KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees10, Januar y, 2012

INSIDE

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● Full story - Page 8

● Full story - Page 7

Themosttrustednewsbrandin thebusiness

VICKY DEVLIN

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Changes to come in 2012

Co lumn - Page 6

An EXAMINER publication

Going bythe bookHUDDERSFIELD’STONY Lee iscelebrating asuccessful first year forhis business – andgrowing sales for hislatest book.Tony Lee First AidTraining has acquiredmany clients and nowprovides first aidtraining to GPs, nurses,dentists, hotel and barstaff for companiesacross the UK.Meanwhile, writingunder his first name,Michael, Mr Lee haspenned Letters From aProfessional Nuisance,a collection of spoofletters, including jobapplications, sent tovarious organisations.

Lots ofsuccessPROPERTY auctionsheld by a Huddersfieldestate agency firmraised more than £4mduring 2011. Boultons,with town centrepremises at JohnWilliam Street, held fivecollective sales lastyear, raising £4.27m.

MARK DALTONFTSE 100-37 .42

5612.26

Business centresin plea over ratesA COMPANY operating businesscentres in Huddersfield is urging thegovernment to stop levying rates onempty commercial properties – andprovide an incentive to make morespace available to start-ups and smallfirms.

Bizspace, which owns more than 110business centres across the UK, includ-ing ones at Marsh Mil ls andLinthwaite Business Centre, made itscase in a meeting with Colne ValleyMP Jason McCartney at the Marshsite.

Managing director Gareth Evanssaid the business centres had beeninstrumental in helping to attractinward investment, small businessesand jobs to the area – with bothHuddersfield centres boasting occu-pancy rates of more than 80%.

But he said the policy of levyingrates on empty property rates meantBizspace had stopped acquiring andopening more centres because the“punishing taxes” during the firstcouple of years when new centres arestill at low occupancy levels made thewhole proposition unviable.

Mr Evans said BizSpace had anempty property rates bill of £1.2m ayear – at a time when its income wasbeing hit by comparatively low rentalsdue to current market conditions.

He said: “For us, that is the key. Ittakes time to administer the emptyrates when we should be spending thattime attracting small businesses intoour centres. It is an additional annoy-ance we don’t need in the currentenvironment.”

Mr Evans urged the government totake a wider view of the issue. He said:“Rate relief is great for small busi-nesses, but small businesses tend to bein flexible space like ours – and we arebeing penalised by empty propertyrates.”

Conservative MP Jason McCartneysaid he planned to speak in a Com-mons debate on the issue tomorrowand attend a reception at Westminsteron February 6 for industry body TheBusiness Centres Association, ofwhich BizSpace is a member.

Mr McCartney said he would beasking ministers to look at providingsome form of rate relief for businesscentres, but said the issue was to findthe best way to incentivise organisa-tions like BizSpace to refurbish theirempty units.

He said: “This issue has been aroundfor many years now. However, I amvery pleased that it is now at the top ofthe political agenda.

“Empty property rates bring in bil-lions of pounds to the Exchequer and

if we take money out of the Treasurywe have to look at how we cover thedeficit.

“At the same time, we have a lot ofmills in our area which could be sup-porting start-up businesses and help-ing them grow given the rightincentive.”

Marsh Mills provides business unitstotalling 78,018sq ft and is home toseveral small businesses, includingglass and furniture manufacturers anda gym. Linthwaite Business Centreoffers a mixture of industrial units,workshops and storage facilitiesamounting to 28,729sq ft.

■ MILL WORK: Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney (left), with BizSpace salesmanager Geoff Taylor (middle) and managing director Gareth Evans

Firms endure ‘difficult and disappointing’ year

Best foot forward!

BUSINESS leaders in Kirkleeshave repeated call for Govern-ment action following a surveyshowing local firms face a“long hard slog” to overcomeeconomic uncertainties.

The Lockwood-based MidYorkshire Chamber of Com-merce said further measureswere needed in addition to theaction outlined in the AutumnStatement to help exportersand manufacturers.

It also urged the Govern-ment to cancel all or part of a5.6% rise in business rates

scheduled for April and makeemployers’ national insurancebreaks available in all regionsand to a wider range of busi-nesses in order to encouragecompanies to employ peoplerather than penalise them fordoing so..

The call follows the cham-ber’s fourth quarter economicsurvey conducted among mem-ber firms in Kirklees, Calder-dale and Wakefield.

The survey showed a declinein export sales and orders andsa id cashf low pres sures

remained an issue.It said confidence levels

remained uncertain while infla-tion and exchange rates werethe major worries affectingbusinesses.

Chamber members arguedthat the slowdown in thedomestic economy combinedwith turmoil in overseas trad-ing and currency marketsdemanded further action by thecoalition to reinvigorate busi-ness conditions, encourageinvestment, increase confid-ence and provide incentives to

businesses to enable them tospearhead the UK’s economicrecovery.

They said very difficultpolicy decisions had to be takensoon to re-balance the eco-nomy in favour of manufactur-ing and exports as a means ofachieving economic recovery.

Chamber policy head StevenLeigh said: “This survey comesat the end of what has been adifficult and disappointing yearfor business and illustrates theongoing problems being facedby companies.”

■ PROBLEMS: Chamberpolicy head Steven Leigh

Morrisons said it remained cautiousin 2012, despite an expected fall in pricepressures.

The update comes after it was repor-ted that Morrisons was sizing up sev-eral Best Buy megastores in a bid togrow its Kiddicare brand.

The grocer is understood to be inadvanced talks with Carphone Ware-house about the 11 “big box” sites,which are in the process of closing aftera failed joint venture with Americanelectricals giant Best Buy.

The move has the potential to shakeup the UK baby products market at atime when market leader Mothercare isstruggling to reverse falling sales.

Shares in Morrisons were broadlyflat at 311.3p after the update waspublished.

