scheduled shut-down or maintenance programmes that demand high volume turnaround in short timescales.

KKI managing director Denis Westcott said: “We are fully committed to providing world-class service engineering and manufacturing practices for our oil and gas customers around the world.

“We recognise that to remain competitive and maintain our position as a global player, we need to continue to invest in our Yorkshire roots – that’s in our people, processes, facilities and new machinery.”

Further work has already started at KKI’s machine shop, which is being reconfigured to accommodate the arrival of several new pieces of hi-tech machinery over the coming months – allowing the company to produce higher volumes more quickly while reducing waste.

Lynn Mowbray, KKI operations director, said: “As part of our continuous improvement programme across the business, it’s essential that we have the ability to keep production in-house wherever possible to maintain a degree of flexibility and production scheduling.

“The new factory enables us to focus on the spares/service sector while the investment in the existing machine shop will increase our capacity.

“Our investment in the latest machining centre is going to make a huge difference to our operational capabilities, particularly for some of the high volume projects that we have on our order books.”

KKI’s investment extends to its on-site testing capabilities.

Construction of a state-of-the art gas test facility – one of only a handful in the UK – is under way and is expected to be fully operational this summer.

The company said that having this capability in-house would enable KKI to control cost, time and quality across the KKI product range.

It will also enable the firm to supply testing services to other manufacturers for the first time.

KKI, formed in 1967 under the name Introl Ltd, supplies a wide range of control valves, high-technology surface choke valves and high-performance rotary valves for the oil and gas, petrochemical and power industries.

Making a move online ORK-RELATED injuries W and incidents reportable under RIDDOR will

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Can your business afford to ignore Health & Safety?

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

have to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive via its website from September, 2011.

From that date, reportable work-related injuries and incidents under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 will move to a predominantly online system, with a suite of seven forms available on HSE’s website.

However, those reporting fatal or major incidents will still be able to do so by phone, in recognition of the need for a more personal response in such circumstances.

Online reporting is also likely to fulfil the main aim of RIDDOR reform, which is to reduce the administrative and cost burdens on both business and the regulator.

In making this decision, the HSE said that more than half of reportable injuries are already notified through the website and this proportion has been increasing steadily over the past seven years.

Taking advantage of the growing use of the internet allows the HSE to be more efficient in the

RISKY BUSINESS Mark Dalton

way it works.

The HSE also emphasised that because people reporting a traumatic event, such as a workplace death or serious injury, “still need that personal interaction”, the notification of such incidents can still be done over the phone.

In another efficiency measure, the HSE will end its Infoline telephone service on September 30.

Instead, it will be encouraging businesses and members of the public seeking information and official guidance on health and safety to visit its website, which it describes as “a huge knowledge bank where people can access and download information free of charge and use interactive Web tools”.

The website currently receives 26m visits a year and has 100 times more visitors than the Infoline has callers.

It has recently been enhanced with interactive tools for low-risk businesses and an expanded “frequently-asked questions” section.

A further possible change has been under consultation by the HSE. This would see the present need to report over three-day injuries being extended to seven days, which would tie in with the self-certification and “fit-note” systems for illness and injury, as suggested by Lord Young in his proposals for changes to simplify health and safety regulations.

The consultation closed in May and is due for evaluation by the HSE board in August.

While there is much support for such a proposal, there appears to be some doubt as to whether the measure will succeed. We can only wait and see.

Mark Dalton is associate director at Wilby Ltd

They’re losing interest in debt YORKSHIRE firms are learning to survive with less debt, a report has revealed.

The study into business debt financing by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, shows that UK businesses are moving to a more sustainable model of financial management.

The report reveals that only a small proportion of businesses are seeking to open new external debt facilities.

Most are managing operations within their existing debt facilities through improved financial management.

Chris Manners (pictured), ICAEW regional director for Yorkshire, said: “We believe long-term sustainable UK growth will only be realised when government, businesses and individuals adjust to a world with less debt.

