Kirklees Business News January 4th 2010

ANDREW LOCKE He’s tapping into business

JILL HAGUE Lending a helping hand

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An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Haulage firms find a route to savings HAULAGE firms across Yorkshire are taking a new route to reduce costs, cut crime and tackle climate change.

A European-wide organisation counting Huddersfield University among its backers is developing a vehicle intelligence system which allows truck drivers to get key information via their mobiles.

The new device, developed by North Sea Freight Intelligence Transport Solutions, will help the freight industry to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging better driving and avoiding excessive engine idling times.

The communications system will provide live information to commercial truck drivers and their managers as they work across the North Sea region.

The system will supply data including traffic updates and lorry-specific road conditions, the locations of secure parking and freight crime hotspots, information on foreign laws and route planning from a variety of sources and providers.

The information will be available to users in text, graphical and map

formats, using mobile and satellite technology.

To use the system, the driver will download the application to his or her mobile phone. The dispatcher also has access to the information through a PC version at their premises.

Both systems are then synchronised to enable communication from trucker to dispatcher at headquarters and vice versa.

Using a mobile phone, the driver will be notified when the container ship is in port, avoiding unnecessary delays and additional carbon emissions. The driver then uses the new system to plan the route, taking into account weather and traffic incidents and known crime hotspots.

On the way to the container terminal, the driver will get another update that the ship has been unloaded. Just before getting into the terminal, the driver will be told which truck line to join and given an approximation of the length of time it will take to complete the transaction within the port.

The result is increased efficiency, which should result on lower carbon

■ FREIGHT LINE: David Ransom, of People United Against Crime

emissions to benefit the environment and the haulage firm’s bottom line.

Development and testing of the NS FRITS system will be completed this year.

The university’s partners include Sheffield-based charity People United Against Crime, truck manufacturer Volvo, Avanti Communications and the Dutch Police.

David Ransom, chief executive of People United Against Crime, said the system would provide a major boost for Yorkshire’s 6,900-plus logistics companies, which together employ 91,000 people and contribute £4.2bn to the regional economy.

“Reducing CO2 and road congestion will have dramatic impact upon the industry as a whole and help the region’s economy,” he said.

“According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the issue is not just a ‘massive threat to the global environment, it is also perhaps the greatest economic challenge facing us in the 21st century’.

“The UK is leading the carbon economy effort with a commitment to cut emissions by 80% by 2050. The climate change agenda affects the freight industry dramatically, in particular road transport. In the UK road transport, accounts for 92% of freight related carbon emissions.”

Don’t ignore January tax deadline, firms told SMALL firms in Kirklees have been urged to make a New Year’s resolution to complete their self-assessment tax returns now – and avoid hefty fines.

Nick Brook, of TaxAssist Accountants in Huddersfield, said that although the official deadline for payment is not until January 31, many owner-managers caught up in the Christmas and New Year rush could end up paying unnecessary penalties.

“Christmas and New Year can be a hectic time for West Yorkshire small businesses,” he said. “We all want those repairs, home improvements and decorating done in time for Christmas, so local traders are in big demand.

“And for local retailers, Christmas gift buying and New Year sales can be one of

their busiest periods.

“Before you know it, the January deadline for payments and returns is looming.

HM Revenue & Customs will levy an automatic penalty of up to £100 if your return is received late.”

Mr Brook warned: “If by the end of February you still haven’t paid your tax bill, you may face a 5% surcharge added to your bill.

“If after six months you have still not paid, another 5% may be added on top of the amount you still owe – while all the time the tax remains overdue, interest will be accruing on a daily basis, currently charged at 3%.

“Unless you want to needlessly lose a significant amount of your hard-earned

income to the taxman, the advice is to keep on top of your tax return and payment deadlines.

“This will become even more important next year – as both surcharges and penalties are set to rise from January, 2012, applying to 2011 returns.”

Mr Brook, whose Lockwood-based business provides advice and services to more than 350 local small businesses, said the self-assessment payment deadline was the same whether taxpayers file on paper or online.

He said: “Local businesses should have received a self-assessment statement of tax owed, but if they haven’t they would need to work out tax due themselves or with their advisers, or by registering with self assessment online.”

■ ADVICE: Nick Brook, of TaxAssist Accountants

INSIDE Fitted furniture A FAMILY-run kitchen, bedroom and bathroom furniture firm is sitting pretty after emerging from the downturn in good shape.

Slaithwaite-based Daval turned in “fantastic” results – despite one of the toughest recessions to hit the furniture industry.

The company said business was booming in all areas – with sales of kitchens up by 54% compared to 2009, more than £900,000 of potential new turnover identified and an order book at its biggest for 10 months.

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Dealer’s principles A CAR dealer has overcome the economic slump to steer ahead on sales.

Lockwood-based Colin Appleyard Cars was named Sukuzi Dealer of the Year in recognition of its sales record over the past 12 months.

The presentation was made to directors Robin Appleyard and Nigel Smith at a celebration dinner.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

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Economist looking on the bright side!

BUSINESSES in Kirklees have six good reasons to be optimistic about their prospects in the year head, according to a leading economist.

Stephen Boyle, economist at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “If the last three years has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected – and a lot of uncertainty remains for UK business.

“A loss of market confidence or further problems in the financial system could still de-rail the UK’s fragile recovery, but this is a time to look on the bright side – so in that spirit it’s worth offering some potential positive news for the UK economy for 2011.”

Mr Boyle said company balance sheets were generally in good shape, especially compared to those of households and the government.

“Firms used the downturn to preserve cash flows, pay down debt and seek new capital,” he said.

“The spare capacity created by the downturn is now starting to reduce rapidly, while long-term borrowing rates remain at historically low levels – providing a sound basis for an improvement in investment.”

The UK’s flexible labour market had helped firms weather the downturn, he added. “Compared with the downturns in the early 1980s and 1990s, employment levels have been much more resilient over the last three years,” said Mr Boyle.

“Firms used options for part-time work or re-assignments rather than just relying on lay-offs.

“As a result, more workers have been kept in productive use than before, helping to retain and enhance skills.”

In addition, the pound would keep the economy in good shape, Mr Boyle argued.

