Kirklees Business News July 20 2010

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees20, Ju ly, 2010

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MARCOS WHITE J ILL HAGUEBigger bite of business

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Bank on the Far East

Co lumn - Page 5

FTSE 100-10 .57

5148.28An EXAMINER publication

NorthernexposureA LEADINGenvironmentalconsultancy withoffices in Denby Dalehas teamed up with acompany in Alaska.SLR Consulting hasacquired environmentalfirm Hoefler ConsultingGroup in a move tofurther strengthenSLR’s position as aleading consultant tothe oil and gasindustry.

The bestof BritishA FINANCIAL advisersupport group inHuddersfield is torepresent the UK in aEuropean-wide awards.SimplyBiz will competeagainst businessesfrom across thecontinent in theEuropean BusinessAwards.

Firm keeps its cool to win export accoladeA COMPANY making scalp coolingequipment to benefit cancer patients isamong the winners of a regionalhealthcare sector awards.

Paxman Coolers, based at FenayBridge, won an award for exporting inthe 2010 Medilink Yorkshire andHumber Heal thcare Bus inessAwards.

The UK Trade & InvestmentExport Achievement Award was

presented to Paxman Coolers after thecompany achieved a 66% rise inexport sales over the past year.

The firm increased export sales tonew markets by a similar percentageand now has 800 scalp cooling systemsin use across the world.

Paxman is active in markets includ-ing Europe, South America andAsia.

More than 200 delegates attended a

ceremony at the Royal Armouries inLeeds when awards were presented tosix category winners.

Kevin Kiely, managing director ofMedilink Yorkshire and Humber, saidthe event highlighted the buoyancy ofthe health technologies sector – andspecifically the continued success andinnovative capacity of Yorkshire firmsin the sector.

He said: “In the present economic

climate, it is reassuring to see theachievements of companies on show –many of which have confirmed theimportance of bringing businessmen,academics and clinicians together todevelop the technologies and indus-tries of tomorrow.”

Other categories covered start-ups,innovation, online healthcare trainingas well as awards for the outstandingcompany and individual.

Regulators to gettougher over fraud

■ TOUGH TIMES: Regulators areset to take an even firmer line intheir efforts to tackle corporatefraud, says BDO’s Simon Bevan

CORPORATE fraud in Yorkshire hasfallen – against the upwards nationaltrend.

Figures from business advice firmBDO showed that UK fraud soared to£1.06bn during the first six months ofthis year – eclipsing the previous halfyear figures and almost the same as forthe whole of 2008.

However, Yorkshire reported anear-95% decline to just under £15magainst last year’s record figure of£280m.

The region is fifth in the nationalleague table of corporate fraud,behind London and the south-east,Wales, the north-west and the Mid-lands.

Nationally, this is the first timefraud levels have soared above thebillion pound barrier during theinterim period in the seven years BDOhas been conducting its survey.

The average value of a single fraudhas also increased to almost £6m from£5m last year – showing that fraud inthe UK is still big business.

BDO’s latest half-yearly Fraudtrackanalysis shows that nationally, fraud is“undoubtedly on the increase” withpredictions that 2010 will be “anotherbumper year”.

In particular, BDO expects moreenforcement action by regulators inthe financial services sector – withenforcement action for insider dealingalso becoming more prevalent.

Simon Bevan, head of the fraudservices unit at BDO, said: “In thepast, we have seen a focus on procure-ment type frauds – UK public andprivate sector organisations payingtoo much for goods and services.

“However, as the recession contin-ues we are starting to see the other sideof the fraud equation, namely revenuedilution fraud.

“We are seeing companies wheremanagement commit fraud by eithersetting up ‘companies within compan-ies’ or diverting lucrative contractsaway from the company to third partyaccomplices.”

Said Mr Bevan: “Linked to this

unethical activity is an increase ininsider dealing where managementdon’t directly defraud their ownemployer but their actions leave themopen to stringent, and often public,enforcement action by financial regu-lators.

“The Financial Services Authorityhas been cracking down on insiderdealing this year with a number ofindividuals receiving criminal convic-tions and/or confiscation orders.”

Mr Bevan said competition betweenregulators to “act tough” would leadto regulators following an Americanmodel of intrusive regulation.

“We have a combination of politicalpressure and the understandabledesire – in a downturn – for the publicsector and corporates to be seen tohave a zero tolerance policy,” hesaid.

“Increasingly law firms are nowstarting to recruit experts in marketabuse. This is especially telling when innearly all other areas major law firmsare curtailing recruitment.”

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national

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FTSE closed at

5148.2Down 10.5

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.66 dollarsBangladesh................... 99.96 takaBrazil.............................. 2.43 realsCanada....................... 1.53 dollarsChina ............................. 9.25 yuanCzech Republic ...... 27.79 korunasDenmark....................... 8.41 kroneEuro............................... 1.13 euroHong Kong................ 11.27 dollarsHungary ................... 307.39 forintsIndia.......................... 63.36 rupeesJapan........................... 125.92 yenMexico ....................... 17.59 pesosNew Zealand .............. 2.01 dollarsNorway ......................... 9.20 kronePakistan.................. 122.95 rupeesPhilippines ................. 60.77 pesosSouth Africa................. 10.88 randSouth Korea.............. 1618.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 162.44 rupeesSweden....................... 10.79 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.53 francsTaiwan ...................... 42.89 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.23 new liraUSA ............................ 1.46 dollars

Carclo 1501/2 +61/2Chapelthorpe 24Marshalls 91 +11/2National Grid 4883/4 +11/8Weir Gp 1182 +6

£2.9bn offer for TomkinsINDUSTRIAL firm Tomkins is intalks over a potential £2.9bn takeover,it has been revealed.

