KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees13, March, 2012

INSIDE

● Full story - Page 8

● Full story - Page 4

OLIVER NORTH

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Losses and gains

Co lumn - Page 5

An EXAMINER publication

RacingaheadBUSINESSMAN JohnGreenwood, who hailsfrom Cleckheaton, hasforged a newpartnership withHuddersfield-basedracer Daniel Lloyd. MrGreenwood, chiefexecutive atCreechurch PrivateWealth, has become akey sponsor of thePorsche Carrera CupGB Championshipracer as he looksforward to a successfulseason in 2012.

CreditcolumnA COMPANY supplyingpneumatic productshas received repeataccreditation to ascheme to helpindustry improve itssafety record.Thorite, which has abase at Barge Street,Longroyd Bridge, hasrenewed itsmembership ofSAFEcontractor, aprogramme whichrecognises highstandards of healthand safety practiseamong UK contractors.

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Law firms looking to the future with merger

■ POSITIVE MOVE: Maureen Cawthoreand John Norcliffe, who will spearhead thenewly-merged law firm

Ex-boxer blazing a trail

TWO law firms are joining forces.Wilkinson Woodward & Norcliffe

& Co will merge at the end of Marchto become Wilkinson WoodwardNorcliffe, practising from offices atQueen Street in Huddersfield.

The merged practice, which alsoincorporates Boococks EstateAgency, from Halifax, will have 30lawyers and will be the third-largestlegal practice in Kirklees andCalderdale.

The announcement was made in ajoint statement by MaureenCawthorn, who will be managingpartner of the merged practice, andJohn Norcliffe.

They said: “In the rapidly chan-ging sphere of legal services, we seeour merger as a positive statement ofour intention to extend and develop

the provision of top quality,cost-effective legal advice withinKirklees and beyond to both existingand new clients.”

Norcliffe & Co has an establishedreputation in the local business com-munity, particularly in commercialproperty transactions and the buy-ing and selling of businesses.

Wilkinson Woodward is wellknown for across-the-board legaladvice to individuals, with particularexpertise in family and childcarelaw.

As a practice Wilkinson Wood-ward has been at the forefront ofchanges in this field, offering collab-orative law and also establishing thefirst mediation practice in Calder-dale in 1996, led by Penny Manock.

Said Ms Cawthorn: “The merged

practice will be greatly strengthenedby John Norcliffe in commercial law,Roy Dunn in civil litigation andClive Robinson in conveyancing,who together bring with them 80years of legal experience.

“This completes the project webegan in 2000, when our Hudders-field practice opened.

“We now have a full service legalpractice in Huddersfield, which wasour original aim and we are confid-ent this can be developed and expan-ded further over the coming years.”

John Norcliffe founded Norcliffe& Co in 1994 and Wilkinson Wood-ward began practising as long ago as1886 in Halifax – from where itcontinues to play a leading role in theprovision of legal services in Calder-dale.

Budget ‘must givebusiness a boost’MINISTERS have been urged to“relaunch the economy with busi-ness-friendly measures” in the forth-coming Budget.

The call comes from the Lock-wood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamberof Commerce in a letter to ChancellorGeorge Osborne and Business Secret-ary Vince Cable.

It calls for measures to speed theUK’s economic recovery by boostinghelp for business when Mr Osbornedelivers his Budget speech on March21.

And it warns: “Stagnation is a majorthreat and could undermine both defi-cit reduction and efforts to reduce netdebt.”

The chamber urges the Governmentto scrap a planned hike in businessrates, introduce a time-limited £1bnCapital Allowance scheme to encour-age medium-sized companies to investand provide “meaningful” incentivesfor firms to recruit young people.

The letter demands extra help forexporters and immediate implementa-tion of promised infrastructure pro-jects.

It also calls on ministers to makegood a stated commitment to cut red

tape and regulation.The chamber wants the Govern-

ment to scrap the 5.6% rise in businessrates scheduled for April and demandsthe return of Empty Property BusinessRates Relief at the old threshold of£18,000.

Steven Leigh, head of policy for the

chamber, said: “The cost to business ofthe proposed rise in business ratescould – in the present economic cli-mate – have serious consequences forsome businesses and runs contrary toefforts to promote growth in the eco-nomy.”

At a time of record youth unemploy-

ment, the chamber argued that taxingjobs through Employers NationalInsurance Contributions was “illogicaland a disincentive to job creation.”

Said Mr Leigh: “This forthcomingbudget should address this problem byabating this tax for the present time forall businesses recruiting unemployed18 to 24 year olds. It is perverse that ata time of rising unemployment theGovernment should persist in levyinga ‘jobs tax’.”

The letter added; “For the purposesof the Budget, we strenuously urge youto avoid the creation of numerous newinitiatives – which are all too oftenpoorly communicated, not taken up,and frequently inordinately costly todeliver. Instead, we believe that exist-ing mechanisms can more readily beused to simplify the help given tobusinesses.”

Nick Brook, of TaxAssist Account-ants in Huddersfield, said: “Smallbusinesses are the backbone of localeconomies.

“We do want the Government tomaintain the momentum of growthincentives they’ve already started andadd more vital lifelines to sole tradersand small firms.”

■ CALL: Steven Leigh (right), of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce,has delivered a business wish-list for Chancellor George Osborne (left) andBusiness Secretary Vince Cable (centre) in the run-up to next week’s Budget

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICES

closed at

Local shares

FTSE

5892.75Up 5.26

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.41 dollarsBangladesh................. 120.90 takaBrazil.............................. 2.51 realsCanada....................... 1.48 dollarsChina ............................. 8.86 yuanCzech Republic ...... 27.08 korunasDenmark....................... 8.46 kroneEuro............................... 1.14 euroHong Kong................ 11.54 dollarsHungary ................... 313.73 forintsIndia.......................... 69.03 rupeesJapan........................... 122.71 yenMexico ....................... 17.72 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.78 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.53 kronePakistan.................. 133.73 rupeesPhilippines ................. 57.27 pesosSouth Africa.................. 11.13 randSouth Korea.............. 1535.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 179.79 rupeesSweden....................... 10.19 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.37 francsTaiwan ...................... 40.41 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.66 new liraUSA ............................ 1.50 dollars

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £33.72 -0.32Gannett 934.22 +16.64Hess Corp £39.65 -0.69Microsoft £20.53 +0.06Motors Liquidation 47.99Wal-Mart Stores £38.83 +0.38

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 304 +1BAE Systems 3131/8 +21/8Rolls-Royce 8231/2 -111/2