Freddie George, retail analyst at Sey-mour Pierce, said: “We view the stockas reasonable value given the subduedconsumer environment.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICESLocal shares

FTSE closed at

5612.26Down 37.42

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.43 dollarsBangladesh................. 118.57 takaBrazil.............................. 2.56 realsCanada....................... 1.51 dollarsChina ............................. 8.71 yuanCzech Republic ...... 28.66 korunasDenmark....................... 8.56 kroneEuro............................... 1.16 euroHong Kong................ 11.36 dollarsHungary ................... 340.72 forintsIndia.......................... 71.48 rupeesJapan........................... 112.87 yenMexico ....................... 18.85 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.83 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.84 kronePakistan.................. 132.27 rupeesPhilippines ................. 58.26 pesosSouth Africa.................. 11.81 randSouth Korea.............. 1562.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 165.73 rupeesSweden....................... 10.20 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.40 francsTaiwan ...................... 40.67 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.74 new liraUSA ............................ 1.47 dollars

Carclo 300 +113/8Marshalls 891/4 -13/4National Grid 624 +141/2Weir Gp £213/4 +1/4

Supermarket seesfestive sales slide

Boost forbuilderTHE UK’s secondbiggest housebuildersaid its sales recoverycontinued with the helpof stronger demand fromfirst-time buyers.

Persimmon, whosebrands include CharlesChurch and Westbury,expects profits to jumpby 50% this year after itsFirstBuy scheme helpedlift completions by 4% inthe second half of 2011offset weaker first-halfperformance.

JD SportsswoopsSPORTSWEAR firm JDSports Fashion hasbought all of BlacksLeisure’s 290 stores outof administration for£20m.

JD Sports bought thestores, which tradeunder the Blacks andMillets names, and thebulk of the rest of thebusiness immediatelyafter Blacks Leisure wasput into administration.

JD Sports, whoselargest shareholder isBerghaus ownerPentland Capital, hasbeaten Dragons’ Denstar Peter Jones, rivalSports Direct, which isowned by NewcastleUnited owner MikeAshley, and outdoorretailer Trespass to landthe stores.

Blacks appointedKPMG as administratorearlier as it admitted ithas failed to find anoutright buyer afterputting itself up for salefollowing dire trading.

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £31.33 +0.06Gannett 891.69 +2.92Hess Corp £36.85 +0.30Microsoft 1802.81 -17.81Motors Liquidation 48.58Wal-Mart Stores £38.27 +0.05

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 3113/4 +23/4BAE Systems 2891/4 +13/8Rolls-Royce 7561/2 +1

AIMBrady Plc 741/2Dawson Intl 13/8Man Brnze 281/2 -31/4

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 1903/8 -1

BANKSBarclays 1781/8 -81/4HSBC 4913/8 -63/4Lloyds Banking Gp 261/4 -7/8Ryl Scotland 201/8 -1/2Stan Chart 13971/2 -231/2

BEVERAGESDiageo 1416 +11/2SABMiller £233/8 +1/8

CHEMICALSCroda 1825Elementis 98 138 +27/8Johnsn Mat 1922 +4

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2727/8 -3/4

Costain 2083/4 +4

ELECTRICITYDrax Gp 557 +1Intl Power 3421/4 +33/4SSE 1292 +7

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLaird 1521/8 +23/4

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 346 -11/2

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1963/8 +3/8Cable & WirelessComm

37 +1/4

Cable & WirelessWwide

17 -1/2

Colt Group 873/8 -1/8KCOM 69 +1/2Talktalk Telecom 136 +3/4

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 3111/2 +1/4Sainsbury 300 +11/4Tesco 3901/2 -1/2

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1116 -3Tate Lyle 7061/2 +1Unilever £213/8 +1/8

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 2861/8 -11/4National Grid 624 +141/2Pennon Grp 717 -31/2Severn 1528 -6United Utils 612 -1

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 1755/8 -23/4ICAP 3121/8 -71/4London StockExch 7791/2 -11/2Man Group 1071/4 -53/8Provident Financial 933 -2Schroders 1256 -39Schroders NV 1027 -34

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 537 +1REXAM 3641/4 +33/8Smiths Grp 940 -2

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 201/4 +3/8Carphone Whse 326 +61/4Dixons Retail 91/2Home Retail 865/8 -51/2Inchcape 2925/8 -5Kingfisher 2515/8 +17/8M & S 3081/2 -21/4Mothercare 158 +3Next £253/4WH Smith 526 -1

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 6001/2 -61/2

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 691/2 -1/2Barrat Dev 95 +2Persimmon 5061/2 +251/2Reckitt Benckiser £331/8 +3/8Taylor Wimpey 381/8 +3/4

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 961 +1I M I 801 +51/2

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 2891/8 -63/4

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 1793/8 +1/4

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 299 -21/2Lgl & Gen 1031/8 -11/8Old Mutual 1371/4 -2Prudential 636 -11/2Resolution 2451/4 -51/8Standard Life 1987/8 -2

MEDIABSkyB 707 -41/2D Mail Tst 3933/4 -21/2ITV 703/8 -1Johnston Press 61/4Pearson 1226 -3Reed Elsevier 5081/2 -1/2STV Group 761/4Trinity Mirror 49 -1Utd Business 4711/4 +11/4UTV 103 +11/2WPP 701 +11Yell Group 5 -1/8

MININGAnglo American £243/8 -1/4Antofagasta 1234 -36BHP Billiton 19471/2 -11/2Eurasian NaturalRes

6971/2 -7

Fresnillo 1638 -23Kazakhmys 979 -16Lonmin 9761/2 -16Rio Tinto £331/8

VEDANTARESOURCES

978 -28

Xstrata 10111/2 -41/2MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 4203/4 -17/8Vodafone Group 1771/8 -23/8

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 8251/2 -19RSA Insurance Gp 1071/8 -7/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERSBG 1456 -1BP 4735/8 -31/2Cairn Energy 2613/4 -21/8Royal Dutch Shell A £237/8Royal Dutch Shell B £243/4 -1/8

Total £33Tullow Oil 1414 +6

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 9611/2 -11/2Petrofac 1539 -4Wood Gp(J) 6751/2 +5

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry Gp 1278 +28

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGYAstrazeneca £301/8 -3/8GlaxoSmithK XD 62Shire £213/4 +1/4

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 4551/4 -5Captl Shop Cent 3011/8 -53/8Hamrsn 3541/2 -21/4Land Secs 618 -31/2SEGRO 1981/4 -17/8

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESInvensys 2103/4 -21/4Logica 67 -3/8Misys 243 -4Sage Group 2993/4 +5/8

SUPPORT SERVICESBerendsen 4415/8 +81/8Bunzl 892 +41/2Capita 6411/2 +11/2De La Rue 905 +101/2Electrocomp 2051/2 +13/8Experian 8641/2 +111/2G4S 2723/8 -1/4Hays 653/8 +1/2Homeserve 300 +1

Menzies J 526 +5Rentokil 66 +13/8Smiths News 77 +1Wolseley £203/4 -3/8

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 613 +31/2Psion 44Spirent Comms 1157/8 +3/4