“We still have a flexible and competitive exchange rate,” he said. “The 25% depreciation in sterling since 2007 offers a more immediate trade benefit.

“In contrast to the monetary constraints faced by some of the peripheral countries in the eurozone, we still retain the flexibility of using the exchange rate as a tool for growth.”

Mr Boyle said it was still a competitive advantage to be British – with English as the global business lan-

guage, the UK’s legal systems widely used and the GMT time zone allowing the UK to work in both the Asian afternoon and the North American morning.

The UK was also well-prepared for dealing with the current economic climate.

Said Mr Boyle: “We’re been here before and prospered! The mid-1990s were also characterised by major cutbacks in government spending, yet these were also years of positive growth and improvements in investment and trade.”

And he added: “We have export strengths to build on. We are no strangers to international trade – indeed we are one of the most open economies in the world. We must build on this.

“We are the world’s sixth largest exporter and the second largest in terms of services. We have major strengths in high value-added manufacturing, such as aerospace and pharmaceuticals, as well as more traditional export products, such as cars and food-stuffs.”

■ STRENGTHS: Royal Bank of Scotland economist Stephen Boyle

Private sector leads rise in vacancies for 2010

■ JOB HOPES: Demand is up for some key sectors, says Reed

JOB opportunities across the country fell “steeply” last month – although pay for new posts increased, research suggests.

Employment group Reed said that despite the recent slump, e m p l o ye r d e m a n d fo r n e w employees was up by 4% on a year ago, thanks to work being created by private firms.

Salaries increased in December, reversing a seven-month reduction and taking them almost back to their level of a year ago, said Reed.

The report also revealed that a shortage of skilled workers seemed to be returning to parts of industry.

Job demand remained close to 12-month highs in transport, consultancy, computing, marketing, media and banking, and reached a new high in engineering, but fell back in the public sector.

Martin Warnes, managing director of reed.co.uk, said: “There are good grounds for cautious optimism about new job prospects in 2011.

“Rising private sector demand has been enough to create year-on-year growth overall in spite of steep falls in new public sector jobs.

“Demand has accelerated in job sectors as different as consultancy, marketing, banking and

engineering.

“Salaries have stabilised and in key areas increased, with skills shortages starting to re-appear.

“It is true that job growth over the last 12 months has been modest rather than spectacular.

“The real falls in salaries across the board show there remains spare people capacity and there are clearly economic challenges ahead.

“Yet the jobs economy has undoubtedly avoided a much-predicted double dip in 2010 and the private sector continues to lead a steady recovery in new job demand.”

Sir Stuart ends six-year tenure at helm of M&S SIR Stuart Rose steps down as chairman of Marks & Spencer today – bringing his six-year tenure with the high street giant to a close.

The 61-year-old has had an eventful leadership, attracting both praise and criticism since he joined the retailer in 2004.

Sir Stuart was revered for steering the firm to profits of £1bn in 2008, but was vilified for taking on the dual role of chairman and chief executive – and over excessive boardroom pay.

Former City banker Robert Swannell, who was a lead adviser to M&S in the defence against retail tycoon Sir Philip Green’s takeover bid in 2004, will replace Sir Stuart as chairman, while former Mor-

risons boss Marc Bolland continues as chief executive, after joining the firm in May. Sir Stuart will take on an advisory role at private equity firm Bridgepoint after his departure.

Sir Stuart brought in key talent to drive a revival of M&S clothing ranges after taking up the helm and commissioned advertising campaigns featuring the likes of super models Twiggy, Erin O’Connor and singer Myleene Klass.

But by combining chairman and chief executive, he raised angered many investors as it breached corporate best practice.

M&S’s rocky ride under his leadership can be tracked by its share price – which

increased from 277p at the time of his appointment to 759p in 2007, before the downturn chopped it back to 369p last Friday.

Sir Stuart’s own M&S journey started in 1972 when he began his retail career as a management trainee.

He later worked with a number of high-profile retailers including the Burton Group, Debenhams and Dorothy Perkins.

He cemented his reputation as a major player when joined Arcadia as chief executive in November, 2000, and turned around the company, which was lumbered with more than £250m debt when he joined. He presided over the £855m sale of Arcadia to Sir Philip Green in 2002.

■ DEPARTURE: Sir Stuart Rose leaves M&S

Page 2 VAT hike ‘will hit spending’ THE 2.5% rise in VAT brought in today will drive down retail sales this year, according to analysts.

Some business groups unsuccessfully called on the government to delay the increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5% to 20%, which was announced in the Chancellor’s Emergency Budget earlier this year.

Most foodstuffs, children’s clothing and books will remain zero-rated and reduced rates will remain on items such as children’s car seats and supplies of domestic fuel and power.

But the increase has brought warnings of job losses, especially in the building industry, where firms fear there will be reduced demand for domestic repair and maintenance work.

Online shopping group Kelkoo predicted that consumers will spend £22.5bn in the January sales, an increase of £360m or 1.6%, on last year.

But it said many consumers will then rein in their spending for the rest of the year, signalling another period of austerity for the retail industry.

Kelkoo said the New Year sales could be a “last hurrah” for retailers before the VAT hike, which will make running a car, paying household bills and buying clothes more expensive.

A report by the Centre for Retail Research and Kelkoo predicted that UK retail sales are expected to fall by £2.2bn in the first three months of 2011 as a direct result of the VAT increase.

Consumers will spend an average of £324 less this year as a result of the tax hike and many have been buying goods such as electrical items and clothes to beat the rise, said the report.

British Retail Consortium spokesman Richard Lim said: “The prospect of the VAT rise gave a modest boost to the sales of big-ticket and high-end goods in December as people brought their buying forward.”

Mr Lim acknowledged the VAT rise was necessary as part of efforts to tackle the deficit. But he said it would push up inflation and – along with National Insurance rises and public sector job losses – harm sales as the year continues.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS THINGS have been plumb crazy these past few months for Andrew Locke.

The self-employed plumber, heating and tiling specialist has been busy dealing with burst pipes and other domestic disasters caused by the harsh winter weather.

But keeping busy has never been a problem for the down-to-earth Shelley man, whose company, Andrew Locke Plumbing, Heating and Tiling Contractors Ltd, celebrated 25 years during 2010.

