Kirklees Business News, 27th April 2010

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees27, Apr i l , 2010

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RICHARD WINTERBOTTOM RICHARD GILLATTIt’s always good to talk!

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Offices on the agenda

Stor y - Page 7

FTSE 100+30.205753.85

An EXAMINER publication

TradingplaceA MILNSBRIDGE firmmaking and supplyingdrain cleaningequipment hasstrengthened itsposition in the market.G K and N Services hasinvested in a new tradeshop at its site at ColneVale Business Park.

Stadiumlink-upA FIRM supplyingblinds and curtains isputting its competitorsin the shade following alink-up withHuddersfield’sGalpharm Stadium.Lockwood-based SwiftBlinds and Curtainshas signed a 10-yeardeal with KirkleesStadium DevelopmentLtd to cement theiralready strongrelationship.

Failure rate falls in March for Yorkshire firmsFEWER Yorkshire firms are failingthan a year ago, according to latestinsolvency figures.

A survey by business informationgroup Experian showed there were171 insolvencies in the region last

month against 230 for March, 2009.The latest figure represents 0.15% ofthe region’s total number of firms.

The insolvency rate for March lastyear was 0.17%.

Nationally, there were 2,160 insolv-

encies last month, representing 0.11%of the total business “population”.

That compares with 2,512 a yearearlier when failed firms represented0.13% of all UK businesses.

Sectors worst hit last month were

business services with 488 companiesgoing bust – down by one on the 2009figure –, building and constructionwith 377 casualties against 398 lasttime and 143 firms lost compared with185 before.

Celebrity chef hasrecipe for successCELEBRITY chef Marco PierreWhite made a return to his Yorkshireroots - to help a Huddersfield-basedsmall domestic electrical applianceand cookware distributor open its new£100,000 showroom.

EPE International, based at Queen'sSquare, Leeds Road, has invested thesix-figure sum in a showroom.

Design features include the latestLutron light scene setting system andblinds plus a cooking station to displayits premium-quality ranges of items,including kettles and toasters, potsand pans, food mixers, pressure cook-ers, blenders and coffee-makingmachines.

The opening follows EPE’s successin signing a contract as sole distributorfor the independents with RussellHobbs for its new range of cookwareand electrical goods.

The award-winning chef, who workswith manufacturer Russell Hobbs, wasinvited to cut a ribbon to open the newshowroom before mingling withguests.

He signed his trademark bandanasfor guests and also accepted a £750cheque on behalf of Cancer Research.EPE is a long-standing supporter ofthe charity and makes a donation to

the cause on the sale of selected itemsin its brochure.

Managing director Noel Pammentsaid the new showroom provided thecompany with another unique sellingpoint compared to its competitors – byproviding the cooking station whereproducts can be demonstrated.

The showroom, which replaces amuch smaller display room at thefirm’s EPE House premises, will alsobe used for regular events brandedunder The Master Cook Shop name,including open days and VIP days.

He told guests: “We are very excitedabout the whole thing.

“It was a concept that began on apiece of paper last September. We saidwe would have it ready for the springand we have achieved that deadline.

“We are a premium brand distrib-utor selling at the quality end of themarket. We have national coverageand we believe that we can bringsomething to the table to benefit ourmanufacturers and our customers. Weare not just shifting boxes.”

Tim Wright, sales and marketingdirector for Russell Hobbs, commen-ded EPE for its initiative in setting upthe showroom, adding: “The companyis only eight years old, but has already

shown great growth. Being here today,you can understand why.”

EPE – which stands for Ella Pam-ment Enterprises, was named in hon-our of Noel's daughter Ella.

It was established in 2003, but hasalready grown into a £5m turnoverbusiness. It supplies products made byleading names including RussellHobbs, Tefal, Kenwood, Tower and

Philips to electrical retailers, cookshops, and department stores such asFenwick’s and Pearson’s.

It was named Supplier of the Year2009 for small electrical and was votedbest newcomer at the cook shop andhouse wares association in a competi-tion voted for by member of buyinggroups.

■ PRIME CUT: Marco Pierre White cuts the ribbon to open the showroom forEPE International watched by EPE managing director Noel Pamment (left) andTim Wright, sales and marketing director for Russell Hobbs

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

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national

SHARE PRICESLocal shares

FTSE closed at

5753.8Up 30.2

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.58 dollarsBangladesh................. 100.93 takaBrazil.............................. 2.42 realsCanada....................... 1.47 dollarsChina ............................. 9.43 yuanCzech Republic ...... 26.91 korunasDenmark....................... 8.18 kroneEuro............................... 1.10 euroHong Kong................ 11.38 dollarsHungary ................... 271.43 forintsIndia.......................... 60.32 rupeesJapan........................... 138.48 yenMexico ....................... 16.76 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.99 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.67 kronePakistan.................. 122.16 rupeesPhilippines ................. 58.45 pesosSouth Africa................. 10.64 randSouth Korea.............. 1486.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 166.09 rupeesSweden....................... 10.56 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.58 francsTaiwan ...................... 42.23 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.15 new liraUSA ............................ 1.48 dollars

Carclo 1491/2 +41/2Chapelthorpe 21Marshalls 1041/2 +6National Grid 6461/2 -61/2RensburgSheppards

860 +2

Weir Gp 1017 +81

Wellcome out of the raceA CONSORTIUM led by Britain’slargest charity and private equitygroup Wellcome Trust has droppedout of the race to buy 318 Royal Bankof Scot land branches, i t hasemerged.

Wellcome, which had teamed upwith US buyout firm Blackstone, isunderstood to be out of the runningafter it failed to match rival bids.

There are now thought to be fourcontenders left vying for the RBSbranches, which are being put up forsale by the part-nationalised bank inorder to meet competition concerns.

Spanish banks BBVA and Sant-ander, which bought Abbey and Alli-

ance & Leicester in the UK, arereportedly front runners – with SirRichard Branson’s Virgin Money andClydesdale and Yorkshire ownerNational Australia Bank also said tobe bidding.