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £301/8 -1/4Imperial Tobacco £24

LEISURE & HOTELSBwin.Party Digital 168 -41/4Carnival £211/2 -1/8Compass Grp 605easyJet 4031/4 +81/8Enterprise Inns 273/4 +3/4FirstGroup 3331/4 -61/4Go-Ahead Gp 1355 -27Greene King 4823/8 -2Intercontl Htls 1195 +21Intl Cons AirlinesGp

1441/4 -21/4

Ladbrokes 1311/2 +1/4Mitchells & Butlers 245 -43/4Natl Express 221 -11/4Rank Org 130 -13/4Stagecoach Group 2675/8 +1/8TUI Travel 1573/4 -25/8Whitbread 1597 +8

INDEXFTSE 100 5612.26 -37.42

INDEXFTSE 250 10251.13 +5.27

MORRISONS reported a slowdown insales in the run-up to Christmas.

The performance by the chain, whichhas stores at Waterloo and Meltham,underlines the fierce competition in thesupermarket sector over the crucialtrading period.

The Bradford-based company, whichhas some 450 stores in the UK, saidlike-for-like sales, excluding VAT andfuel, increased by 0.7% in the six weeksto January 1,.

That compares with a 2.4% increasefor the previous quarter. The City hadexpected sales growth of 1%.

The slowdown came despite Morris-ons, the fourth biggest supermarket inthe UK, claiming a record number ofcustomers – with an extra 800,000 perweek shopping there during theperiod.

The battle for sales gathered pace inearly October when Tesco introducedits Big Price Drop.

That prompted Sainsbury’s to launcha price-matching scheme and Asda toslash petrol prices.

Morrisons said total sales excludingVAT and fuel in the period rose by2.9%.

Including petrol sales, takings wereup by 5.6%.

Morrisons said a number of “innov-ative promotional offers” helped boostsales in the period and pulled in extra

customers.The grocer also launched a new

range of M Kitchen ready meals cre-ated by chefs such as Bryn Williams,Nigel Haworth and Aldo Zilli as well asadverts starring former England crick-eter Andrew Flintoff.

Morrisons chief executive DaltonPhilips said he was pleased with theperformance in a “very tough mar-ket”.

ENTERTAINMENT group HMVinsisted that it still has a future –despite reporting a further drop insales in the run-up to Christmas.

HMV, which owns 252 stores in theUK, including one at Kingsgate inHuddersfield, said group like-for-likesales fell by 8.1% in the five weeks toDecember 31.

But like-for-like technology salesrose by 51% in the 144 stores refittedwith an increased range of portabledigital products.

HMV, which has sold booksellerWaterstone’s and plans to sell itslive music division, repeated itswarning that there were “materialuncertainties” which may cast

doubt on the group’s ability to con-tinue.

But chief executive Simon Foxsaid: “Undoubtedly, trading condi-tions and the consumer environ-ment remain challenging, but weremain confident in HMV’s futureprospects.”

Freddie George, a retail analyst atSeymour Pierce stockbrokers, saidthe update was marginally betterthan expected.

But he remained concerned thatnet debt levels were high at £160mfollowing the disposal of Water-stone’s and HMV Canada.

The chain has been hit by thesqueeze in consumer spending.

COMPANIES which hand outbonuses even after poor job perform-ances have given themselves a badname, said Sir Richard Branson.

Speaking during his visit to the firstnewly re-branded branch of VirginMoney, Sir Richard said bonusesshould only be given to those whoperform well.

He said: “I think bonuses for jobsnot well done is dreadful. It has givencompanies a bad name.

“Bonuses for jobs well done arefine. If people can double the amountof customers from 4m to 8m, I will bevery, very happy to give somebody abonus.

“But if our customers drop from 4mto 2m I don’t think there will be manybonuses paid out.”

Virgin Money took over national-ised Northern Rock in a £747m deal.It now aims to challenge the bankingindustry’s “big five” with a range ofsaving deals which will be “simple, fairand transparent”.

Sir Richard toasted staff and cus-tomers in the lender’s Newcastleheartland when he visited the branchat in the city’s NorthumberlandStreet.

Re-branding Northern Rock’s 75branches is expected to take ninemonths.

HMV upbeat despite sales fall Branson toasts takeover

■ BUYER: Morrisons may be eyeing up several Best Buy megastores

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

Vicky Devlin

Shaw & Hallas Ltd

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Managing directorAge: 46Family: Married to Kevin withdaughters Kelly, 18, and Hay-ley. 16Holidays: My dream holidayis to visit my sister in Australia,who has just had two babiesCar: Volkswagen Golf (forpractical reasons)First job: Working at Fox’sBiscuits – and taking themis-shapes home with me!Best thing about job:Working with the staff who arewonderful and seeing the faceof a satisfied customer whohas had problems findingshoes to fit themWorst thing about job:Online competitionBusiness tip: Be nice topeople. Good customer servicegoes a long way

Work: Independent familyshoe shopSite: HuddersfieldEmployees 22Phone: 01484 300670Email: shoes@shaw-hallas.co.uk

Shoeshopstaysin step

YOU could say she’s followed inher father’s footsteps.

But Vicky Devlin has steppedup the pace at family shoe shopShaw & Hallas Ltd.

Vicky, who is managing directorof the well-known Huddersfieldretailer, is proud of its status asone of the town’s best-known andlongest-established independentbusinesses.

The company dates back to the1860s when John Shaw began tomake and repair shoes frompremises at Westgate and ElliottHallas opened a small footwearshop in Holmfirth.

When John’s daughter Emilymarried Elliott’s son George, thetwo firms merged in 1914 to forma limited company.

Shaw & Hallas moved to JohnWilliam Street in 1923 and in1946 focused on retailing ratherthan shoe-making. In 1961, thecompany moved to Market Streetand opened a specialist children’sshoe shop at New North Road.

Seven years later, the Shawfamily acquired the whole of theshares, but kept the Shaw &Hallas name. It occupied severalpremises in the town centrebefore moving to Market Walk in1994 and opening a clearanceoutlet, The Shoe Shelter, atDenby Dale.

Vicky, who lives at Marsden, isthe fifth generation of the Shawfamily to be involved in thebusiness, having taken over fromher father, Michael Shaw.

She stresses it was not a“blind” sense of duty that led herto join the family firm, but adds: “Ididn’t want to see the businessfinish when my father retired.

