FTSE 100
RICHARD POGSON Windows of opportunity
COLIN BARRATT Proper ty pitfalls
+10.61 5751.98
Full inter view - Page 3
Full stor y - Page 5
An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
Route to success for rural enteprise RURAL businesses in the Kirklees area are being offered support to help them overcome the recession. The call comes as it emerges that more than 300 companies of the 350 businesses helped so far by support group Growing Routes have survived the economic downturn. Growing Routes was founded in 2003 by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society with help from regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward to provide free business advice and planning, skills development and training as well as mentoring and help to secure grants. The mentoring scheme was set up in 2005 to enable experienced, knowledgeable and skilled business people to offer support and guidance to new and diversifying businesses. The scheme, relies on business mentors who volunteer two hours a month to help their respective mentees. So far, a pool of 57 mentors have helped 130 enterprises.
Businesses to benefit range from holiday cottages and horse training centres to a pheasant rearing organisation and a green burial site. The range of mentor experience is just as diverse and includes farmers, bankers, lawyers and accountants as well as experts in human resources, manufacturing, marketing, food retailing, brewing and butchery. Dennis Jones, regional mentoring co-ordinator for Growing Routes, said: “Mentoring is a very important part of the Growing Routes Programme and provides a unique chance for two people to work closely together to bring about learning and development. “By the nature of the process it offers great opportunities and rewards for both the client and the mentor.” Said Mr Jones: “It’s very rewarding that we are able to help so many rural businesses with the mentoring scheme and we’re very grateful to the
mentors who give up their time and add much value to fledgling or diversifying businesses.” Mentors include Tracey Baty, of three60 marketing and pr, who has been involved with the scheme for 18 months and is providing mentoring support to two businesses. She spent 17 years in marketing for small and large businesses before setting up her own consultancy six years ago. She said: “I volunteered to be a mentor because I love working with rural businesses and I haven’t been disappointed. “The businesses that I’m currently working with are very different – one is a fledgling business whilst the other is an established business that is undergoing a major expansion – but both are great businesses and welcome the input that I can provide.” To find out more about mentoring, contact Dennis Jones on 07725 036567.
real estate massively outstrips that in any other sector. “Clearly, there was an oversupply when the recession took hold and as people and businesses became less inclined to move, development projects could not be sold on. “The decline in real estate has had a major impact in some of the region’s leading cities with a knock-on effect on many related businesses. “However, it is important to see these figures in context. With more than 1m enterprises – compared to just over 500,000 in the wholesale and retail industry – real estate is the largest sector, a factor in pushing insolvency numbers higher.” When insolvencies are viewed as a proportion of the total number of enterprises in each industry, hotels and restaurants top the list with an insolvency rate of 1.7% followed by manufacturing
Going greener A REVOLUTIONARY “green” building near Huddersfield can provide the blueprint for future property developments, according to a Huddersfield firm. Green Building Store, based at Bolster Moor, has launched a 10-minute documentary making the case for all new buildings and refurbishments to take as their standard the Passivhaus approach to designing ultra low energy homes and buildings. It follows the completion of a Passivhaus at Denby Dale earlier this year.
● Full story - Page 6
■ COUNTRY FILE: Growing Routes mentoring co-ordinator Dennis Jones
Insolvency hits region’s key sectors hardest THE recession has hit key sectors the hardest in Yorkshire, according to a survey by insolvency experts. Manufacturing, construction and retailing were among those worst-affected by the recession, said the report by R3, the association of business recovery professionals. The insolvency body tracked each sector through the recession and found that some of the industries most crucial to the regional economy ranked in the top four worst affected sectors across the country. Nationally, construction suffered 7,184 insolvencies with wholesale and retail facing 6,077 and manufacturing accounting for 4,664. The figures were measured from the second quarter of 2008 to the end of the fourth quarter of last year. Andrew Walker, R3’s regional chairman for Yorkshire, said: “The decline in
INSIDE
at 1.6% and real estate in fifth at 1.1%. Said Mr Walker: “Looking at these percentages, the pain appears to have been evenly spread, although manufacturing – another of Yorkshire’s key sectors – was also hit very hard, but traditionally it is one of the first sectors to recover.” Low interest rates and Revenue & Custom’s Time To Pay scheme meant corporate insolvency numbers had begun to come down this year. But Mr Walker said: “It will take until the end of 2011 before we know if there is an ‘insolvency lag’ still to work its way through. “This ‘lag’ has been a typical feature of past recessions when insolvencies rise during a recovery as creditors stand to achieve greater returns and weakened businesses have used up their reserves to stay afloat.”
The most trusted news brand in the business
examiner.co.uk
2 6 , O c t o b e r, 2 0 1 0
Drive for equality
■ IMPACT: Andrew Walker, of R3, said the full effect of the recession may not become apparent until the end of 2011
THE company behind the HiQ Fast Fit franchise in Huddersfield is waging an equality war. North Eastern Tyre and Exhausts has appointed several women to senior management roles in an industry generally dominated by men
● Full story - Page 4