Kirklees Business News 22nd Feb 2011

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees22, Febr uar y, 2011

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PHIL HAYNES ALEX MCNEILA walk on the wild side

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Proper ty prospects

Fu l l s to r y - Page 6

An EXAMINER publication

Body ofevidenceA CREATIVE companywent on a dummy run –as part of a publicitycampaign.Highfields-basedManifestCommunications tookto the streets with alife-sized mannequin totalk to consumersabout their body hangups – as a fact-findingmission for consumerbrand and online storeClub Cleo.

PeoplepowerA FAMILY firm hasbeen shortlisted for anational prize.Portfolio Display isamong the finalists inthe CBI People’sAwards.

FTSE 100-68 .19

6014.80

Company sets out to curry favour in DubaiA DEWSBURY company is set toexhibit at the world’s biggest food,drink and hospitality event.

Pickles and chutneys specialistCurry Cuisine is one of seven York-shire businesses to attend Gulfood2001, which takes place from February27 to March 2 in Dubai.

The event is rated as one of theindustry’s most prestigious events –with delegates travelling from 152

countries to attend the show. Ot hosts3,800 exhibitors in 81 internationalpavilions and welcomes 55,000 buy-ers.

Curry Cuisine is making the tripwith deliciouslyorkshire, the cam-paiging brand established by theRegional Food Group to promotelocal produce.

Joining them will be food companiesfrom Beverley, Hull, Brigg, Whitby,

Womersley and Steeton makingproducts ranging from crisps,sugar-free fudge and fruitcake to jel-lies, vinegars and cookies.

Visitors to Gulfood get the oppor-tunity to review the latest industrytrends, ingredient innovations, res-taurant styling and live demonstra-tions. Gulfood also offers delegates thechance to get world-class advice byindustry leading figures.

Jonathan Knight, chief executive ofdeliciouslyorkshire, said: “We hopeour presence will build new routes tomarket and connections for businessesacross Yorkshire, as well as showcas-ing some of the best produce from ourregion.”

Curry Cuisine’s Dubai date followsits success in landing a contract tosupply award-winning pickles andchutneys to Booths supermarkets.

Firm shows rivalsclean pair of heelsA COMPANY providing drinks dis-pense equipment aims to clean up withthe launch of a new business.

Huddersfield-based Brewfitt has setup Steripax under sales managerJames Whittaker to sell sterilisingsolutions.

The two key products are SteriEx,which is aimed at the food productionand preparation industries, andSteriBev, which is used by the hospital-ity, beverages and brewing industries.

The sanitizer is billed as a leadingenvironmentally-friendly product inthe market as it has no special disposalrequirements, is harmless to humansand can be recycled after use.

Mr Whittaker said: “Steripax will beselling this revolutionary productwhich has been developed by Hypo-tech.

“As the main distributor for Hypo-tech’s products, I saw the role of salesmanager at Steripax as a great oppor-tunity to use my experience in the

cleaning and janitorial industry todevelop this new side of the business.

“I will be responsible for attractingnew customers and raising awarenessof the Steripax brand.

“I am ready for the challenge andlook forward to working with theBrewfitt team to expand the companyfurther.”

Curtis Paxman, managing directorof Brewfitt, said: “We are delighted towelcome James to the Brewfitt team.

“With his extensive experience ofthe sanitising industry we saw this as agreat opportunity to launch Steripaxand grow the business across newindustries.”

Brewfitt, a family business launchedin the 1950s and based at FenayBridge, is one of the UK’s largestproviders of dispense equipment.

Brewfitt is regarded as one of theindustry’s most innovative firms.

Steripax is the official distributor forHypotech in the UK.

■ SCREEN WASH: James Whittaker, sales manager for biocides supplierSteripax, aims to expand business further as part of Brewfitt

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

Solicitors for business inYorkshire

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICES

Local shares

FTSE closed at

6014.8068.19

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.52 dollarsBangladesh................. 108.48 takaBrazil.............................. 2.43 realsCanada....................... 1.52 dollarsChina ............................. 9.52 yuanCzech Republic ...... 26.66 korunasDenmark....................... 8.41 kroneEuro............................... 1.13 euroHong Kong................ 11.98 dollarsHungary ................... 286.96 forintsIndia.......................... 64.54 rupeesJapan........................... 128.38 yenMexico ....................... 17.38 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.98 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.79 kronePakistan.................. 130.61 rupeesPhilippines ................. 60.28 pesosSouth Africa................. 10.78 randSouth Korea.............. 1580.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 169.64 rupeesSweden......................... 9.93 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.46 francsTaiwan ...................... 41.59 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.41 new liraUSA ............................ 1.55 dollars

Carclo 2901/8 -23/8Marshalls 1141/2 -1National Grid 5661/2 -8Weir Gp 1709 -6

Opportunities overseasA UK oil and gas services firm hasunveiled plans for an overseas push aspart of a business overhaul.

Aberdeen-based Wood said it waslooking for takeover opportunities inAngola, Brazil, Canada, Malaysiaand Saudi Arabia and expected stronggrowth over the next few years.

Wood said the move to increase itsinternational reach formed part of astrategy to focus on to its core engin-eering, production facilities supportand gas turbine services.

The company recently sold its wellsupport arm to General Electric andannounced a merger with energy ser-vices group PSN.

Chief executive Allister Langlandssaid Wood posted a 3.9% drop inpre-tax profits for the year to Decem-ber 31 to £156.8m, despite a 2.8% risein revenues to £3.1bn.

