Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWS paper for Kirklees 27, September, 2011 INSIDE examiner.co.uk Full story - Page 5 Full story - Page 8 The most trusted news brand in the business JONATHAN JAMES Full interview - Page 3 It’s good to go green Column - Page 4 An EXAMINER publication Surgery success A HOLME Valley dental surgery has been boosted by a six-figure loan. Katrina Hayes-Sinclair, who acquired Holmfirth Dental Surgery at the beginning of this year and has been a qualified dentist for 18 years, has expanded and refurbished the business with support from Lloyds TSB Commercial. Follower of fashion FORMER public relations executive Jayne Sheridan, now teaching at Huddersfield University, has put textiles under the spotlight with her new book Fashion Media Promotion: The New Black Magic. COLIN BARRATT FTSE 100 + 22.55 5089.37 ‘Polluter pays’ warning to Kirklees companies KIRKLEES firms are being urged to look again at their insurance policies following a series of cases of industrial pollution by businesses. Under EU directives, the “polluter pays” principle means that organisa- tions causing damage to the environ- ment have to pay for damage caused by pollution and the clean-up costs for contamination. Peter Elliott, head of marketing for Bluefin Insurance Services, with offices in Cleckheaton, said: “Pollu- tion rightly remains a hot topic and most businesses display a really responsible attitude. “But incidents of pollution continue to occur and many companies discover too late that their standard insurance policies are not comprehensive enough to pay for the clean-up and end up having to pay out huge sums of money from their own resources.” One Yorkshire-based water supplier was fined £10,500 and ordered to pay the Environment Agency more than £2,400 after letting sewage get into a stream that leads to a lake. Seepage of oil from tanks, the grow- ing practice of building on brownfield sites, the polluting of rivers and streams due to escape of effluent and disposal of waste were all issues that businesses have to face with growing vigilance, said Mr Elliott. “According to the latest figures, the average fine for businesses committing an environmental offence is £10,080,” said Mr Elliott. “It is important for all businesses to reassess their policies and ensure that they are adequately insured when it comes to pollution and the environment.” Under UK law, magistrates courts can impose fines of up to £20,000 for pollution offences. For more serious cases, the crown court can impose unlimited fines and prison sentences. Career that clicked! Cleckheaton firm gets new owners A CLECKHEATON factory is set to get new owners following the takeover of its parent group. German-based TMD Friction Group, the world’s leading manufac- turer of friction materials for auto- motive and industrial applications, has announced an agreement to sell the business to Japanese group Nissh- inbo Holdings Inc. TMD includes TMD Friction UK Ltd, with operations at Hunsworth Lane, Cleckheaton, and in Hartlepool and Manchester. The Cleckheaton business, which traces its origins to 1878, makes disc brake pads for cars and disc brake pads and drum brake linings for com- mercial vehicles. The TMD group also makes similar products for racing cars as well as friction materials for rail and indus- trial applications. Its brands include Textar, Pagid, Mintex, Don and Cobreq. In a statement, TMD said the group had grown rapidly over the past three years, taking major strides in fast-growing regions such as China, Brazil and the independent after-mar- ket. It said the group was now well-posi- tioned, having made “significant investment” in capacity and product development as well as through tar- geted acquisitions. For the year ended 31 December 2010, TMD reported a 20% increase in sales to 637m euros. NISH, which is listed on the Tokyo stock exchange, has an established position as a global player in the areas of brake, mechatronics, textiles and electronics. NISH’s brake business is run glob- ally by Nisshinbo Brake Inc. Its over- seas subsidiaries include manufacturing facilities in Japan, South Korea, the USA, China, Thail- and, and India. Following the takeover, the com- bined business will have revenues exceeding 1bn euros and more than 6,000 employees. The transaction is expected to be completed following competition authority approval. Following completion, NISH will continue to operate TMD as an inde- pendent, wholly-owned subsidiary. Derek Whitworth, chief executive of TMD, said: “I am delighted to be joining the Nisshinbo group of com- panies. “This is a great opportunity for TMD to continue our development with a strong and successful partner. Their expertise, particularly in the markets where we are growing fastest will be invaluable as we seek to acceler- ate our expansion and continue to provide innovative and leading products to our customers.” Koji Nishihara, president of NISB, said: “The combination of NISB and TMD under the ownership of NISH creates the largest, most capable, global automotive brake friction man- ufacturer in the world.” OPPORTUNITY: TMD chief executive Derek Whitworth www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk Huddersfield | Wakefield | Halifax | Leeds Solicitors for business in Yorkshire

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The business NEWSpaper for your area.

Transcript of Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

Page 1: Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees27, September, 2011

INSIDE

exam

iner

.co.

uk

● Full story - Page 5

● Full story - Page 8

Themosttrustednewsbrandin thebusiness

JONATHAN JAMES

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3I t ’s good to go green

Co lumn - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

SurgerysuccessA HOLME Valley dentalsurgery has beenboosted by a six-figureloan.Katrina Hayes-Sinclair,who acquired HolmfirthDental Surgery at thebeginning of this yearand has been aqualified dentist for 18years, has expandedand refurbished thebusiness with supportfrom Lloyds TSBCommercial.

Followerof fashionFORMER publicrelations executiveJayne Sheridan, nowteaching atHuddersfield University,has put textiles underthe spotlight with hernew book FashionMedia Promotion: TheNew Black Magic.

COLIN BARRATTFTSE 100+ 22.55

5089.37

‘Polluter pays’ warning to Kirklees companiesKIRKLEES firms are being urged tolook again at their insurance policiesfollowing a series of cases of industrialpollution by businesses.

Under EU directives, the “polluterpays” principle means that organisa-tions causing damage to the environ-ment have to pay for damage causedby pollution and the clean-up costs forcontamination.

Peter Elliott, head of marketing forBluefin Insurance Services, with

offices in Cleckheaton, said: “Pollu-tion rightly remains a hot topic andmost businesses display a reallyresponsible attitude.

“But incidents of pollution continueto occur and many companies discovertoo late that their standard insurancepolicies are not comprehensiveenough to pay for the clean-up andend up having to pay out huge sums ofmoney from their own resources.”

One Yorkshire-based water supplier

was fined £10,500 and ordered to paythe Environment Agency more than£2,400 after letting sewage get into astream that leads to a lake.

Seepage of oil from tanks, the grow-ing practice of building on brownfieldsites, the polluting of rivers andstreams due to escape of effluent anddisposal of waste were all issues thatbusinesses have to face with growingvigilance, said Mr Elliott.

“According to the latest figures, the

average fine for businesses committingan environmental offence is £10,080,”said Mr Elliott. “It is important for allbusinesses to reassess their policiesand ensure that they are adequatelyinsured when it comes to pollution andthe environment.”

Under UK law, magistrates courtscan impose fines of up to £20,000 forpollution offences. For more seriouscases, the crown court can imposeunlimited fines and prison sentences.

Career that clicked!

Cleckheaton firmgets new ownersA CLECKHEATON factory is set toget new owners following the takeoverof its parent group.

German-based TMD FrictionGroup, the world’s leading manufac-turer of friction materials for auto-motive and industrial applications,has announced an agreement to sellthe business to Japanese group Nissh-inbo Holdings Inc.

