KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees17, August , 2010

INSIDE

exam

iner

.co.

uk

● Full story - Page 4

● Full story - Page 8

Themosttrustednewsbrandin thebusiness

KEVIN NEWSON NEIL WILSONSporting heroes!

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Employer s Br ief

Column - Page 5

FTSE 100+0.66

5276.10An EXAMINER publication

Tips ontenderingKIRKLEES firms willlearn the secrets ofwinning public sectorbusiness at a free eventin Huddersfield.Bookings are nowbeing taken forWinning Public SectorBusiness, an eventjointly organised byKirklees Council andBusiness LinkYorkshire. It will be heldon Tuesday, September7, at the Cedar CourtHotel, Ainley Top.

Clough’schallengeCLECKHEATON andKeighley accountancyfirm Clough & Co isgetting competitive.The firm has launchedan online contest togive a would-beentrepreneur thechance to defy thedownturn and launchtheir own business.

Allison has recipefor national finalsCAKE maker Allison Whitmarsh hopesshe has the recipe for national success –after being hailed as one of the region’stop young entrepreneurs.

Allison’s Marsh-based company,Proper Maid, has impressed judges inthe north-east regional finals of theHSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.

Now she hopes to be selected to flythe flag for the region at the nationalfinals – and get a shot at landing the topprize of £30,000.

Allison launched Proper Maid in July,2008, after getting help from Hudders-field University’s Business Mine to con-duct market research which suggestedthere was a gap in the market for luxurycakes “with a twist”.

Her company was named New Busi-ness of the Year in the 2008 ExaminerBusiness Awards – since when she haslanded a number of accolades and hassealed a contract to supply nine Asda

stores as well as distributing her tastyconcoctions to independent shops andfarmers’ markets.

She now employs an army of helpersto produce tasty cakes with unusualcombinations of ingredients such aschocolate chilli and fudge, chocolateand beetroot and courgette and lime.

A dandelion and burdock cake –created in tribute to her home town andBen Shaws’ famous dandelion and bur-dock pop – won the award for bestbakery product at the 2009 DeliciouslyYorkshire Awards.

Now Allison is planning a liquoricecake to mark the 250th birthday ofYorkshire’s favourite sweets, PontefractCakes.

Proper Maid is expanding itspremises to support the production ofsingle portion retail packs and is devel-oping contacts with other local suppli-ers to help increase sales.

Talks are under way with Morrisons,Booths, Tesco and Selfridges – while by2011 Proper Maid plans to look into thepotential of international sales.

Huw Morgan, head of business bank-ing for HSBC, said: “HSBC Start-UpStars is about demonstrating by prac-tical example that – with the right helpand support - there are still great oppor-tunities out there for people with thededication and drive to succeed.”

The awards, now in their 10th year,recognise the UK’s most promisingyoung businesses less than four yearsold – with more than £50,000 worth ofcash and prizes waiting for the win-ners.

Proper Maid is hoping to land a placeat the top table on October 18 whenmore than 300 business leaders cometogether at London’s Dorchester Hotelto hear the names of the national win-ners.

Long hours hit home life for Yorkshire bossesA QUARTER of bosses who own ormanager small and medium-sizedfirms in Yorkshire have seen theirwork-life balance worsen in the past12 months, a survey has revealed.

Figures from Close Invoice Financeshow that 26% of business owners andmanagers in the region said theirpersonal lives had suffered as theybattled against a tough economic cli-mate.

Some 41% said they were workinglonger hours – while 50% said theywere having problems securing loans

to keep their companies on track.Ian Steward, managing director of

Close Invoice Finance in Yorkshireand Humberside, said: “Strictlyspeaking, the recession is over, but thereality is that its effects are still havinga profound impact on the day to dayrunning of SMEs throughout thecountry.

“During these leaner times, thosewho remain in employment, alongwith business owners, are having towork late just to keep afloat and tryand make a success of their business.

“This is eating into importantdowntime set aside for friends andfamily.”

Said Mr Steward: “SME bosseshave been the unsung heroes of therecession.

“It’s clear that they have madeenormous sacrifices and taken signi-ficant personal and financial risks topull their businesses through the lastcouple of years, often to the detrimentof their personal lives.”

The research showed that 28% ofSME owners and managers had

delayed their target retirement age inlight of the recession – with 15% ofthose surveyed expecting to continueworking into their seventies.

“Low interest rates on savings andpoor performing pensions mean thatmany have no choice but to delay theirretirement,” said Mr Steward.

The research was conducted inde-pendently and involved interviewswith more than 500 SMEs drawn fromsectors including manufacturing, con-struction, retail, leisure, technologyand finance.

■ SWEET SUCCESS: AllisonWhitmarsh from Proper Maid

'+624536#84 *#7&0 (#+;0#///:%5&$/3%20&/6#.%#:%+:12-)9"9 !), ,,,!+)$,2%+- 1# %0+ 3(,./.%('& !+)$,2%.(* "$%0('.%#

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICESLocal shares

FTSE closed at

5276.1Up 0.6

INVESTORS in exploration firmCairn Energy are toasting the pro-spect of a multi-billion pound wind-fall from the Indian oil fields it boughtmore than a decade ago for a fractionof the price.

Edinburgh-based Cairn, led byformer Scottish rugby internationaland founder Sir Bill Gammell, ownsabout 62.4% of Cairn India – whichstruck oil in Rajasthan in 2004.

Cairn is selling most of its stake forup to £5.5bn after buying out Shellfrom an exploration joint venturebetween 1997 and 2002 – before thetransformational discovery six yearsago.

The sale of up to 51% to Indianmining company Vedanta Resourceswill allow Cairn to invest moreresources in its Greenland drillingactivities as well as making a “sub-stantial return of cash” to investors.

The firm first entered India in theearly 1990s and made the discovery inthe Mangala field at its 16th attemptin 2004 – propelling Cairn to becomethe country’s fourth largest oil and gascompany.

The company has interests in 11exploration blocks in India and SriLanka. It believes there are 4bn bar-rels of oil in the region, of which about1bn is recoverable.

TELECOMS group BTmay offer moreapprenticeship placesafter an unprecedenteddemand for the scheme.

The company hadnearly 24,000applications for the 221apprenticeship placesavailable this year –more than 100applications per place.

More young peopleapplied for the positionson the programme –which offers an annualsalary of £11,000 to£14,000 – than the totalapplications to OxfordUniversity, whichattracted 17,000applications for its 3,000undergraduate places.

BT said it isconsidering takingadvantage of thisdemand for the scheme,especially in light of itsplans to introduce faster,fibre broadband acrossthe UK.

Alex Wilson, BT’shuman resourcesdirector, said: “BT hashad unprecedentedinterest in itsapprenticeship scheme.

“Given this interest,and BT’s plans to spend£2.5bn on rolling out fibrebroadband, the companyis now consideringwhether to expand thescheme.

“We’ll need engineersto help us deliversuperfast broadband andso we hope to tap intothe interest that is beingshown by young peopleacross the UK.”

Successful applicantsgo on to specialise in IT,telecoms or customerservices.

