Kirklees Business News September 28th 2010

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ROGER PEEL Galloping ahead!

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COLIN BARRATT HMRC proves taxing Full stor y - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees

Action stations for highways experts

A FIRM of highways engineering consultants has turned up the heat.

Grange Moor-based Sanderson Associates has been advising West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service on specialist vehicle access requirements for a new technical rescue and special operations base.

The company has been working with the fire and rescue service to provide a highly specialist Urban Search and Rescue response facility at Birkenshaw, near Cleckheaton.

WYFRS was selected by the Government to provide a base for the USAR capability for the whole of Yorkshire and Humber.

The purpose of the centre is to provide an effective response to large-scale emergency incidents involving structural or building collapse or other significant events that have been identified by a series of national risk assessments.

Alison France, managing director

of Sanderson Associates, said: “We have been both delighted and honoured to work on this vitally important project.

“A swift response to any large scale incident is absolutely crucial and the fire service’s Birkenshaw headquarters is now equipped to provide exactly that.

“We worked closely with the fire and rescue service in planning and implementing this USAR development, providing highway consulting services including a highway report supporting the planning application, detailed design of the access road, off-site highway improvement measures and a road safety audit.”

Robert Davison, property manager for WYFRS, said: “The assistance from Sanderson was invaluable in providing specialist traffic and vehicle management consultancy services to facilitate this major new development at our fire service headquarters site.

“Their involvement from an early planning stage through to completion ensured that the new main site entrance onto a main carriageway and the associated development was satisfactorily implemented.”

Sanderson Associates has been working with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue for the past 13 years and has completed more than 25 projects for the organisation.

Some of the services the company have provided include transport assessments, access and feasibility studies, detailed highway design works, tendering and site supervision, road closure and project management.

Two of the major projects undertaken were for new fire stations at Leeds and Bradford. Both are large five appliance bay stations and strategically located to meet the rapid response time to emergencies required

by Government regulations.

The agreement opens up new areas for LoadPlate, which is already selling into other European countries.

Terberg DTS (UK) managing director Alisdair Couper said: “This is a unique opportunity to be in at the grass roots of an exciting new product.

We operate in several sectors where the product will work well alongside other products we offer.”

Mr Couper added: “We look forward to developing concepts and solu-

tions which will in time bring huge cost saving to the end-user, improve safety of goods in transit and open up a new window of options for the shipping market in goods that previously could not be containerised.”

Actiw Oy managing director Reijo Viinonen said: “Logistics in general has been developing during the last two decades, but loading and unloading are still made by conventional and ineffective methods.”

Clearly better A COMPANY making curved glass for projects ranging from shopping centres to museums has clear plans for the future following a six-figure investment in new equipment.

Milnsbridge firm Specialist Glass Products Ltd has spent £250,000 on new machinery which will open up wider markets for the company.

● Full story - Page 5

■ BLAZING A TRAIL: Alison France, managing director of Sanderson Associates

Distribution deal brings loads more options A FIRM in Elland is all set for a load more work following a tie-up with a company supplying equipment for loading and unloading cargo.

Terberg DTS (UK), of Lowfields Business Park, has signed a distribution deal with Finnish-based Actiw Oy to supply its LoadPlate loading system in England and Ireland.

LoadPlate is a new loading system for standard cargo space such as sea containers and trailers.

INSIDE

He said LoadPlate was a step forward for the industry, adding: “It is an advantage to get good partners such as Terberg DTS to bring such new methods on the market.”

Terberg DTS (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of Terberg Holland. Formed in 1998, the Elland firm supplies specialist cargo handling vehicles such as industrial, seaport and aviation tractors for customers at ports, railways, airports and factories.

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Property search THE search is under way to find the best property developments in Yorkshire.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched its quest to find the top contenders for the 2011 RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards.

● Full story - Page 7

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

national

Wolseley plans tax move to cut costs BUILDING and heating supplies group Wolseley said it planned to move its tax base from the UK to Switzerland in a bid to cut its outgoings.

The FTSE 100 Index-listed company, which generates 81% of its business overseas, said it would create a new holding company called New Wolseley as it looked to “achieve a competitive” corporate tax rate.

The group, which trades as Build Center and Plumb Center, said that the new proposal would leave the tax position of the UK business unchanged.

The announcement came as Wolseley reported a 9% rise in revenues to £13.2bn and a 1% rise in trading profits of £450m in the year to July 31.

Wolseley chief financial officer John Martin said the change would reduce its corporate tax rate from 34% to 28%

which, based on earnings in the last financial year, would save the company roughly £23m a year.

Mr Martin said Wolseley wanted to move away from “unhelpful” UK legislation – called Controlled Foreign Companies rules – which force the company to pay tax on its overseas earnings.

Mr Martin said Wolseley believed it was being “taxed twice” under the CFC rules.

Talks were held with Government officials before the decision was made, Mr Martin added, but stressed it would not affect tax paid on the UK business, which employs nearly 10,000 people.