“However, it was my choice. Iused to work in the shop onSaturdays when I was at school. Iworked in the children’sdepartment and learned to fitchildren’s shoes – which remainsmy passion.”

After studying at HuddersfieldTechnical College, Vicky chose towork elsewhere, taking a number

of sales jobs – and learning thebusiness of selling the hard way– before joining the familybusiness formally in 1980.

“I was a very shy little girl,” shesays.

“Working in sales was usefulbecause it gave me somebackbone! That experience hasbeen invaluable because now Ideal with people from all walks oflife – customers and suppliers.”

Vicky succeeded her father in1994 when the business movedfrom Market Street to MarketWalk, where it has been eversince.

With the arrival of Kingsgateand a “shift” of the heart of thetown centre to neighbouring KingStreet, the move proved a goodone, putting Shaw & Hallas at thecentre of things.

“We are a destination shop,”says Vicky, “People make theeffort to find us, whereas theymight not have made the effort togo to Market Street.”

She says: “We are up againstcompetition from the multiplesand the biggest challenge to anindependent retailer like us is theamount of discounting. That iswhy the high street is struggling.

“Our secret to success iscustomer service and range ofproducts. We offer shoes for allthe family in different widthfittings so we can usually fit upalmost any shape or size. Wereally work hard at getting thatright.

“We are very grateful to thepeople of Huddersfield becausewe have some very loyalcustomers. We have had sixgenerations of families shoppinghere – often three generations atone time, grandmothers, mothersand daughters.”

Historically, the firm wasbest-known for its men’s andladies’ shoes, but Vicky hasmade Shaw & Hallassynonymous with children’sfootwear, saying: “The children’sdepartment is our saviour duringdifficult times!”

Back-to-school time bringsthrongs of parents and childrento the store. Parents are alwayskeen to ensure their childrenhave good quality, comfortable,properly-fitting footwear – andthe firm’s commitment to thecause has also found favour withHuddersfield University.

“We have three podiatrystudents from the universityworking on Saturdays,” saysVicky. “Laura, Sara and Oliverjoined us in the summer and willspend a couple of years with us.We are training them to fit shoesproperly, so as well as earningsome money, they are learningabout another aspect of foot carewhich will complement theirstudies. They are interested inthe problems different shoes cancause.”

Shaw & Hallas also has astrong following for its men’sshoes department and numbersBaker Shoes, which has a factoryat Northampton, among thebrands growing in popularity.

At a difficult time for retailers,many traders opt to “sell cheap”.But Vicky sees no future forindependent retailers who take

that route. "You either give yourproducts away or you makepeople want them," she says.“We are constantly looking atwhat we buy. We choose to buygood quality shoes that fit andare comfortable and that is thedirection we take. Our suppliersare very supportive and we makeastute decisions. As anindependent business, we canalso take quick decisions withouthaving to refer them to theboardroom.”

The company is a member ofHuddersfield BusinessPartnership and recently donatedthousands of empty shoeboxesto be filled with gifts and gamesfor the Samaritan’s PurseChristmas appeal.

Vicky’s ambitions are tocontinue steering the businessforward – one step at a time.

“My drive is to be successfuland to keep my very loyal staffemployed.” she says. “I’veachieved my personal goals – Imet and married a lovely manand we have two lovely children.”

Vicky’s other keen interest ishorses.

“I was one of those childrenwho liked to play with animals,”she says. “I was an outdoorperson and as long as I couldride my pony I was happy.”

Now Vicky has four horses,who take up much of her sparetime. She has even studied horserelaxation techniques and“equine body work” to improvetheir well-being and performance.

Holidays include long-distancerides with a group of fellowhorsewomen dubbed TheMarsden Moody Mares.

“We go trekking for four or fivedays on a circular route, stayingat bed and breakfast places onthe way,” says Vicky. “We havedone parts of the Pennine Wayand there are lots of bridlewaysthat you can ‘link up’. It’s greatfun.”

■ PACE SETTER: Vicky Devlinsays customer service is key

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

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intake with impressive value addedscores.The quality of teaching andlearning at the school is certainlyimpressive with 97% of studentsachieving the minimum of fiveGCSEs at A* to C grade, includingMathematics and English. Perhapseven more significant is the factthat more than 47% of all GCSEgrades were awarded at A* or A,with several pupils achievingoutstanding results. Thisachievement was recognised at theTown Hall Prize Evening last term.The school successfully caters for awide range of academic abilitiesdemonstrating an adherence totraditional values and skills,including the teaching of separatesciences.Gifted and Talented provisionwithin the school has beenexpanded to include a plannedstudy and reading weekend,together with some exciting andinteresting activities, expeditionsand excursions open to all pupils.To arrange a visit, or to discussany aspect of opportunities atHGS, contact Mrs G Garside,Registrar, on

admin@huddersfield-grammar.co.uk or 01484 424549.● Bradford Girls' GrammarSchool has applied for Free SchoolstatusAs a high performing independentschool for girls, Bradford Girls’Grammar School is applying tobecome a Free School fromSeptember 2013. As a Free School,Bradford Girls’ Grammar Schoolwill remain on its current 17-acresite on Squire Lane and continueto provide a first class educationfor girls aged 11-18, and for girlsand boys aged four -11.Free Schools are all-ability schoolsindependent of the local authority.They can be primary, secondary orall-through schools. Bradford GirlsGrammar School has applied tobecome an all-through Free Schooland, as such from September 2013,fees are no longer payable and theschool would offer its traditionalethos, values and education to all.Headmistress, Mrs KathrynMatthews perceives the move as anopportunity to take BradfordGirls’ Grammar School back tothe community.She said “Bradford Girls’Grammar School was establishedas an endowed school for publicbenefit in 1875 and, over the last

136 years, it has continued to fulfilthe ideals of delivering outstandingeducation as expressed by itspioneering founders.The move to Free School statuswould widen access to BradfordGirls’ Grammar School. It offersan excellent opportunity to returnthe school to the community”.Support the application atwww.bggs.com/freeschoolAn entrance exam will be held onFriday 13 January and the SixthForm Open Evening will be onThursday February 9 from 6.30 to8.30pm.To register, call 01274 545395,email registrar@bggs.com, or go towww.bggs.com● Rastrick Independent School isan independent co-educational dayschool for pupils from birth tosixteen years.Parents always have the choice of a

normal school day, term-time or all the yearround school attendance.The school also offers before and after schoolcare.The ethos of the school is meeting the needs ofthe individual child within an environment oflove, respect, discipline and providing an excitinglearning environment ensuring happiness foreveryone.The school caters for children of workingparents who are able to follow their careerssecure in the knowledge that their child iseducated and cared for to the highest standards.The school attains excellent academicachievement and also offers opportunities to thewider community by offering scholarships andbursaries.