RECRUITMENT firm Michael Pageposted a sharp rise in profits afterbenefiting from a strong perform-ance in overseas markets.

Michael Page, one of the UK’slargest recruitment firms, reported a42% rise in half-year pre-tax profitsto £49.6m following an 8% rise inrevenues to £393.5m.

Operating profits in the UKincreased 58.5% to £9.6m, but thebiggest gain was seen in AsiaPacific and the Americas.

In Asia, operating profits went upto £9.5m from £2m the previous year,while the Americas figure came in at£3.8m, compared with a loss of £1mlast year.

In total, about 70% of MichaelPage’s gross profit of £209.6m wasgenerated outside the UK.

The firm said the UK business,which increased revenues by 3.6%to £142.8m, had seen “growing evid-ence of gradual recovery”.

The group added that its head-count in the UK “remained largelyflat” – standing at 1,218 at the end ofJune against 1,220 at the same pointlast year.

The group warned that ChancellorGeorge Osborne’s emergencybudget may threaten future busi-ness, but was more optimistic aboutits expanding overseas presence,where competition is less fierce.

Profits boost for Michael Page Investors set for windfall

Flood ofapplicantsAviva holds firm to

general insurance

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.65 dollarsBangladesh................. 102.32 takaBrazil.............................. 2.47 realsCanada....................... 1.54 dollarsChina ............................. 9.50 yuanCzech Republic ...... 27.91 korunasDenmark....................... 8.64 kroneEuro............................... 1.16 euroHong Kong................ 11.52 dollarsHungary ................... 306.64 forintsIndia.......................... 64.40 rupeesJapan........................... 127.73 yenMexico ....................... 17.69 pesosNew Zealand .............. 2.06 dollarsNorway ......................... 9.22 kronePakistan.................. 125.90 rupeesPhilippines ................. 60.61 pesosSouth Africa................. 10.63 randSouth Korea.............. 1615.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 165.54 rupeesSweden....................... 11.08 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.55 francsTaiwan ...................... 43.55 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.23 new liraUSA ............................ 1.49 dollars

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £26.66 +0.05Gannett 804.64 -2.55Hess Corp £33.47 -0.17Microsoft 1565.29 +9.56Motors Liquidation 47.82Wal-Mart Stores £32.19 +0.06

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 1121/2 +1BAE Systems 3043/4 -43/8Rolls-Royce Gp 5591/2

AIMBrady Plc 67 +1/2Dawson Intl 2Man Brnze 41 +31/2

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 1363/8 +3/4

BANKSBarclays 3181/4 +11/4HSBC 6541/2 +15/8Lloyds Banking Gp 693/8 -7/8Ryl Scotland 457/8 -1Stan Chart 1715 -1/2

BEVERAGESDiageo 1110 +2SABMiller 1893 -4

CHEMICALSCroda 1279 +20Elementis 98 891/2 +11/4Johnsn Mat 1641 +4

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2563/8 +5/8Costain 199 +33/4

ELECTRICITYDrax Grp 3981/8 +91/4Intl Power 3643/4 -11/4

Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1121 -4

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTChloride 3735/8 +5/8Laird 1251/4 -3/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 3127/8 +1/8

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1371/4 -11/4Cable & WirelessComm

601/4 -1

Cable & WirelessWwide

613/4 -1/2

Colt Group 1201/2 +1/2KCOM 49Talktalk Telecom 1251/2 +1/2

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2743/8 +3/8Sainsbury 348 +1/4Tesco 3981/2 -21/2

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1025 +2Nth Foods 43Tate Lyle 418 -33/4Unilever 1703 -2Uniq 101/4 +1/4

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 3241/4 -35/8National Grid 5311/2 -6Pennon Grp 5871/2 -41/2Severn 1324 -10United Utils 5901/2 -21/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 2633/4 -11/4ICAP 392 +2London StockExch 652 +1Man Group 2103/8 -3/4

Provident Financial 818 +31/2Schroders 1371 +4Schroders NV 1107 +2

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 442 -61/4REXAM 3021/4 +43/4Smiths Grp 1154 +3

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 131/4Carphone Whse 2223/4 +3/4DSG International 251/4 +5/8Home Retail 2161/4 +1Inchcape 2671/8 +13/8Kingfisher 2047/8 +11/4M & S 3325/8 +11/4Mothercare 500 -5Next 1942 +18WH Smith 4053/4 -3/4

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 5721/2 +21/2

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 813/4 -11/4Barrat Dev 94 -7/8Persimmon 3443/8 -23/8Reckitt Benckiser £315/8 +1/2Taylor Wimpey 271/2 -1/2

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 633 -3I M I 6991/2 +4

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 2871/2 -13/4

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 1887/8 +1Forth Ports 1246 -24

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 3777/8 -91/2

Lgl & Gen 911/4 +1/2Old Mutual 1213/8 +5/8Prudential 555 +21/2Resolution 246Standard Life 2103/8 +5/8

MEDIABSkyB 7071/2 -11/2Chrysalis 104 -1D Mail Tst 4543/4 -13/4ITV 497/8 -1/8Johnston Press 16 -1/2Pearson 976 -7Reed Elsevier 530 -7STV Group 85Trinity Mirror 1031/2Utd Business 551 +2UTV 120 +11/4WPP 6701/2 -1/2Yell Group 181/2 -1/2

MININGAnglo American £241/8 +3/8Antofagasta 1003 +121/2BHP Billiton 19621/2 +191/2Eurasian NaturalRes

931 +91/2

Fresnillo 1018 +14Kazakhmys 1176 +20Lonmin 1494 +9Rio Tinto £331/8 +1/4VEDANTARESOURCES

£211/2 +1

Xstrata 1014 +183/8MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 686 -21/2Vodafone Group 1535/8 +3/8

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1466 +7RSA Insurance Gp 1241/2 -27/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

BG 1023 -2BP 4093/4 -65/8Cairn Energy 4931/4 +247/8Royal Dutch Shell A 1772 -51/2Royal Dutch Shell B 1703 -12Total £313/4 -1/4Tullow Oil 1262 +3

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 8791/2 +6Petrofac 1303 +12Wood Group 3487/8 -7/8

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry 829PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca £331/8 +1/8Axis-Shield 279GlaxoSmithK XD 61/2Shire 1478 +5

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 4513/8 +2Captl Shop Cent 3207/8 -51/4DTZ Hldgs 561/4 +1Hamrsn 3641/8 -11/4Land Secs 600 +11/2SEGRO 273 -1/4

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp 1563 -2Dimension Data 1211/2 +11/8Invensys 2431/2 +1/8Logica 1111/4 -3/8Misys 266 +95/8Sage Group 2363/4 -23/8

SUPPORT SERVICESBunzl 688 -1/2Capita 7001/2 +3Davis ServiceGroup

3635/8 -43/4

De La Rue 688 -20Electrocomp 2071/4 -1/4Experian 6191/2 +2G4S 2613/4Hays 89 -3/4Homeserve 4685/8 -57/8Menzies J 410 +3Rentokil 981/8 -11/8Smiths News 102 -3/4Wolseley 1311 -18

