KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees28, Febr uar y, 2012

INSIDE

● Full story - Page 6

● Full story - Page 8

PAUL ROBERTSHAW

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Global ambit ions

Co lumn - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

BusinessexpandsDENBY Dalebusinesswoman JoHaigh has expandedher business in WestYorkshire.The partner at fdsCorporate FinanceServices, has set up aWakefield office tocomplement the firm’sexisting sites inBirmingham andLondon – and isalready making animpact with the localbusiness community.

Room fora winnerA DESIGN andmarketing agency witha national client base isthe latest winner of amonthly businessaward.The Engine RoomDesign Co Ltd, basedat Huddersfield’s MediaCentre, won the EatonSmith Business of theMonth Award.Co-founders DarrenEvans and HelenWhitehead receivedtheir framed certificateat a presentation at thelaw firm’s High Streetoffices.

J ILL HAGUEFTSE 100-19 .58

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Redknapp case fuels demand for insuranceDEMAND for tax investiga-tion insurance is soaring in thewake of football managerHarry Redknapp being clearedof tax evasion, it is claimed.

Steven Gash, practice chair-man of Cleckheaton-basedchartered accountancy firmClough & Co, said specialistinsurance policies were avail-able to cover accountancy andlegal fees that may be incurredduring HMRC tax enquiries.

He said: “Any business orindividual submitting a tax

return can be investigated byHMRC and a large number areselected randomly, so lots ofpeople find themselves underinvestigation every year.

“In the past, a lot of peoplefailed to understand how muchan investigation could costthem and just saw the insuranceas another cost, but we recentlyhad a client that had to claimfor fees of more than £40,000through tax investigation insur-ance – even though they werecompletely innocent – so it’s

well worth the small outlay.“It also cost the last seven

clients to be investigated – whodidn’t have cover – a total of£139,723 which could have beenpaid by insurers.”

Said Mr Gash: “Althoughvery few people will find them-selves in Harry Redknapp’sshoes, his situation highlightshow much these cases can costand how long they can last andit’s certainly raised awarenessabout the importance of keep-ing tax affairs in order.

“We’ve been offering thisinsurance for the last 10 years,but just recently enquiries for ithave gone through the roof.”

Jurors accepted Redknapp'sdenials that he avoided tax on£189,000 in a Monaco bankaccount.

His acquittal alongsideco-defendant and former Ports-mouth chairman Milan Man-daric blew the final whistle onan £8m City of London Policeinvestigation that lasted fiveyears.

■ ENQUIRIES: StevenGash, of Clough & Co

Chamber calls foraction on fundingBUSINESS leaders in Kirklees havew e l c o m e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’sannouncement of a third round ofRegional Growth Funding to help UKcompanies grow and create jobs.

But the Lockwood-based MidYorkshire of Chamber said it wasessential that the extra £1bn fundingavailable under the latest round ofRGF “should be provided with theminimal bureaucracy and delay”.

Chamber policy chief Steven Leighsaid: “Our region has benefited fromabout £60m of funding from the firsttwo rounds of the RGF and the cham-ber welcomes this additional tranche,which could provide a significantboost to companies in mid-York-shire.”

Mr Leigh said the funding should goto support advanced manufacturingbusinesses, saying: “Support for thesekey industries is strategically import-ant as we look to rebalance our eco-nomy.

“It is essential at this time of uncer-tain economic conditions that com-panies are given the support andreassurance to invest and grow withconfidence.”

Mr Leigh said the chamber’s latestquarterly economic survey showedthat many firms were delaying invest-ment and employment plans due toconcern over current economic cir-cumstances.

Businesses eligible for RGF fundsmust have ambitions to create newjobs in their local community – andmust also illustrate that their develop-ment plans will have a significantimpact on the local economy.

“It is companies such as this, withreal ambition and growth prospects,which will provide the employmentand wealth creation necessary to leadour country’s economic recovery,” saidMr Leigh.

“It is essential that this fundingshould be provided with minimal bur-eaucracy and delay – so that firms canbegin to invest and expand immedi-ately.”

Mr Leigh also called for morepro-business measures in next month’sBudget to improve the business envir-onment and provide greater incentivesfor private sector investment.

“Previous commitments to reducingthe amount of business regulation andred tape, to the substantive reform ofthe planning system, to the reform andsimplification of public procurementprocesses and to facilitating the releaseof private money for major infrastruc-ture projects should now be deliveredas an absolute priority,” he added.

Companies to benefit from previousrounds of RGF cash include Brig-house-based Halifax Rack & Screw,which received £200,000 to boost a

£1.5m investment in production facil-ities at its Armytage Road premises.

David Frith, corporate finance part-ner with Deloitte in West Yorkshire,urged companies to prepare well ifthey intended to bid for round threefunding.

He said Yorkshire firms had enjoyed“real success” in the previous tworounds of RGF – but said it wouldbecome increasingly difficult to securefunding from this pot.

He said: “The two previous roundsof RGF have been heavily oversub-scribed, but with significant funding

available to business in Yorkshire, tak-ing the time to prepare and submit aquality bid is worthwhile.”

He added: “Businesses shouldensure they fully understand the bid-ding criteria and options.”

He said: “This is expected to be thesingle largest grant funding routeavailable to businesses in 2012.

“Plan your project now, assess itsmerits and recognise it weaknesses. Awell thought through bid, carefullyplanned and impartially reviewed, willboost your chance of success.”

■ PRIORTY: Steven Leigh (left), head of policy and representation for the MidYorkshire Chamber of Commerce; and David Frith, corporate finance partnerat Deloitte in West Yorkshire

Talking about telecoms

SHARE PRICES

HSBC was forced to defend bonuses forCity high-fliers – as it revealed its bossreceived an annual pay package worth apotential £7.2m.

The bank recorded one of the biggestprofit figures ever for a British companywhen it posted a 156% rise in earnings to£13.8bn in 2011.

The bank attributed the increase to astrong performance in emerging marketsand a resilient performance in the UK.

But chief executive Stuart Gullivercame under fire after it emerged his £1.3msalary will be boosted by a £2.2m bonusand long-term incentives possibly worthup to £3.8m.

The report revealed that 170 membersof staff earned more than 1m US dollars –almost £630,000 – last year while 205 keyemployees in the UK earned a total of84.2m US dollars, or £53m.

The figures have sparked a fresh rowover City pay as the group, which employs

50,000 people in the UK and 288,000globally, last year announced plans to cut30,000 jobs over the next two years in acull that will affect 10% of its workforce.

