MARK STEWART
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FTSE 100 NICK GARTLAND +35.26 What’s in store for 2015? Column - Page 5 6585.53
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015
He’s ahead on points! Interview - Page 3
An EXAMINER publication
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
Deal activity among Yorkshire companies is set to grow during 2015, it is claimed. Grant Thornton’s transaction advisory services team in the North of England is predicting another year of growth in the region’s deals market after completing 30 merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in 2014 – including the sale of Dewsburybased Rixonway Kitchens. Partner Will Oxley said: “2015 has started with early momentum after a really busy 2014 building to a flurry of deals in the last quarter. “We anticipate increased deal-making activity as the economy strengthens further and confidence returns to the M&A community. “We are already starting to see signs that last year’s levels of deal activity in the North will continue into this year and that Yorkshire will play a central role.” Grant Thornton was recently ranked number two financial adviser by deals volume in Yorkshire by Experian Corpfin. Over the last 12 months, the Grant Thornton team worked on deals in a variety of sectors for regional and international corporates, private equity houses and other financial institutions.
Deals delivered by the team included the sale of Rixonway Kitchens in Dewsbury to Nobia AB and the disposal of Character World to Palatine Private Equity. It also provided financial and tax due diligence for the refinancing of Clayton West-based Adare Group by HSBC. Mr Oxley said: “2014 was another great year for us, continuing our growth across Yorkshire and the North West. “Not only have we attracted even more talented people into the team, we were able to take advantage of increased market activity, working closely with dynamic clients to support their growth plans. “According to the latest figures from Experian, there was a year-on-year increase in deals volume in Yorkshire of almost 10% and we are confident that this trend will continue in 2015. “Having established a strong presence in the local market, we believe that the expertise of our team and our strong track record, together with our commitment to outstanding client service, will enable us to continue to build on our success.”
■■ Will Oxley (right) is forecasting more corporate deals following a year which saw the takeover of Rixonway Kitchens
Last year, the Grant Thornton team also provided financial and tax due diligence for the management buy-out of Ramsdens Financial and vendor due diligence for the investment in Neville Johnson by Alcuin Capital Partners. Rixonway Kitchens, which employs more than 500 people at its Dewsbury headquarters, was sold by private equity firm August Equity to Stockholm-based Nobia AB in a deal which strengthens the Swedish firm’s presence in the UK market. Rixonway Kitchens is one of the UK’s
leading manufacturer of rigid kitchens for social housing and private developments as well as a major supplier to builders’ merchants. The company, which has manufactured kitchens since 1978, has revenues of about £40m. Adare Group, which operates in 32 countries. prints marketing and secure communication materials such as election voting forms, visitor passes and hospital patient records. It is made up of four specialist businesses – Adare International, Adare Ltd, Adare Advantage and Kalamazoo Secure Solutions.
Easilift looking forward to a bigger load of contracts A Huddersfield firm supplying loading bay equipment has reported an “exceptional” end to 2014 – with impressive order levels and profitability for the final quarter of the year. Lepton-based Easilift Loading Systems said investment in design, servicing and sales and marketing had been key drivers for its performance – notably in securing important contracts with major UK and European retailers, but also across a range of logistics providers. Managing director Rob Fay said: “There is renewed confidence across UK industries, with greater investment and increased orders – and when that happens companies need a reliable loading and unloading infrastructure.
■■ Distribution centre loading bays with equipment from Easilift Loading Systems Ltd
“The steps we have taken over the past 12 months have put us in a superb place to support our customers’ growth.” Said Mr Fay: “The Easilift Loading Systems ethos is that there is no ‘one size fits
all’ solution to loading bay requirements, making good design the bedrock of an efficient loading bay. “Bespoke configurations are essential to get the optimum performance out of a
warehouse or distribution centre, which is why our in-house design department is so integral to our success. We are delighted to have doubled the size of our design department in 2014, to support the new opportunities being generated.” Easilift has also commissioned a new fleet of vans and recruited additional service engineers to boost customer support. In September, 2014, the company also appointed Ray Phelan as its new commercial director with a remit to lead the sales and marketing functions. Mr Phelan had an immediate impact – with order intake, sales and profitability all substantially up during the final quarter of 2014 and a strong sales pipeline created moving into 2015.
Major signing Huddersfield-based Brantwood Financial Planning has staged a major industry coup with the appointment of Michael Woodhead as corporate development consultant. Mr Woodhead joins Brantwood co-founders Paul Dickinson and Christopher Brown to help steer continued growth across investment, pensions, tax and retirement planning for individuals and business owners across the North of England. Mr Woodhead is best known as joint founder of BWD, later Rensburg. He is also former chairman of property company Birkby and non-executive director of Tay Homes.
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Homes arranger A Huddersfield building company has secured two new contracts to get 2015 off to a good start. Termrim Construction, which employs 37 people and is based at Bradley, is set to begin building 210 new homes on sites in Pickering and Sheffield. The newly-awarded contracts are in addition to the 42 new homes Termrim currently has under construction across Yorkshire and the East Midlands – which will be handing over in the first half of 2015.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
national
Stricter drink-drive laws hit sales for Greene King Pub chain Greene King was left nursing a Hogmanay hangover after saying tougher drink-driving laws in Scotland hit sales. The group said like-for-like sales rose by 2% in the two weeks over Christmas and New Year across Britain, but fell north of the border where a new limit for getting behind the wheel has been introduced. It limits drivers to having 50mg of alcohol in blood, down from 80mg, making it lower than the rest of the UK. Poorer weather also had an effect on trade in Scotland, Greene King said. The Suffolk-based group said sales for the six weeks to January 11 were flat compared with the period the year before when they had performed strongly. Excluding Scotland, they were up by 0.6%. Chief executive Rooney Anand said: “Sales were encouraging in our retail business over the important two weeks covering Christmas and the
Bargain Booze owner Conviviality Retail fought off cut-price competition from supermarkets over Christmas as it boosted sales. The discount business, which has 599 off-licences and convenience stores, said franchise like-for-like sales rose by 1.2% in the two weeks to January 4 as trade grew “during the weeks when shoppers would have traditionally visited supermarkets.” Total sales over the period grew 2.6%. The Cheshire-based firm, which bought rival Wine Rack in 2013, said Christmas trading was a sign of customers shopping more frequently and in smaller amounts from local stores. Over a broader period, it said pretax profits rose by almost 47% to £3.2m in the 26 weeks to October 26 as it closed unprofitable stores, upgraded its flagship Bargain Booze chain and integrated the acquisition of 31 Rhythm and Booze outlets it bought last year. The business, which ahs Bargain Booze outlets at Marsh, Elland, Mirfield and Halifax said the strong Christmas period gave the group “confidence” that the second half of the year would deliver further profitable progress.