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 307 -1Psion 893/4 +11/2Spirent Comms 1243/4 -1/4

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £225/8 +1/8Imperial Tobacco 1865 +15

LEISURE & HOTELSArriva 7721/2

Brit Airways 2161/4 +5/8Carnival £213/8 -1/8Compass Grp 5051/2 +41/2easyJet 360 +7/8Enterprise Inns 891/8 -13/4FirstGroup 3501/2 +13/8Go-Ahead 1081 -14Greene King 4011/2 -83/4Intercontl Htls 1069 -4Ladbrokes 1323/4 +11/2Mitchells & Butlers 2951/2 -25/8Natl Express 2201/8 -23/8PartyGaming 263 -4Rank Org 1091/8 -1/2Stagecoach Group 1651/8 -1/2TUI Travel 1991/8 -21/8Whitbread 1371 -10

INDEXFTSE 100 5276.10 +0.66

INDEXFTSE 250 9774.23 -8.08

Carclo 1511/2 -1Chapelthorpe 251/2Marshalls 861/2National Grid 5311/2 -6Weir Gp 1182 +8

AVIVA has ruled out a break-up of thebusiness – as it told shareholders why itspurned a £5bn offer for its generalinsurance arm.

The group said its board had beenunanimous in rejecting last month’sproposal from More Than owner RSA,which wanted to buy Aviva’s home andmotor insurance operations in the UK,Canada and Ireland.

Aviva said there were compellingstrategic and financial benefits in con-tinuing to run the general insurancebusiness alongside its pensions andinvestments division.

It said this view was supported by arecent strategic review carried out inconjunction with external advisers.

The statement follows criticism fromshareholders that Aviva rejected theRSA proposal without consulting

them or notifying the market of theinterest.

Aviva is the UK’s leading generalinsurer with an estimated 15% marketshare – but about 70% of its worldwideprofits come from life and pensions.

The two businesses operate in differ-ent cycles, with the steady cashflows ofthe general insurance arm seen as help-ing the whole business.

The company said that RSA’s pro-posal would have left it with the pen-sion liabilities of the general insurancebusiness, as well as its operations in theNetherlands, France, Italy, Poland,Turkey and Singapore.

RSA tabled its proposal on July 28and received a response from the Avivaboard on August 6.

It is said to have lined up threeheavyweight banks in Deutsche Bank,

HSBC and BNP Paribas to work on apossible £5bn rights issue to pay for anybid. The cash call to investors would beone of the biggest in the insurancesector and exceed the company’s mar-ket capitalisation of about £4.5bn.

RSA later confirmed its proposal toAviva and said it remained open to

discussions with the company’s board.It also estimated that cost savings of

£300m a year could be generated from atie-up.

RSA said it believed a tie-up between“two strongly capitalised businesses,focused on life and general insurancerespectively, would be in the interests ofboth sets of shareholders”.

In its statement, RSA noted that noother major UK insurer continued topursue the composite model of lifeassurance and general insurance.

It said Aviva’s return on equity hadbeen behind those of certain other UKinsurers in the last three years, adding:“During the period between 2006 and2009, RSA’s operating profits remainedstable while Aviva’s general insuranceoperating profits fell by 43%, as dis-closed in its annual reports.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

Kevin Newson

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Senior partnerAge: 47Family: Married to Karenwith daughters Chantelle,20, and Rochelle, 17Holidays: New York andFloridaCar: Mercedes CLSFirst job: Newspaperdelivery boyBest thing about job:Meeting people and build-ing relationships with localprofessionals and businesspeopleWorst thing about job:There aren’t enough hoursin the dayBusiness tip: Aim toprovide excellent customerservice

Work: Commercial andprivate bankingSites: Kirklees andCalderdaleEmployees: 14Phone: 07713 505774Email: kevin.c.newson@eu.nabgroup.com

YorkshireBank

■ SPORTING: Kevin Newson (second right) and AlecStewart (seated) launch the partnership between KAL andWest Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust with (from left) RobWilde, David Heddon, Lauren Moore and Alisdair Brown

Kevingetsto hisgoal!

mixed,” he says. “Somebusinesses are stillstruggling and need a bit ofsupport, but there areothers doing quite well. A lotof those businesses arefocusing on protecting whatthey have got rather thanlooking to expand, but someare investing in technologyand other developments sothey are well-placed to takeadvantage of the recoveryas it gathers pace..

“I just wish some of thebusinesses doing wellwould publicise the fact thatthey are doing well,because success breedssuccess. They are still a bitcautious and when the TVnews says that things arenot good, they feel theyought to follow that line.However, we need to talk upthe economy.”

Kevin says: “If they canafford it, companies shouldput some money intomarketing when times arebad. If they promote theirproduct and brand peoplewill remember their nameand it will generate businessfor them.”

At a time when the banksare being lambasted for

failing to lend to businesses,Kevin says Yorkshire Bankhas made a pledge to lend£10bn – including an initial£2bn in Yorkshire – by 2011to businesses across theUK.

Kevin says that while agrowing number are takingadvantage of this, manybusinesses are still moreinterested in paying off theirdebts than borrowing moremoney..

As part of the bank’s owncorporate responsibilityactivities, former Englandcricket captain Alec Stewarthas been appointed as oneof the bank’s ambassadors.

As a keen sports fan, it isanother sporting link Kevinis pleased to promote.

“We had the opportunityfor Alec to spend a day inHuddersfield recently,” saysKevin. “We took him to abusiness lunch attended by250 people at the GalpharmStadium, where he was oneof the speakers.

“I also have links with theUniversity of Huddersfieldand we helped some of theirstudents who were staginga Question of Sport event.They had cameras following

Alec at the stadium as theshow’s ‘mystery guest’.”

Alec was also invited tolaunch a charity partnershipbetween the West YorkshireForget Me Not Trust andKirklees Active Leisure.Kevin is a trustee of KAL,the organisation which isresponsible for 11swimming pools and sportscentres across the district.

Kevin is also a boardmember of HuddersfieldTown Centre Partnershipand an active member ofthe Lockwood-based MidYorkshire Chamber ofCommerce. He says: “Fromthe point of view of the localeconomy, it is imperativethat our town centre isflourishing and successful.”

Kevin is also proud of hisbank’s Yorkshire roots.Although it is part of theNational Australia Bankgroup, Yorkshire Bank wasfounded in Halifax in 1859.Kevin argues that the bankhas retained its regionalidentity when some financialinstitutions have lost theirs.

Among his otheractivities, Kevin is on thecommittee of the YorkshireAwards. The bank sponsorsthe category for YorkshireWoman of the Year and lastyear, that award went toKimberley Walsh, of GirlsAloud. The year before,novelist Jilly Cooper was thewinner.

Kevin also had a brushwith a footballing superstarduring a recent holiday inthe USA. “I saw a fellowwalking around with a groupof burly ‘minders’ inDiscovery Cove in Florida,”he says. “I asked one ofthem who the celebrity was.It was Kaka, the Brazilianfootballer. I hadn’trecognised him because hedidn’t have his football kiton! I got a chance to meethim and get my photo withhim.”