TMD includes TMD Friction UKLtd, with operations at HunsworthLane, Cleckheaton, and in Hartlepooland Manchester.

The Cleckheaton business, whichtraces its origins to 1878, makes discbrake pads for cars and disc brakepads and drum brake linings for com-mercial vehicles.

The TMD group also makes similarproducts for racing cars as well asfriction materials for rail and indus-trial applications. Its brands includeTextar, Pagid, Mintex, Don andCobreq.

In a statement, TMD said the grouphad grown rapidly over the past threeyears, taking major strides infast-growing regions such as China,Brazil and the independent after-mar-ket.

It said the group was now well-posi-tioned, having made “significantinvestment” in capacity and productdevelopment as well as through tar-geted acquisitions.

For the year ended 31 December2010, TMD reported a 20% increase insales to 637m euros.

NISH, which is listed on the Tokyostock exchange, has an establishedposition as a global player in the areasof brake, mechatronics, textiles andelectronics.

NISH’s brake business is run glob-ally by Nisshinbo Brake Inc. Its over-s e a s s u b s i d i a r i e s i n c l u d emanufacturing facilities in Japan,South Korea, the USA, China, Thail-and, and India.

Following the takeover, the com-bined business will have revenuesexceeding 1bn euros and more than6,000 employees.

The transaction is expected to becompleted following competitionauthority approval.

Following completion, NISH willcontinue to operate TMD as an inde-pendent, wholly-owned subsidiary.

Derek Whitworth, chief executive ofTMD, said: “I am delighted to bejoining the Nisshinbo group of com-panies.

“This is a great opportunity forTMD to continue our developmentwith a strong and successful partner.Their expertise, particularly in themarkets where we are growing fastestwill be invaluable as we seek to acceler-ate our expansion and continue toprovide innovative and leadingproducts to our customers.”

Koji Nishihara, president of NISB,said: “The combination of NISB andTMD under the ownership of NISHcreates the largest, most capable,global automotive brake friction man-ufacturer in the world.”

■ OPPORTUNITY: TMD chiefexecutive Derek Whitworth

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

Solicitors for business inYorkshire

Page 2: Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICES

Local shares

FTSE closed at

5089.37Up 22.55

A BUSY summer at Britain’s airportshelped foreign currency giantTravelex report higher sales andearnings for the three months toAugust.

The group, which has 1,000 for-eign exchange bureaux and 500cash machines globally, said saleswere up by 6%. Underlying earningsrose by 2% – boosted by strongperformances in the UK, Europe andthe USA.

Heathrow saw record passengersin July, while a new service in the UK– where customers bought moneyonline and picked it up at the airport– had also done well.

The summer update came as the

group published first-half figures toJune that showed revenues rose by9% to £356.5m. Underlying profitswere 17% ahead at £49.9m.

The consumer group, ConsumerFocus, has issued a super complaintagainst travel currency providers,arguing that customers neededreassurance that bureaux de changewere offering customers a gooddeal.

Travelex chief executive PeterJackson said the company wasrelaxed over the prospect of aninquiry, suggesting the main thrustof the complaint was aimed towardsthe banks and credit card groupsrather than independent operators.

Cake supplier celebratesBusy summer boosts Travelex

SUPERMARKET giant Tescolaunched a price war after cutting thecost of 3,000 products as part of a£500m campaign.

Some 14,000 staff across the UKchanged nearly 3m labels over theweekend on items such as milk, bread,and fruit and vegetables.

Tesco, which has lost market share inrecent weeks as cash-strapped con-sumers shop around for the best deals,will cover the price cuts by slashing thenumber of multi-buy promotions andscrapping its double Clubcard pointsreward offer, meaning the scheme willrevert to one point for every poundspent.

The price offensive is set to trigger anaggressive response from rivals Asdaand Sainsbury’s – which have accusedTesco of using spin tactics – as well asfrom fourth-place rival Morrisons.

Richard Brasher, Tesco’s UK chiefexecutive, said: “We’re giving custom-ers a more straightforward shop –reducing the number of promotionsand putting the emphasis on clear andreliable savings that everyone can bene-fit from.”

A typical price cut would includeloose carrots, which will be reduced by14p per kilo, which Mr Brasher saidwould save 747,000 households around£5.4m a year.

Elsewhere, a medium sliced whiteloaf will be cut from 69p to 55p, a packof Braeburn apples will be down to£1.40 from £1.75, a bag of maris piperpotatoes will drop to £1.39 from £1.74and an Italian pepperoni pizza will slipfrom £3.59 to £2.85.

Tesco said it will also increase thevalue customers can get from Clubcardvouchers by improving the exchange

rates on the most popular rewards fromthree times to four times the value.

The most popular rewards includedeals with Pizza Express, Cafe Rougeand Strada.

Asda upped the stakes in the super-market pricing war this year with ascheme that sees it guarantee to be 10%cheaper than its rivals, while Ocadoand Waitrose have matched their priceswith Tesco’s. Sainsbury’s is also pilot-ing a price-matching scheme in North-ern Ireland.

Leeds-based Asda, the country’ssecond biggest supermarket chain,

said: “No amount of spin can changethe fact our price guarantee ended pricewars. No ifs, no buts, no fine print –10% better value than our rivals on acomparable grocery shop or a voucherto make it so.

“Others can huff and puff as much asthey like. Shoppers want savings notspin, pounds in their pockets, notpoints on plastic.”

Sainsbury’s came out fighting aswell, accusing its larger rival of mis-leading customers.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “Thisis classic smoke and mirrors fromTesco, giving with one hand and takingwith the other. Removing double Club-card points will save Tesco £350m.”

Tesco’s market share slipped to30.4% from 30.8% in the three monthsto September 4, according to retailanalyst Kantar.

Rivals unmoved byTesco’s ‘price war’

STRUGGLING mailorder flowers and giftsfirm Flying Brands hasagreed to sell landaround its Retreat FarmHQ in Jersey to a localproperty developer for£2.1m.

The cash raised willpay off a £1.7m loan andprovide working capital.

Last week, FlyingBrands warned it wasclose to breaching itsbank covenants afterpoor autumn trading.

The company said theperformance of itsGardening Directbusiness had beensignificantly belowexpectations, while itsother businesses werealso performing belowhopes.

At the time, the firmsaid that without furtheraction it would need tofurther renegotiatebanking arrangements orseek a waiver frombanks.

The firm recentlyagreed a newrefinancing deal after aprofits warning in April.

