KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees23, Febr uar y, 2010

INSIDE

exam

iner

.co.

uk

● Full story - Page 6

● Full story - Page 8

Themosttrustednewsbrandin thebusiness

MARCIA HUTCHINSON GRAHAM STACEYPrimary focus on schools

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Greater heights

Repor t - Page 5

FTSE 100- 6.10

5352.07An EXAMINER publication

Buildersin VAT bidA WEST Yorkshire firmis spearheading acampaign to get VAT onbuilding repairs andmaintenance cut to 5%.

Property firm Rok isleading the RepairingBritain campaign, whichurges people to sign itsDowning Street e-peti-tion.

The campaign hasalready attracted sev-eral thousand names.

WaxinglyricalCOMIC Ruby Wax willbe the headline speakerat an event organisedby Yorkshire businessnetworking groupForward Ladies.The event on March 8 atin Leeds also marksInternational Women’sDay.

Firm gets the measure of the drinks industryA COMPANY providing drinks dis-pense equipment is the toast of theindustry after developing a newproduct.

Brewfitt Dispense Equipment Ltd,based at Fenay Bridge, has launchedPrecise Pour, a wireless dispense sys-tem which could save pub operators upto £10 per bottle of spirit.

Tests have shown that on average,

bars “over-pour” as much as 10cl or14.3% of a single bottle.

A 70cl bottle provides 28 measuresat 25ml a shot – and at £2.50 a shotthat equals £10 a bottle in lost rev-enue.

That means a pub or bar selling 50bottles a week could be losing £500 aweek or £26,000 a year in revenue.

Precise Pour is the first wireless

dispense system designed to give barsthe most complete and economicalanswer to this problem of stock lossfrom over-pouring. It pours exactmeasures at any angle and there is noneed to turn bottles upright betweenpours.

If required, the wireless connectionthrough the master unit allows salesand stock reports on all dispense activ-

ity, which can be printed out, screenedon a PC or linked to point-of-sale.

Brewfitt managing director CurtisPaxman said: “Precise Pour is arevolutionary device which will cutwaste levels and boost revenue.

“It allows thousands of servingsbetween battery recharge and speedsup service, benefiting both customersand businesses.”

University focus oftransport summitA DRIVE to help transport managers“go green” is getting under way inHuddersfield.

The town’s university is spearhead-ing efforts to help companies boostbusiness efficiency when it comes tohow they operate their fleets of carsand lorries.

Huddersfield University is hostingthe International Sustainable LogisticsConference on May 27 when a host ofhigh-profile speakers will lead thedebate.

They include Lincoln haulage bossDick Denby, who has developed an83ft long “road train” which he argueswill benefit the environment because itreduces the number of journeys madeby smaller vehicles.

Other speakers will include IanStansfield, distribution director ofASDA, on sustainable logistics inretailing; Dave Rowlands, technicalservices director at Wincantion Group,who will discuss bio-fuels; and a rep-resentative from Suffolk breweryAdnams, on the firm’s innovativeenergy recovery system.

There will also be contributionsfrom European academic experts inthe field of logistics and a stimulatingcontribution by a group of students.

The conference is organised by theInternational Sustainable LogisticsNetwork, formed just over a year agoby a group of universities and highereducation institutions in the UK, Fin-land, Germany and France.

Huddersfield University, which isglobally-renowned for the study oftransport and logistics, represents theUK and now plays hosts to the secondnetwork conference.

Senior lecturer Christine Corns, whowill chair the conference, said: “Theevent is an opportunity for managersin the fields of freight transport andlogistics to learn more about innovat-ive methods of meeting targets toreduce carbon emissions and to shareideas with others in the industry.

“Managers will also learn that thegains are economic as well as environ-mental.

“There may be a need for real invest-ment – maybe the introduction of new

technology – so there could be a cashoutlay initially.

“But generally, the pay back on thatis quite substantial in terms of monet-ary benefit as well as benefit to theenvironment.”

Christine, who has a BSc in trans-port and distribution, has pursued avariety of operational managementrole in the logistics industry beforejoining the transport and logisticsdepartment at the university in 2002.

She teachers undergraduates in sub-ject areas including logistics and sup-ply chain management incorporatingwarehousing, transportation andinventory management.

She also teaches data managementand analysis, economics for businessand transport studies and supervisesplacements and final year project stu-dents.

The conference will run from8.30am to 4.30pm and there is no fee toattend.

Contact Chr is t ine Corns atc.j.corns@hud.ac.uk or e-mail hud-dersfield@islc-network.com

■ BENEFITS: Christine Corns,senior lecturer in transport andlogistics at Huddersfield University

Yorkshire’s Legal Peoplewww.chadwicklawrence.co.uk01484 519 999Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICESLocal shares

FTSE closed at

5352.0Down 6.10

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.63 dollarsBangladesh................. 101.01 takaBrazil.............................. 2.50 realsCanada....................... 1.53 dollarsChina ............................. 9.43 yuanCzech Republic ...... 26.80 korunasDenmark....................... 8.03 kroneEuro............................... 1.08 euroHong Kong................ 11.39 dollarsHungary ................... 274.07 forintsIndia.......................... 62.85 rupeesJapan........................... 134.68 yenMexico ....................... 17.60 pesosNew Zealand .............. 2.05 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.73 kronePakistan.................. 123.69 rupeesPhilippines ................. 61.05 pesosSouth Africa.................. 11.05 randSouth Korea.............. 1544.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 166.74 rupeesSweden....................... 10.63 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.58 francsTaiwan ...................... 43.24 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.21 new liraUSA ............................ 1.48 dollars

Carclo 170 -3Chapelthorpe 143/4 -1/4Marshalls 861/4National Grid 642 -8RensburgSheppards

5771/2 +61/2

Weir Gp 790 +12

Buyer takes wheel at RedTHE embattled Red Driving Schoolgroup has been rescued out of admin-istration in a move that safeguardsaround 400 jobs.

LVG, which owns Red DrivingSchool and Red Instructor Training,has been bought by private equityfirm Kelso Place, which has previ-ously backed the Smythson luxurystationery brand.

The deal secures the future of theRed brand and Kelso said it had noplans for redundancies.

Red Driving School is the thirdlargest in the UK, while the group’sinstructor training division is thebiggest in Europe, with a network of

22 colleges and a number of instruct-ors in the Huddersfield area.