■ CLASS: Huddersfield Grammar School pupils enjoying life in the classroom

■ RASTRICK: The school’s young pupils

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Assessment Examination for theGrammar School 13th January 2012

Open Morning14th January

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Simon Kaye is divisional director at Investec Wealth & Investment

CITYTALKSimon Kaye

Meet the golden girl

Steering clearof the icebergs!The year 2011 has drawn to a close

with most Investors more thanhappy to consign the year to the his-tory books.

Having started on an optimistic note andhaving withstood some unexpected blowsearly in the year from the Japanese earth-quake and a spike in oil prices as a result ofuncertainties provoked by the Arab Spring,the resurgence of systemic threats emanatingfrom the eurozone have reversed the mood.

Looking into 2012, a positive investmentoutlook depends upon successfully navigat-ing around some very visible icebergs.Firstly, the eurozone sovereign credit mar-kets must be stabilised. Secondly, theChinese economic soft landing must notturn into a hard landing. Thirdly, Americamust avoid stifling a nascent domestic recov-ery through political intransigence.

The most threatening of the icebergs isclearly the still-unresolved eurozone sover-eign debt crisis, which has prompted anaccelerated deleveraging of the financialsystem both within Europe and outside, asthe world’s non-European banks and cor-porations move to insulate themselves fromEurope’s problems.

When compounded by fiscal austeritymeasures that have been deemed to be partof the medicine required to stabilise thesituation, the result is that Europe has beenalmost solely responsible for the undermin-ing of the global growth outlook for 2012.

We believe, however, that substantial pro-gress has recently been made in Europewhich holds out the prospect for muchreduced stress as the year progresses. Spe-cifically, it now appears that politicians and

the European Central Bank are singing fromthe same hymn sheet with a commonlyagreed plan for embedding fiscal disciplinein the single currency operating rules whilstthe ECB buys the time to implement theplan by providing unlimited support to thebanking system – not directly to the sover-eign states.

The price of the solution will still be arecession in Europe, but the likelihood ofsomething worse looks to be muchreduced.

Moving on to China, the growth miraclebuilt on exports and investment has beencompounded over the past couple of yearsby a rapid expansion of credit, often throughnew unregulated channels, which has foundan outlet in the housing market.

The weakening in demand fromdeveloped markets is now being felt and it isfeared that as China enters the year of theDragon, a credit bust similar to America’scould be in the offing. Although this bearswatching, we think this will not happen.China will certainly suffer substantial “baddebts” as part of the credit boom, but in alargely state-owned banking system, ulti-mately lending is state directed and theequity capital can be replenished by over $3trillion of foreign exchange reserves. Inshort, China can afford its mistakes andshould become a more positive growth force

as the year progresses.America is a different case. The signs are

good that after a soft patch a recovery isgaining pace, indeed there is real potentialfor positive growth surprises if the housingmarket stabilises in response to recordaffordability and rapidly deceasing invent-ory. It is for Congress to avoid snatchingdefeat from the jaws of victory.

The risks that we have addressed so farleave aside the ever-present fragile geopolit-ics surrounding Iran and the Middle Eastwhich we must hope do not spill over intoenergy markets at an inconvenient time. So,altogether, it is understandable why stresslevels are high.

For a longer term investor however, fearand opportunity are synonymous. With thatperspective we continue to hold the view thatthere is far more to be hopeful about than iscommonly believed. In the meantime, sup-portive monetary policy from all the world’smajor central banks, lack of speculativeexcesses in financial markets and a robustlyhealthy corporate sector ought to provide asolid buffer against the current chill winds.

DOUBLE Olympic goldmedallist Dame KellyHolmes is urging Kirkleesfirms to capitalise onbusiness opportunitiesstemming from globalsporting events.

The star athlete (pictured)will speak at a seminar, TheBiggest Sporting Events ofour Time, on January 19 inSheffield.

The event, staged atSheffield United FC, hasbeen organised bygovernment export supportbody UK Trade & Investmentand the Yorkshire GoldBusiness Club, anorganisation linking firms inthe region to theopportunities thrown up bythe London Olympics andother major projects.

Other speakers willinclude UKTI regionaldirector Mark Robson,Yorkshire Gold BusinessClub manager Lauren Piggand UKTI team membersAndrew Bacchus, Jon Tibbs,

Chris Wall and SimonBedford.

Delegates will also hearfrom Sportworks, aSheffield-based eventmanagement company,about how they have wonthe contract to provide eventmanagement services forthe ISSF World Cup, part ofthe London Prepares“sports testing” programme

in the build-up to theLondon 2012 Olympic andParalympic Games.

Presentations will alsocover opportunities for tradeand investment in Russiaand Brazil .

The event is free, butregistration is required. Visitwww.ygbc.co.uk or contactClaire McMahon on 07545401573.

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local Page 6KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

RISKYBUSINESSMark Dalton

Mark Dalton is associate director at Wilby Ltd

Meetings prove just too boring

Seminars provepopular eventsHUDDERSFIELD lawfirm ChadwickLawrence has beenbusy in 2011 –deliveringemployment lawseminars to morethan 300 people.More than 200businessesattended the free seminars over thepast 12 months.Now the firm is planning its 2012programme.Neil Wilson (pictured), employmentlaw specialist at ChadwickLawrence, said: “The seminarprogramme is an excellent way toprovoke thought about employmentlaw.“It’s an area of legislation that isconstantly evolving and oftenpeople who think they are wellinformed haven’t quite kept up withthe latest developments. We canshed light on what’s new and what’sin the pipeline.“It’s also a great networkingopportunity and popularitycontinues to increase.”

Demand upfor ‘interims’DEMAND for interimmanagers rose by 22% in thethree months to September30, 2011 – bucking theotherwise lacklustre jobsmarket for senior executivesand directors.Latest research by IpsosMORI for the InterimManagement Associationidentified 526 new interimmanagement assignmentsthat started during the thirdquarter of last year comparedwith the 431 that got underway in the second quarter.Private sector providerInterim Partners said thenumber of new assignmentsgiven to interims is at itshighest level since the thirdquarter of 2009.Interim executives are seniorexecutives, usually just belowboard-level, who are recruitedon a short term basis.Interim Partners said demandis being driven by businessesthat have gaps in their seniormanagement teams, but feelthat the weak economicoutlook makes it too risky forthem to make full-time hires.Doug Baird, managingdirector of Interim Partners,said some appointments werespecifically in response tothe eurozone crisis.

