Kirklees Business News 24th August 2010

FTSE 100

SEAN JARVIS True blue supporter

MARK DALTON Using commonsense

39.56 5234.84

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An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Festival goers get charity message

A TEXT messaging provider based in Huddersfield will be the headline act at four music festivals in the coming weeks.

Golcar-based SMileS has been contracted by Global Ethics, owner of the successful One Water brand, to deliver its 2010 text campaigns.

Having enjoyed a successful fundraising text campaign last year – thanks to SMileS – Global Ethics has extended this year’s activities to four of the UK’s most popular music festivals – Reading, Leeds, The Big Chill and Latitude.

“The results from last year’s campaign were very impressive and the support we received from SMileS was excellent,” said Deborah Pearson-Jones, senior marketing manager for Global Ethics.

“By extending the campaign to four of the UK’s most popular music fest-

ivals, we’re hoping to build on last year’s success. As well as raising funds for our work, the aim is to capture mobile and email details for use in future campaigns.”

For the first promotion, labels on bottles of One Water will feature competition instructions for participants to text “ONEWATER” to 80988 – with one lucky texter winning a weekend pass to the 2010 Bestival event held on the Isle of Wight.

Texts cost one standard-rate message and individuals entering the competition will have their mobile phone number added to a distribution list, enabling Global Ethics to update them by text message – at no cost to the recipient – with news about ethical water production and other special offers.

Andy Earnshaw, SMileS business development manager, said: “Festivals have a relatively young audience.

According to the AIF Festival Audience Survey 2010, some 80% of festival goers are under 45 years of age. For them, text messaging is second nature.

“It makes keyword texting the ideal marketing channel for Global Ethics to engage with this captive audience – it’s quick, direct and will help them to raise money.”

The second campaign, which takes place at the four music festivals, asks festival goers to text “DONATE (their email address)” to 63320, for the chance to win a festival survival pack. Texts cost one standard-rate message plus £2 which includes a donation to Global Ethics.

SMileS is sponsoring the campaign. All money raised via the texts will go to help Global Ethics,provide more clean water for some of the world’s poorest people.

workloads. That compares with the previous quarter where 5% more surveyors reported rising, rather than falling workloads.

In northern England, the number of chartered surveyors reporting reduced workloads worsened during the second quarter to minus 15% from minus 7% in the first quarter. This is now the eighth month running that workloads have fallen in the region.

For northern housing markets, minus 25% reported declines in public sector work and minus 15% saw falls

in private sector work.

The public non-housing market saw a significant drop in workloads with 40% more chartered surveyors reporting a fall than a rise – up from 12% in the first quarter.

Kevin Wood, RICS construction spokesman for Yorkshire, said the survey showed the “extremely fragile” state of the industry and demonstrated how badly affected the region had been hit by the recession.

Uncertainty regarding Government spending cuts and a lack of available

Magic carpets A LANDMARK Dewsbury mill has been sold.

Cleckheaton-based Westex Carpets paid an undisclosed sum for iconic Calder Bank Mills, which had been on the market since July, 2009, after previous owners S Lyles Sons and Co Ltd – the well-known textile firm – went into administration.

● Full story - Page 7

■ WATER MUSIC: Andy Earnshaw, of SMileS, which has teamed up with Global Ethics

Spending cuts contribute to construction woe YORKSHIRE building specialists have reported weaker workloads and falling confidence during the second quarter of the year.

The latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said the construction industry across the UK had been hit by fears over public spending cuts and uncertainty about prospects for the economy.

Following some encouraging signs at the start of the year, the latest data showed 7% more surveyors reporting a fall than a rise in total construction

INSIDE

development funds from the banking sector were continuing to suppress the construction workload in the region and stifling what little development potential there was.

“Until there is a clear lead from Government on spending plans, this uncertainty will remain and confidence in the sector will remain low,” said Mr Wood.

“Any optimism from early 2010 has now declined and there is a very difficult time ahead for all surveyors in our region.

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Hot topic for talk A DRAGON slayer will turn up the heat at a major business event in Huddersfield.

Sharon Wright, who was successful on TV’s Dragon’s Den, will speak about her experiences at the Kirklees Business Conference.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

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Bovis still cautious despite profits haul GOVERNMENT austerity measures have left Britain’s housing market in a “fragile” state, a leading housebuilder has claimed.

Bovis said spending cuts and tax hikes had hit consumer confidence.

The company, which has developed housing schemes in Huddersfield, reported stable conditions and steady rise in prices for the first half of 2010.

But it said there had been a shift in the market since the general election and June 22 emergency Budget.

Bovis gave a cautious outlook for house sales and prices over the months ahead – although its interim results revealed a marked improvement on a year earlier when the recession had left it with losses of £8.6m.

Bovis returned to profit with a £3.5m surplus for the six months to June 30

while the number of private home sales rose by 3%.

It said sale prices rose by about 3% on an underlying basis year-on-year.

Bovis said restrictions on mortgage availability continued to dampen the new homes market, particularly for first time buyers.

It added: “In the last few weeks of the half year, after the general election and the Budget, the market became more fragile.

“The group, therefore, remains cautious in its expectations of transaction volumes and sales prices in the short term given the low levels of consumer confidence at this time and the ongoing challenges in the mortgage market.”

The firm’s cautious tone follows a recent spate of bad news on the property recovery.

According to Nationwide, the average price of a UK property dropped by 0.5% to £169,347 between June and July, while the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ survey of property professionals also registered its first fall in prices for a year last month.