Year period, “indicating that value remains a key consideration for customers”. Meanwhile, it saw a record 780,000 Christmas bookings, up 3.5% on a like-for-like basis, achieving record retail sales of £3.4m on Christmas Day. Like-for-like sales for the 36 weeks to January 11 were up by 0.6% Greene King, based in Bury St Edmunds, runs about 1,900 pubs, restaurants and hotels in England, Wales and Scotland, including the Hungry Horse and Loch Fyne brands, and employs 23,000 people. It brews beers including Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale. Greene King is on course for a £774m takeover of rival Spirit Pub Company to create a firm with more than 3,000 managed and leased pubs. Mr Anand said that the exact timing of the deal remained uncertain, but it was working with the Competition and Markets Authority and expected it to complete by the end of the first half of this year.
■■ Greene King saw sales slide in Scotland but posted record Christmas bookings
New Year, despite a very tough comparative from last year and softer trading in Scotland, following the introduction of tougher drink-driving laws.” Mr Anand also pointed to a tough
Seasonal cheer for off-licences
consumer environment, with its latest tracker survey showing an 8% year-on-year fall in household leisure spending in November. Sales of prosecco rose by 78% over the two-week Christmas and New
Revenues sweeter for Thorntons
Cranswick puts focus on China
Chocolate retailer Thorntons has vowed to stick by its strategy after the struggles of a “couple of major grocers” offset a strong Christmas in its stores. The Derbyshire-based retailer, which has 247 shops, was forced to issue a profits warning on December 23 following weaker supermarket demand and teething problems at its new centralised warehouse. In a further update, it said it had been encouraged by a 7.8% increase in like-for-like sales for its retail estate during December amid strong demand for
A Yorkshire pork producer has flown the flag for UK food and drink as part of a groundbreaking trade trip to China. Bosses from Hull-based Cranswick Country Foods joined Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss on the visit, opening up access to China’s specialist food market, which is expected to be worth £39bn this year. Cranswick is already the biggest exporter of pork from the UK, producing about 500 tonnes of pork a week. The company exports £24m
boxed chocolates, seasonal specialities and advent calendars. However, a couple of struggling major grocers meant sales via commercial channels dipped by 10.3% to £41.9m in the 14 weeks to January 10. Thorntons, which has a store at the Piazza in Huddersfield, has relied on increasing commercial business as it comes to the end of a three-year plan that has seen it close dozens of its own stores. Chief executive Jonathan Hart said the firm remained
confident in its strategy and ongoing transformation. He said: “Good growth in many of our grocery, convenience and high street accounts and a strong performance from our retail division gives us confidence in shopper demand for our brand and products.” Teething problems at its new warehouse in Alfreton caused disruption for all its customers, but the firm has said the new depot is now working normally and would result in improved capacity and service to customers in the future.
of pork products to China every year and has set its sights on the country’s growing market for top-quality UK processed pork. Cranswick employs almost 8,000 people across 13 UK production facilities, and sources about 70% of its contracted pigs within Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. Last year was a record for the UK food chain, with the industry contributing £103bn to the UK’s growing economy. In 2014, alone UK food and drink exports reached a
record 150 countries worldwide, with producers selling wine to France, chillies to Pakistan and ice to Sweden. Nick Mitchell, trading director at Cranswick, said: “For us, the visit is an opportunity to strengthen our business in China even further, but also to push for the market to be opened up even more to allow us to export pigs’ trotters, which we think could potentially bring in further financial benefits to be shared with the rest of the UK’s pig producers.”
SHARE PRICES MNORTH AMERICAN
American Express Chevron Du Pont Exxon Mobil Gannett Hess Corp Microsoft Motors Liquidation Wal-Mart Stores Wrigleys
AEROSPACE & DEFENCE
Avon Rbbr BAE Systems Chemring Cobham Meggitt Rolls-Royce Senior
AIM
600 Group API Grp Brady Plc Highland Gold Mining Johnson Service Grp London Security M”S Intl Nichols Redhall Group Scapa Grp Youngs GKN
Barclays Bk Ireland HSBC Lloyds Banking Gp Ryl Scotland Stan Chart
£56.84 £69.45 £49.05 £60.20 £20.35 £46.26 £30.55 49.55 £57.32 £52.83 788 4883/4 231 3251/8 5121/2 8691/2 309
+3 +47/8 +31/2 +23/8 +31/2 +81/2 +3
153/8 47 821/2 401/4 661/4 £233/8 1341/2 1046 111/2 135 1044
-1/8
AUTOMOBILES & PARTS BANKS
Barr (AG) Diageo SABMiller
3651/2
+2 -63/4 -1/4 +1 +4 +1 +14 +95/8
Croda Elementis 98 Johnsn Mat
230 231/4 5961/4 745/8 369 9111/2
BEVERAGES
+55/8 +21/4 +1/4 +6 +107/8
607 /2 +11 /2 19001/2 +9 £337/8 1
CHEMICALS
£273/8 2871/2 £351/8
+1/4 +11/4 +5/8
206 /8 1557 2883/4 501/4 2361/2
+2 /8 +49 -21/4 +1/4 -11/4
3573/8 1489
-5/8 -8
CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS
Balfour Beatty C”R”H Costain Low Bonar Marshalls Drax Gp SSE
1
1
ELECTRICITY
1
ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Domino Ptg Laird Morgan Advanced Ox Instmts Volex
640 304 3013/8 1116 69
+2 -23/4 +5/8 +20 +3
EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS
Alliance Trust Br Assets Candover Inv Dunedin Inv
4841/4 1271/2 3731/2 2573/4
+33/4 +1/2 +31/2 -13/4
Dunedin Sml Edin Invst Electra Private Equity Forgn & C Henderson Smllr Cos North American Inc Scot Am Scottish Mortgage Witan
183 656 £301/8 4355/8 564 8801/2 2431/2 2435/8 761
+3
Carclo 97 /2 +2 /4 +31/8 Marshalls 2361/2 -11/4 3 1 +1 National Grid 921 / +4 /2 8 +1/2 Weir Gp 1696 +9 +11/2 +2 FTSE closed at +5 1
FIXED LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
BT Grp Cable & Wireless Comm Colt Group KCOM Talktalk Telecom
4113/4 50 1283/8 813/4 3151/4
+23/4 +3/4 -11/2 -21/4 +31/2
1911/2 2571/2 2213/8 83
-11/4 +3/4 +23/8 +4
FOOD & DRUG RETAILERS
Morrison W Sainsbury Tesco Thorntons AB Food Carrs Millg REA Hldgs Tate Lyle Unilever
FOOD PRODUCERS
£311/8 147 331 645 £271/4
+1/4 -6 -2 -6 -1/8
2643/4 9213/8 902 £211/4 962
-1/8 +41/2 +101/2
GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIES
Centrica National Grid Pennon Grp Severn United Utils 3i Group
GENERAL FINANCIAL 439
Smith Nph
Local shares
-21/2 +23/4
3
6585.53 up 35.26
Close Bros ICAP London StockExch Man Group Provident Financial Schroders Schroders NV
1500 4481/4 £227/8 1611/4 £243/4 £261/2 £203/8
+1 +1/4 +1/4 -1/8 +1/2 +1/4 +1/4
3203/8 1082
+11/8 -6
GENERAL INDUSTRIALS
Smith DS Smiths Grp
GENERAL RETAILERS
Ashley L Dixons Carphone Home Retail Inchcape Kingfisher M & S Mothercare Next Signet Jewelers WH Smith
29 4461/2 2013/4 7001/2 3273/4 4631/4 179 £69 £823/8 1330
+19 +41/8 +1/2 +93/4 +91/4 +1/2 +3/8 +7
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
1192
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Aga Rangemaster Barrat Dev Bellway Persimmon Reckitt Benckiser Taylor Wimpey