UBS, the investment bank handlingthe auction, is expected to draw up afinal shortlist by the end of theweek.

Wellcome did not comment.The trust, which has an endowment

of about £13bn and specialises insupporting medical research, emergedas a surprise suitor in the initial roundof the bidding process earlier thismonth.

Redrow ready fora return to profitsHOUSEBUILDER Redrow pre-dicted a return to profit for the firsttime since 2007 as the recovery in theproperty market picks up pace.

The group, which posted losses of£8.7m in the six months to December31, is forecasting a surge in sales whichwill see it move out of the red in thesecond half of its current financialyear.

Flintshire-based Redrow is set tocomplete more than 2,500 house salesthis year – up on the 2,113 reported inits last financial year.

It said average prices of privatehouses had increased year-on-yearand against the first half, while activ-ity in the land market had seen a“noticeable increase”. However, Red-row said the UK property market wasnot out of the woods yet.

Its comments come as propertyintelligence firm Hometrack reporteda continued slowdown in momentumin the property market during April –with sellers outstripping buyers andprices ahead by just 0.2% during themonth, following increases of 0.3% ineach of the previous two months.

Redrow said: “We have beenencouraged by sales activity since thestart of the calendar year with salesrates per outlet comfortably ahead ofthe same period last year.

“Weekly visitor levels and cancella-tion rates have remained reasonablyconsistent throughout the period.”

But it added: “Given the uncertain-ties surrounding the election, the eco-nomic environment and continuedrestrictions on mortgage availability,we expect the market to remain chal-

lenging throughout 2010.”Redrow is hoping the launch of its

New Heritage Collection of familyhomes will help drive sales.

The new range has seen the groupplace traditional family housing backat the forefront of its offer.

Since the end of 2009, Redrow hassecured or agreed terms on around2,500 plots on 18 sites, largely for itsNew Heritage Collection.

Shares in the group rose by 0.3p to151.4p yesterday on news of theexpected profits cheer, which signalsthe end of one of the toughest periodsfor the housebuilding sector.

Redrow posted its worst everannual results in the year to June2009, when it slumped into the red by£140.8m.

Chloride shares power aheadSHARES in power protection firmChloride jumped by 43% after a USindustrial giant re-ignited takeoverinterest in the company.

The move by Emerson Electricvalues Chloride at £723m and comesless than two years after it failed witha previous takeover approach.

Emerson, based in Missouri, sentits offer proposal to Chloride onFriday and went public with itsinterest after Chloride failed torespond by a Sunday deadline.

C h l o r i d e , w h i c h p r ov i d e sblue-chip companies with systemsto protect against power outages,was best known for making batter-ies, but has been a secure power

solutions firm since 2000.It employs 2,300 people in 15

countries, of which 374 are locatedin the UK.

Emerson said the offer price of275p a share represented a premiumof 34% on the price of Chloride’sshares on Thursday night. The stocksoared by 88p to close at 297p yes-terday as investors sought a biggerprice from Emerson.

Chloride said the latest offer fromEmerson continued to “significantlyundervalue’’ the company and itsprospects.

It said its trading position hadimproved since the last offer in 2008,when Emerson tabled 270p a share.

StrongquarterENGINEERING groupWeir said interim profitswere expected to be“substantially” up on ayear earlier after a strongfirst quarter.

The Glasgow-basedgroup, which hasoperations at Elland andBradley, is forecastingfull-year pre-tax profitsabout £30m higher thanits previous guidanceafter a better thanexpected improvement inactivity and a positiveoutlook for orders.

EarningsforecastCARPHONE Warehousegeared up for the launchof its first Best Buymegastore by raisingprofits guidance for thethird time in six months.

The group, whichjointly owns its retailbusiness with US partnerBest Buy, said strongsales of smartphonesand last year’s cost cutshelped increase earningsgrowth in CarphoneWarehouse stores.

It expects its share ofannual retail profits to beabout £47m for the yearto the end of March – upon the £40m to £45mrange given at its lastprofits upgrade inJanuary.

Carphone and BestBuy will open the first of“Big Box” consumerelectronics store inThurrock, Essex, onFriday. Carphone plansto pump another £35m to£40m into “Big Box’’store launches this year.

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £30.74 -0.32Gannett 1207.26 +25.85Hess Corp £42.32 -0.03Microsoft £20.09 +0.08Motors Liquidation 48.47Wal-Mart Stores £35.13 -0.11

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 931/2BAE Systems 3613/8 +31/2Rolls-Royce Gp 5951/2 +5VT Group 7551/2 -3

AIMBrady Plc 671/2Dawson Intl 21/4

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 1525/8 +41/8

BANKSBarclays 3707/8 +85/8HSBC 6853/4 +33/4Lloyds Banking Gp 701/4 +13/4Ryl Scotland 58 +21/4Stan Chart 1772 -15

BEVERAGESDiageo 1137 -3SABMiller £207/8 +1/4

CHEMICALSCroda 1032 +611/2Elementis 98 67 +11/4Johnsn Mat 1788 +25

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2901/2 -21/2Costain 241/2 -1/4

ELECTRICITYDrax Grp 3675/8 +11/4Intl Power 341 +51/4

Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1124 +2

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTChloride 297 +88Laird 1247/8 +3/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 350 +31/4

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1311/2 -3/4Cable & WirelessComm

621/2 +1/4

Cable & WirelessWwide

913/4 +11/4

Colt Telecom 1321/8 -7/8KCOM 45 -31/4Talktalk Telecom 1301/2 +5

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 3025/8 +13/4Sainsbury 3511/4 +11/2Tesco 4543/8 +33/4

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1032 -4Nth Foods 571/2 +1/4Tate Lyle 4493/8 +33/4Unilever 1976 +6Uniq 171/4 -21/4