Brighton-based LVG also ownsRed Fleet Training, as well as drivinginstructor accountancy serviceFBTC, a trade magazine for the driv-ing instructor training industry andPractical Driver Instructor Aids.

Kelso said it made a “significantequity investment” in securing thedeal.

The driving school group collapsedlast week due to funding woes,although administrator MCRstressed that accounts suggested thebusiness was “quite a healthy andprofitable operation”.

Airport sale racksup losses for BAAAIRPORT operator BAA said its Londonsites racked up losses of £822m after thesale of Gatwick and one-off pensioncharges hit the business.

The Heathrow and Stansted owner wasalso hit by a 3.8% fall in passenger traffic,but reported an improved operationalperformance and higher service stand-ards.

The £1.5bn sale of Gatwick in Decem-ber resulted in a £277m write-down onBAA’s books, while there was also aone-off charge of £217.8m relating to itsdefined benefit pension scheme deficit,which has increased due to changes ininflation expectations.

BAA, which ended 2009 with net debtof £8.58bn, is making annual payments tothe pension fund of £70m until 2011.

Overall, losses spiralled to £821.9mfrom £324.2m a year earlier. Adjusted for

exceptional items, the loss improved by17.5% to £156.5m.

Revenues were up by 8.3% to £1.98bn asa result of a strong retail performance andhigher airport tariffs.

The latest results exclude BAA’s otherairports at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aber-deen and Southampton.

Chief executive Colin Matthews saidthe operator planned to invest more than£1bn this year to upgrade its airports.

He said: “We expect 2010 to presentfurther economic challenges for theindustry as a whole, and we will remainfocused on improving our efficiency andthe service we offer customers.”

The company said Heathrow deliveredthe most resilient performance of themajor European airports after passengernumbers declined 1.5% to 65.9m lastyear.

Helped by strong demand from areassuch as India and the Middle East, Heath-row’s performance improved as the yearprogressed, with growth of 0.3% and 1.1%in the third and fourth quarters of 2009respectively.

At Stansted, passenger traffic declinedby 10.7% to 20m, but this included animprovement in the final quarter to showa 5.7% decline.

In October, BAA announced it had soldGatwick to US-based investment fundGlobal Infrastructure Partners, whichalready owns London City Airport.

Earlier in the year, the CompetitionCommission ruled that BAA must sellGatwick, Stansted and either Glasgow orEdinburgh, a decision that BAA success-fully challenged on grounds of apparentbias. The Commission is seeking leave totake the matter to the Court of Appeal.

AB Foods predicts higher profitsPRIMARK owner Associated BritishFoods predicted a jump in half-yearprofits and said growth should con-tinue throughout the year.

AB Foods said its results for thefirst six months of its financial yearto February 27 would show strongsales and profits growth across itsbusiness with brands such as SilverSpoon and Twinings Ovaltine lead-ing the way.

Primark also produced strongtrading, with Christmas sales beat-ing the firm’s expectations. The dis-count clothing brand is set forfurther UK expansion in the comingmonths, with stores planned forChester, Bury and Blackburn.

Further outlets will be opened inthe next financial year after thegroup bought 10 Bhs propertiesrecently. These will be located inFolkestone, Guildford, Harrogate,Winchester, Bournemouth, Perth,Worcester, Ilford, King’s Lynn andScunthorpe.

Primark, which includes an outletat New Street in Huddersfield andhas 196 stores with 6.1m sq ft ofselling space, has also been expand-ing in its other European centresand the firm plans to open three newstores in Spain in the second half.

AB Foods said its grocery divisionbenefited from good results acrossits UK brands during last year.

Solid goldPAWNBROKERAlbemarle & Bond posteda 75% leap in profits assky-high gold prices luredcustomers through itsdoors.

The group madepre-tax profits of £10.8min the six months toDecember 31, driven byits core pawnbrokingdivision and income fromits recently introducedgold buying arm.

Banks’balanceALMOST £10bn in lossesare expected from theUK’s part-nationalisedRoyal Bank of Scotlandand Lloyds BankingGroup later this week –as the pair disclose grimresults from a year ofpainful rebuilding.

Although the worst ofthe financial crisis haseased, RBS and Lloydshave been forced to shedthousands of jobs, raisetens of billions in extracapital and make plans tobreak up their businessto soothe Europeancompetition concerns.

RBS – which is 84%taxpayer-owned –reported a record£24.1bn loss for 2008.Thursday’s figures arelikely to reveal a furtherslide into the red inexcess of £5bn last yearamid bad debts andwrite-offs of about £13bn.

Lloyds, which acquiredHBOS in October, 2008,expects a strongertrading performance thisyear and in 2011. Butretail bad debts reached£3.3bn for the first ninemonths of 2009.

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £25.12 -0.10Gannett 966.42 -24.22Hess Corp £38.88 -0.41Microsoft 1854.05 -3.87Motors Liquidation 48.43Wal-Mart Stores £34.54

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEBAE Systems 3691/2 +31/8Rolls-Royce Gp 5251/2 +1Smiths Grp 1032 -5VT Group 660 +111/2

AIMBrady Plc 651/2Dawson Intl 21/4

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 106 -1/2

BANKSBarclays 3161/4 +4HSBC 6983/4 +73/4Lloyds Banking Gp 515/8 +11/8Ryl Scotland 353/4 +11/4Stan Chart 1541 +27

BEVERAGESDiageo 1060 -11SABMiller 1744 -10

CHEMICALSCroda 8411/2 +1/2Delta 1493/4 +21/2Elementis 98 53 +1/2Johnsn Mat 1602 +4

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2731/4 -15/8Costain 223/4 -1/4

ELECTRICITYDrax Grp 4163/4 -41/4

Intl Power 3323/8 -1/8Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1132 -10

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTChloride 1861/4 +23/4Invensys 3207/8 +3/4Laird 1303/4 +15/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 3193/8 +3/4

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1181/4 -3/8C & W 1381/4 +7/8Colt Telecom 132 -13/8KCOM 531/4 +1

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2987/8 -11/8Sainsbury 3323/8 -1Tesco 4221/2 -51/8

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 934 -3Cadbury 850 -2Nth Foods 591/4 +1/8Tate Lyle 4261/8 -3/4Unilever 1930 -17Uniq 241/2

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 2753/4 -21/4National Grid 642 -8Pennon Grp 526 -21/2Severn 1154 +5United Utils 540 -1/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 2707/8 +2ICAP 3387/8 +27/8London StockExch 663 -2Man Group 2367/8 -1/2Provident Financial 9361/2 +71/2