Andrew is an apprentice-trained plumber, who set up his own business after being made redundant in 1985. Since then, the company, based at Station Road, Skelmanthorpe, has grown to employ more than a dozen people and carries out work across Huddersfield and throughout West Yorkshire.

In its time, the company has completed work on major projects, such as the Melting Point mills-to-flats development at Firth Street, Huddersfield.

The firm has worked on everything from small contracts up to £1m schemes – but has never forgotten its origins.

As Andrew says: “Mending tap washers can lead to bigger things.”

Those bigger things include installing energy efficiency systems for the domestic and commercial markets – such as sophisticated pumping systems to extract warmth from the outside air to heat domestic buildings, typically flat complexes.

However, Andrew’s career could have been very different.

He says: “I was born in the Plough Inn at Roydhouse, Shelley. It was owned by my parents and is now the Three Acres. It was a small drinking pub in those days.

“I was the youngest of five and lost my dad when I was eight months old, so I was brought up by my mum and older brothers and sisters. We moved to Lower Cumberworth when I was five.”

Andrew admits he did not particularly shine at school.

He says: “After leaving Shelley High School – with not many qualifications – I wanted to do something manually. I tried to get an apprenticeship as a joiner, with no success.

“My sister at the time was seeing a local plumber’s son and his father needed an apprentice, so I applied and got the job.

“I really enjoyed working in the building trade and with the customers.

“I did a full apprenticeship on day release at Huddersfield College and passed all the required exams.

“Unfortunately, when I was 22, the firm got taken for a large amount of money and a few of us were made redundant.

“I still to this day the remember the feeling of

profile

Tapping into trade secrets being devastated and embarrassed about no longer having a job.

“I had some good friends from work, football and cricket contacts and got a few jobs to do from them.

“I approached several banks about a loan of £1,000 to set up my own business as I had applied for the Enterprise Allowance Scheme for new businesses. One of the requirements was that the government would then pay you £40 per week for 12 months.

“The banks turned me down. I only had £400 and my mum lent me £600. I went back to the bank and opened up a business account. The £40 a week paid for my vehicle, so anything else was a profit as I lived with my mum.

“I carried on at college and did an HNC in building at Leeds College. I worked all the hours I could with my mum as secretary.”

He says: “The business started trading in January, 1985, so we have been established for 25 years.

“I built the business up by reputation and word-of-mouth work –

setting on a new employee each year. Most of them we trained up ourselves and on day-release.

“In 2007, we had 24 on the books and the company turned over £1.4m, but then the current recession set in just as we had moved to our current premises.

“We had some really big debtors and the company was in a perilous situation at one stage.

“But due to hard work, committed staff, good contacts and the experience we possess we are slowly coming through the worst.”

Says Andrew: “There are not as many new dwellings being built at the moment, so work has been tight.

“We are finding there are more refurbishments being done. People are not moving as much, choosing instead to upgrade their existing properties.

“We have men who carry vast experience and all the right qualifications in all aspects of plumbing and heating.

“We supply and fit all the latest energy efficient appliances, which are a good way of saving money with the current electricity,

■ ON CALL: Plumber Andrew Locke says the business has taken over his life at times

gas and oil prices.

“We carry out the smallest of jobs, such as rewashering a tap to major contracts.

“We have a very large domestic customer base and work for numerous builders, developers, businesses and estate agencies – and I would like to thank them all for their loyalty.”

Says Andrew: “I have seen many changes in people’s attitudes to the services we offer. “ Standards have always risen and everything needs to be done sooner than later.

“One of the main reasons for this is the TV programmes showing horror stories of the work done by some plumbers and heating engineers.

“Mobile phones have created far more pressure because they mean we are always available – and increase the length of the working day. My wife will vouch for that!”

By 11am on New Year’s Eve, Andrew’s mobile phone had already rung four times with emergency callers.

Not surprisingly, he says: “It has certainly taken over my life at times and many sacrifices have had to be made.

“I find it hard to switch off at times, but that’s what the job brings.

“Its hard to keep all the customers happy all the time with the amount of emergencies we get.”

Adds Andrew: “We are probably slightly understaffed at the moment, but its hard to judge what the current recession and government cuts are going to cause.”

Away from work, Andrew finds relaxation by playing golf, watching football and supporting daughters Harriet and

Page 3 Andrew Locke Role: Managing director Age: 48 Family: Married to Sally with daughters Harriet, 13, and Polly, seven Holidays: Villamoura, Portugal Car: Toyota Land Cruiser First job: Selling goldfish, potatoes for planting and car park attendant at Pennine Garden Centre Best thing about job: Giving customer satisfaction Worst thing about job: Red tape and not knowing when your day is finished Business tip: Be fully committed in what you do

Polly, who compete on ponies and are members of Rockwood Harriers Pony Club.

Says Andrew: “ The highlight so far – and a very proud moment for me – was seeing my eldest daughter qualify and ride at the Horse of the Year Show earlier this year.”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Andrew Locke Plumbing, Heating and Tiling Contractors Ltd Site: Pennine Court, Skelmanthope Technology Park, Station Road, Skelmanthorpe Employees: 14 Phone: 01484 860222 Email: a.locke@btconnect .com

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KIRKLEES BUSIN

Record showing for furniture firm A FAMILY-run kitchen, bedroom and bathroom furniture firm is going from strength to strength.

Slaithwaite-based Daval has turned in “fantastic” results – despite experiencing one of the toughest recessions to hit the furniture industry.

In all areas of the company, business is blooming – with kitchen sales up by 54% compared to 2009 and more than £900,000 of potential new turnover identified.

In addition, Daval is now enjoying its biggest order book in 10 months.

D av a l ’s g r o u n d b r e a k i n g Option-I technology, which was launched in 2008, propelled the company to the forefront of its field as individual, flexible, design-led specialists – offering a made-to-measure approach which has proved popular with consumers and independent retailers.

Option-I is a software system that handles all aspects of a customer’s order – from placing the

order to packaging and dispatching the finished product.

The system also allows customers to specify a much wider range of colours, styles and finishes when they select the company’s fitted bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms.

This has resulted in a carefully managed strategy that allows for individual care for different dealers, including tailored product, service and marketing support.

