KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees13, December, 2011

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STEVEN MANNING

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Across the pond

Co lumn - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

GettingcreativeA NEW online portalhas been launched topromote Huddersfield’sCreative and MediaStudio School to localbusinesses.Get Creative in Kirklees– www.gcik.co.uk – wascreated following aseries of “co-creation”consultation sessionswith students at theRawthorpe-basedStudio School, who willrun the site day-to-day.

WorthwinningA DEVELOPER inHuddersfield has wonan award forexcellence. WorthHomes was nationalwinner of the PremierGuarantee ExcellenceAwards 2011 for itsScotgate Folddevelopment in Honley.

SIMON KAYEFTSE 100- 101 .35

5567.96

Apprentices helpto spread the loadA COMPANY providing loading baysystems for depots and warehouses issigning the praises of apprentices.

Kirkburton-based Easilift LoadingSystems has taken on four apprenticesto support its growth – havingachieved turnover of about £2m thisyear.

Callum Daw, 17, of Lowerhouses;Luke Manning, 16, from South Cros-land; Mohamed Ramzan, 18, fromBirkby; and Joshua Burgess, 16, ofManchester are studying electricalcourses.

For the first year of their training,they will be based entirely in theclassroom.

Callum, Mohammed and Joshuaare studying NVQ Level 3 at KirkdaleIndustrial Training Services in Brig-house, while Luke is attending LeedsCollege of Building while he studiesfor an electrical engineering diploma.

Easilift managing director Rob Faysaid: “Apprentices are all the rageagain – and not only because of LordSugar’s annual televised search fornew business talent.

“The Government has made anincrease in apprenticeships a central

plank of its policy – from the creationof an extra 100,000 apprenticeships toits partnerships with leading Britishmanufacturers such as Rolls-Royce toestablish an apprentice academy.

“The reasons for nurturing appren-tices are obvious. It’s a cost-effectivemeans of growing a business, bringingon talented youngsters without havingto pay graduate prices.

“It’s a positive gesture towards yourcommunity and the nation as a whole,showing that you’re willing to givesomebody a start and a defined careerpath – a laudable goal, especially inthese recessionary times.

“Put those things together, andyou’re helping to cement a loyal work-force who has been instilled with yourvalues and keen to help the businessprogress.”

Mr Fay said: “Having come througha four-year apprenticeship at the startof my own career, I fully appreciate thevalue of what an apprenticeship canoffer to young people.

“I also hope that my own careerpath provides some inspiration for ourapprentices and demonstrates to themthat a long term career path with

promotion opportunities can be a real-ity.”

Taking on apprentices is also a formof succession planning, said Mr Fay.“Long-term success in businessdemands fresh insight and innovation,especially in the hyper-competitiveworld we live in, with growing pressure

from China and other rapidly develop-ing countries,” he said.

“Yet, according to one recentreport, Britain is heading the otherway. The demographics of industry ingeneral are becoming top heavy, withmore people aged over 40 than thereare under the age of 40.”

■ STARTING YOUNG: Managing director Rob Fay (left) and operationsproject manager David Ward (right) with apprentices (from left) Callum Daw,Luke Manning, Mohamed Ramzan and Joshua Burgess

Stressed-out bosses ‘bullying their workers’WORKPLACE bullying is on theincrease as company managers comeunder growing pressure to meet theirtargets, it is claimed.

And changes to employment lawproposed by Business Secretary VinceCable could provide cover for officebullies to operate more freely, it isfeared.

Bluefin Insurance Services whichhas offices at Cleckheaton, saidinstances of bullying had doubled inthe last decade – due in part to therecession which has created growingpressure to meet targets resulting instrained relationships between man-agers and staff.

Bluefin’s Peter Castle said stressful

working conditions were no excuse for“iron-fist” management – warningthat heavy-handed management couldresult in companies being taken to anemployment tribunal.

“Employers need to be aware thatthey could be liable for acts of harass-ment committed by individual staffmembers and required to pay com-

pensation to a victim,” he said.Business Secretary Vince Cable is

considering reform of employmentlaw, which could include “protectedconversations” – allowing bosses tohave frank talks with staff aboutunder-performance without fearingthat the conversation could later beused in evidence at a tribunal.

In the holiday spirit!

www.chadwicklawrence.co.ukHuddersfield | Wakefield | Halifax | Leeds

Solicitors for business inYorkshire

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICESLocal shares

FTSE closed at

5427.86Down 101.35

ROYALl Bank of Scotland was broughtto its knees by “multiple poor decisions”and its £50bn “gamble” on buying Dutchbank ABN Amro, said a damningreport.

A long-awaited Financial ServicesAuthority report blamed deficiencies inthe management and culture at RBS priorto its £45.5bn rescue and called fortougher rules to make bankers moreaccountable for their actions.

The regulator admitted it had failed toadequately monitor and challenge thebank, although it largely blamed theprevious government for encouraging itto take a hands-off approach.

And the deal that effectively broke thebank – the takeover of ABN Amro – wascarried out with inadequate research, thereport added.

It said: “The decision to make a bid ofthis scale on the basis of limited due

diligence entailed a degree of risk-takingthat can reasonably be criticised as agamble.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said hewas seeking legal advice about whetherany of the directors should face disquali-fication proceedings in the wake of thereport’s findings.

The report shone a light on the poorrelations between the FSA and RBS andsaid chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin’s“assertive and robust” management stylewas flagged as a potential risk as early as2003.

He aggressively expanded the bankover his eight-year tenure, culminating inthe disastrous acquisition of ABN Amroin 2007.

RBS management had been resistant towhat they saw as unnecessary FSA inter-ference leading to a clear-the-air meetingwith Sir Fred in October, 2004.

The FSA admitted its approach wasflawed and failed to challenge the man-agement of RBS. It did not put enoughresources into managing big banks andwas too focused on policing traders.

But it said this reflected the mood oflight-touch regulation extolled by NewLabour, with Chancellor Gordon Brownanxious for the FSA not to damage theCity’s competitiveness.