108 /4 4331/2 1754 1487 £533/4 128 1
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Fenner I”M”I Molins Renold Spirax-Sarco Weir Grp Ferrexpo
2083/4 1245 811/2 581/2 £301/8 1696
+16 +1 +73/8 +43 +38 +3 +11/4 +13 -1/2 +5/8 +9
INDUSTRIAL METALS 551/4
INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION
BBA Aviation
356 /2
+9 /2
511 386 2533/4 1935/8 15101/2 397
+41/2 +41/2 +33/8 +17/8 +11 +3
852 2243/4 162 1228 1114 928 3683/4
+21 +51/4 -1/4 +7 +12 +71/2 -11/4
1
LIFE INSURANCE
Aviva Friends Life Gp Lgl & Gen Old Mutual Prudential Standard Life
D Mail Tst ITV Johnston Press Pearson Reed Elsevier Sky STV Group
MEDIA
-1/4 1
Trinity Mirror Utd Business UTV WPP
1661/4 507 1921/8 1400
MINING
Anglo American Antofagasta BHP Billiton Fresnillo Kaz Minerals Lonmin Rio Tinto VEDANTA RESOURCES
10891/2 6931/2 1368 876 195 1751/2 £281/2 397
+4 +31/2 -27/8 +15 -10 +21/2 -20 -81/2 +7/8 +33/8 -3/8 -83/8
MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Inmarsat Vodafone Group
825 2291/2
+5 +15/8
1452 920 £371/2 4481/8
-2 +1/2
NONLIFE INSURANCE
Admiral Grp Jardine LloydThomson Marsh McL RSA Ins Gp
OIL & GAS PRODUCERS
BG BP Cairn Energy Premier Oil Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B Total Tullow Oil
855 /8 4087/8 1823/4 1461/4 £211/4 £215/8 £33 3691/2 1
OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES
AMEC Petrofac Wood Gp(J)
+1/4 +25/8 -41/2 +41/4 +53/4 +1/8 -1/4 +43/4
10553/8 626 +161/2 552 +10
PERSONAL GOODS
Burberry Gp PZ Cussons
1670 3095/8
+12 +13/4
£471/4 1439 £475/8
+1/8 +8 +5/8
8011/2 7571/2 653 3443/4 1239 4033/4
+11/2 +71/2 +31/2 -1/4 +5 +23/4
PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY
Astrazeneca GlaxoSmithKline Shire
REAL ESTATE
Brit Land Gt Portland Hamrsn Intu Properties Land Secs SEGRO
SOFTWARE & COMPUTER SERVICES
Sage Group
469
SUPPORT SERVICES
Berendsen Bunzl Capita Connect Group De La Rue Elctro Com Electrocomp Experian G4S Hays Homeserve Interserve Menzies J Northgate Prem Farnell Rentokil Travis & P
1106 1870 1092 1411/4 5181/2 2031/2 2031/2 1155 2833/8 1501/2 330 5141/2 360 598 161 1241/2 1852
-1/4
+20 +17 +21 -21/2 +3 +3/8 +3/8 +10 +37/8 +6 +5 +7 +9 -4 +1 /4 +68 1
Wolseley
£37
+3/4
TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT
ARM Hldgs IBM Spirent Comms
TOBACCO
Br Am Tob Imperial Tobacco
1017 £1033/4 893/4
+61/4
£36 £291/2
+1/8 +1/2
1081/4 £301/4 1108 1612 112 1027/8 £241/4 7881/2 £261/4 495 112 1453/8 436 2603/8 111 160 6921/2 7471/8 3521/8 £48 3765/8
+31/4 +1/4 +15 +12 +31/8 -7/8
TRAVEL & LEISURE
Bwin.Party Digital Carnival Compass Grp easyJet Enterprise Inns FirstGroup Go-Ahead Gp Greene King Intercontl Htls Intl Cons Airl Ladbrokes Marston’s Mitchells & Butlers Natl Express Punch Taverns Rank Org Restaurant Grp Ryanair Stagecoach Group Whitbread William Hill FTSE 100 FTSE 250
INDEX
+27
+11/2 +1/4 +33/4 +2 +41/2 +61/4 +13/8 +13/4 +2 +9 +81/2 -33/4 +3/8 +67/8
6585.53 +35.26 16067.19 +144.68
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HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
profile
Knockout move is just right for Mark He’s boxing clever in the world of finance. Now – at the age of 50 – Mark Stewart plans to hang up his gloves after boxing since his teenage years. But he’s still aiming to pack a punch when it comes to working for his clients’ interests as director of Huddersfield-based Sheards Wealth Management. Mark, who hails from Stalybridge, joined the firm as an equity partner seven years ago following a career in insurance. “When I was at school, I wanted to be a deck chair attendant so I could meet pretty girls at the seaside!” he jokes. “Actually, I was into biological sciences, which interested me at school. “But I went to Australia for my 22nd birthday with a friend who had worked for Refuge Assurance. He told me about his job and that interested me – and I decided that was what I wanted to do.” Mark joined Refuge Assurance when he was 23 and knocked on doors “selling kiddies’ policies and endowments”. Later, he worked for Prudential before joining Towry Law, where he also became an independent financial adviser. “I was at Towry Law for nine years,” he says. “Eventually, we were taken over and the new owners changed the way we did things. “I was approached by a former boss and I went to work for him for about nine months. While I was there, the opportunity came up to join Sheards Wealth Management. “I have always fancied having an equity stake in a business. It’s the sort of thing that motivates you to get up early in the mornings and keeps you up late into the night.” Mark certainly puts in the hours. He says: “I will work from home occasionally, but I will get into the office for 7.30 and review what needs doing for the day. “There might be a couple of client meetings – and there’s always a barrage of emails.” The firm has personal and business clients, many of them
already clients of accountancy firm Sheards, which shares ofices with the wealth management business at New North Road. “There’s a real synergy between us,” says Mark. Sheards Wealth Management has a good number of clients and is winning more by marketing its activities. Despite living on “the other side of the hill” Mark has strong connections with West Yorkshire’s business community. “At Towry Law, I was based at St Paul’s Street in Leeds,” he says. “I’m also a member of the BNI networking group that meets in Brighouse. I have been going to BNI for five or six years. “We get some business from it, but it’s about sowing seeds all the time and hoping something will grow from it.” One thing to grow from BNI membership has been Mark’s involvement with ActionCOACH –a way of supporting people in business to help them become more effective in their roles. Mark heard ActionCOACH founder Brad Sugars speaking at an event and was impressed by what he had to say. In essence, Action Coaching helps owners of small and medium-sized businesses with their sales, marketing, management, team building and more. Like a sports coach, an Action
Mark Stewart
MarkCoach pushes business people to achieve their optimum performance and provides support and advice. Says Mark: “If you are running a business, you don’t get any training in that. It’s like being a parent, no one tells you what you should be doing. “That’s where Action Coaching helps. A lot of the things it helps you with should be obvious – but aren’t – such as setting goals, having a strategy, setting timescales and sticking to them. “My role is as a financial consultant, but I’m also a business owner – and they are different kinds of work. It’s like the mechanic who opens a garage and works as a mechanic, but doesn’t properly run the business.” A calendar on the wall in Mark’s office is covered in yellow and pink sticky notes – each relating to a task or deadline to meet as part of the ActionCOACH “regime”. Says Mark: “We do a full day setting goals for the first quarter, then we have fortnightly Skype meetings to see how we are progressing. That alone helps you to stick to what you say you are going to do.” In a still-uncertain economic environment, Mark says some business bosses are failing to plan properly. “I know people running businesses who don’t even have a diary,” he says.