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 3127/8 +43/4National Grid 6461/2 -61/2Pennon Grp 530 -6Severn 1190 -4United Utils 5521/2 +11/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 275 +23/4ICAP 4005/8 +43/4London StockExch 7221/2 -11/2Man Group 264 +41/2

Provident Financial 849 -81/2Schroders 1412 +9Schroders NV 1127 +8

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 607 +381/2REXAM 3251/8 +33/4Smiths Grp 1141 +21

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 143/4Carphone Whse 1973/4 +3DSG International 343/8Home Retail 2951/8 +1/4Inchcape 353/8 +13/8Kingfisher 2481/2 +3/4M & S 381 +51/8Mothercare 6001/2 -61/2Next £233/8 -1/8WH Smith 5011/2 -81/2

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 6821/2 +101/2

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 111 -1/2Barrat Dev 1373/4 +53/4Persimmon 5071/2 +91/4Reckitt Benckiser £361/2 +7/8Taylor Wimpey 431/2 -1/2

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 8481/2 +30Delta 1831/4 -1/4I M I 7341/2 +401/2Man Brnze 791/2

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 3683/4 +61/4

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 2171/4 +51/2Forth Ports 1315 -36

LIFE INSURANCE

Aviva 3725/8 +33/8Lgl & Gen 891/2 +1/2Old Mutual 1187/8 +11/4Prudential 546 +5Resolution 761/4 -7/8Standard Life 1995/8 +3/4

MEDIABSkyB 616 -14Chrysalis 1043/4 +1/4D Mail Tst 5291/2 +2ITV 693/8 -1/8Johnston Press 321/2 +11/2Pearson 1045 +4Reed Elsevier 5351/2 -9STV Group 961/2 +1/4Trinity Mirror 1701/8 +71/8Utd Business 573 +6UTV 130WPP 725 -141/2Yell Group 57 -1/2

MININGAnglo American £293/8 +3/4Antofagasta 1064 +701/2BHP Billiton £211/2 +3/8Eurasian NaturalRes

1257 +43

Fresnillo 840 +5Kazakhmys 1480 +50Lonmin £201/8 +1/4Rio Tinto £38 +5/8VEDANTARESOURCES

£28 +7/8

Xstrata 1194 +27MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 7871/2 +11/2Vodafone Group 1481/4 -1/8

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1350 -5RSA Insurance Gp 1231/8 +3/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERSBG 11131/2 -1/2BP 6263/4 -127/8Cairn Energy 4131/4 +11/2Norsk Hdro 5083/4Royal Dutch Shell A 19891/2 -3Royal Dutch Shell B 1913 -4Total £363/4Tullow Oil 1224 -2

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 869 +31/2Petrofac 1199 +19Wood Group 4021/4 +31/2

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry 7091/2 +101/2PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca £29Axis-Shield 431 +6

GlaxoSmithK 9Shire 1468 +36

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 485 +45/8DTZ Hldgs 771/2 +1/2Hamrsn 3911/8 +1/4Land Secs 666 -21/2SEGRO 3187/8 +1/4

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp 1869 +11Dimension Data 963/4 +21/2Invensys 340 +14Logica 1443/4 -25/8Misys 247 -5/8Sage Group 2561/2 +21/4

SUPPORT SERVICESBunzl 769 +7Capita 826 +5Davis ServiceGroup

4303/8 +13/4

De La Rue 9341/2 -81/2Electrocomp 2311/4 +13/4Experian 622 -21/2G4S 2723/4 +3/4Hays 1163/8 -13/8Homeserve £201/8 -1/4Menzies J 387 +31/2Rentokil 1381/2 +1/4Smiths News 119 -1Wolseley 1698 +40

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 2585/8 +41/4Psion 823/4 +11/4Spirent Comms 123 +41/8

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £22 +1/8Imperial Tobacco 1947 -6

LEISURE & HOTELS

Arriva 7661/2Brit Airways 2383/4 +45/8Carnival £291/4 +3/4Compass Grp 5421/2 +71/2easyJet 4913/4 -43/4Enterprise Inns 1365/8 +2FirstGroup 3977/8 +2Go-Ahead 1485 +3Greene King 4681/4 +77/8Intercontl Htls 1130 +8Ladbrokes 1611/8 -3/4Mitchells & Butlers 3371/4 +13/4Natl Express 2511/4 -13/8PartyGaming 322 +7/8Rank Org 1205/8 +13/8Stagecoach Group 1981/2 +11/8TUI Travel 291 +25/8Whitbread 1631 +17

INDEXFTSE 100 5753.85 +30.20

INDEXFTSE 250 10690.08 +88.54

■ ON THE UP: Redrow expects to rise outof the red in the second half of the year

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

RichardWinterbottom

Talkative Ltd

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: managing dir-ectorAge: 39Family: Married toCatherine with chil-dren Freya, four, andJacob, twoHolidays: TenerifeCar: Mitsubishi Sho-gunFirst job: Workingin the cold store atSpeedyfro, PaddockBest thing aboutjob: I still get a buzzfrom making a sale.The day I don’t, it willbe time to call it adayWorst thingabout job: The redtape from mobile net-worksBusiness tip:Foster the attitude ofbeing ‘small enoughto care, big enoughto cope’

Work: Mobile phonespecialistsSite: HartsheadEmployees: FivePhone: 544544Email:[email protected]

Richardfinds it’sgood to betalkative

RICHARD Winterbottomhas certainly found hiscalling in life.

The managing director ofmobile phone specialistTalkative Ltd is helping firmsacross the Kirklees area tokeep in touch with their staffand clients.

The Hartshead-basedbusiness – which celebratesits 10th anniversary thissummer – supplies mobilephones to small andmedium-sized businessesranging from aself-employed electricianneeding just one handset toa group needing 200phones for its staff andsales teams.

In addition, Talkativesupplies a wide range oflandline equipment andtelephone systems. It canalso call on a nationalinstallation team to covercar kit installations andservice.

