Kirklees Business News 19/03/13

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees19, March, 2013

INSIDE

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Let ’s g ive them credit !Co lumn - Page 5

An EXAMINER publication

Celebratewith cakeA CAKEMAKER takinga slice of the action inexport markets haswon an award for itsefforts. Huddersfield’sProperMaid is one offour regionalbusinesses to benamed as the first-everwinners of awardsorganised by UK Trade& Investment topromote its popularPassport to Exportprogramme for noviceand new exporters. TheLindley company, ledby founder AllisonWhitmarsh, won theaward for MostImproved BusinessPerformance

UnsafestructuresResearch by insolvencytrade body R3 showsthat 27% ofconstruction firmsacross the UK are atrisk of failure in thenext 12 months – withthe same proportion atrisk in Yorkshire andHumber. Chris Wood, ofClough CorporateSolutions inCleckheaton, said thatmore than 62,310construction and civilengineering companiesregistered in the UK areat risk of collapse –4,245 of them inYorkshire and Humber.

NICK GARTLAND

exam

iner

.co.

uk Themosttrustednewsbrandin thebusiness

FTSE 100- 31 .736457.92

JASON NEILSON

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HMRC losing patience with poor paying firmsTAX officials are running out of patiencewith businesses that have outstanding taxbills, a Kirklees-based accountancy firmhas warned.

Nigel Westman, partner at Clough andCompany in Cleckheaton, said HM Rev-enue & Customs issued 5,302 winding-uporders in 2011-12 – up by 57% on theprevious year’s figure of 3,367.

And a major shake-up to Pay As YouEarn could magnify the problem, MrWestman said.

From April, the Real Time Informa-tion programme, which is at the heart ofthe government’s welfare reform, willfeed up-to-date information aboutemployee income to the Department forWork and Pensions – enabling it tocalculate accurately payments to whichindividuals are entitled.

Mr Westman said: “Business owners

have to be wary about how many morepetitions are now being issued, which is aclear sign that HMRC is cracking downon businesses that default on tax pay-ments.

“At the start of the recession, theRevenue took a fairly sympatheticapproach when businesses were strug-gling but now they seem to be taking amuch tougher stance.

“Furthermore, RTI means PAYEinformation will be collected every timeemployers run their payroll, rather thanhaving to wait until the end of the taxyear.

“HMRC hopes the new system willmean more individuals pay the rightamount of tax during the year, which willmitigate the need for year-end adjust-ments – but it will also help HMRC toidentify businesses that are accruing

PAYE and NIC arrears.“This could result in more businesses

incurring problems as HMRC do notregard VAT or PAYE as part of their cashflow.”

Mr Westman said: “There is no doubtthat HMRC is under pressure from theGovernment to up its game and increaseits tax takings, but many businesses arefinding themselves in a difficult positionbecause of this harder line.

“Businesses with outstanding tax billscan still apply for HMRC’s ‘time-to-pay’scheme, although recent figures alsoshow that increasing numbers of applic-ants are being rejected.

“Any businesses considering applyingfor this should seek professional adviceand take a pragmatic approach in theirapplication to demonstrate that the busi-ness is viable and able to pay the debt.”

■ ARREARS: NigelWestman, partner at Clough& Company in Cleckheaton

Network provideslesson in successA BUSINESS networking groupin Huddersfield has helped one ofits members embark on a literarycareer.

Businessman Andrew Millerhas seen his first book, HopeWon’t Pay the Wages, publishedon Amazon after drawing on theexperiences of fellow members ofthe Huddersfield 4Networkinggroup.

The idea for the book came tohim through his membership of4N, which meets at the Table Tablerestaurant at Aspley.

Said Andrew: “It was a lightbulb moment – 4N helped me totake the leap and stand out and dosomething different.”

Andrew’s book argues thatentrepreneurs can be left sodemoralised by the stigma andshame of losing a business thattheir road to personal and com-mercial recovery can take up totwo years.

It says that these are wastedyears – time when they are unableto contribute to building the UKeconomy by employing people,paying taxes and trading.

Andrew gained many insightsfor the book from talking to busi-ness owners and entrepreneurs in

the 4N group – but not from thosewho had been really successful,rather from those who had facedtheir worst business nightmare ofcorporate collapse and survived.

“Being a 4N member made iteasy to approach people that Id idn ' t know before,” sa idAndrew.

“I used the 4N breakfast meet-ing to engage Kirklees businessleaders and speak to them abouttheir own reality of business fail-ure and success.

“I got a lot of people wanting tohelp and share their experiences.”

Andrew said the book hadproved popular because as well ashighlighting an area of businesswhich needs greater support, italso provides that support.

In addition, the lessons learntby 4N members and identified inthe book were applicable to everybusiness owner, so that everyonereading it could take somethingaway to use in their own enter-prise.

“All the way along, 4N has beenfundamental in helping me toachieve something that 12 monthsbefore wasn't even a considera-tion,” said Andrew. “If I had notjoined 4N none of this would have

happened in the timescale that itdid – or, more likely, at all.”

Brad Burton, motivationalspeaker and managing director of4N Networking, hailed HopeWon’t Pay the Wages as “the firstbusiness book in ages that grabbedme” and added: “I’m seriouslyloving it.”

Following publication of thebook, Andrew has discussed hisresearch with government.

As a result, the Department forBusiness, Innovation and Skills islooking at business failure as a keytopic to aid economic growth –with the possibility of a specificproject getting the go-ahead fromgovernment.

Said Andrew: “This is a veryexciting opportunity. I’m hopinggovernment can see the merit ofmy research and how it canprovide them with a solution aspart of their ongoing agenda tohelp small to medium busi-nesses.”

Andrew, who works as a turn-around coach at Wakefield-basedARM Coaching Services, has 16years experience working ininsolvency and turnaround forone of the big four global account-ancy firms.

■ WORD POWER: Businessman Andrew Millerhas achieved literary success with the help ofHuddersfield’s 4Networking group

Chef ’s winning recipe

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national

SHARE PRICES

closed at

Local shares

FTSE

6457.92Down 31.73

closed at

THE North could cratemore 120,000 new jobsin a decade if the region’sshare of foreign directinvestment returned tolevels enjoyed before theabolition of the regionaldevelopment agencies,claims to a report.

The study – UK First?Improving NorthernAccess to Foreign DirectInvestment – says thatsecuring FDI has been akey element of economicdevelopment in theNorth, with companieslike Nissan and Siemensleading the way.

The report bythink-tank IPPR Northargues that FDI hassupported the growth ofkey businesses andhelped to create andprotect jobs.

But the number of FDIprojects in the North hasfallen by 27%since 2010when a new approach toinward investment wasintroduced by theCoalition Government.

