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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
Laboratory leads way with industry
BUSINESSES are set to benefit from the opening of a new £2.3m laboratory at Huddersfield University. The new chemistry lab has been specially equipped to solve some of the most urgent problems in vital fields such as climate change, food supply, sustainable energy and healthcare. And its special brief is to work closely with the region’s top firms. The all-new facilities are occupied by an eight-strong team of specialist researchers from a range of academic and industrial backgrounds. Together, they operate under the name IPOS – which stands for Innovative Physical and Organic Solutions. The team, is headed by eminent chemical scientist Professor Mike Page. IPOS was awarded a £2.3m grant by the European Research Development Fund via regional development agency Yorkshire Forward. The grant has covered the cost of creating the lab and installing about £1m of equipment. This will allow the team to carry out a wide range of analytical tasks with massively increased speed and efficiency. The technology, accompanied by an
increase in staff numbers, will help IPOS achieve the ambitious target that it has been set by the ERDF over the next four years – to work closely with at least 50 companies in the Yorkshire and Humber region. IPOS has already carried out assignments for some 15 firms. In addition to regional collaborations, it has formed overseas links. Among them, it has helped a Norwegian company that is developing new ways to carry out body scans. A large proportion of the equipment in the laboratories was supplied by the US-based world leader in the field, Agilent Technologies. And the IPOS team has provided the company with valuable feedback that will help with the optimisation of the technology. The fruitful relationship between IPOS and Agilent was strengthened when the European vice-president of the Californian company, Danilo Cazzolo – who is himself a highly qualified organic chemist – came to the university to open the new lab. Also in attendance were heads of some of the Yorkshire region’s leading firms in the chemical field. A spokesman for the university
ill-equipped to compete in the global marketplace, but in fact the opposite is true. “The internet has opened up a host of opportunities for businesses to reach out, connect and trade easily and securely online. It is crucial that they take advantage of e-commerce platforms if they are to remain competitive.” An astonishing 89% of Yorkshire’s small businesses spend up to £1,000 each time they review a supplier relationship. Nearly a third of businesses conduct this review quarterly, thus incurring a cost of up to £4,000 each
Currying favour FOOD and cookery company Curry Cuisine has joined the aristocracy. The Dewsbury firm is supplying its award-winning range of traditional hand-made chutneys and pickles to the Chatsworth farm shop, which provides choice products for visitors to the stately home in Derbyshire. The company will supply its newly-branded “Chutnee’s Handmade” products to the farm shop, which has a policy of stocking quality, regional fare.
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■ APPLIED SCIENCE: Prof Mike Page (right), head of Huddersfield University's IPOS team, with Danilo Cazzolo, European vice-president of Agilent Technologies, at the opening of the new £2.3m laboratory
said: “Over the coming years, IPOS will continue to work on projects such as the development of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, new meth-
ods of improving the food supply around the world and new drugs and medical techniques.”
Yorkshire firms ‘must enter overseas markets’ FIRMS in Yorkshire are failing to get to grips with overseas markets, claims a survey. Figures from e-commerce specialist Alibaba.com showed that 92% of small and medium-sized businesses in the region are failing to consider the global marketplace. One in five consider themselves too small to trade with partners from outside the UK while trust issues and cultural and language barriers were also cited as major drawbacks. Maggie Choo, general manager at Alibaba.com, said: “Small businesses in Yorkshire believe that they are
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per year. Despite 38% believing that a regular review of suppliers is vital to remaining competitive, a quarter admitted to relying on companies that they had used historically. Some 30% of businesses take up to a month to find a supplier they are happy with – an extended lead time which could lead to missed opportunities. Said Maggie: “Time and money are one of the most valuable commodities for any business and it is essential to make the best possible use of both if an organisation is to trade profitably. “It is a daunting time for small
businesses which often operate with small teams and limited resources.” Sir Andrew Cahn, chief executive of UK Trade & Investment, said: “Small businesses need not be cut off from the global marketplace or feel that international business is only for big companies. “For many smaller firms, trading abroad can be the path to greater success and growth. “Countries in the Far East are experiencing rapid growth and British goods, in virtually every sector, are in demand for their quality and sophistication.”
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Builders bear brunt YORKSHIRE building firms could be facing another tough year, it is claimed. A survey by insolvency trade body R3 shows that almost half of its members believe the construction sector will bear the brunt of the public sector cutbacks next year.
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