It’s a far cry fromRichard’s first real taste ofbusiness – helping in thecold store at family firmSpeedyfro, based inPaddock.

“I left the company whenit was sold in 1992,” saysRichard.

“I was basically looking fora job and just dropped lucky.The opportunity came up togo into selling mobilephones for People’s Phone,a retailer who had juststarted to branch out.

“I opened six stores forthem, including ones inHuddersfield, Dewsbury andHalifax.”

After Vodafone boughtPeople’s Phone, Richardapplied for an areamanager’s job withoutsuccess.

“They decided to take ona girl from Woolworths,” herecalls. “They decided thather retail background meantshe was more capable ofrunning 16 shops and Irealised I would not be

going anywhere – and nowwas the time to leave.”

Richard took the plungeand opened Talkative in2000 with a shop inHuddersfield town centre

“We had quite a lot ofbusiness customers at theKing Street store,” he says.

“In those days, managingdirectors would come inperson to buy their mobilephones, which would scaresome sales staff. I found iteasy to talk to them.

“We opened the shopintending to handleaccessories such as phonefascias, but we realised wecould not do the volumesneeded to make it pay andwe aimed instead at mobilesfor the business market.

“After 18 month we knewwe needed to be out of thetown centre and we went toAspley where we stayed forfour years.

“But we outgrew thepremises and came toHartshead because it iscentral for the areas wecover – Huddersfield,Halifax, Leeds, Bradford and

Wakefield.”Talkative received signal

recognition of its servicelevels and success in buildingup its client base when it wasgranted accreditation bymobiles giant O2.

Customers includePaddock-based ContinentalSports, building sectorstalwart The Myers Group atCrosland Hill and CountryPark Foods headquartered atOakes.

“We aim mainly at the SMEmarket,” says Richard – whocelebrates his 40th birthdayshortly.

“We have been in businessfor 10 years because of theservice we offer.

“Larger customers aredealt with directly by the bignetworks, but we look afterthe SMEs – and we are stillbarely scratching the surface.

“We have come fromanalogue phones topalm-sized computers, butpeople still need basicservice.

“After selling phones for 18years I can’t say I get thatexcited about the technology.In fact, I’d have to say I’m abit of a technophobe myself!But I get a big kick out ofdealing with people – andthat’s what my business isabout.”

Richard detects positivesigns after the “three-yearstranglehold” of the downturnand the recession. Talkativewas able to lift turnover by40% last year, despite thegeneral economic climate.

“I think things are gettingbetter,” he says. “The housingmarket is picking up, we arecoming out of recession, butthere are a lot of companiesstill laying people off.”

Talkative is also makingstrides with communityissues.

Late last year, the companyjoined forces with OvergateHospice at Elland to developa recycling partnership for oldmobile phones. Talkative is

also a corporate memberof the Elland-basedhospice.

Richard hasundertaken a largerecycling campaign tohelp the hospice improveon the few hundredpounds it previously gotfrom donations ofrecycled mobile phones.

The hospice,established in 1981, is theonly facility of its kind inCalderdale and providescare to adults with lifelimiting illnesses.

It has a 12-bedinpatient unit and 24-hourmedical care from doctorsand nurses. It alsoprovides support forfamilies.

Talkative hopes to helpthe hospice meet its near£2m-a-year running coststhrough the recycling

initiative.Heading Talkative Ltd

takes up much of Richard’stime, but when theopportunity arises he canbe found just a phone callaway at the family’s holidayhome in Tenerife.

Richard also runs thethird team at Netherton FCand enjoys a round of golfat Crosland Heath.

Further expansion forTalkative is high on theagenda for 2010 andbeyond.

Says Richard: “I still get abuzz from making a sale.The minute I don’t get thatbuzz from selling a contractor picking up a customer isthe time that I’ll know to callit a day.”

■ PHONE LINE: RichardWinterbottom plans even biggerthings for Talkative Ltd

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal

BANKER’SBLOGJill Hague

Jill Hague is HSBC area commercial director forCalderdale and Kirklees

Valley companyleads the jet setA FIRM manufacturing and sup-plying drain cleaning equipmenthas strengthened its position in themarket with a major investment.

G K and N Services has opened atrade shop at its 8,000sq ft premisesat Colne Vale Business Park,Milnsbridge, as well as producing afull-colour products catalogue.

The company, which celebratedits 10th anniversary last year andhas seven employees, is run byhusband and wife Gary and KarenElsy.

It manufactures its own range ofjetters, van packs, tankers, remotereels and drainage equipment.

Other services include installingelectrical equipment, fitting outvans in wood and aluminium, ser-vice and MoT work on trucks andvans as well as pre-purchase inspec-tions of tankers and jetters.

The company supplies high-pres-

sure draining cleaning equipmentand vehicles to customers rangingfrom sole traders to major compan-ies and local authorities across theBritish Isles – including Wales,Scotland, the Channel Isles andEire.

Said Karen: “We moved herefrom Honley two years ago toexpand our manufacturing and ser-vicing facilities.

“We didn’t have the space toopen a jetting accessories shopbefore – but with the move wedecided to make that investment.”

Although we have customers allover the country, we find somepeople want to call in.

“We have had drain cleaningfranchisees from York and Don-caster calling on their way to jobsfor items such as drain rods, handtools and jetting hoses.”

