Kirklees Business News, 8th June 2010 by Huddersfield

FTSE 100

IAN BALMFORTH Business full of beans

-56.94 5069.06

Full inter view - Page 3

MARK SC ANLON Careers in the fast lane Stor y - Page 5

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Centre among the best in IT scheme A SCHEME to help firms find office premises fully equipped to meet their IT and telecom needs is being rolled out UK-wide after a successful pilot in Yorkshire. The ict active scheme, which includes Huddersfield’s Media Centre, acts as a neutral point of reference giving buyers and tenants all the information they need about the ICT capabilities of a property. Jim Farmery, assistant director of business at Yorkshire Forward, which backs the scheme, said: “With technology playing such a large part in every modern business, achieving the ict active standard will encourage new and expanding businesses to fill empty offices and buildings because they know that key technological requirements have been met.” There are currently 65 buildings accredited as ict active, 62 of which are in Yorkshire and Humber. A further seven buildings in the region are “registered” which means they are signed up to the scheme, but have not yet achieved the accreditation.

Among those classified as ict active are the Media Centre at Northumberland Street, which has ict active Leading Edge status. Those with registered status include Brookes Mill at Armitage Bridge. After proving a success in Yorkshire, ict active is now being rolled out across the country – with business centres in Coventry and Redcar, Cleveland, the first to get accreditation outside the Yorkshire region. Properties achieving the standard are added to the www.ictactive.net database, where prospective tenants can search for their ideal workspace. Building managers and operators can also use the information to market ICT services to their existing tenants, creating opportunities to generate additional revenues and improve customer service. Liz Wallis, managing director of ict active, said: “There can be no doubt that businesses of all kinds are increasingly reliant on ICT. “Organisations are now looking beyond the basics – such as a computer

network, email and internet access – and are asking how they can use technology to gain business advantage. “Whatever their size, businesses are using technology to improve customer service, streamline operations, speed up the development of new products and services and either expand their market or move into new markets. “There is also a growing awareness of how technology can be used to reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint and support flexible and remote working.” Huddersfield Media Centre provides 121 offices, across more than 43,000sq ft. The total office space of the Media Centre can accommodate 70 companies with a total of 250 people. It is home to creative, digital and innovative businesses and features a reception area, cafe and an informal meeting area often used to hold networking events. Brooke’s Mill offers open-plan office studios for business including charit-

three months of the year and by 11% compared with a year ago. Amanda White, regional operations manager at recruitment agency Manpower, said: “The survey shows a steady increase in local employer hiring confidence. This is great news for the region.” She said companies were “re-build-

ing” administrative posts after the cutbacks of the recession, particularly in the finance sector. Demand was also rising in leisure and retailing. Ms White said employers were looking for staff with skills – emphasising the importance of jobhunters getting training alongside industry knowledge and experience.

Poorly prepared WORKERS are doing their bosses no favours by struggling into work when they feel under the weather. Human resources expert Julie Sykes said so-called sickness “presenteeism” could create hidden costs for firms – due to lower performance levels and the increased likelihood of sickness absenteeism in the future.

● Full story - Page 4

■ ACTIVE FOR IT: Huddersfield’s Meda Centre is at the “leading edge” for providing ICT facilities

ies, general offices and creative businesses. The former woollen mill was converted into office space in 1994 and has several buildings capable of accommodating about 190 occupants.

Companies more upbeat about creating jobs YORKSHIRE employers are becoming more positive about hiring staff, it emerged today. The latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey showed bosses in the region plan to increase staffing levels over the next three months. Hiring intentions strengthened by 5% during the second quarter against the first

INSIDE

She said: “Those who are flexible in their job search – considering work experience, temporary roles or spending time gaining new skills in the short-term – will reap longer-term advantages.” The south-east was the most positive region in the UK with the West Midlands the least optimistic.

The most trusted news brand in the business Capital gains

examiner.co.uk

8 , Ju n e, 2 0 1 0

YORKSHIRE is set for a mass exodus from Whitehall – as government spending cuts force key departments to seek less expensive offices outside London, says commercial property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton. ● Full story - Page 6

'+624536#84 *#7&0 (#+;0# !+)$,2%+- 1# %0+ 3(,./.%('& !+)$,2%.(* "$%0('.%#

-)9"9 !), ,,,

///:%5&$/3%20&/6#.%#:%+:12

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

Page 2

Shareholders fight for compensation SHAREHOLDERS in Lloyds Banking Demands for compensation on behalf of Group have launched legal action in pur- test claimants belonging to the Lloyds suit of compensation – which could land Action Now campaign group have been the taxpayer a £14bn bill. sent to the Treasury, which assumed They claim that former Chancellor responsibility for the circular selling the Alistair Darling and Lloyds TSB directors merits of the deal. unlawfully withheld vital information They have also been sent to former about the finances of HBOS in a pro- Lloyds TSB chairman Sir Victor Blank and spectus on the proposed merger with chief executive Eric Daniels. Lloyds Banking Group on which LBG Once the test cases have been resolved, shareholders were asked to vote. the association will act collectively on They say that secret loans by the Bank of behalf of the broad base of share holders England of £25.4bn saved HBOS from who have lost between £1.50 and £3 a share. declaring bankruptcy and may have pre- In total, shareholders have lost £14bn vented a run on the pound at a critical time between them and their dividends have for the financial system. been suspended until at least 2012. But LBG shareholders paid the price – Lawyers for Lloyds Action Now say that with the collapse in the merged bank’s keeping secret a £25.4bn loan “of last share value and suspension of shareholder resort” by the Bank of England to keep dividends once the debts became public. HBOS afloat in October, 2008, before

Iceland boosted by new stores FROZEN foods retailer Iceland said annual profits jumped by 19% after it opened 74 new stores in another record year for the chain. Iceland Foods Group, co-founded by Grange Moor-born Malcolm Walker, said converting 51 former Woolworths stores contributed to its fastest rate of expansion since the group acquired Bejam in 1989. Like-for-like sales at Iceland Foods stores open for more than a year rose by 4.3% in the year to March 26 and helped total sales soar by 10.4% to £2.2bn Net profits rose to £135.4m from £113.4m a year earlier.