Schroders 1199 +5Schroders NV 9881/2 +6

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSAvon Rbbr 901/2 +1Cooksn Grp 4611/8 +11/8REXAM 2811/4 -3/4

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 121/2 -1/4DSG International 301/2 -3/4Home Retail 2603/8 -35/8Inchcape 271/8 -1/8Kingfisher 2153/4 -35/8M & S 334 -83/8Mothercare 660 +24Next 1884 -57WH Smith 473 -63/8

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 663 -2

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 1331/2 +31/2Barrat Dev 1205/8 +27/8Persimmon 4251/8 +43/4Reckitt Benckiser £343/4Taylor Wimpey 375/8 -1/4

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 687 -5I M I 575 +71/2Man Brnze 841/2

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 282

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 1695/8 +21/4Forth Ports 1068 -2

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 381 +17/8Lgl & Gen 763/4 -1/8

Old Mutual 1111/8 +25/8Prudential 612 +8Resolution 737/8Standard Life 1967/8

MEDIABSkyB 5431/2 -21/2Chrysalis 1011/2 -2D Mail Tst 450 -2ITV 54 +1/4Johnston Press 25 +1/2Pearson 8911/2 +21/2Reed Elsevier 4821/4 -1/4STV Group 491/4Trinity Mirror 1443/4 +33/4Utd Business 436 +13/4UTV 1011/2 -1/4WPP 601 +1Yell Group 41 +1

MININGAnglo American £241/2 -1/8Antofagasta 905 +121/2BHP Billiton £201/4Eurasian NaturalRes

1065 +31

Fresnillo 7771/2 +31/2Kazakhmys 1363 +28Lonmin 1876 -10Rio Tinto £345/8 +1/2VEDANTARESOURCES

£261/4 +3/4

Xstrata 1092 +41/2

MOBILE TELECOM SERVICESInmarsat 721 -9Vodafone Group 1411/4 -11/4

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1204 -8RSA Insurance Gp 1327/8 -11/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

BG 1173 -10BP 5811/4 -1/8Cairn Energy 3477/8 -17/8Norsk Hdro 4587/8 +6Royal Dutch Shell A 17851/2 -6Royal Dutch Shell B 1719 -9Total £373/8 -1/4Tullow Oil 1233 +3

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESPetrofac 1058 +12Wood Group 3655/8 +71/8

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry 634 -11PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca £281/8 -1/4Axis-Shield 392 +5GlaxoSmithK XD 311/2Shire 1380 +10

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 4477/8 -11/4DTZ Hldgs 82 -1/4Hamrsn 3873/8 -31/2Land Secs 645SEGRO 3243/4 +17/8

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp 1524 +26Dimension Data 86 +2Logica 1211/4 +1Misys 2127/8 +11/8Sage Group 2301/4 +13/4

SUPPORT SERVICESAMEC 794 -7Bunzl 678 +25Capita 736 -31/2Davis ServiceGroup

4011/4 -17/8

De La Rue 9321/2 -71/2Electrocomp 1937/8 +11/4Experian 6181/2G4S 2641/4 -13/4Hays 1103/4 -1/2Homeserve 1703 -1Menzies J 3103/4 +1/4Rentokil 130 +1/4Smiths News 118 +1Wolseley 1449 +10

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 2071/8 +43/8Psion 913/4 -13/4Spirent Comms 1063/4 +5/8

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £22 -1/4Imperial Tobacco £201/2 -1/4

LEISURE & HOTELSArriva 523 +11Brit Airways 2071/4 -33/8

Carnival £233/4Compass Grp 4771/2 -21/2easyJet 4065/8 -31/2Enterprise Inns 1141/8 -3/4FirstGroup 3603/4 +13/4Go-Ahead 1375 +25Greene King 437 -31/2Intercontl Htls 911 -6Ladbrokes 153 +2Mitchells & Butlers 2943/4 -27/8Natl Express 2057/8 -1/4PartyGaming 2955/8 +17/8Rank Org 921/2 -13/4Stagecoach Group 1823/4 +33/8TUI Travel 269 +31/4Whitbread 1436 -5

INDEXFTSE 100 5352.07 -6.10

INDEXFTSE 250 9441.71 +10.35

■ FLIGHT PLAN: BAA is toinvest £1bn in its airports

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

MarciaHutchinsonRole: Managing dir-ectorAge: 47Family: Married toPeter with daughtersOlivia, 16, and Lyla, 14Holidays: South Africaand FranceCar: Honda FRVFirst job: Barmaid atButlins SkegnessBest thing aboutjob: Making a differenceand seeing it on thefaces of childrenWorst thing aboutjob: Too much to doBusiness tip: Do onething really well

PrimaryColoursWork: Learning com-panySite: FixbyEmploys: FivePhone: 01484 421620Email: info@ primarycolours.net

Marciaheadsa classact!

■ PRIDE: Marcia admireshard-working, risk-takingentrepreneurs

IT’S time to take pride inbeing British, says MarciaHutchinson.

The Bradford-bornmanaging director oflearning company PrimaryColours has built a thrivingbusiness providing schoolswith educational packs,teacher training andclassroom theatre projectsaround the issues ofcultural diversity.

Her Fixby-basedbusiness, Primary Colours,helps infant and juniorschools across Englandmeet their requirementsunder the Government’ssocial cohesion policies tocover what could be seenas “heavy” topics with morethan a dash of fun.

Taking training coursesup and down the country,she has seen the look ofpanic or suspicion in theeyes of teachers – often atall-white schools in leafywell-to-do suburbs – whoexpect they’re in for a crossbetween a stern lecture and“politically correct”brainwashing!

Says Marcia: ““I ask themhow they would like to livenext to someone flying theUnion Jack from thewindow or whether they willbe celebrating St George’sDay and they look worried!

“But when St George’sDay comes along, don’thang your head inembarrassment. You shouldbe proud of being British.”

And she points out thatSt George’ is a greatexample of cultural diversity.St George was reputedlyPalestinian and is sharedas a patron saint byEngland, Turkey andseveral other countries.

Marcia recalls: “I wasborn and bred in Britain, butmy mother was Jamaicanand I always thought ofmyself as Jamaican until Iwent to Jamaica. That’swhen I realised I was Britishbecause people laughed atmy accent and said Iwalked too quickly to beJamaican!”