The report said thistrend was widening theNorth/South divide asLondon saw a 19% risein FDI. Since 2004,London and the SouthEast has secured moreforeign investment thanthe rest of England puttogether.

IPPR North said agreater share ofWhitehall resourcesshould go tostrengthening thecapacity of city regions toseek foreign investment.It calls for changing theway governmentmonitors investment withless emphasis oncounting the number ofnew projects and moreemphasis on expandingexisting projects and thenumber of new jobscreated.

SHARES in Marks & Spencer surgedon speculation that the high streetretailer is an £8bn bid target for MiddleEastern investors.

The stock jumped 8% at one stage,adding more than £500m in value, afternewspaper reports that the QatarInvestment Authority), the Gulf state’ssovereign wealth fund, is in talks withprivate equity and banks about anapproach.

M&S shares closed yesterday up25.6p at 398.1p, or 7%.

Despite the scale of the share pricemovement, there was no official stockmarket announcement to confirm ordeny the speculation.

A bid for the retailer would mark thebiggest private equity takeover of aBritish blue chip firm since AllianceBoots was snapped up by US buyoutfirm KKR for £11bn in 2007.

It would also see another Britishname fall into foreign hands afterrecent high-profile takeovers such asUS group Kraft’s controversial acquis-

ition of Cadbury.M&S is often the subject of takeover

speculation and there are significanthurdles for any such deal to get the goahead.

Apart from the price tag needed towin over management and investors,M&S has a hefty pension deficit ofabout £300m which means the scheme’strustees have a significant say in anydeal.

Other bidders have tried and failed tobag M&S in the past, with BHS andTopshop tycoon Sir Philip Greenlaunching an unsuccessful hostile£10bn bid in 2004.

Private equity firm CVC, which ownsFormula One, is said to have con-sidered a bid for M&S last summer, butpulled out after its plans were madepublic.

The takeover spotlight has oncemore fallen on M&S with its falteringsales in recent years.

Chief executive Marc Bolland isleading a turnaround plan to revive its

performance, but progress has beenhampered by difficult high street condi-tions.

It reported its first fall in profits forthree years in 2012 and followed thiswith a dismal performance in clothingover Christmas.

Overall like-for-like sales in the UKfell 1.8% in the 13 weeks to December29 after a bigger-than-expected 3.8%slump in general merchandise.

Mr Bolland is hoping a new clothing

management team, which includesex-Jaeger boss Belinda Earl, will startto deliver when their first collections hitthe shops in July.

But M&S shares have taken a ham-mering, down 70% in the last yearalone, making the firm an attractivetakeover target.

QIA is no stranger to the UK retailsector. Its Qatar Holding subsidiarybought Harrods three years ago for£1.5bn and it has a 25% stake insupermarket Sainsbury’s.

It also has the financial firepower forsuch a deal, although it is believed to bekeen to tie up with private equity fundsto reduce its risk.

Retail analyst Nick Bubb said:“M&S is certainly vulnerable to a bid,as trading and profits are under pres-sure, with nothing to show yet for biginvestments made in online and ware-housing and the changes in the clothingteam ahead of the key autumn sea-son.”

M&S shares boostfrom takeover talk

FDI pleafor region

RETAILER Martin McColl is tocreate 150 new convenience storesover the next two years after complet-ing a debt refinancing worth morethan £100m.

The expansion will give the groupsome 800 convenience stores as itfaces up to increased competitionfrom supermarket heavyweights inthe smaller store sector.

Convenience stores already makeup more than half of Martin McColl’s1 , 2 6 0 s t o re s, m a k i n g i t t h ethird-largest owner of such outlets inthe country.

The group, founded by Scottishfootballer Robert Smyth McColl in1901, also has 500 newsagents, havingacquired rivals Forbuoys and Dillonsin the late 1990s.

It has doubled the number of itsconvenience stores in the last sevenyears and plans to drive its latestexpansion by snapping up independ-ent stores and converting its ownexisting newsagents.

Finance director Jonathan Millersaid the group had defied difficulteconomic conditions to refinance itsdebt pile with £126.5m in new loans.

McColl in expansion plan

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.38 dollarsBangladesh................. 111.79 takaBrazil.............................. 2.68 realsCanada....................... 1.47 dollarsChina ............................. 8.37 yuanCzech Republic ...... 27.46 korunasDenmark....................... 8.27 kroneEuro................................ 1.11 euroHong Kong................ 11.10 dollarsHungary ................... 320.48 forintsIndia.......................... 72.06 rupeesJapan........................... 135.77 yenMexico ....................... 16.80 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.70 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.33 kronePakistan.................. 139.30 rupeesPhilippines ................. 52.55 pesosSouth Africa ................. 13.03 randSouth Korea.............. 1464.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 179.51 rupeesSweden......................... 9.28 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.36 francsTaiwan ...................... 39.16 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.58 new liraUSA ............................ 1.44 dollars

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £43.54 -0.19Gannett 1437.64 -1.98Hess Corp £47.86 -0.11Microsoft 1867.35 +12.57Motors Liquidation 49.62Wal-Mart Stores £47.89 -0.08

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 398 -16BAE Systems 3837/8 +3/4Rolls-Royce 1094 +9

AIMBrady Plc 871/2

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 2743/4 +1/4

BANKSBarclays 306 -141/8HSBC 7201/4 +1/8Lloyds Banking Gp 497/8 -5/8Ryl Scotland 2971/4 -105/8Stan Chart 17261/2 -361/2

BEVERAGESDiageo £201/8SABMiller £345/8 -3/8

CHEMICALSCroda £265/8 +1/4Elementis 98 2633/8 -65/8Johnsn Mat £227/8 -1/4

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2711/2 -65/8Costain 2891/2 +2

ELECTRICITY

Drax Gp 593 +121/2SSE 1459 -5

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLaird 230 +3/4

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 433 -3

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 2703/4 -11/2Cable & WirelessComm

411/2

Colt Group 1283/4 -63/4KCOM 82 -23/8Talktalk Telecom 2621/4 +47/8

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2711/4Sainsbury 3651/4 +23/8Tesco 3825/8 -21/2

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1891 -8Tate Lyle 8321/2 +141/2Unilever £273/8

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 350 -2National Grid 735 +1Pennon Grp 6321/2 -3Severn 1645 -2United Utils 684 -5

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 3245/8 +15/8ICAP 3267/8 -31/8London StockExch 1372 -13Man Group 1001/2 +1/4Provident Financial 1558 +25

Schroders £211/4 -1/4Schroders NV 1692 -35

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSREXAM 5231/2 -3Smiths Grp 1328 +15