Net debt was reduced to £7.6m from £85.4m despite increased capital spending as the group stepped up its expansion programme. Chief executive Mr Walker has overseen five years of growth at the chain after its perfor mance nose-dived under previous owner the Big Food Group. Mr Walker said competition in the sector was “more aggressive than ever” but said the firm had the right business model to make further progress. The group has 776 Iceland stores, including ones at Trinity Street and Aspley, and 46 Cooltrader outlets.

shareholders approved the merger a month later was a misrepresentation of the facts and contrary to law. Lawyers acting for Lloyds Action Now, claimed that the £25.4bn loan was kept secret so that shareholders were not put off the proposed HBOS merger. Lloyds Action Now said investors were shouldering the burden of saving HBOS, which should have fallen more fairly on taxpayers in general. Once HBOS debts became public knowledge, the Government was still forced to step in and partially nationalise the bank. A Lloyds spokesman said: “We provided thorough and appropriate information to shareholders about our liquidity position and that of HBOS, including the general use of government-backed liquidity schemes. We disclosed the fact of the support.”

Tax plans under fire

■ CLAIM: Investors are seeking compensation

Pru bosses feel the heat TOP bosses at Prudential faced down bill from the collapse of the venture. calls to resign over the collapse of the But chief executive Tidjane Thiam company’s Asian expansion plans. – who masterminded the failed bid – S e v e r a l s h a r e h o l d e r s at a n and Mr McGrath claim they have the ill-tempered annual meeting yester- support of major shareholders. day said the board should pay “the A trading update published before price of failure” after its £24.5bn bid the meeting in London boosted their for Asian insurer AIA foundered last position by showing that group-wide week. sales rose by 27% in the first five But chairman Harvey McGrath months of the year to £1.35bn. said the board had “total confidence” Investors fumed over the high price in the management of the company, struck for the deal, which foundered although he apologised to sharehold- when US parent AIG refused to reneers for the “discomfort and worry” gotiate the price. caused by the failed bid. One investor called the episode a The company was left with a £450m “shambles”.

MORE than 200,000 “ordinary” taxpayers vital to business investment and economic growth will be hit by the proposed rise in Capital Gains Tax, claims a business group. The Institute of Directors said 230,000 individuals a year had gains exceeding the annual exemption – but half of them were people have modest gains of up to £25,000. Two-thirds of gains were made on shares and securities, assets which represent vital investment in businesses. The IoD claimed people likely to suffer included those with small shareholdings in businesses in which they work and those who have chosen to invest in shares and in property in order to provide for their retirement so that they are not a burden on future taxpayers.

Halfords motors on CAR parts and bikes supplier Halfords has begun offering MOTs, repairs and servicing following its £73.2m takeover of 221 Nationwide Autocentres. Halfords has converted three sites in Derby and one in Solihull. It plans to double the size of the network with a further 200 centres and 1,000 new jobs.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £26.57 +0.08 Gannett 975.79 +28.96 Hess Corp £35.64 +0.81 Microsoft 1773.67 -4.83 Motors Liquidation 51.72 Wal-Mart Stores £35.31 +0.56 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 1011/2 -5 BAE Systems 3191/8 -17/8 Rolls-Royce Gp 5811/2 -51/2 VT Group 7421/2 -11/2 AIM Brady Plc 59 Dawson Intl 21/8 -1/8 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 1213/8 -37/8 BANKS Barclays 2857/8 -23/4 HSBC 6293/8 -3/4 Lloyds Banking Gp 54 -11/2 1 Ryl Scotland 43 /8 -3/8 Stan Chart 1611 -101/2 BEVERAGES Diageo 1060 -10 SABMiller 1890 -25 CHEMICALS Croda 1005 -15 Elementis 98 68 Johnsn Mat 1513 -4 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 2533/4 -13/4 Costain 2121/2 -12 ELECTRICITY Drax Grp 3331/4 +1/4 Intl Power 2923/8 -11/2

Scottish & Sthrn 1074 -13 Energy ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Chloride 2885/8 +25/8 Laird 1133/4 -13/4 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3121/8 -41/8 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 1283/8 -13/4 Cable & Wireless 623/8 -1/2 Comm Cable & Wireless 851/4 -1/4 Wwide 1 Colt Group 129 /4 +1/2 KCOM 501/2 -1/2 Talktalk Telecom 1241/2 -21/8 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 262 -21/2 Sainsbury 3233/8 -17/8 Tesco 4071/8 -51/8 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 9661/2 -91/2 Nth Foods 46 -1/4 1 Tate Lyle 466 /4 +11/2 Unilever 1850 -16 -11/2 Uniq 123/4 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 2813/8 -1/8 National Grid 4853/8 -21/4 Pennon Grp 532 -11/2 Severn 1230 -8 1 -4 United Utils 552 /2 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 2811/2 -11/4 ICAP 3851/8 -87/8 1 London StockExch 611 /2 -91/2 Man Group 2331/2 -47/8

Provident Financial 8231/2 +5 Schroders 1306 -35 Schroders NV 1045 -19 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 425 -193/8 REXAM 3131/8 -23/4 Smiths Grp 1018 -17 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 141/4 -1/2 Carphone Whse 1823/4 +1/4 1 DSG International 24 /4 Home Retail 240 -2 -63/4 Inchcape 2713/8 Kingfisher 2161/4 -53/8 M&S 3373/8 -21/2 Mothercare 526 +6 -1/4 Next £201/2 WH Smith 454 +10 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 630 -6 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 83 -2 Barrat Dev 100 -33/8 3 Persimmon 378 /4 -101/2 Reckitt Benckiser £317/8 -1/4 1 Taylor Wimpey 30 /4 -17/8 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING Charter 661 -171/2 IMI 643 -51/2 Man Brnze 471/2 +1/4 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 2427/8 -91/4 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 1843/8 -11/4 Forth Ports 1140 +10 LIFE INSURANCE

