Kirklees Business News, 17th November 2009

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees17, November, 2009

An EXAMINER publication

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ANDREW CHOI ANDREW STODDARTGetting to grips with golf!

Pro f i l e - page 3Award for architects

Repor t - Page 6

FTSE 100+ 86.3

5382.7An EXAMINER publication

FestivecontestSTAFF at HuddersfieldTown are helping theirclients achieve realgrowth. The footballclub is sending outmore than 140Christmas trees tocustomers over thenext few weeks. Theidea is that the eachcompany will nurturethe trees and enter acompetition to grow thebiggest tree, which willbe judged in January.

More jobsat MatrixA FIRM providing ITequipment is buckingthe trend to increasestaffing levels andsales. Matrix Mediaplans to recruit 25 newstaff to add to itsexisting 16 full-timeemployees.

University tappinginto a Texas tie-upA MAJOR oil company prospectingfor student talent has tapped into theresources of Huddersfield University.

Te x a s - b a s e d m u l t i n at i o n a lCameron has strengthened its linkswith the Queensgate campus follow-ing a visit by some of the company’stop executives.

Cameron, which exhibited at theuniversity’s careers fair, is one of aglobal leader in building and operat-ing pipelines for gas and oil.

It has an office in Leeds and over theyears many Huddersfield Universitystudents in subjects such as businessand marketing have been on workplacements with the company.

Several of the university’s graduateshave gone on to work for the company– taking part in a globetrotting train-ing process that involves stints atCameron’s Houston headquarters andsites in the Far East.

Cameron has also sponsored stu-dents during their studies at Hudders-field and the company’s staff havecontributed to the content of somecourses.

The visit by top executives fromTexas was organised by Stephen Boyd,head of careers at the university, andClare Thompson, human resourcespartner for Cameron in Leeds.

A day of talks and presentationswas arranged for the visitors – JoeMongrain , who is Cameron’svice-president with responsibility forhuman resources, and John Watson,director of global talent acquisition.John Bartos, vice-president for devel-opment and technology took part indiscussions via a live conference calllink from Houston.

Several Huddersfield academicsgave presentations highlighting theopportunities for collaborativeresearch and development.

“The visit was a big success and areflection of the relationship betweenthe university and Cameron,” said MrBoyd. “I am confident that the linkwill be strengthened further and thatthe multi-national will be keen torecruit many more Huddersfieldgraduates as part of a wider long-termpartnership.”

■ OILING THE WHEELS: Huddersfield University vice-chancellor prof BobCryan (second right) welcomes (from left) Clare Thompson, Joe Mongrain andJohn Watson, of US oil company Cameron

Firms told not to over-indulge this ChristmasKIRKLEES firms have been urged touse the countdown to 2010 to get theirfinances in good order.

Bibby Financial Services said com-panies faced tough times during thefirst quarter of next year – with recentsurveys showing that Britain remainsin the grip of recession and signs ofrecovery are unlikely to appear before

next spring at the very earliest.Edward Rimmer, chief executive of

invoice finance specialist Bibby Finan-cial Services, said: “January is a crucialmonth for businesses and it can oftenbe make or break.

“With large amounts of excess stockfrom Christmas often left over, finan-cial liquidity can take a big hit as cash

flow is tied up in unsold stock andmany customer invoices are left out-standing.”

“We would urge small businesses toensure they do not build up their stocklevels more than necessary in anticipa-tion of the Christmas rush. This willease pressure on their cash flow inorder to ensure vital commitments are

met – such as paying their staff –meaning fewer businesses will beforced into making redundancies as acost-saving measure.”

Mr Rimmer said redundancies werenot the only issues small firms facedduring January – with many pushedinto liquidation. January, 2009, saw a78% surge in business failures.

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

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICESLocal shares

FTSE closed at

5382.7Up 86.3

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.70 dollarsBangladesh................. 108.51 takaBrazil.............................. 2.58 realsCanada....................... 1.67 dollarsChina ........................... 10.22 yuanCzech Republic ...... 26.12 korunasDenmark....................... 7.91 kroneEuro............................... 1.07 euroHong Kong................ 12.31 dollarsHungary ................... 267.99 forintsIndia.......................... 68.01 rupeesJapan........................... 142.77 yenMexico ....................... 19.42 pesosNew Zealand .............. 2.09 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.89 kronePakistan.................. 131.58 rupeesPhilippines ................. 66.74 pesosSouth Africa.................. 11.59 randSouth Korea.............. 1684.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 180.70 rupeesSweden....................... 10.86 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.61 francsTaiwan ...................... 47.05 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.33 new liraUSA ............................ 1.60 dollars

Carclo 97Chapelthorpe 123/4Instore 45/8Marshalls 98 -11/2National Grid 638 +9RensburgSheppards

621 -10

Weir Gp 761 +161/2

Persimmon in good orderHOUSEBUILDER Persimmon saidit expected to carry a “healthy” orderbook into next year.

But the company warned that themarket remained vulnerable becauseof the impact of higher unemploy-ment and problems with mortgageavailability.

Persimmon, which owns theCharles Churchbrand, said summer’sencouraging sales trends were main-tained during the autumn. The aver-age selling price of homes reservedsince the start of July is 6% up at£173,000.

Forward sales are also well ahead oflast year, leading to the healthy order

book, but Persimmon issued a note ofcaution in its trading update.

“While sales volumes have beenconsistent, we still have significantconcerns regarding the availability ofmortgages, particularly the higherloan to value products required byfirst time buyers,” it said.