Marcia, who grew up ona Bradford council estate

and attended a localcomprehensive school,gained a place at Oxfordand studied law. Shebecame a solicitor beforemaking a massive careerchange and setting upPrimary Colours about 12years ago.

“It all started when mydaughters were small and Icouldn’t find any books withreally good images ofnon-white children. Iwanted to restore somesort of balance.

“I was really interested inphotography and writing, soI decided to make a simplebook using pictures of mydaughter and her Asianfriend. I started the processof looking for a publisherand eventually decided topublish it myself.

“Initially, I aimed it atparents, but we decided tofocus on schools becauseschools would buy books,teachers’ packs and CDs inbigger quantities.”

Now Primary Colour is awell-established socialenterprise supplying books,teachers’ packs andclassroom drama sessionsfor primary schools.Thematerial focuses on culturaldiversity, but contributes toother areas of thecurriculum, includinggeography, IT and literacy.

One project – piloted at

Spring Grove School –involves 300 youngstersacross Yorkshireconducting interviews withpeople who have migratedto Britain. The youngstersalso produce online images,maps and captions toaccompany their audiointerviews.

Study books include aseries of one-pagebiographies on famouspeople such as USpresident Barack Obama,Nelson Mandela, LewisHamilton and Bollywoodfilm stars. Another booknow in preparation focuseson well-known footballers,some of whom were asylumseekers.

Another series of postersfor display on classroomwalls features an A to Z ofexotic foods, encouragingteachers and children totalk about them and wherethey come from.

The company has a busydiary of engagements. Inthe space of a week thismonth, Marcia or her teammembers have been toKent, Nottingham andSunderland – with much ofthe firm’s business withlocal education authoritiesor individual schools won byword-of-mouthrecommendation.

The firm’s five-strongteam includes creativedirector Peter Tidy, who has25 years experience inteaching and Shazia Azhar,a full-time deputyheadteacher. The companyalso draws on a bank ofexperienced freelanceactors, writers andillustrators.

Said Marcia: “When I setthe company up I had nobusiness training, but Iknew I could find people tohelp me. My legal traininghas come in useful, but themost difficult part has beengetting the marketing right.Anyone can publish booksand end up with hundredsof them under the bed.Selling them is the realtrick!

“We are starting to targetour marketing better. We

are planning to update ourwebsite – as well as gettinginto social networking – andwe are improving our ITsystems.”

Marcia recognises thather role is changing as thebusiness grows. “When youstart a business, you turnyour hand to everything,”she says. “At some point,the business gets too bigand you have to delegate.In order to grow thebusiness you have to giveup some of the fun stuff.

“I am very much amanager now. Ioccasionally go out and dosome of the shows becauseit is great to interact withchildren. I also do a fairnumber of teacher trainingsessions, but really I ambecoming more and more amanager.”

Planning ahead, Marciarecognises that a squeezeon public sector spendingcould have ramifications forPrimary Colours. She says:“Local authorities get theirspending on a three-yearbasis. Their current fundingwill run to 2011. We havebeen spending the past 18months cutting ouroverheads and getting ourcompany lean and mean forwhen the funding cutscome.”

However, Marcia is keento keep the companyfocused on its role as aone-stop shop for primaryschools and has resistedsuggestions that sheexpand to cover thesecondary sector.

“We work with a greatteam of primary schoolteachers and as the onlycompany doing what we do,we have to understand ourcustomer,” she says.

When pressures of workallow, Marcia enjoys music,film and watching stand-upcomedy, saying: “Theimportance of laughter isbadly underestimated.” Shealso combines a love fortravel with a passion forarchitecture and design –counting a visit to Veniceand the chance to stay at arestored North Yorkshire

castle among her holidayhighlights.

“I take my hat off topeople who roll up theirsleeves and get stuck inand work really hard,” saysMarcia. “Entrepreneurs aresometimes derided in oursociety because you get thesort of excesses thatcaused the economiccrash. But the people I havegot to know are to beadmired for being willing towork hard – not knowingwhether or not their effortswill be successful.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

TradingspacesKIRKLEES firms are set for aboost to their 2010 trading efforts.The Kirklees branch of theFederation of Small Businesses isstaging a mini-trade show tonightto help give member companies aboost in trade early on in the year.And the success of exhibitorbookings has caused theorganisers to move the venue tothe Galpharm Stadium toaccommodate the exhibitors andvisitors with better facilities.The event will take place from7pm to 9pm when more than 30 ofthe exhibitors will each put on aspecial offer exclusive to visitorsof the show.Exhibitors will include IT experts,accountants, engineeringcompanies, retailers and serviceproviders. Entry and parking arefree to visitors and nopre-registration is necessary.Rick Robbins, event organiser,said: “We would urge everyonewho lives in Kirklees or doesbusiness in the district to comealong.”

Call up forentrantsA GROUP promoting minorityethnic businesses is urgingKirklees firms to take part in itsannual awards.The ABDN Business Awards 2010will be held as part of theorganisation’s annual dinner onThursday, April 1, at the RoyalArmouries in Leeds.Judges will select the winners innine categories, includingbusiness of the year, SMEbusiness of the year, apprenticeemployer of the year, femaleentrepreneur and youngentrepreneur.The closing date for nominationsis Monday, March 1, withshortlisting taking place onWednesday, March 10.The annual dinner and awards willcelebrate the 12th anniversary ofABDN, which helps developminority ethnic businessesthrough an active network thatshares best practice, createsaccess to opportunities andrepresents its members at nationallevel.Chairman Arshad Chaudhry said:“For the past 12 years, the ABDNBusiness Awards have become thebenchmark for excellence in theregion. The coveted awards haverecognised success andentrepreneurship over the yearsand many of our past winners arenow household names.”For more information on enteringthe awards, go towww.abdn.org.uk/nominate

Partnershipis on courseA CLECKHEATON law firm hasbecome an approved training centrefor the UK’s largest managementbody.

The Howarth Partnership, whichspecialises in human resources andemployment law, is now able to offera level 3 qualification in first linemanagement with the Institute ofLearning Management.

The firm provides legal advice,tribunal representation and humanresource training to businesses of allsizes throughout Yorkshire.

The five-week ILM course coversareas such as managing the employ-ment relationship, managing conflictin the workplace and problem solv-ing and decision making.

The partnership said such a quali-fication was for all employers as theACAS Codes of Practice states that“those responsible for using andoperating the disciplinary rules,including managers at all levelsshould be trained for the task”.