3233/8 757/8 109 534 593/8 1767/8 MEDIA BSkyB 5691/2 Chrysalis 100 D Mail Tst 4723/8 ITV 541/8 Johnston Press 181/2 Pearson 9171/2 Reed Elsevier 4713/8 STV Group 901/2 Trinity Mirror 901/4 Utd Business 500 UTV 1243/4 WPP 658 Yell Group 283/4 MINING Anglo American £245/8 Antofagasta 832 BHP Billiton 1735 Eurasian Natural 961 Res Fresnillo 8971/2 Kazakhmys 1074 Lonmin 1543 Rio Tinto £301/2 VEDANTA £21 RESOURCES Xstrata 919 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 7871/2 Vodafone Group 1371/2 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1323 RSA Insurance Gp 1183/4 Aviva Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life

-53/4 -17/8 -21/4 -22 -5/8 -21/8 -61/2 -75/8 -1 -1/2 -22 -51/4 +3/4 -6 -121/2 -93/4 +1/2 -7/8 -5/8 -221/2 -36 -241/2 1

-9 /2 -45 -51 -5/8 -3/4 -321/4 -1/2 -11/8 +8 +3/4

Local shares Carclo Chapelthorpe Marshalls National Grid Rensburg Sheppards Weir Gp

1571/2 231/2 88 4853/8 7851/2 894

-1 +11/2 -7 -21/4 +1/2 -20

FTSE closed at

5069.0 56.9 OIL & GAS PRODUCERS BG 1045 -24 BP 4301/4 -3 Cairn Energy 3927/8 -33/4 3 Norsk Hdro 477 /4 Royal Dutch Shell A 17881/2 -201/2 Royal Dutch Shell B 1716 -24 1 Total £31 /4 -1/8 Tullow Oil 1117 -28 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 808 -4 Petrofac 1192 +2 Wood Group 2953/4 -73/4 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry 7241/2 -41/2 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £291/4 -1/4 Axis-Shield 277 -23/4

GlaxoSmithK XD 11 Shire 1414 -20 REAL ESTATE Brit Land 4461/8 -101/8 Captl Shop Cent 3201/8 -73/4 DTZ Hldgs 62 -1 1 -73/4 Hamrsn 353 /8 Land Secs 601 -51/2 SEGRO 2671/4 -81/4 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Autonomy Corp 1803 +4 -1 Dimension Data 977/8 -51/4 Invensys 2681/8 1 Logica 121 /2 -31/4 Misys 2275/8 -33/8 Sage Group 2411/4 -17/8 SUPPORT SERVICES Bunzl 710 -41/2 Capita 7691/2 -11/2 Davis Service 3851/8 -33/4 Group De La Rue 940 -8 -21/8 Electrocomp 2125/8 Experian 615 -6 +5 G4S 2661/2 Hays 97 -11/4 Homeserve £207/8 -1/8 Menzies J 360 -131/2 3 Rentokil 116 /4 -15/8 Smiths News 1183/4 -1/4 Wolseley 1587 -13 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 2723/4 +81/4 Psion 79 +21/2 Spirent Comms 1053/8 -31/4 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £213/8 -1/8 Imperial Tobacco 1903 -14

LEISURE & HOTELS Arriva Brit Airways Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Greene King Intercontl Htls Ladbrokes Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express PartyGaming Rank Org Stagecoach Group TUI Travel Whitbread

7651/2 1963/8 £255/8 5491/2 407 1011/4 381 1263 382 1087 1363/4 3127/8 2233/8 260 1155/8 1841/8 2231/8 1368

TOURIST RATES

+1/2 -43/8 -3/8 -1/2 -67/8 -41/4 -27/8 -14 -63/4 -12 -23/8 -4 -51/8 -53/4 -15/8 -33/4 -47/8 -25

FTSE 100

INDEX 5069.06

-56.94

FTSE 250

INDEX 9477.70

-122.15

Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.67 dollars Bangladesh................... 94.23 taka Brazil.............................. 2.40 reals Canada....................... 1.46 dollars China ............................. 8.81 yuan Czech Republic ...... 28.75 korunas Denmark....................... 8.55 krone Euro............................... 1.15 euro Hong Kong................ 10.68 dollars Hungary................... 309.80 forints India.......................... 60.06 rupees Japan........................... 125.56 yen Mexico ....................... 16.70 pesos New Zealand .............. 2.02 dollars Norway ......................... 9.14 krone Pakistan.................. 115.99 rupees Philippines ................. 57.80 pesos South Africa................. 10.53 rand South Korea.............. 1553.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 154.77 rupees Sweden....................... 11.11 krona Switzerland.................. 1.60 francs Taiwan ...................... 40.85 dollars Turkey....................... 2.19 new lira USA ............................ 1.38 dollars