The report reflected badly on shadowchancellor Ed Balls who in a speech in2006 said “nothing should be done to putat risk a light-touch, risk-based regulat-ory regime”.

The FSA confirmed it would not betaking any action against the bosses whopresided over RBS’s epic failure, but itschairman Adair Turner called for a publicdebate for a change in the rules to makebankers more accountable.

Bosses blamed forbreakdown of RBS

Region isoptimisticYORKSHIRE employersare more optimisticabout hiring than theircounterparts across thePennines, said a surveytoday.

The latest quarterlyEmployment Outlookfrom recruitment firmManpower showed thatemployer sentiment inthe region for the firstquarter of 2012remained positive at plus4% – in stark contrast tothe minus 5% for theNorth-west.

While optimism amongYorkshire firms is not aspositive as it was beforethe recession, the regionhas not recorded anegative figure for morethan two years –whereas the North-westis in negative territory forthe third consecutivequarter.

TWO of the UK’s best-known entre-preneurs have unveiled a new ven-ture to allow motorists to rent outtheir car when they do not need it.

The car club venture has been setup by easyJet founder Sir SteliosHaji-Ioannou and lastminute.comfounder Brent Hoberman. It will belaunched next year under the easy-Car brand and will allow people touse smartphone apps to book slotsin their neighbours’ vehicles.

This will give them a cheaperalternative to traditional car rentaland help people with cars to makecash from hiring them out.

The car club aims to test the first1,000 cars this spring in the London

area.Sir Stelios said the new scheme

“could prove to be the future of carrental and ownership in cities of thefuture”.

He said: “Rather than having tobuy the cars to be rented and pay theownership costs, this businessmodel relies on the fact that thereare plenty of under-used cars on theroad already and that is lazy capitalthat can be put to work again.”

The firm claimed its new businessmodel is also greener than tradi-tional car hire – saying that carsharing could get 10 cars off theroad for each vehicle contributed toa club.

New twist on car rental industrySIR Richard Branson’s VirginAtlantic is keeping up the pressure onrival BA in the battle for ownership ofLufthansa-owned BMI.

International Airlines Group, par-ent company of British Airways andIberia, reached a deal to buy BMI lastmonth, but Virgin has remained in therace by signing a “terms of agree-ment” contract with Lufthansa.

This means that Virgin will be ableto start due diligence and analyseBMI’s books to find out what theacquisition would involve.

In the battle over BMI’s covetedtake-off and landing slots at Heath-row, Virgin is hoping to stop BA’s

owner gaining more dominance andhaving an even greater presence on therunways of the busy hub.

If the BA deal goes ahead it wouldmean that IAG owns more than halfof Heathrow’s landing slots.

Although reports say the offermade by Virgin of about £50m is halfthat of the IAG offer, Sir Richard’sairline is hoping that the regulatoryscrutiny that would accompany aBA-BMI merger will make it moreattractive to Lufthansa.

Virgin’s bankers are understood toargue that a cheaper deal with Virginwould benefit Lufthansa as the salewould be completed more quickly.

Airlines in takeover battle

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.45 dollarsBangladesh................. 112.97 takaBrazil.............................. 2.50 realsCanada....................... 1.52 dollarsChina ............................. 8.84 yuanCzech Republic ...... 27.33 korunasDenmark....................... 8.27 kroneEuro............................... 1.12 euroHong Kong................ 11.48 dollarsHungary ................... 318.35 forintsIndia.......................... 72.09 rupeesJapan........................... 114.89 yenMexico ....................... 18.90 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.88 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.58 kronePakistan.................. 130.50 rupeesPhilippines ................. 58.08 pesosSouth Africa.................. 11.90 randSouth Korea.............. 1554.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 167.12 rupeesSweden....................... 10.09 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.38 francsTaiwan ...................... 41.04 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.73 new liraUSA ............................ 1.48 dollars

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £30.61 -0.68Gannett 838.89 -16.35Hess Corp £35.94 -1.55Microsoft 1630.98 -16.67Motors Liquidation 48.08Wal-Mart Stores £37.32 -0.07

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 296 -1BAE Systems 2751/4 -45/8Rolls-Royce 719 -61/2

AIMBrady Plc 77Dawson Intl 13/8Man Brnze 32 -11/4

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 1783/4 -75/8

BANKSBarclays 1811/2 -83/4HSBC 4883/4 -161/8Lloyds Banking Gp 243/8 -21/4Ryl Scotland 201/2 -13/8Stan Chart 14191/2 -39

BEVERAGESDiageo 1374 +14SABMiller £213/4

CHEMICALSCroda 1761 -39Elementis 98 1331/8 -13/4Johnsn Mat 1813 -63

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2445/8 -71/4Costain 1961/4 -61/4

ELECTRICITY

Drax Gp 5461/2 -4Intl Power 3243/8 -7/8SSE 1260 +5

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLaird 145 +1/2

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 335 -53/8

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1895/8 -33/4Cable & WirelessComm

373/8 -3/8

Cable & WirelessWwide

171/4 -1/8

Colt Group 921/4 -23/8KCOM 691/2 -11/4Talktalk Telecom 1357/8 -3/4

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 3141/8 -21/2Sainsbury 2923/4 -41/2Tesco 3911/2 -71/2

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1085Tate Lyle 6751/2 -10Unilever £211/8 -1/8

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 2851/8 -13/4National Grid 6041/2 -1Pennon Grp 6761/2 -7Severn 1473 -5United Utils 599 -2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 1803/8 -31/4ICAP 3291/2 -121/4London StockExch 780 -40Man Group 1301/4 -45/8

Provident Financial 949 -11Schroders 1302 -62Schroders NV 1055 -59

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 4701/4 -201/4REXAM 3423/4 -41/2Smiths Grp 904 -191/2

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 19Carphone Whse 311 -4Dixons Retail 103/4 -1/8Home Retail 873/8 -13/8Inchcape 293 -121/4Kingfisher 2481/8 -71/4M & S 3121/4 -3Mothercare 168 +73/8Next £26WH Smith 505 -12