Bovis is reducing its reliance on a housing market recovery by snapping up land with residential planning consent at a low point in the cycle.

Improvements in its financial position have also allowed it to make plans to resume dividend payments to shareholders after more than two years.

The firm said last month it intended to restart pay-outs at the end of the financial year, having put its dividend on hold at the start of 2009 to focus on shoring up its balance sheet.

■ BANNER HEADLINE: Bovis said the market had become more fragile since the election and June budget

M&S names its new chairman

HSBC pursues bank deal

HIGH street chain Marks & Spencer has named for mer investment banker Robert Swannell as chairman of the company from January.

Sir Stuart Rose, who will continue as chairman until January 4, said he was “delighted’’ that Mr Swannell would be taking up the position.

Sir Stuart said: “His considerable experience of both the City and the commercial world will be a real asset to the board and the business.”

M&S said it had no concerns over Mr Swannell remaining chairman of music and video retailer HMV Group as the firms do not operate in competing spaces.

Mr Swannell is also non-executive

BANKING giant HSBC has confirmed it is working on a deal to secure a controlling stake in South Africa’s fourth-largest bank.

The London-based fir m has entered into exclusive talks with Nedbank’s majority owner Old Mutual about buying up to 70% of the South African bank.

HSBC chief executive Michael Geoghegan has made no secret of his ambitions to increase the group’s presence in emerging markets. The group already has a small business in South Africa, as well as a number of interests across the rest of Africa.

Nedbank is one of the largest finan-

director of property investor British Land and infrastructure investor 3i.

He will work alongside former Morrisons boss Marc Bolland, who took on the role of chief executive at M&S in May. Mr Bolland took the reins at a difficult time for the retailer, which has suffered two years of stuttering sales.

Mr Bolland said: “Robert will be an excellent chairman for us. He has strong complementary skills and I am very much looking forward to working with him.”

M&S deputy chairman Sir David Michels welcomed Mr Swannell as well as praising Sir Stuart.

cial groups in South Africa and has links with banks in 30 countries across the continent.

Old Mutual, which is based in South Africa and listed on the London Stock Exchange, is understood to have received a number of approaches for its Nedbank holding in recent years, which foreign banks could use as a platform on which to build a business across the continent.

HSBC is expected to pay as much as £4.5bn for the Nedbank stake.

There are fears that the South African authorities may try to block the sale following a run of takeovers in the country by foreign banks.

Call to reject bid THE world’s biggest fertiliser company has urged its shareholders to reject a £25bn takeover bid from mining giant BHP Billiton.

Canada’s PotashCorp described the approach as “wholly inadequate” and said it expected superior offers or other alternatives to emerge.

London-based BHP launched a hostile bid for Potash last week after directors of the company refused to back its offer.

BHP, which is a market leader in the production of coal, copper and iron ore, is betting that demand for agricultural fertiliser ingredients will rise as the developing world requires more meat and plants.

Potash chief executive Bill Doyle reiterated the board’s opposition to the bid, which he said failed to reflect the value of Potash’s market position and growth prospects.

Counting the cost INSURERS Amlin and Hiscox reported sharply lower half-year profits as they counted the cost of recent natural disasters.

Claims relating to February’s devastating earthquake in Chile and hurricane Xynthia in early March left pre-tax profits at Hiscox down by 31% to £97.2m and 39% lower at £107.6m for Amlin.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £26.07 -0.17 Gannett 780.92 -12.23 Hess Corp £33.12 +0.13 Microsoft 1565.49 +5.59 Motors Liquidation 48.28 Wal-Mart Stores £32.93 +0.60 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 116 BAE Systems 3021/4 -1/8 Rolls-Royce Gp 5611/2 +11/2 AIM Brady Plc 67 Dawson Intl 21/8 Man Brnze 40 -1 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 141 +1/4 BANKS Barclays 3191/4 +17/8 HSBC 6391/4 +5 5 Lloyds Banking Gp 69 /8 +3/8 3 Ryl Scotland 45 /4 +1/4 Stan Chart 17161/2 +16 BEVERAGES Diageo 1082 +4 SABMiller 18811/2 +301/2 CHEMICALS Croda 1265 +2 Elementis 98 90 +4 Johnsn Mat 1615 -5 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS Balfour Beatty 248 -15/8 Costain 199 +2 ELECTRICITY Drax Grp 4021/4 +35/8 Intl Power 370 +6

Scottish & Sthrn 1126 +8 Energy ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Chloride 3735/8 +1/4 Laird 1263/4 -1/8 EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS Alliance Trust 3131/4 +41/2 FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICES BT Grp 1351/2 +17/8 Cable & Wireless 593/8 +11/4 Comm 5 Cable & Wireless 63 /8 +5/8 Wwide Colt Group 111 -13/4 KCOM 461/4 -11/2 3 Talktalk Telecom 125 /8 -5/8 FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS Morrison W 2871/4 +35/8 Sainsbury 3661/2 +103/4 Tesco 404 +33/4 FOOD PRODUCERS AB Food 1016 +7 Nth Foods 45 3 Tate Lyle 414 /8 +21/8 Unilever 1698 +3 1 Uniq 10 /4 +1/4 GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES Centrica 322 -1/2 National Grid 5361/2 +7 1 Pennon Grp 565 /2 +41/2 Severn 1308 +15 United Utils 567 +31/2 GENERAL FINANCIAL 3i Group 2667/8 +17/8 ICAP 401 +23/8 London StockExch 6561/2 +8 1 +27/8 Man Group 209 /4