Away from the glamour ofthe international game,

Kevin retains an affectionfor the club he once hadhopes of joining and seesTown as a banker forpromotion. “I’m optimisticabout the new season,” hesays. “Hopefully, they willget to the heights theydeserve in theChampionship nextseason.”

WHEN Kevin Newson was atschool he had two contrastingambitions in life – to become eithera professional footballer or a bankmanager.

“I did get as far as having trialswith Huddersfield Town when Iwas about 15,” says Kevin. “I wasa centre-forward, but I was nevergoing to be the next FrankWorthington and I neverprogressed.

“I vividly remember the old Townground at Leeds Road though –and training sessions running upand down the steps of the oldterrace in our football boots.”

Kevin restricted his footballcareer to playing at amateur levelwith Altofts in his home town ofNormanton – but has more thanachieved his alternative ambitionafter 31 years with Yorkshire Bank.

Kevin, who now lives atBrighouse, is senior partner withthe bank’s commercial and privatebanking operation coveringKirklees and Calderdale.

He heads a 14-strong teamhelping client companies withannual turnovers ranging from£1m to £50m. Although his desk isat the bank’s West YorkshireFinancial Solutions Centre inBradford, Kevin is more often outand about in Huddersfield andHalifax.

“I applied to the Yorkshire Bankand was fortunate enough to get ajob,” he says. “I began mycareer in 1979 at theCastleford branch andlearned the ropes thereand at Normanton,Pontefract and Selby.

“This was at the time ofthe miners’ strike of the1980s and I had a lot ofinvolvement in helpingminers and their familieswho had no incomecoming in and loans toservice.

“In 1989, the bank wasopening new branches inthe south and I wasappointed assistantmanager at HighWycombe. I was alsoseconded to the bank’streasury department inCheapside, London.”

Kevin’s links withKirklees and Calderdalebegan in the 1990s with hisappointment as assistantmanager at Halifax. Later,he moved to Dewsbury asbranch manager beforetaking up the same role 12months later atHuddersfield – at that timethe Yorkshire Bank’sthird-largest branch.

When the bank set up itsprivate banking operationstwo years late, Kevinestablished the service inHuddersfield.

After 12 months inLeeds, he became areamanager for privatebanking across WestYorkshire looking after 19branches, includingHuddersfield andDewsbury. Five years ago,he was appointed to hiscurrent role of seniorpartner for Kirklees andCalderdale.

After 31 years with thebank – most of the timeworking in Kirklees andCalderdale areas, Kevincan justly claim to have the“local knowledge” and iswell-placed to comment onthe current climate facingclient firms.

“The economic picture is

local Page 4 KIRKLEES BUSINESS

Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors

EMPLOYER’SBRIEFNeil Wilson

Get set, go!KIRKLEES women seeking careersin science, engineering andtechnology (SET) can now getsubsidised professional coachingto help them further theirambitions.Bradford-based UKRC – thegovernment’s lead organisation forthe provision of advice, servicesand policy consultation regardingthe under-representation of womenin the sector – has recruitedseveral new Yorkshire-basedcoaching professionals for itsGetSET Women Coaching initiative.They will enable women working inSET to access up to six hours ofsubsidised coaching to furthertheir careers.For more information go towww.getsetwomen.org

YPO is a pictureof near-perfectionTHE largest local authority pur-chasing operation in Britain hasrevealed the secret of its £400msuccess – its near-perfect customerservice and extensive productrange.

The Yorkshire PurchasingOrganisation, which operatesacross Kirklees and the rest of theregion, achieved a rating of “high”from 99% of its customers forrange of products and 98% forcustomer service in an independentsurvey.

YPO, which supplies almostevery item and service required bylocal government, was surveyed byFeefo, a leading customer feedbackforum for online traders.

YPO combines the buyingpower of tens of thousands ofcustomers to offer a range of com-pliant, best value products andservices acting as a “one stopshop” with no hidden charges.

The positive survey results fol-low the announcement of a

shake-up at the YPO and theappointment of its first board ofdirectors. The board, which isheaded by managing directorBarry Crowther, which will posi-tion the organisation for continuedexpansion and improvement.

Commenting on the survey res-ults, Mr Crowther said: “Under-standing our customer needsthoroughly and proactivelyresponding to them is at the core ofour values.

“This is why it’s vital that we testour sales results against customerfeedback. I firmly believe customerinsight has been key in securingYPO’s position as the UK’s largestpublic sector buying organisation.

“Although we’re extremelypleased with the results of thesurvey, we are committed toimproving to exceed our custom-ers’ needs, and will continue tostrive for 100% customer satisfac-tion.”

■ HIGHLY RATED: Barry Crowther, managing director of public sectorbuying organisation YPO, which has achieved near-perfect marks in a poll

Workshop hasa tender touchKIRKLEEScompanies areset to learnthe secrets ofwinning publicsectorbusiness.Firmsinterested insecuringpublic sectorcontracts havebeen invited to attend a free eventin Huddersfield.Bookings are now being taken forWinning Public Sector Business,an event jointly organised byKirklees Council and BusinessLink Yorkshire. It will be held onTuesday, September 7, at the CedarCourt Hotel, Ainley Top.Delegates will learn more aboutopportunities for supplying goodsand services to local authoritiesand other public sector buyers,such as the NHS, West YorkshirePolice and Huddersfield University.Putting together tenders for publicsector work can sometimes seemdaunting and complicated – ascompanies have to meet a range ofstandards before they can apply.The workshop aims to help themmeet those standards and become“tender ready”.The event will be divided into two –with a beginners’ session takingplace from 9.30am to noon forthose new to the tender process.The advanced session from1.30pm to 3.30pm will benefit thosewith some experience of tenderingand bidding for contracts.Clr Christine Stanfield, KirkleesCouncil’s lead cabinet member forregeneration, said: “KirkleesCouncil is very supportive of ourlocal businesses and this is abrilliant way to inform them of theprocess they need to go through tosecure council contracts.“There are some excellentbusinesses in the district and welook forward to working with moreof them.”To register, call 08456 048048 orvisit www.yhevents.com

LegalappealSOLICITORS in Kirkleeshave been urged todemonstrate their talentsand enter the LawSociety ExcellenceAwards.Lawyers across thedistrict have until nextTuesday to enter for theindustry’s mostprestigious awards – andmake a bid for nationalrecognition for theirachievements asoutstanding practitionersin the legal sector.The awards will bepresented at a dinner onOctober 21 in London.The contest, launched in2007, recognises andrewards outstandingpractitioners in the legalprofessions. It is open toindividuals and teamsacross the entire legalsector.The Excellence Awardsdemonstrate that lawyerscontinue to innovate andto deliver work of thehighest quality despitethe challengingeconomic climate.Go towww.lawsociety.org.uk/excellenceawards

Media and the messageIT is estimated that the majority

of individuals in the UK arenow members of some sort ofsocial media application – be it anetworking site such as Face-book, or a micro-blogging sitesuch as Twitter.

