Kirklees Business News

KAREN WYNARD Pensions and savings

SUE MORRIS It’s the healthy option!

Column - Page 4

Full inter view - Page 3

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Kitchen supplier lands £2.1m deal

A FIRM providing kitchens for the social housing sector has landed a £2.1m four-year deal.

Dewsbury-based Rixonway Kitchens is partnering building contractors Apollo and Wates in the work, which will provide more than 3,000 kitchens to homes in Sedgemoor, Somerset.

Award-winning company Rixonway will provide kitchens from its Trieste range for the project, which is being run under the Government’s Decent Homes programme.

Ministers have set a target to ensure all social housing should be decent, including being water-tight and warm with modern facilities.

Rixonway chief executive Paul Rose said: “We are delighted to be involved with such a significant refurbishment scheme.

“Rixonway has worked with Wates and Apollo as an agreed supplier on a number of projects and shares a commitment to tackling environmental challenges.

“Indeed, earlier in the year Rixonway was named Manufacturer of the Year at the Wates Living Space inaugural Supply Chain Awards.”

Said Mr Rose: “This contract is the latest in a series of strong wins for Rixonway in the public sector with Ipswich, Tower Hamlets and Lewisham councils being the latest.

“Rixonway continues to weather the economic downturn, investing in new technologies to ensure we are well-placed as a business to secure and fulfil new contracts with existing and new clients.”

The contract comes on the back of Rixonway’s entry into the Sunday Times Buyout Track 100 earlier this year – for the second year in a row – and into the Profit Track 100 for the first time.

Rixonway made the biggest leap up the Buyout Track 100 of companies backed by private equity in the region – rising 46 places from 62nd in 2010 to 17th in 2011.

The company also entered the Profit

Track in 36th position in the table that ranks Britain's 100 private companies with the fastest-growing profits.

Rixonway was named the 2010 Environmental, Social and Governance Management Team of the Year in the Yorkshire region British Venture Capital & Private Equity Association Awards.

The awards recognise the positive impact of private equity and venture capital-backed companies on UK and global economies and celebrate the achievements of the management teams that create, nurture and lead them.

The company has also received a gold accolade for the second year in the RoSPA Awards, which acknowledge companies’ strong commitment to employee health and safety.

Formed in 1978, Rixonway Kitchens has more than 30 years’ experience supplying kitchens to affordable housing and the public sector. It is the only UK kitchen manufacturer dedicated to community regeneration.

average total cost of relief now at £1,340.

About 330,000 business premises will pay no rates at all over this period as a result of the extension of the Government's discount scheme.

The area with the highest concentration of small businesses is Tendring, Essex, where six out of every 10 firms are getting a rate reprieve.

Elsewhere in West Yorkshire, almost 6,000 small firms in Bradford are getting the discount; with 3,500 in

Wakefield, 2,800 in Calderdale and 6,300 in Leeds, Local government minister Eric Pickles said helping small shops and businesses grow was a crucial part of rebalancing and rebuilding the economy. Small businesses report that business rates are the third biggest outgoing for local firms after rent and staff.

Last autumn, the government announced the doubling of the Small Business Rate Relief discount available

Direct approach A DIRECTOR of supermarket firm Morrisons is to address this year’s Women’s Business Forum.

Norman Pickavance, group human resources director for the Bradford-based retailer, will speak to a 600-strong audience at the event in September, which has been organised by Holmfirth-based Heather Jackson.

● Full story - Page 8

■ NEW CLIENTS: Rixonway chief executive Paul Rose says the firm has weathered the economic storm

5,000 Kirklees firms benefit from rates rebate MORE than 5,000 Kirklees business premises have benefited from dedicated double tax breaks, according to official figures.

Some 5,087 business properties in the district received a rate reprieve in 2010-11 under government measures to help areas of the country with a high proportion of small companies.

Kirklees came 63rd in a list of 330 local authority areas, which are getting additional help worth on average £670 for each qualifying firm – with the

INSIDE

for a year. The extension of the scheme is expected to offer an additional £340m worth of help for about half a million business ratepayers in England.

The doubling of the Small Business Rate Relief discount was introduced in October as part of the Government's commitment to support local enterprise and growth. The extra relief, which was announced in the Budget, will now continue until the end of September, 2012.

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3 0 , Au g u s t , 2 0 1 1

Pounding ahead RETAILER Poundworld is investing almost £500,000 in employee benefits after two of its directors appeared on Channel 4’s Undercover Boss series to find out what employees really thought about the company.

● Full story - Page 5

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

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

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Nicky’s set to step into the spotlight!

ALL business is show business, according to Nicky Pattinson.

The sales specialist, who hails from Holmfirth, says fir ms need to razzle-dazzle their customers.

And she will be explaining how companies can do just that when she speaks at the Kirklees Business Conference in Huddersfield next month.

Danny Matharu, of Birstall-based event organiser Hillrich, said: “If you aren't aware of her, Nicky Pattinson is probably not what you expect. The accent certainly isn’t Queen’s English – and she has, well, ‘a way with her’.

“Her story reads like a blockbusting film – and she reckons there’s no doubt there is a destiny to how she landed in the place she’s in and that her purpose in life is exactly what she’s doing.

“She will describe herself as ‘The UK’s number 1 sales assistant – ranked in the world’. She’s joking, but she probably is! She laughs and says if she’d been given a quid for every time someone asks, ‘how do you do that?’ she could liberate every supermarket trolley in England!”

Nicky has been responsible for transforming sales performances for everything from kitchens and walking gear to legal services and dental insurance.