The group said it had received anapproach worth 325p-per-share froma consortium comprising US privateequity firm Onex Corporation andthe Canada Pension Plan InvestmentBoard.

Tomkins, which started life in 1925as a small British manufacturer ofbuckles and fasteners, has opened itsbooks to the suitor and confirmeddue diligence was now at “anadvanced stage”.

Tomkins, whose range of productsincludes hosing and tubing as well as

power transmission systems, employsabout 30,000 staff worldwide. Thereare 1,500 staff in the UK where it hassix plants, including in Dumfries.

The group shed thousands of staffafter suffering badly amid the reces-sion and a slump in car and housingmarkets, with its significant US oper-ations taking the brunt.

Its fortunes have since been revivedby car scrappage schemes across theUS and Europe. Tomkins said thatsales soared by about 23% in the firstsix months of 2010.

The 325p-a-share potential offerwould mark a premium on the group’s230p closing price on Friday.

Insurance hold-upblocks Eurotunnel

Energy firms in talks over tie-upENERGY company InternationalPower is in talks over a possibletie-up with GDF Suez, of France.

International’s UK assets includethe giant coal-fired station at Ruge-ley in Staffordshire.

The two companies said the pro-posed new entity – combining Inter-national Power and the internationalassets of GDF – would continue tobe listed on the London StockExchange with GDF as its majorityshareholder.

Talks between the two collapsedin January after they failed to agreeterms and the UK firm’s biggestinvestors reportedly demanded agreater element of cash in any deal.

It is thought that Internationalcould pay a special dividend toshareholders on this occasion aspart of the deal to merge with GDF’soverseas assets.

International Power is one of thelargest independent generators inthe world with interests in more than45 power stations in 21 countries.

As well as owning Rugeley, Inter-national is the majority owner of theFirst Hydro hydroelectric plants atDinorwig and Ffestiniog in NorthWales and the gas-fired station atSaltend near Hull.

The company reported full-yearprofits of £1.16bn – an increase of10% on a year earlier

Banker’snew roleTHE body given the taskof managingtaxpayer-owned bankingassets said that it hadpulled off a “real coup” inhiring investment bankerJim O’Neil to oversee thesale of stakes in Lloydsand Royal Bank ofScotland.

Mr O’Neill will join UKFinancial Investments inOctober as head ofmarket investments fromBank of America MerrillLynch, where he is headof the internationalcorporate finance andrestructuring.

Mr O’Neil, 43, led theBoA Merrill Lynch teamthat advised Lloyds on itsmammoth rights issuelast year – a deal thathelped the bank avoidhanding over an evenbigger stake to theGovernment.

He will be paid a salaryof £180,000 at UKFI,where he replaces JohnCrompton, anotherex-Merrill Lynch banker,who resigned earlier thisyear.

The Government hasnot set a timetable forselling its stakes inLloyds and RBS, but issaid to be looking atdivesting the holdings inthe coming months.

Mr O’Neil said:“Disposing of thesestakes in an orderlymanner will be amongthe most importantevents in the capitalmarkets over the comingyears.

“It is my intention touse all of my experienceto protect and createvalue for the taxpayerfrom these investments.”

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £26.70 -0.47Gannett 887.18 +0.66Hess Corp £33.90 +0.09Microsoft 1653.01 +18.52Motors Liquidation 49.25Wal-Mart Stores £32.45 -0.16

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 1131/2BAE Systems 3181/4 -1/4Rolls-Royce Gp 5791/2

AIMBrady Plc 67 +2Dawson Intl 2Man Brnze 36

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 132 +1/2

BANKSBarclays 2851/4 +5/8HSBC 6231/8 +11/2Lloyds Banking Gp 591/4 -3/8Ryl Scotland 431/2 -1/8Stan Chart 1740 +34

BEVERAGESDiageo 1109 -5SABMiller 19141/2 -7

CHEMICALSCroda 1130 -3Elementis 98 681/2 +11/2Johnsn Mat 1590 -24

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2467/8 -1/2Costain 1981/2 +11/2

ELECTRICITYDrax Grp 377 +1/4Intl Power 350 +331/4

Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1174 -18

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTChloride 3711/2Laird 105 -5/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 314 -21/2

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 139 -3/8Cable & WirelessComm

571/8 -1/8

Cable & WirelessWwide

831/2 -11/8

Colt Group 1301/8 +11/4KCOM 441/2 +1/2Talktalk Telecom 1171/8 -11/4

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2823/4 +13/8Sainsbury 3463/8 -5/8Tesco 3983/4 +21/4

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1031 -25Nth Foods 46 +1/4Tate Lyle 467 -21/8Unilever 1891 +9Uniq 11 -41/2

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 3077/8 -11/4National Grid 4883/4 +11/8Pennon Grp 577 +4Severn 1276 -4United Utils 5581/2 +31/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 2733/8 +1ICAP 4063/4 +7/8London StockExch 6321/2 +91/2Man Group 2113/8 +2

Provident Financial 8541/2 -11Schroders 1193 -8Schroders NV 999 -3

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 4141/4 -121/8REXAM 3193/4 -1/8Smiths Grp 1104 +2

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 123/4 +1/4Carphone Whse 198 +1/2DSG International 261/8 -5/8Home Retail 2281/4 -21/4Inchcape 2853/8 -45/8Kingfisher 2183/4 -15/8M & S 3427/8 -45/8Mothercare 513 -11Next £203/8 -1/4WH Smith 424 +13/4

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 6001/2 -41/2

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 1023/4 +53/4Barrat Dev 937/8 -51/2Persimmon 3601/4 -171/4Reckitt Benckiser £323/8 -1/8Taylor Wimpey 25 -11/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 688 -5I M I 7261/2 +11