■■ Mark Stewart is focusing on finance at Sheards Wealth Management
“But they are operating in a competitive environment – and if you are sleeping, there’s always someone else getting up early and doing things right.” Commenting on the economic outlook, Mark says: “I heard someone saying that 2015 could be worse than 2008 because everything hinges on the US dollar and there’s nothing behind that. It’s another bubble that’s going to burst. “I am more optimistic than that. Not every business is ‘cyclical’ and if things go wrong, it is sometimes more to do with the management of the company than the economics. We look after some very good businesses which are doing very well.” If Mark exhibits a sense of selfdiscipline in his work, it could have something to do with his main hobby outside the office – boxing. “My brother used to box and that got me interested,” he says. “I started when I was 18 or 19 and I have been in a number of semipro fights – these days at cruiserweight.” His claim to fame is boxing in Australia against a fighter who went on to become the country’s heavyweight champion and was ranked 10th in the world. Mark has vowed to pull off the gloves for good this year as far as competition boxing goes following his 50th birthday. But he intends to help out as a sparring partner for younger fighters at the gym where he trains in Bury in order to give something back to the sport. “I don’t like the idea of getting hurt,” he says. “But once you’re in the ring you don’t think about it. I have never had any serious injuries – I’ve had worse injuries playing rugby.” So what’s the appeal of boxing? “You have to rely on yourself,” says Mark. “It’s good for self-disciple. If you can push yourself in the gym, you can push yourself in business. I “t also helps boost your confidence. Some guys come to the gym for the first time and they’re very nervous. They put the gloves on and become a lot more confident.”
Role: Director Age: 50 Family: Daughters Talia, 21 and Cory 19 Car: Mitsubishi Outlander Holidays: I visit Australia where my brother lives and Lapland. I like the extremes of temperature First job: Working at a factory making shirts for Marks & Spencer. I had to cut out the templates for the collars and cuffs. I worked there for three years before going to Australia Best thing about the job? I like meeting people and I love what I do. Every day brings something different Worst thing about the job? We are a very heavily regulated industry, which can be onerous Business tip: Be the first one into the office and the last to leave – and forget about the long lunches!
Sheards Wealth Management Work: Financial advice Site: New North Road, Huddersfield Phone: W01484 448019 Email: markstewart@sheards.co.uk Web: www. sheardswealthmanagement.co.uk
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4
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
local
KIRKLEES BUS
■■ Ryanair says it may expand further in Yorkshire
Ryanair set for a summer take-off Ryanair has underlined its commitment to Leeds Bradford Airport – as it unveils its summer schedule of flights from Yorkshire’s major airport. The budget airline will operate 21 routes from Leeds Bradford – where it has three aircraft and almost 1,000 employees – with destinations including Spain, the South of France, Greece, Malta, Gdansk, Cracow and Riga. Ryanair chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said the airline, which accounts for 26% of traffic at the airport, saw Leeds Bradford as a major part of its plans for further expansion. This year, the company expects more than 90m people to travel with Ryanair to and from its UK locations. “We have an airline
with 302 aircraft and we have orders for 380 in the next two years,” he said. “We want to be number one in the UK market and every UK airport is important to us. “The North of England has seen under-investment and we can bring a lot to Yorkshire. “It is possible we could grow further at Leeds Bradford.” Tony Hallwood, aviation development director at Leeds Bradford, said: “Ryanair are a great partner. “We brought them on board almost 19 years ago and they have grown dramatically in the last three or four years. “We have exciting plans to increase passenger numbers from 3.3m today to 5m-plus by the end of the decade and Ryanair can provide a significant part of that.”
Self-assessment deadline nearing People required to complete self-assessment tax returns have been urged to do it now – or risk costly penalties. Nigel Westman (pictured), partner at chartered accountancy firm Clough & Company in Cleckheaton, said anyone with a taxable income that isn’t covered by PAYE must complete their self-assessment tax returns in time for the January 31 deadline. He said: “It’s already too late to file a paper return, so people now only have until January 31 to file it online. Anyone who is late will face fines ranging from £100 to £1,000. The fines for not submitting the tax return are a lot higher than a late payment, so it’s essential they are completed on time.” Mr Westman also warned people completing a tax return for the first time to register on HM Revenue & Customs’ website now as it can take a week or so for a
new tax reference to be posted out. He said: “HMRC send a unique Taxpayer Reference number that will enable a person to complete their registration and start filling out the tax return – but this comes in the post so there’s inevitably a delay between registering and being able to complete the return. “Everything that has been earned from April 6, 2013, to April 5, 2014, must be included, so income from employment, self-employment, rental income and other income or gains including interest on savings or investments must be declared.”
Common pitfalls are easy to avoid The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates, researches and enforces health and safety across Great Britain. To further its mission, the HSE visits millions of businesses. Unfortunately, as HSE inspectors travel from business to business, certain health and safety mistakes pop up again and again. These mistakes devastate lives, cause suffering and grief, and cost society billions of pounds every year through lost working days. In the course of its work, the HSE has identified the following nine basic health and safety mistakes as the mistakes that are most crippling to British industry: Poorly maintained or misused ladders – almost a fifth of reportable falls from height in the workplace are from ladders. Maintain your ladders and periodically train your employees on safe ladder procedures. Dangerous work at height – about one in every 12 recordable injuries in Britain’s workplaces is the result of a fall. Ensure your employees know the difference between safe and unsafe work at height. Inadequate safety guards on machines – just one simple machine guard can prevent mutilation and save countless lives.