Wood’s production arm generates47% of its revenues from the UKNorth Sea, but the addition of PSN inareas such as North America andRussia will cut its dependence on theUK and offer higher margin work.

The sale of Wood’s well supportarm, which makes electric submers-ible pumps used to maximise oil pro-duction, will raise £1.7bn. More thanhalf of the proceeds is set to go toshareholders.

Recession boostsbudget hotel group

Worries resurface for retailersTHE owner of the Bullring and BrentCross shopping centres said arecovering UK retail market helped2010 profits rise by 11%.

Butt he company warned thatGovernment spending cuts and theincrease in VAT could see someembattled retailers fall behind withrent repayments.

The group, which also owns Read-ing’s Oracle and Cabot Circus inBristol, said 2010 saw a turnaroundfor many retailers as tradingimproved and administrations fell.

Hammerson’s full-year resultsrevealed underlying profits of£144.5m in 2010 – up from £130m in2009.

Retail vacancies fell as the reces-sion saw many new developmentscancelled or put on hold, whichhelped overall occupancy levels riseto 97.3%.

Hammerson said: “The tradingenvironment has continued toimprove during 2010 and the rate atwhich retail companies in the UK aregoing into administration hasfallen.

“However the effects of increasedtaxation and restrictions on govern-ment spending may mean that sometenants, principally in the UK retailsector, face difficult operating con-ditions and there is a risk that theywill be unable to pay their rents.”

TurkishdelightDRINKS giant Diageoannounced a £1.3bndeal to snap up Turkishspirits maker Mey Icki asit expands in emergingmarkets to offsetdeclining Europeansales.

Mey Icki is Turkey’sbiggest spirits producerwith sales of about£300m a year. It is themarket leader in raki, theaniseed-flavourednational drink.

Diageo, which makesSmirnoff vodka,Guinness and Baileys,has agreed to buy thecompany for £1.3bn fromprivate equity firms TPGCapital and Actera in adeal expected tocomplete in the secondhalf of 2011.

The acquisition willgive Diageo increasedexposure to the rapidlygrowing Turkish spiritsmarket and will allow it toincrease sales of itsexisting brands, such asJohnnie Walker whisky,through its distributionnetwork.

Diageo is forecastingan increase in consumerspending in Turkey as itsgrowing middle classaspire to drink qualityspirits.

Diageo’s sales inEurope slumped by 3%in the six months toDecember 31, but thiswas more than offset bystrong growth inemerging markets andNorth America as pre-taxprofits rose by 16% to£1.61bn.

Paul Walsh, chiefexecutive of Diageo,said: “The acquisition ofMey Icki transforms ourexisting position in thisfast growing spiritsmarket.”

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £28.04Gannett 1045.82Hess Corp £52.35Microsoft 1666.67Motors Liquidation 46.19Wal-Mart Stores £34.11

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 233BAE Systems 3411/2 -11/4Rolls-Royce Gp 624 -31/2

AIMBrady Plc 83Dawson Intl 11/2Man Brnze 39

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 2105/8 -51/4

BANKSBarclays 3221/4 -71/4HSBC 7043/8 -183/8Lloyds Banking Gp 661/2 -23/4Ryl Scotland 465/8 -17/8Stan Chart 1631 -33

BEVERAGESDiageo 1200SABMiller £203/4 -1/4

CHEMICALSCroda 1494 +2Elementis 98 1361/4 -13/8Johnsn Mat 1889 -43

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 3545/8 -21/2Costain 2341/4 -23/4

ELECTRICITY

Drax Gp 3947/8 -61/8Intl Power 3417/8 -25/8Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1206 -5

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLaird 1593/8 -27/8

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 3643/8 -5

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1821/8 -31/4Cable & WirelessComm

467/8 -3/8

Cable & WirelessWwide

731/4 -13/4

Colt Group 1551/2 +5/8KCOM 623/4 -11/4Talktalk Telecom 1501/4 -3/8

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2861/4 +11/4Sainsbury 383 -1Tesco 4131/2 +31/2

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1050 -5Nth Foods 741/4Tate Lyle 583 -3Unilever 1832 +5Uniq 91/8 -11/8

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 3417/8 -3National Grid 5661/2 -8Pennon Grp 623 -41/2Severn 1464 -7United Utils 589 -51/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 3131/8 -37/8

ICAP 5311/2 -111/2London StockExch 9041/2 -141/2Man Group 2943/4 -91/2Provident Financial 997 -6Schroders 1736 -24Schroders NV 1359 -17

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 6601/2 -81/2REXAM 371 -43/8Smiths Grp 1363 -15

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 231/2 -1/4Carphone Whse 4031/4 -4Dixons Retail 203/4 -1/2Home Retail 230 -3Inchcape 3941/2 -105/8Kingfisher 2591/4 -4M & S 3547/8 -25/8Mothercare 4963/4 -31/8Next 1982 -23WH Smith 4681/4 -63/4

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 729 -13

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 123 -6Barrat Dev 995/8 -1/8Persimmon 4381/4 -13/4Reckitt Benckiser £327/8 -1/4Taylor Wimpey 371/2 -1/2

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 7501/2 +161/2I M I 896 -10

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 425 -141/4

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION

BBA Aviation 2281/4 -53/4Forth Ports 1444 +14

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 4621/4 -8Lgl & Gen 1191/4 -11/4Old Mutual 1331/4 -17/8Prudential 7161/2 -14Resolution 2851/4 -81/8Standard Life 2395/8 -33/4