Daval saw great success in the kitchen sector during 2010 – and the growth looks set to continue.

Kitchens are now 30% of the total turnover and this is expected to rise to 50% in 2011.

Simon Bodsworth, business development and marketing manager at Daval, said: “The recession was an incredibly nerve-wracking time for everyone in the industry, but what we saw was incredibly interesting.

“The sales of our kitchens weren’t dipping. In fact, we wit-

nessed a growth of 16% in the sales of our traditional kitchens.

“Our dealers have welcomed the custom of many over 60s who are deciding to invest in their homes preferring this to the disappointing return on savings.

“Overall, the DK63 kitchen, which featured in the Spring Summer Muted Shades Collection, has been our best selling range in 2010 which we are delighted with.

“The general feeling in the industry now is one of positivity again.

“As we recuperate from the recession we expect to see seasonal trends back again rather than the flatlined designs we have been used to.”

Daval said it had fitted 100 new dealer displays with a further 40 identified. New product launches are due in the spring – putting the company on course to another record-breaking year. The firm has more than 150 approved dealers throughout the UK.

■ POSITIVE: Simon Bodsworth, of Slaithwaite-based Daval

Team resolved to help firms tackle stress EMPLOYERS in Kirklees are being offered help to tackle stress at work.

The offer comes from Kirklees Better Health at Work, an organisation promoting health and well-being in the workplace for businesses across the district.

The initiative, which was set up in 2004, is run by Kirklees Council, the Health and Safety Executive, the NHS and Job Centre Plus.

Kirklees Better Health at Work helps employers and employees by raising awareness of the effects of stress in business, offering training in stress management, providing coaching and counselling and providing a confidential occupational health, safety and well-being return-to-work service.

The team has worked with organisations including Puma UK, Longley Farm, Ellis Furniture, Fox’s Biscuits, Kirklees College, Hollybank Trust and Thornton & Ross.

Now it is urging businesses in Kirklees to take advantage of

stress management workshops and training sessions for employees and managers at venues in Huddersfield and Dewsbury during 2011.

The call comes after government figures showed work-related illness in Kirklees is estimated to cost between £73.5m and £112.6m for the past 12 months with work-related accidents costing between £36.4m and £66m.

Figures also showed that more than 152,000 working days are lost annually to work-related ill-health – with mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression accounting for about half of all absences from work.

A spokeswoman said: “Stress, anxiety or depression affects one in five people in Kirklees – but employers have a legal duty of care to ensure that employees have a healthy and safe workplace. Stress is now identified as the major reason for time off work.”

Phone 01484 416751 for details or to reserve a place

Bacs checks out post delays DELAYS to mail deliveries caused by severe weather are likely to hit firms waiting for cheques in the post, according to the organisation behind automated payments.

Research by Bacs Payment Scheme suggests that British businesses could be facing cash flow misery in the early part of the new year.

Bacs said small and medium-sized firms were already owed an average of £32,000 each in late payments – adding up to a massive national bill of £24.6bn.

More than three-quarters of the country’s 1.68m SMEs receive payments via cheque – and with the expectation that many of these cheques will be sent by post, the national bill could rise to new heights over the coming weeks if payments are delayed in the post.

Mike Hutchinson, head of marketing at Bacs, said: “Companies can help protect their cash flow against potential postal disruption by swapping to automated payment methods such as Direct Debits and Bacs Direct Credit.

“The latest bout of bad weather is a reminder for businesses to consider all their options and – in collaboration with their suppliers and customers – decide which alternative payment methods best suit their specific needs.”

Bacs is a not-for-profit, membership-based industry body owned by 16 of the leading banks and building societies in the UK and Europe. It is responsible for the schemes behind the clearing and settlement of automated payments in the UK, including Direct Debit and Bacs Direct Credit.

Train company gets top rating

■ STRESS TEST: Senior health at work adviser Liz Stokes (centre) with workplace advisers Lorraine Postlethwaite (left) and Angela Bamforth, of Better Health at Work

STAFF at a train company running through Huddersfield have helped it achieve a five-star award.

Independent assessors from the British Quality Foundation visited First TransPennine Express to interview employees at all levels to find out how they feel about working for the company.

The assessors praised the firm for its innovation, culture and leadership, which had created “a high performance organisation where pride and passion from staff were noted as key elements”.

The company’s commitment to its people was highlighted as a real strength and key contributor to its success.

Vernon Barker, managing director for FTPE, said: “This is a fantastic award and acknowledgement of the success that we have achieved.

“Everyone in the business has worked extremely hard to provide an excellent service to customers.”

He added: “To achieve, five stars, the best possible result and to be the first in our industry to do so is something to be very proud of and we will continue to strive for further excellence for our customers.”

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Financial facts of ‘lending drought’ ENDING to businesses is L declining – or so the media says.

Has lending really suffered? How difficult is it for businesses to secure additional funding in the present climate? What can you do to improve your chances of having your loan application approved?

So here are some answers to some key questions about loan finance and advice on what banks are looking for.

Is it as hard for the business to get a loan as the media suggest? There is no doubt that there has been some tightening of lending criteria in a small number of industry segments – reflecting the increased risks in a recession. And notwithstanding the associated viability issues of some propositions which we are presented with, I accept that more declined applications for credit may have led to comment from the business community.

However, HSBC has remained well-capitalised and liquid and this has enabled us to remain very much open for business through the downturn. We continue to be so. Low appetite to borrow is a primary factor and is prevalent among SMEs. Many businesses have been cautious, reducing stock levels, cutting costs, deferring capital investment and reducing their borrowing.

This is consistent with behaviour we have seen in previous recessions, although I am pleased to report that there has been encouraging balance sheet trends emerging during the year. Notably our new term lending

BANKER’S BLOG Jill Hague

to UK SMEs is up over 20% on the same period last year.

When applying for a loan, who do you like to speak to from the business? Our approach to banking is founded on strong, long-term relationships and we look to support companies through a sound understanding of their business and their ambitions. Subject to the size and complexity of a given business, this may mean that we need to speak to a number of individuals to gain a sufficient comfort level in this regard, but typically we are looking to speak with the business decision makers.

What information should I prepare in advance and how should it be presented? A sound business plan based upon a credible strategy, robust financial information and forecasts, with consideration to business sensitivities is of huge assistance in our assessment process.