Provident Financial 825 +3 Schroders 1395 +19 Schroders NV 1121 +20 GENERAL INDUSTRIALS Cooksn Grp 4463/8 +1/4 REXAM 3035/8 -1/4 Smiths Grp 1160 -1 GENERAL RETAILERS Ashley L 131/4 Carphone Whse 2201/4 +11/2 DSG International 25 5 Home Retail 217 /8 +2 Inchcape 2667/8 +31/2 Kingfisher 2041/4 +21/4 M&S 3365/8 +37/8 Mothercare 4915/8 -51/8 Next 1970 +16 WH Smith 4067/8 +51/2 HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES Smith Nph 5721/2 +11/2 HOUSEHOLD GOODS Aga Rangemaster 871/2 +3 +11/2 Barrat Dev 953/4 5 Persimmon 346 /8 +81/8 Reckitt Benckiser £315/8 +1/8 Taylor Wimpey 263/4 -1/8 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING Charter 607 -15 +11/2 IMI 6951/2 INDUSTRIAL METALS Ferrexpo 3031/2 +3/4 INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION BBA Aviation 195 +21/4 Forth Ports 1277 -12 LIFE INSURANCE Aviva 3911/4 +131/2

951/2 +11/4 1247/8 +37/8 571 +131/2 247 +3/4 5 206 /8 +41/2 MEDIA BSkyB 7081/2 -1/2 Chrysalis 104 -1/2 D Mail Tst 4571/2 +61/2 5 ITV 56 /8 +21/8 Johnston Press 151/4 Pearson 9361/2 -14 Reed Elsevier 524 -31/2 STV Group 923/4 +91/4 Trinity Mirror 1033/4 -23/4 Utd Business 5561/2 UTV 118 WPP 671 +4 Yell Group 171/4 -1/4 MINING Anglo American £235/8 +1/4 Antofagasta 1027 +16 BHP Billiton 1830 +9 Eurasian Natural 849 -191/2 Res Fresnillo 1011 +21 Kazakhmys 1148 +7 Lonmin 1531 +24 Rio Tinto £33 +1/8 VEDANTA £203/8 RESOURCES Xstrata 1019 +1/2 MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES Inmarsat 659 -11 Vodafone Group 1513/8 +1 NONLIFE INSURANCE Admiral Grp 1477 +15 RSA Insurance Gp 1237/8 +11/4 Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Resolution Standard Life

Local shares Carclo Chapelthorpe Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

1531/2 251/2 913/4 5361/2 1172

+3 +23/4 +7 -10

FTSE closed at

5234.8 Up 39.56 BG 1093 +11/2 BP 3905/8 +21/4 Cairn Energy 4643/8 +41/4 Royal Dutch Shell A 1737 +121/2 Royal Dutch Shell B 1679 +101/2 Total £31 +1/4 Tullow Oil 1302 +6 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 878 +7 Petrofac 1410 +48 Wood Group 346 -21/4 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry 8371/2 +41/2 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £33 +1/2 Axis-Shield 2751/4 -2 GlaxoSmithK XD 21

REAL ESTATE Brit Land 4531/4 +45/8 Captl Shop Cent 3271/4 +2 DTZ Hldgs 52 +1 Hamrsn 3593/4 -5/8 Land Secs 604 +23/4 SEGRO 2785/8 SOFTWARE ETC SERVICES Autonomy Corp 1593 -4 Dimension Data 120 -1/4 Invensys 2493/4 +33/8 Logica 1101/8 -3/4 Misys 2717/8 +13/4 1 Sage Group 245 /2 +5 SUPPORT SERVICES Bunzl 681 -1 Capita 704 -2 Davis Service 370 +43/8 Group De La Rue 6991/2 +1/2 Electrocomp 209 +1/4 Experian 6221/2 +1/2 7 G4S 254 /8 -27/8 Hays 911/4 Homeserve 4467/8 -61/8 Menzies J 4601/2 +101/2 3 Rentokil 95 /4 -3/4 Smiths News 104 +5 Wolseley 1306 +26 IT HARDWARE ARM Hldgs 3273/4 +61/2 Psion 931/2 +1/2 Spirent Comms 1317/8 +5 TOBACCO Br Am Tob £213/4 +1/8 Imperial Tobacco 1834 +12 LEISURE & HOTELS Arriva 772 -1/2

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

223 £211/4 5041/2 363 895/8 3531/4 1089 4061/2 1031 134 2981/8 2271/8 2603/4 109 1711/4 2023/8 1380

+31/4 +1/8 +11/8 +3/4 +43/8 +13 +81/2 +25 +25/8 +41/4 +43/4 +1/8 +31/4 +11/4 +1/2 +5

FTSE 100

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TOURIST RATES Tourists going abroad can expect the following rates for sterling: Australia...................... 1.66 dollars Bangladesh................. 102.33 taka Brazil.............................. 2.45 reals Canada....................... 1.55 dollars China ............................. 9.48 yuan Czech Republic ...... 27.94 korunas Denmark....................... 8.70 krone Euro............................... 1.17 euro Hong Kong................ 11.51 dollars Hungary................... 306.69 forints India.......................... 64.08 rupees Japan........................... 126.79 yen Mexico ....................... 17.74 pesos New Zealand .............. 2.06 dollars Norway ......................... 9.26 krone Pakistan.................. 125.76 rupees Philippines ................. 60.02 pesos South Africa................. 10.70 rand South Korea.............. 1606.00 won Sri Lanka ................ 165.48 rupees Sweden....................... 11.02 krona Switzerland.................. 1.53 francs Taiwan ...................... 43.52 dollars Turkey....................... 2.21 new lira USA ............................ 1.49 dollars

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS FOOTBALL is a serious business.