Persimmon is also concerned by thepotential impact on its markets of anysignificant increase in unemploymentover the coming months.

In August, Persimmon postedpre-tax profits of £9.8m for the sixmonths to June 30, down from£36.9m in the same period last year.

Majestic cheeredby rise in earningsWINE warehouse chain MajesticWine reported a 9% rise in half-yearprofits – as higher private sales helpedoffset a decline in business demand.

Majestic posted pre-tax profits of£6.1m in the six months to September28 against £5.6m in the same periodlast year.

The firm said sales were accelerat-ing – with same-store revenue growthrising from 5.4% in the first half to 6%in the five weeks to November 2.

The report comes after Majestic’slast annual profits more than halved,due to lower sales of champagne torecession-hit firms and as a weakpound made European wines moreexpensive.

Majestic, which has a store atQueensgate in Huddersfield, saidsales to private customers in the first

half showed “strong growth” – up8.9% – while economic conditionscontinued to hit business demand,with sales down 6.9%.

Sales of fine wines priced at £20 ormore increased by 14.4% on last year,while the average price of a bottle ofstill wine rose from £6.19 last year to£6.41.

But Majestic said the decline insales to business customers meant theaverage spend per transaction fellslightly to £133.

The retailer reduced the minimumin store purchase to six bottles of winein September and said the results ofthe change were “encouraging” –with an increase in the number oftransactions and more new customersregistering on the firm’s database.

“Whilst we are pleased with the

trading performance so far this yearwe remain cautious about the eco-nomic climate,” the firm said. “We arewell positioned for the very importantChristmas trading period.”

Sales of sparkling wine grew well inthe period, with still wine from SouthAfrica, New Zealand and Spain alsoproving popular.

Majestic, which has 153 stores inthe UK, said it could grow to occupyat l east 250 locations. During theperiod, the company opened four newstores and has launched another twosince September.

Chief executive Steve Lewis pre-dicted tough competition from super-markets in the run up to Christmas,but said Majestic would stand apartwith wine tastings in all its stores andstrong customer service.

Dragon fires up online interestAN advertising campaign featuringPeter Jones, of TV show Dragon’sDen, has boosted visitor numbers atMoneysupermarket.com.

The price comparison group saidit had enjoyed a robust third quarter– covering the three months toSeptember 30 – as internet revenuesrose by about 15% on the first half.However, the total was 15% down onthe same period in 2008.

The marketing push featuring MrJones meant visitor numbers wereup on the same period last year andagainst the second quarter. Sharesrose more than 3% yesterday on thestrength of the trading update.

The rise in traffic helped revenues

from the firm’s insurance websiteimprove by 5% on last year, but salesin the Money field were 40% lowerdue to significantly worse condi-tions in the credit market.

Trading has gradually improvedthroughout the course of the year,with Money revenues about 10%higher on the first half.

Savings was the strongest per-former, as consumers looked tomaximise their returns in a lowinterest environment and as lenderssought to strengthen their balancesheets through consumer deposits.

Unsecured lending, includingcredit card revenues, improved inthe third quarter.

Profits upfor ASOSONLINE fashion retailerASOS reported a 9%rise in profits for the firsthalf and said it wasoptimistic for the rest ofthe year – despite slowersales growth.

The firm reportedpre-tax profits of £4.4min the six months toSeptember 30, up from£4.05m last year –boosted by internationalsales and tighter costcontrols.

£600m hitfor LloydsLLOYDS Banking Groupcould own almost half ofpubs group AdmiralTaverns following ashake-up of thebusiness, its is claimed.

The part-nationalisedbank may write off about£600m in loans to thepubs group in return fornearly 50% of thestruggling firm, saidnewspaper reports.

The bank – 43%owned by the taxpayer –has a reported £855mexposure to debt-ladenAdmiral Tavernsfollowing the bank’stakeover of HBOS.

Admiral Taverns, setup in 2003, embarkedon a major expansionprogramme fuelled byloans from Bank ofScotland – buying uppubs from larger rivalssuch as Punch Tavernsand Enterprise Inns.

It now has about2,000 leased andtenanted pubs.

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £24.62 +0.60Gannett 669.13 +26.19Hess Corp £34.65 +1.09Microsoft 1769.26 +5.36Motors Liquidation 44.65Wal-Mart Stores £31.54 -0.13

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEBAE Systems 3241/2 +33/4Rolls-Royce Gp 4853/4 +153/4Smiths Grp 9741/2 +13VT Group 589 +111/2

AIMBrady Plc 71 -1Dawson Intl 21/4

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 1171/2 +3

BANKSBarclays 324 +4HSBC 7611/4 +195/8Lloyds Banking Gp 901/2 +5/8Ryl Scotland 371/2Stan Chart 16891/2 +241/2

BEVERAGESDiageo 1020 +2SABMiller 1691 +17

CHEMICALSCroda 795 +16Delta 1571/2 +4Elementis 98 561/2 +13/4Johnsn Mat 1615 +57

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2763/8 +21/4Costain 271/2 -1

ELECTRICITYDrax Grp 4593/4 +85/8

Intl Power 2693/8 +31/4Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1095 +9

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTChloride 1791/8 +35/8Invensys 3083/4 +85/8Laird 1365/8 +31/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 317 +17/8

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1495/8 +27/8C & W 1381/4 +3Colt Telecom 1281/2 -21/8KCOM 42 +2

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2921/8 +13/4Sainsbury 3427/8 +1/4Tesco 429 +31/4