David Fleming, national officer atunion Unite, said: “How can Stuart Gulli-ver have a clear conscience over his rewardpackage of £7.2m while thousands of staffface uncertainty about their jobs?”

There was further controversy becausethe bank is set to fund the cash parts of itslarger bonuses by creating and sellingshares.

This will help it build up its cashreserves, as called for by Bank of Englandgovernor Sir Mervyn King, but runs therisk of angering investors by diluting theirstake in the bank.

Chairman Douglas Flint, who is him-self set to receive £3.4m for 2011, admittedthat “a few peop le” were pa id“extraordinarily well” but insisted thatHSBC needed to attract and retain the

best staff.He added that HSBC was the second

biggest payer of dividends in the UK andsaid its success helped boost people’slong-term savings and pensions.

Mr Gulliver said there was “puzzle-ment” over anti-business sentiment in theUK.

He said: “If you really want to getgrowth to offset the austerity measures,you need investment and you need banksto continue to lend, which is what we aretrying our hardest to do.”

In the UK, HSBC met its Project Mer-lin targets agreed with the Government onlending to businesses in 2011, as loans tocommercial customers hit a record high.

It loaned £49.4bn to businesses, exceed-ing its target of £38.8bn. HSBC issued£11.9bn in new lending facilities to smalland medium-sized firms – slightly higherthan its target of a 15% increase on theprevious year.

BUDGET clothing retailer Primarkreported continued strong salesafter a storming performance overChristmas.

The chain’s owner, AssociatedBritish Foods, said Primark’s tradingso far this year had been good,despite the economic climate.

Primark, which includes a store atNew Street in Huddersfield, is fore-cast to increase sales by 15% duringthe six months to March 3 – fuelledby nine store openings in the firsthalf of its financial year. Same-storesales were up by 2%.

The update comes a month afterAB Foods reported an “exceptional”Christmas at Primark’s 232 stores,

with trading much improved on asluggish autumn.

The group said falling cottonprices mean it will see the benefit oflower input costs in the second halfof the year.

Across the group, which alsotrades in sugar and owns the Kings-mill bread and Twinings Ovaltinebusinesses, profits for the half-yearare in line with hopes.

Improved weather conditions andhigher prices means profits in theUK sugar business should be wellahead of last year. UK sugar produc-tion is now estimated to be 1.3mtonnes compared with just under 1mtonnes last year.

Primark sales boost AB Foods

HSBC fuels angerover bank bonuses

ANNUAL profits have more thandoubled at insurer LV= despite thecontinued impact of fraud on its busi-ness.

The group, which owns BritanniaRescue based at Folly Hall in Hud-dersfield, said fewer car accidents forits motor insurance division – asrising petrol costs cause people todrive more carefully – was offset by anincrease in personal injury claims andattempted fraud.

Premium income grew by 23% to£1.46bn and trading profits morethan doubled to £72.1m as the UK’slargest friendly society overcame achallenging backdrop of market

volatility and uncertainty.John O’Rourke, managing director

of LV= general insurance, said that 10years ago for every 10 claims madetwo would have included a personalinjury claim. Now it is four out of 10 -an increase which Mr O’Rourkebelieves is “simply down to oppor-tunism”.

LV= serves more than 5m custom-ers and has 2.9m motor insurancepolicies. The group said there was anestimated £2bn of fraud in theindustry – equivalent to about 15% ofthe total premium written – includingcosts resulting from fraudulent whip-lash claims and legal costs.

A MULTI-MILLION dollarlegal case into the BPDeepwater Horizon rigdisaster has been putback a week.

The case, which couldlast until 2014, will beginnext Monday, thecompany said.

BP and the Plaintiffs’Steering Committee(PSC) confirmed that theUS District Court hadadjourned the start of theDeepwater Horizonmulti-district litigation civiltrial by a week.

“This adjournment isintended to allow BP andthe PSC more time tocontinue settlementdiscussions and attemptto reach an agreement,”they said in a statement.

“BP and the PSC areworking to reachagreement to fairlycompensate people andbusinesses affected bythe Deepwater Horizonaccident and oil spill.

“There can be noassurance that thesediscussions will lead to asettlement agreement. Afurther announcementwill be made asappropriate.”

The group is due to bein the dock in NewOrleans alongsidecontractors Halliburtonand Transocean as asingle judge decides whowas to blame for whathappened when the Gulfof Mexico rig exploded,claiming the lives of 11men and triggering thebiggest oil spill in UShistory.

On top of millions ofpounds of legal fees, BPand the contractors couldface a penalty of up to£11.1bn for waterpollution alone if thecourt finds grossnegligence was at play.

Earnings soar for insurer

BP caseadjourned

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.41 dollarsBangladesh................. 122.24 takaBrazil.............................. 2.42 realsCanada....................... 1.51 dollarsChina ............................. 8.93 yuanCzech Republic ...... 27.09 korunasDenmark....................... 8.34 kroneEuro............................... 1.12 euroHong Kong................ 11.67 dollarsHungary ................... 307.05 forintsIndia.......................... 68.54 rupeesJapan........................... 122.33 yenMexico ....................... 18.27 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.77 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.44 kronePakistan.................. 135.86 rupeesPhilippines ................. 58.37 pesosSouth Africa.................. 11.28 randSouth Korea.............. 1560.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 180.99 rupeesSweden......................... 9.93 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.35 francsTaiwan ...................... 40.98 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.62 new liraUSA ............................ 1.51 dollars

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £33.97 +0.32Gannett 952.80 -6.94Hess Corp £42.75 +0.47Microsoft 1984.48 -1.89Motors Liquidation 47.32Wal-Mart Stores £36.87 -0.23

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 303 -2BAE Systems 316 -7/8Rolls-Royce 8071/2 -3

AIMBrady Plc 82Dawson Intl 15/8Man Brnze 30

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 2321/2 -3

BANKSBarclays 2433/4 -37/8HSBC 5531/2 -213/8Lloyds Banking Gp 347/8 -7/8Ryl Scotland 28 -5/8Stan Chart 16121/2 -251/2

BEVERAGESDiageo 1501 +61/2SABMiller £253/4

CHEMICALSCroda £215/8Elementis 98 1657/8 -21/8Johnsn Mat £233/8

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2813/4 -4

Costain 2013/4 -11/2

ELECTRICITYDrax Gp 512 -7Intl Power 344 -11/2SSE 1283 +5

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLaird 1691/8 -53/4

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 3723/4 +1/4

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 2173/4 +11/4Cable & WirelessComm

345/8 -1/4

Cable & WirelessWwide

277/8 +3/8

Colt Group 981/8KCOM 701/2 -1/2Talktalk Telecom 1443/4 +5/8

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2867/8 -21/2Sainsbury 2987/8 -25/8Tesco 318 -1/4