You’ll get no argument on that score from Huddersfield Town commercial director Sean Jarvis – who has gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to his loyalty to promoting the cause of the blue-and-white.

His ambition, he says, is to “convert all the world into Town fans”.

And he has achieved some notable successes – including recruiting Sir Alan Sugar’s grandson to the cause!

Sean was born and bred in Leicester – where he grew up watching Leicester City.

His first paid job was working on a fruit and veg stall competing for custom with Lineker’s, the greengrocery stall owned by Gary Lineker’s dad, Barry.

Sean came north to study economics at Leeds University and liked the area so much he stayed.

“I’ve now lived in Yorkshire longer than I’ve lived in Leicester,” he says.

“My mother-in-law says I had to serve 25 years before I got my ‘passport’ and I’ve finally got there!.”

After graduating, Sean spent a few years with advertising agency Brahm in Leeds, where he worked on prestige accounts for the likes of Porsche.

Even here, football played a part in shaping his career.

Says Sean: “I think I got the job by saying to my boss that I could play football.

“I played at semi-pro level in Leicester and for the university team.

“I think he appointed me because he wanted to strengthen his staff team!”

Sean says he ‘gravitated’ towards sports marketing, working at various times with rugby’s Super League, with Carling when the company was involved with football’s Premier League and with Sky TV as it cranked up its sports channels.

Later, Sean went to work for Oldham Athletic – and embarked on what he still considers to be a bizarre journey.

“I started as marketing manager for the football club and within about four years I effectively owned it!”.

Sean was left running the club after its owner, Chris Moore, decided to withdraw his backing – but not before spending heavily on players.

The club had £6m of debts – and in the absence of the board of directors, Sean was the most senior figure left.

“I was in the hot seat, answerable to the players and staff as to what happened next,” he recalls.

“I phoned everyone I knew to find someone to come to the club.”

Sean led a management buy-out to give the club direction.

In the end, the club went into administration, but Sean and his team got debts down from £6m to £2m through a Company Voluntary Arrangement.

Sean eventually found a

profile

Sean puts his shirt on Town

trio of New York-based businessmen to buy the business.lub.

Sean continued to work at Oldham for a few years to help built the Latics back up and forge commercial partnerships before he was lured over the Pennines to look after the commercial operation for Town and the Giants.

Four years later, he is working with Town chairman and the dark days at Oldham seem a long time ago – although the experience stood him in good stead.

“Football is a fascinating industry in which to work,” says Sean.

“The experience I went through at Oldham was invaluable and character-building.

“I was getting phone calls at three in the morning from Australia from people wanting to know about the football club.

■ COMMON GOAL: Sean Jarvis says a successful football club can help build a successful local economy

“It was an experience that toughened me up and enabled my career to progress.

“It has given me a tougher skin – which you do need in this industry.

“In football, you are in a goldfish bowl.”

Sean is clear about his goals at Huddersfield Town following the arrival of chairman Dean Hoyle.

“We want our stewardship to be one of the best,” he says.

“We are working tirelessly to achieve great things for the club.

“Since its centenary – the New Era – we have already done some incredibly things.

Our ambition is to move Huddersfield up the football hierarchy.”

Initiatives such as its Enterprise Academy and Yorkshire Business Forums are helping forge stronger links between the club, the community and businesses, says Sean.

And people want to be part of that winning team.

Sean is proud that the club has partners of the calibre of Chadwick Lawrence, Grant Thornton, Kirklees College and Dale Carneige aboard.

“We want to attract plcs, of course,” he says. “But we also want to attract one-man businesses.

“We want people to share in our success.”

Branding Town as The Yorkshire Club – epitomised by its support for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance – has helped attract businesses from Leeds, Halifax and Sheffield into the fold.

“There is never a dull moment,” he says.

“We are constantly asking ourselves how we can move forward.

“Unlike a lot of ‘products’ or ‘brands’ as a football club, we

almost have re-invent ourselves every season.

“We are in the entertainment industry, after all.”

Success on the pitch is the key driver for growth and Sean’s message to Huddersfield people who prefer to follow “winning” teams and wear Man United or Chelsea shirts is clear: “Support your local team, because that will only make your local town stronger.

“We may not be successful in the short-term, but join us and we will give you some great times.”

Town has increased its supporter base in the past two or three years, says Sean, by improving the offer available to the man in the stands as well as the hospitality boxes.

“We have dedicated staff who work very hard,” he adds.

“We have an organisational structure that is the envy of any football club.

“We work behind the scenes all week to make Saturday what it is.

“Football clubs have to become 24-7. No business can operate for just 23 days of the year.”

In his spare time, Sean enjoys Sundays with the family and these days restricts his sporting activities to golf.

“I used to play football for Huddersfield Amateurs, based in Elland,” he says.

“Now I’ve hung my boots up my

game is golf. I play at Bradley Hall Golf Club and it is great to get away to the golf course for a few hours. It encourages me to relax.”

Sean has helped encourage celebrities such as actors Reece Dinsdale and Sir Patrick Stewart to get involved in the club – and has even converted the grandson of former Spurs owner Sir Alan Sugar into a Town fan.

Sean, his wife Sarah and son Joshua were in a restaurant in Portugal and got talking to the family at the neighbouring.