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 5861/2 -21/2

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 691/2 +1/2Barrat Dev 923/4 -4Persimmon 469 -123/4Reckitt Benckiser £32 -3/8Taylor Wimpey 361/8 -7/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 9311/2 -31/2I M I 7241/2 -61/2

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 2663/4 -21

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 1757/8 -15/8

LIFE INSURANCE

Aviva 301 -201/4Lgl & Gen 1023/4 -33/4Old Mutual 1131/2 -33/4Prudential 624 -301/2Resolution 2471/2 -55/8Standard Life 1965/8 -71/4

MEDIABSkyB 7281/2 -5D Mail Tst 3913/4 -101/2ITV 615/8 -3Johnston Press 5 +1/4Pearson 1128 -16Reed Elsevier 510 -111/2STV Group 851/2Trinity Mirror 51 -11/2Utd Business 4693/4 -181/4UTV 1001/2 +1/2WPP 650 -151/2Yell Group 51/4 -1/4

MININGAnglo American £231/2 -1Antofagasta 1156 -72BHP Billiton 1897 -64Eurasian NaturalRes

6341/2 -501/2

Fresnillo 1654 -115Kazakhmys 880 -63Lonmin 975 -47Rio Tinto £311/4 -11/4VEDANTARESOURCES

1065 -47

Xstrata 9553/8 -561/8MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 4007/8 -221/2Vodafone Group 1731/8 -1

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 8241/2 -30

RSA Insurance Gp 1027/8 -31/8OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

BG 13241/2 -24BP 4441/2 -71/2Cairn Energy 2745/8 -23/8Royal Dutch Shell A £225/8 -3/8Royal Dutch Shell B £231/4 -1/4Total £321/8 -5/8Tullow Oil 1328 -42

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 8971/2 -131/2Petrofac 1373 -41Wood Gp(J) 633 -16

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry Gp 1217 -46PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca £291/4 -3/8GlaxoSmithK XD 41/2

Shire £21 -1/4

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 4563/8 -121/8Captl Shop Cent 3053/4 -101/2Hamrsn 3591/4 -113/4Land Secs 629 -22SEGRO 208 -71/4

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESInvensys 1983/4 -33/4Logica 731/2 -31/2Misys 2341/2 -91/4Sage Group 2843/4 -13/4

SUPPORT SERVICESBerendsen 412 -21/2Bunzl 840 -3Capita 618 -8De La Rue 868 -1Electrocomp 1921/4 -33/8Experian 809 -7G4S 2491/2 -13/4Hays 621/4 -11/8Homeserve 2941/2 -65/8Menzies J 524 +7Rentokil 613/8 -21/4Smiths News 801/4 -2Wolseley 1915 -51

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 565 -5Psion 50 -2Spirent Comms 1121/2 -73/8

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £30Imperial Tobacco £235/8 +1/8

LEISURE & HOTELSBwin.Party Digital 1313/4 -73/4

Carnival £213/4 -1/8Compass Grp 584 -31/2easyJet 376 -3Enterprise Inns 363/4 -13/4FirstGroup 3203/8 +11/4Go-Ahead Gp 1232 -3Greene King 4651/2 -23/8Intercontl Htls 1105 -12Intl Cons AirlinesGp

1463/4 -61/2

Ladbrokes 125 -35/8Mitchells & Butlers 2223/4 -21/2Natl Express 2131/4 -33/8Rank Org 147 -37/8Stagecoach Group 2541/4 -3/4TUI Travel 1521/4 -41/4Whitbread 1576 -23

INDEXFTSE 100 5427.86 -101.35

INDEXFTSE 250 9901.15 -229.42

Carclo 310Marshalls 871/2 -1/2National Grid 6041/2 -1Weir Gp 1893 -72

■ VERDICT: The FSA hastabled a hard-hitting report Eurozone

worriesBANKING stocks tookanother hammeringyesterday as fresh signsthat the eurozone’sfinances are in perileroded optimismfollowing last week’ssummit.

Worries about Italy’sability to enforce toughausterity measures andnews that the EuropeanCentral Bank has beenreducing its spend onGovernment bonds toprop up ailingeconomies, contributedto the FTSE 100 Indexclosing 101.3 pointslower at 5427.8 – a dropof 1.8%.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

Steven Manning

Waterfront InsuranceBrokers/ Sellers Travel

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Managing director ofWaterfront Insurance Brokersand business adviser for SellersTravelAge: 48Family: Married to Kirstie withchildren Luke, 17, James, 13,Hollie, 11 and George, fiveHolidays: Colad’or in MajorcaCar: Jaguar XFFirst job: Lifeguard at Hud-dersfield sport centre poolBest thing about job: Deal-ing with people and sorting outtheir problemsWorst thing about job: Untilrecently, the difficulties gettingthe right financial facilities inplace!Business tip: Always treatpeople with respect

Work: Insurance broking/travelSite: Chapel Hill, HuddersfieldEmployees 14Phone: 01484 44830 or511737Email: info@sellers-travel.comWeb: www. sellers4travel.com

Brokerwhojoinedjet set!

IT could have been sodifferent.

As a youngster, StevenManning had trials withHuddersfield Town at theold Leeds Road.

However, life as aprofessional footballerback then wasn’t asglamorous as it is madeout to be today – when hisfirst task was to clean thestands following thematch that week!

At this time he was alsoworking as a lifeguard atHuddersfield SportsCentre.

The sports centre wasalso involved in wrestling,roller skating and otherspecial events such asgymnastics.

The management sawfit to put Steven in chargeof the roller skating,wrestling and gymnastics.

Nadia Comaneci, whowon three gold medals atMontreal in 1976 and wasthe first female gymnastever to be awarded aperfect score of 10 in anOlympic gymnastic eventat the games, visited thesports centre and Stevenwas given the task oflooking after her.

This turned out to bemore difficult than heanticipated as shewouldn’t come away fromthe vending machines inthe cafeteria until he hadbought her a number ofchocolate bars – whichdidn’t please her coaches!

At this time, Steven wasseriously considering

sports centremanagement.