Employers have become increas-ingly wary of such applications, andeven the TUC has commented thatFacebook users are “HR accidentswaiting to happen”. So what are therisks and how can businesses protectagainst them?

Comments made on social mediaapplications may be damaging andmay concern an employee’s colleague,or even the business itself. This canopen employers up to complaints ofdiscrimination, as they can be vicari-ously liable for the actions of theemployee in certain circumstances.Such behaviour will also inevitablycause difficulties in working relation-ships, which may result in reducedproductivity and problems with work-place morale.

Comments may also bring the com-pany into disrepute, particularlywhere it is easy to associate theemployee with the business and itsactivities.

Because of the constant changesand updates on such applications,many employees will use these duringworking hours, which can have adetrimental impact on quality andproductivity. In addition, businesses

may be vulnerable to the possibility ofemployees disclosing confidentialinformation on social media applica-tions.

Employers should consider puttingin place a social media policy (coupledwith a well-drafted disciplinary pro-cedure which would clearly set out therepercussions of such disclosure).This would set out clear parametersabout permitted use, withoutinfringing the employee’s generalright to privacy and to enjoy hisprivate life. Guidance on such a policywould include stating:

● Whether or not an employee ispermitted to use certain sites for pro-fessional networking, such asLinkedIn. The rise in social mediaapplications can bring some commer-cial advantages if managed properly

● Whether use is permitted duringworking hours, during lunch breaks,or not at all during the working day

● That internet use will be mon-itored to ensure use is not excessive orunauthorised

● That it should be read in conjunc-tion with related policies and proced-ures, such as an equal opportunitiespolicy and disciplinary procedure

● That all information containedon social media applications must notbe capable in any way of associatingthe individual with the company

● That confidential informationmust not be disclosed

● That no discriminatory or derog-atory remarks may be made, particu-larly concerning the company,colleagues, clients and contacts,whether inside or outside of work

● That employees must not use anylogos, images or trademarks relatingto the company on any social mediaapplications

● That any personal blogs containclear disclaimers stating that the viewsexpressed by the employee is his aloneand does not represent the views ofthe company

● That disciplinary action may betaken in the event of any breach of thepolicy

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Past perfect? It’s timeto look to the future

BANKER’SBLOGJill Hague

Jill Hague is HSBC area commercial director for Calderdale and Kirklees

AS business leaders acrossBritain who weathered the

economic storm prepare forthe upturn, many will recallsome of the strategies thatmade their company a successin the first place.

But will that be enough? Marketschange over time but there is stillplenty to be learnt from the success-ful growth of great British busi-n e s s e s o f t h e p a s t f e whundred years.

Innovation is the key to a success-ful company – and if British busi-nesses can't compete on the massmarket, they have to compete whereinnovation is key and simply comeup with something different.

Finding something “different” isas relevant today as it has ever beenbecause – with the growing commer-cial force of nations like China andIndia – competition on a globalscale has never been so fierce.

Back in the 19th century, WilliamH e s k e t h L e v e r d i s c o v e r e dsomething different – the power ofbranding and advertising – to build

the soap-making enterprise thatbecame Unilever. More recently,James Dyson reinvented thevacuum cleaner and breathed newlife into a technologically stale mar-ket, making millions along theway.

Each shows that innovation canoccur in any part of a businessoperation and each has had morethan their fair share of copyists. It’sno good seeing what a competitordoes and then just try to do it better.British businesses must go back todoing things differently.

British business needs to lookabroad. It is important that Britaincreates a network of internationaltrading routes (not least throughoperations like the British EastIndia Company). Today, Britishbusinesses must once again identifyopportunities abroad, particularlyin the many emerging marketsaround the globe. Markets to con-sider aside from the obvious –Brazil, Russia, India and China –are Indonesia, Vietnam or Turkey.

Labour costs in this country are

considerably higher than that of thedeveloping world, so inevitably weneed to send a lot of manufacturingto the developing world. There areconsiderable advantages there forBritish businesses.

Also relevant in today’s climate,and something that Britain shouldbuild on from the past, is grit anddetermination. While timing isimportant when it comes to businessdecisions, there is simply nothingthat can beat willpower and a will-ingness to learn from mistakes.

It’s a cliché but there is no substi-tute for hard work. One lesson thatBritish business leaders should learnfrom the past is perseverance, and if

you encounter an obstacle, don'tgive up.

Global trade has changed TheGreat British Business Alliance iskeen to point out that the businessworld is ever-changing, and whilethere is value in understanding whatmade British businesses great in thepast, the reality is that worldwidemarkets have not always existed inthe same way they do today. But thispresents both a challenge and anopportunity.

If you go back 100 years, busi-nesses in Britain didn’t need to con-tend with companies from the likesof China and Russia or any otheremerging countries. Consumers

nowadays can look for things allover the world – it's not just a case ofgoing to the local shop.

Recognising the opportunitiesoffered by new technologies can alsoreap rewards for business leaders. Inthe early years of the 20th century,Henry Royce, co-founder ofRolls-Royce, abandoned steam forthe internal combustion engine.Later on, he recognised the value ofexpanding into the aircraft market,with great success.

Great Britain has a proud com-mercial past and although the spe-cific challenges that business leadersface today are different from thosein years gone by, the qualities thatsuccessful business people havealways shown will still contribute tosuccess. Crucial ingredients likehard work, innovative thinking andtaking advantage of opportunitiespresented by new markets and newtechnology can all help to makeBritish business great

For more information go towww.business.hsbc.co.uk and clickon the International Business tab.

Fund managers line upA NEW £90m fund to boost grow-ing businesses in Yorkshire has nowsigned contracts with the fund man-agers responsible for investing themoney.

Finance Yorkshire is the new ven-ture and capital loan fund providedby Yorkshire Forward to invest inbusinesses across the region.

It begins investing this month andis set to complete its investmentphase by December, 2013.

A consortium made up of North-Star Equity Investors, NEL, EV andFSY will manage the £90m fund,which is available to help small andmedium businesses meet the gaps infunding they need for growth anddevelopment.

The £90m fund is split into threesections – targeting loan and equityinvestments into start-ups, techno-logy based companies and growingSMEs.

The Seedcorn Fund, managed byEV, will invest up to £780,000 inpre-revenue, high risk, early stageinnovative technology and know-ledge-based businesses. The Seed-corn Fund has a total of £15m toinvest in companies that have thepotential of high returns.

The Small Loan Fund will bemanaged by FSY and will be provid-ing gap loan finance for capitalexpenditure and working capital to

assist with the growth and develop-ment of businesses. The loans willtypically be unsecured and willrange from £15,000 to £150,000. TheSmall Loan Fund has a total of£27m to invest.

Northstar Equity Investors andNEL will be responsible for man-aging the Equity Fund, with a totalof £48m available to support largerexpansion plans. The Fund willmake equity based investments,

including mezzanine finance from£100,000 to £2m and will support arange of activities including growth,capital expenditure and some largerstart-up ventures.