Firm’s latest contract successACLECKHEATON-basedbusiness has signed asignificant deal.

Howarths EmploymentLaw has agreed athree-year contract withfinancial servicesindustry pioneerSimplyBiz.

SimplyBiz was formedin 2002 by HuddersfieldGiants chairman KenDavy to serve thecompliance and businessneeds of financialadvisers.

It has since won theprestigious Best IFANetwork/Service SupportProvider award two years

in a row at theProfessional AdviserAwards.

The team at Howarthswill provide employmentlaw services to SimplyBizand their financial advisermember firms – providingadvice on all employmentlaw issues, drafting andimplementing companypolicies in line withever-changing legislationand providingILM-accreditedmanagement training.

Sarah Turvey, groupfinance director atSimplyBiz, said: “As acompany that has grownsignificantly in staff

numbers and subsidiarycompanies since ourlaunch almost 10 yearsago, we wanted a localcompany that offeredexcellent advice andassistance with issuesrelating to employmentlaw, and we have foundthis in Howarths.”

Howarths businessdevelopment directorTracey Hopkins said:“Howarths is very proudto be working with such areputable organisationand we look forward todeveloping a strongrelationship with Sarahand her team.”

■ WINNERS: Tracey Hopkins (left), of Howarths EmploymentLaw, and Sarah Turvey, finance director at SimplyBiz

Banks are notalways at faultNew year likely

to see changesThere are likely to be some

changes to health andsafety legislation in 2012affecting all businesses andself-employed people.

The government announced ithas accepted all of the recom-mendations in the LofstedtReview report published at theend of November.

The review, “Reclaiming health& safety for all: An independentreview of health & safety legisla-tion” took six months to carry outand was focused on legislationthat put undue costs on businesseswhilst doing little to improvehealth and safety.

The government is committedto cutting health and safety redtape in early 2012.

There is a target to reduce thecurrent 200 different regulationsand supporting Approved Codesof Practice by at least a third overthe next three years, by combin-ing, simplifying and abolishing.

The 100 page report includessome interesting recommenda-tions.

Employers should not be heldresponsible for damages whenthey have done all they can tomanage risk. The emphasisshould be on employees takingpersonal responsibility.

Health and safety legislationshould not apply to self-employedpeople who pose no risk to otherpeople from their work.

There should be better guidanceon what is “reasonably practic-able” and on specific issues suchas explaining the situation thatannual portable appliance testing

is not a mandatory requirement.The report’s author, Prof Lofs-

tedt does not want to see a radicalalteration to health and safetylegislation, but thinks better inter-pretation of the regulations andproportionate risk managementmake good business sense.

The consultation process willbegin this month and severalreviews need to be completed bythe summer.

The hope for 2012 is that thereview will lead to less red tapeand bureaucracy for businesswithout increasing the risk of acci-dents and illnesses in the work-place.

HALF of business peopledaydream during meetings,according to a survey.

And many of them “zone out” ofmeetings after just 17 minutes,says the poll by theAnti-PowerPoint Party.

Over half of the 1,000businessmen and womenquestioned admitted to regularlydaydreaming in the boardroomwhile more than one in 10 hasfallen asleep during a “dull”presentation.

Meetings with unfocused

agendas, inter-departmentalbickering and an over-reliance onpresentation software such asPowerPoint are most likely to sendparticipants into a temporarystupor.

One in 10 businessmen “dread”tiresome and drawn-out meetingsso much that they will deliberatelyarrive late or make excuses toleave early.

APPP founder andcommunication coach MatthiasPoehm said the findings shouldserve as a “wake-up call” to British

businesses.He said: “The results show that

in the majority of cases, themeetings don't fulfil what oneexpects.

“This is because they areallowed to over-run and lose focusand put too much emphasis ontools such as PowerPoint, whichoften simply bombard people withresults until their attentionswitches off.

“Every minute wasted throughbad and boring meetings is moneylost.”

The survey suggests that theaverage businessman spends sixhours and 38 minutes in meetingseach week – equating to 306hours and 24 minutes or roughly38 days a year spent in meetings.

At managerial level, the figurerises to 16 hours and 12 minutesper week, or 777 hours and sixminutes per year.

The average meeting lasts 47minutes, but the research revealsthat those present will start losingconcentration just over a third ofthe way through.

A KIRKLEESaccountant saysbusinesses shouldstop blamingbanks for failing tolend them money –and work atmaking a bettercase for the cash.Shafiq Khan(pictured), partner and head ofCleckheaton-based CloughManagement Services, said manyfirms were criticising banks forstarving them of cash afterimposing stricter lending criteria.But he said many business ownersdon’t help themselves because theyfail to supply relevant informationwhen they approach banks toborrow money.Mr Khan, a member of the approvalpanel of the Business EnterpriseFund which fills funding gaps forbusinesses struggling to securefinance from traditional sources,said banks were still keen to dobusiness with customers who couldpresent a strong case anddemonstrate that they can repaytheir loans.But he said: “The days whenbusiness owners could walk into abank and get immediate decisionson six or even seven-figure loans arelong-gone.“Nowadays banks leave no stoneunturned and nearly every decisionhas to go past a team of creditcontrollers who can only base theirdecision on the information that’sgiven to them, so thoroughpreparation is absolutely vital. “He said his work with the BusinessEnterprise Fund, brought him intocontact with clients ranging fromsole traders to companies withmulti-million pound turnoversneeding credit for all eventualitiessuch as expansion programmes orcovering cash flow during leantrading periods.

property Page 7KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Charity connectionfor Dewsbury firmA DEWSBURY-based kitchen supplier hasdonated a kitchen to a West Yorkshire charity.

The kitchen provided by RixonwayKitchens to Morley Elderly Action will becomethe central point for community supportservices to prevent isolation for the over-60s.

The charity helps local members to remainliving independently in their own homeenvironment. With a team of 100 volunteers,the charity runs bingo events, computerworkshops, carries out home visits, providesa transport scheme and organises eventssuch as afternoon teas.

Carole Law, project manager at MorleyElderly Action, said: “The tea room plays akey role in the centre’s activity, so we arehugely grateful for this essential donation.