“It was Alan Sugar’s daughter, her husband and their children, he says.

“By the end of the night I had converted his son-in-law and younger son to be Town fans.

“Later they sent me a picture of the lad in a Town shirt – pictured aboard Puff Daddy’s yacht in Miami, Florida!”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Page 3 Sean Jarvis Role: Commercial director Age: 44 Family: Married to Sarah with son Joshua, four Holidays: South Africa Car: Mercedes First job: Working on a fruit and veg stall at Leicester market – in competition with Gary Lineker’s father!

Best thing about job: Winning Worst thing about job: Losing Business tip: Always step outside your comfort zone.

People don’t challenge themselves enough

Huddersfield Town Work: Football Sites: Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield Employees: 68 full-time and 73 part-time staff Phone: 01484 484199 Email: sean.jarvis @htafc.com

local

Page 4

KIRKLEES BUSIN

Bearing the load for cutting crime

TRANSPORT experts at Huddersfield University are helping tackle crime against hauliers.

The university is a partner in an innovative project – North Sea Freight Intelligent Transport Solutions – which is tackling the issue of secure parking for truck drivers.

A spokesman for NS FRITS said the problem of transport-related crime was a significant issue in Yorkshire and Humber as crime rates soared and the use of violence in crimes increased.

“More than ever, secure parking is at the top of the agenda for the truck drivers and the freight industry as a whole,” he said.

A study by the Logistics Security Network found that during a two-month period, 20% of all reported UK freight

crime occurred in the Yorkshire and Humber region, costing business £860,000. This equates to 50% of the total £1.7m financial losses suffered by businesses across the UK for this period.

Figures also suggest that using a non-secure parking area will increase the chance of being a victim by nearly seven times.

NS FRITS provides information to drivers about secure parking locations, crime hotspots and local policing practices. The aim is to reduce journey times and cut the costs associated with the loss of goods and vehicles.

David Ransom, chief executive of People United Against Crime – one of the NS FRITS partners – said there were more than 6,900 logistics businesses in the Yorkshire region with

major clusters around the ports, particularly Hull and Grimsby.

He said the industry was forecast to grow by 27% over the next 16 years. The sector also contributed £4.2bn to the regional economy.

Said Mr Ransom: “The link between access to secure parking and freight crime is clear. By giving drivers and freight businesses access to this crucial information, we will be able to reduce crime, boost the economy and keep our drivers safe.”

The NS FRITS system development and testing will be completed by 2011. Along with Huddersfield University and People United Against Crime, partners include Volvo, Hum- ■ FENCED IN: Huddersfield University is part of berside police and Hull Uni- a group helping hauliers to find secure parking versity. spots across the Yorkshire region

Commonsense H&S? T appears that the current Iivehealth and safety legislatsystem may be over-

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hauled to help SMEs find their way through the baffling situation in which many business owners find themselves.

David Cameron had previously asked Lord Young to carry out a review of the UK’s “over the top health and safety culture” which has “become embedded in the national way of life”.

Lord Young has now been officially appointed as adviser to the Prime Minister on health and safety laws and is to undertake a Whitehall-wide review of the operation of health and safety laws and the growth of the compensation culture.

Lord Young said: “Health and safety regulation is essential in many industries, but may well have been applied too generally and have become an unnecessary burden on firms.” His report is expected later this summer.

In my experience, too much health and safety is not the problem. The trick is finding which parts of the legislation are relevant to a business and dealing with them in a way that is prioritised and appropriate for that business.

Companies often complain that there is too much paper-

RISKY BUSINESS Mark Dalton

work involved. Health and safety should not be about the paperwork. Yes, evidence of staff training, copies of workplace inspections and machinery maintenance records can be worth their weight in gold when faced with questions from an enforcement officer or an insurance inspector. However, we need to be selective when generating paper so we don’t lose focus on what really matters.

Risk assessments are mandatory and must be recorded if a business has five or more employees. Importantly, risk assessments are for the benefit of the people, such as employees, exposed to the risk. If you cannot fit a risk assessment on to one or two pages, it is unlikely most workers will ever read them and the risk assessment process becomes purely a paperwork exercise, wasting everyone’s time.

Some larger companies, particularly in the construction sector, have introduced excessive

burdens on SMEs who want to work for them. Many smaller companies have put precious time and finances into achieving nationally recognised accreditations such as the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme, but still need to duplicate this effort to meet the requirements of a prospective client’s own internal systems.

Lord Young would do well to investigate this unnecessary drain on the resources of small businesses.

When the report and its recommendations are produced, hopefully, we will see a common sense approach to health and safety.

As Safety Minister Chris Grayling said: “It is important that we review health and safety regulation so that while people are protected at work there isn't a burden on business and people can still use their common sense without fearing they are breaking the law.”

Mark Dalton is associate director at Wilby Ltd

Company and fundraisers keep their cool SCALP cooling equipment supplied by a Huddersfield firm has been donated to the new cancer ward at Wakefield’s Pinderfields Hospital.

The equipment, which is provided

by Fenay Bridge-based Paxman Coolers Ltd, was delivered and installed to the hospital as a result of a £9,000 donation from local charity, Wakefield Oncology and Leukaemia Fund (WOLF).

The scalp cooling machines are used to reduce or even prevent hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy – for many people the most distressing side effects of the treatment.

WOLF has been raising money for the new cancer services equipment and facilities at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust since 2001.

Claire Paxman (above, centre), sales and training executive at Paxman Coolers, said: “It’s fantastic for scalp cooling treatment to be available to more patients here at Pinderfields.