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 281/2 -1Carphone Whse 2031/2 +4Dixons Retail 35 +1/4Home Retail 1561/2 +11/2Inchcape 5091/2Kingfisher 2873/8 +11/4M & S 3981/8 +255/8Mothercare 2981/2 +41/4Next £413/8 +1/2WH Smith 742 +191/2

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 739 -71/2

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 85 -1Barrat Dev 240 +5Persimmon 966 +13Reckitt Benckiser £471/8Taylor Wimpey 851/2 +13/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGI M I 1335 -12

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 1973/4 -81/4

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 265 +1/8

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 3231/4 -27/8

Lgl & Gen 1723/8 -3/4Old Mutual 2071/4 -11/2Prudential 1115 -39Resolution 2673/8 +3/8Standard Life 380 +11/4

MEDIABSkyB 891 +7D Mail Tst 7081/2 +2HIBU 3/8ITV 1313/4 +5/8Johnston Press 131/4 -1/4Pearson 1204 -4Reed Elsevier 759 +11/2STV Group 141 -3Trinity Mirror 851/2 -91/2Utd Business 7141/2 -5UTV 1471/2 -21/2WPP 1080 -3

MININGAnglo American 18731/2 -19Antofagasta 1066 -16BHP Billiton £201/2 -1/8Eurasian NaturalRes

3217/8 -247/8

Fresnillo 1456 -24Kazakhmys 5051/2 -33Lonmin 3171/8 -117/8Rio Tinto £323/4 -3/8VEDANTARESOURCES

1132 -28

Xstrata 11351/2 -29MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 6871/2 +11/2Vodafone Group 185 +13/4

NONLIFE INSURANCE

Admiral Grp 1340 +4RSA Insurance Gp 116

OIL & GAS PRODUCERSBG 11841/2 +61/2BP 4481/2 -11/8Cairn Energy 2891/4 -23/4Royal Dutch Shell A £213/4 -1/8Royal Dutch Shell B £221/8 -1/4Total £331/4 -3/8Tullow Oil 1247 -2

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 1072 +12Petrofac 1563 +16Wood Gp(J) 872 +3

PERSONAL GOODS

Burberry Gp 1439 -11

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGYAstrazeneca £301/2 -1/4GlaxoSmithK XD 5Shire £201/8 -1/4

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 5491/2 -51/2Hamrsn 5021/2 -41/2Intu Properties 3303/4 -11/4Land Secs 816 -101/2SEGRO 2671/4 -33/4

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESInvensys 3601/8 +11/2Sage Group 3431/2 +13/4

SUPPORT SERVICESBerendsen 752 -101/2Bunzl 1309 +11Capita 8931/2 +12De La Rue 932 +7Electrocomp 257 -1/8Experian 1170 +12G4S 2981/4 -1/8Hays 98 -1/2Homeserve 2273/4 +3/4Menzies J 780 -9Rentokil 983/4 -1/4Smiths News 178 +61/4Wolseley £33 -1/8

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 9201/2 -8Spirent Comms 153 -23/4

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £347/8 -1/8

Imperial Tobacco £233/8 -3/8

LEISURE & HOTELS

Bwin.Party Digital 1475/8 +23/4Carnival £231/4 -1/2Compass Grp 8381/2 +31/2easyJet 1066 -6Enterprise Inns 1103/4 -1/4FirstGroup 2021/4 -21/4Go-Ahead Gp 1513 +2Greene King 719 +71/2Intercontl Htls £201/8 +1/8Intl Cons Airl 2701/2 -13/4Ladbrokes 2381/4 -1/4Mitchells & Butlers 3443/8 +1Natl Express 2151/4 -23/4Rank Org 173 +4Stagecoach Group 3091/4 -21/4TUI Travel 3143/8 -51/4Whitbread £255/8 -1/4

INDEXFTSE 100 6457.92 -31.73

INDEXFTSE 250 14089.75 -15.80

Carclo 450 -103/4Marshalls 1193/4 +41/4National Grid 735 +1Weir Gp £241/4 -1/4

CONFIDENCE in the housebuildingsector received a further boost witha £210m deal for Edinburgh-basedfirm CALA.

The business, which builds about875 homes a year with an averageselling price of £340,000, has beensold by Lloyds Banking Group toinsurer Legal & General and privateequity firm Patron.

CALA’s sale comes after therecent successful £600m flotation ofhousebuilder Crest Nicholson and araft of positive trading updates fromthe sector.

The company, which targets the

more affluent areas of the UK suchas the Home Counties, the Cots-wolds and areas around Glasgow,Edinburgh and Aberdeen, said itstrading performance so far this yearhas been “exceptionally strong”.

It returned to profit one year aheadof schedule in 2011, having beenloss-making since 2008, andrecently announced a six-foldincrease in profitability to £11.4m forthe year to June 30.

Chief executive Alan Brown saidthe deal, made up of £140m of equityand £70m of debt, was a significantstep forward for the company.

Housebuilder CALA finds buyer

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile

JasonNeilson

315 Bar &Restaurant

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Co-ownerAge: 40Family: Married to Ruth withchildren Zachary, seven, andJessica, fiveCar: Citroen 4x4Holidays: Ruth and I aregoing to celebrate our 40thbirthdays in the MaldivesFirst job: A two-week workplacement which turned into ayear working in the kitchen ofa health club restaurant inSheffieldBest thing about job: Istill enjoy the buzz of a busykitchen and meeting theeveryday challengesWorst thing about job:Dealing with staff issues andproblemsBusiness tip: Set your stallout and don’t constantly swapand change what you do.Change is good, but youshould try to stick to yourbusiness model

Work: Bar and restaurantSite: Wakefield Road,LeptonPhone: 01484 602613Email:[email protected]:www.315barandrestaurant.co.uk

Jasonaddsto themenu

AT a time when manyhotels, pubs andrestaurants are strugglingto survive, chef JasonNeilson believes he hashit on a winning recipe.

The co-owner of 315Bar & Restaurant atLepton says business isbuzzing – with plans forfurther expansion..

The former White Horsepub at Wakefield Roadhas been transformedsince Jason and businesspartner Terry Drydenbought the premises twoyears ago.

Almost £3m has beeninvested in the business tocreate an eatingestablishment offeringhigh quality modern Britishcuisine “with a twist” in acontemporary and stylishsetting.

The building wasvirtually demolished – allsave the porch and facade– to create a bar area,three restaurants, afunction room, eightbedrooms and an openkitchen seating areawhere diners can watchtheir food being prepared.

The fittings and decorwere the work of localinterior designer JoanWebb, whose otherprojects have included citycentre offices, hotels,Brighouse Civic Hall andBrighouse Library and ArtGallery.