Instead, he joined hisfather at insurancebrokers WilkinsonRodgers, at GreenheadRoad in Huddersfield –and embarked on a careerwhich now sees him asmanaging director of hisown business, WaterfrontInsurance Brokers as wellas business consultant toSellers Travel.

‘’I have been aninsurance broker for 30years’’ says Steven. ‘’Aftertaking my A-levels at KingJames School, I workedfor my father, Gerald, whowas co-owner ofWilkinson Rodgers withGordon Firth.

“I worked three days aweek in the office andspent two days at college

gaining my BTec nationalcertificate in businessstudies.

‘’I started as a post boyand progressed tohousehold insurance,motor insurance andcommercial insurance.

“I became an accountexecutive at 22 andeventually managingdirector.”

In 2006, Steven sold thebusiness on behalf of itsshareholders to The OvalGroup.

He continued to workfor the organisation for afurther three years beforedeciding to step out on hisown – agreeing with Ovalto buy back a number ofhis clients, who formedthe base from whichWaterfront InsuranceBrokers was to grow.

Waterfront’s offices aresituated at the bottom ofChapel Hill atInternational House,which is also the offices ofSellers Travel, one of theoldest established travelbusinesses inHuddersfield.

Steven’s familypurchased Sellers Travelin December, 2009, soboth companies nowoperate from the samepremises.

Sellers Travel wasestablished in 1987 andhandles the businesstravel arrangements formany of Huddersfield’sleading companies as wellas many other companiesthroughout the UK.

Sellers Travel alsospecialises in tailor madeholidays and cruises.

A recent developmentwas to bring well-knowntravel industry name, TonyIredale on board to assistwith the travel side of thebusiness.

At the end of 2010,Tony was appointedconsultant and thecompany achieved ISO9001 as well as obtainingexclusive deals withSingapore Airlines andmany other airlines andhotel groups.

The offices wererefurbished and a newcomputer system installedand in early 2011 twofurther business travelspecialists were appointedwho had previouslyworked with Tony.

Sellers Travel is one ofthe few local travel agentsto have the necessarybonding to encompass alltypes of travelarrangements.

They are also membersof Advantage one of thelargest group of businesstravel managementcompanies in the UK, witha collective turnover of£500m – making it the 5thlargest in the UK.

Waterfront InsuranceBrokers is also a growingbusiness and Stevenbelieves this is due to thefact that the majority ofthe firm’s six-strong staffhave worked with himpreviously – some of themfor over 20 years.

‘’They all have variousqualifications andstrengths,’’ says Steven.

‘’We have a wealth ofexperience – and I will bemaking anotherappointment next year.”

While Sellers Travelbenefits from its links tothe Advantage Group,Waterfront InsuranceBrokers is part of theWillis network ofindependent brokersaround the country. “

“’Being linked with oneof the world’s largestbrokers provides us withadditional resources.’’says Steven

“It also provides addedreassurance to clients thatwe can handle anything.”

Steven has lost none ofhis enthusiasm for the job.

“I like dealing withpeople and helping themsort out their insuranceprogrammes,’’ he says.

“A lot of the time, thingsare straightforward, butyou always come acrossthings that are interestingand things you have neverhad to consider before.’’

Devoting so much timeto setting up thebrokerage business andhelping the travel firmhasn’t left much time forrelaxation – althoughSteven is a keen Town fanand has a season ticket atthe Galpharm Stadium.

Any spare time he hasis spent with his wife andfour children.

■ DEAL MAKER: StevenManning, who headsWaterfront InsuranceBrokers

The value of your investments may go down as well as upand you might not get back the money you’ve put in.

Individuals • International • Charities • Financial AdvisersCourt of ProtectionMember firm of the London Stock Exchange. Member of NYSE Liffe.Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. InvestecWealth & Investment Limited is registered in England. Registered No.2122340. Registered Office: 2 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QP.

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At Investec Wealth & Investment we offerexpertise and out of the ordinary levels ofpersonal service.

Our heritage extends as far back as 1827but our eyes are firmly fixed on your future.Located in 11 offices across the UK, we arewell placed to offer one-on-one insightand expert advice on your investments,pensions or other financial matters.

Please visit our website, call Simon Kayeon 0113 245 4488 or emailsimon.kaye@investecwin.co.uk

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KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

RISKYBUSINESSMark Dalton

Mark Dalton is associate director at Wilby Ltd

Simon Kaye is divisional director at Investec Wealth &Investment

CITYTALKSimon Kaye

IT support firmrenews linksA COMPANY providing IT supportHuddersfield has strengthened itslinks with a leading law firm.Hart Brown Solicitors, with officesin London and Guildford, Surrey,has signed on for a third year withLockwood-based P2 TechnologiesP2 provides the firm with anoutsourced IT service withround-the-clock system monitoringtogether with cost controlled on siteand remote support.In addition P2, provides strategic ITadvice and guidance to ensure thathe firm’s IT system is continuallyupdated and at the forefront of alltechnological developments.Roger Pearson, director of P2, said:“We are delighted that Hart BrownSolicitors has continued to rely onthe IT support services of P2. Oursupport service provides HartBrown with the reassurance thatany IT problems or issues will bedealt with immediately.”

High-tech helpon debt issuesA NEW smartphone application to helppeople deal with debt problems hasbeen launched by a Huddersfield man.Former debt advisor Sim Ilyas, ofAlmondbury, has combinedcounselling with smartphonetechnology in a new app for theiPhone. The aim is to provide bespokeadvice and assistance for thousands ofpeople with financial difficulties.His company, Debtology Ltd, is makingthe app available through iTunes.It replicates independent face to facedebt advice through an easy to usesmartphone process.Mr Ilyas said: “I chose to create thisapp after 10 years of first-handexperience of debt advice and thebanking sector.“Debt can be devastating and thenegative impact is all the moreheartbreaking when you realise thatthe right advice at the right time canmake it so much easier to cope.‘There will always be more demand foradvice than provision. I wanted tocreate a new way to get free advice topeople who need it most.”After completing a degree in law, MrIlyas worked as a personal financespecialist for the Royal Bank ofScotland and as a specialist debtadviser for Bristol Debt Advice Centre.More recently he project managed aregional partnership of adviceagencies in the South West, deliveringfree face to face debt advice as part ofthe Financial Inclusion Fund project.