The Howarth Partnership Ltd isalso able to apply for 60% fundingtowards the cost of the new qualific-ation from the European Enhance-ment Fund on behalf of businesses inYorkshire and Humber.

Managing director Andy Howarthsaid: “In times of recession, many

businesses cut back on what they seeas non-essential financial commit-ments such as HR and employmentlaw services.

“They see a better financial altern-ative in training their staff and bring-ing this very necessary legalrequirement in-house.

“The training that we are now ableto offer provides evidence thatemployers have invested in trainingstaff to deal with discipline, griev-ances, redundancy and how to effect-ively manage change in the business,which has been required by law sinceApril of last year.”

■ CENTRE POINT: Jeanette Stephenson (left) and Tracey Hopkins (right),of The Howarth Partnership, with Lyn Oliver, of the Institute of LeadershipManagement and the law firm's certificate as an approved training centre

Firms joining forcesTWO professional firms in Hudders-field have joined forces to offer a newservice to local businesses.

Law firm Eaton Smith and insur-ance specialist Eastwood and Part-ners has launched Employment LawSolutions combining employmentadvice from Eaton Smith and insur-ance from Eastwood and Partners.

The service aims to protect com-panies from potential claims whichmay be made under employmentlaw.

The service was launched at aseries of events attended by repres-entatives of local businesses and hos-ted by Eaton Smith, which has itsoffices at High Street, and EastwoodPartners, based at NorthumberlandStreet.

Employment solicitor MichelleShore said: “Although there are sim-ilar products elsewhere, a partner-ship between two Huddersfield firmsis unusual.

“Eastwood and Partners providesthe insurance policy, underwritten byHiscox, and Eaton Smith provide afull audit of the client’s employmentpractices. The aim is to reduce therisk of clients facing employmenttribunal claims and if a claim is

made, the insurance policy will coverthe costs of contesting it and anypay-out resulting.”

Michelle said ELS would help

small firms that did not have theirown human resources departmentand continue to provide HR supportas those firms expanded.

■ LINK-UP: Michelle Shore (left), employment solicitor at Eaton Smithwith (from left) Eaton Smith partner Michael Webb and Sam Linley andRoger Underwood, of Eastwood and Partners, launch the new service

QuakeappealA CLECKHEATON firmsupplying office furniture isset to raise cash for the HaitiEarthquake Appeal – byoffering chairs in exchangefor a donation.Hills and sister companyOver2Hills will stage the eventfrom 10am to 4pm thisSaturday. Staff will be givingaway chairs to members ofthe public in exchange for aminimum £1 donation to theappeal.Hills has built up a reputationwith local charities andnon-profit organisations forits Free Charity Open Days –when the company givesaway hundreds of pieces ofoffice furniture free of charge.Now the stakes have beenraised in hopes that thegeneral public will help themraise money to benefitfamilies and communitiesaffected by the earthquakes inHaiti.Hills is also running a “dropbox” service where peoplecan leave children’s toys andclean clothes, which will besold to raise money for theRed Cross.As well as the chair giveaway,Hills will be holding a tombolaand serving refreshments –with all proceeds supportingUNICEF’s appeal for thechildren of Haiti.Hills spokesman RichardSenior said: “Our companyremoves redundant officefurniture from largeorganisations such ascouncils and universities andrecycles 98% of eachconsignment.“Most of the furniture that weremove is in very goodcondition, which means thatinstead of breaking it downinto its components, as we dowith damaged items, we try togive it to people who canmake use of it.”

Derby daysA MARKET research firm inHuddersfield has won acontract to carry out researchfor a Midlands local authority.Ask Strategic Marketing &Research, based at the MediaCentre, was chosen by DerbyCouncil after a 16-way pitch toresearch the housing needs ofblack and minority ethniccommunities in Derby, southDerbyshire and the AmberValley.It will include use of focusgroups, mini in-depthsinterviews and a targetedpostal survey.James Brooke, of Ask, said:“‘We are delighted to havebeen selected to supportDerby Council on thisstrategic research project.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Ceilings firm insecond successA CEILINGS specialist has hit the heightsin an industry competition – by winning anaward for the second year running.

Linthwaite-based Ceilings2 Ltd wasamong the winners in the annual competi-tion staged by the Association of InteriorSpecialists.

The award was presented at London’sDorchester Hotel.

The company won a silver award forrecognised for the quality of its work on anew Mamas & Papas nursery products storeon a Nottingham retail park, where Ceil-ings2 Ltd was responsible for fitting suspen-ded ceilings, plasterboard ceiling, featuresand all plasterboard walls.

The Cowlersley Lane company, whichemploys in excess of 20 people and hadnotched up 25 years in business, won a silveraward the previous year.

Ceilings2 Ltd, headed by managing dir-ector Graham Stacey, is a £3m turnoverbusiness serving clients in the banking,retail and public sectors.

Among other contracts, the company hasprovided partitioning and ceilings for ward10 at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and it iscurrently working with signage firm AtlasDisplay, based at Old Leeds Road, on anational roll-out of offices for the estateagency Your Move.

■ HIGHLIGHT: Managing director Graham Stacey (front) with the award and colleagues(from left) Sally Crosland, Hayley Slater and Carl Hudson

Creative help for artistARTS and regeneration agencyLoca has been helping creativepeople broaden their understandingof running a business.

The Batley-based body has joinedforces with Business Link to offer aseries of practical sessions aimed atpeople just starting up in or new tobusiness in the creative sector inNorth Kirklees.

Those supported by the StartingBlocks programme include JuliaBorodina-Cox, a fine art painterfrom Dewsbury, who wanted help indeveloping the business side of herwork.

Julia, who has attended work-shops and one-to-one advice ses-sions around business planning andmarketing, said: “The informationI’ve gained while taking part in theStarting Blocks programme hasbeen invaluable, helping me to focuson my business skills and giving mepractical tips that will help me inpromoting my work.”

Robin Widdowson, projects man-ager at Loca, said: “We are pleasedto continue our partnership withBusiness Link in offering the Start-ing Blocks programme again thisyear.

“There have been a range of creat-

ive people taking part who havereceived advice and support whichwill help them survive as new busi-nesses. The programme also givesthem the opportunity to networkwith other creative businesses in thearea to share ideas and benefit fromthe experience of others.”