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 2515/8 -15/8

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 1951/8 -3/4Forth Ports 1202 -14

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 3345/8 -7/8

Lgl & Gen 841/4 +1/8Old Mutual 1113/8 -5/8Prudential 513 -9Resolution 68 -1Standard Life 1907/8 -11/2

MEDIABSkyB 6971/2Chrysalis 1011/2 -1/2D Mail Tst 4567/8 -3ITV 50 -1/2Johnston Press 141/4Pearson 9231/2 -11/2Reed Elsevier 514 -21/2STV Group 793/4 -3Trinity Mirror 751/4 -21/4Utd Business 520 -61/2UTV 1221/2 -4WPP 637 -51/2Yell Group 255/8 -1

MININGAnglo American £231/2 +1/8Antofagasta 913 +10BHP Billiton 18161/2 +5Eurasian NaturalRes

8381/2 -1

Fresnillo 1050 -10Kazakhmys 1017 -7Lonmin 1420 +3Rio Tinto £301/2 +3/8VEDANTARESOURCES

£221/4 +1/4

Xstrata 9181/4 +95/8MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 719 -1Vodafone Group 1445/8 +1/4

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1409 -1RSA Insurance Gp 1223/8 -3/4

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

BG 10601/2BP 3877/8 -191/4Cairn Energy 4457/8 -31/2Norsk Hdro 4823/8Royal Dutch Shell A 17991/2 +5Royal Dutch Shell B 1724 +2Total £321/8 -1/4Tullow Oil 1123 -16

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 862 -41/2Petrofac 1272 -9Wood Group 3373/4 -11/4

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry 805 +51/2PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca £321/8 +1/8Axis-Shield 251 +2GlaxoSmithK 1/2

Shire 1469 -9REAL ESTATE

Brit Land 443 -1/4Captl Shop Cent 3245/8 +5/8DTZ Hldgs 611/4 -3/4Hamrsn 3651/4 +23/4Land Secs 577 +4SEGRO 2697/8 +1/4

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp 1866 -30Dimension Data 123 +1/2Invensys 2723/4 +71/2Logica 1083/4 +3/8Misys 2511/4 -1Sage Group 2351/2 -3/4

SUPPORT SERVICESBunzl 6971/2 -81/2Capita 7401/2 -81/2Davis ServiceGroup

3663/4 -31/4

De La Rue 9231/2 -61/2Electrocomp 2203/4 -27/8Experian 6481/2 -1/2G4S 2653/4 -17/8Hays 95 -3/8Homeserve £21Menzies J 3801/2 -41/2Rentokil 1081/4 -27/8Smiths News 1063/4 -31/2Wolseley 1363 -1

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 3007/8 -31/4Psion 723/4 -3/4Spirent Comms 1171/4 -7/8

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £223/8 -1/4Imperial Tobacco 1956 -5

LEISURE & HOTELS

Arriva 769 +1Brit Airways 2017/8 -17/8Carnival £211/2 -1/4Compass Grp 557 -1/2easyJet 418 -31/2Enterprise Inns 94FirstGroup 3677/8 -33/4Go-Ahead 1120 -9Greene King 438 -63/4Intercontl Htls 1104 -4Ladbrokes 1363/8 -23/8Mitchells & Butlers 2975/8 -53/8Natl Express 2343/8 -5/8PartyGaming 232 -51/4Rank Org 1025/8 -1/4Stagecoach Group 1761/4 -61/8TUI Travel 2183/4 -13/4Whitbread 1415 -20

INDEXFTSE 100 5148.28 -10.57

INDEXFTSE 250 9726.48 -48.83

EUROTUNNEL warned it willremain in the red this year ifinsurance payments linked to amajor fire in 2008 continue to beblocked.

The company, which operatesthe Channel Tunnel and runsvehicle shuttle services, posted anet loss of £38m for the six monthsto June 30.

Revenues rose by 22% to£279.5m – but Eurotunnel said theresult would have been higher had£40.5m of indemnities for lossesresulting from the fire not beenblocked since May, 2009.

The log-jam has been caused bylegal claims brought jointly byEurostar and SNCF against Euro-tunnel’s insurers.

Eurotunnel has so far received£132.5m from its insurers follow-ing the fire.

The blaze led to one section ofthe tunnel being unavailablebetween September, 2008, andFebruary, 2009.

Chairman and chief executiveJacques Gounon said: “I ampleased that traffic and revenueshave both increased in the currenteconomic crisis.

“However, if our insurance pay-ments remain blocked, we shall beunable to declare a profit thisyear.”

Eurotunnel generates income bycharging other freight and passen-ger services such as Eurostar touse the Channel Tunnel.

Disruption to European airtraffic due to ash from the Icelandvolcano boosted the cross-Chan-nel market in the half year, leadingto an 11% rise in Eurotunnel’straffic revenues on a constant cur-rency basis.

Eurotunnel said truck shuttletraffic rose by 41% in the first halfof the year, despite continued pres-sure on the cross-Channel marketdue to the impact of the reces-sion.

Car volumes increased by 17%against the same period a yearearlier, while coach business wasup by 8%.