Chemicals group Ineos moved its HQ from the UK to Switzerland in a similar tax-saving move earlier this year. Publisher Informa switched to a

■ IN THE PIPELINE: Plumb Center parent Wolseley plans to move its tax base from the UK to Switzerland

Swiss tax base in 2009 while advertising group WPP and drugmaker Shire moved their tax residence to Ireland.

Drinks giant Diageo and consumer brands firm Unilever have both threatened to follow suit.

The new group holding company should be formed by late November, Wolseley said.

The company’s full-year results showed that revenues in the UK, which makes up 19% of its business, fell by 9% in the year due to the impact of disposals and branch closures.

Earlier this year, the firm announced a deal to sell its Bristol-based building tools and equipment firm, Brandon Hire.

Wolseley said it expects activity to be low in the coming months as the coalition Government’s spending review is likely to hit its public sector business, which accounts for 25% of its UK trade.

Mr Meakins said there were still a number of possible disposals ahead, but declined to give details.

Co-op boosts business lending

Cussons lands St Tropez

THE Co-operative Bank has accused its rivals of abandoning and “closing the door” on businesses wanting to borrow.

The bank said it had it shrugged off economic turmoil and increased lending to business by 40% in the last three years.

In a period when “many of its competitors firmly closed the door to companies wanting to borrow”, the Co-op said it had lifted business borrowing from £6.2bn to £8.7bn since 2007.

Neville Richardson, chief executive at the bank’s parent company Co-operative Financial Services,

THE owner of soap brands Imperial Leather and Carex said it has bought tanning lotion company St Tropez from private equity group LDC for £62.5m.

Manchester-based PZ Cussons, which also owns Original Source and Charles Worthington, said it hoped to expand the St Tropez range in the UK and overseas together with its spa brand The Sanctuary.

St Tropez sells 30 self-tanning products mainly in the UK and Australia .

It posted pre-tax profits of £7.4m on revenues of £20.7m for the year to

said: “We put considera ble emphasis into forming close relationships with our corporate and business customers and this has served us well as many businesses have felt abandoned by some of the other banks.”

The bank said it had also managed to double its regional corporate banking centres from 10 to 20 and nearly tripled corporate deposits from £1.4bn to £4bn.

The bank’s approach helped drive growth at parent company CFS, which has reported a 34% increase in profits to £109.3m for the first half of 2010, up from £81.4m.

the end of July.

Michelle Feeney, chief executive of St Tropez, said she was “thrilled St Tropez was going into such a great home”.

PZ Cussons bought The Sanctuary business in 2008, in a deal which included the UK’s largest day spa at Covent Garden, as well as a line of personal care products.

A PZ Cussons spokesman said the company hopes to exploit the St Tropez distribution network – which includes Boots, Superdrug, Debenhams, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis – to sell its Sanctuary range.

Page 2 Shampoo and set CONSUMER goods giant Unilever unveiled a deal worth £2.3bn to add VO5 shampoo and Simple soap to its line-up of hair and skin care products.

Unilever, which already owns brands such as Dove, Sunsilk, Pond’s and Vaseline, said the proposed acquisition of Alberto Culver would make it the world’s leading company in hair conditioning and second largest in shampoo.

Other products in the Alberto Culver portfolio include hair care brands TRESemme, Nexxus and St Ives.

The business began life as a one-product company in 1955.

Founder Leonard Lavin continues to be a director, while his family are also key shareholders in the Illinois-based firm.

The business, which has operations in nine countries and employs about 2,700 people, generated sales of £1bn in the first half of 2010.

Unilever chief executive Paul Polman said the acquisition added some “powerful” new brands to the company’s portfolio.

He said the addition of VO5, TRESemme and Simple would enable its UK business to “cover more price points across a number of categories”.

Unilever’s other brands include Knorr, Hellmann’s and Flora, while in September last year it added bath products Sanex and Radox following a deal worth £1.15bn.

SHARE PRICES NORTH AMERICAN American Express £27.10 -0.08 Gannett 777.04 -0.63 Hess Corp £36.22 -0.21 Microsoft 1561.63 +0.32 Motors Liquidation 47.26 Wal-Mart Stores £33.96 -0.12 AEROSPACE & DEFENCE Avon Rbbr 151 -11/2 BAE Systems 3463/8 -11/8 Rolls-Royce Gp 589 -11/2 AIM Brady Plc 621/2 Dawson Intl 17/8 Man Brnze 361/4 +3/4 AUTOMOBILES & PARTS GKN 165 -17/8 BANKS Barclays 3103/4 -1 HSBC 6607/8 -53/8 Lloyds Banking Gp 757/8 -3/4 Ryl Scotland 483/4 -1/2 Stan Chart 19101/2 -19 BEVERAGES Diageo 1100 +2 SABMiller £201/8 -1/8 CHEMICALS Croda 1458 +8 Elementis 98 1031/4 +31/2 Johnsn Mat 1760 -3 CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS 3 Balfour Beatty 269 /8 +11/4 Costain 2151/2 +11/2 ELECTRICITY Drax Gp 4003/8 +53/4 3