“The new work surfaces have provided alot more room, allowing us to cater for largegroups more easily and the dishwasher hasbeen a godsend.

“We’ve received lots of complements fromour clients on the new look tea room andhope that through this great transformationwe can attract more members.

“We can’t thank Rixonway Kitchensenough!”

David Anderson, sales and marketingdirector at Rixonway Kitchens, said: “Wework hard to support the communities inwhich we work.

“By supporting local charities, tacklingworklessness and reducing ourenvironmental impact in the region.

“We’re delighted that our donation hasmade such a difference to the service MorleyElderly Action can provide to its users, it’s avital lifeline to the local people in the area.”

Rixonway’s work with Morley Elderly Actionis the latest activity in the company’scorporate social responsibility programmethat sees it working with a number oforganisations.

They include Women First, part of theAddas Centre, in Ravensthorpe; TheHarrogate Homeless Project and theWellington Hill Residents Association inLeeds.

Rixonway has invested significantly inmachinery and the expansion of itsmanufacturing facility.

The firm delivers more than 12,000 units aweek from its plant at Dewsbury.

■ DELIGHTED: Rixonway sales andmarketing director David Anderson

Store expansion isgolden opportunity

ALBEMARLE & Bond has hailed “the age of thepawnbroker” as it unveiled plans to open new storesin 2012.

The company, which has branches under theAlbemarle & Bond and Herbert Brown brands –including one at King Street in Huddersfield – willlaunch 25 new stores over the next 12 months.

Albemarle & Bond opened 25 new stores duringthe last financial year and reported its 20th consecut-ive year of growth.

It said it was reaping the benefits of high streetbanks tightening their lending criteria and making itharder for people to borrow in a straightforward andinexpensive way.

Its 2012 growth plans will see the creation of morethan 300 jobs across the country as it extends itsportfolio to more than 175 retail stores and 42Herbert Brown gold buying sites.

With a new management team now in post formore than a year, the company believes 2012 willherald the ‘age of the pawnbroker’, when theindustry finally shakes off the misconceptions thatsurround it.

Chief executive Barry Stevenson said: “The pawn-broking industry has worked hard to change itsimage over recent years and people outside ourexisting customer base are now starting to under-

stand how we work and recognise the value of theservices we offer – it truly is the age of the pawn-broker.

“Since the recession, retail rates for high streetlocations have finally returned to a sensible levelwhich allows us to be where our services areneeded.

“However, compared to places like the USA, thepawnbroking market here is still drasticallyunder-served.

“We intend to address that through our expansioninto new locations and by developing new channelsto help people access our services more easily.”

Said Mr Stevenson: “With fewer people able to getcredit through the banks, pawnbroking has anopportunity to play an increasingly important role inmany people’s finances, whether they need somequick cash to get the car through its MOT or run abusiness and need some cash to tide them over untila customer pays.”

In addition to pawnbroking and gold buying, thecompany sells high-quality new and pre-owned goldand silver jewellery in its stores, as well as offering arange of other financial services including pay dayadvances and Speedloans.

Propertyauctionsraise £4mPROPERTY auctionsheld by a Huddersfieldestate agency firmraised more than £4mduring 2011.Boultons, which hastown centre premisesat John William Street,held five collectivesales last year at theGalpharm Stadium,which raised £4.27m.Some 78% of the 60lots on offer – almosteight out of 10 – foundbuyers. The averageselling price was inexcess of £90,000.The lowest priced lotwas a small piece ofland with expiredplanning permission atLowerhouses while thehighest priced was aformer mill owner’shouse inSkelmanthorpe, whichmade £248,500.Boultons’ RaymondButterworth said theresults were “not bad”given the difficulteconomic times.Boultons’ first auctionof 2012 will take placeon February 23.

■ GOLD STANDARD: The Herbert Brown outletat King Street in Huddersfield

Thursday 26 January 2012 7pm at Cedar Court Hotel,Lindley Moor Road, Ainley Top, Huddersfield, HD3 3RHFor further information contact:Richard Smith 01484 477623 or Paul Andrew01484 477621 or Doug West 01484 477624

Land adjacent to64 Woodhouse HillFartown, Huddersfield,HD2 1DH1 Residential building plot1 0.052 Hectares (0.13 Acres)1 Outline PP for 1 dwelling1 Good residential locationGuide: In Excess of £30,000

Lot 1

67 Huddersfield RoadElland, HX5 9AA1 2 bedroom mid terrace house1 Let on AST producing £300 pcmGuide: In Excess of £30,000

Lot 2

69 Huddersfield RoadElland, HX5 9AA1 Large 2 bedroom mid terrace

house1 Let on AST producing £420 pcmGuide: In Excess of £50,000

71 Huddersfield RoadElland, HX5 9AA1 Hire centre/workshop investment1 290m2 (3,126 sq ft) – Approx GIA1 Let at £15,500 per annumGuide: In Excess of £100,000

Lot 3

Lot 4

Land at Burgh Mill LaneDewsbury Moor, Dewsbury,WF13 3QS1 Outline PP for 5 dwellings1 Level rectangular cleared site1 0.129 Hectares (0.32 Acres)Guide: In Excess of £75,000

Lot 5

Land adjacent to 3A Shelley LaneKirkburton, Huddersfield, HD8 0SJ1 Outline PP for a 4/5 bedroom

detached dwelling with double garage1 Excellent residential location1 0.069 Hectares (0.17 Acres)Guide: In Excess of £100,000

Lot 6

19, 21 & 21a SouthgateElland, HX5 0BW1 Town centre investment opportunity1 2 self-contained retail units

with separate three bedroom flat1 Gross rental income of £18,200 PAXGuide: In Excess of £145,000

Lot 7

Oaklands, 2 Coach House Drive,Dalton, Huddersfield, HD5 8EG1 Residential/commercial conversion

opportunity1 Character detached stone property1 Approx 667m2 (7,180 sq ft) GIA

(Not measured by auctioneer)1 Good residential locationGuide: In Excess of £200,000

Lot 8

82 Lower GatePaddock, Huddersfield, HD3 4EP1 Part complete 4/5 bedroom detached

property1 Popular residential locationGuide: In Excess of £90,000

Lot 9

Cold Hill Farm, Cold Hill Lane, BerryBrow, Huddersfield, HD4 6TU1 Farmhouse, barn and outbuildings for

conversion1 Rural location with views over

neighbouring fields1 PP for conversion to a large 4 bedroom

house1 Site area of 0.07 Hectares (0.17 Acres)Guide: In Excess of £140,000

Lot 10

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Happy to be areal nuisance!FOR a man who started a business in theteeth of the worst recession in 60 years,Tony Lee has a lot to smile about.