James Newman, chairman of Fin-ance Yorkshire, said: “The fundmanagers we have chosen are someof the best in the country in deliver-ing this kind of finance to busi-nesses.”

■ FUNDING BODY: Members of the Finance Yorkshire team (from left)Karl Hodson, Michael Bakewell, Ashwin Kumaraswamy, Ian Howson, EdFrench (seated) Barrie Hensby and Tony Goulbourn.

)-//%,&!'" *'.$!.#'-*)$)!#,)!##(")&+%

#4<. ><,)75,, ,<;;5,,), 4<A A+5.52 &, 94<. >"7@0*"== %)== '"-<5 47 63/11 3/3C6?(:")= B)==+"-<5!+,>;2;4:*4:5 )7 A4 *"=85.8"=5 "78$).@=55, *4::5.;)"= *57A.5

0%%$.' +# 1/"! "-(, &*) +)(((((

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 6

Branch staff help society score hat-trickWORKERS at a building society inHuddersfield have helped their employercomplete a hat-trick of awards.

Leeds Building Society, which has a branchin Market Street, was named Best RegionalBranch Network in the Your Money DirectAwards 2010.

The award recognises the society’s staff foroutstanding customer service.

The society has already won accolades in

the 2010 Moneyfacts Awards for Best NoticeAccount Provider and Best No NoticeAccount Provider.

The society won its latest award after beingshortlisted and then subjected to a mysteryshopper visit.

Entrants were scored on criteria includingproduct knowledge, ability to complete thesales process and time taken to fulfil thequote with product literature.

The award was presented at a ceremonyheld in the City of London.

Ann Bailey, Huddersfield branch manager,said: “I am absolutely delighted LeedsBuilding Society has won the award.

“To come out on top in this award is atestament to the quality of service our staffprovide to people in Huddersfield andthroughout the country and the competitiveproducts that we have brought to the market.”

Trio gain rating inguide for lawyersTHREE lawyers at a Huddersfield lawfirm have received awards in the GoodLawyer Guide.Jeff Woodward, Viv Lewis and RuthMillar, of Edgerton-based ArmitageSykes, have gained “Outstanding LegalPractise Awards in the independentguide, which rates more than 50,000solicitors in England and Wales.Said Mr Woodward: “These awards arenot easy to gain as they are presentedby the guide based on performanceand feedback from clients rather thanour firm applying for the ranking.“Family law is a sensitive area topractise at any time – and for three ofus to receive these based on ourclient’s views is especiallymeaningful.”The family practise has been a key partof the firm for many years.Mr Woodward and Mr Lewis arefounder members of the Law Society’sspecialist family panel and children’spanel.

Seminar aims totempt tycoons totry TasmaniaYORKSHIRE entrepreneurs are wantedDown Under.The Tasmanian state government islooking for business people toemigrate and set up companies on theisland.Now the government is working withmigration specialists The EmigrationGroup and the National Bank ofAustralia – parent of Yorkshire Bank –to hold a free seminar in Leedsoffering advice to potential businessmigrants.Paul Arthur, director of The EmigrationGroup, said: “Tasmania offers lots ofopportunities for business people.“The economy is thriving and with thestate government actively encouragingeligible migrants to come over and setup companies, it makes a great choicefor entrepreneurs with sound businessexperience.”Tasmania is less than one hour’s flyingtime from Melbourne and under twohours from Sydney.Mr Arthur said the island offered arange of business and employmentopportunities for skilled and businessmigrants – with thrivingmanufacturing, farming and winegrowing industries.Tasmania also had the lowest labourcosts and labour turnover in Australiaas well as the cheapest land andaccommodation prices and one of thebest rates of state taxes forbusinesses.Said Mr Arthur: “Tasmania is a soughtafter area with lots of people looking tomigrate there.“The island has the laid back and lowstress lifestyle of Australia, but isn’t sovast and spread out.“Everything is in driving distance andthe island does offer something formost tastes, from lively cities likeHobart to stunning mountains, pristinelakes and beaches.”The free seminar will be held onThursday, September 9, at YorkshireBank’s offices in Merrion Way, Leeds.To book one of the 25 places availablecall 0845 230 2526 or visitwww.emigrationgroup.co.uk

Failure rate fallsfor companiesFEWER companies are falling into insolvency– but the number of personal insolvenciesremains high, latest figures have revealed.

Statistics from the government’s InsolvencyService showed that 777 companies wereplaced into administration in England andWales during the second quarter of 2010 –24.3% down on the same period last year.

The number of personal insolvencies rose by5% in the second quarter of 2010 against thesame period last year to stand at 34,743.

Joe McLean, partner and head of GrantThornton’s recovery and reorganisation divi-sion in Yorkshire, said: “Administrations havenow fallen for five quarters in a row since theypeaked in the first quarter of 2009, which saw1,311 companies fall into administration.

“This is a welcome trend in the number ofbusiness failures, but the UK economy is notout of the woods yet. The recent lacklustreperformance of the important services sector isa real cause of concern, coming before the fullimpact of the reductions in government spend-ing and the impending VAT rise. We expect tosee an increase in business failures in out-sourcing, as well as the hotel and leisureservices sectors.

"There is widespread concern that the recov-

ery of the UK economy will suffer somesetbacks, which is why the Bank of Englandkept interest rates on hold at 0.5%. Thepurchasing managers’ index indicates that fullyear growth may well fall short of the 1.1% risein GDP reported in the second quarter of2010.”

Anne Morrison, head of private client ser-vices at Grant Thornton in Yorkshire, saidpersonal insolvencies had remained at a very

high continuing level over the past 12 months –and the trend was set to continue.

“The outlook for the next few years is prettygrim as it is now clear that large numbers ofpublic sector jobs will go as the Governmentacts to reduce the deficit,” she said.

"The effect of that may not be felt immedi-ately as there is usually a lag between rises inunemployment and the insolvency figures but,with work hard to come by in the private sectortoo, it is inevitable that some of these peoplewill fall into the personal insolvency trapadding to those who are already in trouble.With the drop in house prices and consumercredit harder to come by, many have lost theability to manoeuvre.”

The personal insolvency figures show a17.9% drop in bankruptcy orders compared tothe previous quarter and a 20.6% decreaseagainst the same period last year. However thisreflects the introduction of Debt Relief Orders,which rose by 11.5% on the previous quarter to6,295 and a 14.3% jump in the number of IVAson the previous quarter to 13,466, which is10.2% higher than the corresponding quarterof the previous year and the highest numberever.

■ WARNINGS: Joe McLean and AnneMorrison, of Grant Thornton in Yorkshire,report conflicting trends for insolvencies

Breakfast will go with a bang!THE sparks are set to fly at a majorbusiness event in Huddersfield.

Straight-talking business celebrityBrad Burton is among the speakerslined-up for the Kirklees BusinessConference 2010 – and he has areputation as a motivational speakerwho packs a real punch on thepodium.

Conference organiser DannyMatharu said: “He delivers hard hittingmessages in a way that hasaudiences laughing as well asquestioning the way they currently dothings in equal measure It’s powerfulstuff if you want a fresh take onbusiness, networking and motivation.