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Local shares Carclo Chapelthorpe Marshalls National Grid Weir Gp

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5573.42 Down 25.06 BG 1166 -3 -1 BP 4037/8 Cairn Energy 4641/4 +43/8 Royal Dutch Shell A 1911 +4 Royal Dutch Shell B 1849 +4 Total £321/4 Tullow Oil 1295 -4 OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES AMEC 9851/2 -8 Petrofac 1391 -20 Wood Group 4301/4 +41/2 PERSONAL GOODS Burberry Gp 998 -4 PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY Astrazeneca £323/4 -1/2 Axis-Shield 287 +81/2 GlaxoSmithK XD 8

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FTSE 100

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

profile

Horse power is Roger’s world RACING horse owner Roger Peel admits the going has been heavy for businesses during the recession.

But the dealer principal at Brighouse-based Northern Commercials is betting his company will overcome any remaining hurdles as the economy starts to pick up.

“This recession has been worse than any others,” he says.

But he adds: “In January, we opened our used vehicle centre when most people were trying to downsize.

“The reason is that we see the used vehicle market as the first to recover.

“We are positive about going forward, but it is going to be a steady recovery.

“It is not going to happen overnight.

“It is going to be a three-year recovery to get back to the position the economy was in before the credit crunch.”

Mirfield-born Roger says Northern Commercials had been less badly hit than some companies by the deep downturn because it took action early to bring its costs under control.

“We are now ready to run when the economy picks up,” he says.

Roger’s confidence is based on more than 30 years experience in the truck sales sector.

He started with Northern Commercials on a Youth Training Scheme in the parts department and after serving an apprenticeship progressed through the service department to become in turn service administration manager, sales administration manager, parts manager and after-sales director.

He recalls: “At the age of 11, I used to work on my brother’s milk round and in the evenings I worked on a local farm.

“I left school with no qualifications – I just wanted to work. I was offered three jobs and one was a YTS. “I had no interest in vehicles before I walked through the door. I was more interested in farming.”

But he has always had ambition.

“When I was on the YTS, I

wanted to be set on full-time,” he says. “ When I was a supervisor I wanted to be a manager.

“And when I became a manager, I wanted to own the company.

Roger duly became a shareholder in the business and when Northern Commercials was sold to The Clipper Group in 2005, he was asked to stay on as dealer principal.

“My place is here with my staff,” he says.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere else.

“When they asked me to stay, I said I would as long as they let me run it as I wanted.

“That’s how it has been since.

Clipper bought the business because it was successful – and it still is.”

Northern Commercials began in 1973 as a Leyland DAF dealer – but when that manufacturer collapsed in 1993, the Brighouse firm found its salvation in becoming a franchisee for Iveco.

Says Roger: “It was a culture shock.

“We went from having a product we knew to a product we didn’t.

“We went from a £3m parts holding to nothing. Still we carried on selling Leyland ‘bits’ until we built up the Iveco business.”

Now Northern Commercials is sole Iveco dealer for West Yorkshire and has a retail van centre in Leeds to complement its new and used vehicles business in Brighouse.

In April this year, the firm was also appointed Iveco dealer for the north-west – covering Manchester, Liverpool, Stockport, Bolton, Chester and the Isle of Man. It also provides vehicles for haulage and logistics firms, including Hill Hire, Bedfords, Brocklehurst, Nelsons and Sam’s Transport as well supplying chassis for companies such as IRS Motor Home and Access Hire. In total it has up to 350 vehicles on “live contracts”.

Under Roger’s leadership,

Northern Commercials has achieved annual sales of about £100m and employs 200 people across all its sites.

Roger is at the heart of Iveco’s relationships with its franchises – sitting on the national panel for the Iveco National Dealer Council.

“We are a very well-respected dealership,” he says. “We are above Iveco’s national average in all sectors.”

Part of the success of Northern Commercials is down to Roger’s management style and experience gained in all areas of its operations.

“I visit each of our sites every week,” he says.

“The first thing I do every morning is to look in at the garage here at Brighouse.

“I make sure I know everyone’s name and what’s going on.”

Roger’s leisure time is devoted to children Elliot, 13, Spencer, seven, and two-year-old Savannah – and his four-legged friend.

“I have a hospitality box at the Galpharm Stadium to watch Huddersfield Town and take the family along,” he says.

“But my biggest passion is horse racing. I have owned a number of horses. Currently, I have a horse called Go Maggie Go – named after my mother-in-law, Margaret!”

The filly, which is stabled at Thirsk, has had a number of outings on the flat, but has yet to win a race.

Roger, who got a taste for the turf when his father used to place small wagers at the local bookies, believes it’s only a matter of time

Page 3 Roger Peel Role: Dealer Principal Age: 45 Family: Children Elliot, 13, Spender, seven, and Savannah, two Holidays: Dubai, Spain Car: Ranger Rover Overfinch First job: Youth Training Scheme in the part department Best thing about job: Satisfied customers Worst thing about job: Not enough holidays!