Revenues from railway servicessuch as Eurostar and freight trainservices rose by 5%, it added. ■ RED ALERT: Eurotunnel boss Jacques Gounon

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

MarcosWhite

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Practice ownerand lead cosmeticdentistAge: 33Family: Married toAnna with son BenHolidays: Spainand North YorkshireCar: I travel by train!First job: Gettingmy five stars withMcDonald’sBest thing aboutjob: The clients –they really becomelike best friendsWorst thingabout job: Over-coming 50 years ofnegative preconcep-tions about dentistryBusiness tip:Aspire to be a perfec-tionist

Work: Boutiquecosmetic dentalpracticeSite: HuddersfieldEmployees: 15Phone: 01484432855Email: [email protected]: www.courtyarddental.co.uk

CourtyardDentalPractice

■ TAKE A SEAT: Marcos White says dental surgeries neednot be forbidding places with “poster stuck to the wall withBlu-Tack”

Lookon thebrightside

IF Marcos White is all smiles,it’s hardly surprising.

The proprietor of TheCourtyard Dental Practice ison the threshold ofexpanding further thebusiness he runs withcheerful efficiency in stylishlyconverted cottages atHuddersfield’s historicWormalds Yard.

And its all getting verybusy.

The practice is finalising acalls management system tocope with an ever-increasingnumber of enquiries andbookings from its growingcustomer base.

And Marcos freely admitsthe time is fast approachingto consider opening anothercentre to meet burgeoningdemand for cosmetic dentaltreatment.

“Right now the phones arein meltdown,” he says. “Weneed more people to answerthe phones.

“It isn’t feasible to have 15people doing that here, sowe are setting up a callcentre.

“However, it is alwaysabout the personal touch, sothe intention is to give peoplethe same service they havealways received.

“All our clients alreadyhave the personal mobilephone of their dentist.Whenever we have gone infor awards, the judges havesaid: ‘What! Don’t you getcalls from people withtoothache at two in themorning?’ We say: ‘No,because our dentists aregood!’ Instead, we tend toget thank-you calls, which isa nice thing.”

Marcos believes peopleshould have the telephonenumber of their dentist justas they might for the familydoctor – or the vet. It’s allabout personal service, hesays.

The team of five cosmeticdentists at The Courtyardbuild “free time” into theirdiaries to enable people tomake emergencyappointments.

“Someone with toothacheor a need for cosmeticsurgery need it now,” hesays. “They don’t want tohave to book days or weeksin advance.”

Marcos is doing what healways wanted to do. “As achild, I used to tell my dadthat I wanted to be a dentist,”he recalls. “When it came totaking my A-levels, hereminded me of that!

“I got my A-levels and wentto Leeds University dentalschool, which has anexcellent reputation.

“My first experience as adentist was fitting silverfillings into the heads ofpeople who did not want tobe there.

“I wanted to work indentistry where peoplewanted to have it done andwere glad to see me.

“People think aboutextractions and silver fillings,but dentistry is about helpingpeople look and feel good.”

Marcos arrived inHuddersfield having alreadypractised cosmetic dentistryin Australia. “I needed a joband I interviewed for anumber of practices in WestYorkshire,” he says. “Theowner of this practice offered

me a post. He was a nicefellow and I felt I could learna lot from him.

“Less than two years laterhe decided to emigrate toNew Zealand and I had theopportunity to buy thebusiness.”

The Courtyard was basedin one of two convertedcottages in Wormalds Yard.When the neighbouringbusiness moved out, TheCourtyard expanded. “It wasjust a single practice surgery,says Marcos. “Then, weexpanded to two and thenthree.

“For the first few years, theprivate practice was all onmy shoulders because theother dentists were in NHS.

“ Now we have fivedentists working wholly incosmetic dentistry and eachwith their own area ofexpertise.”

The premises also got astylish new look – based onthe best of contemporarydesign already in evidence inLeeds and London.

It was as far removed fromthe traditionalantiseptic-smelling dentalsurgery as possible – with adecor and ambience mademore relaxing with aromatic

candles and comfy sofas.“I’ve never known why

dentist and GP surgerieshave to have posters stuck tothe wall with Blu-TacK,” saysMarcos.

“Private surgeries willinvest thousands of poundsin equipment, but they don’tspend a few hundred poundson flowers and candles.However, that’s what theclients notice.”

The surgery day starts at8am, although Marcos isusually in an hour earlier todeal with managementmatters before seeingpatients.

He lives in Leeds with hiswife Anna, a teacher, andtheir young son Ben.Because Anna needs the carfor work, Marcos commutesby train – giving him chanceto sort out emails and givinghim “an extra hour” to getsome paperwork done.

Most of The Courtyard’sclientele has been built upthrough referrals. “Often,when I have a newconsultation, it is with afriend or family member of anexisting client,” he says.

“We get clients from allover the country – andobviously from Huddersfield,

Leeds, Manchester and York.“But we can have clients

visit us from much furtherafield. One client comes overfrom France for theirsix-month check-up andanother from Zimbabwe.

“These clients come to usthrough recommendation –and where it is a matter oftrust, people will travel.

“Some clients can needhours of treatment. A fewweeks ago, we had oneclient who was here all day.”

Marcos is in no doubtabout the importance ofcosmetic dentistry – andinsists people who want toimprove their smile are notsimply being vain.

Looking good – and feelingconfident as a result – canalso boost general healthand well-being, he says.

“We made the biggestchange to our business justas the UK went into

recession – we went private.“But we are booming now.

A lot of our clients are whatyou might term‘recession-proof’ but in somecases people are spendingsome of their savings – andwhether there is a recessionor not, people find money tospend on themselves.”

Marcos is passionateabout changing the image ofdentistry – where peopleassociate the dentist surgerywith pain.