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS IT’S no fun being a mule. But a Grumpy Mule is helping educate coffee drinkers about the origins of their favourite beverage and helping to secure the livelihoods of coffee farmers working in some of the world’s poorest countries. Meltham-based Bolling Coffee built its early reputation supplying the catering trade. But it chose Grumpy Mule as the brand name when it launched a range of premium coffees to be sold online and to delicatessens and high class coffee shops. Ian Balmforth, managing director of Bolling Coffee, said: “We worked for 15 years with Bolling Coffee as the name of the company and the product. We needed a brand that people could identify with. Mules work on coffee farms because the plantations are often inaccessible to other forms of transport. They work very hard and they symbolise the hard work that goes into growing coffee. At the end of the day they are always grumpy!” Ian is far from grumpy about his work – although he never intended to join the family business. His father set up the business when Ian – who attended Holmfirth High School and Huddersfield New College – was in his late teens He recalls: “My father began the business in the early 1980s. I wasn’t interested in coffee, I was interested in things you could measure. Trying to measure how good a cup of coffee tasted seemed far too subjective. “I gained a business degree on a four-year sandwich course at Aston University in Birmingham. Funnily enough, we supply coffee to some Aston graduates who have set up a coffee bar just outside the university campus! “During my year out, I worked for the computer giant IBM and when I left university in 1986 I had an offer to work for IBM in a manufacturing environment. I worked around the world on an accelerated graduate career path.” Ian might have been a high-flier at IBM by now, but for a phone call from his father saying he was thinking of selling the coffee business. That decided matters. “I was working in Hampshire at the time,” says Ian. “I moved into sales for a couple of years at IBM. Their sales training is the best in the world. That gave me some wider experience before going into business with my father.” A few years after joining Bolling Coffee, Ian’s father retired and Ian embarked on an expansion drive to secure the company’s future. “I took a 50% pay cut and I had to cover my salary by winning new business,” says Ian. “But it was a case of being in the right place at the right time because a few

profile

Bean there done that! years later the ‘coffee revolution’ took hold.” Ian argues that the arrival of coffee bars like Starbucks hasn’t increased UK coffee consumption in the past 20 years – but it has raised the profile of the drink. Bolling Coffee found itself in demand from hotels, restaurants and cafes across the north of England. “It was to our advantage that we were profitable on a small scale, we had a very healthy cash flow and we had money in the bank,” says Ian. “We also roasted our coffee, so we were a manufacturer as well as a supplier. “That is even more important today. Our aim now is to market our products to our customers. It is not about price, it is about quality and sourcing.” Ian travels the globe to meet the growers and source premium coffee from countries as far afield as Kenya, Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia. He says: “A lot of the growers we buy from are very small farmers – subsistence farmers. However, we also buy from

■ CUP WINNER: Ian Balmforth, of Meltham-based Bolling Coffee

one farmer in Guatemala who is a very successful businessman.” The company behind Grumpy Mule has lots to be pleased about. Bolling Coffee counts high class grocer Fortnum & Mason among its clients and regularly features among the winners in the prestigious gold star awards run by the Guild of Fine Foods. Grumpy Mule is also providing a kick to the catering sector as Bolling’s clients take their cue from their own customers’ concerns about ethical trading. “Our biggest catering customers want to know exactly where the coffee comes,” says Ian. “They want to know what pesticides are used on the farms, what labour conditions are like and whether we can trace our products back to the supplier. That’s why Grumpy Mule is a suitable brand to take into the catering trade.” Bolling Coffee pays more than lip service to going “green”. The company is a shareholder in a co-operative at Holmfirth supplying ethically-sourced products and works with a group of Ethiopian refugees who have set up a venture in Manchester buying and selling Ethiopian coffee. The company has also joined The Coffee Council, an organisation providing a voice for the industry at a national level. Ian is quietly proud of being “the only member north of Watford”. Grumpy Mule will be launched officially to the catering trade on June 23 at Cafe Culture, one of the biggest shows of its kind, which takes place at Olympia in London. Says Ian: “It is a big launch event for us and we are spending a lot of money on it

Page 3 Ian Balmorth Role: Managing director Age: 46 Family: Married to Nicola with daughters Amber, 12, and Kyra, 10 Holidays: France Car: BMW 5 Series First job: Washing the car outside Michael’s barber shop in Holmfirth Best thing about job: The excitement of doing new things Worst thing about job: Too many emails – a real time-waster! Business tip: Be careful with the cash

in a time of recession, but I think it is the thing to do. “In some sectors, we are genuinely at the leading edge. We are recognised in the industry as people who go out and meet the growers – not just buy from them. “This year, we are feeling the ravages of recession. Our volumes have not reduced, but our raw material costs have gone up by about 30% and we are struggling to pass it on to the customers. As a result, our margins have deteriorated. “But we are going to grow further. We have increased turnover by 26% a year each year for the past nine years. Our monthly turnover now is

equivalent to what our annual turnover used to be when we started the business.” Ian admits that work is a near all-consuming passion. “I used to play squash, tennis and five-a-side football at university,” he says. “But I haven’t time for that now. I have two daughters and my time is split between work and family. Work seems to win out, but luckily the girls are very understanding. “And he adds: “I am hugely glad to have made the decision to come from one of the biggest companies in the world to one of the smallest. I am in a very fortunate position.”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Bolling Coffee Work: Coffee roasters and suppliers of coffee equipment Site: Meltham Employees: 35 Phone: 01484 852601 Email: ian@bolling coffee.co.uk Website: grumpymule,co.uk

local

Page 4

KIRKLEES BUSIN

Battling into work is losing strategy EMPLOYEES who report for work when they’re feeling under the weather are not doing their employers any favours, says an expert on staffing issues. Julie Sykes, who runs Shepley-based human resources consultancy JCS HR, said sickness “presenteeism” could create hidden costs for firms. Ms Sykes was commenting on a survey carried out by the Work Foundation for financial giant AXA which found that employees who believe that they are doing their bosses a favour by coming to work when they are sick are in fact causing lower performance levels. They are also likely to end up with longer sickness absences than their colleagues who stay away when they feel unwell. The survey– Why do employees come to work when ill? – polled 500 employees and is one of the first reports investigating links between “sickness presence” and individual performance. It found that sickness presence was more common than sickness absence. Some 45% of employees reported that they had been at work while ill for one or more days. That compared with only 18% reporting that they

Flights of fancy LOW-COST airline Jet2.com has announced the launch of its first-ever service to the Turkish holiday resort of Bodrum – as holidaymakers seek destinations outside the pricey eurozone. Flights for summer 2011 are now on sale for the service, which will depart from Leeds-Bradford airport once a week from June 23 to October 2, 2011. The new service aims to complement the airline’s twice-weekly service to Dalaman, which was launched earlier this year. Philip Meeson, boss of Jet2.com, said: “We’ve introduced this route following overwhelming demand from holiday makers in the region.”