Land saleagreed

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.52 dollarsBangladesh................. 109.45 takaBrazil.............................. 2.53 realsCanada....................... 1.53 dollarsChina ............................. 8.82 yuanCzech Republic ...... 26.23 korunasDenmark....................... 8.16 kroneEuro............................... 1.10 euroHong Kong................ 11.44 dollarsHungary ................... 301.30 forintsIndia.......................... 67.58 rupeesJapan........................... 112.17 yenMexico ....................... 18.92 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.87 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.67 kronePakistan.................. 127.45 rupeesPhilippines ................. 58.02 pesosSouth Africa................. 12.00 randSouth Korea.............. 1612.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 160.79 rupeesSweden....................... 10.27 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.34 francsTaiwan ...................... 41.29 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.68 new liraUSA ............................ 1.48 dollars

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £29.52 -0.33Gannett 577.69 -6.43Hess Corp £32.74 -0.34Microsoft 1594.91 -15.42Motors Liquidation 48.19Wal-Mart Stores £32.71 +0.07

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 2911/2 +3/4BAE Systems 2715/8 -21/4Rolls-Royce 5991/2 +31/2

AIMBrady Plc 721/4Dawson Intl 13/4Man Brnze 36 -1Uniq 951/4

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 1681/4 -41/2

BANKSBarclays 156 +10HSBC 4997/8 +17/8Lloyds Banking Gp 351/4 +11/8Ryl Scotland 235/8 +3/4Stan Chart 12751/2 +31/2

BEVERAGESDiageo 1235 +21SABMiller £207/8 +1/8

CHEMICALSCroda 1671 -9Elementis 98 120 -43/8Johnsn Mat 1531 -29

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2525/8 +41/2Costain 2203/4 -31/2

ELECTRICITYDrax Gp 4977/8 +67/8Intl Power 3155/8 +101/4Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1281 -3

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLaird 1291/2 -17/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 3241/4 +25/8

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 171 +21/4Cable & WirelessComm

385/8 -7/8

Cable & WirelessWwide

291/2 -1/4

Colt Group 1031/2 -1KCOM 703/4 +3/4Talktalk Telecom 127 +2

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2871/8 +27/8Sainsbury 2707/8 +45/8Tesco 3713/8 +61/4

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1137 +48Tate Lyle 5921/2 -5Unilever 1981

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 2925/8 +55/8National Grid 6231/2 -31/2Pennon Grp 6831/2 +201/2Severn 1494 +30United Utils 6011/2 +21/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 1921/4 +51/8

ICAP 432 -43/4London StockExch 827 -10Man Group 2275/8 -33/4Provident Financial 1013 -5Schroders 1228 +34Schroders NV 1000 +30

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 4101/2 -97/8REXAM 3067/8 +6Smiths Grp 922 +10

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 211/2 +1/4Carphone Whse 3511/4 +11/4Dixons Retail 111/2 +1/2Home Retail 116 -7/8Inchcape 2791/4 -41/4Kingfisher 2415/8 +3/4M & S 327 -7/8Mothercare 3333/8 +141/4Next £251/2 -1/8WH Smith 4951/8 -25/8

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 581 +31/2

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 87Barrat Dev 803/8 +1/4Persimmon 4561/4 -41/8Reckitt Benckiser £325/8 +5/8Taylor Wimpey 341/2 +5/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 854 -21/2I M I 7291/2 +4

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 2831/4 -131/4

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION

BBA Aviation 1613/4 +21/4LIFE INSURANCE

Aviva 295 +173/4Lgl & Gen 971/2 +57/8Old Mutual 1065/8 +25/8Prudential 561 +141/2Resolution 2491/4 +93/8Standard Life 1997/8 +51/4

MEDIABSkyB 6831/2 +13D Mail Tst 347 +35/8ITV 591/2 +13/4Johnston Press 47/8Pearson 1137 +4Reed Elsevier 4971/4 +103/4STV Group 1051/4 +1/4Trinity Mirror 411/4 +1/4Utd Business 4441/4UTV 1231/2WPP 609 +71/2Yell Group 41/8

MININGAnglo American £225/8 +1/8Antofagasta 950 -21BHP Billiton 1747 -141/2Eurasian NaturalRes

550 -4

Fresnillo 1524 -112Kazakhmys 782 -32Lonmin 1067 -10Rio Tinto £295/8 -1/4VEDANTARESOURCES

1070 -43

Xstrata 820 -6MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 4877/8 +101/8Vodafone Group 1621/2 +7/8

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1333 +62RSA Insurance Gp 1097/8 +27/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERSBG 1144 -181/2BP 3843/4 -3/8Cairn Energy 2811/8 +2Royal Dutch Shell A 19591/2 -29Royal Dutch Shell B 19991/2 -24Total £271/8 +3/8Tullow Oil 1290 -6

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 838 -31/2Petrofac 1229 -19Wood Gp(J) 519 -12

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry Gp 1309 -32

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGYAstrazeneca £277/8 +1/8Axis-Shield 405 -50GlaxoSmithK XD 20Shire 1965 +17

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 477 +1/4Captl Shop Cent 3041/4 +77/8DTZ Hldgs 27 -1/8Hamrsn 367 +1/2Land Secs 6331/2 -1SEGRO 217 +1/2

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp £253/8 +1/8Invensys 2231/4 +21/4Logica 741/8 +1/4Misys 2147/8 -6Sage Group 2577/8 +1/8

SUPPORT SERVICESBerendsen 4273/8 -3/4Bunzl 770 +1Capita 702 -111/2De La Rue 793 +3Electrocomp 1911/4 -23/8Experian 7041/2 +91/2G4S 2601/4 +57/8Hays 723/8 +3/4Homeserve 4717/8 +111/4Menzies J 488 +11/2Rentokil 73 +1/8Smiths News 823/4 -1Wolseley 1437 +12

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 564 -101/2Psion 531/2 -1/4Spirent Comms 1201/8 -31/8

TOBACCO

Br Am Tob £271/8 +1/8Imperial Tobacco £211/4 +3/8

LEISURE & HOTELS

Bwin.Party Digital 1221/4 -11/8Carnival £201/2Compass Grp 5261/2 +2easyJet 353 +1Enterprise Inns 33 -11/2FirstGroup 3201/4 +61/2Go-Ahead Gp 1356 +12Greene King 4413/4 -1/4Intercontl Htls 1055 +17Intl Cons AirlinesGp

1471/8 +5

Ladbrokes 1211/2 -15/8Mitchells & Butlers 2521/2 +7/8Natl Express 2321/8 +51/4Rank Org 1221/4 -51/4Stagecoach Group 2411/2 +3/4TUI Travel 1511/4 +21/4Whitbread 1600 +5

INDEXFTSE 100 5089.37 +22.56

INDEXFTSE 250 9839.24 +23.74

Carclo 2741/2 +11/2Marshalls 971/2 -1/4National Grid 6231/2 -31/2Weir Gp 1601 +55

THE maker of low-fat cakes for theWeightwatchers brand said super-market shoppers continued to have ataste for its products despite thedownturn.

Finsbury Foods, which is the UK’ssecond largest supermarket cake sup-plier and also makes cakes forThorntons and Disney, posted under-lying profits of £5.8m for the year toJuly 2 – an increase of 8.3% after salesrose by 12.6% to £189.6m.

Thorntons-branded sales jumpedby 17% and Disney by 16% followingheavy promotional activity and thesuccess of Disney films such as Piratesof the Caribbean and Cars 2. Weight-

watchers products also gained marketshare.

Finsbury said it was focused onmaking its products more affordable,despite facing rising costs for butter,sugar and wheat.

Chief executive John Duffy saidthat “keeping things affordable forthe customer was essential”, addingthat where possible the group willmodify its product range to offsetprice increases.

Sales rose by 12% in its cakesbusiness over the year to £139.6m.Finsbury’s bread arm lifted sales by14.2% to £50m. Bottom-line groupprofits rose by 22% to £5.9m.

PartingcompanyDESIGNER clothes firmAll Saints has partedcompany with chiefexecutive Stephen Craig,a few months aftercompleting a criticalrefinancing.