“Often, our clients arepeople in their 50s or olderwho have had 30 years ofbad dentistry, he says. “Theycome in feeling anxious, butthey go out thanking you.You wear your smileeveryday of your life, so whywouldn’t you want to lookgood?”

local KIRKLEES BUSINESS

Fare deal forcelebrity chefCELEBRITY chef RosemaryShregar and government ministerCaroline Spelman were amongthe crowds enjoying traditionalYorkshire produce at this year’sGreat Yorkshire Show.Both ladies took a particularinterest in deliciouslyorkshire –the campaigning brand for theRegional Food Group forYorkshire and Humber.Rosemary, who has previouslyworked with Dewsbury-basedRixonway Kitchens, wasimpressed withdeliciouslyorkshire’s newlylaunched guide to the best foodand drink in Yorkshire andHumber. Now in its fourth year,Yorkshire’s Own Kitchenshowcases deliciouslyorkshire’smembers and their deliciousofferings.

Shell providesspringboard for‘green’ firmsSMALL firms with big ideas fortackling climate change in Kirkleesare being invited to compete forthousands of pounds in cash.Since its launch in 2005, ShellSpringboard has awarded £1.6m to43 innovative low-carbonbusinesses. The awards provide aspringboard for many businesses– helping them to raise their profilein order to secure investment.One of last year’s winners wasAeristech, a firm which developeda system that enables carmanufacturers to downsizeengines – cutting emissions andcost – without reducingperformance.Since winning Shell Springboardin March, the Birmingham-basedcompany has secured anadditional £500,000 of investment.Shell UK chairman James Smithsaid: “Small businesses are aprolific reservoir of creativethinking on low-carbontechnologies. Shell Springboardoffers no-strings financial awardsto help these businesses get theirideas off the ground.”Shell Springboard offers afinancial boost for UK businesseswith compelling ideas for tacklingclimate change. These must beideas which will lead togreenhouse gas reductions, arecommercially viable and areinnovative.A total of £320,000 is on offer inawards of £20,000 or £40,000. Lastyear, awards were made to ninebusinesses from across the UK.The deadline for 2010 entries is5pm on November 5, 2010. Fulldetails and an online applicationform can be found atwww.shellspringboard.org

‘Get readyfor big cuts’

KIRKLEES firms have beenurged to prepare for the impactof public sector spending cuts.

Companies with contracts forpublic sector work have beenwarned to ensure they have plansin place if the worst happens –and their customers dry up..

Tim Parr, president of WestYorkshire Society of CharteredAccountants, said: “These cutsare inevitable and businesses willhave to accept them.

“However, there are actionsthat can be taken to soften theblow and ensure cutbacks willnot mean a company goes out ofbusiness.

“It is clear that there are somedeep-seated problems to addressin the UK’s public finances andit is best to be prepared for thiseventuality.”

The Institute of CharteredAccountants in England andWales has called on businesses toreview their current situationby:

● Checking when the contractis due to end. What are thepenalties for either side if the

contract is terminated or finishesearly?

● Speaking to contacts at thedepartment or contractors to seeif they know if they are likely toface a reduction in budgets and ifso, when

● Rethinking the businessplan to see if there is too muchfocus on public sector contractsand not enough private con-tracts

● Looking to re-negotiatecontracts

● Diversifying in terms ofwhat the firm can offer localgovernment?

● Ensuring services providedby the firm give value formoney

● Looking at other areas ofthe public sector by checkingwww.supply2gov.co.uk

Said Mr Parr: “Some sectors,such as construction, are goingto be harder hit than others. Thekey is to be flexible and not topanic if cuts affect your business.For businesses that have made itthrough the recession there arestill tough times ahead.”

Brewing up forbigger businessA MARKETING agency with offices inHuddersfield and London is toastingits latest contract success.Scotland's largest independentbrewery, BrewDog has appointedManifest to plot a PR offensive aimedat changing perceptions of craft beerin the UK.Manifest was selected ahead of a longlist of agencies across the UK thatresponded to an appeal for supportfrom brewery co-founder James Wattvia Twitter.Said Mr Watt: “We wanted to find anagency to partner with that is lookingto break new ground just as we are.“Manifest is an exciting young agencyand its proposal was not only themost creative response to our brief –it was also the most in tune with whatBrewDog stands for.”BrewDog’s popularity with craft beerenthusiasts has fuelled a massivegrowth in sales in 2010.While the brewery is keeping its rootsfirmly in the craft beer fold, Manifest'sbrief is to connect with theconventional beer drinker anddemonstrate there is an alternative tothe dominant mass market brands.Richard McLelland, marketingmanager at BrewDog, said: “Manifestshares our passion for breaking themould and we're confident that theywill unleash the potential of BrewDogand help us to inspire a beerrevolution.”The brief is being handled byManifest’s London office.Alex Myers said: “We're trying to dosomething different at Manifest andthat seemed to click with the guys atBrewDog – there are a lot of parallelsbetween the businesses.”

■ CUTTING COMMENT: TimParr, president of WestYorkshire Society of CharteredAccountants

Equality issues come to the foreThe Government has confirmed that the

Equality Act 2010 will come into forceon October 1, 2010.

The legislation consolidates nine separatepieces of law –mainly relating to discrimination –into one single Act. It is still unclear whetherparts of the Act will come into force at all, but themain changes are outlined below.

The concept of associative discrimination willnow be applied across all protected characterist-ics. Associative discrimination occurs where aperson, “A”, discriminates against another, “B”,on the grounds that B is associated with anindividual who holds a protected characteristic.This provision follows a case in 2009 where themother of a disabled child succeeded in arguingshe had been discriminated against on the basisof her son’s disability.

Perceptive discrimination is also to be appliedacross protected characteristics. This occurswhere a person, “A”, is discriminated against onthe basis that it is perceived that he holds aprotected characteristic. For example, a hetero-sexual man who is taunted about being homo-sexual will now be protected under the EqualityAct.