“We would like to thank WOLF for their generosity in raising and donating the money for the scalp cooler, enabling us to help improve patient’s lives during this difficult time.”

WOLF treasurer Joyce Bruce (left) said: “It is very important that all patients are given the opportunity to choose what treatment they would like to receive, so we felt that an extra scalp cooler at Pinderfields would be a very worthwhile donation.

“This way, more patients can opt to receive the treatment and have the chance of keeping their hair.”

Liz McGuire (right), senior sister at Pinderfields, said: “We have a fantastic nursing team who give their all for cancer patients and it’s great that we can provide more scalp cooling treatments and really make a difference to our patients.

“We are really grateful to WOLF for all their efforts in raising the money and we know the patients will truly appreciate it.”

NESS NEWS

local

Page 5

Urgent action needed to halt slump in loans

■ CONCERN: David Jones, of Absolute Invoice Finance

LENDING to small firms under a Government-backed scheme continues to plummet, according to a specialist finance company in Kirklees.

Figures from Absolute Invoice Finance, which has offices at Cleckheaton, showed lending under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee loan scheme fell by 20% from £186m in the first quarter of 2010 to £149m in the second quarter.

Lending under the EFG scheme has now fallen by 59% since the first three months of 2009.

Dave Jones, regional managing director of Absolute Invoice Finance in Yorkshire, said: “SMEs need the Government to act now to iron out the problems within the scheme and incentivise lenders to lend more through the EFG scheme.

“With so many SMEs being refused credit by the big banks, the sheer scale of decline in lending through the EFG scheme is a big

concern.

“SMEs must look towards dependable and alternative funding sources in order to maintain cashflow and prepare themselves for further volatility in the economy.”

Mr Jones said the findings provided further evidence of the decline in traditional bank lending to SMEs, despite the efforts of Government schemes and the emerging demand for alternative funding sources.

Figures recently released by Absolute show that the number of SMEs securing invoice finance facilities from them in order to release cash into their businesses rose by 42% in the second quarter of 2010 against the same period in 2009.

Absolute said that the Bank of England downgrading its forecast of GDP growth from 3.5% to 3% for the second half of 2011 showed that the recovery was still fragile.

Phillip Monks, chief executive

of Absolute’s parent bank, Aldermore, said: “A well capitalised bank, like ours, doesn’t need the EFG to help lend to small businesses – but not all banks are well capitalised.

“If the Government were willing to underwrite a larger proportion of the EFG loans then more loans might get written.”

Mr Monks said that if – under state aid rules – the UK Government feels that it needs to agree a more generous EFG scheme with the European Union then it should put those negotiations onto a fast track.

Said Mr Monks: “Everyone has the best of intentions towards small businesses. They want to help, but what SMEs need is a little urgent action as well as all the c o n s u l t at i o n s a n d wo rk i n g parties.”

Aldermore said that although the Government guarantees 75% of the value of lending in an individual loan, the EFG scheme itself

is capped at 9.75% of total funds lent out by each bank.

So if a bank makes 10 loans for £100,000 each – £1m in total – it is guaranteed for £75,000 if one loan defaults, but if several default, the bank would be left without any guarantee once £97,500 is reached.

This compared unfavourably with the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme, which the EFG replaced.

Under the SFLG there was no claims cap, meaning lenders were much better protected in the event of defaults.

Said Mr Monks: “Lenders are still very reluctant to take any risks – and what capital that they have they seem to want to use for almost anything but lending to small companies.

“An improvement to the current EFG scheme, however, would make lending to SMEs more attractive to them.”

Going back to the grindstone HE brief distraction of T second quarter earnings season is now largely

behind us.

The results have been generally very good, with profits growth outside the financial sector (whose sharp recovery distorts the numbers) of 38% in the US and 57% in Europe – beating forecasts by approximately 2% and 5% respectively.

Admittedly these numbers benefit from easy comparisons.

However the message of strong profitability is clear, so analysts are sticking with forecasts of a solid finish to the year and for mid-teens growth in overall profits for 2011 for both regions.

However, nerves appear to have been soothed only temporarily, with negative revisions to forecasts from both the Federal Reserve and the UK’s Monetary Policy Committee ruffling recently smoothed feathers and focusing attention back upon the run of “mixed” economic data.

Although none of the major central banks is forecasting a slide back into recession, many investors are more inclined to extrapolate weak short term trends into worse future outcomes.

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They are questioning whether or not the global economy will manage to successfully transition to self-sustaining growth away from that driven by inventory re-stocking and state support.

Since of necessity this entails a resumption of private sector employment growth, the absence of this key factor has been frustrating, particularly so because high corporate profitability and a post-war low rate of investment spending would appear to present ideal conditions for it.

With increases in taxation and re d u c t i o n s t o g ove r n m e n t expenditure visible just around the corner, the longer that the economic growth engine fails to catch, the more pressing the fears that we will save our way into a double-dip recession.

Although we do not dismiss

this possibility, we continue to regard it as unlikely in the near future.

Why is this? Firstly and foremost because we believe that we understand why robust profitability has not translated into a better job picture.

In our view, the eurozone debt crisis sent a loud alarm signal to chief executives worldwide.

They have reacted by deferring capital expansion projects.

Provided that the European Central Bank continues to make progress in restoring confidence to European sovereign debt markets, we think nature will take its course and corporations will resume hiring to exploit the opportunities clearly signalled by their high margins.

Secondly, we view monetary conditions as very supportive.