Mr Craig cited a lack ofclarity between his roleand that of chairman andfounder Kevin Stanfordfor hid decision to quit.

Page 3: Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

JonathanJames

Austin KempSolicitors

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Senior associateAge: 48Family: Married toBeverley with childrenKatherine, 20, Andrew,19 and Rachel,15Holidays: Caravan-ning in the Dordogne,FranceCar: Kia SorentoFirst job: Working inmy grandfather’s bakeryin Bristol making vanillaslices!Best thing aboutjob: Being in Hudders-fieldWorst thing aboutjob: The rare occasionswhen you see one par-ent lose their relation-ship with their children.It’s horribleBusiness tip: Don’tlet your business takeover your life. Businessis important, but no oneever died wishing hehad spent more time inthe office.

Work: Full service lawfirmSite: NorthumberlandStreet, HuddersfieldPhone: 01484 483033Email:[email protected]:www.austinkemp.co.uk

Openandshutcase

YOU could say JonathanJames is happy to be home.

The Huddersfield-bornsolicitor is back in townhaving joined law firm AustinKemp, based atNorthumberland Street, ashead of its private client andfamily law department.

Jonathan, who now livesin Brighouse, was previouslymanaging partner at theAltrincham office of law firmStowe, having also workedfrom its Harrogate premises.

The lengthy dailycommute is something hedoesn’t miss – and for thatreason alone, Huddersfieldwins its case hands down.

Says Jonathan: “Insteadof taking anhour-and-a-quarter in eachdirection to get to work, itnow takes me 10 or 15minutes. I reach home on anevening and I’m notphysically exhausted!”

Jonathan was born inLeeds, but moved with hisfamily to Huddersfield whenhe was three-and-a-half.

He grew up in Edgertonand attended Oakes Schooland Bradford Grammar. Inhis teens, as examsbeckoned, he remaineduncertain about a choice ofcareer.

“Like all lads of 17 or 18 Ididn’t know what I wanted todo,” he admits. “I didn’t havemuch enthusiasm foranything.

“When I did give it somethought, accountancyseemed a good idea at thetime, but it didn’t suit me.

“However, it left me withthe ability to read accountsand I’m very comfortablewith figures – just don’t asme to prepare a set ofaccounts as I wouldn’t knowwhere to start.”

Instead, Jonathan joinedthe civil service and beganwork with the CrownProsecution Service as alaw clerk helping take casesfrom magistrates to crowncourt.

Jonathan soon decidedthat law was the career forhim – and it was the humandrama played out in thecourtroom that appealed.

“Every case is a story,” hesays. “And who isn’tinterested in stories? I preferdealing with people todealing with pieces of paper.

“You see a lot of pieces ofpaper in this profession, butyou are also dealing withpeople.”

Jonathan moved from theCPS to a private practice inBishop Auckland, where hegot his law qualification andcompleted his training.

He then moved toChambers & Co inBrighouse, where he spentalmost three years dealingwith crime, divorce andpersonal injury cases.

Later, he worked forBaxter Caulfield and ListerCroft before joining Stowe,having moved more towardsfamily law work.

“Originally, I had nointention of doing family law,”says Jonathan. “But like lotsof people, I ended up doingthings I hadn’t really plannedon doing.

“My job is about helpingpeople with genuineproblems.

“Some areas of law can

be cold and calculated, but Ienjoy helping people sort outtheir lives and removingsome of the distress.

“You cannot do everythingas a lawyer, but you can sortout some of thepracticalities.”

Jonathan says familycases can be difficult. “Inmost ordinary cases, you aretalking about commonsense.You have two people whodon’t want to live togetherany more. They want to liveapart and it’s about dividingup what they own betweenthem.

“Sometimes, they areblinded by their emotionsand that’s when they needsomeone to help them.

“The worst cases arethose about children. Itdepresses me when you seewhat parents are prepared todo to the children so thatthey can continue their ‘war’between themselves. It ishuman nature at its worst.”

Jonathan’s other role is asa deputy district judge,hearing cases at courtsacross the North West.

He is committed to amaximum of 50 days a year– travelling by train to placeslike Blackburn, Accrington,Burnley, Preston andLancaster.

“I particularly likeBlackpool,” says Jonathan.“I’ve lived most of my life inthe centre of the country soit’s good to get to theseaside.

“The court isn’t far fromthe front, so I can usuallytake a lunchtime walk.”

As a judge, Jonathanrelishes the “intellectualchallenge” of bringing his 25years experience of the lawto bear on a variety of cases,such as landlord and tenantdisputes, personal injuryclaims and contract disputes.

Unlike the daily grind oftravelling to Altrincham orHarrogate, Jonathan findshis trips over the Penninesless stressful.

“I’m on the train,” he says.“I’m sitting reading andwhatever people say aboutthe train service, it’s prettyreliable. I’m not driving onthe M60 or the M62.”

He also enjoys workingwith a young law firm likeAustin Kemp. “They’re verynice, quiet people,” he says.“They get on with their work.I’m probably the noisiestperson in the office.

“What I also like is thatthey don’t come with a hugenumber of preconceptions.

“What you learned overthe last 20 years may becompletely useless to younow.

“It’s what you have learnedin the past two years that’smost important.”

While Jonathan concedesthat he has – generallyspeaking – a “Monday toFriday” job, he has dealt withcases which required him to

spend the entire weekendpreparing for a courthearing on Monday.

“If the work has to bedone, it has to be done,whether that meansworking in the evenings orthe weekend,” he says.

When he gets thechance to retreat from theworld of law, Jonathan’spassion is for landscapephotography.

He says: “It startedwhen my sister’sboyfriend, who was agood photographer, gaveher a framed photo as apresent and I thought: ‘Icould do that’.

“I get ideas from booksand a lot of magazinesand I look at maps to workout locations.

”You need to check theweather forecast and

know what time of day to bethere and where the light isgoing to fall.

“You need to know whatsort of light you need if youare going to work in blackand white or colour. A fair bitof the pleasure is in doingthe planning.

“I’m doing quite a lot ofphotography in black andwhite and infra-red at themoment.

“Some of my bestphotography in the past 12months was during the coldspell.

“I went to Ogden Waterwhere there’s a little riverfeeding into the reservoir andthe ice in the field wasphenomenal.”

■ HELPING: JonathanJames, head of private clientand family law at Austin KempSolicitors in Huddersfield

On the board with

RevellWard Suitewww.revellward.co.uk

Kirklees BusinessConference

GalpharmStadium

Getting to the CoreTheKBC is the place to be

In the newRevellWard Suite onLevel 3Forbusiness support there’s no better placeAnd an opportune time tomeet face to face

It’s our third year running as anexhibitionist

And this yearwe promise a bit of a twistOur theme of the daywill be“Getting to theCore”

So bob down and see us if youwantto knowmore!

Offers and giveaways there are bound to beSo come down and see us at theKBC.

STAND 48

Page 4: Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

ISAs? It’s child’s play!

Driving ahead fora ‘greener’ futureBUSINESSES and individu-

als wanting to do their bitfor the environment can takeadvantage of various taxbreaks when looking atinvesting in “green cars” orenergy and water savingequipment.

Here are a few ideas to be think-ing about.