Management Buy-Out On The Horizon? Get some trusted and independent advice and experience on assessing your options We can guide you from start to finish: ✑

Negotiating the deal

✑

Raising acquisition finance and working capital

✑

Due diligence

✑

Tax-planning

✑

Getting the job done For further information please contact David Butterworth P 01484 423691 david.butterworth@wheawills.co.uk

W&S Wheawill & Sudworth Chartered Accountants Business & Tax Advisers Registered Auditors www.wheawills.co.uk

had taken a day off sick over the same period. It also found that employees with higher levels of sickness presence had significantly lower performance and ended up with higher levels of absence. They were also found to have higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of psychological well-being. Three factors were also “significantly” linked with higher levels of sickness presence – personal financial difficulties, work-related stress and perceived workplace pressure to attend work when unwell. Said Ms Sykes: “As a result of this report, we would recommend that employers consider how absence management policies are understood and applied – in particular, whether they are applied consistently and whether employees understand how these policies can benefit them. “We would also suggest that employers review the actual policies themselves. “Applying them consistently is all well and good, but if they are not designed effectively they may not be the right tool for the job, regardless of how consistently they are applied and how well they are understood.”

■ HEALTH WARNING: Julie Sykes, of JCS HR, advises against employees turning up for work when they’re poorly

CGT all set for change HERE is a lot of speculaT tion concerning what changes to the capital gains

tax system will be announced in the forthcoming emergency Budget. The coalition government has stated: “We will seek ways of taxing non-business capital gains at rates similar or close to those applied to income, with generous exemptions for entrepreneurial business activities.” The existing exemption for entrepreneurial business activities is Entrepreneurs’ Relief and in the March Budget it became more generous when its maximum lifetime allowance was increased from £1m to £2m for disposals of business assets on or after April 6, 2010. The effective rate of CGT on such gains is 10%. Qualifying gains include the disposal of the whole or part of a business carried on by an individual or partnership member. In the vast majority of cases, most saleable businesses are carried on via a limited company and Entrepreneurs’ Relief will be available on the sale of the shares in an individual’s personal company, if throughout a period of 12 months prior to the disposal the company carried on a qualifying trade and the individual owned at least 5% of the ordinary share capital and voting rights

TAX TALK Colin Barratt

and they were an officer or employee of the company. Where practical, action needs to be taken for those with holdings of less than 5% but who are directors or employees to ensure that they have this minimum shareholding 12 months before disposal. This could be affected by transferring ordinary shares to a spouse. Such inter-spouse transfers are exempt from CGT. For shareholders letting property to their personal trading company or a partner to a trading partnership, Entrepreneurs’ Relief is restricted to the extent that any rent is paid. This restriction applies for those in receipt of rent on or after April 6, 2008. Consideration needs to be given as to whether rents should cease in order to secure some measure of Entrepreneurs’ Relief against the individual’s need for rental income to pay interest on any mortgage taken out to buy the

property. The entitlement to Entrepreneurs’ Relief could also be jeopardised if a trading company holds substantial investment assets or undertakes substantial non business activities. Consideration and timely planning needs to be given to demerging non business assets/activities in order to protect the company’s status as a trading company. If Entrepreneurs’ Relief is not secured and gains on the disposal of the shares are taxed at rates applying to non business assets, the potential loss of tax could be as high as £160,000 based on the current CGT rate of 18% (£2,000,000 x 18-10%), possibly rising to £600,000 if non-business asset gains are taxed at 40% following the Budget or £320,000 to £1,200,000 for husband and wife together!

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

Competition is all set to find start-ups stars

A SEARCH to find Britain’s top entrepreneurs is underway with the 10th annual HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards. Winners in the competition, which is open to companies less than four years old, will get a share of £50,000 worth of business grants. Businesses have until Sunday, June 13, to register their nominations at www.hsbc.co.uk/startupstars. This year’s awards come against a backdrop of new figures showing confidence running high among would-be new business owners as the country begins to pull out of the recession. HSBC reports a 13% increase in the average weekly number of start-ups and is now helping a new business get going virtually every minute of the working week. Huw Morgan (pictured), HSBC head of business banking and chairman of the judging panel, said: “The Start-Up Stars Awards are a reminder of the resilience of the British entrepreneurial spirit. “New companies are the lifeblood of our economy and we are delighted to support the aspirations of a new generation of business owners who want to go it alone.” As well as crowning the overall Start-Up Star, there are also awards for businesses with a specific focus on green issues and for those that have expanded into international markets. Nominated companies will have unti Friday, June 25, to submit their entries and convince the judges why they should represent the north-eas at the national finals, which will take place on October 18 at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

Experts tackle bullying issues BUSINESS owners will get advice on handling bullying and harassment in the workplace at a seminar this month. Commercial law firm Lupton Fawcett is hosting the event from 2pm to 3.45pm on Thursday, June 24, at the Holiday Inn, Brighouse. Speakers will be Helen Roberts, of Halifax-based CMS Consultancy, and Louse Connacher, head of the law firm’s employment division, who will explain the discrimination legislation that underpins bullying and harassment claims. Phone Samantha Whelan on 0113 2802218

NESS NEWS

local

Graduates get a chance to shine A COMPANY billed as one of Britain’s best employers has launched a graduate programme to nurture the bright and talented employees of the future. Huddersfield-based vehicle incident management and roadside assistance company FMG Support was recently voted as one of the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For. Now it is offering ambitious candidates a place on its first-ever graduate programme. Three lucky people will be based at the head office at St Andrew’s Road and will embark on a “challenging and progressive journey” in the firm. Managing director Mark Scanlon said: “We are looking for a new generation of bright, talented employees who are looking for an accelerated start to their careers. “The graduates must be ambitious, dynamic and forward thinking. “We are expecting a great deal from them, but we will offer them the rewards, support and incentives they need to develop within our high-growth, innovative organisation.”

y st e

Page 5

■ FIRST CLASS: Mark Scanlon, managing director of FMG Support

The programme is designed to encourage development – with fast progression. Each graduate will be assigned their own coach, a member of the board, who will support and guide every step of the way. Within the first 12 months, the graduates are expected to be leading their own teams, before moving into a management role – and ultimately becoming a senior manager as part of the FMG Support business leadership team. FMG Support has contracts with high profile blue-chip clients, including ING, the Highways Agency, DHL and LeasePlan. FMG Support, which employs about 450 people and is the second-largest private sector employer in Huddersfield, was 67th in the rankings in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For Guide. The firm was praised by staff for providing “inspirational leadership” and espousing “strong principles”.