There was significant criticism about the stateof disability discrimination provisions prior tothe Equality Act, most prominently relating todisability-related discrimination. Therefore,‘indirect discrimination’ will now be appliedacross all protected characteristics, defined

below:A person “A” discriminates against another

“B” if A applies B a provision, criterion orpractice which is discriminatory in relation to arelevant protected characteristic of B’s.

Furthermore, claimants seeking to succeedwith a claim in disability discrimination will havea less burdensome hurdle to overcome to provethey are “disabled” under the Act. Previously, anindividual had to show that their disabilityadversely affected a particular “capacity” from alist given in the legislation (such as mobility ormanual dexterity). This no longer applies.

A number of other changes are brought in bythe Act, including the removal of the require-ment for a comparator to be used in victimisa-tion cases. The definition of harassment now alsocovers associative and perceptive cases andemployers can be liable for harassment fromthird parties in the workplace across all protectedcharacteristics.

A specific provision is made for claims ofcombined discrimination based on a combina-

tion of no more than two protected characterist-ics.

The concept of positive action is extended toallow employers to recruit or promote someonefrom an under-represented group providing thatthey have a choice between two or more equallysuitable candidates.

Pre employment health enquiries will be out-lawed unless they are made for prescribed reas-ons.

There will be a power to require large employ-ers to report on their gender pay gap (although itis unclear when this will come into force and forwhat size of employer).

One proposal which will not be adopted underthe new legislation is for any further protectedcharacteristics to be added.

It remains to be seen whether characteristicssuch as obesity will fall to be protected in thefuture; the topical nature of this condition meansthe campaign for such protection continues togather pace.

Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors

EMPLOYER’SBRIEFNeil Wilson

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local

From Denby Daleto frozen Alaska!A LEADING environmental consultancy withoffices in Denby Dale has completed an interna-tional takeover.

SLR Consulting has doubled its capabilities inenvironmental services for the offshore oil explor-ation and production sector with the acquisition ofa leading Alaskan environmental firm HoeflerConsulting Group.

The move comes when the Gulf of Mexico oilspill has focused the attention of companies in thesector on how to plan to tackle major oil spills.

The takeover strengthens SLR’s position as aleader in onshore and offshore permitting andcompliance.

HCG was set up in 1995 and has 55 employeeswith offices in Anchorage, Alaska and in Fairb-anks, Portland and Seattle in the USA.

SLR Huddersfield office manager ElizabethSimmons said: “This acquisition will furtherstrengthen our offering in permitting and contin-gency planning for offshore drilling.

“This is a particularly strong growth area atpresent given recent events in the Gulf of Mexicoand we are already working with a number ofmajor companies to review their spill contingencyplans.”

She said the announcement also represented afurther milestone in SLR’s strategy of supplement-ing the growth of its own business through selectiveacquisition to strengthen and extend its technicaland geographic coverage.

The acquisition of HCG follows the takeover ofHeggies, an Australian-based environmental con-sultancy with 140 employees, which was completedearlier this year.

SLR now has almost 900 employees workingfrom 21 offices in the UK and Ireland, 25 in theUSA and Canada and 10 in Australasia.

Key areas of SLR’s business include the energy

and mining sector where it is involved with boththe oil and gas industry and renewable powerincluding wind, energy-from-waste, hydropowerand biomass.

SLR is also the leading consultant to the wastemanagement industry in Europe and undertakes asignificant amount of planning and environmentalimpact assessment work for major commercial

developers.HCG’s expertise includes successful permitting

for both routine and project-specific oil and gasactivities. It has also carried out 300 air qualityprojects throughout Alaska. Clients include BPExploration (Alaska), Teck Cominco and the USAir Force.

Tie-up tostand thetest oftimeA BUSINESSorganisation has sealeda ground-breakingpartnership with theworld’s largest producttesting company and aglobal leader in qualityand safety compliance.The landmarkagreement betweenChamber Internationaland Intertek followsdetailed talks atIntertek’s GovernmentServices UKheadquarters.Intertek will benefitfrom ChamberInternational’sextensive network ofbusiness contacts andspecialist expertisewhile ChamberInternational willbecome an accesspoint for Intertek’s vastworldwide resources.“The fact that aworld-class companysingled us out from therest of the UK Chambernetwork is flattering,”says Tim Bailey,international tradedirector of ChamberInternational. “The aimnow is to help ourclients make the mostof this opportunity.”Intertek, formed morethan a century ago,employs 25,000 peopleat 1,000 laboratories in100 countries. It workswith many governmentsacross the globe as wellas blue chip businessestesting products asvaried as airliners andtextiles.Intertek carries outtesting for many of thelarge Europeanconsumer associationsand tests products forsome of the world'slargest manufacturers.“This is the firstagreement of its kindfor Intertek and thepotential benefits to usare very attractive,”said Chantelle Rowe,Intertek sales andsolutions manager inthe UK.“We’ve never worked inthis way with any UKchambers in the past.However, ChamberInternational offerssomething completelynew in terms of its widerange of services aswell as its nationalreputation forinnovation andefficiency.”

Asia offers ample opportunitiesFIGURES reveal that just one

in seven businesses in theUK recognises that Eastern con-sumers could drive new busi-ness opportunities.

Yet, a new report identifies thatthere are a “huge range of opportun-ities” available to British firms toprosper from the “new markets, newglobal wealth and new business” inthe East.

The report, published by HSBCCommercial Banking, urges UKbusinesses to engage with the “newworld order” as the East grows inimportance to capitalise on its diversecustomer base and to understand theopportunities for growth that export-ing to Asia holds.