Under the Enhanced CapitalAllowances regime, businesses ofany size are able to claim a 100%tax write-off on their spending onqualifying cars and plant andmachinery.

For example, if a business buys acar with a Co2 emission of110g/km or less, such as an AudiA1 1.6 TDI 105PSh with a Co2emission of 99g/km for instance, itwill be able to claim a 100% taxwrite off on the cost of the caragainst taxable profits in the yearthe car is bought.

The tax write-off reduces to 20%of cost if the Co2 emission range is111/160g/km and reduces furtherto 10% once the 160g/km level isbreached.

“Green cars” are fuel efficientand carry a reduced or, in somecases, no road fund licence charge.To obtain the 100% tax write-off,the car will also need to be pur-chased new. Second hand cars willnot qualify, and the expenditureneeds to be incurred on or before

March 31, 2013.A list of cars with a Co2 emis-

sion level of 110g/km or less can befound at http://carfueldata.direct. g o v . u k / s e a r c h - c o m p a n y-car-tax.aspx

If a “green car” is provided as abenefit to an employee of the busi-ness, the low Co2 rating will resultin a lower tax bill for that employeeas well as a reduced employer’snational insurance cost.

Where a car with a Co2 emissionof no more than 160g/km is leased,the business can claim all of thehire charges for tax purposes. Forcars with a Co2 greater than thisfigure only 85% of the hire chargeis tax-deductible.

Enhanced capital allowances arealso available to businesses choos-ing to invest in water or energysaving equipment. As long asequipment meet certain standards,items such as efficient taps andtoilets, leakage detection equip-ment, energy efficient boilers, com-

bined heating and power systems,and refrigeration equipment canqualify for the beneficial tax treat-ment.

Where equipment does not initself qualify for the 100% allow-ance but components of it do, thenthe 100% allowance will still begiven on the component parts.Guidance on the equipment eli-gible for enhanced allowances canbe found at http://etl.decc.gov.uk/etl/default.htm

It is worth checking with thesupplier of equipment to ensurethat entitlement to enhance capitalallowances is not missed.

Evidence that the expenditurequalifies for 100% allowances willalso need to be obtained in case ofa Revenue & Customs enquiry.

Becoming a ‘green’ business canhelp save the environment while atthe same time reducing overheadsand mitigating tax liabilities.

What are you waiting for?

TAXTALKColin Barratt

Colin Barratt is tax partner at Wheawill and Sudworthchartered accountants, Huddersfield

FINANCIALFOCUSKaren Wynard

Karen Wynard is head of corporate services at Eastwood &Partners (Financial Services) Ltd

ORIGINALLY announcedtowards the end of 2010,

Junior ISA accounts are nowexpected to become availablefrom November 1, 2011.

The Junior ISA will be availablefor any UK-resident child (underthe age of 18) born on or afterJanuary 3, 2011, or those bornbefore that date who were noteligible for a Child Trust Fund.

The key features of a Junior ISAare:

● They can now receive contri-butions up to a maximum of£3,600 per tax year (when origin-ally announced the limit was£3,000)

● They can be taken out byparents or guardians (on behalf ofa minor child) or by a child aged 16or over

● There are a choice of cash orstocks and shares accounts – eachchild will be able to have one cashand one stocks and shares accountat any one time (within the totaloverall maximum contributionlimit)

● Tax efficient income andgains

Although, unlike the old CTF,there will be no Government con-tributions to the Junior ISA theseaccounts still represent an excel-lent opportunity to save tax-effi-ciently on behalf of a child.

As with Child Trust Funds,Junior ISA accounts are owned bythe child although they are notable to access the account untilthey are 18.

Of course, Junior ISAs are notthe only way to save tax-efficientlyfor children and, therefore, profes-sional financial advice is essen-tial.

In addi t ion , Junior ISAaccounts will be provided by arange of institutions from high

street banks and building societies,investment fund managers,friendly societies and stock brok-ing services.

It’s therefore advisable to seekguidance from your financialadviser if you are thinking of open-ing an account for a child orgrandchild to ensure that youmake the right choice.

The value of your investmentcan go down as well as up and youmay not get back the full amountinvested.

Levels and bases of and reliefsfrom taxation are subject tochange and their value depends onthe individual circumstances ofthe investor.

Suite deal forstadium bossesGALPHARM Stadium staff arecelebrating suite success.Kirklees Stadium Development Ltdhas welcomed Warrington-basedBTR UK Ltd as the new sponsor ofits Football Trust Suite.The suite is one of the stadium’swell-equipped conference,banqueting and events facilities.The suite will undergo a completerefurbishment over the next fewmonths – giving it a new look as was its new name.BTR UK Ltd, which specialises incomputer recycling and disposal,and the stadium both hope to benefitfrom the sponsorship deal as theylook to increase awareness in newmarkets.Gary Fawcett, managing director ofBTR UK Ltd, said: “I'm very pleasedthat BTR UK is sponsoring the suiteat the stadium. BTR UK and what itdoes is a well-kept secret and I seethis sponsorship as a key ingredientin raising the awareness of the goodthings BTR UK does across EuropeGareth Davies, managing director athe stadium, said: “I am delighted towelcome BTR UK Ltd as partners aThe Galpharm Stadium. We lookforward to a long and successfulpartnership.“As part of the deal, BTR UK willenjoy prominent brand awarenessnetworking opportunities, along withuse of the venue’s corporatefacilities throughout the year.”

Coming togetherfor KBC eventTWO communications companies havejoined forces for this week’s KirkleesBusiness Conference.Specialists in mobile communications,Code Blue Communications havepartnered with landline/broadbandproviders ME Consultancy and will beexhibiting alongside each other at theday-long conference, which takes placeon Thursday at Huddersfield’sGalpharm Stadium.Regulars at the Huddersfield TownEnterprise Academy and the regionalYorkshire Mafia events, the twocompanies have spotted areas in whichthey can combine their resources ratherthan compete.Mark Evans, managing director of MEConsultancy, said the link-up allowedboth companies to offer a widerservice, resulting in savings for bothcompanies’ clients.Russell Goldthorpe, of Code BlueCommunications, said: “This event isan important part of our businesscalendar. We have a UK-wide customerbase, but our headquarters is here inHuddersfield and we always enjoy thenetworking that KBC provide.”Along with an exhibition, seminars andnetworking, Kirklees BusinessConference will feature speakersincluding Huddersfield Town chairmanDean Hoyle, paralympic championSimon Jackson, entrepreneur KirstyHenshaw, Huddersfield Universityvice-chancellor Prof Bob Cryan andmotivational speaker Nicky Pattinson.

■ DONE DEAL: Gary Fawcett (left),managing director of BTR UK Ltd, withGareth Davies, managing director ofthe Galpharm Stadium

Friday feeling atThe Vox BarFRIDAY’S a good time to startwinding down for the weekend.And members of the First Friday Clubwill be taking a laid-back approach atheir next informal networking eventon Friday, October 7, at The Vox Barin Wood Street, Huddersfield.The get-together, organised byKrishna Patel, of accountancy firmRevell Ward, aims to provide arelaxed atmosphere for localbusiness people to meet and chat.The hour-long session gets underway at [email protected] forfurther details

LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A BUSINESS?Use our knowledge and experienceto guide you through the process:

➢ Valuation advice

➢ Negotiating the deal

➢ Raising finance

➢ Due diligence

➢ Tax mitigation ideas

➢ Getting the job done

Our independent and partner-drivenapproach ensures clients receiveadvice they can rely on and trust.