In terms of presentation, we offer information and help to businesses 24/7 on our comprehensive Knowledge Centre.

How much information will you require? The more information we

have to base our assessment on the better. Naturally, if you are an existing customer of some years, our knowledge of your business will be deeper than if you are new to us or your relationship with us is less established. The depth and detail of the information we require will reflect this, in the context of the nature and size of any borrowing request.

How specific will we need to be on how we intend to use the loan? As a responsible lender, we do look for our customers to be specific in their funding requests in order that we can make a balanced assessment and ensure that any borrowing is appropriately structured in the interests of the customer and ourselves. It may, for example, be appropriate to consider alternative funding structures such as vehicle or equipment finance. Our commercial managers and product specialists can provide in-depth knowledge across a range of solutions.

What kind of security will you expect in return? We consider all borrowing requests on a case-by-case basis and any associ-

Jill Hague is HSBC area commercial director for Calderdale and Kirklees

ated security requirements. Whilst ability to repay any borrowing request from cashflow remains our primary consideration, we will assess the strength of a proposition if it needs supporting security (business, director or third party) as a means of demonstrating commitment.

To what extent will our other loans be counted into the decision?

In terms of our assessment this is not an issue if your business plan is robust and the business has the capacity to cope with additional borrowing from a cashflow and balance sheet perspective.

How flexible are the repayment terms? Can we repay early, for example? A lot of the loans we make are on an amortising basis, which simply means reducing the debt by paying regular, agreed instalments.

Early repayments to this type of loan will typically carry a prepayment fee, a function of the longer term funding costs that we incur. Flexibility in repayments structures, such as interest-only periods or lump-sum reductions can be accommodated in certain circumstances.

Loans apart, what other financing options are available? We will continue to recommend the best way to structure borrowing in the interests of the customer. For example, where a business is looking to effectively manage its cashflow for growth, we would look to support with our invoice finance solutions. For a business looking to expand their export markets, we would look to offer trade finance solutions.

Take note of these key measures IRKLEES companies will K have to grapple with important legislative changes in 2011.

Government cuts, tax increases and changes to employment law are among the matters set to have an impact on employers over the coming months. Here, Sinead Sopala (right), of law firm Ramsdens, lists some of the bigger issues facing business bosses in the year ahead. ● The VAT rate increases today from 17.5% to 20% ● Provisions allowing fathers to take additional paternity leave of up to 26 weeks, subject to certain conditions, comes into force from April 3 ● From April 6, employers will age notification to retire. Notificanot be able to give any further work- tions issued prior to April 6 will only ers reaching the default retirement take effect up to October 1. After

that, default retirement ages can only be used if they are justified objectively ● National Insurance contributions are set to increase by 1% in April for all those earning more then £20,000 ● The Bribery Act is due to come into force in April. This will, among other provisions, create a new offence of “failure by a commercial organisation to prevent a bribe being paid for or on its behalf ” ● The parts of the Equality Act containing the Public Sector Equality Duty are due to be implemented in April. These are designed to eliminate discrimination in local government and public sector organisations ● From April, more workers will

be able to take advantage of flexible working conditions. At present, only parents of children under 17, disabled children under 18 and carers have this right, but it will be extended to all parents of children under 18.

Proposals to extend the right further to all employees are due to be published next year ● From October, the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 are due to come into force. These will guarantee agency workers that have worked for 12 weeks in a job, the same basic terms of conditions of employment as equivalent directly hired workers in broadly similar roles.

Basic conditions include salary and overtime pay, rest breaks and holiday entitlement

Winning system for lawyers A LEADING national law firm has turned to Huddersfield to improve its IT systems.

Matthew Arnold and Baldwin has employed the services of Lockwood-based P2 Technologies to make its business more efficient.

The law firm wanted to provide management, line managers and fee earners with access to details of their performances.

The solicitors have introduced P2 Technologies’ SmartEye system, which provides all employees with the information.

As a result of being able to undertake real-time monitoring of key performance areas, the firm has improved overall efficiency.

The SmartEye system is designed specifically for law firms. It provides instant aggregated performance information to management teams.

P2 tailors the system to individual requirements, providing a web-based system that is simple to deploy and use.

Nick Mercer, director of business operations at Matthew Arnold and Baldwin, said: “Before using SmartEye, employees had to run individual reports to see if they were reaching their targets.

“These were instantly out of date and took up computer time when individuals could be doing something more productive.

“SmartEye has eliminated these issues.

We use the software across the company, individuals access their monthly targets, teams can access team targets and we can view annual and monthly targets for the whole firm.”

Graham Moore, director of P2 Technologies, said: “We are delighted to be working with Matthew Arnold and Baldwin.

“We have worked closely with the team to provide them with a solution that is tailored to the firm’s specific business requirements.

“We will continue to invest significantly in the support and development of SmartEye to ensure that the product stays at the forefront of legal specific BI systems as the legal services market develops.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

review of 2010

Page 6

BP, bank bonuses and a year of uncertainty FTER the turmoil caused by A the near financial meltdown, investors were able to walk on

firmer ground throughout 2010.

However, the year was not without setbacks and hurdles, not least for BP and the European economy. Here is a look back at some of the key events of the last year. ● January – The UK barely crawled out of recession in the final three months of 2009 as marginal growth of 0.1% ended a record six straight quarters of decline.

Cadbury’s resistance to a takeover

by Kraft Foods melted away after the US giant tabled a higher bid worth £11.9bn. Philadelphia cheese maker Kraft announced the backing of the Cadbury board for a revised 840p per share offer in a move ending the independent history of the British firm dating back to 1824.

The UK’s biggest pet retailer changed hands for an estimated £950m after Kohlberg Kravis Roberts bought Pets at Home from fellow buy-out firm Bridgepoint. ● February – Barclays provoked more bonus fury after about 23,000 investment bankers pocketed an average £191,000 in pay and bonuses as the banking giant surged to record profits of £11.6bn in 2009.

Lloyds Banking Group continued to count the cost of its HBOS takeover after losses hit £6.3bn and it revealed £24bn in bad debts.