Terry, who ran anelectrical contractbusiness in Barnsley formany years beforebuilding and running anumber of nursing homes,first met Jason and hiswife Ruth when Jason wasrunning Thorpe GrangeManor in Almondbury.Later, Jason was at theSpencer Arms atCawthorne, but was readyfor a new challenge.

Jason says: “Terry hadkept his eye on the WhiteHorse, which had beenempty for quite a while,and suggested going intopartnership on it.

“What amazed me waswhen he gave me a blankpiece of paper and said:‘Write down what youwant’. We drew up awish-list and spent 18months realising it. Wetook over the pub anddemolished everythingexcept the frontage.Everything else, we builtfrom scratch.”

Now the former pub isunrecognisable.

Three restaurantscomprise The EmleyRoom – a cosy loungeadjacent to the bar – themore formal Forest Roomand the Garden Room,which commandswonderful views of opencountryside towardsWhitley Willows.

The Ingram Suite is aversatile function room,which can host weddingsand business conferencesand boasts an adjoiningmarquee to allow eventsto be held outdoors.

Ten bedrooms include abridal suite and a familysuite.

Jason says the aim is to“maximise the assets” by

providing facilities for alloccasions.

Jason, who takescharge in the kitchen, andhis wife Ruth, who runsfront-of-house, have builtup a thriving businesswhich stands in starkcontrast to the fortunes ofsome other eatingestablishments.

Much of the success isdown to Jason, who hasnever regretted thedecision to run his ownbusiness rather than takeup the opportunity to workfor some illustrious TVchefs.

Jason, who hails fromSheffield, but now liveswith Ruth and childrenZachary and Jessica inPenistone, says: “Eversince I was a kid I wasinterested in cookery. My

mum would bake and Iused to like helping. Mydad made a little stool forme to stand on so I couldreach the table and I usedto watch Delia Smith onTV.

“It was alwayssomething I wanted to do.”

Jason studied cateringat Castle College, nearSheffield, and in his thirdyear went on a 12-weekplacement to RaymondBlanc’s famed restaurant,Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons He worked as acomis chef before leavingthree-and-a-half yearslater as the youngestsous-chef.

Jason went on to workin France at a three-starMichelin restaurant beforereturning to England totake a job as a head chef.

“I was offered a job withMarco Pierre White andGordon Ramsay,” he says.“But I thought that wouldbe a sideways move, so Itook a head chef’s job inSussex.

“Later, I spoke to myparents and decided totake a chance and openour own restaurant.

“We had the ThorpeGrange Manor forseven-and-a-half yearsbefore selling it and takingthe Spencer Arms. It wasjust a typical village pub,but we took the decision toturn it into a gastro-puband that turned thebusiness around.”

Jason defines his ownculinary style as modernBritish. “I like taking aclassic dish and giving it abit of a twist,” he says, “A

lot of chefs fall downbecause they try too hard.I learned a lot from beingin France – going fromhaving five or six sauceson the plate to offering thecustomer a piece of fish ormeat, a garnish and asauce to go with it.

“The key is to startsimply and build fromthere.”

He says: “One of mybiggest sellers is fillet ofsteak and chips! But Ibuild up a simple dish byincluding things like amushroom pate andtomatoes.”

Leading a team of 40staff, including casuals,throws up challenges, butJason relishes his role.

“I still enjoy the buzz ofa busy kitchen,” he says.

“Running this place isalways challenging.

“We catered for 500people over two days forMother’s Day weekendand I don’t think we have aweekend this year whichhasn’t been booked for awedding..

“But I am quite relaxedin the kitchen. I’m not intoscreaming and shoutingbecause at the end of theday the only people whosuffer are the customers.

“They are here to havea good time and if there isfriction among the staffbecause I have beenthrowing my weightaround that comes acrossto the customer.

“If the staff are happyand everyone has a smileon their faces, that willalso come across to thecustomer.”

■ BEST OF BRITISH: Jason Neilson at 315 Bar & Restaurant, Lepton

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KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal

RISKYBUSINESSMark Weeks

Mark Weeks is a risk management consultantat Wilby Ltd

‘Budget for business’

Call for exporters

New regulationsunder constructionTHE likely contents of the revi-

sions to the Construction(Design & Management) Regula-tions are due to go out to publicconsultation later this year.

Although the exact detail of the newregulatory package will not be knownuntil May, 2013, at the earliest when it ispresented to the Health and SafetyExecutive board, the new CDM regula-tions would not be the fine-tuning theHSE CDM Review indicated last year.

Headline changes would include theremoval of both Regulation 4 relating toCompetence and the Approved Code ofPractice (ACoP); the introduction ofCDM duties for all projects where morethan one contractor is working on aproject and the design phase duties ofthe current CDM Co-ordinator beingplaced with a new “Project PreparationManager”. Designer, Principal Con-tractor and Contractor duties, however,appear to be remaining more or lessunchanged.

It is also expected that the projectnotification threshold will remain thesame as under the current regulations;even though these differ from those inthe European Unions’ Temporary &Mobile Construction Sites (TMCS)

Directive.One of the most contentious changes

is likely to be the introduction of CDMduties for all projects, commercial ordomestic, where more than one con-tractor is working on a project. On theseprojects, one of the contractors will haveto take on the equivalent duties of theCDM Co-ordinator for the construc-tion phase.

The HSE said they would be concen-trating on improving the constructionindustry’s understanding of the TMCSDirective, the reduction of pre-qualific-ation bureaucracy and replacing theApproved Code of Practice with a seriesof guidance notes.

These proposed changes fly in theface of the HSE’s own CDM Reviewand the government’s acceptance of therecommendations in Prof Ragnar Löfs-

ted’s Report (published in 2012) – bothof which suggested the current Regula-tions were working well, were notbroken and only required minorchanges in the way they were under-stood and being implemented.

Health and safety within the UK’sconstruction industry has improved sig-nificantly over the past 15 years; helpingour industry to become a world leaderwith an enviable reputation and export-ing its skills around the world.

Whilst a desire for a reduction inbureaucracy and a drive for simplicityshould be applauded; it should greatlyconcern the government and the generalpublic that these unnecessary drasticchanges could seriously undermine andset back the excellent progress made inhealth and safety risk management bythe construction industry.