To discuss your plans in confidence pleaseconatct David Butterworth

W&SWheawill & Sudworth

Experience you can count on

P: 01484 423691E:[email protected]

W: www.wheawills.co.uk

Independent financialplanning services for

companies and individualsEastwood & PartnersEastwood & Partners

(Financial Services) Ltd(Financial Services) LtdPennine House, Lowfields Close, Lowfields

Business Park, Elland HX5 9DA01422 377737

www.eastwoodfinancial.co.ukAuthorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Page 5: Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

stadium bosses

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Law firm seeksaward successA LAW firm whichboosted its onlineoffering with the helpof a Huddersfieldentrepreneur hasbeen shortlisted for atop award.

Freeserve founderAjaz Ahmed(pictured) linked upwith Leeds andBradford solicitorsLast Cawthra Featherto develop a new online legal service,LEGAL365.com. Mr Ahmed acted asconsultant on the project, which aims togive the firm a boost in the deregulatedmarket for legal services.

Now Last Cawthra Feather has beenshortlisted for the prestigious Law SocietyExcellence Awards 2011 in the category ofInnovation. The firm was shortlisted fordemonstrating cutting edge businesspractice and client service.

Managing partner Simon Stell said: “Tobe shortlisted for the Law SocietyExcellence Awards is a fantasticachievement and one that as a firm we arevery proud of. It is a true testament of thehard work and dedication of all members ofthe firm”.

Winners will be announced at the awardsceremony in London on Tuesday, October18.

Bank adds biteto dental plans

■ LOAN ARRANGER: Dentist Katrina Hayes-Sinclair and Lloyds TSB relationshipmanager Steve Midgeley, outside her Holmfirth surgery

A HOLME Valley dental surgery has seen ahuge rise in custom in the last few monthsafter being boosted by a six-figure loan.

Katr ina Hayes-Sincla ir acquiredHolmfirth Dental Surgery at the beginningof this year when she bought out her previ-ous partner.

Now Katrina, who has been a qualifieddentist for 18 years, has expanded andrefurbished the business using a loan fromLloyds TSB Commercial.

Since the implementation of the expan-sion strategy, Holmfirth Dental Surgery hasgone from strength to strength. Havingsurpassed the set NHS target at the end ofMarch, the practice has diversified its ser-vices to offer cosmetic dentistry.

The launch of the new specialist dentalimplant service has resulted in a huge boostin patient numbers for the surgery, with lastmonth seeing numbers rise to the practice’slargest patient base to date.

Katrina also used the funding provided byLloyds TSB Commercial to part-refurbishthe surgery and invest in equipment tocomply with new legislation set out this yearby the Care Quality Commission.

Katrina said: “The increase in demand thebusiness has received since launching ourcosmetic dental care has been outstanding.Taking on several hundred more patientsover the last few months has been a directresult of our most recent service, and thefeedback from both regular and newpatients has been consistently positive.”

Steve Midgeley, healthcare banking con-sultant for Lloyds TSB Commercial, said:“Diversifying the services offered by anybusiness is a proven method of attractingnew clients and generating multiple streamsof revenue – and this is evidenced by thehuge increase in custom at the surgeryfollowing the launch of the specialist cos-metic services.

“At Lloyds TSB Commercial we have ateam of dedicated healthcare relationshipmanagers across the country who have beenspecially trained to provide guidance in thedental sector.

“By using this specialist knowledge wewere able to provide the surgery with theappropriate funding and financial structur-ing.”

Town hero joinscelebrations atStafflex officesA RECRUITMENT companyhas celebrated its move tobigger and better premises.

Huddersfield Townambassador Andy Booth wasinvited to cut the ribbon toofficially open the new officesof Stafflex.

He was joined by managingdirector Brian Stahelin anddirector Paul Balderstone forthe ribbon-cutting. An openday was also held for staff tomeet clients andrepresentatives of the town’sbusiness community.

It came as a recent surveysuggested one in fiveemployers plan to increasetheir use of temporary staff –an area in which Stafflexoperates – between now andthe end of the year.

The Recruitment andEmployment Confederationsaid a survey of 600 firmsalso showed that just undertwo-thirds planned to keeptheir agency workforce at the

same level.Stafflex moved to premises

at International House,Chapel Hill, almost 12 yearsto the day after it begantrading from offices atWakefield Road, Aspley.

The company employs 10staff and provides workers ofall types to help customersovercome production highsand lows and save them theadministrative burden ofhiring, firing and payroll.

Stafflex has suppliedworkers including engineers,production managers,receptionists, hair-stylists,project managers, directmarketing consultants andcomputer technicians.

Growth in the industrial,commercial and educationdivisions also prompted themove to Chapel Hill, wherethe premises provide space offurther expansion.

■ CUTTING CREW: Town ambassador Andy Booth (centre) cuts thetape with director Paul Balderstone (left) and managing director BrianStahelin at the Stafflex offices in Chapel Hill

Page 6: Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

property Page 6KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Bidders drive upproperty’s price

■ IN DEMAND: This three-storey building at Dewsbury sold for almost three times its guideprice at a recent Eddisons property auction

Tenants take NU office space

Retail firmsmust becomeenergy wiseHARD-pressed retailers are being urgedto look again at how they use andmonitor energy usage as a way ofcutting overheads.The call has come fromBrighouse-based energy managementconsultancy Orchard Energy, whichadvises many big retail names includingBarker and Stonehouse, BarrattsPriceless, Costcutter, Sheffield’sMeadowhall centre and the Ridingsshopping centres in Darlington andBristol.Managing director Gareth Hendersonsaid simple efficiency measures couldshave thousands of pounds off annualenergy bills at a time when the retailsector faces some of its toughesttrading for conditions for decades.“We tend to find that retailers withmultiple sites are on half-hourly metreswhich are bigger and more expensivethan they need, but can be easilydowngraded,” said Mr Henderson.“Sites that rely on store managers totake readings can find themselvespaying inaccurate estimated bills whichare rarely rectified, a problem that canbe overcome by installing smart metersthat take automated readings.”Mr Henderson said: “Forwardpurchasing is another way retailers canreduce and manage costs, helping withbudget forecasting and protecting themfrom fluctuations in what is currently avery volatile energy market.”Barbara Winston, centre manager at theRidings Shopping Centre, said retailerswere under unprecedented pressure tokeep costs under control.“Our costs are rising significantly,particularly in relation to energy, at atime when many retailers are strugglingto keep their heads above water.“Our business has taken advice onenergy purchasing and on reducing theadministrative burden associated withmanaging energy contracts and redtape.“There’s a general lack of awareness inthe retail sector about the efficiencymeasures that can be taken but ourspending in this area is constantlyunder review, particularly as energyrepresents one of our biggestoverheads,” she said.

Lettings agency joins SAFEagent schemeA LETTINGS agency in Huddersfield hasbecome the latest firm to join a campaignoffering reassurance to tenants and land-lords.