Said Nicky: “The world got stuck on the phrase customer service. That’s not the same as SELLING in the first place. Part of the reason we are in this mess is because nobody ever SELLS anything to anyone anymore.

“In show business every nuance is considered – the music, the costume, the magic words – the character is understood. We have a lot to learn from those components.”

Said Danny: “Nicky has effectively rewritten the books on introducing new money and new people into com-

■ SALES STAGE: Nicky Pattinson, who will be among the speakers at the Kirklees Business Conference 2012 organised by Danny Matharu (right)

panies, without ever once dropping her unmistakable Yorkshire accent.

“She now flies between the UK and the US to work with both lone business owners and the largest conglomerates to integrate Show Business Selling into enterprise.

“Her involvement at this year’s Conference came about from a telephone call where she was telling me what she had been doing in the US and it just blew me away.

“Show Business Selling will excite all those who want to start selling again

and stop just hoping it will happen.”

Nicky Pattinson joins a line-up of high-profile speakers for KBC 2012.

Other speakers are Town chairman Dean Hoyle, Dragon slayer and health food queen Kirsty Henshaw and treble paralympic and world judo champion Simon Jackson.

The event on Thursday, September 29, offers a full-day programme of business specific seminars, an exhibition involving 60 local businesses, a clinic where visitors can cure their business ailments and unlimited networking.

All delegate places are free and can be booked by visiting www.kirkleesbusinessconference.co.uk

Heard the word about Michelle?

A FORMER publicist to writers and celebrities from Whoopi Goldberg to Iain Banks is launching a new business in Huddersfield with a free networking event.

Key Words Copywriting Journalism & Events brings all the activities of writer and events organiser Michelle Hodgson under one umbrella.

Michelle built a successful career as a publishing PR, promoting books by Whoopi Goldberg, Iain Banks, Damon Hill, Edwina Currie, Paula Yates and Vanessa Feltz among others.

Following this, she worked as a national newspaper journalist at The Guardian and The Independent.

Since moving to Huddersfield, she has been working as a copywriter for both national and Yorkshire-based companies, including 315 Bar & Restaurant, Wellhouse Leisure, 2020 Commercial Photography and Mosaic Virtual Office.

She has also continued working as

a freelance journalist, interviewing luminaries such as Michael Parkinson and bestselling authors Alexander McCall Smith and Jodi Picoult.

Said Michelle: “All local businesses need copy for their websites, sales brochures, marketing and e-marketing material.

“But many don’t have time to write it or struggle to look at their products and services from the outside. That’s where I can step in.

“Professional copywriting can be good value for money – it can save you time and help you win new clients.”

Under the Key Words banner, Michelle has also set up a “Dinner & Conversation With…” series of author talks at The Keys restaurant in Huddersfield with Joanne Harris, Sophie Hannah and Iain Banks as well as a musical event “From The Stranglers to Sinatra” with former Stranglers’ frontman Paul Roberts.

Said Michelle: “I’m delighted to be bringing bestselling authors to The Keys and I’m hoping that anyone in the area who loves reading will come along to support these events, sample the wonderful food at The Keys and enjoy an interesting and entertaining evening.”

Michelle is also keen to hear from any aspiring writers in Huddersfield interested in taking part in a new series of creative writing courses.

The first, “How to Write & Sell Your Novel”, will take place at The Keys on November 20.

The Networking and Launch Event for Key Words is from 4.30pm to 6pm on Wednesday, September 14, and will provide the opportunity for local businesses and those interested in the creative arts and literature to network.

The event is free but places are limited and tickets should be booked at http://keywordsevents.eventbrite.com

■ COPY DESK: Michelle Hodgson, of copywriting, journalism and events business Key Words

Page 2 Slump for services BUSINESS volumes for UK service sector firms fell at the fastest rate for almost two years during the past quarter.

Firms in business and professional services, which had been growing slowly, saw volumes contract unexpectedly. Volumes of business in consumer services also fell and at the fastest rate since November, 2009.

The August quarterly CBI Service Sector Survey polled 162 firms with respondents divided into business and professional services, such as accountancy, legal, and marketing firms, and consumer services, such as hotels, bars and restaurants, travel, and leisure.

Among business and professional services firms, balances of minus 22% were recorded for both the value and volume of business. This is the first fall in volume and the fastest fall in value since November, 2009, when both balances were minus 27%.

Firms said they regarded both the value and volume of business as well below normal at minus 38% and minus 41% respectively.

Firms predict a slower rate of decline – minus 14% – in both the value and volume of business in the coming three months, the weakest expectations since the first half of 2009.

In Consumer Services, the ongoing decline in business volumes intensified at minus 25% – recording the strongest fall since November, 2009, when the figure was minus 35%. Values also fell at – to minus 15% – at a pace similar to that seen since the start of the year.

Firms said that the level of activity was well below normal – minus-38% for both volume and value.

Expectations are that the volume of business will be flat – minus1% – and the value of business will increase slightly at plus 7% next quarter.

Richard Woolhouse, of the CBI, said: “This quarter, we’ve seen more evidence of the ongoing decline in consumer services spending, as people with increasingly squeezed household incomes are forced to cut back their discretionary spending.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS FOR businesswoman Sue Morris, safety definitely comes first.

The managing director of Bradley-based SM&MS – standing for Safety Management & Monitoring Services – has built up the business from its origins in a spare bedroom in the family home to a firm with an impressive headquarters building and a national client base.

However, Sue admits to a few “false starts” before finding her forte.

“I come from a small mining town in the North East called Blyth,” she says.