Starting Blocks is part of Loca’s

Creative Business Support Pro-gramme which offers support to any-one in North Kirklees who isself-employed or running their owncreat ive bus iness – whetherwell-established or just starting out.

Details about the free programmeare available from Robin Widdowsonon 01924 488844.

■ SOUND START:Artist JulieBorodina-Cox(second left) with(from left) Pat Coffey,of Business Link;Robin Widdowson,projects manager forLoca; and Jean Kent,also of BusinessLink

Permit rulesto changeFIRMS in Kirkleeshave been urged toact now to avoidfalling foul of newenvironmentalpermit rules.Regional businesssupportprogrammeCO2SenseYorkshire said thatunder currentrules, small scaleusers andhandlers of waste don’t have to apply foran environmental permit from theEnvironment Agency to operate.But from April, amendments to theregulations will withdraw a number ofpermitting exemptions.Rachel Brakes (pictured), projectmanager for the CO2Sense, said thechanges could affect businesses in arange of sectors, including composting,land spreading, land restoration,reclamation and improvement, use ofwaste for construction, metal recycling,manufacture and treatment ofconstruction materials and timberproducts and waste management andrecycling.CO2Sense Yorkshire is urgingbusinesses to look at the new rules toensure they meet the requirements ofthe new revised exemptions.If the revised limits cannot be met,CO2Sense is encouraging firms to applynow for an exemption under the existingregulations.Applying before April will potentiallygive businesses more time to complywith the new rules or apply for anenvironmental permit.Businesses can find out if they areexempt under current regulations byusing a self-assessment questionnairefor each exempt activity. It can be foundat www.co2sense.org.uk/legislation.Said Rachel: “It’s vital that businessesmake themselves aware of the changesand how they may be affected.“We’ve put together a simple form whichasks a series of questions for theexisting exempt activity to see if they areeligible for exemption now.“If the answer to all the questions is‘yes’ then they can apply – and theyshould contact us to get free adviceabout how to get through theapplication process.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property Page 6

Launch date for Mirfield millA LAUNCH date has ben set for animpressive mill redevelopment in Mirfield.

Commercial property developer St JamesSecurities will officially launch its WheatleyOffice Park complex on March 10.

The developers will unveil the firstcompleted building, The Watermill, andexplain their ambitious plans to turn theformer woollen mill, previously known asHopton Mills, into a rural office park.

Guests at the launch will include Kirkleesbusinesses and commercial estate agents.

Work is well underway on the parkland site,transforming the old buildings which dateback to the late 18th and early 19th century,into high-quality modern offices. Work to asecond, the 1812 Building, are continuing.

Two lettings have already been secured –one to contracts furnishing firm CamiraFabrics and one to interior architecturalcompany Normal TM.

The agents for Wheatley Park are HansonChartered Surveyors, of Huddersfield, andMichael Steel & Co, of Leeds.

Rok leads campaign forVAT cut on building repairA CAMPAIGN calling for VAT on buildingrepairs and maintenance to be reduced to5% is being spearheaded by a West York-shire firm.

Property firm Rok is leading the Repair-ing Britain campaign, which is urgingpeople to sign its Downing Street e-peti-tion before the April deadline.

The campaign, which is supported byleading industry organisations andemployers, has already attracted severalthousand signatures – and is aiming for10,000. A paper petition is also available atRok’s offices in Commercial Street, Mor-ley, and Calder Park, Wakefield.

The e-petition is encouraging a targetedVAT reduction that will save jobs and retainskills in the UK construction sector andencourage householders and businessesto undertake repairs and improvements toproperties.

The campaign is also designed to raiseawareness about the huge number of

properties that could be brought back intouse to meet housing demands. During thenext two years, 250,000 new homes couldbe created by refurbishing just 20% of thebuildings now lying empty and in dis-repair.

Martin Donnachie, Rok housing director,said: “The practical benefits of reducingVAT on property repairs and maintenancehave gained traction with thousands ofpeople who have already signed our peti-tion. We do want more support and I hopepeople can log on and show their supportfor our campaign before the deadline.

“Although, officially, the UK is out ofrecession, the challenges for businesssectors like the construction industry arejust beginning. Lowering VAT on propertyrepairs and maintenance will provide astimulus to the industry that bring in morework and help firms retain jobs and skillsthat are in danger of disappearing.”

Improvement in storefor retail occupancyTHE number of vacant shop premisesacross Yorkshire is set to fall this year,claims a report.

Property agency King Sturge saidretail vacancy rates were set to fall froma 20% high in prime shopping centres –and could be as low as 10% or 12% bythe end of this year.

It said a shortage of new space andcontinuing flexible leases were helpingto encourage occupiers.

But the report warned that vacancyrates will remain higher in some centres– such as Barnsley and Wakefield – asthe recession continues to expose townsthat are failing to implement effectiveregeneration policies.

Jonathan Newns, head of KingSturge’s in-town retail team, said: “Thekey shake-out among retailers happeneda year ago as the start of the recessionweeded out weaker players and thoseexposed to onerous finance structures.

“As a result, we will see retail vacancyrates fall as retailers take advantage offlexible and incentivised leases where

they remain available.“Even so, the tough times are far from

over. A number of players remain vul-nerable and further casualties are expec-ted in the fashion and furnituresectors.”

Retail property values are also expec-ted to start to recover by the end of theyear.

Newns said: “2010 will still be atenants’ market. Underlying rents areforecast to decline by 3.1% this year and1.3% in 2011.

“While headline rents in Yorkshireand Humber have generally fallen by20% in prime areas, some of the moresecondary locations have seen as muchas 50% reductions.

“We predict that this decline will slowdramatically in 2010, rental values willbottom out and probably improveslightly towards the end of the year aslandlords refuse to increase incentives tooccupiers as the economy improves.”

Despite the recession, about 3m sq ftof new shopping centre space opened in

Yorkshire last year.But Mr Newns said: “The pipeline

will slow to a trickle during the next twoyears in the wake of financing issues andperceived occupier weakness.

“However, the next wave of develop-ment is already being lined up for2012/13, when market conditions willhave improved.

“Meanwhile, supermarkets will con-tinue to provide some salvation for theretail sector.

“In spite of lower price inflation, theyremain highly expansive, and will con-tinue to absorb some of the over-supplyin bulky goods retail warehousing andfall-out from the high street, as well asincreasingly offering ‘anchor’ optionsfor new developments.