Businesses debate big issues MORE than 70 leading business people discussed the district’s economic prospects in the first-ever Kirklees Summit. The invitation-only event, which was held at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Staduim and runs quarterly throughout the year, features a question and answer session with a panel of business leaders tackling issues ranging from the banking crisis to youth unemployment. The panel comprised Simon Hill, of Yorkshire Forward; Matt Holmes, of accountancy software firm Liquid Accounts; Kevin Newson, senior partner at Yorkshire Bank; Jill Hague, area commercial director for HSBC; and Prof Bob Cryan, vice-chancellor at University of Huddersfield. Kirklees Council leader Clr Mehboob Khan, who opened the summit, said: “Kirklees Council supports the development and growth of local businesses and so I was delighted to be asked to attend and open the summit. “It was great to see so many of our region’s businesses in attendance and to see business being done between them.

■ QUESTION TIME: Panellists discuss the big business issues during the Kirklees Summit at the Galpharm Stadium

“I was interested to hear the issues being discussed and will be working with the council’s business team to try to address some of these through future council events and initiatives.” Danny Matharu of Mirfield-based event organiser Hillrich, said: “This was a unique opportunity for the audience to have their say publicly on business in Kirklees while net-

Healthy advice for firms KIRKLEES firms will get a prescription for building healthy profits at a networking event this month. Neil Kendall, of consultancy Business Doctors will give a 30-minute seminar called The Antidote to the Dragon’s Den at an event staged by Lockwood-based Mid

Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The Halifax-based businessman, will advise SMEs on growing their businesses at the event from 11.30am to 2.30pm on Thursday, June 17, at the Holiday Inn, Queen’s Drive, Wakefield.

working with other high profile Kirklees stakeholders. “In a format unlike any other business gathering currently taking place, Kirklees Summit brought together a wide variety of industry leaders and created a live forum where Kirklees businesses openly debated how to make our district an even better place in which to run a business.” Kirklees Summit is sponsored by Kirklees Council, Fantastic Media, Ramsdens Solicitors and Kirklees Grantmakers’ Alliance. Paul Joyce, managing partner of Ramsdens, said: “The summit was an excellent forum allowing delegates the chance to have discussions on current topics, to listen and share experience with people facing the same challenges in Kirklees and to touch base with like-minded professionals.” The next Summit takes place on September 16 – two weeks before the 2010 Kirklees Business Conference. Both events are held at the Galpharm Stadium and are free to delegates. Go to www.kirklees-summit.co.uk

Search on for the country’s top franchisees FRANCHISE operations across Kirklees have been urged to take part in a national award. Franchisors are being asked to nominate their most enterprising franchisees for the British Franchising Association HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards 2010. The awards – launched 21 years ago – includes a new regional format for 2010. Entrants from Kirklees will compete in the northern region competition. Franchisors are able to enter up to five franchisees for the awards – one nomination per region. The national gold award winner receive £5,000 from HSBC as well as a commemorative trophy and the title BFA HSBC Franchisee of the Year. The Silver and Bronze Winners will receive £3,000 and £2,000 respectively. The five regional winners will each receive £500. Cathryn Hayes (pictured), head of franchising at HSBC, said: “HSBC is proud to support franchisees across the country. “We work with some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs – and it’s great to see them rewarded for their achievements. “As well as being a huge boost to morale, the awards are an important opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of franchisees.” Brian Smart, director-general of the BFA, said: “The BFA HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards, provide businesses with an opportunity to be recognised for excellence in franchising. “I look forward to receiving the entries and speaking with the top franchisees across the UK to hear their success stories.” The deadline for entries is June 30. Finalists will be invited for interview with the judging panel on July 15. The winners of the BFA HSBC Franchise of the Year will be announced at a gala dinner at the NEC in Birmingham on September 30. For details go to www.thebfa.org

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

property

Property under the hammer A TOTAL of 86 lots are set to come under the hammer at a property auction this month. The catalogue for the Eddisons sale on June 17 in Leeds includes development land, tenanted retail and residential properties and sites

Whitehall cuts set to boost Yorkshire

being sold on the instructions of Yorkshire Water. Those include the site of a former waste water treatment works at Barkisland and a former sewage pumping station at Boat Lane, Sprotbrough, Doncaster.

FOR SALE/TO LET On behalf of Commercial Development Projects Ltd

Pennine Business Park, Bradley Road Huddersfield 372-557m² (4,000-6,000 ft²)

Excellent access to junction 25 of the M62 Including raised floors, air conditioning and ample on site car parking 014 8 4 5 3 3 1 5 1

Eddisons

Contact: Richard Smith Walker Singleton

MIXED INVESTMENT PROPERTY

e d d i s o n s . c o m

RETAIL PREMISES with ancillary accomm

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

LOCK UP SHOP

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

395m2 (4,250ft2) 395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential alternative occupational residential Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, TOWNGATE,uses HUDDERSFIELD, uses or possible complete or possible complete DOCTOR LANE, redevelopment, subject to redevelopment, subject to planning consent planning consent ● Commercial, Residential and Ground Rents ● 72.18m² (777ft²) ● 14.5m² (156ft²)

For sale £600,000

For Sale £85,000

the public sector looks set to become a net disposer of commercial property,” said Mr Gilfillan. “It seems entirely sensible that, in view of the government’s stated need for national austerity, central government departments and quangos should be scrutinising their property costs and use of space with a view to radically minimising both. “With about 644 public sector leases due to expire or reach a break clause in the current financial year – a high proportion of which are located in central London – and a further 15,000 civil service positions identified for decentralisation, now would be the perfect time to implement a cohesive rationalisation strategy” Said Mr Gilfillan: “The implications of such a review could be immense for the lower-cost regional property markets, particularly when private sector occupational demand is still fairly muted.”