Make it a safe light showACCIDENT statistics from

previous years indicatethat 80,000 people will go totheir local A&E departmentsover the 12 days of Christ-mas.

One thousand of these peoplewill be suffering from “Christmastree-related injuries”.

Although this type of statistic isalways amusing (and hard tobelievable) it is a good idea to takesome commonsense precautionswith regard to Christmas treelights used to brighten up theoffices, the showroom or the staffkitchen.

Commonsense precautions fordecorative lights include:

● If the Christmas lights havenot been looked at since last Janu-ary when they were put away, givethem and any associated electricalextension leads a visual inspection

looking for signs of any obviousdamage

● Use an RCD breaker at powersocket outlet and check thebreaker works

● If lights are to be used out-side, make sure they are suitablefor exterior use

● Check the routes for the elec-trical trailing leads to prevent triphazards or damage to the powercables

● Keep flammable materials

away from lights● Switch off lights overnight● Remember to include decor-

ative lights and power leads in anyprogramme of portable appliancetesting. It is not necessary to testnew lights if they have been pur-chased from reputable sources anddisplay a BS Kitemark.

For further information on elec-trical safety, contact Wilby RiskManagement – but don’t let yourfairy lights spoil your Christmas!

Digital agencyhas good tasteA DIGITAL agencyin Huddersfield hascompleted a tastyassignment foranother firm in thetown.Make, based at theMedia Centre,NorthumberlandStreet, has beenappointed by TasteMarketing Ltd tore-designwww.tastecard.co.uk andmake it moreuser-friendly.The tastecard,launched in 2006,now has more than500,000 members who benefit fromdiscounts on meals at more than5,500 restaurants nationwide.Warren Slingsby (top), creativedirector of Make, said: “The team atastecard recognise that it is vital, inthis continually evolving digitallandscape, to constantly developtheir online presence to ensure thewebsite meets customerexpectations and provides the bestpossible user experience.“We are delighted to be part of thaand to be working with such asuccess story.”Jamie Milner (also pictured),co-founder of tastecard said: “Ourwebsite is the key touch point forour members. Since launch, thenumber of restaurants we work withhas dramatically increased.“We now want to deliver a muchmore customised online experienceto ensure our tastecard holders cancontinue to maximise the value oftheir membership’The new site, which is expected toattract about 7m visitors, will go livin early January, 2012.Make, founded by Mr Slingsby,specialises in mobile and lists Gola,Best Western, Aesica, Just Milk andThe Hospital Club among its clients

US committee’snot all that superTHE bipartisan US congres-

sional super committee –established in August byPresident Obama followingthe debt ceiling debate andmandated to find a minimumof $1,200bn in budget savingsover the next 10 years to putthe US government on afirmer financial footing –failed last week to reach anagreement.

The failure results in automatictriggers to cuts in defence anddomestic spending from 2013(about $600bn each).

The failure by the super commit-tee to provide an alternative (andgreater) savings plan is based ontwo factors. Firstly, the Republic-ans have refused to compromise ontheir position of permitting taxrises. Given that tighter fiscalpolicy has two policy options –lower spending or higher taxes –the Republican position appearsunworkable. Secondly, there is stilla large debate over the role ofgovernment in the US. Republic-ans want minimal governmentinvolvement in the economywhereas Democrats argue for moreparticipation, such as through“entitlement programmes” e.g.healthcare that are proving verycostly.

According to some estimates,US debt to annual income is fore-cast to rise from the current 66% to96% by 2021 unless savings aremade. One option for savings is toadopt the European model oftough austerity measures todaywh i c h , a l t h o u g h l owe r i n gnear-term growth, provides for abetter long-term growth outlook.

Barclays Capital believes thatUS policymakers should be target-ing a total of $6trn in budgetsavings to secure the US’ AAAcredit rating, $4 trillion more thanthe total of $2 trillion currentlyunder discussion.

As a result, the lack of agreementis very disappointing at this earlystage of finding cuts, particularlysince it is a very small sum of thepredicted $38.3 trillion in total USgovernment spending over the next10 years.

In addition, only discretionaryspending is currently beingreviewed. Social security and medi-care (health insurance for the eld-erly) payments are considerednon-discretionary and are forecastto represent $17 trillion of cumu-lative government spending overthe next 10 years – with annualgrowth rates of nearly 6%. Withoutentitlement reform, the fiscal pro-file cannot be stabilised, with theentitlements’ share of GDP risingfrom 10% to 15% by 2035.

What does the lack of willing-ness by US policymakers toaddress its rising government debtlevels mean for investors? In themain, bond investors (buyers of USdebt) should be the most impacted,although the effects could be min-

imal in the near term.Firstly, the credit rating agencies

have already stated that they areunlikely to downgrade the US rat-ing in the short term followingStandard & Poors’ reduction inrating from AAA to AA+ inAugust. Next, the universe ofrisk-free assets is declining. Forexample, recent losses from the uni-verse include Italy and arguablyFrance.

Even though the credit worthi-ness of the US is certain to deterior-ate markedly over the next fewyears, US bond yields (the cost ofborrowing) may not necessarily riseas a result of a reduction in creditquality as investors seek safe havensfor their monies. The US’ safehaven status should be retainedbecause the US dollar is the reservecurrency of the world and the USbanking system is smaller as a pro-portion of its GDP relative to otherleading nations (and therefore lessrisky).

In truth, politicians are onlylikely to implement tough austeritymeasures to regain control of publicfinances when they are pushed intoa corner and US bond marketinvestors appear unwilling to forcethe issue, at least in the shortterm.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

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■ WEB WORK: Laura Scholey (back, left), of Ask Insight, with Charlie Kemp (back,right), of Split Pixel working on the portal with Studio School students Mathew Gadd andVictoria Bryce-Chan

A NEW online portal has been launched topromote the Huddersfield’s Creative andMedia Studio School to local businesses.