For his new company, which is celebrat-ing its first anniversary, has taken off in abig way.

Huddersfield-based Tony Lee First AidTraining has acquired many clients andnow provides first aid training to GPs,nurses, dentists, hotel and bar staff forcompanies across the UK.

One of his major new clients is ConvivialManagement Services, which has contrac-ted him to provide first aid training and toorganise fire marshal courses in many of itspubs and hotels in the UK.

CMS, based in Bolton, helps insolvencypractitioners and banks to keep pubs,hotels and restaurants placed in adminis-tration open until buyers can be found.

As part of that CMS’ sister company,Encompass, uses Tony’s firm to providetraining at many of its managed sites.

And to top all that Tony, using his firstname Michael, is celebrating growing salesof his compilation book Letters From aProfessional Nuisance, which is on salethrough Amazon.

He has had three books of spoof letterspublished over the last 10 years which havesold about 20,000 copies in total.

The 52 year-old father of two shot tonational and international fame when heapplied for – and got – the “post” of TheBeast of Bodmin Moor.

Tony has also acquired a reputation asan author of three books of collections ofoutrageous letters.

These range from inventive job applica-tions, such as the Beast of Bodmin Moor,to requests for unusual and oftennon-existent posts or items.

He said: “My latest book is an updatedcompilation of my previous three books.

“It all started when I became a minorcelebrity on American TV and in theSpanish press who picked up on a spoof

letter I sent to be the mayor of El Paso.“After that, I had the germ of an idea

that I could write funny letters asking forsilly jobs or fantastic positions, get someequally funny replies and publish them in abook.

“I have received some replies in the samevein – I got a superb letter from theParachute Regiment when I offered myselfas a replacement for their goat mascot.

“I also received a very funny reply inEnglish from a French naval officer after Ienquired about becoming a submarineperiscope polishing executive.”

He also applied to become the officialGovernment scapegoat, asked how hecould acquire a corporate ladder to help hiscareer and wrote to Harry Ramsden’scomplaining about the chip on hisshoulder.

Other job applications have includedharbourmaster for Wigan Pier, the newhunchback of Notre Dame, The Man inthe Moon, Old Father Time, principalstable boy for the Four Horses of theApocalypse, Witchfinder General and theKing of the Castle.

He has received replies from such vener-able institutions as MI5, the office of theArchbishop of York, assorted royal societ-ies and peers, the French Navy and even thePope.

He has also appeared on ITV’s ThisMorning TV with Philip Schofield andFern Britton and on regional TV andradio.

Letters from a Professional Nuisance ispublished by Anova Books and is availableon Amazon.

■ HIM AGAIN: Author and businessman Michael A Lee – better known as Tony –with his latest book Letters From a Professional Nuisance

Sam Waxman & Joe Pape

WaxmanEnergyELLAND-based Waxman Energy hasappointed directors Sam Waxman (right) andJoe Pape (left) as joint managing directors.

The company is one of the UK’s leadingspecialists in the design and distribution ofsolar photovoltaics.

Mr Pape has been with The Waxman Groupfor 25 years while Mr Waxman hasspearheaded Waxman Energy’s growth inrecent years.

Richard Waxman, chairman of The WaxmanGroup, said: “Both Sam and Joe have alreadyplayed a major part in the development andsuccess of the business and they now have theopportunity to use their dynamism and aptitudeto take Waxman Energy to the next level ofsuccess.”

Waxman Energy is the main UK distributorfor some of the world’s leading solarmanufacturers, including Phono Solar, LGElectronics, Sanyo and SMA.

The Waxman Group was founded in 1958and is also involved in distributing solar thermalsystems and biomass boilers under newcompany Waxman Renewables.

Sally Duke

GrantThorntonBUSINESS adviser GrantThornton has appointed SallyDuke to lead its Yorkshire VATservices team.

Ms Duke (pictured) joinsfrom RSM Tenon in Leedswhere she spent almost fouryears, latterly as an associatedirector in VAT services. Shehas extensive experience in allaspects of VAT, having spent18 years advising clients and referrers in allsectors.

In her new role, she will promote anddevelop the firm’s VAT services offering,working with SMEs and large corporate clientsto identify VAT opportunities and negotiate thebest possible outcome with HM Revenue &Customs.

Her specialisms include dealing with VATclaims, working with property developers,working in the catering sector and advising onthe VAT liability of food, advising not-for-profitorganisations; and dealing with VAT appeals.

Promotionfor lawyerHUDDERSFIELD law firmArmitage Sykes haspromoted Rob Kelly toassociate status.Mr Kelly specialises incompany and commerciallaw at the firm, which isbased at New North Road.Senior partner RobertTurner said: “We aredelighted to recogniseRob in this way.“He has gained greatresults for clients and thispromotion is welldeserved.”In a separate move,Armitage Sykes has alsomaintained its LawSociety Lexcel status forinternal practicemanagement standards.

■ WELL DONE: Robert Turner (left) seniorpartner at Huddersfield law firm ArmitageSykes, congratulates Rob Kelly on hispromotion to associate status

Time to pass the testDELEGATES at a forthcoming seminar face a testinghour.

The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest60 Useful Minutes event looks at psychometric testingand how it can help people in business.

The event, which takes place from 8.30am to 10amtomorrow at the chamber offices at Lockwood, showshow psychometric profiles are used to help firms buildrelationships, resolve conflicts, manage stress and inrecruitment and staff retention and teamworking.

Contact Tracy Smith on 01924 311607 or email:tracy.smith@mycci.co.uk

Hannah Powley

point2prHUDDERSFIELD-basedpublic relations andmarketing agency point2prhas appointed final-yearHuddersfield Universitystudent Hannah Powley asPR executive.

Ms Powley (pictured),who is in her final year of amarketing and PR degree,has completed a 12-monthwork placement.

In her new role, she will be working withall of point2pr’s clients, includingaward-winning property developer ConroyBrook, online craft supplies outlet World ofWool, Alexandra House Holistic andWell-being Spa and Little Tinkers PrivateDay Nursery on a wide range of PR andmarketing activities.

Jenny Clayton, owner of point2pr, said:“Hannah’s enthusiasm and experience willbe a real asset to the company.”