“This report suggests that businesses are taking positive steps towards a more sustainable model of financial management.

The research also shows that the lending environment has improved over the past year, both in the way lenders administer existing facilities and in relation to the terms that businesses face when renewing their debt finances.

However, there remains a challenge to ensure a lending environment conducive to growth for all sizes of business in all sectors.

ICAEW members in large businesses reported a greater improvement than those in SMEs – while businesses in the property sector remained far more likely to experience pressures from lenders.

While there was some relaxation in the lending environment for businesses renewing existing debt facilities, a significant proportion continued to report increased arrangement fees or interest rates.

Money talks FINANCE and the future provide the topic for a seminar next month.

Bill Hostetter, of Inspirational Financial Management, will tell delegates The Truth About Money when the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce stages the latest in its series of events entitled 60 Useful Minutes.

The event gets under way at 8.30am on Tuesday, July 12, at The Stable Block, Brewery Drive, Lockwood Park.

Chamber spokeswoman Tracy Smith said the event would focus no “life planning” – helping delegates plan financially for their goals and aspirations.

Contact Tracy Smith on 01924 311607 or tracy.smith@mycci.co.uk

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Hard lessons of Greek tragedy NCE again, our patience O is being severely tested by the inability of the Euro-

zone to deal with the current problems and internal contradictions of the single currency.

For the sceptics who had always doubted the sustainability of a currency union without a fiscal union (or the achievability of a fiscal union in a region of such ancient cultural diversity), the road ahead is clear, the Euro will not survive in its current form.

The believers in the single currency project (and they are not limited to the heads of the Eurozone countries) view this crisis as an opportunity to strengthen the union with the creation of mechanisms to deal with crisis resolution, increasing bank capital standards, intensifying bank supervision and by writing-in more definitive language in future government debt instruments to ensure that the impact of shocks is shared between central governments and private

CITY TALK Simon Kaye

investors .

Should the union survive, these features are certainly crucial to preventing a repeat of the present situation – whose genesis was in fixed income investors assuming that Greek credit was as good as that of Germany and therefore over-lending at the wrong price.

In truth, these positions are not entirely contradictory. It is possible both that the Eurozone will not survive in its current form and also that the remaining participants will enjoy the benefits of a stronger union. The problem, as the joke goes, is that if I am trying to get to that position, ideally I wouldn’t start

from here.

In the meantime, many are perplexed by the position of the European Central Bank, which is fighting tooth and nail against a restructuring of Greek debt, when its burden appears completely unsustainable. If it is obvious to all in the financial markets that a Greek default is inevitable, why do European bankers insist that it is not?

Our guess is that it is all about timing. Although Ireland and Portugal have signed-up in principle to taking European aid at the expense of austerity packages, they are not yet fully tied-in through legislation.

Offering to restructure Greek

Simon Kaye is divisional director at Investec Wealth & Investment

■ IMPROVEMENT: Stephen Newman, of Baxter Caulfield

new private sector jobs throughout the region – balancing the difficult news of job losses in the public sector.

The analysis showed that 11,213 private sector jobs were announced in the first five months of 2011 while £1.15m of new investment was undertaken by private sector business in the region. Companies in Yorkshire also landed contract wins worth £312,826.

Stephen Newman, senior partner at Baxter Caulfield, said: “There is no doubt that the region has been through some t o u g h e c o n o m i c t i m e s.

However, our research clearly indicates that – led by the private

PEOPLE looking to set up businesses from home can get some help from Business Link Yorkshire, which is staging a “Getting the Basics Right” session on Friday, July 8, in Dewsbury.

Go to www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk or ring 08456 048048

debt on favourable terms today (frequently called giving the debt a “haircut”) would only invite those next in line to ask for the same deal. This would quickly lead to contagion to Spain – which would be a problem of a different magnitude.