The portal – a website with added func-tionality – is called Get Creative in Kirkleeswith the domain www.gcik.co.uk forshort.

The name and the way it looks is theresult of a series of “co-creation” consulta-tion sessions held with the Studio Schoolstudents throughout the course of this year– as the students will ultimately be respons-ible for running the site day-to-day.

Richard Noon, research director at AskInsight, said the portal had been designedto strengthen the links between the StudioSchool and its creative, media and digitalbusiness community.

That in turn will help to generateemployer engagement through work place-ments, work experience and job creation.

“It’s also a valuable resource which theStudio School students can use to supporttheir learning,” he said.

“The students can search for creative,media and digital agencies using the data-base, develop their understanding abouttheir chosen sector as well as gain experi-ence sourcing news stories and uploadingthem to the website.”

The portal aims to create a “hub” for thecreative, media and digital sector which willeventually offer each of the engaged busi-nesses an online presence in the StudioSchool’s online creative community.

It can also be used as a resource forcreative people wanting to find out aboutwhat is happening in Kirklees and bystudents interested in studying at the StudioSchool.

Richard said www.gcik.co.uk was justone “end” of the portal as it also has a

Customer Relationship Management plat-form with numerous features.

Joan Young, principal of NetherhallLearning Campus, said: “Our StudioSchool aims to provide a unique educationexperience which will improve the employ-ability of our students within the creativesector.

“We are now inviting creative, media anddigital businesses to get involved and helpus make this – the first Creative and MediaStudio School anoutstanding suc-cess for our Stu-dents.”

T h e d eve l o p-ment of the GetC r e a t i v e i nKirklees portal hasbeen overseen byH u d d e r s-field-based AskInsight.

W e b d e s i g nagency Split Pixelhas designed anddeveloped the web-site.

Charlie Kemp,director at SplitPixel, said: “Theportal has been areally exciting pro-ject to work on anddiffers from ourusual commercialclients.

“We have reallye n j o y e d b e i n ginvolved in everypart of the pro-cess.”

A HUDDERSFIELD businessman ismaking sparks fly.Lee Marsden is one of the firstfranchisees of Sunersol – a specialistcompany helping other firms comply withthe Waste Electrical and ElectronicEquipment regulations.He took the opportunity with the Mirfieldbased company as he recognised topotential to make an income throughproviding a vital service recycling

unwanted and faulty items..Strict legislation governs how and wherebusinesses and members of the generalpublic can dispose of WEEE items.Sunersol’s Electrofarm division –www.theelectrofarm.com – ensures thatall material treated at the UK recyclingfacilities is either reused for the UKmarket or pre-treated before sending toSunersol’s recycling facilities for fullrecovery.

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Lee Marsden – Sales Director:

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Call us today to discuss collection:

• Office equipment• Canteen and catering equipment

including large commercial items• IT equipment• Televisions and computer monitors• Fridges (Domestic and Commercial)• Small electrical appliances• Office equipment including large

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All items of electrical and electronicequipment collected include:

www.sunersol.comE: huddersfield@sunersol.com

property Page 6KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSAward for valley scheme

Developeris a winner

Visitor centre recognised by judges■ HOME WIN: Jason Ownsworth (left) and his wife Jolanta with Peter Bennett (second left),technical and business relations director for Premier Guarantee; and Worth Homes sitemanager Jamie Young

A DEVELOPMENT company in Hudders-field has won an award for excellence.

Worth Homes was national winner of thePremier Guarantee Excellence Awards 2011for its Scotgate Fold development in Honley.

Worth Homes is run by husband and wifeteam Jason and Jolanta Ownsworth togetherwith a few carefully picked loyal staff andcontractors. They pride themselves on build-ing high quality, technically perfect and aes-thetically impressive individual homes.

Mr Ownsworth has more than 25 yearsexperience in the building industry while hiswife is a qualified solicitor, ensures theday-to-day running of the business is smoothand efficient.

The Scotgate Fold Development, designedby Acumen Architects, comprises four homesbuilt in natural stone, each with five doublebedrooms and three bathrooms, hardwooddoors and windows and south-facing gar-dens.

The properties are situated off a privatedrive with access through electric gates. Eachhome has solar panels on the southern aspectof the roof and solar hot water systems, withmulti room audio distribution and multi roomHD distribution for satellite and DVD.

Internally, each home has a contemporaryFrench-polished ash staircase with glass bal-ustrade, French-polished internal doors,underfloor heating to the ground floor and allbathrooms with individual thermostatic con-trols. Each has a magnificent breakfast kit-chens and two of the properties have attachedfamily rooms with retractable five-panel glassdoors which can be fully opened to enjoy thesouth facing gardens. Each has four or fivebedrooms while two of the properties have aseparate study.

The award was presented to Mr Ownsworthby Peter Bennett, technical and business rela-tions director for Premier Guarantee.

Said Mr Bennett: “Scotgate Fold at Honleyis a lovely edge of village location which hash a d n e w h o m e s a d d e d o v e rmany years. Worth Homes Yorkshire Ltd

have now added a further four new familyhomes to this location and I must say they areexcellent properties.

“It is apparent that Worth Homes placecustomer satisfaction and standards verymuch at the top of their criteria and their buildprocesses, their attention to detail and theexecution of the construction reflect thesevalues.”

Said Mr Ownsworth: “We are committed toproviding luxury, high quality homes in theYorkshire area and we are proud to havereceived this national award.

“I’d like to thank all our contractors andanyone involved in the development at Scotg-ate Fold for all their hard work.

“The last couple of years have been toughfor the building industry, but we try to remainoptimistic and I would say that if you put theright time, effort and quality into building anew property and price the property realistic-ally then the property will sell.

“People looking for new build homes wantto see quality.

“First impressions count on a new develop-ment and once customers are able to view theproperties they can see the quality of work-manship and high quality finish in all ourdevelopments.”

Jamie Young, Worth Home’s site manager,added: “Working for Jason and Jolanta andbeing involved in their family business is agreat privilege.