AIMBrady Plc 90 +1Dawson Intl 15/8Man Brnze 28

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 211 -11/2

BANKSBarclays 2357/8 -47/8HSBC 5561/8 -3/4Lloyds Banking Gp 335/8 -5/8Ryl Scotland 253/8 -7/8Stan Chart 15631/2 -91/2

BEVERAGESDiageo 1553 +11SABMiller £263/8 +1/4

CHEMICALSCroda £22 -1/8Elementis 98 1891/2 +7/8Johnsn Mat £233/4 +1/4

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 287 -1/8

Costain 2161/4 +111/4

ELECTRICITYDrax Gp 5191/2 +1/2Intl Power 3631/2 -21/2SSE 1305 +4

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLaird 1937/8 -1/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 3733/4 -3/8

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 2165/8 -21/4Cable & WirelessComm

325/8 -1/4

Cable & WirelessWwide

361/2 +1/4

Colt Group 1003/8 -11/8KCOM 693/8 -5/8Talktalk Telecom 1421/8 -7/8

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 3015/8 +63/4Sainsbury 2997/8 +23/8Tesco 319 +3/4

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1212 +9Tate Lyle 7111/2 +7Unilever £211/8 +3/8

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 3097/8 -11/4National Grid 6541/2 +4Pennon Grp 7271/2Severn 1597 +1United Utils 616

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 1963/8 +23/4ICAP 3947/8 -7/8London StockExch 9631/2 +81/2Man Group 1371/2 -21/4Provident Financial 1134 -2Schroders 1570 +10Schroders NV 1258 +9

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 703 +7REXAM 4163/4 -11/8Smiths Grp 1074 -3

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 213/4Carphone Whse 1693/4 -1/2Dixons Retail 143/8 +1/8Home Retail 1045/8 +21/4Inchcape 3767/8 +25/8Kingfisher 2863/4 +45/8M & S 3577/8 +37/8Mothercare 1961/2 -81/2Next £275/8 +3/8WH Smith 5371/2 +61/2

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 632 +3

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 851/2 -23/4Barrat Dev 1413/4 +17/8Persimmon 670 -1/2Reckitt Benckiser £355/8 +1/8Taylor Wimpey 50 +5/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGI M I 9891/2

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 3187/8 -17/8

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 2081/8 -7/8

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 3561/2 -47/8Lgl & Gen 1211/4 +1/2Old Mutual 1625/8 -2Prudential 728 +71/2Resolution 265 -23/4Standard Life 2375/8 +3/4

MEDIABSkyB 6941/2 -2D Mail Tst 4327/8 -1/8ITV 87 -1/8Johnston Press 71/4 +3/8Pearson 1219 +16Reed Elsevier 5461/2 +1STV Group 1081/2 -1/2Trinity Mirror 391/4 -11/2Utd Business 609 +3UTV 141WPP 8211/2Yell Group 37/8 -1/8

MININGAnglo American £253/4 -1/8Antofagasta 1270 +7BHP Billiton £201/8 -1/8Eurasian NaturalRes

6741/2 -21/2

Fresnillo 1811 +10Kazakhmys 9551/2 -21/2Lonmin 1065 -7Rio Tinto £341/2 -5/8

VEDANTARESOURCES

1369 -52

Xstrata 1155 +6MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 4777/8 -111/4Vodafone Group 1701/2 +17/8

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1170 +12RSA Insurance Gp 1091/4 +3/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERSBG 1504 +21/2BP 4953/4 +13/4Cairn Energy 3297/8 -13/4Royal Dutch Shell A £223/4 -1/8Royal Dutch Shell B £23 -1/8

Total £353/8 -1/8Tullow Oil 1438 -9

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 1164 +15Petrofac 1693 -18Wood Gp(J) 717 -2

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry Gp 1555 +22

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGYAstrazeneca £283/4 +1/8GlaxoSmithK XD 8Shire £221/2

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 4961/4 +95/8Captl Shop Cent 3453/8 +3Hamrsn 4237/8 +61/4Land Secs 728 +111/2SEGRO 2501/4 +2

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESInvensys 2001/2 -13/4Logica 911/2 +11/4Misys 328 -13Sage Group 2977/8 -3/4

SUPPORT SERVICESBerendsen 524 -21/2Bunzl 9991/2 +91/2Capita 746 -7De La Rue 9601/2 -8Electrocomp 2451/8 -7/8Experian 965 -3G4S 2891/2 -25/8Hays 847/8 -3/4Homeserve 2297/8 +91/2

Menzies J 575 -21/2Rentokil 82 +21/4Smiths News 913/4 +1/4Wolseley £243/8

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 5721/2 +21/2Psion 62Spirent Comms 1537/8 -25/8

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £321/4 +1/4Imperial Tobacco £253/4 +1/8

LEISURE & HOTELSBwin.Party Digital 1623/4 +1/4Carnival 1947 +28Compass Grp 6591/2 +21/2easyJet 4353/4 -13/4Enterprise Inns 531/2 -1/2FirstGroup 2851/2 +15/8Go-Ahead Gp 1295 +14Greene King 5051/2Intercontl Htls 1448 -15Intl Cons AirlinesGp

1631/4 +23/8

Ladbrokes 1603/8 +23/4Mitchells & Butlers 2613/4 -23/8Natl Express 2431/4 +5/8Rank Org 130 +5/8Stagecoach Group 2633/8 +3/8TUI Travel 192 +5/8Whitbread 1691 +5

INDEXFTSE 100 5892.75 +5.26

INDEXFTSE 250 11563.90 +35.94

Carclo 3433/4 -61/4Marshalls 103 -1/4National Grid 6541/2 +4Weir Gp 1941 -24

RETAILER Game admitted it is indanger of collapse after several suppli-ers refused to provide it with newproducts.

The group, which employs 10,000people, confirmed the options in itsbattle for survival included the sale ofits UK business, which has 600 stores.

In Huddersfield, the retailer has aGame-branded store at the KingsgateShopping Centre and a Gamestationoutlet at New Street.

It is seeking access to alternativesources of funding and has asked sup-pliers for more generous trading terms.But so far, it has not been possible tosource new products from a number ofsuppliers.

Game admitted that it is uncertainwhether its efforts will be successful orwhether the company will be left withany value.

The group’s quarterly rent bill is due

in a fortnight and failure to pay itslandlords could push it into adminis-tration.

Its woes have been made worse afterit failed to stock new eagerly awaitedtitles such as Mass Effect 3 and StreetFighter X Tekken.