Simon Kaye is divisional director at Rensburg Sheppards Investment Management

Certainly, the “great de-leveraging” is still in process, whereby banks and individuals are rebuilding their balance sheets.

However, in the context of very low interest rates that look like being sustained (either naturally or through further “quantitative easing” if necessary) the process should be evolutionary, not sharp and unpleasant.

The balance of this year will see the verdict rendered as to whether the current pricing of government bonds is “right”, which would imply that equity analysts’ projections are much too optimistic, or whether equity analysts are right and bond investors are too pessimistic.

The truth is probably somewhere between the two, but with few investors unaware of the “risks” in the current environment, we suspect this would be enough to underpin stock markets at these levels.

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Yorkshire’s Legal People.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Rok reveals substantial half-year loss BUILDING services firm Rok has plunged into the red as a result of job cuts and a shake-up of its troubled plumbing division.

The group, which has carried out work on Kirklees schools and public buildings in recent years, recorded half-year losses of £3.8m in the six months to June 30.

It said shortcomings in financial and operational controls at the plumbing division represented a “regrettable chapter” in the company’s history.

Rok warned in April that profitability at the plumbing, heating and electrical business (PHE) had been hit by a number of under-performing contracts.

The group, which is led by chief executive Garvis Snook (pictured below), had carried out a shake-up of the business and ended the troublesome contracts before calling in accountancy firm BDO to

property

Agency has mill sale well covered A LANDMARK Dewsbury mill has been bought by Cleckheaton-based Westex Carpets for an undisclosed sum.

Calder Bank Mills had been on the market since July, 2009, when previous owners S Lyles Sons and Co Ltd went into administration.

The name of carpet-maker Lyles is iconic to local people as the company had operated in Dewsbury since 1912.

The sale was completed by chartered surveyors Eddisons, which has offices in Huddersfield.

Eddisons also handled the disposal of all plant and machinery at the premises comprising of carpet yarn carding, spinning, twisting, winding and dyeing plant.

In a separate deal, the entire plant was bought by Chinese company Hangzhou Fuxing Group for close to £2m. The company used 115 containers to ship the

machinery to the Far East.

Jim Asquith, director of machinery and assets at Eddisons, said: ‘The plant and machinery generated huge interest and we had visitors to the site from all over the world – many of whom had been targeted through our electronic database.”

Eddisons acted on behalf of administrators BDO on all aspects of the disposal.

John Padgett, of Eddisons, said: ‘By utilising the expertise of our specialist in-house departments we have been able to provide our client with a fully managed solution and delivered them an excellent result.”

It is understood the new owners will continue to use the dye-house facilities on site. Westex provides carpets for the retail and contract sectors as well as carpet tiles and a contract carpet design service.

■ MILL SALE: Calder Bank Mills, Dewsbury, has been sold for an undisclosed sum.

The iconic building was home for many years to carpet firm S Lyles Sons and Co Ltd

Child’s play for Rixonway conduct an independent review.

Rok, which earlier this month announced the suspension of chief financial officer Ashley Martin, said BDO had found serious failings in financial controls at PHE. The Exeter-based firm has insisted the problems at PHE were isolated and added that its overall order book of £435m reflected good momentum in its social housing and construction divisions.

Group revenues for the half-year fell to £308.1m from £364.5m, while operating profit was down to £4.5m from £8.9m before taking into account the £6.8m impact of restructuring the PHE business.

Rok reduced the shareholders’ dividend to 0.5p a share from 0.75p a share.

Rok’s difficulties have emerged at the same time as a financial crisis at rival social housing firm Connaught.

The repair and maintenance specialist warned in June that Government spending cuts could blow a £200m hole in revenues over this year and

Page 7

A DEWSBURY company has donated a free kitchen to provide staff and youngsters at a children’s play centre in Stockport with a bright, clean and spacious place to gather and prepare food and drink.

Rixonway Kitchens has provided the facility for Edgeley Children’s Play Centre in Stockport. The firm is the only UK kitchen manufacturer working solely with the social housing sector and is committed to the need to build strong local communities.

The centre’s play development team leader, Heather McAvoy, is thrilled with the new look kitchen. She said: “The bulk of the work took place over a weekend and when I walked into work on the Monday morning it was truly a Nick Knowles ‘DIY SOS’ moment!

“The new kitchen looks fantastic! We are truly grateful as it will make a big difference to the staff, children and families that use our centre.”

Paul Rose, chief executive of Rixonway, said: “It’s always great to see a donation have such a positive impact on a community.

We’re delighted to hear the kitchen has made such a difference and we hope it will become a central meeting point for children and parents.”

Rixonway’s donation was matched by housing management organisation Stockport Homes, which fitted the kitchen free of charge as well as installing the floors and lights.

Rixonway’s work with Edgeley Children’s Play Centre is the latest activity in the company’s community development programme that sees it working with a number of organisations, including a residents’ association in Leeds and a homeless project in Harrogate.

■ TABLE TALK: Heather McAvoy (back), of Edgeley Children's Play Centre with youngsters Ben Bradshaw (left), Callum Jones, Olivia Bantham and Jack Turk (right)

Seven up for retail specialist RETAIL and leisure consultancy Pudney Shuttleworth has completed a magnificent seven deals in Leeds and the surrounding area.

Among them are four new tenants in The Light leisure and retail centre on The Headrow.

Red Hot World Buffet has taken a 17-year lease on the premises which previously traded as Nu Bar and night club while a lease has also been completed with Mexican restaurant Burburrito.