MEDIABSkyB 753 +1D Mail Tst 560 -6ITV 841/2 -17/8Johnston Press 10Pearson 1032 -26Reed Elsevier 5641/2 +1/2STV Group 1191/2Trinity Mirror 821/4 -3/4Utd Business 707 -121/2UTV 1261/2 +11/2WPP 841 -4Yell Group 73/4 -3/8

MININGAnglo American £317/8 -3/8Antofagasta 1391 -16BHP Billiton £233/4 -1/8Eurasian NaturalRes

9851/2 -141/2

Fresnillo 1550 +43Kazakhmys 1452 -29Lonmin 1841 -12Rio Tinto £431/8 -7/8VEDANTARESOURCES

£23 -5/8

Xstrata 1411 -19MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 675 -17

Vodafone Group 1791/2 -21/4

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1737 -16RSA Insurance Gp 1413/4 -13/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERSBG 1457 -10BP 4911/2 -11/2Cairn Energy 4203/4 -11/4Royal Dutch Shell A £213/4 -1/8Royal Dutch Shell B £215/8 -1/8Total £361/4 -1/2Tullow Oil 1376

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 1138 -2Petrofac 1427 -17Wood Group 6431/2 -21/2

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry Gp 1177 -13

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGYAstrazeneca £301/4 -1/8Axis-Shield 3191/2 +101/4GlaxoSmithK XD 41/2Shire 1723 -11

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 5541/2 -9Captl Shop Cent 383 -33/8DTZ Hldgs 38 -3/4Hamrsn 4551/4 +73/4Land Secs 7351/2 -9SEGRO 325 -3/4

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp 1654 -31Invensys 3573/4 +123/4Logica 1461/8 -11/8Misys 3331/2 -73/4Sage Group 2857/8 -23/8

SUPPORT SERVICESBerendsen 447 -41/8Bunzl 7681/2 -111/2Capita 6701/2 -7De La Rue 699 -6Electrocomp 2711/8 -13/8Experian 772 -15G4S 2671/2 -1/2Hays 1211/4 -2Homeserve 4661/4 -77/8Menzies J 448 +8Rentokil 911/4 -11/4Smiths News 97Wolseley £21 -1/2

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 597 -23

Psion 933/4 -1/2Spirent Comms 1553/8 -3/4

TOBACCO

Br Am Tob £241/2 -1/8Imperial Tobacco 1962 -30

LEISURE & HOTELS

Carnival £281/8 -1Compass Grp 5661/2 -2easyJet 377 -8Enterprise Inns 1001/2 -21/8FirstGroup 373 -5Go-Ahead Gp 1435 +27Greene King 4741/2 -21/8Intercontl Htls 1415 -20Intl Cons AirlinesGp

2391/2 -7

Ladbrokes 1395/8 +1Mitchells & Butlers 333 -1/4Natl Express 2557/8 -31/8PartyGaming 1733/4 -1/4Rank Org 1285/8 -11/4Stagecoach Group 2131/2 -13/4TUI Travel 2453/4 -41/8Whitbread 1834 -9

INDEXFTSE 100 6014.80 -68.19

INDEXFTSE 250 11727.66 -100.63

TOUGH economic conditions helpedTravelodge enjoy a strong year during2010 as the group benefited frombudget-conscious consumers.

The hotel chain, which offers roomsfrom just £19 a night, had a record 13mcustomers stay at its sites during the year– 12% up on 2009.

It also continued its expansion pro-gramme, opening a further 70 hotelsduring the course of the year.

The group, which has plans for a newhotel in Huddersfield, said the recessionhad enabled it to target sites that wouldhave been beyond its reach before theeconomic downturn.

It also completed a deal with pubsgroup Mitchells and Butlers under whichit acquired 52 of its Innkeeper’s Lodges.

The acquisitions saw the group con-

tinue its strategy of shifting away fromroadside locations to city centres.

Only a fifth of its rooms are now on theedge of motorways and major roads, with18% in London and the remaining 62%in other major towns and cities.

The group has already opened fournew hotels this year, including one inCardiff city centre, while it is building afurther 36 hotels.

The latest openings mean it now oper-ates 463 hotels, including 10 in Irelandand three in Spain, and it said it remained“well on track” to reach its target ofhaving more than 1,100 hotels and100,000 rooms by 2025.

Total sales in 2010 rose by 13% to 7.2mrooms with like-for-like growth up 6%,driven by an 11% rise in London.

Guy Parsons, chief executive of

Travelodge, said: “Despite the tough cli-mate in 2010, we have delivered a robustperformance whilst continuing our stra-tegic UK growth programme anddemonstrating Travelodge’s continuedstrong recovery.

“The year has started in line withmanagement’s expectations, thoughclearly there has been an impact on theconsumer from the recent VAT increaseand the fue l and energy pr i ceincreases.”

Travelodge has planning permissionfor a new hotel at Spindlegate, LeedsRoad, Hillhouse. The 62-bed hotel willstand on part of the site formerly occu-pied by chemical company James Robin-son. Costa Coffee has also tabled plansfor a new outlet while a pub, the York-shire Rose, is already operating.

■ STAYING POWER: Hotelchain Travelodge is expanding

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

Phil Haynes

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Retail develop-ment managerAge: 42Family: Married toCarol with children Mat-thew, 18, and Emily, 14Holidays: Ski-ingevery spring, particularlyenjoying Bulgaria, Italyand AustriaCar: Ford MondeoFirst job: Paperboy – Ilasted two weeks!Best thing aboutjob: No two days arethe sameWorst thing aboutjob: If anything aboutthe job was bad Iwouldn’t do it!Business tip: Alwaysdo what you promiseyou are going to do

Work: Technical out-door clothing, accessor-ies and campingequipmentSite: Dunford Road,HolmfirthEmployees: SevenPhone: 0844 9798586Email:[email protected]: www.outdoormania.co.uk

OutdoorMania/Let’s Go

Phil’sgettingout andabout

NOTHING beats the greatoutdoors.