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 839 +41/2Cadbury 7811/2 +51/2Nth Foods 681/8 +5/8Tate Lyle 469 -71/8Unilever 1833 +24Uniq 321/4 -2

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 2475/8 +21/8National Grid 638 +9Pennon Grp 463 -53/4Severn 995 -2United Utils 4711/2 -11/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 2841/4 +121/4ICAP 4241/4 +6London StockExch 885 +1/2Man Group 3711/4 +31/8Provident Financial 9231/2 -21/2

Schroders 1248 +19Schroders NV 1012 +21

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSAvon Rbbr 941/2 +6Cooksn Grp 4483/8 +163/8REXAM 2875/8 +35/8

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 16DSG International 385/8 +5/8Home Retail 3231/8 +105/8Inchcape 343/4 +13/8Kingfisher 2461/2 +31/8M & S 372 -1/4Mothercare 6431/2 +151/2Next £201/4WH Smith 533 +71/2

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 579 +5

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 135Barrat Dev 146 +53/4Persimmon 4885/8 +281/2Reckitt Benckiser £305/8 +1/4Taylor Wimpey 427/8 +3/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 755 +11/2I M I 537 +11Man Brnze 142

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 1733/4 +4

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 1701/4 +63/4Forth Ports 1204 +20

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 4093/4 +45/8Lgl & Gen 871/4 -1/4

Old Mutual 118 +21/2Prudential 6211/2 +121/2Resolution 93 +1/2Standard Life 222 +1/2

MEDIABSkyB 542 +1Chrysalis 1011/2D Mail Tst 456 +103/8ITV 53 +13/4Johnston Press 293/4 +1/4Pearson 854 +9Reed Elsevier 475 +67/8STV Group 673/4 -11/4Trinity Mirror 1861/2 +113/4Utd Business 4831/8 +33/4UTV 110 -5WPP 590 +18Yell Group 455/8 +5/8

MININGAnglo American £261/2 +1Antofagasta 934 +66BHP Billiton 1866 +48Eurasian NaturalRes

9061/2 +231/2

Fresnillo 890 +22Kazakhmys 1300 +42Lonmin 1740 +148Rio Tinto £33 +13/4VEDANTARESOURCES

£237/8 +5/8

Xstrata 1093 +79

MOBILE TELECOM SERVICESInmarsat 665 +16Vodafone Group 1383/4 +15/8

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1030 -4RSA Insurance Gp 1203/4 -11/4

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

BG 1132 +261/2BP 5881/4 +71/4Cairn Energy £291/4 +1/2Norsk Hdro 4441/2 +161/8Royal Dutch Shell A 1883 +261/2Royal Dutch Shell B 1829 +281/2Total £381/4 +5/8Tullow Oil 1270 +30

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESPetrofac 1025 +18Wood Group 335 +10

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry 600 +11/2PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca £275/8Axis-Shield 415 +41/2GlaxoSmithK XDShire 1155 +7

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 5031/2 +51/4DTZ Hldgs 70 +13/4Hamrsn 4531/8 +81/8Land Secs 726 -1/2SEGRO 385 +113/8

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp 1444 +30Dimension Data 77 +23/8Logica 1251/2 +11/2Misys 2195/8 -1/2Sage Group 2237/8 +13/8

SUPPORT SERVICESAMEC 826 +241/2Bunzl 654 +9Capita 769 +71/2Davis ServiceGroup

4321/2 +51/8

De La Rue 992 -1/2Electrocomp 1701/2 +3Experian 590 -31/2G4S 2507/8 +33/4Hays 1035/8 +11/8Homeserve 1600 +36Menzies J 3453/4 +33/4Rentokil 1063/4 -5/8Smiths News 115 -1Wolseley 1400 +3

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 1611/4 +31/8Psion 121 +3/4Spirent Comms 99 +27/8

TOBACCOBr Am Tob 1987 -31/2Imperial Tobacco 1892 -6

LEISURE & HOTELSArriva 4581/2 +11/2Brit Airways 2151/4 -13/4

Carnival £205/8 +1/8Compass Grp 4103/4 +51/2easyJet 3921/4 +101/4Enterprise Inns 1335/8 +3FirstGroup 4101/4 -11/8Go-Ahead 1393 +19Greene King 4171/8 -57/8Intercontl Htls 8551/2 -11/2Ladbrokes 1287/8 -5/8Mitchells & Butlers 2603/4 +41/8Natl Express 3395/8 +33/4PartyGaming 2561/4 -1/4Rank Org 813/8 +13/8Stagecoach Group 1493/8 +23/4TUI Travel 2551/2 -7/8Whitbread 1318 +14

INDEXFTSE 100 5382.67 +86.29

INDEXFTSE 250 9523.27 +149.53

■ HOME BREW: Majestic Wine said anincreased in the number of stay-at-homedrinkers had increased sales and profits

THE FTSE 100 index closed at a14-month high last night. The indexclosed up for the fourth straightsession – rising by 86.3pts to 5382.7and bolstered by better economic newsand a surge in metal prices.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

AndrewChoi

Mid YorksChamber ofCommerce

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: DirectorAge: 49Family: Marriedwith one daughterHolidays: Spain,Mexico and DubaiCar: Saab 95First job: Helpingin the family laundryBest thing aboutjob: The chamberteam and the cham-ber missionWorst thingabout job: Thepace of change isnever quick enoughBusiness tip: Dobusiness with yourheart, with your headand with your hands– in that order. Butdon’t forget – do itnow, do it fast anddo it right

Work: BusinesssupportEmploys: 50Sites: Huddersfield,Halifax and Wake-fieldPhone: 01484483680Email:[email protected]

Chamberchampionhas driveto succeed

THERE’S an awful lot ofbusiness done on the golfcourse, they say.