Start Up Loanbid successA HUDDERSFIELD wthe first in the countrchanges to a loan scencouraging young people to becomeentrepreneurs.Maysoon Shafiq (picturwho lives at Paddock, has beenawarded a £3,000 loan under theGovernment’s Start up Loan scchaired by Dragon’s Den panellistJames Caan.The 27-year-old law grsuccessful in her bid fthe criteria was changed to allowpeople aged 24 to 30 to aPreviously, the scheme wto young people aged 18 to 24.Now she has launched Lewith offices at St George’ Squarprovide legal advice on issuesrelating to commercial laproperty, immigration, perand crime.Maysoon, who used the loan to bcomputer and office fura law degree at HudUniversity before completing herstudies at the College of LaShe has 10 years experience in thesector, having worked fProsecution ServiceService and a number of laA launch event was aMaysoon’s family and friends as was business contactsShe said: “I have alwset up a business for malready had a number of potentialclients calling in and I hope to belooking to recruit some stafnext six months.”Maysoon’s success comes as theStart Up Loan Scheme rmilestone – with 2,000 aspiryoung entrepreneurreceived support to help get theirbusiness venture ofThe Start-Up Loans Companyadministers the scheme and ischaired by Mr Caan, has helped tostart 1,000 new businesses in the lastmonth alone.The scheme typically prof about £4,500 along with mentoringsupport. The Gover£117.5m available to fund the StarLoans scheme up to 2015.Mr Caan said the scexceeded its initial targets“Whilst we are well ahead of ourtarget numbers, I belieonly scratching the surface“Two thousand younghighly motivated people hatheir future into their own handsForty people a day arstart their own business thanks toStart-Up Loans.”

SMALL businesses across Kirklees couldbe given a vital boost in tomorrow’sBudget, says a tax and accountancyspecialist.

“Freezing business rates would give amajor boost to many local businesses,”said Nick Brook (pictured right), who runsTaxAssist Accountants in Huddersfield.

“We would also like to see theChancellor increase the VAT registrationthreshold and widen the EmployersNational Insurance Contributions holidayfor start-ups.

“These simple measures would providesignificant savings for many small

businesses across Kirklees, allowing formore businesses to survive and grow.”

TaxAssist Accountants, which has itsHuddersfield offices in Lockwood, hasbeen taking soundings from its 43,000 UKsmall business customers and has heldforums across the country with local MPs,local government representatives,banking, finance and business rescuespecialists, to raise the big issues facingsmall business.

The national network is feeding theresults back to policy makers, commercialbanking teams and business organisationsat national and local level.

A FIFTH of firms in Yorkshire areexporters, a survey has revealed.

But fewer than one in fivecompanies UK-wide currently tradeoverseas – with costs cited as thebiggest barrier to breaking intoexport markets.

Figures from Lloyds TSBCommercial Banking showed thatYorkshire is the fifth in the list of UKregions for exporting with 19% ofcompanies selling their productsand services overseas. However,11% have never consideredexporting as an option.

Nationally, 17% of firms exportwhile 10% have never givenexporting a thought. Some 40% donot export and have no plans to doso in the future.

Asked why they had decided notto export, 16% of Yorkshire firmssaid it is too costly for small andmedium-sized enterprises to export.

The survey of 2,000 UKbusinesses showed that 40% offirms in the South East are alreadyexporting – the highest proportionof any part of the UK. But 79% ofWelsh companies do not currentlyexport and have no plans to do soin the near future.

Agricultural firms having thehighest proportion of establishedexporters at 32% while most othersectors have below 20%. Only aquarter of manufacturers arecurrently engaged in exporting andhalf of all manufacturing firmssurveyed have no plans to do so.

International aidA MULTI-BILLION pound fund to helpsmall and medium-sized enterprisesexpand overseas has been launched byHSBC.HSBC’s International SME Fund willmake at least £5bn of lending availableto businesses with a turnover of up to£25m.Jacques-Emmanuel Blanchet, head ofUK commercial banking, said: “Tradinginternationally is critical not only for theBritish companies that want to remaincompetitive in the future, but also forthe wider UK economy. Last year, ourInternational SME Fund proved to bevery successful and helped more than28,000 UK businesses to take advantageof international opportunities.”

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local

Nick Gartland, Senior Financial Planning Director, InvestecWealth & Investment

CITYTALKNick Gartland

Opportunity to getinvestment cashDIGITAL entrepreneurs in Kirklees have beenurged to compete for a slice of £500,000 ofsocial investment funding.The Tech for Good Challenge is a partnershipbetween Big Issue Invest, the social investmentarm of the homeless charity, and Nominet Trustwith support from several corporate partners,including LDC. It is also supported by The BigLottery.The challenge aims to identify England's mostinnovative early-stage ventures whoseimaginative use of digital technology isexpected to have a profound impact on thefuture life chances of young people.Up to 20 teams will be selected for an intensivementoring programme with 10 finalists chosento receive investment of up to £50,000, as wellas ongoing support.John Garner, one of the region's most activeprivate equity investors, said he hoped localentrepreneurs would step forward and seize theopportunity to develop their businesses.“Yorkshire has a well-deserved reputation as ahotbed of digital innovation and technologyexpertise,” he said. “This is a perfectopportunity to secure not only funding throughthe challenge, but also to access a pool ofbusiness expertise to help fuel the growth oftheir enterprises.“We're keen to see the region flex its creativemuscle and play a big role in this, as well asplaying a part ourselves in mentoring thosebusinesses that can make a real positive socialimpact.”Early-stage ventures that fit the criteria areinvited to submit information about theirenterprise, product or service via a form athttp://bigissueinvest-csv.com/. Applicationsclose on April 15.LDC is part of Lloyds Banking Group..

Fresh approach

Credit moveis no surpriseAFTER extensive speculation

dating back to the creditcrisis of 2008, the UK finally lostits AAA credit status followingthe downgrade by Moody’s.

However, with the popular viewseeing the downgrade as inevitable,the fallout from what could betermed a done deal will hopefullynow be relatively limited rather thanthe start of a new fall in the pound,which year to date, has dropped8.30% against the US dollar to a rateof less than $1.50.

The good news from all this is thata lower pound ought to boost exportgrowth and traditionally is good forthe equity market, especially a FTSE100 Index earning around 70% of itsprofits overseas and paying a largeproportion of its annual dividends inUS dollars.

The downside is the likely increasein utility bills and fuel costs, thoughmotorists will be pleased to see thebeginning of a price war betweenleading supermarkets in an attemptto attract drivers to their pumps.

Moving to equity markets, we haveseen a number of global indices,including the FTSE 100, tradingclose to multi-year highs. Investorsappear more comfortable that thesystemic risks which have weighed onmarkets for a number of years havedeclined, with a renewed focus onfundamental growth and earningsprospects.

In the past two years, markets havealso begun positively, only to thenfall. Whether this will be repeated in2013 remains to be seen – technicalindicators are implying that a pull-back in the market is due and anumber of issues, particularly in

Europe, have the potential to againcause worry. Nevertheless, althoughthere are a number of obstacles stillto be overcome, we are optimisticthat conditions will remain support-ive for risk assets going forwards.