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1200 -19Tate Lyle 709 +12Unilever £201/2

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 2973/8 -11/4National Grid 6461/2 +1Pennon Grp 7011/2 +1/2Severn 1540United Utils 606 +3

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 1933/4 -21/4ICAP 3871/2 -71/2London StockExch 920 -181/2Man Group 1335/8 -3/4Provident Financial 1073 -1Schroders 1568 -4Schroders NV 1244 -14

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 685 +141/2REXAM 416 -1Smiths Grp 1085 +4

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 211/2 +1/4Carphone Whse 170Dixons Retail 141/2Home Retail 1061/8 +23/4Inchcape 3777/8 +11/2Kingfisher 2843/8 +31/4M & S 3601/8 +63/4Mothercare 2171/4 -53/4Next £275/8WH Smith 5351/2 -61/2

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 6251/2 -3

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 761/2 -11/2Barrat Dev 1413/8Persimmon 627 +19Reckitt Benckiser £343/8 +1/8Taylor Wimpey 495/8 -1/8

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGI M I 974 -111/2

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 3217/8 -2

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 2021/2 -11/8

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 3721/4 -11/2Lgl & Gen 1215/8 -1/2Old Mutual 1597/8 -3/4Prudential 7191/2 -21/2Resolution 265Standard Life 2347/8 -1/2

MEDIABSkyB 6841/2 -31/2D Mail Tst 4293/8 -63/8ITV 791/4 -7/8Johnston Press 71/2Pearson 1204 -47Reed Elsevier 552 -4STV Group 1061/4 -1Trinity Mirror 481/4 -1Utd Business 6011/2 -3UTV 1311/2 -1WPP 7951/2 -6Yell Group 45/8 +1/8

MININGAnglo American £263/4 -1/8Antofagasta 1340 +4BHP Billiton £207/8 +1/8Eurasian NaturalRes

726 -13

Fresnillo 1858 -6Kazakhmys 1137 -26Lonmin 1076 -9Rio Tinto £37 +3/8

VEDANTARESOURCES

1477 -23

Xstrata 1203 -12MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 4783/4 -11/4Vodafone Group 172 +1/4

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1062 +15RSA Insurance Gp 1091/8 +1/4

OIL & GAS PRODUCERSBG 15401/2 -21/2BP 5013/4 +51/2Cairn Energy 356 -4Royal Dutch Shell A £231/8Royal Dutch Shell B £231/2 -1/8

Total £351/2 -1/8Tullow Oil 1531 -12

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 1118 -5Petrofac 1599 +5Wood Gp(J) 749 +81/2

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry Gp 1391 -30

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGYAstrazeneca £283/8 -1/8GlaxoSmithK XD 1Shire £221/4

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 473 -53/4Captl Shop Cent 3361/8 -23/4Hamrsn 3983/4 -11/4Land Secs 6781/2 -6SEGRO 2341/4 -13/8

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESInvensys 211 -1Logica 861/2 -21/8Misys 330 +21/8Sage Group 3071/8 -11/4

SUPPORT SERVICESBerendsen 508 +8Bunzl 952 +211/2Capita 7391/2 -8De La Rue 966 -12Electrocomp 2421/2 -11/2Experian 942 -31/2G4S 2875/8 +3/4Hays 823/4 -11/4Homeserve 2241/4 -41/4

Menzies J 578 +3Rentokil 793/4 -21/8Smiths News 923/4 -11/2Wolseley £241/2 +1/8

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 5751/2 +11/2Psion 481/4 -5/8Spirent Comms 1377/8 +3/8

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £315/8 +3/8Imperial Tobacco £251/4 +1/8

LEISURE & HOTELSBwin.Party Digital 1611/2 +1/8Carnival 1841 -31Compass Grp 6361/2 +1/2easyJet 4521/4 +31/2Enterprise Inns 53 +11/2FirstGroup 2911/4 -4Go-Ahead Gp 1292 +2Greene King 504 -2Intercontl Htls 1425 +20Intl Cons AirlinesGp

1627/8 +21/2

Ladbrokes 1511/8 +5/8Mitchells & Butlers 2661/8 +25/8Natl Express 2207/8 -11/4Rank Org 1451/8 +61/2Stagecoach Group 2681/4 +1/2TUI Travel 1973/4 -31/8Whitbread 1720 +17

INDEXFTSE 100 5915.55 -19.58

INDEXFTSE 250 11472.07 -54.91

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

■ PUZZLED: HSBC chiefStuart Gulliver criticised UK’s“anti-business” sentiment

Local shares

FTSE closed at

5915.55down 19.58

Carclo 3471/2 -1Marshalls 1001/8 +1/8National Grid 6461/2 +1Weir Gp £221/4

PaulRobertshaw

MEConsultancy

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Sales develop-ment managerAge: 30Family: SingleHolidays: MajorcaCar: VolvoFirst job: Serving icecream from a Sando’sice cream van outsideGoodalls Caravans atCrosland HillBest thing aboutjob: Meeting people,working in a greatenvironment with agreat team and somegreat customersWorst thing aboutjob: Getting up earlyfor networking eventsBusiness tip:Always deliver whatyou promise

Work: Businesstelephony andbroadbandSite: GolcarPhone: 01484911912Email: paul@meconsultancy.comWebsite: www.meconsultancy.com

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

Yes,it’s stillgoodto talk!

A CAREER incommunications was alwayson the cards for PaulRobertshaw.

Even as a student atSalendine Nook HighSchool, Paul had ambitionsto help get the messageacross.

“I wanted to get into themedia and radio,” he says.“When I was young, I did abit of ‘DJ-ing’ and followedsome of the DJs on radiostations like Kiss.

“When I left school, I did aBTec national diploma in thesubject at HuddersfieldTechnical College andpassed with distinction, butafter leaving college therewere not a lot ofopportunities to get into theindustry.”

Keen to get into the worldof work, Paul followed theadvice of a family friend andgot a job with Aspley-basedTravelworld – at that time afast-growing business in abooming industry.

He remained with thebusiness following itstakeover by Airtours until2004 as help desksupervisor.

Paul later moved to SafeStyle Windows at Bradfordas telephone engineerbefore moving from a strictlyIT environment to telephonyas communicationsmanager looking after£40,000 of customeraccounts.

When recession hit, Paultook the opportunity forvoluntary redundancy andjoined his present employer,Golcar-based MEConsultancy, where histelecoms experience isbeing put to good use in hisrole as sales developmentmanager.