But that’s not the reasonAndrew Choi now findshimself coming to grips withthe game.

“I am a big sports fan,”says the man at the helm ofthe Mid Yorkshire Chamberof Commerce. “In the past, Iwas a typical lad playingfootball and tennis.

“Now I’m flirting with golf.The chamber golf day willbe held next year and mytarget is to reduce myhandicap.

“I have the necessaryhand-eye co-ordination, butI have very little patiencewith being awful. I want toget good at the game morequickly than I have the rightto expect. I see TigerWoods playing and wonderwhy I can’t be just as good.”

And he adds withhonesty: “I decided to takeup golf because I could nolonger hack it playingfootball!”

Andrew is certainly“hacking it” at theLockwood-based chamber,which he joined in April.2007, after notching up animpressive track record inthe sphere of businesssupport.

Andrew worked in theaccountancy department ofLeeds City Council beforejoining the former BradfordTraining and EnterpriseCouncil and rising to asenior role in businesssupport. He then spent fiveor six years at BusinessLink as a senior managerbefore moving to thechamber.

He says: “I have spent thepast 15 years in businesssupport in the region,working directly withcompanies or leading teamsthat work with companies.

The chamber movement wasalways one that was familiarto me and I was very gratefulto get the chance to join theMid Yorkshire Chamber.”

His arrival was followedlast year by the chamber’srelocation from Aspley toLockwood Park. Formerlyhoused in a “metal box” at StAndrew’s Road, the chamberis now headquartered in thelovingly restored stable blockat Brewery Drive. “Wemoved from the ugliestbuilding in Huddersfield toone of the nicest,” saysAndrew.

The Mid YorkshireChamber – formed by themerger of the Kirklees andWakefield Chamber ofCommerce and the Halifaxchamber – has gained adeserved reputation forlobbying central and localgovernment on behalf of its1,000 member firms,producing good qualitystate-of-trade surveys and

helping companies dobusiness overseas.

Although it grewprodigiously during the 1980sand 1990s – running a raft ofpublicly-funded trainingschemes – the chamber hadto retrench when thosefunding streams ended.

Today, it employs 50 staffat Lockwood and sites inHalifax and Wakefield andhas refocused on its coreaims of supporting memberfirms, acting as a powerfuladvocate on business issuesand helping companies tradewith each other.

“The move to Lockwoodmakes a statement about ourdesire to be morecontemporary and relevant,”says Andrew. “The chamberhas an image of being ‘male,pale and stale’ but we want toshow the chamber isinnovative and ambitious.

“Although chambermembership is about 1,000we have ambitious targets toincrease those numbers.

“We are fortunate in thatthe Mid Yorkshire chambermembership is not dominatedby one grouping, such as theprofessional services inLeeds.

“Our membershiprepresents a cross-section ofbusiness, mainly at thesmaller end of SME sectorand mainly comprising firmswith fewer than 250employees.

“That means out economicsurveys are veryrepresentative of UK smallbusiness generally. We arerarely out of step with theBritish Chambers ofCommerce surveys.”

It also means the chambercan speak with authority onthe issues affecting mostcompanies in the region –including perennial hot topicssuch as the burden of red

tape and concern aboutlack of investment in theroad and rail network.

Andrew is committed tothe cause. He’s the first toarrive at the office –which means he oftenmans the reception deskbefore getting down to hismore familiar routine ofpaperwork and meetings.But he has no problemswith that.

“It is a uniquelyrewarding job to serve theinterests of business inthis region,” he says.

And he adds:“Enterprise is in by DNA.

“My parents ran one ofthe last Chinese laundriesin the north of England inLeeds. I was born into theChinese community and

my first paid job was as aseven-year-old puttinghandkerchiefs and pillowcases through a heatedroller. The Health andSafety Executive wouldhave had a field day withthat!

“As a slightly older child Ihelped with the accounts –and we didn’t have Sagesoftware, we had a Chineseabacus.

“My work ethic, myaffinity with small businessand my ideals aboutcustomer service all stemfrom there. I owe my lateparents a real debt ofgratitude.”

■ CLEAR VISION: AndrewChoi aims to build on thereputation of the Mid YorkshireChamber of Commerce

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

Don’t ignorefire warningRISKYBUSINESSMark Dalton

Mark Dalton is associate director at Wilby Ltd

FIRE damage costs are attheir highest since

records began – and busi-nesses are being warned tobe on the alert.

Statistics from the Associationof British Insurers show a 20%rise in fire claims between thefirst half of 2007 and the first halfof 2009 – with arson a maincontributor to the increased costsincurred.

More than 40% of all fires inindustry and commerce are nowstarted deliberately and insurersare seeing an increasing numberof arson claims crossing theirdesks.

One of the common causes ofarson is through waste storedoutside property in wheeled binsor on pallets.

Unoccupied and unfinishedproperties are also at increased

risk of arson.Where an attack occurs, the

building should be re-securedand repaired and then regularlyinspected as – once a propertybegins to deteriorate – an escala-tion in the frequency and size ofincidents can be expected.

For occupied buildings, strictsecurity checks should be put inplace before the premises areclosed at the end of the workingday.