Just ask Phil Haynes,who lists ski-ing, hill walkingand biking among hisfavourite pursuits.

Phil’s hobbies certainlyhelp when it comes to hisjob as retail developmentmanager for outdoorclothing and equipmentcompany Outdoor Mania,which is based at theformer Crag Rats mill inDunford Road, Holmfirth.

And its a passion sharedby other members of theteam.

“We ski, we snowboard,we camp and we go bikeriding,” he says. “That’show we try out the productswe sell and how we can talkwith authority about them tothe customer. We are veryactive people.

“In fact, people generallyare becoming more active –and they don’t just go to thegym.

“Many people are leadinghealthier lifestyles. And it’snot just about being healthy.It’s about enjoying thecountryside.”

Outdoor Mania waslaunched seven years agoas an internet-basedbusiness selling everythingfrom checked shirts andwalking gear to ski clothingand camping equipment.But the founders quicklyrealised the need for ashowroom to enablecustomers to see theproducts for themselves.That led to the formation ofretail arm Let’s Go.

“We had a lot of peoplewho were happy enough toorder online, but werealised we neededsomewhere for people totouch and feel and try outthe products,” says Phil.“While other companies aregoing from bricks andmortar to online, we aregoing the other way.

“In both cases, it’s amatter of providingcustomer service, attentionand care.”

The showroom wasopened two weeks beforeChristmas – and the timingcouldn’t have been muchbetter. “The wintry weathercertainly helped focuspeople’s minds on ourproducts,” says Phil.

“We have had a lot ofcustomers from as far afieldas Durham, Doncaster andHull.

“About 90% of ourcustomers have seen theproducts online, but theywant to see them forthemselves.

“When you are buying a£600 tent and all theaccessories, you want tosee what you’re buying.”

Phil and the team hadbeen looking for suitablepremises for three or fouryears before fixing on themill, which becameavailable following thedemise of training andtheatre company Cragrats.

Says Phil: “It was anawful shame that Cragratswent out of business, but itwould have been just as biga shame if the mill hadgone to wrack and ruin.”

Thankfully – although themill was empty for sometime – that hasn’t

happened. And after movinginto the building, OutdoorMania set about restoring itto its former glory thebuilding.

“There was an awful lot todo,” says Phil. “It took 11months to get it looking halfright and there has beensignificant investment. Westripped back the walls toexpose the original stoneand features. We restoredthe wood flooring andinstalled new staircases.

“The mill has returned totextiles, only this time it’smodern, technical textiles intheir finished form.”

The ground floor is givenover to the retail showroomwhile the second and thirdfloors accommodate theinternet business.

There are plans to open acoffee shop on the thirdfloor during April, while thetop floor houses thecompany’s call centre.

Outdoor Mania/ Let’s Gocurrently employs seven

people, but has the potentialto create up to 20 jobs, saysPhil.

“That would be a positiveboost for the area,” saysPhil, who sees the companyas a key part of efforts togenerate wealth for theHolme Valley and maintainits tourist trade.

“Last of the Summer Winehas finished,” he points out.“It wasn’t just about threegrumpy old men – it wasabout the landscapes andthe countryside.”

Phil was born inNewcastle and grew up inYarm on Teeside. “Myambition was to become aparamedic,” he says. “WhenI grow up, that’s probablywhat I’ll be!”

Instead, he has spent 21years in the “outdoor”industry. At first, it was justanother job, but over theyears Phil has developed areal love for the outdoors.Phil also works with two

other companies inHeckmondwike, OutdoorRevolution and caravanand motorhomes firmBlue Diamond.

Says Phil: “I have donethe Six Peaks Challenge– walking up the sixhighest mountains inGreat Britain in 72 hours.

“You get a sense ofachievement doing that,but it is the spectacularsights of nature that youreally appreciate.”

It’s also a family affair.“When the kids wereyoung, I didn’t have agreat deal of money tospend on holidays. We’dspend time together in theoutdoors because it was acheap and fun way to getto know the kids.

“We lived on the edgeof the North York Moorsand when my daughterwas very young, she’d setthe alarm for six o’clock inthe morning, We’d take a

packed breakfast and sitout in the hills.”

Photography is anothergrowing interest. “I boughtmyself a new camera forChristmas,” says Phil. “Ialso got a book on how touse it and I am going togo on a course so I canget the best out of it. It’sall about catching thosememories.”

Meanwhile, otherpeople are discoveringthe simple pleasures ofthe great outdoors, saysPhil.

“The recession hasmeant lots of peopleholidaying at home tosave money – and findingout what there is on theirown doorstep.

“People say the Britishweather is what putsthem off holidays athome, but we havetechnical products to dealwith the elements.

“As Billy Connolly said:There’s no such thing asbad weather, onlyinappropriate clothing!”

■ FREEZE FRAME: Phil Haynes’ colleague Graham Holmes tries out some of thefirm's products on the ski slopes at Schladming in Austria

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

New image forfuneral businessA BRANDING specialist inHuddersfield has provided anew look for a West Yorkshirefuneral business.