Business tip: Always have the respect of your employees

Northern Commercials before Go Maggie Go crosses the finishing line a winner “I got interested in horse racing when I was young,” says Roger.

“My father used to go to the bookies to put 20p on a horse.

“Now I go racing to York, Chester and Royal Ascot.

“It is an expensive hobby running a racehorse, but it’s a wonderful hobby. You can’t beat a day at the races.”

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Work: Commercial vehicle dealer Site: Brighouse, Manchester, Leeds Employees: 180 Phone: 01484 380111 Email: sales@nor-com.co.uk Website: www.nor-com.co.uk

■ TRUCK STOP: Roger Peel (right), dealer principal at Northern Commercials in Brighouse, with workshop controller Phil Dawson

local

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KIRKLEES BUSIN

Ask provides all the right answers A MARKET research company in Huddersfield has landed two major deals.

Ask: Insight, based at the Media Centre in Northumberland Street, has been named official research partner by organisers of a major exhibition in London.

In a separate move, it has been commissioned to undertake a research and mapping project for the Barnsley Development Agency.

Ask is launching a new research tool at the exhibition, ad:Tech London 2010, which runs this week at Olympia.

Using data collected throughout the event, Ask will deliver information about visitors’ experience to help organisers for next year’s exhibition.

While learning about the type of visitor the show attracts, key information about the offer of the show in general will also be collated from a notoriously hard-to-reach group of busy media professionals.

Richard Noon, online research account manager at Ask, who designed the data collection system,

said: “The events and visitor experience market is traditionally a difficult arena in which to collate feedback, without detracting from the reason for them being at the show.

“Gaining insight into key motives for attendance, the visitors’ perceptions of the show in general and what makes a visitor attend a seminar, conference or a particular exhibitor stand are key to measuring the success of a show and driving value to future shows and visitors.”

Meanwhile, Ask’s research project for Barnsley Development Agency is designed to determine what kind of businesses exist in the town, what they are doing and how they can be helped to develop and grow further.

Said Mr Noon: “Respondents to this survey may be sole traders worki n g f ro m h o m e, s t a r t - u p s, micro-businesses, SMEs or larger companies and organisations.

“We want them all to be included in this vital research project which seeks to identify and explore current growth barriers, future challenges to growth and areas where support is

Gearing up for a big business day FINAL preparations are under way for this week’s Kirklees Business Conference.

The free event takes place on Thursday at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium.

The full one-day programme includes seminars, an exhibition involving 60 businesses, a clinic to help cure business “ailments” and unlimited networking.

Mirfield-based organiser Danny Matharu said: “KBC '10 will provide business leaders, entrepreneurs and start-ups across Kirklees with the opportunity to improve skill sets not only for themselves, but also within their companies.

“Seminars come from Brad Burton, managing director of 4Networking; inspirational speaker Richard McCann; and Sharon Wright, BBC’s ‘Dragon Slayer’. They are supplemented by seminars from Business Link and Huddersfield University, covering key topics of innovation and business growth.”

Almost 500 business owners have registered to attend the event.

New features this year include a “Chill Out Zone” where delegates can enjoy stress-busting treatments including Indian head massage, reflexology, hand and foot massages and hot stone back massages.

Go to www.kirkleesbusiness conference.co.uk

■ QUIZ TEAM: Ask: Insight colleages Lucy Kenyon and Richard Noon

needed.”

Tracey Johnson, BDA sector specialist for creative and digital industries, said: “Barnsley has some great businesses in these sectors, but we

need to know more about them so we can ensure we are supporting them as much as possible and helping them access opportunities for new business, innovation and growth.”

Taxing calculations!

HERE has been much T press attention given to HM Revenue & Customs in

recent weeks.

In particularly, attention has focused on the reconciliation of their PAYE records – as a result of which it is estimated that more than 6m individuals will receive a Tax Calculation (P800) of what they believe those individuals tax liabilities are for the two years ended April 5, 2010. In some cases individuals will be due a tax refund, but others will owe tax which could amount to several hundreds of pounds.

These tax calculations are computer generated without have been reviewed prior to their bulk issue and are not necessarily correct. Anyone receiving a P800 needs to ensure that the information contained in the calculation ties in with their records of income and expenses for the years concerned.

There may be a number of reasons for these calculations being incorrect. It may be that HMRC records show a full year’s worth of income in the calculation although the source may have only started part way through the year – such as a car benefit or those receiving the

TAX TALK Colin Barratt

state pension for the first time. Or possibly job-related expenses are not taken into consideration when HMRC has issued the P800. These instances would lead to a calculation showing too much tax beings owed.

If a calculation is found to be incorrect, then the individual should contact HMRC concerning the nature of any discrepancy so that it can be rectified. Needless to say, any amendments to tax calculations should also be checked for errors. Where the P800 is correct and the amount of tax that is payable is £2,000 or less, it can be collected by way of an adjustment to a later years’ PAYE Code. According to HMRC, in cases of genuine hardship they will allow payments to be spread across a period of up to three years.