Salt’s Delicatessen has taken a unit near the to the Radisson Hotel.

Fashion retailer Valley of the Dolls has opened its first UK store close to the city’s Vue multiplex cinema and a lease has been completed with cycle specialists Evans Cycles on a unit at New Station Street.

In Ilkley, Le Bistrot Pierre restaurant will be a new tenant in part of the Crescent Hotel while in Bingley, Bradford and Bingley Plc has sold the freehold in its HQ to Sainsbury’s.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

High praise for an expert witness A HIGHWAYS engineering expert has been praised by a senior planning inspector for her “professional, balanced and honest” evidence in a landmark case.

Alison France (pictured), managing director of Grange Moor-based Sanderson Associates, was appearing as an expert witness in a high-profile planning inquiry on the Isle of Man. She was giving evidence on behalf of various private clients who were objecting to a planned major food store in Douglas, the island’s capital.

Her clients won their case.

Said Alison: “The case involved a particularly complicated highway assessment of traffic generations of a large food store and its impact on the local highway network.

“The inspector formally cited my evidence as ‘professional, balanced, honest and not over-stated’ in his decision notice.

“My detailed evidence, based on sound preparation, helped inform the inspector’s decision to refuse the proposal on highway and transportation grounds.”

Sanderson Associates has provided expert witnesses for cases in local magistrates courts, county courts, the

high court and the Royal Court of Justice in London.

Its experience in this field includes planning applications, planning enforcement appeals, public highway closures and Traffic Regulation Orders, public rights of ways issues and alleged professional negligence.

Sanderson Associates regularly provides written statements and attends local hearings and public inquiries working directly for clients or via instructing planning consultants and solicitors as part of a dedicated team.

Movers and shakers

Page 8

Dragon Slayer is hot ticket!

A DRAGON slayer is set to expose the truth at a major business conference in Huddersfield.

Sharon Wright's appearance on TV’s Dragon's Den was a master class in how to spot a gap in the market and gain investment.

Sharon (pictured) delivered the perfect pitch when she demonstrated her invention, Magnamole, which allows cables to be safely threaded between cavity walls.

In dealing with a major telecoms company, she estimated that by supplying their engineers with the product she will save them £6.5m a year in downtime alone.

The UK media labelled her The Dragon Slayer – and things only seemed to be going one way when the single mother left the Den with more money than she asked for.

Unfortunately, for Sharon this is where the fairy tale ended.

Since then, she has been plastered all over the national media and Twitter for her major spat with one of the investing Dragons.

At next month’s Kirklees Business Conference, she will tell delegates what actually happened post-Den investment.

Event organiser Danny Matharu said: “Sharon’s appearance at KBC ’10 is a real coup for the conference.

“As a result of the national coverage her Den investment and public falling out has been given, she has written a book, ‘The Mother of Invention’ based on her experiences with Magnamole, the Dragons and the resulting breakdown of her health.

Said Sharon: “What should have been the deal of my dreams was the catalyst that took me to the brink, ultimately leading to a near mental and physical breakdown.

“I can’t wait for this year’s KBC to explain to Kirklees businesses why I am so adamant this needs to be exposed.”

In a candid presentation, Sharon will answer any questions delegates have and update them on more recent events, including her plans to re-grow Magnamole into a world leading business.

Visit www.kirkleesbusinessconference.co.uk for details of the event, which takes place on September 30 at the Galpharm Stadium.

All delegate tickets are free, but places are limited and offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

■ FIERY TALE: Sharon Wright, of Magnamole, who managed to "slay" the Dragon's Den panel, will give delegates the inside story of what happened next when she addresses the forthoming Kirklees Business Conference

Polished performance

■ GLASS ACT: Kirklees Council leader Clr Mehboob Khan greets Karl Sladen (left) and Jack Slater (right), who have joined the national glass apprenticeship scheme with Huddersfield glass manufacturer Novaglaze Gardner & Newton A COMPANY committed to apprentice training has received a visit from the leader of Kirklees Council.

Clr Mehboob Khan was given a tour of the premises of Lockwood-based Novaglaze Gardner & Newton.

He also met two new apprentices who have joined the National Glass Apprenticeship scheme.

Karl Sladen, of Bradford, and Jack Slater, who lives at Kirkburton, explained to Cllr Khan why they had chosen glass as a trade – and why

they decided to join the industry-leading company.

Gary Smith, a director at the Queen’s Mill Road firm, said: “After 18 months, both Jack and Karl will finish with a Proskills government apprenticeship in glass processing, NVQ level 2 in glass processing as well as City & Guilds in communications and application of numbers.

“That should be a good start on their road to becoming skilled workers.”

Entertaining trade figures A RETAILER has hailed the success of a new store in Huddersfield.

That’s Entertainment, billed as the UK’s largest independent entertainment retailer of CDs, DVDs and games, said it had bucked the downturn and had beaten its budget forecast by more than 45% within its first four weeks of opening in Huddersfield town centre.

That’s Entertainment is fighting its corner against major multi[ples.

Research suggests there are just 300 independent record stores left across the UK in 2009 compared with more than 2,000 in the 1980s.

The store at New Street is the company’s sixth outlet – with the seventh launched soon after in Sheffield.

Chris Slater, store manager, said: “The response we’ve had so far from the public has been brilliant. We’ve also had some great feedback from customers who keep coming back in search of those hard to find CDs and films!”

That’s Entertainment was launched only last year, but has already become the largest independent entertainment retailer of replay CDs, DVDs and games in the UK.