Bradley-based 10 Associ-ates had refreshed things for RJ Burgess, a family-ownedfuneral directors in Norman-ton, using the agency’s Design-ing Demand initiative andunique Brandschool pro-gramme.

The key challenges were toreflect the unique qualities ofmanaging director RobertBurgess and his team, high-light the bespoke service andunderline how R J Burgess is aforward-thinking company.

Nikki Phillipson, accountmanager for 10 Associates,said: “It was clear from thestart that Bob and his teamwere ‘salt of the earth’ typeswho genuinely cared for thefamilies they looked after.

“But a funeral directors is abusiness like any other andBob needs it to be profitable inorder to keep his business and

employees secure for thefuture.”

The agency helped R J Bur-gess create a pack providingfamilies with more informa-tion about the range of ser-vices available, useful contactdetails and answers to com-monly asked questions.

Nikki said the pack hadproved to be a real success –giving families time to chooseoptions for a funeral indi-vidual to their loved one,which Robert would neverhave felt comfortable recom-mending for fear of appearingtoo sales-focused.

David Worthington, man-aging director of 10 Associ-ates, said: “What this projectfor RJ Burgess clearly demon-strates is how taking a freshlook at a business’ brand pro-position is one of the mosteconomical ways to give acompany a clear direction forthe future and increaseprofits.”

■ BY DESIGN: Nikki Phillipson, of 10 Associates, with Robert Burgess, managingdirector of R J Burgess

Company motorsinto national finalA FAMILY business has been short-listed for a prestigious nationalaward.

Elland-based Portfolio Display isamong the finalists in the categoryfor growing business in the CBIPeople’s Awards, which will be heldin March in London.

Portfolio Display designs, makesand prints display products mainlyfor the motor trade, although theyhave customers across all indus-tries.

Products include PVC banners,roller banners, bunting, flags andflagpoles.

Advertising products include taxdisc holders, car window stickers,key rings, poster cases and brochurestands.

Other organisations nominated inthe awards include major namessuch as Jaguar, Sainsbury’s, GatwickAirport and McDonald’s.

Portfolio Display is run by broth-ers Robert and Garth Walker, whoare both directors of the company.Robert Walker’s background is insales and marketing while Garth’sexperience is in transport design.

Both graduated from Hudders-

field University with honours, butneither has previous experience ofrunning a company before launchingPortfolio Display two years ago –since when they have seen the busi-ness grow substantially.

Robert said: “We recently won alocal business award and thoughtwe’d try on a nation level.

“We really didn’t expect to get thisfar and the high profile names on thelist just shows the quality that will bethere on the night.

“We will be keeping our fingerscrossed, but whether we take theaward or not it’s a huge achievementto make it this far.

“Everyone involved at PortfolioDisplay should be extremely proudof their hard work.”

The CBI People’s Awards cover sixcategories – Growing Business,International People Engagement,Skills for the Future, Change Man-agement, Green Strategy and Valuein the Public Sector.

The awards ceremony will be heldon March 28 at the London Marri-ott Hotel in Grosvenor Square andwill be hosted by Olympic medallistSteve Cram.

■ LONDON CALLING: Brothers Rob Walker (left) and Garth Walker, ofElland-based Portfolio Display Ltd , whose company is among the finalistsin the prestigious CBI People’s Awards, to be held in London

Bank embarkson expansion

YORKSHIREBank hascreated a50-strongteam acrossYorkshire aspart of effortsto significantlyincrease itssupport forsmall firmsacross the UK.The bank isexpanding the services andproducts on offer to businesses –typically those with annual turnoverof less than £1m or borrowing lessthan £250,000.Measures will include free bankingoffers for start-ups and switchersand a new small business service.The bank said Britain’s 5m smallbusinesses were a key driver of theeconomy – representing 35% of theturnover of all UK businesses and55% of all business currentaccounts. In addition, an estimated400,000 new businesses starttrading each year.Gary Lumby (pictured), director ofsmall business for Yorkshire Bank inthe region, said that manybusinesses would welcome thereturn of local, relationship-basedbanking that enabled swift lendingdecisions and created networkingopportunities.The new team of small businessmanagers would concentrate onbuilding and supportingrelationships with businesses suchas shopkeepers, retailers,tradesmen, small manufacturing andengineering firms as well asprofessionals such as accountantsor architects.Local small business managers willbe located in Yorkshire Bankbranches and Financial SolutionsCentres – initially at sites includingHuddersfield, Leeds, Bradford,Sheffield, Hull, Halifax, York andDoncaster.The bank expects the roll-out of thenew service will see a significantnumber of new appointments to theteam over the next three years.Said Mr Lumby: “Small businessesare the lifeblood of our communitiesand economy.“We’ve been listening to them andhave developed our business to helpthem develop theirs. We see a realopportunity to offer a crediblealternative – establishing localrelationships to help smallbusinesses flourish, with localknowledge and services that suittheir needs in branch, online or byphone.“The evidence suggests that thesmall business market isunder-served by the ‘big banks’.“We see this as a great time tocorrect that and build on our alreadysuccessful business bankingapproach.“These moves underline ourcommitment to UK businesses.”

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Sesamewins againA FINANCIAL servicesfirm with operations inHuddersfield hasscooped a top industryaward for the secondyear running.Sesame, with offices atHalifax Road,Birchencliffe, wasrecognised for highquality services andsupport delivered toindependent financialadvisersSesame won Best IFANetwork – which is votedfor by financial advisers –for the second year in arow at the ProfessionalAdviser Awards 2011 inLondon.Sesame, part of theSesame Bankhall Group,has led the Top 100Advisers list for the pastsix years.

ufacturing and

usiness to help

eady

Valley agency mindsits manners in China

DealershipHungary forsuccess!A MOTOR dealer in Huddersfield has won anaward from car manufacturer Skoda.