“Food stores are also the only com-mercial property sub-sector to see rentalgrowth throughout the recession andthis is good news for Yorkshire with twoof the big names – Asda and Morrisons– being based here.”

■ SHOP TALK: Jonathan Newns, partner with property agentsKing Sturge in Yorkshire

ToLeTThe CoachHouse& Stoneleigh39Halifax Road, Brighouse1107.88 – 647.24m2 (1,161 – 6,967 sq ft)1Two detached office buildings1Open plan&private offices1w/c’s, kitchen facilities& allmains services1Sufficient private car parking provision

FoRSALe/MAYLeT26Huddersfield RoadBrighouse1Prominent retail unit140.28m2(433 sq ft)1Edge of Brighouse town centrePrice: oIRo £65,000

To LeT/FoRSALePennine Business ParkBradley, Huddersfield1High specification offices1 372&557m2 (4,000&6,000 sq ft)1 Ease of access to J25 of theM62Rental/Price: on application. Joint Agents: eddisons

To LeTParkWorksAinleys Industrial estate, elland1720.4m2 (7,754 sq ft)1Established location/Within onemile of J24M6217meaves1Good loading&parking facilitiesRental: on application

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property Page 7Chartered status for 47FORTY-SEVEN surveyors inYorkshire have achieved thehighly-valued “chartered”status with the RoyalInstitution of CharteredSurveyors.All have successfullycompleted the RICS’Assessment of ProfessionalCompetence, which is a toughtwo-to-three year period ofstructured training thatincludes practical training,

experience and exams leadingto full membershipDavid Varley, RICS regionaltraining adviser for Yorkshire,said: “These newprofessionals have passed themost challenging ofassessments to becomechartered surveyors, many ofthem having alreadycompleted a property-relateddegree.”

Workloads insharp declineCONSTRUCTION workloads fellacross all sectors in Yorkshire towardsthe end of 2009, latest figures haverevealed.

A survey by the Royal Institution ofChartered Surveyors said uncertaintyover the impending general electionand a lack of finance were among thereasons for projects stalling duringthe final quarter of last year.

As a result, the number of charteredsurveyors reporting a fall rather thana rise in workloads increased to minus16% compared with minus 5% for thethird quarter of 2009.

The survey said this showed that arecovery in the construction sectorwas even further out of reach, withworkloads in decline for the seventhconsecutive quarter.

Public sector non-housing work-loads fell for the first time since thefirst quarter of 2009 – from minus16% to minus 21% – indicating aslowdown in planned governmentcapital spending projects.

Private housing workloads in theregion fell from 4% to minus 13%while construction work in the private

industrial sector slipped from minus7% to minus 14%.

Infrastructure workloads declinedfrom minus 16% to minus 19% withconstruction work in the private com-mercial sector down from minus 7%to minus 20%.

Consequently, expectations forworkloads, employment and profitsfor the next 12 months in the regionare all fairly downbeat.

Nationally, current workloads areprojected to be slightly higher with 2%more chartered surveyors expectingan increase. But the positive balance ismodest and is lower than the thirdquarter reading of 9%.

Meanwhile, the overall view is thatjobs will continue to be lost and profitmargins squeezed as competition forthe limited amount of work on offerintensifies. Significantly, 29% morerespondents to the survey still expectprofits to drop further than begin toedge back up.

Regional RICS construction mar-ket spokesman Kevin Wood said:"Despite the recent signs of recoveryin the economy, the construction sec-

tor in Yorkshire and Humber is still infor another tough year. The sectorwas the first into the recession and itlooks like it will be the last out.

“The region is heavily dependanton public spending and with the gen-eral election looming there is a degreeof uncertainty about the level ofspending cuts on capital projects postelection.

“Couple this with the lack of fund-ing for private sector clients and thereis still a long way to go to bring thesector back to a sustainable level ofactivity.

“Construction tender levels are stilltight and falling as contractors striveto secure work and although there hasbeen an increase in tender activity,getting the schemes to site stillremains hard.

“However, there are some positivesigns on the horizon with retailschemes rising from the ashes againand the general level of new enquiriesis picking up, so there is hope for amuch brighter year.”

Firm goes for qualityA COMPANY designing and fitting outinteriors for hotels, restaurants and barsaround the world has achieved a top qualitystandard.

Elland-based Andy Thornton Ltd hasgained certification to ISO 9001:2008 follow-ing an extensive external audit of the com-pany’s management systems during which allareas of operation were carefully scrutinised.

Managing director Peter Siddall said: “Weare delighted to achieve such an internation-ally recognised management standard forquality. It confirms what a great team ofpeople we employ and is a fantastic endorse-

ment of the running of the company and thesystems we have in place.”

Andy Thornton specialises in fit-outs aswell as supplying furniture, lighting, interioraccessories and architectural antiques to thecontract market. The company also manufac-tures and installs decorative architecturalmetalwork structures.

Mr Siddall said ISO 9001:2008 wouldprovide the firm with more opportunities towin business from the public sector andincrease its chances of landing contracts forthe hospitality sector in relation to the 2012London Olympics.

■ BAR NONE: French polisher John Wilson working on a restored mahogany bar forSheffield Railway Station at Andy Thornton Ltd. Ainley's Industrial Estate, Elland

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • AGENTS • CONSULTANT • ADVISOR

TRAFALGAR MILLS • LEEDS ROAD • HUDDERSFIELD • HD2 1YY

From 1,117sqft to 2,519sqftSituated in a busy town centrewith a main road location.The premises are ideal for varioususes (subject to planning)Terms available on application.

Retail Units To LetHuddersfield Road, Brighouse

Contact:Jason Metcalfe/Phil DeakinHanson Chartered Surveyors01484 432043

Christine EcclestonMB Services01484 557102

Paul AndrewWalker Singleton01484 477600

eddisons.comLeeds, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Glasgow, Huddersfield

Eddisons

FOR SALE

Titan WorksClaremount Road, Halifax4,052 m² (43,617 ft²)

Industrial/warehouse complexSite area 0.97 hectares (2.4 acres) withdevelopment land

FOR SALE

64 Raikes Lane, Birstall0.06 hectares (0.16 acres)

Residential development sitePlanning granted for 9 two bedroom apartments

FOR SALE

Calder Bank Mills, Dewsbury

Substantial industrial complexOn a site of 3.61 hectares (8.93 acres)

22,043 m² (237,286 ft²)

TO LET

Premier HouseBradford Road,Cleckheaton40.78 - 260.77 m² (439 - 2,807 ft²)

Various office suitesWhole building also available for sale

Contact onJonathan O’Connor 01484 533151

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Neil Kendall

BusinessDoctorsMANAGEMENT advice groupBusiness Doctors has appointedNeil Kendall as head of its newWest Yorkshire operation.