Shares have slumped from more than70p at the start of last year. They closeddown 2.2p or 64% at 1.3p yesterday.

The group agreed fresh lending facil-ities with banks last month, but theloan was not enough to reassure suppli-ers, who have balked at being asked togive the group better terms to help itstay afloat.

The company, which has 1,300 storesworldwide, suffered a woeful Christ-mas, with like-for-like sales down by12.9% in the eight weeks to January 7.

Game blamed the sales slump on alack of new consoles and a squeeze inconsumer spending.

It has already signalled that losses forthe year to the end of January are likelyto be about £18m.

Since then, it has sunk deeper intothe mire after it disappointed custom-ers by failing to stock sci-fi game Mass

Effect 3 after a spat with games giantElectronic Arts and now other suppli-ers have followed suit.

It has reportedly hired advisory firmRothschild to help it sell all or parts ofthe business, but it is understood thatsecuring a deal in such a shorttime-frame will prove difficult.

The company is believed to havelined up accountancy firm Deloitte tohandle any insolvency process, whichcould see Game’s UK operations putthrough a pre-pack administration forall or some of its estate to be sold onquickly.

Peter Smedley, analyst at CharlesStanley Securities, said: “Imminent col-lapse into administration is now a realpossibility.”

He said US-based retailer Gamestopis best-placed to buy Game, but it couldafford to take its time to pick andchoose the assets it really wants.

Retail chain Game‘at risk of collapse’

SubduedmarketADMINISTRATIONspecialist BegbiesTraynor said activitylevels in the insolvencymarket remainedsubdued in the threemonths to January 31,helped by record lowinterest rates.

The Manchester-basedfirm said its insolvencydivision reduced itsstaffing numbers to 470from 501 at the end oflast year as it reduced itscosts.

ARENA Leisure, which owns sevenracecourses in the UK, said attend-ances were on the up as the industrydoes more to attract new customers.

Record numbers supported Arena’s352 fixtures in 2011, with the averageattendance rising by 7.8% to 1,941.The number of hospitality guests was14% up on a year earlier at 51,500.

Despite the improvement, revenuesfell by £2.5m to £61.5m after a furtherreduction in the amounts received bythe industry from the statutory Levyon bookmakers. Arena’s share fell£7.3m to £10.4m.

Out of this, £5.5m was paid out inprize money, a £4.9m reduction on a

year earlier that prompted Arena toinject a further £500,000 into its prizefund in order to stem a recent declinein field sizes.

Arena’s racecourses at Doncaster,Windsor, Lingfield Park, Southwell,Wolverhampton, Folkestone andWorcester account for 24% of UKracing fixtures.

Announcing a 15% rise in pre-taxprofits to £4.2m, chairman DavidThorpe said: “Racing generally hasmade progress in broadening itsappeal and attracting new customersto racecourses.

“However, the financial side of theindustry remains constrained.”

THE future of household favouritessuch as Hovis, Ambrosia and MrKipling was secured as PremierFoods landed a crucial deal to renewmore than £1bn of loans.

The UK’s largest food manufac-turer has hammered out a deal withits banks – including part-national-ised lenders Lloyds and Royal Bankof Scotland – which will see itsrepayment deadline extended fromDecember, 2013, to June, 2016.

The re-financing package, to beformalised by the end of the month,will allow Premier Foods to executeits strategy, which involves focusinginvestment on eight “power”brands, including Oxo and Bisto.

The group was brought to thebrink by debts built up on an expan-sion spree that saw it buy Hovisbread firm RHM for £1.2bn in 2007and Campbell’s UK and Irish busi-n e s s – a d d i n g B a t c h e l o r s ,Homepride and Fray Bentos to itscatalogue in 2006.

Premier Foods said it expects its2011 results to be at the lower end ofmarket expectations as it looks tostabilise the business.

The group is expected to sell offseveral brands as part of its newdeal, with Sarson’s vinegar andHartley’s jam reportedly on the listfor potential sale.

Shares closed up 0.5p at 12p.

Premier Foods seals loan deal Arena boosts attendance

■ END GAME?: the games retaileradmitted it is in danger of collapse

BusinessimprovesPRIVATE sector firms inYorkshire reported anincrease in businessactivity during February.

The latest Lloyds TSBBusiness Activity Indexfor the region, whichmeasures the combinedoutput of Yorkshire’smanufacturing andservice sectors, stood at54.3 in February – wellabove the 50 “nochange” mark thatseparates growth fromcontraction.

Panellists respondingto the survey out todaysaid new business grewfor the third consecutivemonth in February – butthe latest expansion wasmodest and the weakestin this sequence.

Employment inYorkshire rose for the fifthconsecutive month inFebruary – with jobcreation rising faster thanfor any other UK region.

Both manufacturersand service providershired additional staff onthe back of new businesswins.

closed at

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

OliverNorth

North Fireplc

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Managing dir-ectorAge: 31Family: Son Oscar,threeHolidays: I likeGada, Italy; andSalzburg, AustriaCar: Range RoverFirst job: Workingbehind the bar at TheFountain, Ingbirch-worthBest thing aboutjob: Playing with bigfire trucks!Worst thing aboutjob: The long hours!Business tip: Lookafter your existing cus-tomers and new cus-tomers will come as aresult

Work: Supplier offirefighting vehiclesand equipmentSite: BrockholesPhone: 01484660108Email:oliver@north-fire.comWebsite:www.north-fire.com

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

Fromboxerto firefighter

FORMER army PTinstructor Oliver North isboxing clever in business.

Now the Holmfirth man,who was welterweightboxing champion for hiscorps, is aiming to knock outthe competition asmanaging director of NorthFire, a company supplyingfirefighting equipment andvehicles to fire and rescueservices across the UK.

Oliver, who grew up inNetherton, attended MoorEnd High School andHuddersfield New College,where he studied sportsscience. “As a youngster, allI wanted to do was playfootball for Leeds United,”he says. “But the fact is thatI wasn’t good enough.”

Instead, at the age of 17he joined the army. “Iwanted to get into full-timeemployment and pushmyself,” says Oliver. “I didwell, getting ‘best recruit’ intraining. I joined the RoyalEngineers to get a trade andthat’s where my engineeringabilities come from.

“But I went on to be a PTinstructor. I was also anarmy boxer for a couple ofyears and was corpswelterweight champion. I gotinto boxing because theboxing coach wanted me todo it. Once I started, I likedthe sport. It requiresdiscipline and the training isas hard as you can get insport. I retired undefeatedand while I might haveconsidered continuing, Idon’t think I was goodenough to turnprofessional.”