ME Consultancy, formedin 2002 and based in aconverted mill boastingstunning views of the ColneValley, is perhaps bestknown for its text messagingspecialist division SMileS.

But it also providesbusiness customers withtelephony hardware as wellas advice on their telecomsspending and ways to getbetter value from their landlines, mobiles andbroadband connections.

Paul, who had alreadymoved house fromSalendine Nook to Golcar,said: “Mark Smith, who setup ME Consultancy, waslooking for someone to builda sales team.

“It was the perfect movefor me because I was onlyliving four doors away!

“We have expanded theteam and we have beengoing from strength tostrength ever since.”

Said Paul: “It is all aboutmaking sure the customerexperience is of the highest.IT is an industry where thecustomer doesn’t alwaysknow what they need orwhat they are paying forwhen they get their telecomsbill. They rely on theprofessionals to help them.

“We don’t railroadcustomers into a particularproduct. We look at a rangewhich is suitable for thecustomer – having madesure we know what thecustomer requires – andseek out the products that

they need.”Among recent successes,

ME Consultancy helpedWest Yorkshire Forget MeNot Children’s Hospice savetens of thousands of poundson the installation of phonelines for its new hospice atBradley.

Says Paul: “It isparticularly rewarding whenwe can help localcompanies andorganisations.

“In the current economicclimate, it is more importantthan ever that businesseskeep track of their costs,including utilities such astelecoms.

“There is a greater needto explain to customers whatthey are paying for – andwhether they need to pay itif there are solutions on themarket to save them moneyand add value to their

business.“We act as a consultant

advising on as manyproducts as possible to givethe customer the informationthey need to save moneyand get the best solution.”

Says Paul: “We deal withbusiness from sole tradersup to companies with 250staff – local as well asnational.

“Our customers areanyone who needs a phone,a landline, mobile phones orbroadband connections.”

Given ME Consultancy’scommitment tocommunication, Paulspends a lot of his timeattending networking eventsto generate more business.

Paul is a member of theTerriers Chapter ofnetworking group BNI,which meets regularly atLockwood Park.

He is also involved withthe Mid Yorkshire Network –which is attracting a growingnumber of delegates tomeetings at HuddersfieldMedia Centre’s Cafe Ollo –and the LinkedIn businessnetwork.

“BNI is a good way togenerate business,” he says.“You have to find leads for40 other members – but thatmeans there are 40businesses working to findleads for you.”

Says Paul: “We do a lot ofnetworking. As a result, wehave never had to cold callor directly market ourselvesbecause of the way wenetwork.

“In addition, I’m out of theoffice two days a weekseeing start-ups and newbusinesses.

“We also attend meetingswith existing customers.

“The rest of the time we’rein the office on strategymeetings and working outthe best way forward for thesales team to make surethey have everything theyneed.”

After working hard allweek, Paul values his freetime. Paul plays squash atHuddersfield sports centreand Huddersfield Universitysports centre.

He is also a member ofWharfeside gym atSlaithwaite. He classeshimself as a “seasonal

camper” and enjoysholidaying abroad – withMajorca a favouritedestination..

“Mine isn’t a nine-to-fivejob,” he says. “The day canstart at 6am when I’mattending BNI meetings andit can be into the eveningbefore I finish.

“As a result, I likesocialising and dining. Imake sure I enjoy myweekends!”

■ BUSY: Paul Robertshaw ofME Consultancy at Golcar

On the board with

01484 538 351theboard@revellward.co.ukTwitter@RevellWard

www.revellward.co.uk

Lesley SuttonTax Director

ElectriciansBeware!HMRC has launched yet another disclosureopportunity - the electricians tax safe plan.Anyone working in the electrical industry,who has not told HMRC about all of theirincome, can use the Electricians Tax Safe

Plan (ETSP).HMRC defines an electrician as anyonewho installs, maintains and tests electricalsystems, equipment and appliances under the

stringent safety regulations.

Revell Ward Tip:To take advantage of this campaign HMRCmust be notified of the intention to take partby 15 May 2012, disclosure and payment ofthe tax, NIC, interest and penalties is to be

made by 14 August 2012.

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

BANKER’SBLOGJill Hague

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

Texts raisecharity cashA TEXT messaging specialist ishelping a cancer charity.Golcar-based SMileS SMS isworking with the Laura CraneYouth Cancer Trust on a campaignto alert young people to testicularand ovarian cancer and raisefunds for medical research.Staff at SMileS raised £150 for thetrust by taking part in TinselTuesday – when people wear fancydress to raise cash for the trust’sGonads Campaign. Gonads is themedical term for ovaries in femalesand testes in males. To make adonation, text “GNAD42 2” to70070 to donate £2.

Well-informed

Rock lessonsfor businessesSTANDING in front of the mirrorwith a hair brush for a microphonecould be a good way to prepare forthe business world.But instead of fantasising aboutfronting a rock band, people cannow improve their presentationskills and interview techniques bylearning from the musical mastersA two-hour masterclass will behosted by Ricky Comiskey(pictured), who owns and runsLinthwaite-based Ricky’s School ofRock, in association with MichelleHodgson, of copywriting businessKey Words.Said Michelle: “We all know hownerve-wracking it can be going toan interview or getting up in front ofa roomful of people to give apresentation.“The idea behind this masterclassis that all performers feel thosenerves, but there are techniquesthat can be learned to improve yourconfidence and allow you to strideout on to the stage – whether it’s aWembley Stadium or your firm’sannual sales conference.”Places on the masterclass can bebooked directly with the School ofRock, which is based at ColneValley Business Park, or viahttp://rockstarwithin.eventbrite.co.uk

Opportunities forexport successIN a tough domestic market,

businesses are now – morethan ever – taking advantage ofthe new opportunities for growththat international expansion canoffer.

With the UK set to increase itsinternational business activity by59%, the opportunity has never beenbetter.

The economic picture for manycountries in Europe remains difficultand, as a result, businesses across theUK are finding themselves negotiat-ing a difficult path.

So, now, more than ever, we believethat it is the businesses which arelooking beyond our shores to growwhich are seeing success, and whichcontinue to drive the UK's road torecovery.

This is supported by the findings ofHSBC’s Trade Connections report; aglobal trade forecast recentlylaunched which found that by 2025,the UK is set to increase its interna-tional trade by about 60%.

World trade as a whole is alsoexpected to grow rapidly to 2025, with

global international trade predictedto increase by a combined 86%, takingtotal trade activity in that year to$53.8 trillion compared to a predicted$28.9 trillion in 2012.

Businesses in Kirklees have as greatan opportunity as any other UKregion to capitalise on this growth.