“Looking East: The changing faceof world business” is the first reportwhich identifies the most influentialcurrent and future trends in “theEast” and interprets these to definepractical implications and opportun-ities for companies domiciled in

Europe. It highlights that ‘thinkingbusinesses’ in the UK can proposerby factoring Asia into their strategicthinking, actively addressing how tocapitalise on its diverse consumerbase, skilled workforce and advancesin research and development, whilemitigating the risks posed by themacro-economic climate.

The research also reveals that manyUK companies already doing busi-ness internationally are recognisingthe potential; it shows they are signi-ficantly more likely to see the East asa market with an increasingly highlyski l l ed workforce than the i rnon-international counterparts. Andinternational traders are twice aslikely to view the East as being a hubfor increasingly sophisticated innova-tion methods.

Noel Quinn, group general man-ager for HSBC Commercial BankingUK, said: “The UK is no longerlooking at when West meets East, butat how the East will redefine the West

and the way we do business. Byunderstanding this fundamental andfast-paced change, British businessescan ensure they are in a position torespond swiftly and effectively; and itis the thinking business that acts now.There is still a high volume of UKfirms that just perceive the East as atraditional 'low cost' production andlabour destination, but there needs tobe a shift change in attitude as Asiaand the Middle East become thebrightest prospects on the globallandscape.

“There is also a massive opportun-

ity for British exporters, Asia islargely positive about British brandsand the consumer market is growingrapidly, giving UK businesses a plat-form to increase their trade. AtHSBC, we are seeing export balancesup by 45% compared to this time lastyear, which is hugely encouraging anddemonstrates where some of the realopportunities for business growth lie.We have, and will continue to helpbusinesses with the financial tools totake advantage of the opportunitiesin the East through our unrivalledon-the-ground presence, knowledgeand local expertise.”

BANKER’SBLOGJill Hague

Jill Hague is HSBC area commercial director for Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield

■ COLD COMFORT: Environmental consultancy SLR has acquired a specialist business based inAnchorage, Alaska

Industrial

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property

Manufacturersget their chanceKIRKLEES manufacturers sup-plying construction companieshave a unique opportunity to gaina competitive edge, it is claimed.

Robin Watson, regional directorof the Manufacturing AdvisoryService, said: “At a time whenevery manufacturing business islooking to both move up the valuechain and seek out new markets,the building industry presents anopportunity for a huge and variednumber of manufacturers.

“Building and construction reg-ulations are changing significantly– with insulation and energy usagerequirements increasing. As timemoves on, these regulations willapply to more and more buildings,particularly domestic housing,and will become increasingly chal-lenging to address.

“Not only that, but existingbuildings will also come underadded pressure to become‘greener’ to meet the challenges ofthe Carbon Reduction Commit-ment and the UK’s legally bindingframework of carbon cuts.

“Changes such as replacingglazing and upgrading old boilerswill eventually have to meet thesame requirements as for newbuildings. Display Energy Certific-ates, which publicly demonstratethe energy usage of a building, are

becoming mandatory in manycases. In fact, linking businessrates to DEC performance rat-ings is being proposed by theCarbon Trust as a new measurefor the not so distant future.”

Mr Watson said manufacturers

should recognise the growingmarket resulting from changingconditions.

For example, modular con-struction techniques – wherelarge elements of buildings areproduced in a factory rather thanon-site – would become moresignificant.

In addition, a vast number of“spin-out” industries wouldbenefit, such as those companiesmaking sealants, heating, ventila-tion and triple glazed units.

He said: “The sophistication ofconstruction technology isincreasing rapidly to include theproduction of innovative energyefficient products such as solarpanels, photo-galvanic cells,ducting systems for air recircula-tion and control systems for heat-ing and lighting.

“Manufacturers supplying intothe construction industry need tobe up to speed now, ensuring theyare best placed to exploit theseopportunities.”

Property plotsTWO separate plots of land at Scissettare among 121 lots on offer at a propertyauction to be staged by Eddisons onThursday, July 22, in Leeds, and onTuesday, July 27, in Manchester.A site on Blenheim Chase, off BarnsleyRoad, has full detailed planningpermission for a five-bedroom executivedetached house. It has a guide price of£80,000-plus. Land fronting LowerCommon Lane, which could be suitablefor residential development subject toplanning consents, is being offered with aguide price of £35,000-plus.

■ HOMELY ADVICE: Demand for energy-efficiency improvementsshould provide opportunities for manufacturers supplying theconstruction industry, says the Manufacturing Advisory Service

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

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LEYMOOR ROAD, GOLCAR, HUDDERSFIELD, HD7 4QFTo Let £11,500 p/a

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Movers and shakers KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

HainsworthDiane Simpson & Graham Hutton

WEST Yorkshire textile firm Hainsworth haspromoted two leading members of themanagement team to director level.

Diane Simpson becomes sales director andGraham Hutton production director at thePudsey-based company.

Ms Simpson has contributed to the company’sdevelopment in the past 23 years, most recentlyleading the Hainsworth brand review andrestructuring the sales team across its four rangesof apparel, interiors, technical and industrialtextiles.

Mr Hutton has managed production for thecompany through an unprecedented period ofgrowth over the past three years.

More women inthe boardroomA CONFERENCE in Yorkshire to discuss the place ofwomen in the boardroom is attracting attention from theUK’s big businesses.

The Women’s Business Forum, which takes place inSeptember at Harewood House, aims to address theunder-representation of women in the UK’s companyboardrooms.

Major companies including IBM, BT, Grant Thornton,Barclays Wealth, Marks and Spencer, Ernst and Young,Natwest and PwC will attend the event.

Heather Jackson, founder and director of theWomen’s Business Forum said: “This is an issue thathas come of age. With major corporates attending, wehave been able to ensure that women from all regionsof the UK will benefit from the event.