If the amount of tax due is over

£2,000, HMRC will write to the individual again setting out the next steps for settling the arrears.

It has recently been confirmed by them that interest charges on tax of this magnitude will not be levied where the individual engages with HMRC concerning the collection of the tax.

Where an individual is due a tax refund, this also needs to be checked to confirm it is correct and although the reconciliation process is for the last two tax years only, it is advisable to review earlier years as well in case further tax repayments are due.

Those not required to complete Self Assessment Tax Returns can make claims for repayments going back to April 5, 2005. But time is of the essence as they have until January 31, 2011, to put their claim in.

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

Agency sticks with key client

A MARKETING agency in Huddersfield is helping to keep the tills ringing for one of its long-standing clients.

Manifest Communications, based at Highfields, provided advertising, point-of-sale material and public relations for Dunlop Adhesives during a series of trade events held this summer.

The first trade day in Leeds was so successful that the specialist brand for the jobbing builder decided to roll it out across the country.

Run in conjunction with Dunlop's largest client, builders' merchants Selco, the trade mornings prove the commitment of the specialist brand behind tile adhesives, grout, finishing and ancillary products, when it comes to investment in training.

The events included product demonstrations, technical advice sessions and giveaways.

Co-operative connections A CO-OPERATIVE supplying wholefoods from a base in Elland has teamed up with a similar organisation in Italy.

Suma, which operates from premises at Lowfields, has launched a range of organic pasts with Iris, a co-operative based in the Oglio Sud National Park in northern Italy.

And the partners, which have been operating for a combined 65 years, are also carrying out a worker exchange to get to know each other’s business better, learn from each other – and improve their language skills!

Airlines flies off with top prizes YORKSHIRE airline Jet2.com has scooped two top travel awards.

The Leeds-based carrier won the silver award in the best airline for value for money category and bronze for best airline cabin crew in the Holiday Extras Customers Awards 2010.

The UK travel industry’s accolades were presented by travel writer and TV personality Simon Calder at a ceremony held at London’s Institute of Contemporary Art. More than 24,000 HolidayExtras.com customers cast their votes in the second annual awards. Travellers rated their air travel experience across twelve categories, voting for 112 airlines, 28 UK airports and hundreds of airport hotels, lounges and car parks.

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Page 5

Clear route for glass company A COMPANY making curved glass for a wide range of prestigious developments has clear plans for the future following a six-figure investment in new equipment.

Milnsbridge-based Specialist Glass Products Ltd has spent £250,000 on a state-of-the-art laminating machine which will open up new markets for the firm.

The move follows an increase in orders for the company, which has enabled it to introduce a second shift for some areas of its Colne Vale Road factory.

And it comes as the company celebrates the success of 20 employees who have gained NVQ level 2 qualifications in areas such as glass processing and glass handling, which they have completed following assessment by the Vocational College. Several of them are now progressing to lNVQ level 3.

SGP managing director Andrew Taylor said: “We are still expanding.

“We have put on a second shift and spent £250,000 on a new laminating machine, which will open a new market for us.”

The machine will enable the firm to produce toughened and coloured glass which weighs less than conventional laminated glazing and is in demand from architects and specifiers for staircases, balconies and balustrades.

The company, which has 43 employees and is recruiting another three in the next few months, supplies and installs products including bomb-proof glass for airports and security glass for banks.

It has clients across the UK, the Channel Isles and Ireland.

Recent major projects include ones for Tree House School, the National School for Autism in north London, where SGP had a three-week period in which to glaze an atrium and staircases.

In another project, the firm provided 400 curved and toughened glass sections for the balustrades at a new shopping centre in Scotland.

It has also supplied and fitted 120 metres of glass balustrade at the new Darwin

FOUR Kirklees businessmen have volunteered to help spread the word about the newly-launched Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy in the run-up to its first event next month.

Sam Turner, business adviser for Business Link; Paul Scott, managing director of Yorkshire Business Growth; Alex Mullen, owner of Absolute Media; and Andrew Earnshaw, business development manager at SMiLeS, have all agreed to promote Town’s new business scheme in the region in an effort to attract new businesses to “The Yorkshire Club”.

The Enterprise Academy is free of charge to business representatives and is open to all business. It will be a focal point for businesses in Yorkshire to come together and exchange ideas – as well as learn new skills regarding business practice.

As Enterprise “Scouts”, the four will be extolling the virtues of the HTEA and looking to recruit new companies in the run-up to its first event on October 12. The event will be held at the Galpharm Stadium and will feature a panel of three Huddersfield Town club partners who will answer questions on subjects such as finance, marketing and human resources.

Huddersfield Town commercial director Sean Jarvis said: “One of the aims of HTEA is to get new businesses involved with Huddersfield Town – ones from totally different walks of life – and the scouts play a vital role in its success.

“It is up to the scouts to convey how worthwhile and easy it is to become a partner of the club.”

He added: “The club has a growing reputation as a ‘hub’ for businesses in the Yorkshire area and the creation of the Enterprise Academy is further evidence that there is much more to Huddersfield Town than what goes on out on the pitch on a Saturday afternoon.”