However, once Ireland and Portugal have ratified their terms of engagement, with the punishment for Greek misbehaviour starkly evident in the engineering of a painful sudden structural change in the economy to ensure that the country does not find itself in the same situation again in the future (assuming Mr Papandreou gets his package of measures through), then it may be time for the overdue trip to the barbers for Greek debt holders.

Our view is that we are close to a period of maximum uncertainty – with the resolution of that uncertainty (even if it is a haircut for Greek bondholders) more likely to be a relief than an unpleasant shock for financial markets.

Private sector ‘gets stronger’ THE private sector economy in Yorkshire continues to improve, according to latest research by a Huddersfield law firm.

Baxter Caulfield, which has offices at Station Street, has published its latest evaluation of West Yorkshire’s business deals – which documents 11,200 new jobs announced and more than £1.1m of new investment in the first five months of 2011.

The firm has conducted an evaluation of announcements published by companies relating to jobs, investment and new contracts.

It said the figures provided strong evidence of innovation, private sector investment and

Home advantage

sector – things are improving.

“Since we announced the figures for the first two months of the year, there has been a steady increase in both the number of jobs created and the investment announced.”

In March, Baxter Caulfield showed that 8,000 private sector jobs were created in the first two months of 2011, while some £758.33m of new investment was undertaken by private sector business in the region. Companies reported more than £185.61m worth of new contract wins.

The figures followed estimates of 5,000 job losses among West Yorkshire councils.

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Our heritage extends as far back as 1827 but our eyes are firmly fixed on your future.

Located in 11 offices across the UK, we are well placed to offer one-on-one insight and expert advice on your investments, pensions or other financial matters.

Please visit our website, call Simon Kaye on 0113 245 4488 or email simon.kaye@investecwin.co.uk investecwin.co.uk

Focus on finance for companies facing a cash squeeze KIRKLEES companies facing a cash squeeze have been invited to attend a series of seminars on raising finance.

Business Link Yorkshire is staging the events on July 15 in Doncaster, on September 13 in Scunthorpe, on October 12 in York and on October 19 in

Scarborough.

The seminars will be run by an experienced Business Link Yorkshire adviser and presented by a panel of industry specialists including senior bank representatives. Topics covered will include business planning, financial forecasting, invoice

finance, equity finance and angel finance.

The next seminar takes place from 8.30am to 1pm on July 15 at the Mount Pleasant Hotel, near Rossington, Doncaster.

Call 08456 048048 or visit www.businesslinkyorkshire. co.uk/events

Jeff Long, of Business Link Yorkshire, said: ““At our finance seminars, senior bank representatives will discuss their particular bank’s attitude to lending and we will also cover how to write concise, compelling and credible business plans and sales forecasts.”

The value of your investments may go down as well as up and you might not get back the money you’ve put in.

Individuals • International • Charities • Financial Advisers Court of Protection

Member firm of the London Stock Exchange. Member of NYSE Liffe.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Investec Wealth & Investment Limited is registered in England. Registered No. 2122340. Registered Office: 2 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QP.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Textiles firm moves onto Batley estate A NEW tenant has been secured at an industrial estate in Batley.

Travelfast Ltd, which specialises in textile samples and finishing, has taken more than 41,000sq ft of space at Grange Road Industrial Estate in a deal completed by the Bradford office of chartered surveyors Eddisons.

The property comprises a single storey unit with offices and a dedicated service yard as well as car parking for 100 vehicles.

Travelfast has relocated from its original premises at New Ings Mills, Batley, due to expansion.

Eddisons completed the let-

ting on behalf of Wharfedale Finance Company Ltd, based in Birstall.

The landlord and tenants have invested over £250,000 in the site including the installation of a new sub station, upgraded offices and various general refurbishment.

Jonathan O’Connor, of Eddisons (pictured) said: ’We have concluded this deal during challenging times for the commercial property market and have achieved excellent rental income for our client.

“The landlord has made a significant investment in a ra n g e o f i m p rove m e n t s which are of direct benefit to the tenants and are resulting in high occupancy levels.”