YORKSHIRE is primed for a mass exodus from Whitehall – as a result of the new government’s intention to deliver efficiency savings across public sector property. National commercial property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton said the region was set to benefit from any decision to move key government departments out of central London. Chancellor George Osborne has drawn up a £6.25bn package to reduce the UK budget deficit. It includes £170m from reducing property costs, at least £120m from a civil service recruitment freeze and £600m from reducing quango costs. Guy Gilfillan, head of LSH in Yorkshire, said the ensuing relocations posed very significant opportunities – particularly for Leeds and Sheffield. While they were distressing for those at risk of upheaval, they were necessary to help reduce the UK’s budget deficit, he added. “As in previous recessions,

High Quality Offices

Contact: Jonathan O’Connor Eddisons

OFFICE & WORKSHOP

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

● Part Let - Achieving £29,400 p/a

● ERV £54,080

● 1.5 miles from Huddersfield town centre

For Sale £55,000

To Let £22,500 pa

● 14.5m² (156ft²)

To Let £17,000 pa

● Pleasant working environment

● Recently refurbished

● Good car parking

● Sold with vacant possession

● Adjacent to Sainsburys

● Will split ● May sell

● May let at £85 p/w

395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to planning consent

● Popular shopping centre

● High specification offices

4 RANGE LANE 4 RANGE LANE 4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL Halifax, HX3 6DL Halifax, HX3 6DL RETAIL SHOP WITH STORAGE RESTAURANT PREMISES HIGH QUALITY OFFICES RETAIL OFFICE FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES 395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to planning consent

1st FLOOR OFFICES

395m2 (4,250ft2) 395m2 (4,250ft2) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for ■ Suitable for refurbishment for alternative occupational residential alternative occupational residential MIFIELD, COWLERSLEY LANE, uses orSALENDINE NOOKcomplete SHOPPING CENTRE, HUDDERSFIELD, HD3 3XA uses or possible complete possible redevelopment, subject to redevelopment, subject to planning consent planning consent ● 197.69m² (2,128ft² ) with 93.27m² (1,004ft² ● 215sqm (2,300sqft)

● Outskirts of popular town centre ● Rateable value £3,150

■ NORTHERN LINE: Guy Gilfillan, head of LSH, in Yorkshire sees a chance for region to benefit

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

) warehousing ● Two storey double fronted

Page 6

● On site car parking

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL PREMISES OFFICE/ TREATMENT ROOM ACCOM FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

■ industrial LAND ■ offices OFFICES INDUSTRIAL ■ retail INVESTMENT ■ investment RETAIL ■ land

WAKEFIELD ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD, HD5 9AB

To Let £12,500 pa

SOUTHGATE, ELLAND,

To Let £10,500 pa

PELLON PLACE, HUDDERSFIELD, HD2 1GT

£11.50 psf

● 363.99m²(3,918ft²) ● 103m (1,110ft) ● 119.09sqm (1,282sqft) 4 RANGE LANE 4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES● 119.09sqm (1,282sqft) FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES ● Air conditioning ● Main395m road location 2 (4,250ft2)

BRADFORD ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD, HD2 2RB

To Let £300 pcm

● 18.67sqm (201sqft) 4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

395m2 (4,250ft2) 395m2 (4,250ft2● ) Prominent main road position Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ● Close to public car parking ■ Vacant possession ■ Vacant possession ■ Vacant possession ■ Suitable for refurbishment for ■ Suitable for refurbishment for ■ Suitable for refurbishment for ● Raised acess floors/computer trunking ● Outskirts of town centre ● Flexible lease terms alternative occupational residential alternative occupational residential alternative occupational residential ● Rateable value £7,900 uses or possible complete uses or possible complete uses or possible complete redevelopment, subject to redevelopment, subject to redevelopment, subject to planning consent planning consent planning consent ● Private car parking ● On Street car parking ● Security alarm system and shutters ● Available for other use, subject to planning

BRIDGE STREET, HUDDERSFIELD, HD7 5JN

£125 per week Inclusive

● 13.94m² (150ft²) and 36.78m² (396ft²)

4 RANGE LANE Halifax, HX3 6DL ● Sub-letting FORMER HOSTEL PREMISES

2) 395m2● (4,250ft Fully inclusive rent Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres) ■ Vacant possession ● Partfor of hairdressing salon for ■ Suitable refurbishment alternative occupational residential uses or●possible complete Flexible agreements redevelopment, subject to planning consent ● Village centre location

T. 01484 530361 www.bramleys.com

Industrial

Offices

Victoria Court, off Wakefield Road, Clayton West 8,000 – 16,000 sq ft will split

To LeT

Recently re-built industrial units benefitting from large service yard and strategic location for Junctions 38 and 39 of the M1.

Albert Works Albert Street Lockwood 1,500 – 2,700 sq ft

Thirstin House, Thirston Road, Honley, Huddersfield 1,013 – 2,883 sq ft

Single storey workshop/storage units available on flexible terms close to town centre. Also available – external storage land – up to 0.75 acres. LAST REMAINING UNIT

To LeT

From only £165 per week exclusive

High quality refurbished offices with parking easily accessible to the Holme Valley.