It is anticipated that a small numberof key sectors will experience signific-ant growth in the coming years.

Medicine, for example, is a sectorthat the Trade Connections reportpredicts will offer exciting opportunit-ies and the medicine and pharmaceut-icals sector in the UK is world class

and global in its reach, with demandfor medicine and pharmaceuticalsincreasing rapidly around the world.

Its markets are particularly strongin Europe and North America and,accordingly, exports are forecast togrow annually over the next five yearsto Spain at 4.13%, to the Netherlandsat 3.41%, to the USA by 1.59% and toGermany by 1.49%.

It is also anticipated that a numberof new trading partners will increasein importance.

The UK’s largest export partnersare Germany, the USA, Ireland andFrance.

Export trade with Germany and theUSA is forecast to increase annuallyover the next five years at the modestrates of 0.89% and 0.50% respect-ively.

Significantly outstripping thatgrowth is the likes of Latin Americancountries Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia andBrazil, whilst looking east Cambodiaand Vietnam are forecast to becomekey trading partners given their grow-ing importance in the texti leindustry.

We believe that exports to all ofthese nations will increase annually byin excess of 8.5% until the end of2016.

And, of course, you cannot ignorethe economic superpower that isChina. HSBC forecasts UK tradewith China will grow by 8.41% a yearuntil 2016.

All of these are positive steps, help-ing to raise the profile of the regionand creating opportunities forKirklees companies in this increas-ingly internationalised global eco-nomy.

A COMPANY set up by theformer head of aKirklees-based publiccompany has launched anew product to helpbusiness people getinformation online.

Profiled.com, which wasfounded by SteveWainwright (pictured) andmanages professionals’online profiles in more than30 countries, has launchedthe world’s firstProfessional Portal whichallows business contacts toget information on amember in just one click.

The free-to-join websitehas extended its offeringinto a full portal servicebringing information spreadacross the internet into oneplace for members to

promote to their contactson their emails, websitesand business cards.

“Your online footprint isnow key to businesssuccess,” said MrWainwright, who was chiefexecutive of Birstall-basedICM Computer Group until2007.

“The first thing people dobefore meeting you or aftera networking event will beto Google you – so it’s vitalthat your information canbe found easily. Profiledmends a business person’sfractured internet presenceand is a much bettersolution than having yourcontacts wading throughpages of internet searchresults trying to find yourinformation.”

Thinking… outside the booksIt’s timeyou got morefrom your accountantadded value services include…

Tailored programme to maximise profitability

Tailored tax efficient solutions

Regular updates & support to help your business

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Call Freephone: 08000 32 32 03and quote KBN /1211 to give us the chance to help youachieve your goals, or contact us through our website at:-

www.walker-sutcliffe.co.uk

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer at ChadwickLawrence Solicitors

EMPLOYER’SBRIEFNeil Wilson

Grants upfor grabsRURAL businesses in theKirklees area have beenurged to seek grantfunding to help theiroperations grow.The Rural Economy GrantScheme, worth up to £60min total, will be launchedfrom the end of this month– offering grants of up to£1m for micro-businessesand small andmedium-sized enterprisesin areas such as farming,forestry, tourism,renewable energy andfood.The grant is beingintroduced under the RuralDevelopment Program forEngland and adds to theFarming and ForestryImprovement Scheme(FISS) launched lastNovember.Robert Hall, of propertyagent Savills, said: “TheRural Economy GrantScheme and FFIS offer agolden opportunity to getnew ideas off the groundfor farming and other ruralbusiness.”Savills has beensuccessful in working withrural clients to accessfunding under previousschemes – achieving an85%-plus success rate.

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CoffeecollectionTOWN are up for thecup!Huddersfield Townhas signed apartnership deal withBradley-basedCoopers Coffee, partof national groupUnited Coffee,following months ofdiscussion.Coopers Coffeeproducts – of whichthere are more than150 sources frommore than 40countries – will besold around theGalpharm Stadiumand at the footballclub's Canalsidecomplex.Town fans had thechance to tasteCoopers' ethicallysourced premiumcoffee when theyserved drinks at theclub’s corporateChristmas drinksevent in December.David Porteous,Coopers’ director ofbusinessdevelopment said:“We are lookingforward to workingtogether closely aspartners.”

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Paying the pricefor discriminationA DECISION in the Employ-

ment Tribunal in 2011 hashighlighted the potentially sig-nificant repercussions of a suc-cessful discrimination claim.

It also shows how a lack of train-ing, commitment to policies and alack of active management of staffcan expose a business to a risk ofsubstantial awards of damages.

The employee in this particularcase was a Brazilian national. Shebegan working for her employerduring 2006, earning a salary of justunder £18,000 per annum.

Throughout her time with thebusiness, the employee was mockedin front of other colleagues, pre-dominantly due to her Brazilianaccent.

The employee was regularlyreferred to as ‘Spongebob Square-pants’ – which was a reference to her“grating, nasal” voice.

In addition, colleagues recordedher voice, played it back to her andmade fun of the way that she spoke,stereotyped her as a drug userbecause of her South American con-

nections and banned items relatingto her Brazilian culture from theworkplace.

The employee raised complaintson a number of occasions with thecompany, making use of theiranti-bullying policy.

The Employment Tribunal found,however, that the way in which thecompany followed up the complaint“lacked empathy”; in other words,the policy which it had put in placewas not followed correctly.

The complaints were never fullyinvestigated and a resolution to thecomplaints was not achieved.

The employee subsequently went

on long-term sick leave, sufferingfrom post-traumatic stress disorderand depression.

Proceedings were ultimatelyissued in the Employment Tribunal,and the employee succeeded in herclaim of direct discrimination andharassment.

Specifically, the Tribunal con-cluded that she had been treated lessfavourably on the grounds of herrace and had been subjected totreatment which had the result ofcreating a hostile and degradingworking environment.

It was held that the employee hadsuffered “the most serious case of

discrimination”.The Employment Tribunal awar-

ded total damages of just under£142,000, predominantly in relationto injury to feelings and personalinjury. Aggravated damages werealso awarded on the basis of theseverity of the treatment.

The employee was left unable tocomplete even the “most basic ofhousehold tasks” as a result partlyof the treatment she suffered, butalso the complete lack of supportoffered by the company.

The case serves as a reminder toemployers of the need to take thenecessary steps to prevent discrim-ination in the workplace.

At the very least, businessesshould put in place an equal oppor-tunities policy and grievance pro-cedure, training managers on how tooperate these and making it clearthat they should take a pro-activerather than reactive approach todealing with complaints. Regulartraining in anti-discrimination anddignity at work should also beoffered.