“They are very thorough and it is a greatcompany to work for. They have a lot of driveand commitment in building quality homesand I am pleased to be part of their suc-cess.”

The prestigious site at Scotgate Fold, Hon-ley is now coming to a close with the finalproperty having been sold this month.

Worth Homes is also building four detachedproperties in Birchencliffe and will be startingtwo semi-detached properties in New Millearly in the New Year.

A HOLME Valley propertydeveloper has won anotheraward for one of its projects.

Brockholes-based ConroyBrook took the title for MostOutstanding RetirementApartment Development inthe UK Over 50’s HousingAwards 2011.

The accolade comes forthe firm’s Holme Valley Courtretirement apartmentcomplex in Holmfirth. Thecompany landed the awardin competition with more than900 other entries andfollowing anonymousinspections and hours ofresearch and evaluation.

Pat Mead, sales executivefor the development,collected the awardalongside colleagueChristine Jackson at aceremony in Westminster,

London.Conroy Brook chief

executive Richard Conroysaid: “Achieving this successat Holme Valley Courtconfirms that our approachto designing and buildingretirement homes is working.

“We aim to build on thisachievement with our nextproposed scheme,Prickleden Mills also inHolmfirth, which goes in forplanning this month.”

Holme Valley Court wasbuilt in the grounds of theHolme Valley MemorialHospital, with views oflandscaped gardens and thebeautiful Holme Valley.

Designed to cater for theneeds of the over 50s,facilities include full disabledaccess, eight-person lift,communal lounge, patio and

garden areas with outdoorseating, water features,artwork and lighting, twoguest bedrooms for visitorsand 24-hour alarm callsystem.

In addition, eachapartment has avideo-phone entry systemand burglar alarm, while thecomplex itself has buildingCCTV, and has beendesigned for maximumcomfort and security.

The development hasalready won accolades fromthe Federation of MasterBuilders and at the WestYorkshire Built in QualityAwards.

Conroy Brook last yearwon the UK Housebuilder ofthe Year Award in thesmall-medium category.

A BRIGHOUSE solar panelinstallation company haswon a prestigious prize.Ploughcroft was the winnerof the category for EnergySolution for a CommunityBuilding in the 37th annualNational HomeImprovement CouncilAwards held in London.The company was

recognised for its Eco RoofVisitor Centre, whichopened its doors almost ayear ago to provideinformation and advice onrenewable energy to localauthorities, buildingindustry professionals,homeowners,environmentalists andstudents.

Judges praised thedevelopment at St PegsMill as setting the standardfor future installations inthis newly-emergingindustry.They said it also embracesthe excellent customer careinsurance guarantee that isan important ingredient ofthis business sector.

Single Building Plot,Huddersfield Road,Kirkburton1Planning permission for large

detached house and doublegarage

1 Excellent residential area10.069 Hectares (0.17 Acres)

Land adjacent to64 Woodhouse Hill,Fartown, Huddersfield1 Former garden with outline

planning permission for 1 house1Good residential location10.052 Hectares (0.13 Acres)

Oaklands,Dalton, Huddersfield1Character detached stone

property1667m2 (7180 sq ft)1 Former offices with planning

permission for change of use toC3 residential

67 Huddersfield Road,Elland12 bedroomed mid terrace house1 Let on AST producing £300 per

calendar month

69 Huddersfield Road,Elland1 Large refurbished 2 bedroomed

mid terrace house1 Let on AST producing £420 per

calendar month

71 Huddersfield Road,Elland1Hire centre/workshop

investment1290m2 (3126 sq ft)1Currently producing £15,500 per

annum

Cold Hill Farm, Cold HillLane, Huddersfield1 Farmhouse and barn with

planning permission forconversion and extension tocreate a detached dwelling

Land at Burgh Mill Lane,Dewsbury Moor1Outline planning permission for

five dwellings10.129 Hectares (0.32 Acres)

Thursday 26 January 2012 7pmCedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top, Huddersfield

For further information contact:Richard Smith 01484 477623, or Paul Andrew01484 477621, or Doug West 01484 477624

19, 20 & 21a Southgate,Elland1 Town centre investment

opportunity12 shops plus 3 bedroomed flat1 Further details on application

For more information contact Alec Michaelon 07717 870 320 or email alec@michaelsteel.co.ukwww.michaelsteel.co.uk

DUE TO

RELOCATION

Industrial

Good quality single storey industrial/warehouse premises with offices locatedadjacent main A62 Leeds Road next toHepworth Honda.

Automation Works656 Leeds Road, Huddersfield639 m2 (6,880 sq ft)

TO LET/MAy sELL AvailableJanuary 2012

Colneside Business Park,Milnsbridge

M2 850m2 (9,151 sq ft)M4 1,595 m2 (17,166 sq ft)

Industrial

High quality modern industrial/warehouseunits with offices and large central yard area.

TO LET

Industrial

Modern single storey warehouse/industrialunits with good site loading and parking.Well located for M1.

Barncliffe Business Park,Shelley, Huddersfield678m2 (7,298 sq ft)

TO LET Flexible Terms

Industrial

Single storey industrial/warehouse complexwith offices immediately adjacent mainWakefield Road between M1 andTown Centre.

Franklyn Court,Off Wakefield Road, Lepton1,500 – 12,250 sq ft

TO LET Immediately available

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Custom-builtcontributionHUDDERSFIELD Town has madea custom-built addition to its familyof business partners.

Batley-based Overfinch, whichspecialises in modifying RangeRovers, has signed up with theTerriers as partners for theremainder of the 2011/12 season.

As part of the partnership,Overfinch will visit the club'straining ground at Canalside ontwo occasions throughout theseason to showcase its OverfinchRange Rovers.

The firm, formed in 1975, willalso host a golf day as well assupporting Huddersfield Town’sgolf day next year.

Overfinch will also add someglitz and glamour to HuddersfieldTown’s annual

Town advertising manager MarkJacobs said: “We are delightedthat a brand and company aspopular as Overfinch has chosento join the Club as an officialpartner.

“Overfinch is a highly respectedname in the car industry and tohave them as part of our family ofpartners shows the strength of theclub’s business portfolio.”