■ TRADING PLACE: Sales director Karen Elsy (front) with director GaryElsy (right) and office administrator Michelle Bickley welcome customers tothe new trade shop

A five-starperformanceAN independent garage in Huddersfield hasjoined a UK-wide member scheme whichaims to raise standards in the motor repairsindustry.Paddock-based Five Star Autocentre Ltdhas become a member of thenationally-recognised Good GarageScheme, which has more than 2,800independent garage members operatingthroughout the UK.The scheme was launched in 2006 to showthat the motor trade does offer value formoney and can be trusted. Members arerequired to adhere to a strict code ofconduct and offer a 50-point IndustryStandard Service.The scheme also includes a customerfeedback system and a five-star rating.A spokesman for the garage said: “We arean established business and joining theGood Garage Scheme offers our existingcustomers and potential new ones a brandthat is now easily recognised formaintaining the highest industry standards.“Customers can also book their serviceonline and give feedback. The schemetakes away any worries that motoristsmight have when choosing a garage.”Anndi Sheppard, campaign manager of theGood Garage Scheme, said: “We aredelighted to welcome Five Star AutocentreLtd as a member of the Good GarageScheme.“The scheme is going from strength tostrength, with an ever increasing number ofmembers ensuring millions of motoristsreceive the highest quality work fromindependent garages and workshops.”

Food producersmeet the buyersFOOD and drink suppliers flocked toWest Yorkshire for a chance to Meetthe Buyer.Marsh-based cakemaker ProperMaid was among more than 80producers attending the seventhannual Meet the Buyer event run byThe Regional Food Group forYorkshire and Humber.The event, staged at Oulton HallHotel, Leeds, involved 1,020meetings between the producersand 38 national buyers, includingsupermarket chains Asda, Booths,Tesco and Morrisons as well asJet2.com, Leeds United and theNational Trust.Phil Godwin, buyer at Booths said:“I have been to a number of thesetypes of events and Regional FoodGroup’s events are always ofparticular interest. This Meet theBuyer is a brilliant use of our timeand to be given the opportunity tomeet 25 Yorkshire suppliers in oneday is great.”RFG chief executive JonathanKnight said: “Attendees have told usthat the event saves them time andeffort and can mean that a week’sworth of work is done in one day.”

Strategic plansIMPORTING and exporting

can present significantbusiness opportunities –but with customers andsuppliers all over theglobe, you’ll need to take astrategic approach togrowing your internationaltrade.

M y c o l l e a g u e D av i dMenaghan has some best prac-tice advice on managinglong-distance relationships.

Overseas customers and sup-pliers operate in an increas-ingly competit ive globalmarket and – as in any otherarea of business – you need tomanage the relationship tomake the most of the oppor-tunities.

Assuming that everyonespeaks English, or that theywill automatically want to dobusiness with you, isn’t goodenough.

If you aren't prepared to puteffort into the relationship,somebody else will be!

To start with, identify thekey contacts you need to buildrelationships with. In additionto your customers or suppliers,this may include agents, tradeorganisations and governmentdepartments.

It is also easier to build arelationship face to face, par-ticularly in the early stages andyou may need to make several

visits if you are hoping to winhigh value orders.

E-mail is cost-effective andconvenient – particularly ifthere is a long time differencebetween you – but lacks theimmediacy and personal touchof a phone call.

Visiting gives you an oppor-tunity to get to know theirbusiness and to find out moreabout the country you are deal-ing with, but think about themost cost-effective way tovisit.

UK Trade & Investment'sPassport to Export programmecan include financial supportto visit an exhibition in anoverseas market.

The chamber of commerceor your trade association mayalso lead trade missions. Thesecan be a good way of meetingseveral customers in one trip.

At the same time, you willneed to understand the local

market and work with differentcustoms and cultures.

Establishing a personal rela-tionship can be crucial and youmay need to learn some localrituals.

For example, in Japan whenyou are given a business cardyou should study it carefully, asputting it in your pocketwithout looking at it is con-sidered rude.

Taking a contact to a meal isoften an expected part of theprocess of building a businessrelationship, but in some cul-tures, it is considered bad formto discuss business at socialoccasions.

At HSBC we have a team ofspecialists available to adviseyou on developing an appro-priate strategy for your busi-ness to trade internationally.

E m a i l d av i d m e n ag h a [email protected]

Solicitors makea major moveA LAW firmbased inLiverpool hasexpanded intoYorkshire byopening anoffice inHuddersfield.EAD Solicitorshas recruitedeight formermembers ofThornleys Solicitors to the EADteam’s offices at the Media Centre,Northumberland Street. The teamwill continue to focus on providingservices to members of the Unitetrade union in the region.EAD Solicitors has a strongreputation for personal injury andemployment litigation and hasclose links with the trade unionmovement across the north andbeyond.Tom Doherty (pictured), a foundingpartner of EAD Solicitors and aspecialist in high-value personalinjury claims for trade unionmembers, said: “We are proud tobe one of the main legal serviceproviders for a number of majortrade unions in the UK.“Our new base in Huddersfieldmeans that we are now able toextend our work for Unite to theeast and the west of the Penninesand into Manchester.“Our new staff in Huddersfield willbe a real asset to us in extendingEAD’s geographical reach and weare delighted to be taking such apositive step to increase our unionwork.”EAD Solicitors was founded in 1974and has the Legal ServicesCommission Quality AssuranceMark for dealing with medicalnegligence, fraud and criminal law.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local

Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors

EMPLOYER’SBRIEFNeil Wilson

Quarry firmreally rocks!STONE quarried in Huddersfield is being usedto provide name signs for six villages in SouthYorkshire.

Johnsons Wellfield Quarries, based at Cros-land Hill, provided six enormous stones – eachweighing about three tons – for Barnsley Coun-cil.

They will be used as “community markers” forvillages in the Barnsley area.

Clr Harry Spence, an independent councillorrepresenting Darton East ward, visited the Cros-land Hill quarry to see the York stone slabs beforethey are sandblasted and lettered.

There will be two community markers atMapplewell with one each for Woolley Colliery,Staincross, Darton and Windhill.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: “We havedone a number of sign stones – but not usuallyones this big – because they are difficult totransport and move into position. In this case,they will be transported on our own heavy-dutyloaders.”

Previous contracts won by Johnsons includeproviding stone for pedestrian areas in Leeds,Sheffield, Nottingham and London as well asprojects for Huddersfield University, Harrogate’sRoyal Hall and Stanbrook Abbey in NorthYorkshire.