“The response we have had from globally recognisedcompanies has made it clear that businesses recognisethe benefits and challenges of bringing more womeninto the boardroom.”

The event will bring together directors, chiefexecutives, chairmen and business women to discussthe most effective ways of supporting more women intoboard level positions.

Said Ms Jackson: “We have seen the majority ofbookings for the event come from outside the region.

“While it is encouraging the event is appealing to atruly national audience, I do feel it could be anopportunity missed for businesses in the region.

“Last year, it was reported that Yorkshire had 16%fewer women on its boards than any other region. I dohope that more companies, especially from Yorkshire,take the opportunity to attend an event that will be acatalyst to change.”

She added: “This event is not about gender ordiversity, it’s about business performance. It is not anevent that will encourage positive discrimination as webelieve that women should be promoted because oftheir ability and skills rather than by gender.”

The Women’s Business Forum is structured to bringtogether senior business women and board leveldecision-makers to match the needs of the business tothe career aspirations of women.

It will emphasise to both male and female businessleaders that a better balance in the boardroom willimprove performance and aid the recovery.

The event on September 23 will feature speakersincluding Kate Bostock, chief executive and executivedirector of clothing for Marks & Spencer; ColletteDunkley, global head of marketing and communicationsfor Barclays Wealth; Asda chief financial officer JudithMckenna; and former MP Virginia Bottomley.

Go to www.thewomensbusinessforum.co.uk

They’re simplythe UK’s best!A FINANCIAL adviser support groupbased in Huddersfield is to represent theUK in a European-wide awards.

SimplyBiz, which has offices at thetown’s Galpharm Stadium, will competeagainst businesses from across the contin-ent in the European Business Awards.

The company received the good news atan event organised by award sponsorHSBC at its offices in London’s CanaryWharf.

SimplyBiz will now battle it out againstother companies to scoop a Ruban d’Hon-neur. Final category award winners will beunveiled on November 16 in Paris.

Ken Davy, who is chairman of SimplyBizand the Huddersfield Giants, accepted the

certificate at the London event. He said:“We are absolutely delighted to be selectedto represent United Kingdom and it’s anhonour to be recognised as one of theleading organisations in our country and inour field.”

The European Business Awards aims toraise the profile of companies which com-bine innovation and commercial successwith bringing benefits to the social envir-onment in which they operate.

Mr Davy was congratulated at the Lon-don event by Adrian Tripp, chief executiveofficer of the European Business Awards,and Noel Quinn, head of UK commercialbanking at HSBC Bank plc, who said: “Weare pleased to have taken part in theEuropean Business Awards.”

Chem ResistNeil Williams

NEIL Williams, 38, has been appointed to theboard of Chem Resist in Dewsbury – just threeyears after joining the company as a technicalsales engineer.

Mr Williams (pictured above), was quicklypromoted to manager of the fluid transfer divisionshortly after joining Chem Resist and oversaw aconsiderable increase in both client numbers andturnover during the past two years.

Chem Resist is a market leader in the designand manufacture of chemical storage tanks. Itsfluid transfer division is a major stockist andsupplier of pumps.

The appointment coincides with Chem Resistwinning another award. US firm Plastomaticpresented a special plaque acknowledgingdistributors who have demonstrated superiorsales and customer satisfaction levels. Thisaccolade has now been awarded 15 times toChem Resist, which has long been a member ofPlastomatic’s Top 25 Club worldwide.

Milestone for Maxine!

A HEALTH spa is celebratingafter enrolling its 5,000th client.

Alexandra House, at MurrayRoad, Edgerton, opened lessthan three years ago – just asthe country was enteringrecession – yet has overcomethe downturn to attractthousands of visitors from nearand afar.

Dawn Leigh, of Halifax, wasthe lucky 5,000th client and wastreated to flowers andchampagne as well as somepampering treatments.

Spa owner Maxine Steadsaid: “Despite these difficulttimes, people still want to taketime out to relax and de-stress.

“We’ve established a

successful business by offeringpeople affordable treatmentsand great special offers whileproviding a high quality serviceand a friendly Yorkshirewelcome.”

Maxine said business hadgrown with clients visiting thespa from all over the UK andeven abroad.

The spa works with severallocal businesses to provideadditional services such ashypnotherapy, pregnancymassage, psychic and spiritualdevelopment and mind, bodyand spirit workshops.

Said Maxine: “The spa islooking forward to its next 5,000clients!”

■ FEELING GOOD: Maxine Stead (centre) with 5,000th clientDawn Leigh (right) and her daughter Lindsay Curry

Alex Duckett

Knight FrankALEX Duckett has been

appointed an associate in theagency department at the WestYorkshire office of global propertyconsultancy Knight Frank.

Mr Duckett (pictured) joins thefrom Savills in Leeds, where hespent four years in office agency.He was born in Yorkshire andeducated at Uppingham School inRutland and Oxford BrookesUniversity, where he studied business of realestate.

Mr Duckett, 25, said: “These are exciting timesfor the property market in Yorkshire as weemerge from recession. Knight Frank is theperfect place to progress my career andcapitalise on the opportunities out there.”

Henrie Westlake, partner in charge ofinvestment property in Leeds, said: “We aredelighted to welcome someone of Alex’sexpertise to our Leeds office. One of the bestyoung surveyors of his generation, he is a veryimportant addition to our team.”

■ COUNTRY FILE: Ken Davy (centre),chairman of SimplyBiz, with Noel Quinn(left), of HSBC, and Adrian Tripp, of theEuropean Business Awards

Kirklees Business News July 20 2010

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Transcript of Kirklees Business News July 20 2010