His army experiences didserve to give him agrounding for running abusiness, he believes.

Says Oliver: “As a PTinstructor, I was mainlysitting in the gym in themiddle of Germany most ofmy time! Because I wasboxing, I became a bit of atracksuit soldier – and that’sone of the reasons I gaveup.

“But being in charge of thegym also meant a lot ofpaperwork, rules andregulations – which hasdefinitely helped me inbusiness. Army life alsogave me a sense ofdiscipline and a willingnessto graft and get on withthings. A lot of people inbusiness end up having toreact to situations. I believein getting up early and beingpro-active.”

Says Oliver: “Joining thearmy was my decision and Ihave never regretted notgoing to university. I don’tthink gaining a degree wouldhave stood me in any betterstead. The army gave me anawful lot.”

Back in civvie street,Oliver got a job with acompany manufacturing andsupplying firefightingvehicles – and was givenresponsibility for itsdistributorship with theAustrian-basedmanufacturer Rosenbauer.

When it became clear thecompany was moreinterested in developing itsown make of vehicles, Oliverleft and set up North Fire tocontinue supplying theRosenbauer range. Justthree years after forming

North Fire, the company isnow established as sole UKdistributor of theinternationally acclaimedRosenbauer brand. It alsosupplies aerial ladders andturntable laddersmanufactured by Germanfirm Metz.

The company hasdoubled its turnover from£690,000 for the whole of itslast financial year to £1.4min the six months to Marchthis year. It suppliesequipment ranging fromboots, helmets and flashhoods to firefighting vehiclescosting £500,000 or£600,000 to almost everyfire and rescue service inthe country.

North Fire started out inpremises at Birstall, whichquickly became too small forits needs. The firm nowoccupies two buildings onBrockholes Business Park.

Oliver is ably backed byteams of engineers andtechnicians, but leads fromthe front and admits hewould be reluctant to give upthe reins.

“The systems are runningefficiently and the engineersand technicians. are highlyskilled,” he says. “It is just amatter of me keeping theorders coming in! I put inlots of hours and I will keepmyself stretched. I’m not in aposition to hand over thesales role just yet!”

Says Oliver: “Setting upthe business was a riskymove and I was looking forsubstantial orders from thestart. We needed tocompete with establishedcompanies, so progresscouldn’t be too slow. HavingRosenbauer and Metz – twoof the biggest names in theindustry – strengthens ourhand immediately.

“To me, providingoutstanding service toexisting customers is moreimportant than a new sale. Ifyou look after your existingcustomers better than yourcompetitor does, thebusiness will return andreferrals will follow.”

He admits he has learnedsome hard lessons. “Iunderestimated thecommitment that owning acompany requires,” he says.“When you are an employer,you have big responsibilities.Setting up a business is likewatching your child learn toride a bike for the first time –you have to be watchful.”

Oliver is getting someinvaluable advice, however,from one of Huddersfield’sforemost businessmen. KenDavy, chairman ofHuddersfield Giants and

financial services supportgroup SimplyBiz, has takena stake in North Fire and isnow its chairman – after heand Oliver met when NorthFire was named Business ofthe Year for 2011 in thecompetition run byHuddersfield law firm EatonSmith.

“It’s great to havesomeone like Ken with a lotof business experience onboard,” says Oliver.”–

The link-up has alsoconverted Oliver to the joysof rugby league. “I watch theGiants as often as I can,” hesays. “I like the familyatmosphere at thematches.”

Oliver, who lives atHolmfirth, has also retaineda taste for the noble art.North Fire sponsorswelterweight fighter KellBrook, who is due to take onMatthew Hatton later thismonth at the Sheffield Arenaand Oliver often spars withKell in the ring as part of theboxer’s training routine.

Oliver also plays golf atBradley. The real highlight ofOliver’s golfing excursionswas to play a round athistoric St Andrew’s during abusiness trip to Tayside.

■ BOXING CLEVER: OliverNorth of North Fire

On the board with

01484 538 351theboard@revellward.co.ukTwitter@RevellWard

www.revellward.co.uk

Lesley SuttonTax Director

Did you get a latefiling penalty!

Historically the penalty for submitting yourpersonal tax return late was nil provided that

you had paid all tax due.However for 2010/11 this is no longer the caseand a £100 penalty will be payable if you did not

file your tax return by 31 January 2012.We understand that HMRC have alreadystarted to issue late filing penalties.

Revell Ward Tip:If you do receive a penalty it is worthremembering that HMRC will considercancelling this if you had no need to file a

tax return.However all company directors are requiredto file a self-assessment tax return regardless

of the levels of their income.

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

Exporters’safety alertKIRKLEES firms are beingurged to remember theirduty of care to employeestravelling abroad – as morecompanies seek to expandinto overseas markets aspart of the government’sexport drive.

More than 6.7moverseas business tripswere made during the yearto July, 2011 – withemployees facing some ofthe most tumultuoustravelling conditions indecades caused by politicalunrest and naturaldisasters.

Despite this, insurancebroker Bluefin, which hasoffices in Cleckheaton,said there is still a“worrying lack ofawareness” amongbusinesses about theemployer’s duty of care toworkers undertakingoverseas travel – with asmany as 86% ofcompanies demonstratinga significant lack ofawareness of the legalrequirement to undertakepre-travel riskassessments.

One recent surveysuggests that 95% ofglobal companies havesent employees onbusiness trips to high-risklocations.

Bluefin said it was evermore important to carry outthe right procedures – orbusinesses could findthemselves being taken tocourt for negligence.

Peter Castle, head ofcustomer proposition atBluefin, said: “With thegovernment encouragingUK companies to exportmore and to countriesbeyond the eurozone, thereis likely to be an upsurge inemployees travellingabroad – making itessential that businessesunderstand theirresponsibilities for workers’health and safety whentaking overseas trips.

“This issue has beencompounded by politicalunrest in many parts of theworld, including the MiddleEast and Greece, adding tothe list of potentiallydangerous destinations.”