Sir Richard Branson and other business leaders warned the UK risked being racked by painful hikes in the cost of food, heating and travel because it is unprepared for surging oil prices. ● March – Alistair Darling drew the battle lines for the general election with a highly political Budget that squeezed the better off while offering help to new homebuyers, the elderly and the young unemployed.

Insurance giant Prudential set its sights on becoming Asia’s largest player after unveiling a takeover deal that will require it to tap shareholders for a record £14bn.

Administrators to rail maintenance firm Jarvis made 1,100 redundancies after admitting it was not possible for the company to continue trading. The York-based group suffered “very considerable reductions” in business since the recession struck and its future was dependent on support from lenders and Network Rail. ● April – Airline and travel stocks suffered turbulence after the travel industry was hit hard by six days of restrictions caused by the Icelandic volcano. Airline experts estimated during the ash cloud crisis that the impact of the eruption was costing the industry £106m to £123m a day.

Eleven workers were missing, presumed dead after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig sank following an explosion about 50 miles from the coast of Louisiana. The blast was one of the US’s deadliest offshore drilling accidents in 50 years.

■ FACES OF 2010: BP chief executive Tony Hayward (above, left) was replaced by managing director Bob Dudley (right) while (clockwise from top left) Sir Terry Leahy, Vince Cable, Sir Richard Branson and Bernard Matthews also made the headlines during a memorable year for business

Bus and rail firm Arriva agreed a £1.59bn takeover by German operator Deutsche Bahn to create a new European transport giant. ● May – David Cameron’s arrival in Downing Street was met with relief in the City after five days of uncertainty about the shape of a new government, although attention quickly turned to plans for tackling the financial deficit.

Europe’s single currency countries bowed to the inevitable and backed a m a s s i v e £ 9 5 b n b a i l - o u t fo r crisis-stricken Greece. The European Union and the IMF also pledged nearly one trillion US dollars to defend the embattled euro.

Supermarket giant Asda snapped up the UK arm of discount retailer Netto in a move set to add another 193 stores to its estate. Asda, owned

by US group Wal-Mart, agreed a £778m deal to buy the stores. ● June – Chancellor George Osborne announced a massive £11bn benefits squeeze and a hike in VAT to bring Britain’s record deficit under control.

Shares in beleaguered oil giant BP slumped to a 14-year low amid continued fears of a funding crisis sparked by the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy announced plans to step down in March after 14 years leading Britain’s biggest supermarket. He will be succeeded by international and IT director Philip Clarke, who has worked at Tesco throughout his career, having first started as a part-time assistant in 1974.

● July – BP plunged into the red for the first time in 18 years after it racked up a huge £21bn bill for the Gulf of Mexico spill. The oil giant, which also confirmed the departure of chief executive Tony Hayward, posted a loss of £11bn for the April-June period and announced up to £19.3bn in asset sales in the next 18 months. US citizen Bob Dudley took the helm from Mr Hayward, who said he had been “demonised and vilified” over the disaster.

Vanish-to-Cillit Bang giant Reckitt Benckiser agreed a £2.5bn deal to snap up the consumer goods group behind Durex and Scholl footcare. Anglo-Dutch Reckitt said the

takeover of SSL International increased revenues in its health and personal care arm by 36% to £2.8bn.

Marks & Spencer ended months of speculation over its succession plans when it named City banker Robert Swannell as its next chairman in succession to Sir Stuart Rose ● September – HSBC announced a major shake-up sparked by chairman Stephen Green’s decision to join the coalition Government. Chief executive Michael Geoghegan will be replaced by investment head Stuart Gulliver, while Douglas Flint, the bank’s finance director, secured Mr Green’s role.

■ CUTTING EDGE: Chancellor George Osborne unveiled plans for £81bn of government spending cuts over four years to tackle the UK’s deficit

Business secretary Vince Cable launched a searing attack on the City “spivs and gamblers” who crippled the British economy. Mr Cable condemned the “outrageous” scale of bank bonuses after the credit crunch.

Consumer goods giant Unilever unveiled a deal worth £2.3bn to add VO5 shampoo and Simple soap to its portfolio. Unilever, which owns brands such as Dove, Sunsilk, Pond’s and Vaseline, said the acquisition of Alberto Culver would make it the world leader in hair conditioning and second largest in shampoo. ● October – George Osborne took the axe to the welfare budget, slashing benefit payments by £7bn as he sought to put the nation’s finances on a sound footing. The Chancellor set out plans to cut government spending by £81bn over the next four years, in a settlement he described as “tough but fair”.

Thomas Cook and the Co-op unveiled plans to merge their high street travel businesses in a move expected to cost hundreds of UK jobs.

The UK pub industry was again cleared by competition watchdogs after the Office of Fair Trading stuck by its initial findings last October that there was no evidence that so-called tied prices damage competition. ● November – Britain’s energy giants faced an investigation by the industry watchdog after Ofgem said price hikes had caused suppliers’ profit margins to soar by 38%.

Manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce said it had identified the faulty part behind an engine failure which forced a Qantas A380 superjumbo into an emergency landing.

Farmer and businessman Bernard Matthews, who made a multi-million pound fortune through his vast poultry company and is widely credited with bringing cheap turkey meat to the masses, died at the age of 80. ● December – The City watchdog ruled out action against former bosses at Royal Bank of Scotland after finding no evidence of fraud or dishonest activity in the lead-up to the financial crisis.

Part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group announced it will have to write off more of its £26.7bn portfolio of loans in Ireland due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

Engineering company Weir was fined £3m by a court for paying illegal kickbacks to Saddam Hussein’s regime to secure lucrative contracts.

Virgin Atlantic fuelled speculation it could pursue a merger or tie-up after it said it said it had been contacted by other companies since it appointed Deutsche Bank at the beginning of November to assess the aviation industry and growth opportunities.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Agents appointed for office scheme PROPERTY agencies Jones Lang LaSalle and King Sturge have been appointed joint leasing agents to oversee office units at a £140m development in West Yorkshire.

Both agencies will handle the 48,000sq ft of new Grade A office space at Merchant Gate in Wakefield on behalf of English Cities Fund.

The landmark scheme is sited in the heart of the city and next to Westgate train station, which connects Wakefield to London in just over two hours and to Leeds in less than 20 minutes.