Company reward A DEWSBURY manufacturer has been recognised for its commitment to communities and the environment.

Rixonway Kitchens, which works in affordable and social housing, was named Environm e n t a l , S o c i a l a n d G overnance Management Team of the Year in the North East region British Venture Capital & Private Equity Association Awards.

The awards recognise the p o s i t ive i m p a c t o f f i r m s backed by private equity and venture capital on the UK and global economies.

Among its achievements, Rixonway recycles all waste wood created during manufacturing to produce bio mass energy and segregates components from old kitchens being stripped to be recycled.

Rixonway is also the largest organisation in the UK to install dust control system Ecogate. The system automatically shuts down extraction units relating to a machine when not in use – saving the electricity needed to run the unit and heat the factory as less hot air is removed.

The company has also donated units to Thorn Cross Prison in Warrington for a scheme to teach young offenders new skills and help reduce re-offending rates.

And it has pledged to tackle homelessness by helping projects that provide stable and permanent addresses; assist support groups for people with low level mental health issues; and provide funds and practical assistance to community regeneration projects.

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property

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Scheme wins LABC award

A PROPERTY developer based in the Holme Valley has won an award for excellence.

B ro c k h o l e s - b a s e d Tow n g at e Homes picked up another accolade for its prestigious Broomfield Avenue development in Halifax at the Local Authority Building Control West Yorkshire Building Excellence Awards.

The competition is organised by the building control services at Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield, Calderdale and Bradford councils.

A total of 11 awards were given to celebrate the excellence of building quality in a variety of projects from domestic extensions to commercial developments.

Graham Barber, site manager and winner of the Nation House Building Council Pride in the Job award, collected the trophy for the Broomfield Avenue scheme – which won the category for two or more dwellings.

The LABC Awards recognise the importance of building control in creating a high quality, sustainable built environment in England and Wales.

Local authority building control helps to ensure better design and build by co-operative working between local councils, developers, designers and builders to avoid costly corrections during construction, and to make sure projects comply with the highest standards of safety, sustainab-

■ HOME WIN: Graham Barber (left), of Towngate Homes, with Malcolm Speak, of Haven Building and Maintenance Ltd

ility and accessibility.

Broomfield Avenue is a luxury residential development of 16 spacious, natural stone detached homes and townhouses, occupying a two-acre site in a conservation area overlooking Savile Park.

Towngate Homes chief executive Richard Conroy said: “We are incredibly proud to have received this level of recognition for Broomfield Avenue

and to have been given the opportunity to showcase the high standard of homes in Yorkshire.”

This latest award follows accolades achieved by Towngate Homes’ sister company Conroy Brook in the UK Housebuilder Awards 2010, where the firm was named Housebuilder of the Year’ in one category and took the title of Best Design for its Somersbury Court scheme in Almondbury.

Prizewinner is on the right road A CONSTRUCTION group with operations covering Brighouse and Elland has landed an award for the way it manages and motivates its employees.

Amey undertakes a wide range of contracts in Yorkshire – with more than 1,000 employees across the North of England and offices in Leeds, Sheffield, York, Wakefield, Halifax and Bradford.

The contracts include providing highways maintenance for Calderdale Council, street lighting in York and Wakefield and design and consultancy work for the North East.

It also manages and maintains message signs, emergency phones, CCTV cameras and traffic signals along parts of the M62, M1 and other

key motorways on behalf of the Highways Agency.

Amey was named Team of the Year at the Employee Benefits Awards 2011.

The accolade comes in recognition of the way it delivers training, well-being and benefits programmes for its employees.

Amey was the first company of its kind to implement a comprehensive well-being programme, which reduced sickness absence across the company.

Judges from the awards also praised Amey’s flexible benefits plan and Career Path Framework – a simple map which shows how people can progress their careers at Amey.

Group human resources director

Valerie Hughes-D’Aeth said: “We recognise that people are our greatest asset and we are delighted that this commitment has been recognised by Employee Benefits magazine.