FINANCIALFOCUSKaren Wynard

Karen Wynard is head of corporate services at Eastwood &Partners (Financial Services) Ltd

Firm accreditedfor second timeA SUPPLIERof pneumaticproducts hasreceivedrepeataccreditationto a schemeto helpindustryimprove itssafety record.Thorite,which has abase at BargeStreet,LongroydBridge, hasrenewed itsmembershipof SAFEcontractor, a programmewhich recognises high standardsof health and safety practiseamong UK contractors.Thorite, which first gained thestandard in 2007, employs morethan 100 specialist sales,engineering and administrativestaff.It supplies compressed air andprocessing systems to theengineering, food processing,packaging and pharmaceuticalindustries and has a turnover inexcess of £11m.Ross Gowler, marketing andengineering services director,said: “It is crucial for companiesinstalling mechanical productsand systems in industry operatewithin stringent levels of healthand safety procedures, for thebenefit of their own staff, thoseemployed by their clients – andthe public at large.“I’m extremely proud that ourstandards of safe working haveonce again been demonstrated tobe of the highest order.”Under the SAFEcontractorsystem, businesses undergo avetting process, which examineshealth and safety procedures andtheir track record for safe practice.Those companies meeting thehigh standard are included on adatabase, which is accessible toregistered users via websitewww.safecontractor.com

■ SAFE HANDS:Thorite retainsSAFEcontractorre-accreditation

Contracting outis not an optionTHE UK state pension sys-

tem is made up of two ele-ments – the Basic StatePension and the AdditionalState Pension.

The subject of state pensions as awhole could take up this and manyfuture columns but for this month,I would like to cover the subject ofthe additional state pension andcontracting out.

Contracting out of the StateSecond Pension (S2P) and its pre-decessor, the State EarningsRelated Pension Scheme (SERPS)has been around for many years.

However, the Government hastaken the decision to abolish con-tracting out on a defined contribu-tion (money purchase) basis witheffect from April 6, 2012.

Anyone still contracted out onthis date will be automaticallybrought back in to the additionalstate pension and will build upfuture entitlements through this.

So why abolish contracting outafter all these years?

One of the main reasons forcontracting out in the past was topotentially gain higher benefitsfrom a private pension than youcould from the state.

However, it is difficult to predictwith any degree of certainty whatyou might get back at retirement.

The level of uncertainty and thedifficult decisions that individualsface with regard to whether or notthey should be contracted out haveboth been contributing factors tothe Government’s decision here.

With regard to any funds builtup as a result of contracting out,these remain with the pension pro-vider but no further rebates will bemade after the current tax year.

These funds are known as Pro-tected Rights and there are cur-rently restrictions as to how thesefunds must be used on retirementor death.

However, the abolition of con-tracting out does bring welcomechanges to the treatment of Protec-ted Rights.

For example, with effect fromApril 6, 2012, it will no longer becompulsory for a Protective Rightsfund to purchase a spouses pen-sion at retirement or on earlierdeath if the individual is married.

This is a very brief and basicoverview of a relatively complic-ated subject.

If this column has raised anyquestions for you or you wish todiscuss the matter in more detail,please contact either ourselves oryour own financial adviser.

Flight of fancyA PRIVATE aviation company isflying high with HuddersfieldTown.Multiflight, which is based atLeeds-Bradford InternationalAirport, opened its doors in 1994and provides facilities including aflight training centre and café bar,specialist engineering, charter,aircraft management and salesand executive handlingdepartments.The company has joined agrowing list of businesses whichhave signed up as Town partners.They include the Yorkshire AirAmbulance, which also operatesfrom the airport. Multiflightoperates and maintains theYorkshire Air Ambulancehelicopters.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

TAXTALKColin Barratt

Colin Barratt is tax partner at Wheawill and Sudworth charteredaccountants, Huddersfield

Firm accreditedfor second time

It’s lonely being a boss!

■ DANGERS: Neil Muffitt,managing partner, FinanceDirectors Yorkshire

Fresh forthe fightA HUDDERSFIELD firmhas signed up anotherleading name for acompetition designed toimprove the way supplychains work.Müller Dairy, a leadingsupplier of yoghurts anddesserts has signed upfor Fresh Connection, acontest devised byspecialist consultancySCALA, based at thetown’s Media Centre.Müller Dairy entered ateam in last year’scompetition – and was soimpressed with the keybusiness lessons learnedfrom taking part that thefirm has signed up for2012.Kevin Williams, supplychain director for MüllerDairy, said: “SCALA’sFresh Connectiondemonstrated to our teamthe value of collaborativerelationships in thesupply chain to drivesuccessful commercialperformance.”The online competitioninvolves several UKcompanies and more than140 teams.A two-day contest alsotakes place on March 26at Foodex at the NEC inBirmingham.

Spring sales bringissues with CGTWITH the onset of spring,

many business ownersmay be looking to new horizonsand may decide to sell theirbusiness.

In doing so, one of the main issuessurrounding the sale of a business isthe amount of Capital Gains Tax(CGT) payable on its disposal.

Generally, gains are subject toCGT at 18% or 28% depending onwhether the gains fall wholly orpartly within or beyond the basic rateband.

But for qualifying gains, Entre-preneurs’ Relief is available whichtaxes these gains at a lower rate of10%.

For disposals made on or afterApril 6, 2011, this rate is applicable togains up to a total of £10m.

Qualifying gains include the dis-posal of the whole or part of abusiness carried on by an individualor partnership member, or shares inan unquoted trading company.

In the vast majority of cases mostsaleable businesses are carried on viaa limited company and Entrepren-eurs’ Relief will be available on thesale of the shares in an individual’spersonal company – if throughout a

period of 12 months prior to thedisposal the company carried on aqualifying trade and the individualowned at least 5% of the ordinaryshare capital and voting rights andthey were an officer or employee ofthe company.

Problems can arise where, forinstance, the exercise of share optionsdilutes a shareholding below the 5%limit or where the shares issued underan option do not give an employee a5% stake in the company.

Where practical, action needs to betaken for those directors/employeesaffected to ensure that they have thisminimum shareholding 12 monthsbefore disposal.

In the case of husband and wife

shareholders this could be achievedby transferring ordinary shares to theminority shareholding spouse givingthem the required 5%. Suchinter-spouse transfers are exemptfrom CGT.

For shareholders letting propertyto their personal trading company ora partner to a trading partnership,Entrepreneurs’ Relief is restricted tothe extent that any rent is paid.

This restriction applies for those inreceipt of rent on or after April 6,2008.

Consideration needs to be given asto whether rents should cease inorder to secure some measure ofEntrepreneurs’ Relief against theindividual’s need for rental income to

pay interest on any mortgage takenout to buy the property.

The entitlement to Entrepreneurs’Relief could also be jeopardised if atrading company holds substantialinvestment assets or undertakes sub-stantial non-business activities.

Consideration and timely planningneeds to be given to demergingnon-business assets/activities inorder to protect the company’s statusas a trading company.