Mr Scott said: “I was introduced to the idea of the HTEA by Sean Jarvis and straight away I could see how different and worthwhile a venture it is.

“Businesses should be jumping at the chance to get involved, especially with a club like Town, whose reputation is growing.”

■ GLASS ACT: Some of the successful employees at Specialist Glass Products with their NVQ certificates

Centre at London’s National History Museum.

Others include glass staircases in the new Next store at Oxford Street and glass installations for the Liverpool FC superstore on Merseyside.

“There is still a lot of construction going on in the UK,” said Mr Taylor. “We are pushing in all directions.

“We have been successful with the installation and glass processing sides of the business.”

Commenting on the firm’s training successes, he said: “We believe in developing people from within the company. We have

installed new equipment and we are giving people in the company the opportunity to learn and develop.

“It has a positive effect on the workforce because they see that in the seven-and-a-half years we have been trading, we have always gone in the same upward direction.”

During the recession, the company saw a slight fall in turnover – but a rise in profits.

Mr Taylor said: Being able to do things in-house rather than rely on outside suppliers has moved us up the pecking order because we can deliver more promptly.

Media group shows the way MEDIA group Trinity Mirror has set the “green” standard.

The company, which publishes The Examiner, has become the first company in the UK to achieve decertification with the Carbon Trust Standard – the UK’s premier certification for firms that reduce their carbon emissions.

Since 2005, Trinity Mirror – which employs more than 6,500 people in more than 68 locations – has consistently reduced carbon emissions across its operations.

The Carbon Trust Standard is awarded to organisations making a sustained commitment to tackle climate change by measuring, managing and actively reducing their

Signings for Town team

carbon emissions.

To achieve the Carbon Trust Standard, organisations must firstly measure their direct carbon footprint, prove they have good carbon management practices in place and demonstrate genuine reduction in their emissions over a three-year period.

Upon initial certification, organisations also commit to continually reduce both their direct and indirect carbon emissions over the next two years before reassessment.

Paul Vickers, Trinity Mirror’s secretary and group legal director, said: “Our staff can feel rightly proud of this achievement because they have contributed greatly to this

recertification. Moreover, to be the first business to retain the Carbon Trust Standard demonstrates to our staff, customers and readers our genuine commitment to reducing our environmental impact.

“Obviously these reductions also have a benefit for our bottom line and saving energy in these challenging times makes good business sense.”

Trinity Mirror was the first media group to achieve certification with the Carbon Trust Standard. Two years on, it has implemented a range of energy saving measures across the group that have resulted in a 9.5% absolute reduction in carbon emissions since certification.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Search for superstars THE search is under way to find next year’s superstars of the Yorkshire property and construction sectors.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched an eight-month quest to find the top contenders for the 2011 RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards.

Billed as the region’s property “Oscars”, the RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards showcase the region’s top projects and highlight the achievements and success of all property professionals working in the built and natural environments.

Colin Harrop, chairman of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional RICS board, said: “The awards are a terrific opportunity for us to shout about the great things happening in this region.

“While the buildings are the focus, we shine the spotlight on the talented professionals who are behind such fantastic buildings.”

The awards are split into eight categories – regeneration, sustainability, community benefit, building conservation, commercial, residential, design and innovation, tourism and leisure.

There is also an award for project of the year, which goes to the entry judged to have scored the highest across all of the categories.

The winners will be announced at a black tie dinner on Friday, 20 June, in Leeds.

Entry forms – which must be returned before the end of January, 2011 – are available from events co-ordinator Emma Darwin on 01924 229307

property

Tall orders pose no big problem!

A BRIGHOUSE photographer’s high-rise business is scaling new heights.

John Bairstow set up Elevated Mast Photography to provide birds-eye views of buildings for clients including companies, commercial property agents, architects and surveyors, retailers and golf clubs.

Now, he has discovered another niche in the market – to provide roofing surveys and specialist photography for the roofing sector.

Elevated Mast Photography is working with firms to eliminate the risks and cut the costs involved with close-up roof inspections and high-level photographic surveys.

Teh firm uses a specially-adapted vehicle which has a telescopic mast to capture images from 85ft – meaning expensive scaffolding and platforms are no longer required.

The state-of-the-art camera system enabled detailed photos to be taken –providing visual information about weather damage and the general condition of features such as solar panels as well as church steeples, gutters and architectural stonework.

Mr Bairstow is also woprking with insurance company associates who use this

photography to validate claims.

Elevated Mast Photography has completed contracts for MITIE’s roofing division at sites including the Stagecoach depot in Ecclesfield, South Yorkshire; Newhey Carpets in Rochdale and at Whitby Hospital.

The firm has also completed a project for Cembritt, a firm supplying materials to the construction industry, at Canada Lodge in South Wales, a lakeside property fitted with Cembritt roof slates.

Other recent commissions include projects for Burnley Unity College, Isra Developments in Manchester, Morgan Ashcroft in Leeds, Bradley Hall Golf Club in Halifax, Rockliffe Hall in Darlington and Desso Sports Systems in Oxfordshire.