To LeT/MAy seLL

Colneside Business Park Milnsbridge Unit M4 1,595 m2 (17,166 sq ft)

Red Doles Lane, off A62 Leeds Road, Huddersfield 2,891 – 11,811 sq ft

The Watermill, Wheatley Park, Mirfield 3,000 – 12,700 sq ft

High quality warehouse/ industrial unit including internally built offices with excellent on site loading.

Good quality single storey workshop/storage with yard/ parking and just off main A62 Leeds Road.

Available as a whole or in seven suites, Modern specification with under floor comfort cooling and excellent on-site parking.

To LeT

www.michaelsteel.co.uk

To LeT

Flexible Terms

Will subdivide to suit requirements

To LeT

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

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Leah Ramsden Kate Booth

Eaton Smith HUDDERSFIELD law firm Eaton Smith has strengthened its ranks with two key appointments. Leah Ramsden (pictured, top) has joined the High Street firm as manager of its residential property department. She was previously head of residential conveyancing for Schofield Sweeney Solicitors in Bradford, where she handled a wide range of conveyancing matters for private clients and acted for large and small property development company and housing association clients, preparing site legal documentation and on-plot sales. Before that, she worked for Ramsdens Solicitors, firstly in Huddersfield, and then as branch manager of the Elland office following the merger with the firm of David Garsed & Sons. Meanwhile, Kate Booth has joined the employment law team at Eaton Smith. Ms Booth (also pictured) studied law at Newcastle University and completed her legal practice Course at the College of Law in York. After training at the Sheffield and Leeds offices of Irwin Mitchell, she moved to DWF in Leeds where she was a member of the employment team. Ms Booth has a wide range of skills and knowledge in employment law, acting for a variety of employers and employees. She also enjoys delivering training and presenting seminars to human resources professionals and organisations to update them on employment legislation.

Movers and shakers

Firms focus on a fast service!

PROFESSIONALS from the Kirklees business community took to the tennis courts as part of a social and networking event. Sixty senior business people took part in the tennis fun day at Huddersfield Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. The event was jointly organised by chartered surveyors Eddisons, HSBC and Ramsdens Solicitors. Players of all abilities enjoyed an afternoon’s tennis in glorious sunshine – followed by a buffet and prize presentation. Matthew Scholey, of Eddisons, said: ‘The tennis day is a fun way of encouraging people to get away from the office for a few hours and meet other like-minded local business people in an informal and relaxed environment. Everybody clearly enjoyed themselves.”

■ COURT ON CAMERA: Some of the participants in the Tennis Fun Day

Educational experience

Liz Barber

Yorkshire Water YORKSHIRE Water has appointed Liz Barber as director of finance and regulation. Ms Barber joins the Bradford-based company after 23 years at Ernst & Young, where she led audit work for some of the UK’s biggest businesses. Since 2006, she has built a team of specialists focused on the water industry and developed key relationships with regulators and companies. In her new role, she will be responsible for the financial management and regulatory performance of a £4.5bn business and one of the biggest water companies in the world. Ms Barber (pictured) is expected to take up her new position at Yorkshire Water in the autumn following the completion of a number of assignments.

Darren Owers

Yorkshire Bank YORKSHIRE Bank has appointed its first-ever head of business development. Darren Owers (pictured) will lead business development activity across the bank’s east region, which stretches from Newcastle to Norwich and includes its six financial solutions centres in Yorkshire. They include the FSC in Bradford, which also covers Kirklees. His appointment follows the launch of Yorkshire Bank’s Investing for Growth initiative announced in May, which offers businesses a flexible approach to banking with options including repayment-free periods and fixed-rate investment loans.

Page 8

■ SCHOOL DAYS: Jenny Woodbridge (left) and Liz Marsden celebrate 10 years of Early Excellence at Outlane A TRAINING company working in the field of education has celebrated 10 years in business. Early Excellence opened in an appropriate building – the former Outlane Primary School – at New Hey Road, Outlane. The firm, led by directors Liz Marsden and Jenny Woodbridge – who are both former local education authority advisers – has built up a reputation across the Yorkshire region for providing expertise, guidance and support to local

authorities, nurseries, playgroups and schools in the area of developing quality practice. Early Excellence runs professional development and training service from its Outlane centre – which also includes resource rooms, an educational shop selling play equipment and a cafe. To mark its anniversary, the company donated £1 to Martin’s House Hospice for everyone visiting the centre during May.

Healthy options for physio Chris PHYSIOTHERAPIST Chris Liversidge is using online services to take the pain out of starting up a new business. The qualified physio (pictured) runs North Light Physiotherapy at Armitage Bridge, where he also employs two chartered physiotherapists. While they focus on treating patients, the business of answering phone calls, taking bookings and dealing with the accounts, is entrusted to two Longwood-based firms. Mosaic Virtual Office provides a secretarial support service while Liquid Accounts handles billing and accounting. Mosaic manages Chris’ appointments and bookings via online calendars and e-mail, leaving him free to focus on other areas of the business.” Using Liquid Accounts means that Chris and his two colleagues can log in and manage their own invoicing and payments independently – while Chris gets an overview of the business accounts. Chris set up his business treating people with injuries, breakages and muscle pains after working in the NHS and completing masters degrees in both physiotherapy and sport and exercise sciences.

Fitness club energetic about going green THEY’RE into saving energy – as well as expending energy – at Total Fitness. The health club at Waterloo has slashed its energy consumption as part of a two-year campaign by the national leisure chain. Total Fitness UK-wide has been

praised by the Carbon Trust for reducing its gas and electricity consumption by almost 45% during that time. Bev Coates (pictured right), manager of the Waterloo outlet, said there was strong commitment at the club to making savings, explaining:

“Often it’s just about common sense – making sure lights and air conditioning are turned off when they’re not needed. “We also check energy consumption every day and if we fail to meet the targets we’ve been set in our club, we do something about it.”