Firms fail report

She said: “Although early figuresshow the FTSE 100 may have madesome progress in meeting LordDavies’ requirements, the FTSE 350has actually done the opposite andhas less women in boardroompositions than one year ago.

“Of the FTSE 350, 89% still have nofemale board representation.”

She said: “The Davies Report urgedFTSE 350 companies to set out thepercentage of women they aim to haveon boards and in executivecommittees by 2013 and 2015. TheFTSE 100 boards was set a target fora minimum of 25% femalerepresentation by 2015 and it isencouraging to see some progressbeing made to meet this.

“However, it is the FTSE 350 that isthe backbone of Britain’s economy andif we want to see the true picture of

system may have to be introduced ifcompanies dud not voluntarilyincrease the number of women on itsboards.

However, Ms Jackson said: “That isthe wrong route to take as countriessuch as Norway, who have seen theintroduction of a quota system, arealready seeing cracks beginning toappear. Introducing quotas andencouraging boards to introducewomen is just a quick fix and onlypapers over the cracks.

“Companies urgently need to look attheir pipeline of women and identifypotential leaders for the future. Menand women need to work together tosolve this issue. Women can’t do it bythemselves, but they do need supportfrom other women and strongbusiness female role models to aspireto.”

COMPANIES are failingto follow therecommendations of areport calling for morewomen in Britain’sboardrooms, says aHuddersfieldbusinesswoman.

Heather Jackson,Holmfirth-based head ofEurope’s largestwomen’s businessconference – TheWomen’s BusinessForum – said the reportby Lord Davies was notbeing acted upon bymany public limitedcompanies.

gender diversity onboards then the situationhas actually got worsenot better.

“Women are not beingappointed into executiveroles – and if a pipelineof women with seniorexperience does notexist then that talent poolis not available to make itinto boardroompositions. This is thefundamental problemthat the Lord Daviesreport should beaddressing.”

In his report, LordDavies said that a quota

■ NO TO QUOTAS:Heather Jackson

property Page 6KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

■ ADVANTAGE: GuyGilfillan, of Lambert SmithHampton in Yorkshire

Revampedmill for salePART of a former WestYorkshire mill is being offeredfor sale.Property agency CBRE hasbeen instructed to market8,000sq ft of ground floor officeaccommodation at VanguardHouse in Leeds city centrefollowing completion of asubstantial refurbishmentundertaken by the firm’sbuilding consultancy team.The three-storey building,totalling 28,800sq ft, offershigh quality office space nearthe M621.The upgrade includedimproved officeaccommodation and acontemporary new reception.Other benefits include secureparking, on-site security andthe benefits of the high specinterior upgrades.”

Land Registrychief visits town New premises

for finance firmDEALMAKER Jo Haigh isexpanding her business in WestYorkshire.

Jo, who lives in Denby Dale andis a partner at fds Corporate Fin-ance Services, has set up a Wake-field office to complement thefirm’s existing sites in Birming-ham and London.

And the company is alreadymaking an impact with the localbusiness community from its Sil-ver Street premises with a numberof transactions under way for itscorporate finance team.

“We are very busy with lots oftransactions, including several inYorkshire,” said Jo.

“We are really bucking thetrend. We are growing so fast thatwe may have to find somewhereelse in the city by the summer.

“We have two people on ourapprentice scheme and hope tohave a third in the near future.”

Jo, who is supported by seniorcorporate finance manager Poo-nam Kaur, said she chose Wake-field as the location for the latestoffice because it retains a strongindustrial base and has goodaccess to motorway and rail.

“I didn’t want to be in Leeds orBradford,” she said. “I live inDenby Dale and Poonam lives inPontefract, so Wakefield is theideal location.”

Jo is well-known in the businessworld as the author of a series ofbusiness books and as a speaker atmajor conferences on topics suchas corporate governance and cor-porate finance and issues affect-ing women in business.

Her latest book, The FinancialTimes Guide to Finance forNon-financial Managers, was

launched earlier this month at anevent attended by 300 people inLondon. Jo also speaks at about80 business events around thecountry each year.

An experienced dealmaker, shehas bought and sold over 300

companies in the last 25 years andhas held more than 40 non-exec-utive positions in her career.

But she said: “We are not somescary corporate financiers; wehave a more gentle touch!

“We deal with businesses ran-

ging from £2m to £10m turnover,generally with owner managerslooking to dispose of their busi-ness.”

The company is working ondeals with a range of businesses,including a building contractor, asecurity services firm, an onlineflorist, a training company and anonline bingo operation.

Jo’s skills have come into theirown in the current difficult cli-mate. “Banks are not lending andwe have to find creative ways to doa deal,” she said. “Vendors some-times have to wait a little longerfor their money.

“There is a sense that the eco-nomic picture is not getting anybetter – and may get worse – butthat we can’t wait for things toimprove, we have to get on withit.

“We are well-placed to helpbecause we are well-connectedwith offices covering the countryand the experience in areas suchas wealth management, taxationand specialist insurance as well asowner-managed business.”

Said Jo: “We want to look afterthe owner-manager. Some 80% ofGDP worldwide comes from fam-ily businesses, so you can see howvital they are to a thriving eco-nomy.”

To reinforce its presence in WestYorkshire, FDS Corporate Fin-ance Services will stage a freeseminar on buying and sellingbusinesses from 8am to 11am onThursday, March 22, at the CedarCourt Hotel in Wakefield.

Contact Luke at fdscfs.com.The first 10 delegates will get afree business valuation.

Leases ‘the big issue’LEASE expiries will be the maindriver in the commercial propertymarket over the next few years, itis claimed.

Property agency LambertSmith Hampton said that 800“significant” lease opportunitieswill become available in theYorkshire region between nowand the beginning of 2016. ItsNational Property Databaseshowed that these total morethan 850,000sq ft.

Guy Gilfillan, head of office forLSH in Yorkshire, said theserepresented a huge untappedmarket for existing landlords anddevelopers.

He said: “In our experience,around 30% of tenants choose torelocate at the first lease breakand up to 60% at the second.Whilst I recognise that existinglandlords will fight hard to keeptheir tenants, many won’t stay

due to a number of factors,including location and quality andsize of accommodation.

“So if you are a tenant, youneed to plan early to takeadvantage of an upcoming leaseexpiry and if you are a landlord ora developer there is a significantopportunity if you are prepared totake the risk of financing newdevelopments or refurbishingexisting ones.”

Mr Gilfillan said: “We predictthat pre-let activity is only thestart of a trend which will see anumber of occupiers having totake premises ‘off plan.’