Said Mr Bairstow: “My specialist equipment allows me to provide comprehensive and detailed surveys or expert photography whether a company wants a roof survey, to showcase specific products or needs factual images for facilities management purposes.

“It’s an area that is really taking off and something I intend to build on in the coming months to help my business stand out from the crowd and grow further.”

■ PICTURE SHOW: John Bairstow, of Brighouse-based Elevated Mast Photography, at work in his specially-equipped van

Safety first for builder A BUILDING firm in Yorkshire has gained a top safety award.

BAM Construction, which has carried out projects for Huddersfield University, has received a gold medal from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for its performance on health and safety – and has now won more RoSPA gold medals than any UK company.

James Wimpenny, director of BAM North East, said: “Health and safety is something we have prioritised – and while it’s fantastic that our success has been recognised, it’s something we never let up on.

“Getting great buildings out of the ground requires that we care about people – the ones we build for, those living around our projects and those who work for us.

Hopefully, that’s reflected in the places people then live, work and study.”

David Rawlins, RoSPA awards manager, said: “BAM has shown a commitment to protecting the health and well-being of its employees and others.

“Organisations which do this deserve to have such dedication recognised and that’s where the RoSPA Awards come in.”

Among its major schemes, BAM Construction was the main contractor on Huddersfield University’s latest development – its £16m new business school at Firth Street.

The company has worked on projects for clients including York University, Selby War Memorial Hospital, Sheffield Arts Tower, Rotherham Hospital, and Leeds City Varieties as well as the new Carnegie Pavilion at Yorkshire’s Headingley cricket ground.

Page 6

Furnished property

■ MEETING POINT: Michael Armitage (centre, left) opens the “Somer House” with Conroy Brook chairman Ivan Conroy (centre), sales executive Christine Jackson (centre right) and fellow residents

Focal point for residents A NEW summer house has been opened for residents at an apartment development in Huddersfield.

The new conservatory – known as the Somer House – has been built by Brockholes-based Conroy Brook at its award-winning Somersbury Court development in Almondbury.

Michael Armitage, one of the first people to move into the

development with his wife Norma, was invited to cut the ribbon to open the conservatory at a ceremony attended by Conroy Brook chairman Ivan Conroy and other residents.

Said Mr Conroy: “We built this summer house as a communal meeting place for residents to enhance their experience of living at Somersbury Court. We trust that it will become popular.”

Somersbury Court has 30 two-bedroom luxury apartments built in natural stone and featuring curved balconies as well as high quality fixtures and fittings.

Facilities include landscaped gardens, a sculpted stainless steel water feature, security gates and CCTV. The development is a finalist in the best design category of the national Housebuilder of the Year Awards.

A FURNITURE maker based in Bradford has moved to larger premises in Drighlington.

Chartered surveyors Eddisons concluded the deal for DFK on almost 35,000sq ft space at Fairfax House on Hodgson Lane off an asking rent of £120,000 a year.

The new site will contain a manufacturing facility, showroom, trade counter, dispatch facilities and all administration functions.

Five new jobs have also been created in readiness for when the new site is fully operational later this month.

DFK is committing about £500,000 on the move, which includes a significant investment in new state of the art machinery.

The investment includes a computer-controlled manufacturing cell which is the first of its kind in the country.

DFK was launched in 1992 and employs 28 full-time staff.

Offices

Industrial 17 Old Leeds Road, off Leeds Road, Huddersfield 46 m2 – 218 m2 (503 sq ft – 2,350 sq ft)

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Highly prominent modern trade warehouse unit with parking on “outer ring road” near Plumb Centre.

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Industrial

Industrial Barncliffe Business Park, Shelley, Huddersfield 62 m2 – 678 m2 (667 – 7,298 sq ft)

Modern industrial unit with secure yard & internal offices.

Modern single storey warehouse/ industrial unit with good site loading and parking.

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Strategically located single storey factory/warehouse unit adjacent J25 M62.

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Low Mill Lane, Ravensthorpe Industrial Estate, Dewsbury 1,004 m2 (10,804 sq ft)

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Armytage Road Industrial Estate, Brighouse 5,575 m2 (60,006 sq ft) plus mezzanine 11,175 sq ft

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Part Providence Mill, Wormald Street, Heckmondwike 5,721 sq ft – 32,024 sq ft + adjacent compound (up to 1.73 acres) Cost effective industrial space with adjacent compound capable of being let from 0.5 acres upwards.

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

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Kerry Dawson & Rachel Hunter

Relay Recruitment A RECRUITMENT group in West Yorkshire has continued to build its commercial permanent staffing team by appointing South African staffing specialist Kerry Dawson (left) and welcoming back former consultant Rachel Hunter (right).

Ms Dawson joins the firm’s Leeds office from Kelly of Johannesburg, while Ms Hunter returns to the York branch after a year at Spring. They will head up the commercial permanent desks at each location.

Steven Street, managing director of Bradford-based Relay Recruitment, said: “In recent years, we have become an employer of choice for some of the industry’s top consultants.