“When I went to school, not many of us stayed on to do A-levels. Our sixth form was the biggest they had ever had – with about 50 of us – and only about half a dozen went to university.

“I wanted to do medicine or dentistry, but I didn't get the grades so I went to Portsmouth Polytechnic to do pharmacology. I realised it was a mistake and ended up doing a degree in environmental health at Leeds Polytechnic.

“That led to me being an environmental health officer and I thought I would spend my entire career in local Manchester region. That was government.” on September 1, 1994. On On qualifying, Sue went to September 2, I got the north work for the city councils in of England work for Bradford and later Leeds Weatherall Green and Smith, enforcing environmental health regulations. At Leeds, now Sanderson Weatherall in Leeds.

Sue specialised on the “Suddenly, I had more commercial side, food work than I could handle, so hygiene, health and safety I took on another consultant and environmental and administrator. We protection. worked out of the spare “I worked there for about bedroom at my home in five years and gained post Redwood Drive – printing graduate qualifications in and stapling documents! health and safety at Leeds,” “Richard Ellis wanted me she says. “I had wanted to to set up their health and do a post graduate diploma safety policy and that in acoustics with a view to became the template for the going into private sector others. consultancy, but at my boss’ “I borrowed £1,000 from suggestion I went to Salford my mother-in-law because College of Arts and the banks would not lend to Technology and did a post me. I didn’t have a car, so I graduate diploma in health borrowed my dad’s old Astra and safety. van to get about until I could “I wasn’t looking to move afford to buy a car. on particularly, but after “I worked from home for having two children and about eight months and then gaining promotion, I could took space in Revenue not see what the next move Chambers in Huddersfield in would be in local 1995. I took on two government. consultants and we “In Leeds, they were restructuring the department expanded from there. We were there for a couple of to split the disciplines and years before moving to Lion there was no ‘next level’.”

Chambers.”

Sue applied for and got a SM&MS moved into its job for a consultancy called three-storey self-built offices LPMS in Shipley. She was at Bradley in 2006 – and in there for about four months before going to ARK Health and Safety in London where she was involved in sales meetings, product development and staff recruitment as well as consultancy work. She left after eight months to set up her own consultancy.

“That was in August, 1994,” she recalls. “What I really needed to do was cover my part-time salary, which was £12,000 a year at that time so I took on a sales guy. I had contacts from ARK and some of their commercial property clients came with me. The first was Richard Ellis, now CBRE, in ■ SAFE HOUSE: Sue Morris at Liverpool. I got all the work the SM&MS offices for the Liverpool and

profile

Page 3 Sue Morris

Firm is in safe hands Sue's words "became a different company".

“We raised our game,” says Sue. “We were working in a better environment and became more professional.

“Now we have more than 50 staff with people based at home and working across the UK from southern England to Scotland and Wales.”

SM&MS has also started a new department under the Simple brand to offer health and safety and employment law consultancy to SMEs. “We have taken on more sales staff and consultants for that purpose,” says Sue. “We had all our eggs in the property basket and it is a tough world out there. There are big shifts in the property sector and there have been high-profile casualties as a result of the recession.

“We had a lot of clients, but our turnover was £3.2m and our biggest client accounted for £1.2m of that.

“We also wanted to do more work locally. Our target for the new SME service is West Yorkshire, so we can serve those clients from here quite easily and offer a good service to local people.

“If a small firm has to make redundancies, it has to be done properly. If companies are creating jobs, they have to get the employment contract correct."

Says Sue: “We are still expanding. We have vacancies for at least another four posts in areas like water hygiene and asbestos risk assessment as well as health and safety. We have expanded into Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.”

She adds: “I am hands-on with the clients and go to meetings in London quite a lot. I also have a couple of projects ongoing. I have an operations manager who runs the consultants day-to-day, sends them out

on jobs and makes things as efficient as possible.

“I set up Simple and got the recruitment organised.”

Sue, whose husband Philip is also a director of the firm, says: “I have cut back from the long hours that were routine when I first set up the business.

“We worked into the evenings and put together our health and safety manuals on the living room floor!

“But I'm often sitting in front of the television working on risk assessments on the laptop and I work on the train.

“I went on a Business Link course at the Old Golf House in Outlane some time ago. It was all about the work-life balance. It was about looking at yourself and

what you do at work and what you do outside work – and having a life! Now I take Mondays off , although I still feel I should be at work. I wouldn’t want to pack in work altogether. I like doing what I do and coming into the office.

“I’m a member of the Monday Club, a group of girls who get together on Mondays to walk the dogs or go cycling – and occasionally shopping.”

Another pleasure for Sue and Philip is walking pet dog Tilly, who spends the day settled in a corner of their office and lunchtimes enjoying walks along nearby woodland paths. Says Sue: “I used to run a lot in the evenings and I did the London Marathon five years ago. I still keep fit, but I’ve given up the long distances!”

Role: Managing director Age: 48 Family: Married to Philip with daughters Charlotte, 21, and Jessica, 19 Holidays: We have an apartment in Portugal.

We went to New York last year and go skiing regularly. My dream is to go to India or China Car: Porsche Boxster S First job: I went potato picking aged 13 during the half-term holiday – and spent my first wage packet shopping Best thing about job: Being in control of my own destiny Worst thing about job: As an employer, feeling responsible for everyone else’s destinies!

Business tip: Take one step at a time and don’t look too far ahead

SM&MS Work: Workplace compliance, health and safety and employment law Site: Bradley Employees: 56 Phone: 01484 452349 Email: enquiries@sm-ms.biz Website: www.sm-ms.co.uk

HENRYK ZIENTEK

On the board with National Payroll Week

During Monday 5 to Friday 9 September help us promote National Payroll Week by sending us your payroll queries and we will answer them for you,

free of charge.