Aligned with our thoughts thatglobal equities can continue to climbhigher and reach new highs, wewould however note that, in theshort-term, some consolidation inmarkets should be expected, giventhe speed of the rally and the highlevel of complacency beginning toemerge.

For example, a number of marketsare now looking technically “over-bought”, earnings growth expecta-tions for this year could still be toooptimistic and bullish sentiment isnow very high.

Recent developments in Italy andthe current situation in Cyprus havealso served as a reminder to investorsthat the eurozone remains an uncer-tain place and continues to pose athreat to the global economic recov-ery.

The future stance of the US centralbank also requires close monitoringas Quantitative Easing has been a keydriver for a number of assets, fromgold to equities and any potentialreduction in the rate of monetaryeasing may not be met favourably bythe market.

Fundamentally however, there is

no question that corporates are in avery strong financial position, withrecord amounts of cash to deploythrough M&A and investment.Indeed, this year there have alreadybeen a number of significant deals(Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Cap-ital’s purchase of Heinz for $28bnserving as an example), which areperhaps a sign that companies arefeeling more confident deployingcapital. Risk asset valuations alsocontinue to remain supportive andwe remain optimistic that decentreturns can be generated over thelong-term.

In our view, therefore, anyshort-term sell-off in markets, whichis anticipated by some, could wellrepresent a buying opportunity forinvestors.

Start Up Loanbid success

MAJOR brands have signed up to acompetition run by a Huddersfieldfirm to improve the way supplychains work.

Fresh Connection, which is run byspecialist consultancy SCALA,based at the Media Centre inNorthumberland Street, is expectedto be keenly contested again thisyear – with Mars, Kraft-Cadbury,Waitrose, Unilever, Birds Eye,Kimberly Clark, Jordans & Ryvitaand Westmill among the big namebusinesses taking part.

The annual interactive web-basedcompetition helps high-profilebrands to train staff and refinesupply chain managementprocesses.

The contest is being supportedonce again by Toyota Material

Handling, the Chartered Institute ofLogistics and Transport and theFSDF. The UK grand final will takeplace on Wednesday, June 12.

Steve Agg, chief executive of theCILT, said: “The Fresh Connection isan innovative programme fordeveloping current and futuremanagers at all levels in the industryand offers a unique platform toenable participants to extend theirsupply chain knowledge.”

The UK champions will go on tocompete in the global final with 20other countries, which will take placein Turkey in September.

Companies wishing to take partcan call Alison Hobson on 01484437486 or [email protected].

A HUDDERSFIELD woman is amongst in the country to benefit from

hanges to a loan scheme aimed atoung people to become

ysoon Shafiq (pictured above),dock, has been

ded a £3,000 loan under thet up Loan schemes Den panellist

w graduate wassuccessful in her bid for funding after

hanged to allowged 24 to 30 to apply.

heme was only openged 18 to 24.hed Legal Platform

t St George’ Square toal advice on issues

cial law, family law,tion, personal injury

ysoon, who used the loan to buy afice furniture, gained

t Huddersfielde completing her

ge of Law in York.xperience in the

orked for the Crownvice, the Witness

umber of law firms.as attended by

s family and friends as wellusiness contacts.

ways wanted toor myself. I have

umber of potentiallients calling in and I hope to be

ecruit some staff over the

s success comes as theheme reaches a

milestone – with 2,000 aspirationaleneurs now having

t to help get theire off the ground.

t-Up Loans Company, whichheme and is

ed by Mr Caan, has helped tousinesses in the last

heme typically provides loansbout £4,500 along with mentoring

ernment has madeble to fund the Start-Up

heme up to 2015.Mr Caan said the scheme had

ceeded its initial targets, but added:ell ahead of our

, I believe that we arehing the surface.

oung, ambitious andted people have taken

e into their own hands.y are choosing to

usiness thanks to

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LAND

OFFICES

INDUSTRIAL

INVESTMENT

RETAIL

T. 01484 530361 www.bramleys.com

4 RANGE LANEHalifax, HX3 6DLFORMER HOSTEL PREMISES395m2 (4,250ft2)Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres)■ Vacant possession■ Suitable for refurbishment foralternative occupational residentialuses or possible completeredevelopment, subject toplanning consent












■ industrial

■ offices

■ retail

■ investment

■ land

LYNDHURST ROAD,HUDDERSFIELD, HD3

3HZ£180,000

● 174.78sqm (1,881 sqft)● Vacant possession

● Suitable for a variety of

purposes, including

residential development,

subject to planning

● EPC Rating: D

substantial detached property

VICTORIA STREET,HOLMFIRTH, HD9 7DF

£265,000 May Let

● 267.74 sqm (2882 sqft)● Currently a Restaurant with

Living Accommodation above

● Prominent position

● Freehold with vacant

possession

● EPC Asset Rating D

prominent commercial building

MANOR ROAD,HUDDERSFIELD, HD4

6UL£18,000 p/a

● 209.12sqm (2,251sqft)

● Prestigious location

● Good car parking

● Pleasant working

environment

● EPC Asset Rating E

high quality offices

BRETTON STREET,DEWSBURY, WF12 9DB

£45,000 p/a /(MAYSELL)

● 1.22 Ha (3 acres)● Workshop 590sqm

(6,350sqft)

● Development potential,

subject to planning

● Secure Site

● EPC Rating C

established transport yard

BRIGGATE,BRIGHOUSE, HD6 1EL

£150,000

● 178.37 sqm [1,920 sqft]

● With planning consent for the

demolition of the existing

● building and construction of a

dance studio and 8 residential

units

development opportunity

NILE STREET,HUDDERSFIELD, HD1

3PL£1 PSF

● 4,478sqm (48,204sqft)● Short Term Lease

● Predominantly single storey

● Outskirts of Huddersfield

town centre

● Large secure yard

● Inexpensive Rents

industrial premises

Commercial

www.boultonsestateagents.co.uk54 John William Street, Huddersfield HD1 1ER 01484 515029

● Prime Retail Location

● Overlooking Market Place

● 850 square Feet

● Large Window Displays

● 5 Year Lease

● £25,000 per annum

● Great business potential

NEW STREET

Huddersfield Town Centre £25,000 pa

REDUCED

● Ground Floor Lock Up

● Close to Kingsgate

● Electric Shutters

● 90 sq m inc basement


NEW

● Large freehold property

● Coach house & Apt block

● 3 added elements to rear

● Provides multi student lets

● Could achieve £110K p.a

QUEENS ROAD

Edgerton £950,000

● 535 sq m/ 5752 sq ft

● Office/Warehouse

● Ample parking spaces

● Just off Leeds Road

Off Leeds Road £26,000 pa

● 900 sq ft

● Ground Floor + Basement

● Prominent Position

● Other Floors Available


NEW

● A2 permission

● Approx: 1641 sq ft

● Ground + 1st floor space

● Reduced Price

● 5 Year Lease

● Flexible Terms Available


REDUCED

● Ground Floor Shop

● Offers Over £5,500 p.a.