It is also important to main-tain the efficiency of, or upgrade,the sprinkler systems since 99%of fires are controlled in build-ings protected by sprinklers.

For more information andadvice on how you can reduce therisk of arson contact MarkDalton on 01422 358525 or [email protected]

Coffee firm hasa starring roleA COFFEE company in Huddersfieldis taking a bow – after winning acontract worth more than £40,000 tosupply West Yorkshire Playhousewith beverages and coffee-makingequipment.In a bid to support Leeds in itsstatus as a Fairtrade city, the theatrehas selected a range of organic andethical coffee, tea and hot chocolatefrom Bradley-based Coopers Coffee– making its hot beverage offeringentirely Fairtrade.Theatre-goers will be able to sampleCoopers’ most ethically “sound”coffee, the Triple Certified blend,which embodies Fair Trade,Rainforest Alliance and SoilAssociation.A range of nine premium Fairtradeteas has also been selected as wellas a Fairtrade hot chocolate forthose who prefer alternative hotbeverages to coffee.The playhouse has also signed up toa range of coffee equipment fromCoopers Coffee.David Williams, catering manager atthe theatre, said: “It was important tous to become a committed Fairtradeorganisation and Coopers Coffeeoffered us the opportunity to do this“The products they have supplied uswith are not only ethically sourced,they are also great quality.“They supply the best fair-trade teasand coffee’s available, backed up byquality equipment and fantastictraining.“Now theatre-goers can have greatperformances with a great tastingcoffee on the side.”David Cooper, managing director atCooper’s Coffee, said: “We’re thrilledto have won such a prestigiousaccount and are proud to be able tooffer the Playhouse high qualityproducts with such highly regardedethical credentials.”The contract follows the success ofCooper’s Coffee in winning a£40,000-plus deal to supply hotbeverages and equipment to hotelwedding venue Waterton Park, nearWakefield.

Boosting sales nosecret at Matrix

A COMPANY providing IT equip-ment and office products is buckingthe trend to increase staffing levelsand sales.

Matrix Media, which has alreadyexceeded its sales target since beingformed in June ,plans to recruit 25new staff to add to its existing 16full-time employees.

The firm, which is based at theMedia Centre in Huddersfield, hashad to increase the size of its officetwice due to growth.

Sales director Mark Nuthernsaid: “We are proving to be a winnerwith local businesses.

“We estimate that we will need tocreate another 25 jobs by the end ofthe 2009 to cope with our projectedsales.

“Our recruiting agenda is firmlybased around employing peoplefrom the Huddersfield area becauseour philosophy is simple – we are alocal business providing businessessentials to local companies.”

Matrix Media supplies more than27,000 products from 12 distribu-tion centres across the UK.

Customers include the Ministryof Defence, universities and schools,NHS sites, central governmentoffices, local authorities andblue-chip corporates as well assmall to medium-sized firms.

The company is keen to forgestronger links with other companiesin the area.

Said Mr Nuthern: “Sometimes,we see vans that have driven up fromthe south to deliver office productsto companies within our own build-ing – which is madness!

“We plan to change this becausewe know we can not only beat anyother genuine prices, but can offer acloser to home service with quickerdelivery times.

“Ultimately, the local economywill benefit if we all use firms on ourdoor step.” ’

■ TOP TEAM: Matrix Media sales director Mark Nuthern (front) with someof the firm's new recruits

More room onhotels websiteTHE owner of a hotel inHuddersfield has launched a newwebsite.Cedar Court Hotels, which has theCedar Court Hotel at Ainley Top, hasprovided sections on the site forspecial offers and events andcontent in French, German andSpanish. Each of the group’s hotelsat Ainley Top ,Bradford, Wakefieldand Harrogate has its own section.John Horvath, group generalmanager, said: “We worked hardwith our web partner, NetConstruct,and we are delighted with theresults.”The website also provides the firstglimpse of £20m Cedar Court GrandHotel & Spa, the group’s newproperty in York, which is due toopen next spring.

Bank inpledge tolend cashYORKSHIRE Bank ismaking £2bn of newmoney available tobusiness customers inthe region as part of atwo-year £10bn lendingcommitment UK-wide.The Bradford-basedbank – which also coversKirklees – said it wasmaking the move as aclear display of supportfor its Yorkshirecustomers.Kath Myers, regionaldirector for YorkshireBank integrated financialsolutions in Yorkshire,said: “Yorkshire Bankhas continued tosupport businesses andhomeowners during thelast 12 months andremained open forbusiness in a periodwhich saw lendersheavily criticised forrestrictive changes tolending criteria.“Our prudent approachcontinues, but ourlending pledge signalsour confidence in theYorkshire economy.”Yorkshire Bank has eightfinancial solutionscentres across Yorkshireand more than 70 acrossthe UK.

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Financial problems hanging overyou - can’t see a way forward?

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Simon Kaye is divisional director at RensburgSheppards Investment Management

CITYTALKSimon Kaye

Ideas havereal meritA BATLEY textile firm is piling fending offcompetition from the Far East – thanks toa training scheme and efficiency drive.

Meritmill (UK) Ltd, is a leading makerof pattern books, carpet cards and shadecards for the home furnishings market,decided to launch a rigorous programme of“lean manufacturing” training to ensure itcould compete effectively against its over-seas rivals.

National training provider BusinessImpact helped the firm set up a trainingprogramme involving all 90 staff.

Meritmill production manager GregRoss said the training scheme was helpingto make the firm more streamlined andefficient.