“However, these arrivals are both notable. Nobody has travelled so far to join us before as Kerry, while Rachel is the eighth high-calibre consultant to return from an international recruitment provider to progress their career with us.”

Movers and shakers

Forum fires off the questions!

TWO new Conservative MPs were guests at a meeting of a group promoting best practice in the workplace.

Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney and Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell took part in a question and answer session at a meeting of the Huddersfield Best Practice Business Forum.

The event was held at the Shepley premises of camper van manufacturer Wellhouse Leisure.

Wellhouse managing director David Elliott helped set up the forum two years ago with support from Business Link to enable local companies to exchange ideas to help cope with the recession. The

forum meets four times a year with members taking turns to host the events.

Said Mr Elliott: “The idea of the latest meeting was to engage local politicians with local companies – especially with the impending closure of Yorkshire Forward and the loss of funding.”

Others taking part included representatives of government export support arm UK Trade & Investments, Business Link and the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

Mr Elliott said discussions covered proposals for the new Local Enterprise Partnerships as well as ways for local businesses to work with government agencies.

■ BEST BEHAVIOUR: Pictured at the Huddersfield Best Practice Business Forum are (from left) Richard Paxman, Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney, Philippa Coultish, Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell and David Elliott

Stairway to success!

Richard Covell

Deloitte DELOITTE has strengthened its northern forensic and dispute services team with the appointment of Richard Covell.

Mr Covell (pictured), who will lead development of the firm’s forensic technology services in the region, has 13 years’ experience in computer forensics, electronic disclosure and data analytics and their application to areas such as corporate investigations, regulatory matters and litigation.

He said: “In recent months, we have seen demand growing with companies and law firms increasingly looking to specialist consultants for support. Recent cases have involved investigation of the alleged removal of sensitive company information, handling the electronic disclosure requirements associated with litigation and supporting clients in responding to requests for information from regulators.”

Called to account ACCOUNTANCY firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has appointed 40 new graduates to work across its Yorkshire offices in Leeds, Hull and Sheffield.

The graduates, most of whom will be studying for the Association of Chartered Accountants qualification, will work in the firm’s assurance, business recovery, forensic, risk assurance, public sector, and tax departments.

Steve Denison, northern chairman at PwC, said: “PwC believes in fostering and retaining the region’s graduates along with supporting the local community.

“This will help to further strengthen our practice and our local expertise which in turn benefits our clients.”

Page 8

■ RISING STARS: Suzanne Johns (centre), with the Approach PR team of (from left) Verity Hudson, Vikki McCrindle, Michael Hodgson, Claire Moulds and Becky Armstrong A PUBLIC relations firm headed by a Spen Valley businesswoman has been shortlisted for three industry awards.

Approach PR, led by Gomersal woman Suzanne Johns, is in the running for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations annual PRide Awards, which celebrates the most talented agencies and outstanding campaigns in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Approach, which began as a sole trader business in Cleckheaton and expanded to a team of six PR professionals this summer, has been shortlisted for outstanding small consultancy, best use of media relations – with its “Dales does Bollywood” campaign for Skipton’s Rendezvous Hotel – and best newsletter for its Délifrance UK staff journal.

Approach has previously won six regional PR awards, including gold for best use of media relations, gold for corporate and business communications and silver for its charity and not-for-profit campaign. In January, the team was named national winner of the CIPR President’s Grand Prix Award for its execution of the Yorkshire Biz Awards.

Said Suzanne: “I’m incredibly proud of how the business has evolved from a back bedroom operation in 2001 to a multi-award winning, six-strong team.

“PR is an important part of any business strategy, particularly in this challenging climate and we’re all delighted that our campaigns, creativity and tangible results are once again being recognised by the very best in the public relations industry.”

Cutting comments KIRKLEES firms are getting a helping hand to cut costs – by improving their “green” credentials.

Business in the Community and the Yorkshire Bank are delivering a seminar on Wednesday, October 6, to show how easy it is to implement environmentally sustainable business practices.

The event, called The Business Case for Cutting Carbon, will look at the top 10 cost-free ways to reduce carbon, cut costs, identify the business benefits of going green and how to get further assistance and free environment benchmarking.

Senior business figures will share experiences of their own environmental upgrades and how there is a correlation between that and a reduction in costs.

Elizabeth Edgington, BiC’s environment campaign manager, said: “It’s important to take every opportunity to cut costs and grow profits. If we can do this by looking to our so-called green credentials, then we should take that opportunity.

“Some companies may have already embarked upon that path. If so, we can help them further. Being receptive to limiting a company’s environmental impact and making it more efficient is a sure fire way of maximising company profits.”

David Gold, a senior partner at Yorkshire Bank, said: “This seminar demonstrates the need to be pragmatic and to really look at every option to cut costs.”

The free seminar will be held at Yorkshire Bank’s West Yorkshire Financial Solutions Centre in Bradford.

Contact masuma.nadiem@bitc.org.uk or call 0113 2058226.