DM Keith Group, based at St Andrew’sRoad, Bradley Mills, was named top Skodaretailer for customer finance at the PrestigiousPrague Awards, which was held at ZofinPalace in Prague.

The annual awards, hosted by Skoda UK,recognise the brand’s top dealerships.

Dougal Keith (centre), of DM Keith, receivedthe award from BBC TV presenter KateSilverton and Skoda’s Robert Hazelwood(also pictured).

DM Keith dealer principal Peter Donnellsaid: “Buying a car is now as easy as going tothe supermarket or shopping on the highstreet. We are extremely delighted with thisaward, which is a reflection of the hard workand dedication shown by our staff.”

A KIRKLEES company forgingstrong links with China is getting alesson in business etiquette.

At the start of the Chinese Year ofthe Rabbit, Holmfirth-based graphicdesign, marketing and web designcompany Worthington Brown, isbuilding on its success in the Chinesemarket by consulting a local experton Chinese business etiquette.

The company has teamed up withFiona Chen, of The Gleddings Pre-paratory School in Halifax, for les-sons in the Mandarin language andculture.

The school was recently conferredConfucius status by the ConfuciusInstitute at Manchester University –and Fiona is on a mission to intro-duce the Mandarin language andculture to local businesses in York-shire.

Topics covered in her lessonsinclude basic Mandarin, Chineseculture and customs, arrival atChinese airports, registering at ahotel, greeting others and introdu-cing yourself, requesting informa-tion about items such as food oraccommodation.

Worthington Brown is the onlyBritish graphic design company withan office in the Hangzhou province,and managing director, Neil Wor-thington, is keen for staff to avoid thepitfalls common to westerners con-ducting business in China.

After lessons with Fiona Chen,Worthington Brown’s latest recruit,

creative designer Jenny Hurman, hasdeparted for a six-month second-ment at the company’s China designstudio – confident in her Chinesebusiness etiquette.

Worthington Brown, which has

been based in Holmfirth since 1990,opened its first China office in Hang-zhou to provide graphic design,advertising and web design servicesfor both western and Chinese busi-nesses.

■ CHINESE CHECK: Neil Worthington, of Worthington Brown, gets togrips with Chinese culture alongside colleague Jenny Hurman (right) andFiona Chen, of the Gleddings Preparatory School

Fired Up isa hot winnerA FIRM well-versed in dealingwith China isHuddersfield-based domesticheating products manufacturerFired Up.

And the company, based atSt Thomas’ Road, LongroydBridge, has emphasised itssuccess in the region bywinning the China BusinessAward for Yorkshire andHumber.

The accolade recognisesFired Up’s success inestablishing a factory in Chinato make and supply itemsincluding rice cookers andelectric fires – as well asexporting electrical productsmade in Huddersfield to China.

Chief executive Richard Kayeand Chris Chan, generalmanager of the 300,000sq ftfactory at Zhongshan City inGuangdong Province, receivedthe award at a presentation inSheffield.

Fired Up has lifted turnover inChina from about £900,000 in2006 to a budgeted turnover ofabout £6m for 2011. Sales intoChina are expected to account

for almost 25% of turnovergenerated by the Chineseoperation this year.

Fired Up began its Chineseventure six years ago as a wayto combat the threat fromlow-cost Chinesemanufacturers.

■ ACCOLADE: Richard Kaye(centre) and Chris Chan, ofFired Up, receive the awardfrom Josh Wong, of eventsponsor DLA Piper

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

Key investmentsnow completedTWO key investment sales totalling morethan £3.5m have been completed in WestYorkshire.Acting on behalf of MonumentInvestments, the Capital Markets team atCB Richard Ellis in Leeds has soldProspect House, an 18,643sq ft officebuilding on Sovereign Street in Leeds citycentre to a private London-based buyerfor £2.09m.The rapidly expanding serviced officeprovider has committed to lease thebuilding for a further 15 years.And acting for CBRE Investors, the Leedsteam sold a 30,000sq ft industrial unit onTyler Close in Normanton, Wakefield, letto Wincanton Plc to The Burgess Groupfor £1.425m.

Premises needflood protectionKIRKLEES businesses are being urged tocheck their flood insurance cover – as publicsector spending cuts lead to the postponingof several defence schemes aimed at protect-ing homes and commercial premises acrossthe country.

The warning from Bluefin Insurance Ser-vices, which has offices in Cleckheaton,comes as scheme are set to be postponed forat least three years – in the face of increasedevidence of climate change.

More than 5m people in England andWales live and work in properties that are atrisk of flooding from swollen rivers or surgingseas.

In Yorkshire, hundreds of families andbusinesses were forced to leave their proper-ties during intense summer flooding in2007.

Bluefin said the main problems facingbusinesses were inadequate sums insured,non-compliance with warranties and insur-ance policies and insufficient business inter-ruption cover.

It said that despite an earlier commitmentto protecting funding for flood and coastaldefence schemes, the government hadrevealed there will be insufficient money tocontinue with all planned schemes, leavingthousands of businesses across the countryunprotected.

“In the current climate of austerity andeconomic pressure, when businesses are look-ing for ways to reduce spending and managetheir costs, there may be a temptation to cutback on expenses such as insurance”, saidBluefin flooding expert, Philip Jackson.