The office units at Merchant Gate are located across three buildings at 1 and 2 Burgage Square and Emerald House.

They are situated next to impressive public space which will boast shops, cafes and restaurants, while a new multi-storey car park has been built adjacent to the station.

Jeff Pearey, Jones Lang LaSalle in Leeds, said:

“Merchant Gate comprises three brand new buildings which make up an impressive new business district and comprise some of the best offices currently available in Wakefield.

“We are looking forward to working with ECf and King Sturge to extend the welcome to new occupiers into this exciting, vibrant scheme.”

Emma Cordingley, development director at English Cities Fund, said: “Having recently completed phase one, Merchant Gate is gaining great momentum, with several commercial enquiries coming through from national companies and local businesses such as cafes, restaurants and small independent retailers.

“Despite the economic climate, this landmark scheme is spearheading Wakefield’s current major urban regeneration programme.”

■ SEVEN-FIGURES: Banney Royd ay Edgerton is one of a growing number of million pound-plus properties

More join Britain’s property millionaires THE number of property millionaires in Britain rose by 6% during 2010 – but was halved in Yorkshire and Humber, latest figures reveal.

Figures from property search website Zoopla.uk showed the number of UK properties worth £1m or more rose by 12,811 – the equivalent of 35 new property millionaires being created every day.

It means that 226,344 – or one in 118 homes – are now worth £1m or more. That compares with a peak of one in 97 in 2007.

But the gap between north and south widened – with the biggest gains seen in London, the south-east and eastern England and the biggest losses in Yorkshire and Wales.

London and the South East grew by 11.1% and 11.9% respectively – making those regions home to four out of every five million-pound

properties in Britain. London alone accounts for more than half the national total at 54%.

Scotland saw its property millionaire ranks fall by 13.7% and the number of Welsh property millionaires fell by a staggering 48.8% with Yorkshire at a similar level.

Nick Leeming, of Zoopla.co.uk, said: “The north versus south wealth divide is now starker than ever.

“Property values have recovered well at the top end of the property market, but the rest of the market and particularly the north have seen a steep decline in high-end property values.

“The prime market in the south has been impacted far less by the mortgage squeeze as a result of the inflow of foreign money and the strength in the City keeping demand for million pound pads at peak levels.”

property

Page 7

It’s the Green House effect A COMPANY making kitchens for the social housing sector is taking part in a pioneering “green” project.

Liversedge-based Rixonway Kitchens has joined the Green House project to show how family homes can be refurbished in a way to reduce their impact on the environment as well making them cheaper to run.

Rixonway was chosen on the strength of its environmental credentials for the project being run by Huntingdonshire District Council.

The local authority has teamed up with the Building Research Establishment as part of its Rethinking Refurbishment campaign.

New build properties have stringent regulations for meeting environmental and sustainability standards.

However, refurbishing homes to the same standards can be difficult due to the nature of some older properties.

Two “green houses” have been refurbished to the highest quality environmental standards and are being used as examples of best practice for other social housing providers and building contractors.

Organisers of the campaign said using suppliers with high sustainability credentials such as Rixonway ensured that environmental standards were maintained.

Rixonway has created a new recycling contract whereby no waste from

■ WASTE NOT: Rixonway operations director Nick Greenall

its manufacturing site goes to landfill.

Material used in its manufacturing process is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council, which recognises that the timber is derived from managed, sustainable sources and can be traced back to its roots.

Rixonway salvages all the wood

waste from its production process.

That wood is collected and fed into a state of the art wood waste system which reduces it to a fine, sawdust-like residue which is then used to generate biomass fuel.

Rixonway is also the largest organisation in the UK to install the Ecogate System of dust control, which has reduced its carbon footprint dramatically.

The company expects to save about 23% of its electricity usage on site equating to approximately 400,000kg of CO2 a year.

Rixonway operations director Nick Greenall said: “Rixonway Kitchens is delighted to have been selected as the kitchen supplier to the Green House project due to its high environmental and sustainability credentials.

“We have worked hard to ensure that Rixonway Kitchens leads the industry with its environmental initiatives which recently resulted in us being able to confidently state that 100% of our waste is recycled.”

Clr Jonathan Gray, who has executive responsibilities for environment at Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “The Green Houses are an essential demonstration and educational resource for home owners, housing providers, tradesmen, local suppliers and schools.”

Hopeful signs for housebuilders HOUSEBUILDERS are taking encouragement from new figures showing a rise in new home registrations.

Figures from the National House Building Council showed that registrations for September to November, 2010, were up by 7% on the same period last year – at 28,910 against 27,124.

The NHBC said figures looked set to end the year with an improvement of more than 30% from the previous year overall.

NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi said: “The year started very

brightly in comparison to last year, but tailed off as potential housebuyers awaited the outcome of the government’s spending review in the autumn.

“Now that the scope of the planned cuts is known, there seems to have been a slight bounce in consumer confidence which may allow the industry to build some momentum in the early part of 2011.

“What the industry needs above all from government in the year ahead is clear and consistent policy and – in particular – positive measures to improve mortgage availability, which

is now clearly the major factor constraining volumes.”

Figures for September to November showed that private registrations rose by 7% to 19,909 against 18,617 last year while public sector registrations were up by 6% at 9,001 compared with 8,507 last time.

Yorkshire reported 1,763 new registrations compared with 1,264 for September to November, 2009.

There were increases in all UK regions except Eastern England, the South West, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Buyer sought for landmark building A LANDMARK building in Halifax town centre has been placed on the market for sale by Colliers International.

The former nightclub at 13-17 Silver Street has been released with planning permission already in place for a 73-bed hotel with associated shops, restaurant and gym. The imposing four-storey building provides 35,424sq ft of useable space.

Jonathan McGrael, of the Leeds

office of Colliers International, said, “This is a strong proposition given the location and potential.

“The building is set to benefit from being only 250 yards from Broad Street, the much anticipated new mixed use development comprising bars, restaurants and office space anchored by a new nine-screen cinema, ten-pin bowling alley and 429 space multi-storey car park, which will substantially improve Halifax’s leisure market.”

Said Mr McGrael: “Silver Street is also within a strong retail catchment, being just off the pedestrianised Southgate area and close to the Woolshops Shopping Centre, which is anchored by Marks & Spencer and WH Smiths. In addition, the Grade I listed Piece Hall and historic Borough Market are within a short walking distance of the property.”