RISKY BUSINESS
■■ Gary Donlon, direct operations at Jermyn C
Mark Weeks
Badly organised workplace transport – institute simple rules in order to safeguard employees, such as keeping people away from moving vehicles. Exposure to deadly asbestos fibres – asbestos is still a threat that your employees should know how to avoid. Exposure to toxic paint vapours – proper extraction and suitable masks
can slash your workers’ risk of developing asthma from paint vapours. Creating clouds of silica dust – implement dust control measures to save employees from irreversible lung disease. Damage caused by vibrating power tools – identify measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome. Unhygienic or non-existent welfare facilities – workers need access to clean facilities such as toilets and kitchen areas. Filthy facilities breed germs and diseases and result in subsequent fines for the employer. A thorough risk assessment can help you to take control and manage accidents before they happen. Our team of risk management advisers can help you by providing advice and help with risk assessments in your business.
Mark Weeks is a risk management consultant at Wilby Ltd
Firms are failing to review their finances More than a third of small and medium-sized businesses in Yorkshire have never changed their finance provider, it has emerged. Reasons cited for not changing financial provider include not having time to review their financial strategy and being unsure of their options. The findings come from the Close Brothers Business Barometer, a quarterly survey that canvasses the opinion of SME owners and senior management across the UK. Lee Hayes, regional sales director for Close Brothers Invoice Finance in Yorkshire, said: “It’s worrying that so many SMEs don’t appear to
be regularly appraising their business finance, which is arguably a little complacent. “Cash flow is the life blood of any healthy business and so it stands to reason that financial strategy should be reviewed regularly throughout the life cycle of the business to ensure that the funding in place still meets current business requirements. “Without taking the time to properly assess their situation and understand the full range of financial options available to them, SME owners and managers could miss out on opportunities for growth as the funding they have in place may not be fit for purpose.”
Of those local SMEs that have switched providers in the last 10 years, over a quarter have moved from a high street bank to an alternative lender. And of that number, 38% say they changed because alternative lenders offer greater flexibility, while a quarter believe alternative sources of finance are less expensive than traditional lending. Said Mr Hayes: “Invoice finance is one such type of alternative finance and according to recent findings by the Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA), its use amongst businesses is at an all-time high. “However, our research shows that there continues
■■ Close Brothers’ Lee Hayes
to be a lack of awareness amongst small and mediumsized businesses in the region, with a quarter of those we talked to admitting they don’t understand how invoice finance works.”
Performance coach links up with agency Brighouse agency Faith PR has been appointed to work with performance coach and speaker Deborah Ogden. Deborah, who is based in Huddersfield but works across the UK, has 15 years of experience working on the PR and image of some high
profile names including cricketer Andrew Flintoff, Lancashire’s Old Trafford Cricket Ground and former Holm firth-based CragRats. She also works with leadership teams and corporate individuals to enhance their “executive presence” and gravitas.
The account win coincides with Faith PR’s recent move back to Brighouse having outgrown its previous Birstall base. Said Deborah: “Raising my profile is an important part of my business growth strategy and Faith PR seem well-placed to help me
achieve this based on their experience and reputation.” Faith PR director Stefanie Hopkins said: “Our focus will be to ensure our support directly benefits Deborah by promoting her corporate work and extending her speaker profile to the business scene.”
Consult comes t
A leading business co moved to larger office looks to implement growth strategy. Jermyn Consulting brates 15 years of pro port to UK and inte moved to the Media C land Street as it looks en its customer base. Traditionally strong tion and technology sulting is now expan business sectors, inc ices and the SME mar To support this the previously Midlandssenior key specialists ther expansion. “When we started i were mostly in Londo erly customer was ba managing director G have customers from bury and Plymouth a Paris. A move to a mo the UK was logical an Gary Donlon, direc ations, said: “Jermyn mous with impleme ness continuity and solutions and we h organisations in the robust systems. “More recently, we appetite of a wider including dynamic S ience and security in they go for growth and “We have also exp services to include im national standards 27001. A central bas and deploy more effe Said Mr Donlon: “ Huddersfield support lent accommodation Being strategically loc good communication UK it allows us to dev ther and we are now next phase of our grow
Whole n
A commercial furnitu ufacturer in Huddersfi Connection, based been given new bran site. The new look, prov marketing agency Th includes a new logo, c tography and clear expanded range of pro
5
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015
SINESS NEWS
tor of consulting Consulting
tancy to town
ontinuity company has es in Huddersfield as it the next phase of its
g, which this year celeoviding business supernational clients, has Centre in Northumbers to expand and broad. g in the higher educasectors, Jermyn Connding into other key cluding financial servrket. company – which was -based – has appointed s and has plans for fur-
in 2000 our customers on and the most northased in Warwick,” said George Hall. “We now m Aberdeen to Canteras well as Dublin and ore central location in nd inevitable.” ctor of consulting operConsulting is synonyenting workable busiinformation security have supported many eir implementation of
e have recognised the range of businesses, SMEs, to embed resilnto their operations as d development. panded our range of mplementation of interISO 22301 and ISO se allows us to recruit ectively.” “The Media Centre in ts our plans with exceln and room to grow. cated in Yorkshire with n links to the rest of the velop our services furw better placed for the wth plan.”
new look
ure designer and manfield has a new look. d at Fenay Bridge, has nding and a new web-
vided by Leeds-based The Individual Agency, colourways, new phovisual signage to an oducts and services.