We will have payroll software demonstrations and surgeries which will cover topics such as dividend vs salary, P11d’s and company cars.

Revell Ward Tip:

Visit our website for more information or to book an appointment give us a call.

No problem too big or too small.

Jennifer Davies Partner 01484 538 351

payroll@revellward.co.uk www.revellward.co.uk

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Pension and fixed protection posers HANGES brought in by the C Finance Act 2011 mean that from April, 2012, the maximum

amount of pension savings that can be accumulated without liability to the Lifetime Allowance charge reduces from £1.8m to £1.5m.

For those who have pension savings which may exceed £1.5m there is a small window of opportunity to keep the Lifetime Allowance at £1.8m by registering for Fixed Protection.

In order for Fixed Protection to apply, pension scheme members will be required to meet a number of criteria, which are: ● Applications for Fixed Protection must be received at HMRC by no later than April 5, 2012 ● Members must not already have either Primary or Enhanced Protection ● Pension Scheme members in most cases will not be able to accrue further pension benefits for Fixed Protection to be maintained (for

FINANCIAL FOCUS Karen Wynard

example, no further pension contributions can be made to money purchase pension schemes such as personal pension schemes) For those who believe that the total value of their pension fund(s) may exceed £1.5m Fixed Protection will reduce the amount of tax paid when benefits are taken.

The Lifetime Allowance charge is 55% of the pension fund value over the Lifetime Allowance if the benefits are taken in the form of a lump sum or 25% if taken as pension income.

The example below shows this in more detail: Suppose a pension scheme member

takes retirement benefits on April 6, 2012, and has pension savings of £1.8m with no form of Lifetime Allowance protection.

As the revised Lifetime Allowance will then be £1.5m, this means that if all benefits are taken £300,000 will be liable to a Lifetime Allowance charge.

If taken as a lump sum, the tax charge will be as follows: £300,000 x 55% = £16,5000. If taken as pension income, the charge will be £300,000 x 25% = £75,000. The pension income would then suffer income tax at the person’s marginal rate. This amount of tax could have been avoided if

Fixed Protection had been applied for, as the Lifetime Allowance would have been maintained at £1.8m.

In previous articles I have written about how from 2012 employers will be required by law to “auto-enrol” their employees into a pension scheme and make pension contributions on their behalf.

Those employees who have applied for Fixed Protection will lose the protection if they subsequently make future pension contributions and therefore if they are automatically enrolled they will lose their protection unless the member opts out within one month.

It is vitally important that those with Fixed Protection do so, and anyone who may be affected must seek financial advice beforehand.

The tax treatment discussed in this article depends on the individual circumstances of the investor and maybe subject to change in the future.

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

Time is of the essence Independent financial planning services for companies and individuals Eastwood & Partners (Financial Services) Ltd

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

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

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T this time of year, the A completion of Tax Returns may not be high on your list

of priorities.

However, important changes to the Self Assessment tax system have come into effect for 2010/11, which people should be aware of.

The first deadline for submitting Self Assessment Tax Return is October 31, 2011. This is for those wanting to send in their paper forms to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or wanting them to calculate their tax bill.

For individuals and partnerships, filing returns over the internet will mean that they have a further three months to finalise their tax affairs, in order to meet the January 31, 2012, filing deadline.

Failure to meet these deadlines will result in an automatic £100 late filing penalty, subject to an appeal if you have a reasonable excuse.

In previous tax years, the penalty could be reduced to nil if an individual’s tax liability for the year was paid in full by January 31 following the end of the tax year or if they were due a tax refund.

Also, where an individual taxpayer had an outstanding tax liability of less than £100, the late filing penalty was “capped” at this lower amount.

For 2011 and future Self Assess-

TAX TALK Colin Barratt

ment Tax Returns, the full penalty of £100 will always be due if your return is filed late even if there is no tax outstanding. The capping of penalties is abolished.

Capping has never applied to partnership Tax Returns and where these are submitted late each partner of the business faces a £100 penalty.

For those who, in the past, have traditionally been tardy in submitting Tax Returns, further penalties can be charged as follows: ● More than three months late – a £10 daily penalty up to a maximum of £900 ● More than six months late – an additional £300 or 5% of the tax due if higher ● More than 12 months late – a further £300 or a further 5% of the tax due if higher. In particularly serious cases, there is a penalty of up to 100% of the tax due.

New late payment penalties will be introduced which are similar to the previous penalties (surcharges)

which mean that from January 31, 2012, HMRC may charge the following penalties if tax is paid late: ● A 5% penalty if the tax due on January 31, 2012, is not paid within 30 days ● A further 5% penalty if the tax due on January 31, 2012, is not paid within five months after the penalty date ● Additionally, there will be a third 5% penalty if the tax due on January 31, 2012, is not paid within 11 months after the penalty date.

These penalties are additional to the interest that is charged on all outstanding amounts, including unpaid penalties.

These increases in penalties and inflexibility over those who do not owe anything could not come at a worse time. If time to pay is genuinely required do not delay filing but negotiate instalments in advance.

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

KIRKLEES BUSIN

Take a break and get healthy

ALMOST four in 10 employees in Yorkshire admit to not taking a lunch break.

And more than a third of employe who offer food for their workers across the UK do not offer health options, according to a survey.

The Aviva Health and the Workpla report said employees’ eating habits were suffering due to stres Although employees and bosses recognised the value of taking a lunch break for wellbeing, longer hours and workplace pressures were preventing staff from taking the breaks they need.