Holmfirth-based Wam Lettings has joinedthe SAFEagent campaign, showing that ten-ants’ and landlords’ money is protected by a

client money protection scheme.More than 1,200 lettings and management

agents are now registered to use theSAFEagent logo. The launch of SAFEagentfollows a number of high-profile cases whereunscrupulous lettings agents have abscondedwith tenant and landlord funds.

Paul Hollingsworth, managing director ofWam Lettings, said: “We want every tenantand landlord that we welcome through ourdoors to have peace of mind when it comes toclient money protection. And, this is exactlywhat we can reinforce now that we bear theSAFEagent logo.”

A VACANT detached property in Dewsburysold for nearly three times its guide price at arecent property auction.

The three-storey building on High Road,which has planning consent for conversion tosix apartments, sold for £103,000 off a guideprice of just £35,000-plus at the latest Eddis-ons property auction.

Tony Webber, of Eddisons, said: “There washuge interest in this property which helpeddrive the price well beyond the originalguide.

“The fact that planning permission isalready in place for residential conversionadded to its attraction.”

Meanwhile, a vacant parcel of land inMirfield extending to more than an acre soldfor £11,000.

The land adjacent to Huddersfield Road,Battyeford, had been offered on the instruc-tions of British Waterways.

Residential stock finding favour with buy-ers included a large vacant property on Bank-field Road, close to Huddersfield town centre.The part fire-damaged inner terrace propertyis arranged as six bedsits and sold for £65,000,despite being in need of complete repair andrefurbishment.

Eddisons reported that 130 of the 192 lots –67.7% – which came under the hammer at thesale in Leeds and Manchester were sold,generating proceeds of more than £9m.

Mr Webber said: “The market remainsextremely price sensitive, with buyers cautiouswhen deciding what to bid for.

“However, the proceeds generated provethat there is still a willingness to purchase,providing stock is sensibly priced and seen tooffer good value for money.”

The next auction takes place at 12.30pm onOctober 27 at Leeds United Football Club,Elland Road, Leeds.

TENANTS have been found for arecently-refurbished office complex inHuddersfield.

RO Properties has let thenewly-refurbished second floor of NU Houseat Market Street.

Business Employment Services TrainingLtd, which specialises in training for thebuilding services engineering sector, hastaken 3,210sq ft on a six-year lease at a rentof £8 per sq ft.

In addition Ingeus, one of the UK’s leadingwelfare-to-work providers, has taken theremaining 5,090 sq ft on a five-year lease at

a rent of £8.40 per sq ft.NU House is subject to a rolling

programme of refurbishment, which includesnew suspended ceilings, energy-efficientlighting, comfort cooling, new carpets andsolar reflective window blinds.

Jorge Frutuoso, of RO Properties, said:“Refurbishment is a key part of our strategyto provide competitively priced, high qualityoffice space where new build is out of thequestion.

“If you are offering the best space and areprepared to be flexible, you are far more likelyto attract a tenant.

“We have only just completed therefurbishment of NU House and the space islet which shows our strategy is working andthat there is demand for high quality,well-located office space at realistic rents inHuddersfield.”

Some 2,386sq ft of space remainsavailable at NU House, the former NorwichUnion building, which stands opposite the lawcourts and close to the town’s train and busstations and police station.

Eddisons and Knight Frank acted for ROProperties, while Ross Counsell, of DriversJonas Deloitte, advised Ingeus.

118-120 Lockwood Rd, Huddersfield HD1 3QX

Accountantsfor SmallBusinesses

Call Nick Brook for a free initialdiscussion without obligation on

01484 424961or email [email protected]

• Business Accountsand Taxation

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Page 7: Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

Mall vacanciesat 10-year lowBRITAIN’S top shopping centres and highstreets have the lowest vacancy rates for 10years, according to a survey by propertyconsultancy DTZ.

The survey said vacancy rates across thesesites on average now stand at 2.55% against 3%a year ago.

Hugh Radford, head of UK retail at DTZ,said: “These figures may well come as asurprise to many commentators given theongoing tough retail trading environment anduncertain global economic outlook.

“These figures do, however, only apply tothe top 20 malls and high streets in the UK,which are rare, super-prime locations.”

The sites include the Trafford Centre atManchester, Birmingham’s Bull Ring, Brig-gate in Leeds, Bluewater and Brent Cross.

The figures from DTZ Retail show thatLondon in particular, buoyed by touristspending and the resilience of consumers,continues to perform well despite the globaleconomic recession.

Vacancy in Oxford Street, Bond Street,Regent Street and Westfield, London, is effect-ively at 0%.

Mr Radford said one reason for the low

vacancy rates in super-prime centres was thegrowing trend for international retailers tofocus on these locations.

He said: “International retailers currentlyacquiring space in the UK, such as Forever 21,Hollister and Victoria’s Secret, are focusing onthe top 10 or 20 locations before moving on tocontinental Europe and Asia.

“Previously, you could expect these retailersto choose between the top 25 or 30 locationsbut their focus has narrowed – a trend that wehave long predicted.

“Consumers want to shop in fewer locationsand be offered a full and broad range ofproducts, rather than being offered a smallerrange in more locations.

“We don’t see the number of locations thatinternational retailers are targeting increasingin the medium term.”

DTZ said the picture for secondary retailsites was very different – with some locationsfaring well, but many others appearing to havegone “beyond the point of no return”.

Those sites would have to shrink to adapt toreduced current and future demand, the sur-vey said, with other uses such as offices andhousing taking the place of shops.

Award for finance directorA DIRECTOR of a construction companyworking on projects in Huddersfield haswon a regional award.David Shann, finance director andcompany secretary at GMI Construction,was named Young Finance Director of theYear at the Yorkshire Finance Director ofthe Year Awards in Harrogate.Before joining GMI in 2004, David spent 10years working in the financial sectorbuilding his experience up from a widerange of industries.He was appointed to his current role in2005.David said: “I am delighted to have wonthis award as it’s such an honour to berecognised amongst some of Yorkshire’s

best financial directors.”As a member of the Institute of CharteredAccountants in England and Wales, Davidhas played a significant part in driving theGMI business forward.He has also taken on the role of financedirector for new business GMI RenewableEnergy Group PLC.GMI Construction, based in Leeds, iscontracted to build Kirklees College’s newengineering centre at St Andrew’s Road,Huddersfield.It is also involved with the development ofa Travelodge and Costa Coffee outlet aspart of the Spindlegate development atLeeds Road.

■ SHOP TALK: Manchester’s Trafford Centre is among Britain’s top-performing retail malls FOR SALERetail/Commercial5 & 7 Croft Street, Heckmondwike,West Yorkshire, WF16 0EX1 Business unaffected1Hair and beauty salon and cafe/bar1 272.93m2 (2,938 sq ft)1 Town centre location1Offers in the region of £175,000

FOR SALEFormer Methodist ChurchRochdale Road, Walsden, Todmorden,OL14 7SL1Detached two-storey church1Gross internal area 528.41m2 (5,688 sq ft)1 Site area 0.04 Hectares (0.095 Acres)1 Potential for conversion or redevelopment

in whole or part1 Offers in the region of £225,000

TO LETIndustrialUnits 4b, 4c & 4d, Armytage Road,Brighouse, HD6 1QF1Modern single-storey workshop units1 5,000 – 15,000 sq ft1 To be refurbished1 Self contained with yard/loading1Adjacent to J25 of M62 motorway1 Rent: On Application

TO LETPrestigious High Spec.Office SuiteUnit 1, Cartwright Court, BradleyBusiness Park, Huddersfield, HD2 1GN1Office units available from 1,009 sq ft1 Established business park location1 Ease of access to J24 & J25 of M621Rent: On Application

TO LETDetached Industrial UnitLowfields Business Park, Elland1 1,133m2 (12,198 sq ft) plus mezzanine1Modern unit with private yard and car park1Offices1 Excellent location with main road access1 Rent: £62,000 p.a plus VAT

Page 8: Kirklees Business News 27/09/11

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Jim Sparling, Debbie Mullen & Andrew Shakeshaft

BarclaysCorporateBARCLAYS Corporate has appointed JimSparling, Debbie Mullen and Andrew Shakeshaftto its team covering Yorkshire.