● View 20th, 27th March

● 2 pm till 3.30 pm

● Sealed Bids

● Deadline 5th April

● Approx 692 sq ft

Almondbury £5,500 pa

● Approx: 581 sq ft

● Mezzanine Floor

● Frontage onto Westgate

● B. Arcade Display Windows

● Recessed Display Door


KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Surveyor’s further successA GRADUATE surveyor hasachieved exam success.Rebecca Stafford (left), ofIngbirchworth, nearHuddersfield, has achieved herCentral Association ofAgricultural Valuers exams.The association is a specialistprofessional body practising ina wide range of agriculturaland rural work.By passing the exam, Ms

Stafford is qualified to provideprofessional advice andvaluation expertise on issuesaffecting the countryside,including tenancy matters, thesale and purchase of farmingland, taxation, valuation,conservation issues andfarming structures.Ms Stafford, 23, works forchartered surveyors H&H Landand Property.

Quarter of buildingcompanies ‘at risk’A FALL in UK construction output comes asno surprise, says an insolvency expert.

Figures from the Office for National Statist-ics showed that the construction sectorsuffered a 6.3% plunge in activity duringJanuary.

Separate research by insolvency trade bodyR3 shows that 27% of construction firmsacross the UK are at risk of failure in the next12 months – with the same proportion at riskin Yorkshire and Humber. For all businesses,the comparable figures are 21% and 22%.

R3 figures show that more than 62,310construction and civil engineering companiesregistered in the UK are at risk of collapse –4,245 of them in Yorkshire and Humber.

Chris Wood, Yorkshire R3 committee mem-ber and partner at Clough Corporate Solu-

tions in Cleckheaton, said: “Difficulties inraising funding for development, together withthe cuts in public spending, are both key issuesfacing the industry.

“Due to public sector contracts drying up, itis understandable the construction sector isstruggling. The ‘crane count’ in towns andcities clearly indicates the fall in activity andthere is little relief in sight.

“In addition, commercial developers arefinding it extremely difficult to raise funds andcan often only do so on the back of an anchortenant.

“However, there is some comfort for smallerbuilders as the ‘skip count’ indicates that homeowners are choosing to upgrade their proper-ties rather than sell up and move in the currentmarket.”

www.michaelsteel.co.ukAll enquiries to Alec Michael at Michael Steel & Co

on 0113 234 8999 or email [email protected]

Industrial/Land

FOR SALE/tO LEt

Calder Trading Estate, off LeedsRoad, Bradley, Huddersfield

Self contained workshop with large yard areajust off A62 Leeds Road. Easily accessible toJ25 M62

483 m2 (5,203 sq ft) on up to 1.4 acres

may split

Indusrial

tO LEt

Fieldhead Lane, Drighlington

3,676m2 (39,564 sq ft)RENt

REDUCED

Industrial

tO LEt

Unit 10 Barncliffe BusinessPark, Shelley

Good quality single storey industrial unit inpopular complex with good parking. Welllocated for M1

292m2 (3,143 sq ft)

only £230 per week exclusive

High quality factory and offices on secure sitebeing strategically located less than 1 milefrom Junction 27 of the M62/M621

Reavailable due to abortive negotiations

Tuesday 19 March 2013 – 7pmat Cedar Court Hotel, Lindley Moor Road,Ainley Top, Huddersfield, HD3 3RH

Lot 1

Lot 2

Lot 3

Lot 4

Lot 5

Lot 6

Lot 7

Lot 8

Lot 9

Lot 10

72 Jackroyd LaneNewsome, Huddersfield, HD4 6RD1 Stone cottage1 Renovation project1 Elevated semi rural positionGuide: £25,000+

5.82 Acres Meadow LandHalifax Road/Swales Moor Road,Queensbury, BD13 2NN1 The land comprises 2 fields of

meadow land extending to 5.82Acres (2.35 Hectares)

Guide: £30,000 – £45,000

9.75 Acres Meadow LandEast of Swales Moor Road,Queensbury, BD13 2NN1 The land comprises meadow land

and woodland extending to 9.75Acres (4.82 Hectares)

Guide: £45,000 – £70,000

Former Public ConvenienceChurch Street, Slaithwaite,Huddersfield, HD7 5AS1 Potential for retail or office use1 Lapsed planning consent for A1

retail1 Close to town centre1 Overlooking canalGuide Price: £1500+

Dean Bottom WorksStorthes Hall Lane, Kirkburton,Huddersfield, HD8 0PP1 8,406 sq ft plus secure yard1 Good frontage with parking1 Site area 0.34 Hectares (0.84 Acres)1 Investment/development/break up

opportunityGuide: £180,000+

Former Council Offices, DayCentre & Residential FacilityThe Grange, Ossett Lane, Chickenley,Dewsbury, WF12 8LY1 PP for demolition and 20 new flats1 Prominent Corner Site – 0.61 Acres1 6,878 sq ft (639.28m2) building on 3

floors1 Building suitable for a variety of uses

STPPGuide: £200,000+

Land and Buildings atCatherine Slack FarmHalifax Road, Queensbury, BD13 2NN1 Residential redevelopment opportunity1 Potential for 4/5 dwellings1 Quiet backwater location1 Backing onto GreenbeltGuide: £175,000 – £225,000

11.8 Acres Pasture LandHalifax Road, Queensbury, BD13 2NN1 The land comprises 10 fields of pasture

land extending to 11.8 Acres (4.82Hectares) fronting and accessed fromHalifax Road

Guide: £60,000 – £80,000

Scotland FarmJack Bridge, Colden, Hebden Bridge,HX7 7HR1 5 bedroom character farmhouse1 Numerous period features1 Set in 12.6 Acres (5.11 Hectares) of

grazing and woodland1 Panoramic rural location1 GIA area c.3750 sq ft (348m2)1 Double garage and stable blockGuide: £400,000 – £425,000

2 SpinneyfieldFixby, Huddersfield, HD2 2HX1 4 bedroom period residence1 Grade II Listed1 Numerous ornate features1 Requiring comprehensive renovation1 Secluded backwater location1 0.369 Acre plotGuide: £175,000 – £200,000

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers

More satisfied customersAN insurance group with offices inHuddersfield is among thewinners at the UK CustomerSatisfaction Awards 2013.