“There is a major opportunityfor landlords to refurbish existingbuilding stock particularly withnew developments so hard to findat present and with occupiersunable to wait the 12 to 36months it takes for new schemesto be constructed.”

■ EXPANSION: Jo Haigh (left) and Poonam Kaur, of FDSCorporate Finance, have launched a West Yorkshire office

A LAW firm inHuddersfieldhosted a visitby a majorfigure in theproperty field.MalcolmDawson(pictured) ,chief land registrar and chief executiveof the Land Registry, was at the MarketStreet offices of Ridley & Hall as part ofa programme of visits to find out howwell Land Registry services meetcustomer needs and how they can bebest developed.Ridley & Hall partner Adam Fletchersaid: “I am very impressed with theproactive approach being taken by LandRegistry.“The meeting was a great opportunity forme and my team to meet with Malcolmand it reiterated Land Registry’s plans toprovide a more efficient service.“It is clear that Land Registry want toimprove their communications with theirclients by developing customer teamsand the Land Registry Portal and thiscan only be to the benefit of us and ourclients.”

Housing projectA CONSTRUCTION and developmentcompany which carried out a majorhousing project in Huddersfield hasbeen appointed to a £500m programmeto boost training and education.Southdale, which partnered KirkleesCouncil in a multi-million refurbishmentof Deighton and Brackenhall, has joineda partnership of more than 30 registeredproviders to develop housing schemesin North West England.Halifax-based Southdale is already onsite with £9.5m of work across four siteswith Great Places Housing Group,developing a total of 107 homes.Regional director Stuart Allison said thedeal provided a “great opportunity” forSouthdale.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

‘Sustainabilitynow the issue’MORE than four out of fiveproperty professionals say sus-tainability is the highest-prioritystrategic issue facing Yorkshire’soffice sector over the next 10years.

The Offices 2020 report byJones Lang LaSalle said theregion was benefiting from newUK legislation driving the devel-opment of best-practice sustain-ability – as in France andGermany – while economic con-straints were hindering progressin other countries.

Jones Lang LaSalle directorBill Page, who leads the com-pany’s Offices 2020 researchprogramme, said: “From almostnowhere a decade ago, sustain-ability is now a key considera-tion for office real estate inYorkshire and Humber region as with the restof the UK.

“While environmental change, cost controland ethical business practices are all part of theequation, legislation is the real game-changerforcing the region’s occupiers and investors toadapt their office buildings.”

However he warned that, while theEuropean Union requires all new buildings tobe nearly zero energy by 2020, there was awidening divergence across different buildingsand countries which would increase over thenext decade.

He said: “A clear example of enforcedchange is the UK’s 2011 Energy Act whichclearly affects Yorkshire and Humber region.From April 2018, landlords will be unable tolet out residential or business premises below a

minimum standard which iswidely expected to be an EnergyPerformance Certificate ratinglower than ‘E’.

“An estimated 63% of UKstock, including that in York-shire and Humber, has a ratinglower than ‘E’. This will forcerapid change to the majority ofbuildings within a relativelyshort timeframe.”

Jeff Pearey, head of JonesLang LaSalle in West York-shire, said: “Sustainability wasonce seen as a soft issue on theperiphery of business strategy,but this has now changed. Wenow have case studies wheresustainable changes to build-ings have improved employeeproductivity.

“Owners and developers ofoffice stock in Yorkshire will need to takerapid action to protect the value of theirbuildings and prevent them becoming obsol-ete.

“A sustainable building will quite quicklybecome a prerequisite for prime property.Consequently, we expect the pricing gap towiden between sustainable and non-sustain-able assets during the next few years.”

Said Mr Pearey: “Employers cannot neglectthe increasing ‘social’ aspect of sustainablereal estate. During the next 10 years we expectproductivity, employee satisfaction and sus-tainability to become intrinsically linked.

“We expect business managers to placegreater emphasis on the social value of sus-tainable real estate.”

■ RAPID ACTION: JeffPearey, of Jones LangLaSalle in Yorkshire

Company AIMS highA LETTINGS agency with offices inHuddersfield town centre has completed itslisting on the AIM market of the London StockExchange.

Dorian Gonsalves, managing director ofBelvoir Lettings, said the move was “animportant milestone in the evolution of ournational brand”

He said: “We are now in a position to focuson our future growth as a public company. Ourprevious holding company, Kilima Holdings,has now been liquidated and replaced withBelvoir Lettings PLC.

“Primarily, the funds raised from the placingwill enable us to fund acquisitions andexecute our ambitious expansion plans. Wewill also be in a position to help franchiseowners acquire competitors within theirterritory.

“We will be proactively targeting keycompetitors and assisting with an operationsstrategy.

“More importantly, the flotation will enableus to provide assistance with funding for theright opportunity, although this will depend onindividual circumstances.

“The strength and identity of our nationalbrand is testament to the combinedcommitment of the franchise network and theteam at Central Office and I make thisannouncement with great pleasure and pridein the network, and our achievements inprevious years.”

Belvoir, which has offices at John WilliamStreet in Huddersfield, was founded in 1995by Mike and Stephanie Goddard.

The company, based in Grantham,Lincolnshire, is one of the largest specialist

lettings agency franchises in the UK, with140-plus franchises nationwide.

It aims to increase that to 200 in the nextthree years.

■ PLANS: Dorian Gonsalves, managingdirector of AIM-listed Belvoir Lettings

TO LETWorkshop/WarehouseUnitPart Hope Bank Works, Honley, Holmfirth,HD9 6QA1 829.71m2 (8,931 sq ft)1 Suitable for a variety of alternative uses (STPC)1Generous car parking provisionRent: On Application

TO LETModern Workshop UnitUnit B, Brockholes Business Park,Rock Mill Road, Huddersfield, HD9 7BN1 307m2 (3,308 sq ft)1 Prominent location1 Frontage to the A616 New Mill RoadRent: £5.25 per sq ft per annum exclusive

TO LETCharacter Town CentreOffices10 New North Parade, Huddersfield,HD1 5JP1Attractive character town centre offices1 66.1m2 (712 sq ft)1Newly refurbishedRent: On Application

TO LETProminent Town CentreOffice8 Victoria Road, Elland, HX5 0PU1 102.49m2 (1,103 sq ft)1 100% Business Rates Relief current year1 Private car parkingRental: £6,000 pax

TO LETUnit 3, RawfoldsIndustrial EstateBradford Road, Cleckheaton, BD19 5LT1Modern trade counter1 163.46m2 (1,760 sq ft)Rent: On Application

TO LETPrestigious High Spec.Office SuiteUnit 1, Cartwright Court, BradleyBusiness Park, Huddersfield, HD2 1GN1 199m2 (2,140 sq ft)1 Established business park location1 Ease of access to J24 & J25 of M62Rent: On Application

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Neil Muffitt

FDYLA COMPANY providinginterim finance directorservices has made akey appointment.