Overfinch managing directorAndrew McCarthy said: “We areproud to be associated with a clubthat boasts the history andtradition of Huddersfield Town.

“We are looking forward toworking closely with the clubthroughout the remainder of theseason.”

Partnership is taking off

HUDDERSFIELD accountancy firm RevellWard is flying high after being appointedauditors to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Karen Borowski, partner at Revell Ward,said: “We are very proud to be workingwith such a wonderful charity and lookforward to helping them make the most outof the income so generously donated bythe public.”

She said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulanceis a well known and highly regarded charityand it provides a critical service thatanyone of us may need at any time.”

The YAA require £7,200 a day to keep itshelicopters fighting fit and ready to savelives.

Revell Ward, based at Market Street inHuddersfield, is already an energetic

supporter of the YAA through the Keep itUp Campaign. Following the lead ofpartner John Wilson last year, the firm’stwo female partners, Karen Borowski andJennifer Davies, will take a 250-miletandem ride from Yeovil to Huddersfield forthe third Pedal 4 Pounds fund-raisingevent.

YAA chairman Peter Sunderland said:“We are always keen to work with andsupport local Yorkshire businesses –keeping monies donated by Yorkshirepeople, being spent in Yorkshire with aYorkshire based company. We are verymuch looking forward to working withRevell Ward in the future and developingour close working partnership with them.”

Paul Hepples

SeddonPropertyServicesPAINTING and maintenancespecialist Seddon PropertyServices, which has offices inHuddersfield, has appointedPaul Hepples as businessdevelopment manager for theNorth East of England.

Mr Hepples (pictured) joinsSeddon from Constructionline,the national database ofpre-qualified construction services, where hewas also business development manager.

In his new role, he heads businessdevelopment in the region, securingopportunities with existing and new clientsacross Yorkshire, the East Midlands,Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne andWear and Teesside.

Seddon Property Services is part of theSeddon Group, a family-owned companyspecialising in construction, painting andmaintenance and housebuilding. The grouphas a national turnover of more than £250m.

“Paul’s expertise in work-winning, sales andcustomer relations and his knowledge of theconstruction and maintenance sector makeshim an extremely valuable addition to ourbusiness development team,” said GeoffEmett, national sales manager for SeddonProperty Services.

“Paul has held a number of senior rolesincluding working as commercial manager forAvonside Roofing, as commercial director forArrow Structural Framing and as Europeantechnical sales manager for James HardieBuilding Products.”

■ FLIGHT PLAN: Paul Gowland, of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, with Revell Ward partnersJennifer Davies (left) and Karen Borowski

Support for the artsPARTNERS at a law firm in Huddersfield have shownan eye for art and their support for the HollybankTrust by purchasing seven pieces by the HollybankArtists.

The Mirfield-based Hollybank Artists are a group ofadults with profound physical disabilities and complexmedical needs.

The pieces of art will be used to decorate ChadwickLawrence’s Railway Street offices – with severaltaking pride of place in the boardroom.

Carol Simpson, of Chadwick Lawrence, said: “It’s apleasure to support such a good cause and we’redelighted with the artwork. It’s both colourful andvibrant and will complement our Huddersfield officesbeautifully.”

Stewart Geddes, of The Hollybank Trust, said: “It’sbeen a great project for the Artists to work on theChadwick Lawrence commission. Seven pieces is asubstantial order, which our artists have enjoyedworking on and we’re thrilled that they will take prideof place in Chadwick Lawrence’s premises.”

Hollybank Trust cares for children, young peopleand adults with profound disabilities and complexmedical needs.

■ IN THE PICTURE: Emma (centre), of theHollybank Artists with Carol Simpson (left) and SarahCrowther, of Chadwick Lawrence

Dragon fires upIT supply firmDRAGON’S Den star JamesCaan has given bosses at aHuddersfield company thebenefit of his advice.

IT supplier Aindale BusinessManagement Services Ltd wonthe one-off mentoring sessionwith the star entrepreneur fol-lowing its success in a competi-tion run by security softwaresupplier Symantec for its smallbusiness partners.

For the exclusive session, MrCaan joined Aindale managingdirector Wayne Cockerill todiscuss his firm’s businessstrategy and provide first hand,tailored advice from an expertin investing and running busi-nesses.

Said Mr Cockerill: “We’rethrilled to have won this ment-oring session. Opportunitieslike this just don’t come aroundthat often.

“Being able to share our busi-ness plan with James ahead ofthe session was a real coup,

enabling us to get real insightand expertise, armed with anunderstanding of our busi-nesses unique requirements.

“We’ve all watched Dragon’sDen, so the whole team atAindale was really excited.James’ perspectives on ourbusiness were truly valuableand we were much relieved thathe didn’t utter the dreaded, ‘I’mout!’”

Said Mr Caan: “Any entre-preneur or business ownerworth their salt relies on anability to calculate risk andunderstand its impact.

“I’ve met with a lot of busi-nesses over the years and somedo really underestimate theimportance of managing com-pany information, despite theconsequences that leaked con-fidential information or poordisaster recovery plans canhave on a company’s reputationor – worst case scenario – itssurvival.

“With the economy like it isand with so many other risksfor business to mitigate, pro-tecting data needn’t be one.

“As a Symantec partner,Aindale is ahead of the gameand plays a key role in helpingsmaller organisat ions to

address these challenges, and Iwas very happy to share someof my experiences with them.”

Caan has worked withSymantec on an educationalprogramme to equip entrepren-eurs and small business withthe knowledge and tools tounderstand and mitigate poten-tial risk, helping them to safe-guard their assets.

Ross Walker, director ofsmall business for SymantecUK, said: “Just as small busi-nesses are a vital part of the UKeconomy, our partners areessential to Symantec’s successas a business.

“To team up such a valuedpartner and thriving businesssuch as Aindale with JamesCaan was an opportunity notto be missed. And it furthersupports our drive to free upentrepreneurs to focus on driv-ing their own businesses for-ward.”

■ ADVICE: James Caan hasbeen helping an IT supplier