If Entrepreneurs’ Relief is notsecured and gains on the disposal ofthe shares are taxed at rates applyingto non business assets the potentialloss of tax could be as high as £1.8m(£10,000,000 x 28-10%), possiblyrising to £3.6m for husband and wifeshareholders.

Whether the maximum relief isincreased in the forthcoming Budgetremains to be seen but in any eventthe current rate of Entrepreneurs’Relief remains valuable in mitigatinga business owner’s CGT liability andproactive steps may need to be takenat least 12 months before the businessis sold to secure the relief.

COMPANY directors have beenurged to make sure they don’t catch“lonely MD syndrome”.

Neil Muffitt, managing partner ofFinance Directors Yorkshire inCleckheaton, said: “Few managingdirectors or chief executives woulddisagree that they occasionally findthe business world a lonely place.

“Given the need to balance theconflicting interests of stakeholdersand maintain their confidence indifficult times, it’s not surprising thatthey are occasionally inclinedtowards a dangerous insularity –especially where the finances areconcerned.”

He said : “The concept of the‘lonely MD’ is something that manyexecutives recognise, but may be

reluctant to admit to. However, asrelationships with funders comeunder increasing stress, it is vitalthat MDs have the most accurateand up to date information availableto maintain the confidence of theirbank.

“The fear that they are being toldwhat their staff believe they want tohear is just one of many dangeroussymptoms the ‘Lonely MD’ maysuffer.”

Mr Muffitt said independence andobjectivity were two of the crucialattributes a good part-time financedirector could offer to isolated MDs.

He said: “The part-time FD doesnot depend on one company for hiscareer, and this allows him to tell itas it is.

“Current economic conditions areplacing the finance function at theheart of strategic decision-making. Itis vital to improve confidence in thewhole finance function, by providingthe high level of independentstrategic advice and direction oftenassociated with a non-exec director.”

Said Mr Muffitt: “Lonely MDs’ areoften so concerned with operationalmatters and monthly profit and lossfigures, that they neglect thebalance sheet. There are frequentlyunexploited generators of cash onthe balance sheet, if you knowwhere to look. Additional positiveimpacts can be gained from trainingsecond tier managers to recognisethe effects of their decisions oncosts and margin.”

For business owners, the Christmas break is often a time to reflect ontheir business. For many there will be the realisation that their businesscould be much better than it is.They may be working long difficult hoursfor little or low profits: dealing with difficult customers and staff, strugglingwith cashflow and declining sales.And for many business owners, theprospect of returning at the start of the new year can be depressingand demoralising.

But it doesn’t have to be like this. Remember when you first startedin business.You were excited,motivated and looking forward to thefreedom and wealth that business ownership could bring. Isn’t ittime to regain control of your business and get back to thoseexciting times when you first started?

The starting point has to be the creation of a working business planwhich you can refer to on a regular basis and adapt as circumstanceschange.A plan which involves getting rid of poor customers and gettingmore of your ideal customer, creating a successful team that are asinspired as you, delegating unnecessary tasks, creating time to workon your business rather than in it, devising new marketing strategies,creating an exceptional customer care programme. In short, creatingthat business that you dreamed of when you first ventured into businessownership.

Balance Accountants,Victoria Court, 91 Huddersfield Road,Holmfirth HD9 3JA Tel: 01484 685 413 Fax: 01484 682206www.balanceonline.co.uk

take control of yourbusiness in 2012

property Page 6KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Consultant winsexcellence prize

Bank links withletting agentsLLOYDS TSB Commercial has beenchosen as the preferred bankingindustry supplier for the Association ofResidential Letting Agents.ARLA, the professional membershipand regulatory body for letting agentsand agencies in the UK, announced themove at its annual conference inLondon.At the event, 500 professionals fromthe letting industry also heard expertopinion on a wide range of topicalissues affecting the property sector,including an insightful review of recentlegislation changes and a summary oftrends in the letting markets.As part of the agreement, Lloyds TSBCommercial has created a clientdeposit account for ARLA members,which will provide competitive interestrates and enable them to makeadditional income from client rentdeposits.A spokesman for Lloyds TSBCommercial said ARLA customers willbe looked after by a specialist team ofproperty relationship managers at thebank, each of whom has a soundunderstanding of banking needs in theresidential lettings market.

Salon shares print firm building

■ PRINT THIS: Helen Dawson (second left) with stylists (from left)Claire Shaw, Carmen Harriott-Brown and Aisha Lawrence, who have setup boutique salon Amelia Rose Coiffeur in premises which wereformerly part of printing company Brook and Learoyd

Home loans keyTHE availability of mortgages is thesingle most crucial factor in ensuringthe recovery of housebuilding inYorkshire, a survey suggests.That is the view of 65% of Yorkshiredevelopers questioned in the survey bylaw firm Clarion.Only 29% thought commercial fundingwas the prime consideration while just6% believed the availability of land wasthe main factor.The Government’s new planningregime was welcomed, with over 90%of property professionals stating thatprospects for the residentialdevelopment sector had improved.

A LONG-STANDINGHuddersfield town centrebusiness has made room for onemore!

Printing company Brook &Learoyd has moved out of part ofits premises at Chancery Lane tomake way for a new hair andbeauty salon, Amelia RoseCoiffeur.

The boutique salon is run byHelen Dawson, who is joined inthe new venture by stylists ClaireShaw, Carmen Harriott-Brownand Aisha Lawrence.

All four have moved from anearby salon to the newbusiness.

Brook & Learoyd managingdirector Tim Parkin, who isHelen’s partner, has seen hisformer office transformed intothe salon following a

three-month revamp.Many of the original features

have been retained, however, toprovide a unique setting for thenew business.

Said Helen: “The printingcompany is still going strong, butwe are ‘keeping things in thefamily’ by expanding to have twobusinesses at Chancery Lane.We have pushed Tim next door!

“I used to work in London andthe new salon in its setting offthe main street reminds me ofthat kind of environment.

“We have kept the interior ofthe listed building in keeping withits age.”

Helen, who hails from Kent,has also run a number of salonsbefore launching the newbusiness.

A CONSULTANT working with clients in theconstruction sector has won a top regionalaward.

Yvonne Castle, of Huddersfield based con-sultancy YCChange, won the excellence andquality category at the 2012 Committed toConstruction in West Yorkshire Awards at theRoyal Armouries.

The category was sponsored by Dews-bury-based Rixonway Kitchens.

YCChange worked with DerwentsideHomes to undertake a comprehensive inspec-tion of the whole of its business – includingperformance, service quality for customers,levels of staff motivation, benefits derivedthrough partnership working and internalpractices and measured them against bestpractice, highlighting gaps and weaknessesand actions required to make improvements.