local
What’s in store for markets in 2015? 2015 is likely to witness a continued battle between the forces of recovery and deflation with the result that markets will continue to be more volatile. We look at some of the key themes that are driving the markets at this time and are likely to have continued impact throughout the year. The main topics on investors’ agendas currently are the impending rise in US interest rates and the effects of the lower oil price. US interest rates are important because the dollar remains the world’s reserve currency despite some diversification into Euros and even Chinese renminbi more recently. Dollar interest rates have been effectively zero since 2009 in response to the financial crisis and it is not clear how raising the price of money will affect the global economy and financial markets. The Federal Reserve (the Fed) has “printed” more dollars than have been required to fund growth and the surplus liquidity has been channelled into financial and physical assets. Unlike in previous cycles the Fed will be starting from a position where interest rates are lower than inflation, so-called negative real interest rates, so policy will hardly be tight by historical standards. However, markets are often more concerned with changes of direction and the trend of future movements and it is this transition that promises to introduce uncertainty. Of course, we cannot dismiss the fact that at the beginning of 2014 the majority opinion was that the Fed would raise rates within the year and that has not happened. It is certainly not beyond the bounds of possibility that the situation is replayed in 2015 if growth disappoints. Another imponderable is the fact that for the first time in several years the world’s major central banks could be pulling in opposing directions. While the Fed might be raising rates, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will still be imposing extreme-
CITY TALK Nick Gartland ly loose monetary conditions. The BOJ is already committed to Quantitative Easing and the ECB is contemplating such measures. Both Europe and Japan are struggling to achieve growth and inflation remains perilously close to zero as historic debt burdens and poor demographics (ageing populations) deter consumers from borrowing. It remains to be seen whether a newly printed Euro or Yen has the same stimulatory power as a newly printed dollar, but the differential in policies will continue to exert downward pressure on both the Euro and the Yen. The pound remains caught between the two extremes, with the cooling housing market and uncertainty about the outcome of May’s general election offsetting a still resilient economy which at last offers the promise of wage growth. We remain of the opinion that central banks are keenly aware of the risks of tightening policy too early or too quickly and will continue to err on the side of too much stimulus than too little. The falling oil price was initially viewed as an unequivocally positive influence, effectively delivering a “tax cut” to squeezed consumers the world over. However the magnitude and speed of the fall threatened to upset other parties, causing widespread disruption. The most significant casualty was Russia,
a country that was already under pressure from international sanctions following its annexation of Crimea. As a significant exporter of oil it is extremely reliant on those revenues to balance its books. The rouble fell from around 35 to the dollar to almost 70 at one point, but recovered following an interest rate rise from 10.5% to 17%. The outcome will be a severe recession in Russia which will test President Putin’s resolve, but this also makes his future actions even more difficult to predict. Another victim of the oil price was the High Yield bond market, where significant sums of money had been raised by companies drilling for shale oil in the US. Lower oil prices threaten the financial viability of these companies, and that concern sent tremors through the whole asset class. The negative interpretation of these events is that the threat of headline deflation, exacerbated by lower energy costs, will tempt consumers to defer purchases in the hope of lower prices in future. A more benign perspective is that consumers will react positively to the extra cash in their pockets. We tend towards the latter view while acknowledging the threat of deflation by retaining holdings of sovereign bonds as insurance against a more deflationary outcome.
Nick Gartland, Senior Financial Planning Director, Investec Wealth & Investment
Julian Richer tunes in to join Barclays’ business club event Kirklees companies are urged to find out more about the digital world – and hear from one of industry’s colourful characters. Julian Richer, founder of the UK’s biggest hi-fi retailer Richer Sounds, hit the headlines two years ago when he revealed that his workforce would inherit his company on his death. Now he is scheduled as guest speaker at the first meeting of 2015 for the Huddersfield Digital Business Club. The event will take place from 6pm to 8.30pm on Tuesday, January 27, at Barclays Bank, Market Place in Huddersfield. The free event, which is open to all businesses, will include a forum on digital innovation and an interactive showcase of technology and innovation. Issues covered will include search engine optimisation, making social media work for your business through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and the chance to interact with some local innovative businesses. Barclays Business Digital Eagles will show how to connect with your customers in a digital world. Email matt.h.caie@barclays.com
Let’s get back to some networking It’s billed as networking made easy. The first MyNetwork event of 2015 will take place tomorrow from 9am to 11am at the Media Centre, Northumberland Street. The monthly get-togethers are free to attend and are held on the third Wednesday of every month. They are supported by the Lockwood-based Mid Yokshire Chamber of Commerce, law firm Ramsdens, the Media Centre, Better Teleconms and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. For details, contact Sally Mitchell, marketing assistant at Ramsdens, on 01484 558066.
From Elland to Dubai An Elland firm is set to show off its products on the world stage. Drive Medical Ltd, based at Ainley Industrial Estate, will showcase its range of wheelchairs, bathing aids and paediatric equipment – including the brand new Expedition Plus Wheelchair - at the Arab Health Exhibition in Dubai. The event takes place from January 26 to 29 and it billed as the largest healthcare exhibition and medical congress in the Middle East. The Expedition Plus Wheelchair, which is part of its travel range, has a host of features. Alongside it on the stand will be the firm’s paediatric Trekker Gait Trainer, which teaches the individual to take steps independently. Alan Sullivan, sales and
marketing manager at Drive Medical, said: “We are pleased to be exhibiting at Arab Health for the seventh year. All our products have undergone extensive research and development to ensure we offer quality products that offer excellent value. “We look forward to meeting with existing customers, contacts we have met at previous Arab Health shows and potential new customers.” At Arab Heath, Drive Medical Ltd aims to speak to hospital and private nursing home supply companies, mobility retailers and distributors based throughout the Middle East. The company is particularly interested in opportunities in Saudi Arabia as well as in Iran.
Wealth & Investment. A wealth of know-how With more than 150 years’ experience of serving clients by investing their money wisely, Investec Wealth & Investment have the knowledge and expertise you need regarding your investments, pensions or other financial matters. Please bear in mind that the value of investments and the income derived from them can go down as well as up and that you may not get back the amount that you have put in. For further information please visit our website, call Simon Kaye on 0113 245 4488 or email simon.kaye@investecwin.co.uk investecwin.co.uk Individuals
International
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Member firm of the London Stock Exchange. Member of NYSE Liffe. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Investec Wealth & Investment Limited is registered in England. Registered No. 2122340. Registered Office: 2 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QP.
6
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
Energy-saving homes on view
What’s on the menu?
Brighouse-based eco-specialist Ploughcroft, is inviting homeowners to the official opening of two unique houses in Sowerby Bridge. The Mayor of Calderdale, Clr Patrician Allen, will attend the first of two open days, which take place on Friday and Saturday while Ploughcroft founder Chris Hopkins will also be available to answer questions. The two century-old stone houses in Corporation Street have been fitted with roof, wall and floor insulation to enable the owners to cut hundreds of pounds off their energy bills.
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman has taken a look at Huddersfield’s revamped McDonald’s restaurant. Franchisee Pritpal Singh gave Mr Sheerman the low-down on the work to transform the restaurant at Kirkgate – which has created five jobs. The work, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the restaurant, included a high-tech makeover – making it one of the first in the country to feature innovative selfservice ordering kiosks, digital menu boards and tables with Samsung tablets built in for customers to enjoy. The redesign also includes McDonald’s signature style with a bright,
modern interior and exterior design, comfortable seating and free Wi-Fi. McDonald’s employees also benefit from improved kitchen facilities and a new “crew room” with comfortable seating, a television and a computer. Crew can use the area to study for nationally recognised qualifications in maths or English. “My staff and I were really pleased to have the opportunity to welcome Barry Sheerman into our newly transformed restaurant,” said Pritpal. “He got the chance to see the new look and feel of the restaurant and he even took the opportunity to place an order via one of our new self-service ordering kiosks.”
Visit our Auction Site for the latest news!
Waterside Redevelopment Opportunity
Fern Mills, 5-7 Old Leeds Road, Huddersfield, HD1 1SE
12,000 sq ft canalside building close to town centre. Suitable for a variety of uses STPP.
Potential Housing Site
1.24 acres, Healey Lane, Batley, WF17 8BN
Former garden nursery. Planning application submitted for 15 houses.