“As a real small business owner andhaving suffered all of the worries,challenges and indignities oflaunching a business – in massivepersonal debt and having to deliverpizzas in the early days – Brad knowswhat it’s like and tells it how it is.”

Manchester-born Brad was told hisidea for a business would never work– but he proved his critics wrong to

spearhead the fastest-growingbusiness breakfast network in theworld with more than 200 groupsacross the UK.

Brad has also engaged in socialmedia in a big way and has more than25,000 4Networking members andthousands of Twitter followers whorelish his challenging andcontroversial opinions on businessissues.

The Kirklees Business Conferencetakes place on Thursday, September30, at the Galpharm Stadium. Theevent kicks-off with a 4Networkingbreakfast meeting. It also includes anexhibition showcasing more than 50companies as well as a fullprogramme of seminars, a businessclinic and a chill out room wheremassages and healthy food areavailable.

All delegate places are FREE andcan be booked atwww.kirkleesbusinessconference.co.uk

■ PIZZA THE ACTION: Business celebrity Brad Burtonhas been lined up as a key speaker at the KirkleesBusiness Conference 2010

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property Page 7

Shortage of stockdrives up pricesA SHORTAGE of propertiesto let drove up the average pricefor renting a house for the fifthmonth running during July,according to a new report.

The increase logged by let-ting agent network LSL Prop-erty Service supports the latestquarterly survey from theAssociation of Registered Let-ting Agents.

The survey revealed that 70%of agents have more potentialtenants than properties avail-able to let.

ARLA operations managerIan Potter described the pro-spect of a severe rental housingshortage as “ever more likely”while landlord portal Letting-Zone has estimated that theshortage will continue for fourto five years.

Amy Wray, managing dir-ector of Holmfirth-basedApplegate Lettings, said: “Weare hoping that this highd e m a n d w i l l e n c o u r ag edevelopers and investors to

enter the lettings market.“Landlords currently have

the opportunity to secure goodrents and good tenants, withsmall vacancy periods and rel-ative security for the next fewyears at least.”

Applegate Lettings coversWest and South Yorkshire andis one of the very few localagents to be ARLA qualifiedand a member of the Ombuds-man for Letting Agents.

Said Ms Wray: “We’re one ofthe only agents offering a spe-cialised, dedicated service, withno sales to take priority overlettings.

“We’re efficient, we havereally good communicationwith our customers and wemake sure they always feellooked after, so we’re hopingthat we will be hearing frommore landlords who can helpmeet this continued level ofdemand.”

AuctionstationsCOMMERCIAL propertyconsultancy Lambert SmithHampton is making an entranceinto the auction market.

The auction team joins fromColliers International andconsists of auctioneer SimonRiggall and colleagues RichardArgles and Graham Johnston. Itsclient base draws largely fromthe public sector, private andinstitutional investors and theinsolvency sector.

LSH chief executive officerEzra Nahome said: “To bring inan experienced and reputableauction team is a greatopportunity for us. It is a naturalfit with our national platform andprovides our clients with anotherimportant route to market.”

The auction team has a strongpresence in the public sector,having sold for more than 150local authorities and more than60 government bodies. Salesover the past six years haveraised more than £930m.

Mr Nahome said: “The publicsector is highly active at presentand – given that 25% of ourrevenue is derived from thissector – the auction team willprovide an important service toour clients. In addition, therecovery sector has not as yetseen material sales of smaller lotproperties, ideal for the auctionmarket. We expect this tochange over the next twelvemonths.”

AppointmentPROPERTY consultancy Lam-bert Smith Hampton hasappointed Marie Webster asfacilities manager with its York-shire property managementteam.

Ms Webster, who will beworking from the firm’s Leedsand Sheffield offices, previouslyworked at Ashtenne and High-cross.

She will be responsible for

contractor management, react-ive and planned maintenance,health and safety compliance .

She will also be in charge ofdelivering best practice acrossLSH’s rapidly-expanding port-folio of managed propertiesthroughout Yorkshire.

LSH’s property managementteam has more than 6m sq ft ofproperty under managementacross Yorkshire.

Clayware firm on formCLAYWARE manufacturer NaylorIndustries plc has beenre-accredited as an Investor inPeople – for the fourth time.The Cawthorne-based company,which draws many of itsemployees from the Kirklees area,was assessed once again on itssystems for staff induction,training, appraisal andcommunication and passed withflying colours.

The assessor’s visit wasco-ordinated by Helen Jowitt, whohas also been awarded NVQ level4 in business administration.Chief executive Edward Naylorsaid: “We were one of the firstcompanies to achieve Investors inPeople status and we areobviously pleased to againreceive external recognition ofour development of our people.”

Improvementfor YorkshireCHEAPER rents have helpedincrease the take-up of industrialspace in Yorkshire, a survey hasrevealed.

The latest DTZ Research UKProperty Times Industrial marketreport showed a marked take-upacross the region during the secondquarter of the year.

By contrast, the UK overallvolume of available space in unitsexceeding 50,000sq ft fell during thequarter due to sustained high levelsof grade A take-up and a reducedrate of return of grade B and Cstock.

Total take-up fel l by 15%,although the proportion of grade Aspace remained elevated at 48% ofthe total – with the outlook for primeheadline rents set to remain stable.

The report said the availability oflarge volumes of grade B space meantthe market would prove to be abattleground for landlords during2010, with many looking to custom-ise stock to attract smaller local occu-piers.

A slowdown in the return ofsecondhand units over 50,000sq ftback to the market means DTZ anti-cipates that availability will peak in2010.

Annual take-up in 2010 is set toincrease by a third on 2009 volumes,driven mainly by tenants takinggrade A or good quality grade Bspace.

The surveys aid take-up in York-shire and Humberside increasedmarkedly and was solely driven bygrade A space.

The offer of cheaper rents and ashortage of grade A space in the moretraditional distribution centresmeant Yorkshire had started toattract inward movers.

Mike Baugh, industrial director atDTZ in West Yorkshire, said: “TheYorkshire market is experiencing anincrease in take-up activity in 2010,driven by the lack of speculative builtaccommodation in the rest of the UKand the region’s good transportinfrastructure.”

■ UPBEAT: Mike Baugh, industrialdirector for DTZ in West Yorkshire Success for

small screenA HOUSEBUILDER is in thepicture – after its online televi-sion channel was shortlisted fora national award.

Redrow.TV was launchedless than six months ago topromote its homes and devel-opments around the UK.

It is now one of four projectscompeting for the title of BestMarketing Initiative in the 2010Housebuilder Awards forinnovation and excellence.

Kim Peters, Redrow’groupsales and marketing director,said: “The HousebuilderAwards are a highlight of thehousebuilding calendar, celeb-rating the very best of theindustry and recognising theachievements of those leadingthe way in innovation.

“Two years ago we won theoverall Housebuilding Innov-ator of the Year title for acombination of our regenera-tion work, community involve-ment, marketing and traininginitiatives. We’re delighted to beleading the way once again in anew and different area.”