Offers are invited for the sale of the property although a lease proposition will be considered.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Steve Denison

PwC STEVE Denison, northern chairman at accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, has been appointed non-executive director at award-winning social enterprise CREATE. Mr Denison (pictured) will provide advice and guidance to the organisation and use PwC’s network to help with CREATE’s national roll-out plan.

CREATE is committed to developing innovative training and employment opportunities for people who have been homeless, marginalised or vulnerable.

Said Mr Denison: “I’m thrilled to be joining CREATE. Supporting the local community has always been high on our agenda and I’m really looking forward to working with this fantastic and innovative organisation and developing a long term partnership with them.”

African markets that may proves tempting KIRKLEES companies are being urged to look at export opportunities in North Africa.

A briefing in Bradford later this year will put the focus on Algeria – where UK exports have more than doubled in the past five years.

Trade experts said opportunities existed for UK companies supplying lubricants, agricultural machinery, education and training services, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, timber, power supply and textiles.

The briefing will be held at 9.45am on Tuesday, March 8, at the Bradford University School of Management.

A spokesman for Chamber International, which is helping co-ordinate the event, said speakers would give an insight into trading with Algeria and North Africa and explain how to avoid getting caught out by complex trade procedures, tariffs and legislation.

Delegates would get top tips on how to ensure prompt, trouble free payments for their exports, learn from specialists who help UK businesses meet Algerian product standards, understand cultural issues that need to be considered and have a chance to network.

Said the spokesman: “If you already export to Algeria and want to increase sales or if you know a market exists for your product but have been put off by the bureaucracy involved then this event is for you.”

Phone 0845 0347200

Movers and shakers

Car dealership in the fast lane A CAR dealer in Huddersfield has overcome the economic slump to rev up sales.

N ow L o c k wo o d - b a s e d Suzuki dealer Colin Appleyard Cars has been recognised for its sales record over the past 12 months at a Suzuki conference and awards dinner.

Managing director Robin Appleyard and director and general manager Nigel Smith received the Suzuki Dealer of the Year award.

This is the fifth time in Colin Appleyard’s 30-years history that it has won the much-coveted trophy.

David Seward, Suzuki sales a n d m a rke t i n g d i re c t o r, praised the company for its performance, saying: “Colin Appleyard was Suzuki’s top performing dealership this year. They were up against some stiff competition from dealers from all over the UK, so this is a great achievement.

The win also highlights the professionalism and commitment of Colin Appleyard’s staff.”

Mr Appleyard said: “It has been a tough year, but Suzuki have a range of cars that offer excellent value for money with the five-door Alto starting at just £5999. The new Swift, introduced in the summer, is also proving extremely popular.

“In addition, the bad weather so far this winter has meant the four wheel drive Grand Vitaras and Jimnys have also been selling well – so it looks like we shall have a better than expected December.”

Colin Appleyard Cars was Suzuki’s very first official dealership in the UK and now has showrooms in Huddersfield, Keighley, Ashton-under-Lyne and Shipley.

■ TOP GEAR: David Seward (left) of Suzuki, presents the award to Nigel Smith (centre) and Robin Appleyard, of Colin Appleyard Cars

Pigging out? Perry’s just part of the team!

SHOPPERS looked twice when they saw Perry the Pig (left) take to the ice rink at Huddersfield’s Piazza.

But the pink pig is a star performer for Slaithwaite’s Piggyprint.com – and his appearance on the ice is just the latest in a series of stunts to promote the company.

Scott Gardner, of Piggyprint.com, said: “We launched the company just a year ago and chose the pig as our ‘mascot’. We ran a competition on Facebook to name the pig and from the suggestions we decided to call him Percy. After about three days, we were told we couldn’t do that because Marks & Spencer has registered the name for its children’s sweets range!”

The newly-named Perry was brought to life for a series of videos on the company’s website.

Company recognised in healthcare awards A SMALL firm providing healthcare products has achieved worldwide recognition.

FPD Medical Ltd, which has 12 employees, won the “platinum” award for its category in the first-ever Nursing Times Awards.

The accolade came in the category for best product in wound care and pressure ulcer prevention and recognised the success of FPD’s Aderma pressure ulcer prevention gel pads.

Judges praised the product as “brilliant”, saying: “It will make a massive difference to patients' lives.”

Chief executive Craig Barson said: “As a small company, we were delighted to come first – beating 3M and Aspen Medical into second and third place respectively.”

FPD, based at Greetland, supplies products including foam mattresses, duvets and pillows, hollow fibre covers, pads and gels.

Aderma dermal pads have been formulated to mimic fatty tissue and are used to redistribute pressure while protecting and padding bony areas of the body.

Page 8

The first saw Perry – improbably – buying a pork pie from a butcher’s shop. The second film will feature his exploits on the ice, thanks to co-operation from Kirklees Council.

Said Scott: “We have given Perry a profile on Facebook and at the last count he had 126 friends in just three weeks. People want to have their pictures taken with him – and one person even asked for his autograph!

“Although the idea is to use Perry as a marketing tool, we genuinely see him as part of the team.”

Piggyprint.com provides printed materials such as leaflets and business cards as well as offering digital printing and printed and embroidered clothing for the hospitality industry, hen nights and stag nights. It also undertakes website design and hosting.

Partnership paying off for Holme Valley garage A GARAGE in Huddersfield has achieved a new level ion customer service.

Turner Brothers at Holmfirth has secured a Premier Partnership with the Blackcircles.com fitting and service network.

To achieve Premier Partnership status, garages must work to “the highest standards” in vehicle repair, tyre fitting

and customer service.

Alan Littlewood, head of network and supply at Blackcircles.com, said: “It’s fantastic news for us to be going into partnership with Turner Brothers.

“We look forward to helping them develop their business further in the long term.

“We will be working together to make sure that we always have the strongest

offer of value and service in the automotive market.”

Part of the Premier Garage agreement sees Turner Brothers signing up to the Motor Industry Code of Practice.

Through this programme, regular checks take place to make sure that standards are adhered to for every customer who drives into Turner Brothers’ forecourt.