Guide Price: £300,000 – £375,000
Guide Price: £100,000 – £125,000
Residential/Student Investment
Character Office Building/Residence
10 Kings Mill Lane, Huddersfield, HD1 3AN
Westfields, Westfields Road, Mirfield,WF14 9PW
3,106 sq ft period building very close to University. Potential £50,000 pa income post refurbishment.
4,000 sq ft (approx) property with planning consent for change of use from offices to residential. Pleasant parkland setting – close to town centre.
Guide Price: £200,000 – £250,000
Prime Housing Site Subject to Planning Consent
Guide Price: £275,000 – £325,000
Potential Housing Site
Battye Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1PL
Westfields, Westfields Road, Mirfield, WF14 9PW 2 acre parkland site in popular low density area. Planning application submitted for 11 detached dwellings.
Small corner plot in popular residential location close to town centre. Planning application submitted for two 3 bed houses.
Guide Price: £600,000 – £700,000
Guide Price: £20,000 – £30,000
Former Denby Dale Nursery School
Residential Renovation Opportunity
Wakefield Road, Denby Dale, HD8 8RX
5,000 sq ft traditional school house on 0.39 acre corner site in village centre. Suitable for a variety of uses STPP. Planning application submitted for residential conversion.
Guide Price: £200,000 – £250,000
Edgerton Cemetery Lodge
109 Blacker Road, Edgerton, Huddersfield, HD2 2AX
3 bedroom former groundman’s cottage requiring renovation, in popular residential area.
Guide Price: £75,000 – £95,000
VARIOUS FORMER PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
Suitable for various alternative uses, i.e. retail, office etc, subject to appropriate planning approvals.
39 Knowsley Street, Bradford, BD3 9LN
2 bedroom stone built back to back dwelling, just off Leeds Road, requiring comprehensive renovation.
Guide Price: £5,000 – £10,000
Retail/A5 Investment Opportunity 1 Barum Top, Halifax, HX1 1NL
Retail/hot food takeaway investment next to Wetherspoons in town centre. Rental £12,140 pa exc. Upper parts suitable for residential STPP.
Guide Price: £135,000 plus
Paddock Grazing and Woodland Lower Edge Road, Elland, HX5 9PL
5.17 acres, suitable for agricultural, equestrian and leisure activities subject to relevant planning consents. In rural location yet 5 minutes drive from J24 M62 motorway.
Guide Price: £25,000 – £35,000
Carr Lane, Slaithwaite
Morley Lane, Milnsbridge
Guide Price: £30,00 – £40,000
Guide Price: £5,000 – £10,000
Picturesque village centre location next to canal.
Moor Bottom, Honley
Close to village centre with on-site parking.
Guide Price: £10,000 – £15,000
Fronting busy thoroughfare, close to centre.
Market Street, Birstall
Just off Market Place. On-site parking, planning application submitted for retail with residential over.
Guide Price: £20,000 – £30,000
■■ MP Barry Sheerman (left) with Pritpal Singh at McDonald’s in Huddersfield
Fewer firms face financial distress
The construction sector in Yorkshire is showing signs of recovery, according to new research. A report by insolvency trade body R3 found that the sector was performing better in the region than in many other parts of the UK. R3 said Yorkshire had the third lowest level of construction firms with a higher than normal risk of insolvency this month – with just 24.3% or 4,219 firms in this position compared with a national figure of 26%. While the regional figure is 1% higher than for December, the previous two months saw slight falls
of about 0.3%. Yorkshire and Humber was also among the topperforming regions in the manufacturing sector with only 17.4% of businesses at higher than normal risk compared with the national figure of 20%. The hotel sector in the region also experienced a continuing decrease in businesses at risk, falling by 2.7% to 16.4% compared with 18.5% across the UK. “The construction industry was amongst those hardest hit by the recession and has proved slow to recover,” said Chris Wood, Yorkshire R3 committee member and part-
ner at Clough Corporate Solutions in Cleckheaton. “While it is too early to talk of a sustained improvement, any positive signs are encouraging. “As one of the prime drivers for economic recovery, it is good to see that construction in our region is performing relatively well compared with many other parts of the UK.” He said: “Other sectors in Yorkshire, particularly manufacturing and hotels, are continuing to put in a strong performance and it is hoped that the recovery will prove less patchy as we build on last year’s economic growth.”
New scheme for Unite Students A company with student accommodation in Huddersfield has a new site for development. Unite Students, which includes Saw Mill at King’s Mill Lane among its sites, has acquired a development site – subject to planning – in the centre of Coventry where it is planned to provide accommodation for about 280 students. Unite Students hopes to open the complex in time for the 2017/18 academic year. The scheme is expected to achieve returns in line with Unite’s targets for
regional development and the total development cost, including the cost of the land, is expected to be about £13m. The centrally located site is next to an existing Unite property, which opened in 2007. Once complete, it will be part of a 1,000-strong student complex on the doorstep of Coventry University. Richard Simpson, managing director of property for Unite Students, said: “We are delighted to have secured another excellent site in a strong regional location in line with our development strategy. “
Drainage contractors get a plug A Holmfirth firm is partnering a national association to offer special internet marketing services to drainage contractors. WSI Yorkshire has linked up with the National Association of Drainage Contractors (NADC) in the UK and Ireland through which the company will provide a discount on all its standard services. It will also offer two “off the shelf” SEOready websites designed specifically for drainage contractors who operate in a
local area. NADC vice-chairman Martin Beattie, said: “So many of our members have websites in need of a little TLC, so we’re delighted to have agreed this partnership with WSI Yorkshire which will help them improve both the appearance and performance of their sites.” WSI Yorkshire was set up in 2004 and provides internet marketing services to clients across the UK.
7
HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
property
Construction company begins 2015 with two top contracts A construction firm in Huddersfield hs secured two new contracts to get 2015 off to a good start. Termrim Construction, which employs 37 people and is based at Bradley, is set to begin building 210 homes on sites in Pickering and Sheffield. The newly-awarded contracts are in addition to the 42 new homes Termrim currently has under construction across Yorkshire and the East Midlands – which will be handing over in the first half of 2015. Managing director Graeme Bird said: “It is extremely pleasing for our business to secure these contracts, providing secured work into 2016 and 2017. We still have further capacity and are busy tendering a range of new housing and care contracts that we will be targeting to secure and commence later
TO LET
in 2015.” The latest contracts are for the construction of 42 flats in Jordanthorpe, Sheffield, for South Yorkshire Housing Association and a new retirement village of 90 apartments and 41 bungalows with 24-hour care and support in Pickering, North Yorkshire. The contract in Pickering is for national charity Methodist Homes and financier Rangeford, who are working in partnership to create Mickle Hill. The 168 new homes are set in an 11-acre site, close to the centre of Pickering. The village style development is for people aged 55 and over and will provide communal facilities including a café bistro, lounge, hairdressing and beauty suite, therapy suite, activities and crafts room, gym and fitness suite, shop, cinema and bar.