“Amey is a dynamic, innovative company which delivers many complex HR projects.

“It is therefore essential for Amey to have a strong HR team and we believe in doing everything we can to develop and maintain a happy, productive workforce.”

The award follows Amey’s recent success in the prestigious Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2011.

Permission for Plaza plan PLANNING approval has been granted for the final office development phase of a £50m scheme for Broad Street Plaza in Halifax town centre.

Colliers International in West Yorkshire tabled the application on behalf of Gregory Projects (Halifax Ltd). The 280,000sq ft mixed use development is already under

construction for the first phase, which is more than 85% let.

Occupiers include a multi-screen Vue Cinema, a 100-bed Premier Inn with ancillary bar and restaurant, Frankie & Benny’s, Wetherspoon’s, a 429-space car park and an NHS drop-in centre. Completion is expected by Easter, 2012.

The second phase, where detailed

planning has now been granted, will provide 41,525sq ft of Grade A office accommodation on four floors.

Gregory Projects (Halifax) Ltd is already marketing the space as One Broad Street Plaza through agents and intends to commence building work once sufficient “pre lets” have been secured.

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102-104 Greenside Road, Mirfield 88 m2 (946 sq ft)

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Good quality single storey industrial/storage unit with high quality internally built offices well located for M1.

Ground floor retail/catering premises suitable for a variety of commercial/ food uses(stp) near Co-op and Indian restaurant.

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Folly Hall, Waterfront Quarter, Huddersfield 186 m2 (2,000 sq ft) Last remaining office suite

Single storey industrial/warehouse complex with offices under refurbishment immediately adjacent main Wakefield Road between M1 and Town Centre.

High quality modern industrial/ warehouse unit with excellent on site loading & car parking being situated on a well maintained secure site.

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For more information contact Alec Michael on 07717 870 320 or email alec@michaelsteel.co.uk

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Amanda Vigar

Bell Brown THE owner of a Holmfirth-based accountancy firm has added to her impressive list of professional qualifications.

Amanda Vigar (pictured), who bought the practice of Bell Brown in 2007, has become a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Ms Vigar became an associate member of the organisation about a year ago.

Ms Vigar, who is a qualified barrister, is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and is a chartered tax adviser with the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

She also has a marketing qualification with the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Ms Vigar, who lives in Honley, owns V&A Vigar Group, which includes Bell Brown, Vigar & Co in Peterborough and V&A Monkshead Preece in Ely. As well as qualifying for the Bar, she trained with Coopers & Lybrand before working for Robson Rhodes and Ernst & Young.

Matthew Crewe

Greens Holdings A HUDDERSFIELD man has taken up a senior post with a major energy sector company.

Matthew Crewe, of Highburton, has been appointed chief executive of Greens Holdings, a Hong Kong-listed company involved in building power stations, design engineering and project management.

Mr Crewe graduated in business communication in 1993 from Teeside University. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 2000 and has 14 years experience in financial and accounting roles in practice and in industry focusing on industrial products and construction.

In 2005, he took a nine-month secondment to Pilkington Plc with time spent working in its Chinese and Hong Kong businesses. He has also worked for Ernst & Young and KPMG as associate director of its transaction services business since 2006.

Ben Hodgson

Sheards CHARTERED accountancy firm Sheards has recruited Ben Hodgson to the team.

Mr Hodgson (pictured) qualified as a certified accountant in 2010, completing his training in a firm based in Halifax.

Mr Hodgson, who joins Sheards at its offices in New North Road, Huddersfield, has extensive experience in accounts preparation and audit. His specialist skills include his work for solicitors and preparing cash flow forecasts.

Movers and shakers

Page 8

It’s magnificent for Severn Unival KEY staff from a company in Huddersfield shared in the celebrations when the Queen’s Award for Enterprise was presented to an engineering group.

Dame Janet Trotter, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, presented the award to directors and employees of Severn Glocon Group at its headquarters in Gloucester.