The result was a hard-hitting report thatgave the company a reality check on thequality of their services compared to the bestin the country. Whilst performance was reas-onable for a newly established company, it wasevident that improvements could be madeacross all areas if the company was to be thetop performing company its board and staffaspired to be.

Yvonne worked with managers and groupsof staff to finalise an improvement plan con-taining clear actions, targets, timescales andidentifying responsibility and accountabilityfor its delivery. YCChange, based at AinleyTop, provided the role of “critical friend”

throughout a 12-month implementationperiod, advising and mentoring managers inthe delivery of improvements and challengingprogress and quality. This ensured momentumwas maintained and focus didn’t drift awayfrom the improvement plan.

Within 12 months the company deliveredthe improvements set out in the plan and

greatly improved its performance across thewhole of the company.

Derwentside Homes chief executive Ger-aldine Wilcox said the work carried out byYCChange was a key turning point for thecompany. “We needed that external realitycheck to show us our weaknesses so we couldbegin with support from Yvonne to develop animprovement plan that covered the wholebusiness,” she said.

“Yvonne’s professionalism and patience wasevident from the beginning and despite attimes having to deliver a harsh message shemade sure she acknowledged strengths andwas supportive and encouraging of staff.

“She is highly regarded within the organisa-tion as an expert in her field and no-onewanted to let their colleagues or Yvonne downby not delivering the improvements! We areindebted to Yvonne and her team for helpingset the foundations for a high performing,efficient and most of all customer-focusedbusiness.”

Derwentside Homes is listed as one of theNorth East’s fastest-growing companies and atop 100 employer for apprenticeships. Its dir-ect labour force was the first to be accreditedby Housing Quality Network and the firm isbilled in Social Housing Today as the most“profitable housing association in England”.

Among other winners, Halifax-basedSouthdale landed the training award.

■ HOME SERVICE: Yvonne Castle (left),managing director of YCChange, withGeraldine Wilcox, chief executive ofDerwentside Homes, and David Anderson,sales and marketing director of Rixonway atthe awards ceremony

Concrete advice for conference goersA BUSINESSMAN inHuddersfield was amongspeakers at the annual UKConcrete Show.

John Quinn, ofLockwood-based SpectacularDriveways UK, attended bothdays of the two-day show at theRicoh Arena in Coventry afterbeing invited to deliver apresentation on laying pattern

imprinted concrete for driveways,patios and pathways.

Mr Quinn demonstrated themethods involved at last year’sshow. He is also a regular visitorto the World Concrete Show inLas Vegas.

He explained that whileconcrete has been around sinceRoman times, it is still developingtechnically and has an

ever-increasing list of primary andsecondary uses. Products thatcan be used to improve the use ofconcrete are also beingdeveloped at a rapid rate.

Said Mr Quinn: “Events such aswww.concreteshow.co.uk allowcompanies like SpectacularDriveways to learn about newtechniques for laying, preservingand maintaining pattern imprinted

concrete driveways, patios andpathways in order to increase thelifetime value for it’s customers.”

New products this year thatcaught his attention were fibres toadd into the concrete before it ispoured to add strength when it isset, new additives that extend thetime before concrete sets andnew sealants to preserve thefinish and resist stains.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Contract winsA BUILDING company in Huddersfield hasmade a splash with one of its latest con-tracts.

Eurolink Construction Ltd, based atMeltham Mills, has completed a £350,000project to build an extension to Holmfirthswimming baths.

The work included providing a new 30-sta-tion fitness suite, a dance studio and addi-tional male and female changing facilities.

Managing director John Stancliffe said:“Our aim was to ensure that the new buildingmatched in well with the original building –which is 33 years old – and a previousmakeover in 2008.

“This included the cedar fascia, texturerendered walls, aluminium curtain wallingand a Yorkshire stone skirt to the underside ofthe building.

“The building uses new air conditioningunits, extraction throughout with heat regen-eration built into the incoming ducting. Newenergy efficient LED lights were installedinternally to reduce long-term costs. The firealarms, TV and music system have a commu-nication link back to the main reception whichis located 102 metres away.”

He said: “The building has a traditionallook with the benefits and speed of modularconstruction. As the location is a potentialflood plain, the building was raised off theground 1.4 metres to match existing buildingfloor levels.

“We used a traditionally constructed linkblock to connect the two buildings providing aseamless join, incorporating the male andfemale changing rooms, showers and toilets.

“The project has been a huge success,bringing in new members to the centre andenhancing an already great facility to the localcommunity.”

In a separate deal, Kirklees Council com-

missioned Eurolink to provide Rowley LaneSchool at Lepton with replacement tempor-ary accommodation to house the wholeschool while the main school building under-goes essential remedial work.

The brief called for 18 classrooms, a library,an IT suite, a 120-metre school hall, kitchens,staff and administration offices and toilets forpupils and staff. The buildings were requiredto accommodate almost 500 pupils and staff.

Said Mr Stancliffe: “The temporary schoolhad to be housed within the school grounds.We accomplished this with a two-storeydesign in order to maximise the use of thelimited space on the school fields – also with amind on creating the least disruption when thesite is returned to fields.

“All the necessary mains services had to besupplied to the new buildings – requiring thebuilding of an electricity substation, the cre-ation of a new access road and parkingfacilities, sewer services and data/telecomsservices.”

The project was completed within eightweeks of Eurolink moving on site. encounter-ing a green field site.

The new buildings, which incorporate facil-ities for the nursery, infants and juniors alongwith the breakfast and after-school clubs aswell as a play area, fencing and gates, areproposed to be moved after six months andthe site returned to its original condition –using all the excavated materials that havebeen stored on site.

Said Mr Stancliffe: “Many people do notunderstand that with modern portable andmodular buildings we are able to provide astructure, designed and built to client specific-ations that would rival any traditionally con-structed building in a fraction of the time.”

■ BUILDING UP: Director Michael Stancliffe (left) with (from left) office manager SteveRowley, accounts manager Jane Hawkins, marketing manager Caroline Ward and managingdirector John Stancliffe. Below: new extension at Holmfirth swimming baths

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TO LETSpen Valley HouseBradford Road, Cleckheaton1Modern office suite1 41.7 – 83.40m2 (449 – 898 sq ft)Rent: From £5 psf

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TO LETIndustrial PremisesPine Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1SS1Workshop/Warehouse1 473.64m2 (5,098 sq ft)1 Edge of town centre location1 Ease of access to A62 Leeds Road CorridorRent: On Application

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Charity challengers!A PUBLIC relations company is marking 10 years inbusiness by embarking on a charity challenge.