Insurer LV= took the trophy forBest Return on Customer ServiceInvestment at the awardsceremony, which was held at theLancaster London Hotel andorganised by the Institute ofCustomer Service.

The group has operations atFolly Hall Mills in Huddersfield,which also houses its BritanniaRescue business.

LV= secured the award by itsinvestment in a large-scaletraining programme and multipleadditional benefits which areexpected to continue to deliverreturns to the company for severalyears.

AndyChallener

HowarthsEMPLOYMENT law specialist Howarths hasappointed Andy Challener to itsCleckheaton-based team.

Mr Challener joins the firm after 10 yearspractising at leading law firms Gordons andEversheds. He takes responsibility for providingemployment law advice and support to clientcompanies throughout Yorkshire, includingrepresenting clients at employment tribunals.

Mr Challener is pictured (above, right) with(from left) Howarths director Gavin Howarth,para-legal Rozina Rehman, non-practisingsolicitor Charlotte Lloyd and legal secretaryCharlie Spalding.

Gavin Howarth, director and non-practisingsolicitor, said: “It is fantastic that Andy hasjoined the legal team and there is no doubt thathis appointment will add to the strength anddepth of Howarths and the service we provideto businesses.”

Sweet successfor cakemakerA CAKEMAKER taking a slice of theaction in export markets has won anaward for its efforts.

Huddersfield-based ProperMaid isone of four regional businesses to benamed as the first ever winners of awardsorganised by UK Trade & Investment topromote its popular Passport to Exportprogramme for novice and new export-ers.

The Lindley-based company, led byfounder Allison Whitmarsh, won itsaward for Most Improved Business Per-formance after taking its “cakes with at w i s t ” i n t o E u r o p e w i t h i t srecently-announced contract to supplythe UK armed forces based in Ger-many.

Allison said: “We went on a trademission to Brussels which led to usgetting the contract with NAAFI.Exporting is something we have alwayswanted to do, but we were so busy we hadto put it on the back burner.”

The company, which is backed byDragon’s Den entrepreneur DeborahMeaden, joins Sheffield-based greentechnology manufacturer Energy Man-

agement Systems, Grimsby firm ChillFresh Ltd and Sheffield’s Bag It Don’tBin It as regional winners.

They were nominated by UKTI’sregional team of international tradeadvisers who are working with the com-panies to identify and pursue overseasopportunities.

Mark Robson, regional director forUKTI Yorkshire and the Humber, said:“It’s great to see such a diverse range ofbusinesses honoured in the Passport toExport Awards – from green technologythrough to fresh fish, recycled bags andsome weird and wonderful cakes!

“It underlines what we offer as a regionin terms of quality and innovation – andeach and every one of the winnersdeserves praise for taking the initiativeand getting out there to compete in theglobal marketplace.

“I hope they prove an inspiration forothers to follow and I look forward totoasting the success of many more com-panies like them at future awards.”

Further information on UKTI sup-port and services can be found atwww.ukti.gov.uk

■ WINNING RECIPE: Allison Whitmarshreceives the award from UKTI’s Mark Robson

Jonathan Wilkinson

HuddersfieldTownHUDDERSFIELD Town hasappointed JonathanWilkinson as marketingco-ordinator.

Mr Wilkinson (pictured),who lives at Elland, has 10years experience in the fieldand joins from WakefieldCollege, where he worked asmarketing officer.

He will play a key role in developing andimplementing Huddersfield Town’s profile andmarketing of events and campaigns, as well asthose of the club’s training ground, CanalsideSports Complex.

Andrew Venn

HarrattsA CAR dealership withoperations in Huddersfield hasannounced a key appointment.

Harratts, which has a Volvodealership at Leeds Road, hasappointed Andrew Venn ashead of operations. The groupis one of Yorkshire’s largest cardealerships with 300 staff at 13locations across Huddersfield,Wakefield, Sheffield, Pontefract and Leeds.

Mr Venn (pictured) will oversee itsday-to-day management and help expand theorganisation from a thriving family business toa class-leading motor retailer.

Mr Venn has more than 25 year’s industryexperience working with brands such asHonda, Volvo, Vauxhall, BMW and Porsche.The former franchise director with Pendragonbrings a wealth of sales and customer serviceexpertise to the role.

Director swaps roles with apprenticeA KITCHEN company cookedup a “job swap” for one of itsoldest and newest apprentices.

Rixonway Kitchens, based inDewsbury, marked NationalApprenticeship Week bysending operations directorNick Greenall back to theshopfloor and giving apprenticeengineer Calum Gardiner thechance to find out what thefuture could hold for him withinthe company.

Nick, who began his careeras an apprentice engineer 35years ago, introduced Calum toa range of production anddistribution meetings whichgave him the chance to seeand understand what happensfirst hand behind the scenes atRixonway.

Sixteen-year-old Calum, whohas been an apprentice atRixonway for nine months, isusually responsible for therepair and preventativemaintenance of productionmachinery in the factory.

He said: “It was reallyinteresting seeing how Nick

runs the business from his sideand definitely showed me whatopportunities there are if I keepworking hard.

“At the moment, I really enjoy

my hands-on role as anapprentice engineer and theopportunity Rixonway havegiven me to learn a trade.”

Nick said: “The day has been

a real success. I have reallyenjoyed having Calum with meand showing him a side of thecompany he doesn’t normallysee.

It has given us both a betterunderstanding of thechallenges we both face andI’m excited to be working withCalum in his role later in theweek.”

Rixonway Kitchens is aYorkshire and the HumberApprenticeship Ambassador forthe National ApprenticeshipService and is committed topromoting the key benefits tobusinesses across the region.

The company currentlyemploys five apprentices in avariety of roles, includingaccountancy, administration,warehouse management,distribution, engineering andtransport.

Rixonway chief executivePaul Rose said: “We havealways supported apprenticesat Rixonway and have seengreat benefits from employingthem.”

■ OFFICE WORK: Rixonway Kitchens operations director NickGreenall with apprentice engineer Calum Gardiner

Marketing awardA HUDDERSFIELD spahas won an award formarketing.

Alexandra House Healthand Wellbeing Spa atEdgerton received a 2012All Star Award frommarketing adviser ConstantContact Inc. The awardgoes to businesses andnon-profit organisations

successfully using onlinemarketing tools to keep intouch with their customersand boost business.

Spa owner Maxine Steadsaid: “We’re delighted to berecognised by ConstantContact for achievingstrong marketing resultsand connecting with ourcustomers.”

Kirklees Business News 19/03/13

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Transcript of Kirklees Business News 19/03/13