■ ROCK FACE: Clr Harry Spence, of Barnsley Council,views the six huge stones supplied by Johnsons WellfieldQuarries for the South Yorkshire villages

Food producersmeet the buyers

ed to

e told us

Firms resilient inface of recession

Training troublesWITH effect from April 6,

2010, all companies withmore than 250 employees haveto allow their staff the right totake time off to undertake studyor training.

With effect from 6th April 2011,this will be extended to all busi-nesses.

Employees with at least 26 weeksof continuous service will be allowedto request time off for training if thepurpose is improving their effective-ness at work and the performance oftheir employer’s business.

An employee is entitled to makeone application in any 12-monthperiod. This must be in writing,stating such matters as the type oftraining, including where and when itwould take place, who would providethe training and how the trainingwould improve the employee’s effect-iveness and the performance of theemployer’s business.

On receipt of a valid application,the company must hold a meetingwith the employee within 28 days.The meeting would be to discuss therequest and to try to agree onwhether time off should be granted.If the company accepts the request, itmust state the type of training thatwill be allowed, when it is to takeplace, whether any terms and condi-tions of employment will change,

how the training costs will be metand whether the employee will bepaid for time spent studying or train-ing. It is important to understandthat there is no statutory right for theemployee to be paid while they areattending any training outside ofwork.

If the employer decides not togrant the request, it must do so onone of the specified grounds con-tained in the legislation. Forexample, a refusal could be on thegrounds of detrimental effect on abil-ity to meet customer need, detri-mental impact on performance orinability to reorganise work amongexisting staff.

An appeal hearing must take placeif the employee exercises this rightand again, refusal of any request atthe appeal stage must be on one ofthe 10 specified grounds contained inthe Employment Rights Act 1996.

Employers should be aware that,while there is no right to payment for

time off, time spent carrying outtraining during normal workinghours will count as “time work” forthe purposes of the calculation of theNational Minimum Wage. There-fore, when calculating whether anemployee is being paid minimumwage, account must be taken of anytime off that they take to attendtraining.

If the employer fails to follow thestatutory procedure outlined aboveor makes a decision to refuse all orpart of the application without refer-ring to one or more or the permiss-ible grounds then an employee isentitled to bring a claim at theemployment tribunal within threemonths of the application beingrefused.

It should be noted that if anemployer does rely on a permissibleground it must be able to justify thatdecision – otherwise the employeemay again have a right of action inthe employment tribunal.

YORKSHIRE businesses haveshown resilience in the face of therecession, a report has revealed.

The 2010 Yorkshire Report bybusiness advisers BDO showedthat the region’s top 150 com-panies have suffered a combined91% drop in post-tax profits to£0.3bn. Operating profits weredown by 54% from £5.1bn to£2.3bn.

It is the first time in five yearsthat combined profits have fallenfor the 150 firms reviewed.

However, the report said thatthe flexibility show by Yorkshiref i r ms in response to the“immense challenges of eco-nomic turmoil” made themwell-placed to benefit as recoverybuilds.

Ian Beaumont, managingpartner of the Leeds office ofBDO, said: “2009 was a year oftremendous structural change,with significant debt being refin-anced, new equity raised andbalance sheets strengthened. Wealso saw some of the region’s bignames leave the top 150.

“However, on a positive note,we saw 109 of the top 150 remainprofitable and 42% of those actu-ally increased profits in the year.Some key sectors also held upwell, most notably retail, where

the two biggest companies in thegroup increased their combinedrevenues by £3.2bn. The foodsector, an extremely importantone for the region, also sawprofits rise by 8%.

The construction industrysuffered particularly badly –where the previous year’s £1bnprofit turned into a loss of£0.6bn.

The financial services sectorsaw profits halved while manu-facturing profits were down bytwo-thirds.

But the fourth annual York-shire Report once again notedthat the top 150 firms demon-strated prudent management.Last year’s report noted thatsome £66bn of debt would needto be repaid or renewed in 2009.Despite the difficulty in access-ing appropriate finance at a reas-onable cost, many of the region’sbusinesses were able to refinancetheir debt facilities successfully –reflecting their inherent strengthand strong balance sheets.

Said Mr Beaumont: “Overall,I think the Yorkshire businesscommunity looks to the futurewith the same cautious optimismwe have shown in the past.

Commercial Bankinghsbc.com/commercial

Your business successis out there. Is your bank?Call Jill Hague on 08455 848702Email [email protected] in to Calderdale andKirklees Commercial Centre

Issued by HSBC Bank plc ACXXXXX

Amandeep Kooner is a real estatepartner at Austin Kemp Solicitors

REALESTATEAmandeep Kooner

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property

■ :

For more information contact Alec Michaelon 07717 870 320 or email [email protected]

Industrial

To LeT - iMMediATLey AvAiLAbLe

To LeT - iMMediATeLy AvAiLAbLe

Crystal Works,Union Road,Heckmondwike576 m2 (6,200 sq ft)

High quality modernindustrial/warehouse unitonly a short distance frommain A62 Leeds Road.

Park Road Mills,Park Road, elland11,356 - 25,600 sq ft

Single storey cost effectiveindustrial/production spacewith offices and on siteparking easily accessibleto J24 M62.

New Highfield Mill Cleckheaton995 m2 (10,713 sq ft)

Well located industrial/engineering premises less than milefor J26 M62 (Cleckheaton).

622 bradford Road, batley1,258m2 (13,537 sq ft)

Highly prominent industrial premises with offices & selfcontained yard adjacent A652 Bradford Road.

38 dewsbury Road, ossett379 m2 (4,085 sq ft)

Single storey warehouse and offices with large secureyard less than two miles from junction 40 M1.

victoria Court, off Wakefield Road,Clayton West8,000 – 16,000 sq ft

Recently re-built industrial units benefitting from large serviceyard and strategic location for Junctions 38 and 39 of the M1.