Lindley-based point2pr has vowed to help 10 localcharities and is “willing to get stuck into anything”from providing free PR to volunteering at events.

Managing director Jenny Clayton, pictured (above,right) with PR executive Hannah Powley, said: “Tocelebrate our anniversary, we wanted to mark it withsomething really special – and helping 10 localcharities seemed a fantastic idea.”

Huddersfield-based charity Combating Obesity isthe first to join the charity challenge. The organisationfocuses on tackling the emotional and psychologicaleffects of obesity and works with a wide variety ofcare givers to help improve the treatment and supportthat obese individuals receive.

Jenny said point2pr had some other worthycandidates in mind to join the campaign, but added:“We also wanted suggestions from the Kirkleesbusiness community, so we posted a comment on theMid Yorkshire Network Group on Linked In.

“The feedback was amazing and we have receivedrecommendations for some brilliant causes.

“We really hope that we will be able to help them –however we get involved – and we will certainly keepeveryone posted on what we get up to!”

Sponsor with aneed for speedYORKSHIRE-born businessman JohnGreenwood has returned to his roots byforging a new partnership with Hudders-field-based racer Daniel Lloyd.

Mr Greenwood, who hails from Cleck-heaton, is chief executive at CreechurchPrivate Wealth, part of the Creechurch Isleof Man-based investment boutique.

Now the business will become a keysponsor of the Porsche Carrera Cup GBChampionship racer as he looks forward toa successful season in 2012.

Daniel,19, of Scammonden, said: “I’mabsolutely delighted to have the support ofCreechurch for my first season in PorscheCarrera Cup GB.

“This is going to be the biggest year ofmy career so far, so to have the backing ofJohn Greenwood and Creechurch really isfantastic.

“Together, hopefully we’ll do Yorkshireproud!”

Mr Greenwood said: “As a business,we’re really keen to work with up andcoming talents, such as Daniel, particu-larly at the start of their career.

“We’re delighted to have teamed up withhim as he looks to progress towards a veryexciting season.”

He added: “Personally, I’m delighted tobe able to offer this support to Daniel ashe’s flying the flag for my home county.

“We felt this was a perfect opportunityfor Creechurch, as we look to expand ourpresence in Yorkshire and across theUK.”

Daniel, who has vowed to raise funds forthe West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Chil-dren’s Hospice throughout 2012, begins hisracing season at the end of this month.

■ SPEEDSTER: Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship racer Daniel Lloyd

Business owners take to the stageBUSINESS owners took to the stage for amasterclass in rock performancetechniques for business.

Ricky’s School of Rock at Linthwaitehosted the event when a diverse group,including an IT and web specialist, abusiness coach and a masseur camealong to learn how rock performancetechniques could help their businesspresentations.

Glenn Fox, of easiweb and easivideo,

said: “The event was great fun, lively andfull of information about how to presentyour business better.”

Janet Jones, of The HappinessMillionaire, said: “Ricky’s presentationskills evening was a great opportunity tolearn new skills and ways to create a moreinteresting and fun presentation.Something happens when you are on astage with lights, smoke machine and aguitar!”

Michelle Hodgson, of Key Words, said:“Partnering with Ricky's School of Rockwas a great opportunity to mix businesswith pleasure. The delegates not onlylearned some useful presentationtechniques but also had a really funevening. For many it was their first timeperforming with a microphone, but they allgot into the spirit of the event.”

View the videos at www.youtube.com//keywordshudds

Is there a doctorin the house?A FORMER member of theheart-lung transplant team atPapworth Hospital – renownedfor his hilarious take on the worldof medicine – is guest speaker ata business dinner in Huddersfieldthis month.

Dr Kevin Jones (pictured) willentertain guests on Thursday,March 22, at the annual dinner ofthe Huddersfield & DistrictSociety of CharteredAccountants.

Dr Jones qualified in medicinefrom Liverpool University in 1977 and during hiscareer has worked on the heart-lung transplant teamat Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, and at StBartholomew’s Hospital, London. He is now a leadingconsultant chest physician.

In 1988, he spent a year at The University ofColorado in Denver, USA. In his spare time, he hasbeen medical officer to both Huyton and Salfordrugby league clubs.

Society president Roger Bryant said: “Dr Jones isknown as the best medical after-dinner speakeravailable and I am sure will have us all – hopefully notliterally – in stitches!

“I am looking forward to the evening immensely torenew acquaintance with many friends andcolleagues and also for the opportunities it will offerfor professionals in the Huddersfield area to meet anddiscuss current issues in a relaxed and convivialenvironment.”

The event will include a raffle in aid of two charities,West Yorkshire Forget-Me-Not Hospice and Music &the Deaf.

Celebrities behind the wheelBATLEY-born businessmanLawrence Tomlinson put agroup of celebrities throughtheir paces on the race track.

Mirfield-born actor SirPatrick Stewart was amongthose competing at Silverstonein a contest to find the fasteststar in a reasonably-pricedrace car.

The event took place duringthe annual media day hostedby car manufacturing businessGinetta, to mark the launch ofits championship season.

The celebrities, drivingGinetta G40s, were pittedagainst Lawrence – Ginettacompany chairman and 2006Le Mans GT2 winner– with theadded pressure of formerFormula 1 champion NigelMansell watching from the pitlane.

Sir Patrick was joined by

Strictly Come Dancing’sBrendan Cole; Nick Knowles,of DIY SOS; Will Mellor, of 2Pints of Lager; Radio 1’s

Comedy Dave; Hollyoaks actorNick Pickard; andEmmerdale’s Chris Bisson andKelvin Fletcher.

Lap times ranged from arespectable 1:17.60 through toa Sunday driver 1:58. ChrisBisson was revealed as thefirm anchor at the bottom ofthe leader board, while NickKnowles achieved the fastestlap – until Mr Tomlinson wasslashed Nick’s time by sevenseconds.

Sir Patrick came sixth with atime of 1:19.26.

Said Lawrence: “Today hasbeen a lot of fun and certainlyrevealed everyone’scompetitive streak.

“It was great for these guysto experience first-hand drivinga race car and something theGinetta juniors at 14 years oldmake look so easy. I have afeeling this event will run againas I believe there are somescores to be settled!”

■ TRACK STAR: Nick Knowles (centre) with LawrenceTomlinson (left), chairman of Ginetta, and Nigel Mansell