“That would be a short-sighted decision asthe effects of flooding can often result inmuch higher costs than simply replacingdamaged equipment.

“Business continuity insurance is nowessential, for example, to provide coveragainst lost income due to IT system failures,lost work time and restricted access topremises.”

Bluefin said flooding posed an increasing

threat to homes and businesses due to climatechange and rising sea levels as well as humanfactors such as property development onflood plains and deforestation.

The cost of insurance claims following the2009 floods in Cumbria is now estimated at£206m – with 60% of this cost relating tobusiness damage. Even the 2004 floods inBoscastle, Cornwall, cost an estimated £4m ininsurance claims.

Said Mr Jackson: “The cost of flood dam-age can have a devastating effect on busi-nesses. Businesses in Yorkshire must be moreproactive about covering themselves against

the risk of flooding despite the current eco-nomic climate. As a precaution businessesshould look again at their insurance policiesand identify areas where they are notcovered.

“We must learn from the lessons of theCumbrian floods last year and make changeswhile there is still time.

“Without appropriate insurance, busi-nesses may not be able to recover fromflooding or other adverse weather conditionssuch as snow and drought, both of which wehave seen more often over the last fewyears.”

■ WATER WARNING: Firms can keep their heads above water by ensuring premises areproperly insured against flooding

Commercial sector paints varied pictureCHARTERED surveyors arecautiously optimistic aboutprospects for the Yorkshirecommercial property sector, asurvey has revealed.

The latest market survey fromthe Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyors shows that thebalance of members expectingnew sales and lettings to riserather than fall in the next threemonths stands at plus 14% –although this is a decline fromplus 24% in the third quarter of2010.

Meanwhile, the figure foroccupier enquiries stood at plus18% against minus 11% last timewhile overall tenant demand forcommercial property increasedto plus 19% from minus 5%.

Just 10% more surveyors sawan increase rather than adecrease in available occupierspace – down from a reading of

plus 26% in the third quarter.Available space in the officesector stood at plus 33%,although this is the lowest figuresince the fourth quarter of 2007.

Available space continued toedge up in the industrial sector atplus 26%. The retail sector saw aconsiderable drop in availabilitywith a net balance of minus 6%.

On the investment side, 20%more surveyors in Yorkshire andHumber said that capital valuesfell rather than rose – suggestingthat commercial buyers remaincautious about investing in theregion. Looking ahead, overallexpectations for commercialrents in Yorkshire and Humberfell to a net balance of minus 8%.Rent expectations were lowest inthe office sector at minus 21%.

Alex McNeil, of Bramleys inHuddersfield, said: “Conditionsremain tough with new enquiries

coming forward. Activity doesremain however, with thoseactive in the market having agenuine appetite for acquisition,albeit at the ‘right’ price or rent.”Colin Harrop, commercial marketspokesman for RICS Yorkshireand Humber, said: “Thecommercial market in the regionstill faces significant challenges,with the picture on rents andcapital values broadly reflectingthe emerging economic recovery.

“Not just in Yorkshire andHumber, but across the country,offices are a particular area ofconcern as any over-supply willbe compounded by likelyconsolidation in the public sector.

“On top of this, the generallack of new projects beinginitiated in our region doesn’tprovide the kick-start to theregeneration that parts of thenorth really need.”

■ ASSESSMENT: AlexMichael, of Bramleys

Further lettings fortop city propertyPROPERTY agents have concluded twomore lettings at a prominent city centresite.The completion of the deals means thatjust 6,000sq ft of space remains at 49A StPaul’s Street in Leeds. The building isowned by Kelly & Co Solicitors.Watts, a leading consultant to theproperty and construction industry, hasagreed a three-year lease on 887sq ft ofspace. In the second deal, financialadvisers Prosperis has taken a three-yearlease on the building’s second floor.Tom Brammeld, of joint leasing agentsJones Lang LaSalle, said: “These deals –which follow on from the 2,450sq ft lettingto Trend Micro completed late last year –bring two further quality tenants into thebuilding and mean that almost 4,000sq ftof space has been let at 49A St Paul’sHouse within the last few months.”Jones Lang LaSalle and SandersonWeatherall are joint leasing agents for theproperty.

Chance to sampleAmerican dreamA NEW award for anoutstanding academicor professional topursue research intoproperty, land or thebuilt environment inthe USA has beenlaunched by the RoyalInstitution ofChartered Surveyors.The first FulbrightRICS Scholar Awardwill provide the winner with anappointment of three to 10 months at anyUS institution to begin at any stagebetween August 1, 2012, and April 30,2013. The recipient will be awarded £2,750a month.Jennifer Turner (pictured), operationsdirector for the RICS in the north, said:“The global Fulbright Programme is oneof the most prestigious worldwide awardsystems, operating in more than 150countries. The RICS is delighted to beextending this exceptional opportunity tothe world of property, land and the builtenvironment.”Successful applicants will be UK citizenswho hold or expect to receive a Master’s,PhD or possess equivalent professionalexperience in a relevant area.Go to www.fulbright.co.uk

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

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Improve

Dummy runfor ManifestTHEY’RE nodummies!

ManifestCommunications,based atHighfields, tookto the streetswith a life-sizedmannequin totalk toconsumers abouttheir body hangups – all in the spirit of health andbeauty.

Working on a publicity campaignfor consumer brand and onlinestore Club Cleo, Manifestlaunched its fact-finding missionamong the women of Leeds andLondon to identify problem areasand pinpoint them on amannequin.