Some 39% of employees in Yorkshire – the highest of any region – say they do not take a lunch break.

This compares to nearly a third o employees across the UK who sa they are unlikely to take a lunch break – only a marginal improvement on the 37% who gav the same response in 2009.

A quarter will only take a lunch break if they feel their workload allows it, while 13% of employees skip meals in the workplace altogether.

For some employees, stress resu in other poor dietary habits, with 19% claiming they over-eat at wor To help encourage better eating habits in the workplace Aviva has produced an online guide to heal lunches at www.aviva.co.uk/ healthoftheworkplace.

Aviva also found that employers d recognise the importance of lunc breaks and eating well. Nearly ha of workers are encouraged to tak lunch break as employers recognise the value of a good work/life balance.

Of the 45% of employers who offe food in the workplace, 38% mainl offer unhealthy options. As a result, employees try to keep themselves healthy with 35% stating they try to eat healthy foo and 30% usually bringing in their own healthy lunches.

However, as a result of longer working hours, nearly 15% of employees believe their health is affected because they are eating unhealthily at work.

Dr Doug Wright, head of clinical development, Aviva UK Health sa “It’s well documented that eating more healthily can improve gener well-being and life expectancy, so there are countless benefits to adopting this approach in the workplace.

“It’s also important for people to take a break from their desks whe possible as this can help improve both morale and efficiency for employees.

“Employers can help by offering healthy food options to support a encourage their staff to eat well a by removing those barriers that s exist to taking a proper lunch bre “Employees too need to break the habit of skipping lunch or eating their desks. A cultural shift in the workplace towards proper lunch breaks will improve overall employee well-being as well as productivity.”

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TV appearance pays dividends

RETAIL giant Poundworld is investing almost £500,000 in employee benefits after the discount retailer appeared on Channel 4’s Undercover Boss series in order to find out what employees really thought about the company.

Managing director Chris Edwards and marketing director Martyn Birks, who was brought up in Huddersfield, took part in the show, which sees high-flying executives go undercover in their own businesses.

Poundworld has 2,800 employees across 129 stores – including ones at New Street in Huddersfield and Market Place, Dewsbury.

It plans to open a further 120 new stores over the next three years which will create approximately 3,000 new jobs.

Issues that arose during the show included employees being unhappy about staff facilities, till discrepancies being taken out of wages and staff being deducted 15 minutes pay for clocking in late.

Said Mr Edwards: “Our employees are our most important asset, but we’ve been expanding so quickly recently, creating more than 1,000 new jobs over the last two years, that whilst we have focused on recruiting people we haven’t always listened to what’s important to them.

“Although we regularly ask for suggestions, some people are guarded in their responses which is why we decided to participate in Undercover Boss. The show gave us completely honest comments and as a result it has been invaluable.

“We’ve immediately started acting on the feedback that we received.

“During the show we announced that we would invest £250,000 to make sure that every store offers great break and lunch areas and we’ve already put a facilities management team in place to oversee this work and we’re now planning to increase our investment in this area further.

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■ INVESTMENT: Martyn Birks (left) and Chris Edwards at Poundworld’s headquarters

“In addition we’ve changed our clocking-in system so that people are always paid for the time they work and we’re investing in new technology to identify where till discrepancies occur, which means employees are no longer penalised for being late or making genuine mistakes.”

Said Mr Edwards: “Although we are renowned for offering fantastic value for money, providing great customer service is also a key priority for us and hopefully

making these improvements for our employees will in turn enable them to further enhance the experience for our customers.”

Yorkshire man Chris Edwards founded Poundworld on a Wakefield market stall 37 years ago. The firm moved its HQ to a 215,000sq ft warehouse in Normanton after record growth and an expansion drive that saw the fast-growing budget retailer open 28 new stores in the last 12 months alone.

Reference point for Premiere A PLASTERING company is skimming off more work after joining a technology-focused networking group.

Slaithwaite-based Premiere Plastering Services has increased its weekly income by £569 since joining the Referrals Network in January. So far, the company has made more than £11,000 as a result of developing relationships and helping out fellow colleagues and business owners.

The networking group enables businesses to grow through an online business referrals system which allows members to refer business without the penalties of compromising day-to-day business activity.

Scott Moore (left), owner of Premiere Plastering Services, said: “I cannot express how pleased we are with these

results.

“Networking is something we never thought would be available to us because we never have spare time. The beauty of this is it doesn’t matter which day or what time we refer! This fits in perfectly with our business.”

Network members meet face-to-face to learn about the services they provide. After that, they communicate online to pass referrals.

The Referrals Network has groups in Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield.

Regional picture remains gloomy YORKSHIRE businesses expect steady UK growth over the next decade – but they are less optimistic about prospects for the region.

Barclays Corporate said companies in the region predict steady growth, an increase in GDP and a better business climate in the UK over the next decade.

The bank’s Business in 2021 report polled 660 bosses on the conditions they expect their businesses to face in a decade.

It found respondents were generally positive about the UK's long term economic prospects – with half expecting the UK to be a better place to do business in 2021. Just 29% expect UK business conditions to worsen and a further 13% expect conditions to be similar to today.

However, views vary significantly between regions and surprisingly Yorkshire businesses were the least positive nationally about the Yorkshire region future – with only 42% surveyed saying that they expect Yorkshire to be a better place to do business in 10 years time.

Yorkshire and the South West were also the least optimistic about GDP per capita in 10 years time with only 47% expecting just a minor increase.