Industrial
■■ The Termrim team (above) on the site of the planned Mickle Hill development at Pickering. Above right, an impression of the 42-flats development at Jordanthorpe, Sheffield and (below right) an image of how part of the Mickle Hill scheme will look
TO LET
Industrial Office
Barncliffe Business Park, Near Bank, Shelley, Huddersfield 383m 2 (4,112 sq ft)
Beehive Business Park, Station Lane, Heckmondwike 452m2 (4,870 sq ft)
Good quality single storey industrial/storage unit with large office/showroom area, available from February 2015
Good quality hybrid office and stores building with on-site parking, available for immediate occupation
TO LET
Industrial
Aspley Business Park, St. Andrew’s Road, Huddersfield 418m2 (4,500 sq ft) Good quality single storey industrial unit with offices, located just off Huddersfield ring road and main arterial routes to Leeds/Wakefield
www.michaelsteel.co.uk
FOR SALE
Industrial
86 Bradford Road, Dewsbury 1,831m2 (19,710 sq ft) Substantial workshop, office and showroom complex fronting main Bradford Road, with dedicated car park. Joints agent with Holroyd Miller
All enquiries to Alec Michael alec@michaelsteel.co.uk
8
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015 HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS
movers and shakers
Financial planners secure big ‘signing’ By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
Emma Rushworth
New moves for Pepamint Huddersfieldbased Pepamint Social Media and Marketing has kicked-off 2015 with a key appointment and a move to new offices. Pepamint, which was set up 18 months ago by owner Nicola Mellor (above left), has appointed experienced marketer Emma Rushworth (right), of Huddersfield, as account manager. The company, which formerly operated from Nicola’s home office, has also settled into new premises at Link Business Park in Meltham. The moves follow a successful 2014 which saw Pepamint build up a growing client base and Nicola being shortlisted
for the Forward Ladies Young Woman in Business Award. Said Nicola: “I am really pleased to set up the Pepamint office in Meltham. It gives me a great base to work from and also visit my clients in Huddersfield and also those in Manchester. “I’m delighted that Emma has joined Pepamint. She will prove a valuable asset to the company. “As social media and marketing is evolving and companies are finding it hard to keep up, I am seeing more and more companies looking to outsource to external agencies like Pepamint.”
Steve’s capital excursion A marketing expert in Huddersfield has been sharing his knowledge with new businesses in London. Steve Bradley (pictured), of Pennine Business Partners, was among those advising budding entrepreneurs at the UK’s biggest business start-up show of the new year – StartUp 2015 – which took place at the weekend at Somerset House. Steve met one-to-one with some of the UK’s brightest new start-ups and entrepreneurs to offer his business knowledge and specialist marketing advice. He said: “As a business owner myself and having worked within the marketing and advertising industry for over 25 years, I am delighted to be able to provide guidance and share my skills with the UK’s up and coming business community. “As a business mentor I have had the privilege of helping many talented entrepreneurs over
Huddersfield-based Brantwood Financial Planning has staged a major industry coup with the appointment of Michael Woodhead as corporate development consultant. Mr Woodhead joins Brantwood co-founders Paul Dickinson and Christopher Brown to help steer the company’s continued growth across investment, pensions, tax and retirement planning for individuals and business owners across the North of England. Mr Woodhead is best known as joint founder of BWD, later Rensburg. He is also former chairman of property company Birkby and non-executive director of Tay Homes and Jerome Group. Mr Dickinson said: “Michael is one of our region’s most highly-respected businessmen and has a tremendous reputation within the financial services industry. “We’re delighted he has joined us at a time of considerable growth for our firm, particularly in terms of investment portfolios and pensions advice, for entrepreneurs, ownermanagers, managing directors and family firms across the North of England.” Mr Woodhead said: “Paul, Chris and I share the same values and belief in the vital importance of strong client relationships, trust and understanding,. “I’m really looking forward to working with the team and hopefully giving them the benefit of my extensive experience in creating and growing businesses as they continue to expand. “They’re also advising me, so I’ve got a very personal vested interest in their success!” Mr Woodhead, retired from BWD Securities
■■ Paul Dickinson (left), Christopher Brown (centre) and Michael Woodhead at Brantwood Financial Planning Ltd
in 1989 to pursue a career with a number of public companies at main board level, including Birkby, Fairway, Tay Homes and Jerome Group. He joins Brantwood from Robertson Baxter Financial Services, where he was a director and chairman. He has also been chairman of the Prince’s Youth Business Trust in Yorkshire, council member at Huddersfield University and governor with Wakefield Grammar School Foundation. His own charitable trust has distributed
hundreds of thousands of pounds to projects and causes in the Yorkshire region. As chartered financial planners, Paul Dickinson and Christopher Brown both have more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, advising individuals, trustees and companies. Brantwood Financial Planning, based at Market Street in Huddersfield, also holds corporate chartered status with the Chartered Insurance Institute, an accolade awarded to only a select few financial planning firms in the country.
Read all about it the last few years.” StartUp 2015 was aimed at aspiring and early stage entrepreneurs. The event delivered a programme of inspiring and essential advice with business workshops and keynote speeches from influential business people including retailing guru Mary Portas, chef Skye Gyngell, social entrepreneur Melody Hossaini and BBC Apprentice stars Solomon Akhtar and Felipe AlviarBaquero. Pennine Business Partners, based at Lockwood Park, works with clients in the areas of marketing, HR and health and safety.
A print firm based in Honley has become a partner of Huddersfield Town. Enterprise Print has supplied individuals and businesses in the Kirklees and Calderdale area for more than 30 years – and in the past 10 years has become a leading digital printer following invested in the latest technology. The majority of work Enterprise Print provides is general business stationery items such as letterheads, compliment slips and business cards, as well as marketing items such as leaflets and brochures and products to ensure the smooth running of a busy office
such as invoices, delivery note books and order pads. Town commercial manager for partnerships, John Williams, said: “I am delighted that Enterprise Print have become the latest partner of the club – an industry leader in its field. “It is a well-respected organisation with vast experience and becomes another true Yorkshire business working with ‘The Yorkshire Club’.” Philip Stead, managing director of Enterprise Print, said: “We’re really looking forwards to working in partnership with Huddersfield Town.”
■■ John Williams (left), of Huddersfield Town with Philip Stead (centre) and Andrew Toothill, of Enterprise Print, Honley
IT specialist plugs into apprenticeship scheme Huddersfield-based IT specialist P2 Technologies has appointed Aiden Hall as apprentice IT service engineer. Aiden (pictured right) is the Lockwood firm’s fifth apprentice.
He was appointed through the Estio IT Apprenticeship Scheme, which is designed for talented school and college leavers looking to gain paid employment in the IT industry while still realis-
ing their ambition to gain recognised qualifications and build a successful career. Aiden will shadow the experienced team of P2 engineers for 12 months before taking responsibili-
ty for a number of important tasks within the team. P2 Technologies director Martin Page said the apprenticeship scheme was the perfect way to help shape the next generation of IT professionals.