To LeT / MAy seLL To LeT / MAy seLL

To LeT/MAy seLLTo LeT – WiLL sPLiT

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property

Forum voices concernat lack of office space

■ BUILDING WORK: Richard Gillatt (left). head of property at Baxter Caulfield and chairmanof its Commercial Property Forum, with forum members before its latest meeting

HUDDERSFIELD is badly-placed to meetdemand for high-quality office space when therecovery takes hold, property experts in thetown have warned.

A meeting of the Commercial PropertyForum run by law firm Baxter Caulfield heardthat the town could lose out to neighbourLeeds – where rental values have been hit by aglut of office accommodation in the face of therecession.

Matthew Scholey, of Eddisons, said thesuccess of the Bradley Business Park develop-ment showed there was a need for high-qualityoffice space which was easy to use and boastedon-site car parking.

However, he said Huddersfield town centrestill lacked good quality office accommodation– despite the fact that many firms would preferto locate there because of its close links to thebus and rail stations and for the convenience ofits employees.

Tony Jones, manager of Handelsbanken,which opened offices at Bradley, added: “Wetook a leap of faith when we moved to Bradleyand we haven’t regretted it.

“We were the first bank to open in Hudders-field for 250 years – and we did soout-of-town.”

Jason Metcalfe, of Hanson Chartered Sur-veyors said developments such as Bradley ledto a migration of businesses out of the town

centre as well as attracting regional companiesto Huddersfield.

But he said high quality accommodationclose to the town centre was in short supply.The much-admired Folly Hall Mills develop-ment had been quickly filled – leaving a dearthof good office space until such time as theneighbouring Waterfront Quarter was com-pleted.

“There are a number of buildings in the towncentre that need refurbishing,” he said. “If theywere, the market would pick up. At themoment, there is a glut of offices available inLeeds, which is driving down the rental pricesthere.”

Mr Scholey said: “During the biggest prop-erty boom in many years, the town centre didnot change very much – apart from the Kings-gate development.

“When we needed some attractive and viableoffice space, it did not happen. Now the marketis down, there is no private money to do it.”

Mr Scholey said Kirklees College’s move tothe Waterfront site provided the prospect ofre-developing the college’s old location.

The forum, held at Baxter Caulfield’s StationStreet offices and chaired by Richard Gillatt,head of property at the law firm, also heardfrom Greg Jennings, assistant director forregeneration and economic development atKirklees Council.

Mr Jennings updated forum members onmoves to bring together regeneration and eco-nomic development services at the council andthe operations of the local authority’s ninebusiness centres – which provide industrial andcommercial space for small and medium-sizedfirms.

The centres provide 250 units in total andhave 170 businesses renting space at sites inareas such as Lockwood, Clayton West, Batleyand Heckmondwike.

Kirklees is also looking to set up two smallerbusiness “generators” in Dewsbury as well as athird focusing on “green” businesses.

LAND

OFFICES

INDUSTRIAL

INVESTMENT

RETAIL

T. 01484 530361 www.bramleys.com

4 RANGE LANEHalifax, HX3 6DLFORMER HOSTEL PREMISES395m2 (4,250ft2)Site Area 0.13 Hectares (0.33 Acres)■ Vacant possession■ Suitable for refurbishment foralternative occupational residentialuses or possible completeredevelopment, subject toplanning consent












■ industrial

■ offices

■ retail

■ investment

■ land

COLNE ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 3ERTo Let £7,250 p/a

● 89.96m² (968ft²)● Popular industrial location

● Outskirts of town centre

● Max. eaves 5.5m

● 1068sqft also available

modern industrial

COLNE VALE BUSINESS PARK, MILNSBRIDGE, HD3 4NYTo Let £75 p/w

● 61.9sqm (666sqft)● Workshop

● Flexible Terms

● 2 Miles from town centre

● 4,783sqft also available

workshop

LOCKWOOD ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 3TGTo Let £25,000 p/a

● 193.6m² (2,084ft²)● Self Contained

● Fully Inclusive Rent

● Computer Cabling

● Car Parking

first floor office premises

HALF MOON STREET, HD1 2JFTo Let £5 p/s/f

● 137.77sqm (1,483sq ft)

● First floor office suite

● Good secondary location

● Disability access

first floor offices

LEEDS ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 6DDTo Let £20,000 p/a

● 632sq yds● High profile position

● Outskirts of Huddersfield town centre

● Good access to M62

● Close vicinity to retail park

prominent site

SOUTHGATE, ELLAND, HX5 0BWTo Let £10,500 p/a

● 119.09sqm (1,282sqft)

● Close to public car parking

● Rateable value £7,900

● Available for other use, subject to planning

restaurant premises

BLACKMOORFOOT ROAD, Crosland Moor,To Let £10,500 p/a

● 79.7 m² [858 ft²]● Double fronted sales shop

● Customer car park

● Close to Co-op Supermarket

● REDUCED RENT

retail unit

SERGEANTSON STREET, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 2JFTo Let £8,000 p/a

● 47.57sqm (512sqft)

● Good secondary position

● Within landmark town centre building

● Near Bus Station and Train Station

retail unit

OFF BRITANNIA ROAD,HUDDERSFIELD, HD7

£750,000 For Sale

● 5,224sqm (56,235sqft)● Former textile mill

● Suitable for a variety of

industrial and commercial

purposes

● Situated alongside the River

Colne

industrial site with development potentialGREENHEAD ROAD,

HUDDERSFIELD, HD14EN

To Let £19,500 p/a

● 227.4sqm (2,446sqft)

● Accessible location

● On-Site car parking

● Excellent security system

● Perimeter of Huddersfield

town centre

characterful office building

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers

Cooper’snew dealINDEPENDENT coffee distributorCooper’s Coffee has secured a contractwith award-winning tourist attractionCannon Hall Farm at Cawthorne.