Nationally, certain sectors are also far less confident about the future. Retailers were the least positive over the long term with 55% predicting the UK will be a worse place to do business in 10 years time. Conversely 63% of technology sector businesses see the UK as offering a better place to do business in 2021.

Some 55% of businesses nationally predict steady and sustained growth over the coming decade, although 31% expect zero or negative growth over the next 10 years. When asked what will fuel this growth, technology is cited by 88% of businesses as being a key driver while just 44% of businesses viewing immigration and population growth as an economic driver.

Lee Collinson, head of Barclays Corporate in Yorkshire, said: “It is clear that the majority of Yorkshire businesses believe in the fundamental strength of the UK as a place to do business and this underlines the temporary nature of the challenges we are currently experiencing.

“It is also telling to see that Yorkshire businesses are generally less positive about their region than the UK as a whole, showing the importance of regional development and a need for an increase in confidence going forward.

“To see so many businesses anticipating steady and sustained UK economic growth over the next decade should be welcome news for a Government that is focused on developing a growth strategy.”

local

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Buoyant demand for tanks supplier A MANUFACTURING firm is working overtime to meet domestic and export demand for its products.

Ravensthorpe-based Chem Resist Ltd is a world leader in the design and manufacture of thermoplastic chemical storage tanks and process equipment.

In addition to established markets here in the UK, Algeria, Egypt, Australia and the Middle East, production manager Steve Firth said the company is also fulfilling orders from Holland, Russia and Canada.

“The production teams are on full overtime Monday to Saturday at the moment and we’re planning to put on a Sunday shift if things continue as they are. I’ve been here at Chem Resist for 10 months now and I don’t know what a ‘quiet moment’ is!”

The company has taken two apprentices on board in recent weeks plus an experienced fabricator and Mr Firth confirmed the company is firmly committed to “the apprenticeship route”.

He said: “While steel fabricators are relatively easy to find, we prefer to train our own apprentices for our specialised product.

“We have a highly experienced workforce, many of whom have been with us most of their working life and we continue to maintain strong links with the area’s technical colleges to help create our next generation of production specialists.”

Export sales, building on an already healthy domestic order book, are also having a positive effect on Chem Resist’s “bottom line”.

■ ON THE UP: Steve Firth (let), production manager for Chem Resist, with (from left) Richard Thompson, Tom Fretwell and Luke Booth

Director Neil Williams said the company is currently running 10% ahead of projected annual turnover with one recent month alone deliveri n g 1 5 % o f a n nu a l p ro j e c t e d turnover.

“Constant product innovation and close personal attention to our clients

across the globe is paramount.” said Mr Williams. “We operate in a specialised market sector with a proven product range. Growing the reputation of Chem Resist as a truly global brand.”

The company, based at Ravensthorpe Industrial Estate, has been in

business for 45 years and has a worldwide reputation for designing and building chemical storage tanks and installations for many of the UK’s leading companies.

Clients include Glaxosmithkline, Kodak, Corus, Agfa and Thames Water.

Tax officials get tough A FALL in the number of Yorkshire businesses allowed to defer tax payments shows that the tax man is taking a tougher line with late payers, says insolvency trade group R3.

Figures from HM Revenue & Customs showed that 3,660 businesses in the region were allowed to defer tax to the tune of £61m under the Time to Pay scheme in the six months to the end of July.

Since the scheme started in November, 2008, a total of 33,400 Time to Pay agreements have been made in Yorkshire and the Humber with a total value of £550m. However, the number and value of arrangements has been falling since 2009.

Andrew Walker (pictured), chairman of R3 in Yorkshire, said: “The Time to Pay scheme has in many cases provided a valuable breathing space for struggling companies. However, it has also been responsible for keeping a lot of ‘zombie’ businesses artificially alive.

“The continued decline in the number and value of

arrangements shows that the taxman is now taking a much tougher stance.

“This is backed up by the recent sharp rise in company liquidations, which indicates that HMRC is now stepping in to wind-up companies that have been given time to pay and still not done so or late payers without agreements in place.

“Companies with cash flow problems should be aware that they can no longer rely on

deferring their tax bill as a survival strategy, but must seek professional advice to get their house in order.”

HMRC has announced that these latest Time to Pay figures are the last ones that will be released.

Said Mr Walker: “We are concerned that going forward HMRC will no longer publish these figures as we believe it is in the public interest to do so.”

Page 6 Decline in M&A deals THERE were fewer mergers and acquisitions in the UK during the first half of the year, according to a survey.

Business information group Experian reported a 15% fall in the number of deals to 1,978 during the first six months of the year compared with 2,316 for the same period in 2010.

The value of transactions was 7% up at £101.8bn against £95.6bn last time.

Rothschild was the best performing financial advisor by volume with 46 deals, while Citigroup was the highest by value with deals worth £23.3bn.

DLA Piper advised on the highest number of transactions at 53 while the leading legal advisor by value was Linklaters with deals worth £21.3bn.

The majority of the UK’s deals during HY11 were with the USA, followed by Germany.

In the USA, volumes were down by 37% while values were up by 20% compared to the first half of 2010.

Asia Pacific saw declines in both volume and value by 17% and 12% respectively.

Experian business development manager Wendy Smith said: “The first half of 2011 shows that there is still a degree of tentativeness in the market.

“This is further impacted by the fact that there are fewer business insolvencies to create opportunities and liquidity in the market and – to some extent – the fact that vendors still have high expectations on price.

“The North West and Wales are the only areas that appear to be bucking the trend at the moment, with both seeing slight increases in the volume of deals.