Mr Sparling (above left) has been promoted tohead a newly-expanded Northern credit teambased in Leeds and Manchester.

Replacing him as corporate director in Leeds,Ms Mullen (centre) has been promoted from theNorth Yorkshire team. She is a former head ofthe leveraged finance team and a former Bankerof the Year.

Mr Shakeshaft joins from Santander and priorto this worked at RBS. He has more than 20years experience in the industry.

Lee Collinson (right), Barclays Corporate headof Yorkshire, said: "Growing our corporateoffering is a key pillar of our long-term corporatebanking strategy.”

MP suited by mill visit

COLNE Valley MP Jason McCartneywas given a guided tour of one of thearea’s leading textile mills.

The Conservative MP visited BowerRoebuck & Co at New Mill to learn moreabout the company’s success insupplying high quality cloth for suitsworn by some of the country’s topcelebrities and sporting heroes.

Footballer David Beckham wore a suitmade from cloth supplied by BowerRoebuck & Co when he attended themarriage of Prince William and KateMiddleton earlier this year.

The company, formed more than 100years ago, has supplied cloth worn byfigures including US president BarackObama, actors Tom Cruise, Pierce

Brosnan and Arnold Schwarzenegger.Much of the cloth finds its way to

Savile Row tailors and leading fashionlabels such as Ralph Lauren, Hermes,Paul Smith, Yves Saint Laurent, Pradaand Tom Ford.

Chief designer Raymond Ellis said:“Jason was very impressed. We haveencouraged him to come and see ourLondon showroom when he’s atWestminster.”

Mr Ellis said the meeting also allowedthe firm to brief the MP on its efforts toupdate equipment, adding: “We havespent a lot of money over the years, butwe remain very ken to re-invest in thebusiness.”

■ PARTY PIECE: MP Jason McCartney (left) visits Bower Roebuck with chiefdesigner Raymond Ellis (centre) and managing director Ronald Hall

Google clicks atbusiness forumANOTHER majorindustry figure hasstepped up to jointhe speakers at amajor businessconference.

MarkPalmer-Edgecumbe(pictured), head ofdiversity, talent andinclusion at Googlefor Europe, MiddleEast and Africa, willaddress theWomen's’ Business Forum on Thursday atRudding Park in Harrogate.

Mark, who will fly in from Zurich for theevent, is a leading expert on diversity andinclusion. He will address an audience of600 senior business men and women fromthe UK, Europe and the USA at the event,which is organised by Holmfirth-basedHeather Jackson.

He said: “Google is a company that isfamous for innovation. We are successfulbecause we do things differently. I will besharing some of those experiences on theday.

““I’m delighted to be speaking at thisyear’s Forum. It’s an ideal opportunity todiscuss all the issues.”

Mark joined Google from his role asglobal head of diversity at Barclays Group.He is ranked among the 100 most influentialpeople in the 2011 Pride Power List andearlier this year established The InclusiveFoundation provides grants, advice andassistance to charitable and voluntaryorganisations working in equality, diversityand inclusion across the UK and Europe.

He is a governor of the Museum ofLondon and a trustee of CareTradeCharitable Trading Company.

Said Heather: “I’m absolutely delightedMark accepted the invitation to speak.Having such a well-respected figure in thisfield from one of the world’s most innovativebrands shows the high-level at which theWomen’s Business Forum is now.”

Go towww.thewomensbusinessforum.co.uk

Following thefashion trendsA JOURNALIST whose careerin Huddersfield brought herinto contact with the town’stextile trade has written a majorwork on fashion and themedia.

Jayne Sheridan (pictured),who worked in public relationsin the town during the 1980sand now teaches fashion com-munication at HuddersfieldUniversity, has won high praisefor her book Fashion MediaPromotion: The New BlackMagic.

The 250-page book – whichJayne says is aimed at businesspeople and fashion students,but is set to appeal to a wideraudience – examines howmedia such as film helps to sellfashion.

“Fashion has used the mediain a brilliant way,” she said.“Fashion is so visual and that

means it suits the digital agewhere pictures are now just asimportant as words.”

Jayne, who lives at Rish-worth, said the subhead of thebook’s title reflected how “fash-ion casts its spells and weavesits dreams” and how fashionpromotes itself using media.

“It’s not just about fashionusing the magazines, newspa-pers, radio and television, butHollywood,” she said.

The first chapter looks athow Gone With The Wind starVivienne Leigh provided ashowcase for Christian Dior’scollections and how AudreyHepburn changed the waywomen in Europe and Americasaw themselves. “They werepeople who realised that howthey looked made a differenceto how they were treated,” saidJayne.

The second chapter examineshow important art is to fashionwith examples of “museumcouture” and the designs ofVivienne Westwood.

The book later talks aboutother industry icons such asMary Quant and Paul Smith aswell as how footballer DavidBeckham’s move to AC Milanpresented a “sensational shop-

ping prospect” for wife Vic-toria.

Jayne Sheridan will be sign-ing copies of her book between11.30am and 3pm on Saturday.October 1, at Waterstone’s,New Street. Huddersfield.

She said: “I began research-ing the book when I startedteaching at Huddersfield Uni-versity in 2006, although Iworked with companies produ-cing performance fabrics dur-ing my PR days.

“My starting point is thatWest Yorkshire is the centre ofthe textile industry and Hud-dersfield is an important part ofthat story.

“In that sense, the bookcouples Huddersfield with theworld centres of fashion such asNew York, London andParis.”

MIRFIELD-based strategicmarketing consultancyPurebrand has appointedCarly Moon as businessdevelopment manager –following an expansiondrive which involvesopening a Cardiff officeand recruiting more staff.

Ms Moon (pictured)joins the agency fromGoodEgg recruitment consultancy, which shehelped establish in early 2010, specialising inrecruiting for the marketing and design sector.She worked with Purebrand to help recruit anumber of its senior team.

Before that, she worked as an accounthandler and studio manager representing clientsincluding Marketing Leeds and the RoyalTelevision Society.

In her new role, she will help further expandPurebrand's growing client list and establish thecompany’s new presence in Cardiff, a moveprompted by being commissioned to deliver amarketing campaign for a public healthprogramme.

Purebrand managing director Simon Ryansaid: “With Carly's appointment our goal is tobuild on our growth by showcasing our creativeand strategic skills to a greater number ofbusinesses and organisations. We're also on thelook-out for a new account executive and acreative designer to join the team in Yorkshire.”

Carly Moon

Purebrand