The deal will see Bradley-basedCooper’s supply the working farm with£20,000 worth of espresso machineequipment from premium Italian brandDalla Corte as well as more than£15,000 of its own award winning coffeefor the farm’s 250-seater restaurant.

Cannon Hall Farm welcomes morethan 250,000 paying visitors each yearand is also used by neighbouring localauthorities for educational coach tripsas part of the curriculum for primaryschools.

Attractions includes a children's playarea, picnic area, shops, butchery, icecream parlour, delicatessen and farmshop which is widely acknowledged asone of the biggest and best in the regionserving the finest home produced beef,pork and lamb.

As part of the contract, Cooper’s hasdelivered intensive barista training tostaff at the farm.

The new equipment was installed intime for the Easter weekend – one ofthe busiest times of the year for CannonHall Farm, which welcomed more than40,000 visitors.

Cooper’s won the contract afterCannon Hall Farm owner RobertNicholson met the coffee firm’smanaging director, David Cooper ,at a“Dragon’s Den” event at SilcoatesSchool in Wakefield.

The event saw students presenting anarray of innovative products to a panelof dragons which included Mr Cooper.Mr Nicholson’s daughter – a pupil at theschool – was among the studentspitching their ideas.

ACCOUNTANCY firm Revell Ward has signedup as patrons of high-flying HuddersfieldGiants.The company, with offices at Market Street inHuddersfield, already has a long-standingrelationship with the Super League club.Partner Karen Borowski, who is pictured(above) with players Leroy Cudjoe (left) andMichael Lawrence, said: “We are proud tosupport such a fantastic team. At Revell Ward,we work hard and play hard and mixingbusiness with pleasure makes it so easy.”Giants managing director Richard Thewlissaid: “We are delighted to welcome RevellWard as the Giants official patrons.“Our partnership continues to go fromstrength to strength and is a great example ofhow two professional organisations can workalongside each other with mutual benefits.”

Academy assuredof great supportHUDDERSFIELD Town has teamed up withinsurance broker Wilbys Ltd.

The Halifax-based company, which alreadysponsors the back of Town’s home shirt thisseason, has increased its commitment to the clubby offering car and household contents insurancepackages to supporters.

For every policy taken out, Wilbys will make adonation to the club’s academy.

Academy manager Graham Mitchell is pictured(above left) with Wilbys managing directorRichard Blackburn.

Graham said he was delighted by Wilby’scommitment to the club, adding: “I think it is a signof the progress the academy is making that morecompanies want to be associated with us.

“Town supporters will save money on theirinsurance deals through this new relationshipwhile earning funds for the academy, so it’s afantastic opportunity for everyone involved.”

Mr Blackburn said: “We are a local companyand massive supporters of the club, so to knowthat in some way we can contribute to producethe next Alex Smithies or Michael Collins means alot to us.

“While the donation to the club varies on thetype of insurance taken out by the supporters, theinvestment made by us is sizeable and will play akey role in enabling the great work carried out byGraham and his team not only to continue butdevelop further.”

Swift shades itat the stadiumA COMPANY supplying blindsand curtains is putting its com-petitors in the shade following alink-up with Huddersfield’sGalpharm Stadium.

Lockwood-based Swi f tBlinds and Curtains has signeda 10-year deal with KirkleesStadium Development Ltd tocement their already strongrelationship.

As part of the deal, newblinds supplied by Swift nowadorn the Fantastic MediaSuite – depicting the clubbadges of Huddersfield Townand Huddersfield Giants as wellas Town and Giants legendsAndy Booth and Eorl Crab-tree.

The hope is that companiesa n d i n d iv i d u a l s w i l l b eimpressed with the images andwill want to see their owndesigns feature on the blinds in

their corporate areas.Stadium managing director

Ralph Rimmer said: ‘We arealways looking to improve thefacility and I am really pleasedwith what this company hasproduced for one of our mostprestigious lounges.

“The graphics are high qual-ity and not only will our boxholders have the opportunity toinstall their bespoke designs intheir suites, but Swift can do thes a m e fo r a ny c o m p a nyheadquarters or even domestic-ally.”

David Roebuck, sales directorat Swift Blinds and Curtains,said ‘ We installed blinds whenthe lounge first opened andevery time I have seen the largeblank white expanse behind thegoals I have kicked myself forthe missed opportunity.

“That has now been rectifiedand as a local company we arevery pleased to be associated

with the stadium and the sportsclubs.”

It’s the Fantastic five!

MARKETING agent Fantastic Media hasmade its most successful start to a yearever – by securing five new accounts inthe first quarter of 2010.

The Birstall-based agency’s successesinclude working with entrepreneur andApprentice finalist, Claire Young, NorthernCommercials, Liquid Accounts, AlphaMedia Solutions and Banana Moon.

The account wins underline theagency’s commercial experience across awide range of industry sectors – from lawfirms and haulage companies tocosmetics brands and sports clubs.

Fantastic managing director AndrewHobson said: “As the region talks aboutcoming out of recession, more and morecompanies are realising the importance ofinvesting in marketing, PR, web and digitalservices as a cost-effective means ofbuilding their business.

“We are delighted with our continuedgrowth so far this year/ The year 2010 hasstarted very strongly for us and we’reworking hard with all of our clients toachieve their business objectives anddrive the region’s business growthforwards.”

■ HIGH FIVE: - Fantastic Media personnel (from left) Gary Pattison, senior accountmanager; Mark Cullen, web developer; Matthew Hall, creative designer, DonnaBedford, PR director; with Rebecca Stead, who is on work experience at the companyfrom Heckmondwike Grammar School

■ WINDOW SEATS: Ralph Rimmer (left), managing director ofthe Galpharm Stadium, with David Roebuck. of Swift Blinds andCurtains, which has provided blinds with graphics for the venue

Kirklees Business News, 27th April 2010

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Transcript of Kirklees Business News, 27th April 2010