He said: ““We wanted to examine ourmanufacturing processes to ensure we weredoing everything as efficiently as possible.

“Several initiatives have been implemen-ted, but the main benefit has been thestaff’s greater understanding of what theaims of the company are and more willing-ness from staff to be flexible and contributeto other departments and sections of thebusiness.”

BOGE helpspaper chaseA STATIONERY manufacturerhas boosted production efficiencyby 25% – thanks to equipmentsupplied by a Rastrick firm.

B O G E C o m p r e s s o r s L t dupgraded existing equipment andinstalled a new energy managementcontrol system for William Sinclairand Sons.

Sinclair, based in the YorkshireDales, makes the well-known Silv-ine brand of stationery – includingred exercise books and blue andwhite marble-striped hardbacknotebooks – at its 21,000sq metreproduction and warehousing facil-ity.

Compressed air is used to powera number of their print machines.

BOGE was asked to review theefficiency of the compressed airsystem as part of a programme toreduce Sinclairs’ energy consump-tion.

Bryan Green, chief engineer atSinclairs, said: “We already had aBOGE compressor powering oneof the machines and we wereimpressed with it – especially howquiet it was in operation.

“The savings BOGE estimatedwere substantial and so we decidedto upgrade the system.”

Said Mr Green: “Since the equip-ment has been installed, BOGE hasbeen back to data log the newcompressed air system and the res-ults have been very pleasing – con-firming that we have in factimproved the system efficiency by25% as estimated.

“The service we received fromBOGE was very professional andwe now rely on them for all ourservice and backup needs.”

BOGE Compressors Ltd is partof German-based BOGE Interna-tional, which makes a range ofscrew and piston compressors forall sectors of industry to supplycompressed air for a wide range ofmanufacturing processes.

It also supplies a complementaryrange of filters, dryers and con-densate management equipment.The product is sold and servicedthrough a network of 36 distribut-ors throughout the UK and Ire-land.

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■ SHEETS AHEAD: BOGE Compressors Ltd, of Rastrick, hasupgraded equipment for stationery firm William Sinclair andSons to achieve a 25% efficiency improvement

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Look out for the reefsALTHOUGH bank rights issues

“book-ended” stock market pro-gress over the past year, there is amajor contrast between the emergencytransfusions a year ago – underwrittenby governments – and the currentround which is happening against abackdrop of greater financial stability,led in many cases by the private sector.

With 2009 proving less of an economicdisaster than feared, thoughts are inevitablyturning towards the prospects for the yearsahead, in the hope that strategic themes willcarry more weight than the athletic reposi-tioning that proved necessary in the past twoyears.

Since the credit crisis began, keeping to apredetermined investment approach has beentrickier than usual.

It was hard to be sure which fallen valueswere bargains and which simply revealedpreviously overlooked bad news. Similarly,do we now focus on the bounce (risk assetsbeing above their lows) or the level (stillbelow mid-2008)?

The need to navigate the reefs and shoals isalways with us. However, it is also vital tokeep a sense of direction, to avoid driftinginto a mangrove swamp. We see three endur-ing themes that are likely to underliemedium-term investment allocation.

The first is a preference for real assets, suchas equities and real estate. After the deratingand price falls of recent years they are pricedto give higher returns than cash or govern-ment bonds, albeit with accompanying pricevolatility.

By contrast, bond returns have long beenboosted by the fall in yields (akin to a risingPE for equities) but from below 4% there is

more scope for yields to rise (producingcapital losses) than to fall further. Cash ratesseem likely to remain low for years, asdeveloped economies work off their debts.

The attraction of real assets is more thanrelative pricing, however.

The global experiment in monetary policyand the temptation of indebted governmentsto condone a rise in inflation suggest astrategic risk of higher inflation. Real assetsoffer some protection against this, whereasbonds and cash do not, as the generationwhich invested in gilts after World War II willattest to.

Our second enthusiasm is for emergingeconomies, where growth trends are produ-cing a shift in the economic centre of gravityaway from the West and Japan. We have thedebts, they have the money – in contrast topast cycles when the IMF often bailed out theemerging world.

Some caution is warranted, as emergingeconomies can submerge again but thegrowth opportunities seem likely to remainbetter in these markets and sectors linkedinto their industrialisation, such as naturalresources.

Our third theme of economic recovery isperhaps more debatable, at least the pace ofit. After the massive global policy stimulus,animal spirits have revived, although thereare head winds.

The debt burden has not gone away andwill have to be addressed, so growth in thedeveloped world could be relativelyanaemic.

This means putting an emphasis on com-panies whose management or inherent busi-ness franchise enable them to prosper inwhat could remainindifferent economicconditions.

These themes arenot a “fire and for-get” basis for invest-ing and will notguarantee a smoothride, but they look tohave a reasonableshelf-life, assumingthe world continuesto move from crisis toconvalescence.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property Page 6

Architect firmin great shapeAN architectural and interior design com-pany aiming high has won a monthly busi-ness award.

Chris Taylor, of Huddersfield law firmEaton Smith, presented the Business of theMonth Award to Andrew Stoddart,Christine Stoddart and Chris West, ofAbove & Beyond.

The award is run by Eaton Smith and theLockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamberof Commerce.

It is open to companies across Kirklees,Calderdale and Wakefield.

Based at the impressive Folly Hall Millredevelopment in Huddersfield, Above &Beyond has clients throughout the UK andworks across a range of sectors specialisingparticularly in transport, healthcare, resid-ential, office and lifestyle projects.