“Looking across Europe and the rest of the world, around a third of the companies involved in deals are based outside the UK, so it is very much a global market place.

“It is not surprising that the low activity can be seen across the board.

“Nonetheless, we are in a more optimistic place than we were in a year ago and – as increasing numbers of businesses begin to focus once again on strategic growth rather than cost-cutting – we would anticipate a small rise in deal volumes in the coming year.”

property

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Page 7

Property owners must prepare for the worst

PROPERTY owners in Yorkshire have been urged to ensure they are protected in the event of a major incident such as the recent riots.

Sarah Hodgson, associate director with property agency DTZ in West Yorkshire, said planning for the unexpected was essential.

She said: “The physical – and therefore financial – impact on property and businesses as a result of the civil unrest in London and other UK cities has been widely broadcast on news channels, newspapers and across the internet.

“The damage has prompted some searching questions from a property perspective that carry resonance for all property owners.

“How do you plan effectively for the unexpected and what should your priorities be when faced with a major incident such as a riot?”

She said: “A major incident could be anything from a gas main explosion, a bomb threat, a transport network failure, a fire, a fuel spillage or it could even be an outbreak of a contagious disease that temporarily debilitates a workforce.

“Where property is concerned, these incidents fall into two groups – the direct physical and non-directly physical threat to property.

“For the directly physical threat, you need to consider preparing a major incident plan, which may either be stand alone or linked to the non-directly physical business disaster recovery plan.

“The major incident plan will affect both investors and occupiers. Planning for the unexpected is all about forethought, considering what

may potentially happen and then thinking how you can best overcome or work around the eventualities to minimise or eliminate the impact.”

Said Ms Hodgson: “The major incident plan defines an individual’s role, how they co-ordinate with others and provides a single point of reference in case of any doubt. You might know what to do, but does your assistant when you are on holiday? What role will security play? Does the replacement security guard know? How will you communicate with other occupiers?

“Creating a major incident plan may seem like a time-consuming activity, but the fact of the matter is that being impacted by a major incident may very well be extremely costly. Worse, that cost will not be planned for and may occur at any time.

“Each property and each business will pose unique challenges, so seeking advice and assistance from a third party expert to either prepare or help guide you through the process can help you plan effectively.

“In context, the relatively minor cost of seeking professional input may be an excellent way of mitigating a much bigger bill.”

Ms Hodgson said insurance was a prudent step for any asset, but added: “The issue is not your insured liabilities, but fulfilling your underlying duty of care, mitigation of any interruption to ‘business as usual’ and protection of your asset and your brand by taking positive steps that have been well thought through and practiced.”

■ WELL-PREPARED: Property owners need to make sure they have plans in place to cope with disasters such as the recent riots which brought major damage to several UK cities

Taxman provides a boost THE building industry has been given a boost by the taxman.

A U-turn by HM Revenue & Customs should benefit many new-build construction projects, according to David Butterworth (left), of Huddersfield chartered accountancy firm Wheawill & Sudworth.

Mr Butterworth said that HMRC was proposing to scrap the valuable zero-rating status of design and build contracts.

“These contracts, if properly drawn, can zero-rate not just the construction work, but also the services of architects, surveyors and other related professionals, meaning

the whole contract value can be VAT-free,” said Mr Butterworth.

HMRC has been suggesting that in future builders would have to split their invoices between VAT-free building work and VATable professional fees.

Mr Butterworth welcomed the change of heart from HMRC, saying: “This is very good news for local charities, housing associations and schools and colleges which cannot recover much if any of VAT charged to them and should secure the outcome of a range of construction programmes.”

Investment opportunities abound INTEREST in property investment is booming in Huddersfield, it is claimed.

Now the Property Investors Network has launched a Huddersfield-based group to help people find out more about the dos and don’ts of investing in property.

A spokeswoman said: “Given the current uncertainty in the UK property market and the difficulties in securing finance, you may be surprised to hear that there is actually an increase in interest in property investing in the Huddersfield area.

“Most people would agree that now is not a good time to be selling a property. So if it is a bad time to sell, then conversely it must be a

good time to buy.

“Right now, investment properties can be purchased at a great price and rental demand is strong, which means that investments not only pay for themselves, but also generate good cash flow.

“However, it is possible to lose money in property if you don’t know what you are doing. Learning how to invest from other successful investors is far smarter than making mistakes yourself.”

Property Investors Network was set up in 2003 to provide a supportive environment for people to learn about successful property investing.

Now the largest organisation of its type in the UK, it hosts regular

monthly network meetings for its members in 21 different cities around the UK. The launch of the new Huddersfield group will be held on Tuesday, September 6, at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top. Meetings will be held monthly thereafter.

The new Huddersfield monthly meeting is being hosted by local property investor, Rachael Wilson who has built up an impressive portfolio in the last 12 months.

The speaker at the launch event will be Property Investors Network founder Simon Zutshi, author of the property investing bestseller “Property Magic”.

Go to www.pinhuddersfield.co.uk

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Ruth Marshall & others

DTZ PROPERTY agency DTZ has announced its latest batch of promotions.

The company has promoted 25 individuals to director, 18 to senior associate and 77 to associate director across its global operations.

Some 36 individuals have been promoted across Yorkshire, the northern region, the Midland and south-west Scotland with 11 of them at the firm’s Leeds office.

Tim Cameron-Jones (pictured), senior director and head of the Leeds office, said: “This level of success across a wide range of sectors and skills is testament to the strength of our regional business.”