Mr Kendall (pictured) will leada team offering hands-on expertadvice to businesses acrossHuddersfield, Halifax andBradford.

Mr Kendall has 15 years’business experience, including10 years of interim and projectmanagement for major financial companies. Hehas also experience as managing director of amanufacturing and engineering company.

He said: “I am very passionate about helpingthe local economy to grow and firmly believe thathelping small and medium-sized companiesimplement change by putting in place strategiesand offering practical, down-to-earth, commonsense advice from a position of experience is theway to get the local economy back to where itshould be.”

Business Doctors, established in 2004, offersadvice to SMEs on topics such as sales andprofit growth, human resources, finance, trainingand development as well as helping businessesaccess funding and financial support.

Ruby’s readyto sound offfor businessCELEBRITYRuby Wax will bethe headlinespeaker at anevent organisedby Yorkshirebusinessnetworking groupForward Ladies.

The event onMarch 8 at TheMet Hotel inLeeds – whichwill be attendedby leadingHuddersfieldbusinesswomen– will also mark International Women’s Day.

Comedienne Ruby Wax (pictured) workedwith French and Saunders and reachednational fame with her unique interview style.She confronted Imelda Marcos, confoundedDonald Trump and got close with PamelaAnderson.

Recently, comedy has taken a back seat andshe has completed an MSc in psychotherapyand neuroscience. Ruby is now putting thesetwo skills together to run workshops forbusiness leaders on communication.

Her workshops combine her unique humourwith scientific and theoretical learningand involving practical exercises.

Forward Ladies, which is backed by regionaldevelopment agency Yorkshire Forward, is oneof the north’s fastest-growing women’snetworking and business supportorganisations.

The event, which is sponsored by the hoteland Business Link , will be chaired by YTVpresenter Gaynor Barnes. Along with Ruby,other speakers will include Sophi Tranchell,managing director of fair trade chocolatecompany Divine, and motivational speaker TeeDobinson.

Email enquiries@forwardladies.com

Firm is a comfortable winner!

BEDDING firm John Cotton has won atop supplier award.

The Mirfield-based company, billedas Europe’s largest filled beddingmanufacturer, was named Supplier ofthe Year for Availability at the ASDASupplier Celebration Awards 2010.

The annual event, held inHarrogate, recognises the outstandingachievements of suppliers whocontribute to ASDA’s award-winningsuccess as the lowest price retailer inthe UK.

John Cotton, formed in 1916,remains a family-run company withglobal operations. The firm makes anddistributes pillows, quilts and mattressprotectors across Europe.

Group managing director MarkCotton said: “We are absolutelydelighted with the award.

“The team at John Cotton alwaysworks closely with the ASDA tradingteams and their operating systems toensure that we deliver quality products‘on time, in full’.

“We want to keep the shelvesstocked! Having traded with ASDA formany years we have an excellentrelationship. Our operational team hasworked very hard and is extremelyproud to be recognised for being thebest.”

Other nominees for the awardincluded Heinz, Kanes, L’OrealSuncare and Sony Pictures.

LandSkillsEdward Wallington

A PROGRAMME officer hasbeen appointed to help steer a£3m funding programme inYorkshire that will help farmers,foresters and growers developtheir skills and enhance theirprofitability.

LandSkills Yorkshire andHumber, managed by Lantrasector skills council, hasappointed Dr Edward Wallingtonto work with programmemanager Julie Hamilton to help businessesaccess up to 70% funding towards a wide varietyof training activities.

Dr Wallington (pictured) is a formerprogramme and business development managerat the Forestry Commission. Before that, he wasin academia, researching the use of remotesensing and geographical information systems tosupport and optimise management decisions inthe environmental sector.

Since the project began in summer, 2008,almost 3,000 people have benefited from the70% funding.

■ NIGHT LIGHTS: David Miles (left), ASDA commercial director, with the JohnCotton team of (from left) category marketing manager Bronnie Rhodes, groupmanaging director Mark Cotton, business manager Gareth Holmes and salesand marketing director Phil Atherton

Polar supportsexpedition driveA CAR dealership has helped agroup of Holmfirth High Schoolstudents take a step closer toAfrica.

Polar Ford, based at St Andrew’sRoad in Huddersfield sponsored aballoon race, which raised £1,000.Students Michael Truby and JoshuaGarlick released 529 ticketed bal-loons in the centre of Holmfirth –with some returned from as farafield as Cambridge, Peterborough,Lincolnshire and Essex. The win-ning balloon travelling about 700miles to Normandy in France.

The money raised will help pay forJoshua and Michael to go on anexpedition to Uganda. The expedi-tion takes place in August and willinvolve 17 pupils and three membersof staff from the school. Thethree-week trip is being organised in

conjunction with the World Chal-lenge Organisation and will involvethe students in painting, construc-tion and teaching.

Simon Crosland, of Polar Ford,said: “It’s a great cause and will givethe boys a once in a lifetime oppor-tunity. I’m just happy to be able tosupport a cause in the local com-munity.” Simon is a former pupil ofHolmfirth High School.

Said Joshua: “We’ve been work-ing really hard in order to raise the£3,000 each that we need. As well asthis event, we also organised a con-cert and did some work packingbags and washing cars to raise themoney needed.”

Michael Added: “We would liketo thank everyone who has helped usraise money and to Polar Ford forgenerously sponsoring the event.”

■ AIR TIME: Simon Crosland (third left), of Polar Fordwith fundraisers (from left) Alison Truby and her sonMichael; Joshua Garlick, his mother Adele and brothersWilliam and Connor

John Flynn

Yorkshire BSJOHN Flynn has joined YorkshireBuilding Society’s Honley andMeltham branches as their newfinancial adviser.

Mr Flynn (pictured) is a Legal& General consultant whoadvises on investments,assurance or protection productsas well as retirement planningand inheritance tax matters.

Mr Flynn, who has more than 20 yearsexperience offering financial advice, joins theBradford-based society after working for Legal &General for six years. He will divide his timebetween the Honley, Meltham and Leedsbranches.

He lives in Methley with his wife and son andmanages Carlton Athletic FC in his spare time.