Cleckheaton-basedFDYL has named NeilMuffitt (pictured) as itsnew managing partner.

He succeeds MarkRaven, who willcontinue to manage hisown portfolio of FDYL clients whileseeking to recruit additional high calibreassociates.

Mr Muffitt will assume additionalmarketing and business developmentresponsibilities aimed at raising theprofile of FDYL and the understanding ofthe benefits that interim FDs bring tobusinesses.

Mr Muffitt had a successful career withCoopers & Lybrand before running thefinance functions for Real Affinity inBradford and Advertising Principles inLeeds.

Since working as an interim financialdirector he has concentrated on helpingclients bridge the often difficult gapbetween the expectations of lenders, andof businesses.

Jay Everett, Andrew Llewelyn, BenRennocks, Stephen Raper, MatthewDavies & Nick Marsden

CBREPROPERTY agency CBRE has announced aseries of key appointments.

Jay Everett, director of planning at thefirm’s West Yorkshire office, has beenpromoted to director of northern planning tooversee the Leeds and Manchester planningteams.

He said: “I am thrilled to be taking on thenew and challenging role of director ornorthern planning.

“To be able to work closely and efficientlywith the all the member of the Leeds andManchester planning teams will positivelystrengthen our position across the North.”

Andrew Llewellyn has been appointeddirector of property and asset managementat the West Yorkshire office.

Mr Llewellyn, who was formerly at JonesLang LaSalle and King Sturge, will beresponsible for managing CBRE’s Northernclient base in addition to continuing hislong-standing work with MEPC’s WellingtonPlace development in Leeds.

Other promotions see Ben Rennocksbecome director of building consultancy;Stephen Raper as associate director ofvaluation and advisory services; MatthewDavies as senior surveyor of valuation andadvisory services; and Nick Marsden assenior surveyor of lease consultancy andrating.

Agency provesit’s on the markA DESIGN and marketing agency with anational client base is the latest winner of amonthly business award.

The Engine Room Design Co Ltd, basedat Huddersfield’s Media Centre, won theEaton Smith Business of the MonthAward.

Co-founders Darren Evans and HelenWhitehead received their framed certificateat a presentation at the law firm’s HighStreet offices.

The Engine Room Design Co Ltd wasfounded in 2001 and boasts an experiencedteam of graphic designers, strategists, mar-keters and brand consultants who createprojects, identities and campaigns for cli-ents UK-wide.

It has also expanded into the exportmarket – with the addition of WashingtonDC-based educational software specialists,Blackboard Inc.

Everyone at The Engine Room lives inthe local area and are very proud of thetown, i ts her i tage and economicwell-being.

Their corporate literature highlights thetown’s creative focus and they encourageclients to the town to visit their premises.They are also firm believers in buyinglocally, with many of their suppliers resid-ing in Huddersfield.

As part of their growth plans the agencyhas taken on extra staff and employed amarketing undergraduate from Hudders-field University on a one-year placement.

The Engine Room was recognised for itsbusiness excellence when it was accepted asa member of the Design Business Associ-ation – a body promoting professional

practice in the design industry and champi-oning the effective use of design.

Darren, who is creative director, said: “Itwas particularly great for The EngineRoom to receive this award at this time as itties in with celebrating our first 10 years asa company.

“It’s always nice when companies can be

recognised for their achievements, abilitiesand work ethic.”

The Business of the Month Award, runin conjunction with the Mid YorkshireChamber of Commerce and UKTI, is opento firms in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wake-field. Contact Ian Greenwood on 01484821389.

■ BY DESIGN: Chris Taylor (centre), of Eaton Smith, presents the award to DarrenEvans (third right) and Helen Davies (second right), of The Engine Room Design CoLtd, with (from left) Kathryn Shuttleworth, of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce;Mark Billington and Simon Steer, of Royal Bank of Scotland; and Annie Bradley, ofUKTI

Steve Harvey-Franklin

WSI YorkshireA HOLMFIRTHbusinessman is busymaking expansionplans after acquiring amaster franchise fromone of the world'sleading digitalmarketing groups.

SteveHarvey-Franklin(pictured), who ownsWSI Yorkshire, has been appointed as theregional master for Northern England byNorth American-based franchisor WSI. It isthe first time a master franchisor has beenawarded by WSI to a UK operator.

Since starting WSI Yorkshire almost adecade ago, Steve has experienced animpressive 35% average growthyear-on-year.

The new acquisition will lead to theopening of new offices in towns and citiesacross the North, as Steve helps develop theexisting network of 10 offices.

He said: “I’m delighted and excited to bebuilding a digital marketing agency inHolmfirth that can be replicated throughoutthe North, which will make marketingstrategies even more accessible to small andmedium businesses throughout NorthernEngland.”

Ron McArthur, president of WSI, said: “It’salways exciting when we grow the WSIfranchise. As regional master of NorthernEngland, Steve is able to use his businessand marketing expertise to connect with localbusinesses and get them on the fast-track tosuccess.”

WSI Yorkshire was set up in 2004 andprovides internet marketing services toclients across the UK. In addition to the UK,WSI has master franchise offices across theworld in countries such as Australia, UnitedArab Emirates, Portugal, France, Germanyand Switzerland.

Give it some Umph!

A MAJOR competition giving youngpeople an insight into the world ofwork returns to Huddersfield thissummer.

Following a successful first eventlst year, Umph! takes place on July 3at the Galpharm Stadium whenteams from schools, sixth forms andfurther education colleges across theLeeds City Region will compete in avirtual business game.

Umph! is the brainchild of financialadvisors Grant Thornton as part ofthe firm’s Educate to Innovateprogramme, which aims to create

cohesive links between businessesand education in Yorkshire.

It is being backed by Birstall-basedmarketing agency Fantastic Media,which also manages the Umph!website. Huddersfield Town chairmanDean Hoyle is also a keen supporterof the initiative.

Fantastic Media has a history ofsupporting regional educationalestablishments – from schoolsthrough to universities – withinvolvement in vocational projects,offering work placements andsponsorship.

■ TEAM WORK: Andy Hobson (left), of Fantastic Media, with Dean Hoyle(centre), chairman of Huddersfield Town; and Grant Thornton partner IanMarwood promoting the Umph! competition