Those promoted in West Yorkshire include Ruth Marshall, of corporate real estate management, who takes up a directorship; Jo Hindle, of the HR team, Ben Hunter, of corporate real estate management, Javed Patel, of consulting and James Lawlor, who become associate directors.

Paul Northey, Daniel Latimer, Chris Jayne and Rory Flanagan have all been promoted to senior surveyor.

Speaking out for Morrisons A TOP director at supermarket firm Morrisons is the latest speaker to be announced for this year’s Women’s Business Forum.

Norman Pickavance (pictured), group human resources director for the Bradford-based retailer, will address an audience of 600 delegates on the topic “It’s Time to Mend the Leaking Pipeline of Talented Women.

He joins speakers including Chris Sullivan, chief executive of RBS UK Corporate Banking; Allan Leighton, non-executive chairman of Pace plc; Tim Solo, chairman and chief executive of Cummins Inc; and Carla Stent, chief operating officer at Virgin Management at the event, which takes place on Thursday, September 29 at Rudding Park in Harrogate.

Heather Jackson, Holmfirth-based founder and chief executive of The Women’s Business Forum, said: “I’m delighted we’ve secured Norman to speak.

“He is instrumental in Morrisons’ commitment as a business to address the need for a gender balance – having recently announced a target of doubling its number of female senior managers by 2014.”

The forum, entitled “It’s Time...to make a difference” will make the statement that the time has come to stop just looking at the boardroom, but to address the personal, cultural and institutional perceptions and realities that cause women to leave the “talent pipeline”.

Said Ms Jackson: “Morrisons are leading by example and have understood these issues from the start, having set a target of 30% female representation on the company’s senior management group – the top executives in the company – within three years.”

Mr Pickavance said: “Morrisons is tackling this issue head-on. We believe passionately that all our colleagues have talent and we are totally committed to identifying issues and taking positive action to address them.

“We are also sowing the seeds with our suppliers to aspire to a similar ethos having already held a conference on this topic with them last month.”

Visit www.thewomensbusinessforum.co.uk

Movers and shakers

Page 8

Fantastic to be with you again!

MARKETING agency Fantastic Media has renewed its sponsorship at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium.

After a successful three-year partnership, the Birstall-based agency and stadium chiefs have agreed to “renew and refresh” the deal to give Fantastic Media an increased presence at the venue and provide the stadium with a definitive marketing strategy and support.

Through a strategic plan, Fantastic’s team of specialists will help steer the stadium’s marketing with web development, the creation of support materials, a PR campaign and dedicated consultancy to help the stadium achieve a number of business ambitions.

In return, Fantastic will enjoy an enhanced presence at the stadium with the Fantastic Media stand and suite continuing to be prominent features at the venue. The marketing agency will

make use of match day promotion and networking opportunities as well as the venue’s corporate facilities throughout the year.

Gareth Davies, stadium managing director, said: “We have strengthened our relationship with Fantastic to mutual benefit.

“The company is ideally placed to provide us with comprehensive marketing support along with having the drive and experience to help us develop strategy.

“We look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Fantastic Media managing director Andy Hobson said: “It’s an exciting time at the stadium and we’re delighted to be part of both the team driving strategy forward and the businesses who will benefit from improvements to one of our region’s premier sports venues.”

Balance is in the books!

■ VOLUME CONTROL: Ashley Barrowclough, of Holmfirth accountancy firm Balance and the book which features the story of the firm’s transformation AN accountancy firm in Holmfirth has been heavily featured in a new book about the industry.

Balance Accountants proprietor Ashley Barrowclough is quoted in the book, The UK’s Best Accountancy Practices, which was written by Steve Pipe, founder and head of research at AVN, an association of more than 200 pro-active accountancy firms.

Mr Pipe’s other books include 101 Ways to Make More Profit, Stress Proof Your Business and Your Blueprint for a Better Tax Practice.

Said Mr Barrowclough: “The book is about excellence in the accountancy profession and describes the exceptional things that some accountancy firms are doing to improve

clients’ businesses.

“Balance have a six page spread in the book detailing how our recent rebranding initiative, combined with new products and services, has revolutionised our business, generating new clients, improved profits and a happy workforce.

“Being featured in this book is reward for all the hard work that our team has put in over the last 12 months to take our business forward and to enable us to stand out in the accountancy profession.

“We have also recently been named Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield Business of the Month and we are in the running for three national awards.

“At the moment the future looks very

■ GRANDSTAND: Galpharm Stadium managing director Gareth Davies (front) and Fantastic Media managing director Andy Hobson

Academy has returned DELEGATES will debate the merits of using social media in business at the next Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy event.

Businessmen Anthony Heywood and Andy Hobson will lead the debate when the academy meets on Tuesday, September 6, at Town’s Canalside training ground at Leeds Road, Huddersfield.

The event will start at 4pm with tea and coffee and informal networking before the debate gets under way. The debate will be followed by a Q&A session and more networking – before an optional bowling tutorial on Canalside’s two bowling lawns at 6pm.

Organiser Paul Scott (pictured), of Huddersfield-based Yorkshire Business Growth, said: “The Town Enterprise Academy is returning for the 2011/12 season and will once again offer business delegates something a little bit different!

“The first season of the HTEA was a tremendous success, with three very different meetings taking place throughout the course of the campaign at the Galpharm Stadium and at Pontefract Races.

“For the first time, the HTEA meeting will take place at Canalside, Town’s new training complex based at 509 Leeds Road.”

Added Mr Scott: “We also have some extra bonuses in store this season, such as an improved post-meeting service and discussion via social media site LinkedIn.” For details go to www.htafc.com or to book go to htea.eventbrite.com