The group includes Severn Unival, based at Milford Street in Huddersfield, which played a major role in the group gaining industry’s most coveted prize.

Dame Janet was given a tour of the group’s headquarters and primary manufacturing plant where she also met some of the key staff from the Huddersfield facility.

She said it was a great pleasure to present the award – especially since it was her first such presentation since becoming Lord Lieutenant.

Severn Glocon Group director Colin Findlay, said: “The Lord Lieutenant’s visit was a proud moment for us. It was good to see some of the group’s longest-serving members getting external recognition for their role in our success. Dame Janet took the time to under-

stand our business, which made the award presentation feel very personal and special.”

The group won its award in the international trade category – acknowledging its extensive growth which has seen export earnings increase by more than one-and-a-half times in three years.

Severn Glocon Group designs and makes specialist valves for the energy industry in markets, including the Middle East, the Far East, Europe, Canada, the USA and the North Sea. Severn Unival, which has 80 employees, is responsible for repairing, upgrading and replacing control valves used in some of the most hostile natural environments.

The firm, which won the category for international trade in the 2009 Examiner Business Awards, has operated in the town for more than 25 years.

Last month, Severn Unival joined forces with a long-term business partner to launch Severn Norway in Bergen to provide expertise in the service, repair and retrofit of critical control and choke valves used in the Norwegian oil and gas industry.

It’s the car that’s the star!

■ SPEEDY: The Airwaves Racing car made an appearance at an open day at PPG Architectural Coatings in Birstall STAFF at a business in Kirklees tasted life in the fast lane when a racing car rolled up for a special open day.

Employees at the Birstall head office of global paints and coatings manufacturer PPG Architectural Coatings EMEA were joined by leading racing outfit Airwaves Racing.

The high-octane event was held to celebrate the partnership with PPG’s paint brand Leyland Trade, which is enjoying its third year as official sponsor of Airwaves Racing’s British Touring Car Championship team.

Staff and their families had a chance to meet drivers Mat Jackson and Liam Griffin and take a close-up look at the team’s spectacular cars. The event also helped raise significant funds for Yorkshire charity Levi’s Star, which

supports children with brain tumours.

The lucrative sponsorship deal with Airwaves Racing sees local brand Leyland Paints’ name on all of the cars, transporters, drivers’ protective and team clothing as well as throughout the team’s position in the pit lane – ensuring the brand reaches the hundreds of thousands of BTCC fans across the UK. Leyland Trade brand manager Sharon Hendry said: “We are very grateful that the team could come along to our Birstall offices as it was great for the rest of the PPG team to be able to see what Leyland Trade has been up to!

“Everyone really enjoyed the chance to see the cars and talk to the drivers.

Thanks to all those who took part in the raffle, we have been able to raise much-needed funds for Levi’s Star.”

■ BOWLED OVER: Dame Janet Trotter with Severn Glocon Group managing director Maurice Critchley

Going places with Google HOSPITALITY companies across Kirklees have received special Internet coaching on how to boost their online presence and increase business.

Companies from across the district attended a special course on “Google Places” organised by WSI Yorkshire and Business Link.

Steve Harvey-Franklin (pictured), owner of WSI Yorkshire, taught attendees how to claim their “places page” on Google to help promote their business. He also provided instructions on how those working in the trade could make the most from it.

Steve said: “The course went incredibly well and I’m delighted that I was able to explain the benefits of Google Places to local hospitality companies.”

Holmfirth-based WSI Yorkshire, formed in 2004, provides Internet marketing services to clients across the UK. More than 4m businesses are currently listed on Google Places.

Be a good sport!

BUSINESS people in Huddersfield are being given a have a sporting chance!

The next meeting of informal networking group First Friday Club takes place from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on Friday, July 1, at The Sportsman pub, St John’s Road – giving town centre professionals a chance to meet up for a drink and a chat with no pressure to provide leads or referrals.

Contact Krishna Patel by emailing krishna.patel@revellward.co.uk