Judges in the award heard that the com-pany champions fresh thinking and creativetalent – an approach that is channelled intoits design work to create great lookingbuildings but develop great spaces to liveand work.

Mr Stoddart, managing director of Above& Beyond, said: “We’re delighted to havewon this award, which is a great recognitionof how our business both feeds into andbenefits our local economy.

“For us to be recognised by our local

business peers through the award is a greatachievement and credit to the commitmentand hard work put in by all the team here atAbove & Beyond to make our business the

success story that it is.”For details of the award, visit www.eaton-

smith.co.uk or contact Ian Greenwood on01484 821389.

■ BY DESIGN: Chris Taylor (centre) presents the award to Andrew Stoddart (third right),Christine Stoddart and Chris West (right) watched by guest judges (from left) DougTalbott, of Business Link; Sean Jarvis, commercial director of Huddersfield Town; andKevin Newson, of Yorkshire Bank

Improvementin workloadsTHE rate of decline in construction workloads forYorkshire firms slowed slightly during the thirdquarter of the year, says a survey.

Figures from the Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyors said the trend mirrored national figures,which showed workloads continuing to fall in mostconstruction sectors, but at a slower pace.

However, the decline in workloads increased forone sector of the industry in Yorkshire – thenon-housing public sector where the net balance ofsurveyors reporting falling rather than rising work-loads fell to minus 16 from a figure of plus 7 lastquarter.

The biggest improvement came in private sectorhousing, where the net balance of surveyorsreporting a rise rather than a fall in workloadswent from minus 32 in the second quarter to plus 4in the third quarter.

Public sector housing rose to a net balance of nilfrom minus 6 – probably due to the governmentbringing forward funding for housing improve-ment projects.

The pace of workloads in the commercial prop-erty sector rose to minus 7 from minus 29 with theindustrial sector seeing a similar improvement.

Surveyors are a little more positive about theoutlook for over the next 12 months – with 9%more respondents expecting output to rise than fall– the first positive reading since the first quarter of2008.

The proportion of surveyors reporting skillshortages for trades people fell to 2%, the lowestreading since the question was first asked in1998.

RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said:“With development finance currently still in shortsupply it is hardly surprising that workloads in theconstruction industry remain under pressure.

“The good news is that the picture does notappear to be getting very much worse and there iseven a little bit more optimism about the pro-spects.

“However the continuing squeeze on profitmargins in the sector is a concern alongside thelikely scaling back in government projects over thecoming years.

“Sadly, there is little evidence as yet that residen-tial home starts are picking up which is a particularworry given that a shortage of stock is contributingto the recent rebound in house prices.”

Consultancy iscalled in to helpA HEALTH and safetyconsultancy in Hudders-field has secured a contractin the Midlands.

Bradley-based SafetyManagement and Monit-oring Services will providevital environmental sup-port and advice to Brind-l e y p l a c e , a p o p u l a rbusiness and leisure centrecomplex in the heart ofBirmingham city centre.

SM&MS will help theaward-winning develop-ment to achieve ISO 14001accreditation – the interna-tional standard setting outhow a company can benefitby an environmental man-agement system in place toreduce its impact on theclimate.

B r i n d l e y p l a c e i s amixed-use developmentcomprising shops, leisurefacilities, restaurants andbars. It also providesoffices occupied by majorcompanies such as RoyalBank of Scotland, BT andLloyds TSB.

As part of the project,SM&MS is providing sup-port to enable Brindley-place to develop and

submit the appropriatedocumentation needed forthe accreditation as well ashelping with the auditingprocess.

Fiona Loveland, opera-tions and environmentalmanager at Brindleyplace,said: “We elected to workwith SM&MS on the ISO14001 project because ofthe health and safety con-sultancy work they havepreviously successfully car-ried out for us.

“We recognise that

achieving ISO 14001 is partof a continuous process ofenvironmental manage-ment and we will continueto ensure we meet ourenvironmental objectivesas part of our overall busi-ness priorities.”

Phil Morris, director atSM&MS, said: “We aredelighted to be providingsupport and advice toBrindleyplace regardingthe ISO 14001 accredita-tion. Our expertise inenvironmental manage-ment is second-to-none.”

SM&MS was founded in1994 and has grown intoone of the UK’s leadingproviders of health andsafety services – assistingcompanies in meetinglegislative demands andachieving best health andsafety practice.

T h e c o m p a n y h a sbranches in London andBristol. Its services includehealth and safety riskassessments, fire safety riskassessments, disabilityaudits, asbestos surveys,environmental manage-ment and training.

■ CONTRACT: PhilMorris, of SM&MS

Lots of causefor optimismA PROPERTY auction has realised more than£5.2m – providing signs of renewed buyer confid-ence in the property market.

Proceeds for the two-day sale held by Eddisonsin Leeds and Manchester exceeded £5.25m. Thatcompares with just over £4m for Eddisons’ lastauction in September. Sixty of the 82 lots were sold– representing 73% of the total lots on offer.

Tony Webber, of Eddisons, said: “There wascertainly a greater mood of optimism amonginvestors.

“Development opportunities which have attrac-ted less interest of late due to funding difficultieswere the subject of some of the fiercest bidding andachieved prices well beyond their original guide.”

The star lots included a part-completed develop-ment of four executive properties at Wakefield,which sold for £810,000 off a guide price of£500,000-plus.

Butterfield Manor, a former old people’s homeand day centre in Leeds, which was offered on theinstructions of the city council at a guide price of£200,000-plus sold for £330,000.