Some 47% of London ladieswanted to firm up their thighs,while toning the tummy was themain concern expressed by Leedslasses. The day also showed that12% of northerners worried aboutcrows feet, frown lines andpuffiness around the eyeswhereas the face fared well in thesouth.

Nev Ridley, joint managingdirector of ManifestCommunications, said: “Taking PRout of the office and interactingwith the client’s target market iscrucial when it comes down tomeasuring the impact of acampaign.”

A new social media programme,The Cleo Class, has also beenlaunched by Manifest to help theClub Cleo brand adopt aneducational and conversationalstyle and link products and theirapplication to everyday scenarios

Dave Cullen

Carole NashMOTORCYCLE insurancespecialist Carole Nash hasappointed Stainland man DaveCullen, 43, as operations andsales director.

Mr Cullen (pictured) joins thecompany from the LSL PropertyGroup, where he has set up anew sales centre to help increaserevenue to their retail network.He brings some 20 years financial servicesoperational experience to the Altrincham-basedcompany.

Mr Cullen previous roles include head ofcustomer sales and service at Barclays Bank’sWoolwich direct mortgage business, head ofretail sales and service at AXA Insurance, headof tele-advice at Norwich Union’s joint operationwith RBS and senior contact centre manager atits Your Move estate agency.

Society stagesa design doubleTWO renowned fashion designersmade a big impression at a meetingof Huddersfield Textile Society.

Emma Sewell and Harriet Wal-lace-Jones use Yorkshire yarns tocreate in-demand fashion itemssuch as high-quality scarves andthrows in wool crepe, cashmere andsilk.

Their work is sold across theworld via the fashion centres ofLondon, Paris and New York.

The designers, who use theexpertise of Moldgreen dyers andfinishers W T Johnson & Sons, alsoaccept commissions to design –including scarves for the recentGauguin exhibition at the Tate Gal-lery, for the British Museum and theRoyal Academy.

They work with interior designersfor hotels and designed upholsteryfor the London Overground trains.The duo also won design competi-tion for new upholstery for LondonUnderground, which will be intro-

duced later this year on the CentralLine.

Emma and Harriet hold mastersdegrees from the Royal College ofArt and Emma is a past winner ofthe Silver Shuttle, awarded by theWorshipful Company of Weaverslivery company.

The two designers gave a present-ation entitled Hand Loom to PowerLoom at a meeting of the textilesociety held at the Textile Centre ofExcellence.

Before the meeting, they met tex-tile students at Huddersfield Uni-versity’s school of art, design andarchitecture to encourage studentsto be innovative in their use oftraditional techniques of textile pro-duction.

The Textile Society awards prizesto students for creativity and innov-ation in textile design and supportsefforts to bring on a new generationof designers.

■ CUT ABOVE: Designers Emma Sewell (left) andHarriet Wallace-Jones with textile society president BillSkidmore

Tony Belmega & Joanne Brook

TWO new appointments have been made byfood and drink sector skills council Improve andthe National Skills Academy for Food and Drink.

Tony Belmega and Joanna Brook (above) takeup key management posts.

Mr Belmega joins the academy as networkdevelopment manager, having previously heldsenior management positions at the Learning &Skills Council and the Skills Funding Agency. Hetakes responsibility for managing the academy’snational network of accredited training providers.

Ms Brook becomes contracts and performancemanager at Improve. An accountancy graduate,she has previously worked for Yorkshire Forwardand Yorkshire Electricity.

Jill’s become a networking expert

BUSINESSWOMAN Jill Evans (above)needed plenty of persuading beforeagreeing to attend her first meeting of theBNI networking group.

Now she has become the first person towin the BNI Member of the Year Award fortwo years running.

Jill, who has been working for 10 years atBirkby-based creative design agency ThePlanet Group, is an assistant director ofBNI, which stands for Business NetworkingInternational.

At Planet, she heads accounts for localbusinesses and major international brandsincluding Kirklees Active Leisure, Vivimedand Surfachem.

At BNI meetings, she focuses on helpingother business people achieve success by“trading” leads and word-of-mouth referrals.

Mike Holman, executive director for BNI,said: “The reason Jill is such a greatmember is her alignment with the wholeethos of BNI. We are all about “givers gain”.

Plainly put, if I find business for you, youwill also want to help me find business. It ismore of a support network than anything.

“This is the way Jill approacheseverything.

“She is constantly giving businessopportunities to others with no thought onwhat she may receive in return.

Said Mr Holman: “It took eight or nineinvites to get Jill to come to her first BNImeeting but when she saw the power ofworking with local businesses to increaseword-of-mouth marketing she was hooked.”

“She told me that nearly all of the newwork that comes into her business isgenerated through BNI. Jill is a realsuccess story, a great ambassador for BNIin general and a deserved winner.”

BNI runs five networking groups inHuddersfield and three in Halifax.

To find out more, contact Jill Evans on01484 321000.

Charlotte Britton & Kenton Robbins

Institute ofDirectorsTHE founder of an internetmarketing and social mediaagency has been appointedchairman of the West Yorkshirebranch of the Institute ofDirectors.

Charlotte Britton (pictured) isfounder of Leeds-based businessOptimum Exposure and hasbeen actively involved with theIoD for several years. She isstepping down from her currentrole as chairman of the IoD’sYorkshire Young Directors’Forum to take up her new role.

Kenton Robbins (alsopictured), former vice-chairmanof the Young Directors’ Forumand business coach and ownerat The Alternative Board inLeeds, replaces Ms Britton aschairman of the forum with immediate effect.