The awards are organised byHousebuilder Media, a leadinginformation provider for thehousebuilding industry andpublisher of Housebuildermagazine. They feature cat-egories for innovative design,product development, sustain-ability, marketing and regener-a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i t yinvolvement.

Winners will be announcedon October 28 in London.

■ CREDITED: Helen Jowitt, who co-ordinated the assessor’s visit forNaylor Industries' Investors in People re-assessment, and who has recentlygained NQV Level 4 in business administration

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Fantastic MediaEmily Smith & James Scarr

MARKETING agency Fantastic Media hasappointed Emily Smith and James Scarr (above)to its account management team.

Ms Smith joins as account executive tosupport the team across the agency’s broadrange of clients, including Paxman Coolers, CardFactory, Chadwick Lawrence and NorthernCommercials. Ms Smith joins the agency aftergraduating from Huddersfield University with adegree in advertising, media and designmanagement .

Mr Scarr becomes as account manager.Before joining Fantastic Media he worked for anumber of full service and digital agencies inYorkshire across a range of industry sectors,from retail and automotive to sports and leisure.

Andy Hobson, managing director at Fantastic,said: “The agency keeps growing and gainingmore clients so it was essential for us to recruitmore members to the account managementteam.”

John Higgs & Andy Pearson

TechnalARCHITECTURAL aluminiumsupplier Technal has made twoappointments to its businessdevelopment team.

The Wakefield-based companyhas named John Higgs (right,above) as regional salesmanager while Andy Pearson(below) takes up the post ofbusiness development managerdealing with main contractors.

Mr Higgs takes responsibilityfor managing a team of territorymanagers spanning the Midlandsto the south coast and London.

Mr Pearson has worked in thewindow and façade systemssector for 20 years, including 18years as business development manager for aleading fabricator of Technal products. In hisnew role, he will work with main contractorsacross the UK.

Going beyond the Fringe

A WEST Yorkshire creativity expert isset to test the pulse of the marketingindustry.

Andy Green, of Wakefield-basedGREEN Communications and avisiting research fellow atHuddersfield University, is bringing acreative twist to the first-everEdinburgh International MarketingFestival.

Andy will be presenting his “OneMan Pecha Kucha” and also offering acreativity doctor service to workplacesduring the festival. which runs fromAugust 23 to 25.

He will be condensing theknowledge from his five books, 30years experience, 20 award wins –and an ear and eye for the funny,unusual and inspirational – in the oneman presentation.

Pecha Kucha, which is Japanesefor “chit chat” consists of a series ofpresentations using 20 Powerpointslides, each showing for just 20seconds. It normally features sevendifferent speakers.

Andy is planning to travel aroundEdinburgh in his “world’s smallest

conference centre” where he will alsobe offering the equivalent of acreativity doctor service – providingfree one-to-one consultations to helpsolve problems, spot newopportunities and pass on tips andadvice to improve creative and flexiblethinking skills.

Topics covered in his seven minutepresentations include: Even Less isMore – how to achieve more in life, bea green shoot in the Upturn when youhave less resources; Stupid Aid – isthe world getting more stupid and howcreative thinking is the nemesis ofstupidity; and even How to Love TheNew Tramway System in Edinburgh.

Andy is an author and expert oncreativity and brand communicationswhose work has been translated intoeight languages.

The festival features speakers fromleading agencies and brands, debateson hot marketing topics and work byaward-winning creatives.

Said Andy: “The Festival is aboutcelebrating creativity, so we arebringing the festival to differentworkplaces around Edinburgh.”

■ BOOKING: Andy Green will be presenting his ‘One Man Pecha Kucha’ andalso offering a creativity doctor service to workplaces during the EdinburghInternational Marketing Festival

Sponsor stepsup for studentA CONSULTANCY helping strengthensupply chain links has pledged to supportHuddersfield students entering the logist-ics industry.

Samuel Fagan, a second-year student atHuddersfield University’s department oflogistics, transport and tourism, has beennamed student of the year and was presen-ted with an award sponsored by SCALA atan official presentation evening.

The award marks the most recent collab-oration between the firm and the uni-versity.

SCALA, based at the Media Centre,Northumberland Street, has worked withthe department on numerous projects,including introducing world-class profes-sional training technology – virtual sup-ply-chain management simulation tool

Fresh Connection – into a suite of degreeprogrammes in the first academic applica-tion of the innovative software in theUK.

John Perry, managing director atSCALA, said: “SCALA is committed tohelping organisations refine their supplychain and logistics performance and key tothis is developing new talent in the nextgeneration of logistics personnel.

“Supporting young people in theindustry is an important part of ourcompany values and we are delighted topresent Samuel Fagan with this award asrecognition of his achievements to date.”

Prof Colin Bamford, associate dean atHuddersfield University, said: “Samuelhas performed exceptionally well amonghis peers.”

PwC

Jonathan Boulton, Adam Semple, Lesley Mitchell,Debra Halcrow, Luke Hanson & Sam Smith

SIX senior appointments have been made byPricewaterhouseCoopers in Yorkshire.

PwC has promoted Jonathan Boulton topartner and Adam Semple, Lesley Mitchell,Debra Halcrow, Luke Hanson and Sam Smith todirector.

Mr Boulton leads the north's IT and projectassurance team. Mr Semple is a director in thefirm's northern assurance team while MsHalcrow leads the firm's transaction andshareholder disputes team in the north. In hernew role, she will work with companies in thearea to help protect value in future transactions.Ms Mitchell is a director in the firm’s assuranceteam while Mr Hanson is a director in thenorthern financial services team. Mr Smith is adirector in the firm’s human resource servicesteam.

Time to getcompetitiveA YORKSHIREaccountancy firmhas launched anonline competition togive a would-beentrepreneur theopportunity to defythe economicdownturn and launchtheir own business.

The winner of thecompetition run byCleckheaton andKeighley firm Clough & Co will receive 12months of business mentoring as well as allthe start-up advice and accountancy servicesthey need to put their business on the road tosuccess.

The entrants will be judged by the firm’steam of partners. The winner will be theperson who the judges decide can make thebiggest impact within the industry theychoose.

Steven Gash (pictured), practice chairmanof Clough & Co, said: “Everyone has had abusiness idea at some point in their lives andthis competition is open to anyone who wouldlike to explore the possibility of turning theirsinto a reality.

“There's no doubt that the economicdownturn has deterred many people fromstarting businesses, but hopefully thiscompetition can offer the winner the bestpossible chance of making a success of it.

“We offer a full range of accountancydisciplines across all industries so we're wellplaced to guide a would-be entrepreneurthrough the pitfalls of running and building asuccessful business.”

Said Steven: “Anyone considering starting abusiness has to think about their priorities andconsider both the ups and downs of running abusiness.

“We also understand that it is a completelylife changing decision for most people so evenif someone enters the competition and thenhas second thoughts they can withdraw at anypoint.”

To enter, submit details at www.clough.co.ukbefore the closing date of August 31.

■ SUPPLY LINE: John Perry (left), ofSCALA, with student Samuel Fagan (centre)and Colin Bamford, associate dean atHuddersfield University