Property prizesPROPERTY professionals have beenurged to enter the Pro Yorkshire Awards.The competition run by the RoyalInstitution of Chartered Surveyorsrewards inspirational developments inland, property, construction and theenvironment.The winners will be named at an awardsdinner on May 14, 2010, at Elland Road,Leeds. The closing date is January 22.For details, contact Lisa Metcalf on 01924229305 or email [email protected]

Contact Jason Metcalfe

014 8 4 4 32 0 4 3www.hanson-cs.co.uk

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Miller HomesSteve McElroy

MILLER Homes has appointedHuddersfield man Steve McElroyas sales and marketing director forYorkshire.

Mr McElroy, 42, has gained valu-able experience in the industry hav-ing worked for both estate agentsand other national housebuilders.His career has taken him full circleas one of his first managerial roleswas with Fairclough Homes, whichwas taken over by Miller three yearsago.

Based at the Wakefield office, Mr McElroy (pic-tured) will be responsible for driving the sales andmarketing strategies for the company’s 14 develop-ments across the region.

Yorkshire has consistently exceeded its targetdespite the current economic climate. The regionachieved the full year target much earlier thananticipated and is already enjoying nearly 50% offorward sales for quarter one.

Its developments in Yorkshire include ones inHuddersfield, Liversedge, Sheffield, Leeds, Brad-ford, Pontefract and Wakefield.

RedrowSimon Prest

H O U S E BU I L D E R Re d row(Yorkshire) has appointed SimonPrest as land manager for theregion.

Skipton-based Mr Prest (pic-tured) moves back to Yorkshireafter three-and-a-half years withRedrow in Lancashire. He alsospent a year as a work-based learn-ing adviser with building appren-tices at Craven College, Skipton.

His new role involves helping thecompany acquire and develop land for housing.

Mr Prest, who has a BSc (Hons) degree inbuilding from Nottingham Trent University, hasworked in the industry for more than 12 years. Hewill be based at Redrow’s Wakefield office, but willwork across the region.

Redrow (Yorkshire) is developing sites in Don-caster, Selby, Hambleton, Sherburn-in-Elmet andMalton as well as Barton-upon-Humber andGrimsby in North Lincolnshire. It also has newschemes planned in Sheffield and Halifax.

SwitalskisMark Christie

LAW firm Switalskis Solicitorshas begun a major period ofexpansion with the recruitment ofa high profile family lawyer to itsHuddersfield branch.

Mark Christie, previously apartner at Gordons LLP, will leadthe family law team at the firm’sNew Street office. He brings 30years' experience to Switalskis.

Managing partner John Durkansaid: “We are very excited to have Mark on the team.He is acknowledged by his peers as an expert in thefield of family law and will enhance our firm'sgrowing profile."

Mr Christie (pictured) is the first new lawyer tojoin Switalskis after the firm launched a York-shire-wide recruitment campaign in October. Thefirm has recently secured £1m in funding from RoyalBank of Scotland and aims to increase its turnoverby 33% in the next year, to £8m.

Manifest teamachieves lift-offA MARKETING agency has beenburning brightly since its formation10 years ago.

So what better way for the com-pany to celebrate than by launching10 sky lanterns into the Novembernight sky?

The agency, based at New NorthRoad, Huddersfield, was establishedby joint managing directors Nev Rid-ley and Shaun Beaumont on Novem-ber 5, 1999 – since when Manifest hasgrown to become one of the region’sleading marketing consultancies.

Said Nev: “We wanted to celebratewhat is a considerable achievement –and considering the date, we thought

it appropriate to release the sky lan-terns, one for each year we have beenoperating.”

Manifest’s most recent develop-ment has been the launch of a newLondon office to service the com-pany’s growing client base in thesouth.

“We are entering another excitingperiod with the recent opening of ourLondon office and continued growthin the north,” said Nev.

“This is a fantastic achievementwhich – of course – could not havehappened without the hard work ofall our staff and support from ourclients.”

Tree cheers for Christmas!

THE green shoots of recovery may beslow to emerge – but staff atHuddersfield Town are helping theirclients achieve real growth.

The football club is sending outmore than 140 Christmas trees tocustomers over the next few weeks.The idea is that the each company willnurture the trees and enter acompetition to grow the biggest tree,which will be judged in January.

Each Christmas tree tin is filled witheverything you need to grow your very

own Christmas tree.The tin is filled with Norway spruce

seeds and a growing compound.The seeds will sprout within two to

three weeks and can be transplantedoutside once Christmas is over.

“We wanted to give our customerssomething different, something lastingand fun,” said Town commercialmanager Tracy Nelson.

“It’s a unique way of saying thankyou for their support over the pastyear.”

■ CAN PLAN: Tracy Wilson, commercial manager for Huddersfield Town withthe Christmas tree tins being sent out by the club to clients

■ LAUNCH PARTY: Martin Farrar-Smith (left) NevRidley (centre) and Shaun Beaumont

Boxing cleverSTAFF at Huddersfield accountancy firm RevellWard are backing Operation Christmas Child, acharity project run by the Samaritans Purse.

People are urged to fill a shoebox with giftsfor disadvantaged children in Africa, EasternEurope and Central Asia.

Karen Borowski, partner at Revell Ward’sMarket Street offices, said: “The team havebeen busy buying appropriate gift items to filltheir boxes. It’s been a challenge to wrap theboxes, but great fun buying toys and stationeryto fill them.”

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