KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees26, Apr i l , 2011

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SARAH YOUNG JILL HAGUELaying down the law

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An EXAMINER publication

Team intop gearA NEW managementteam is driving aheadat a Huddersfield cardealership.HuddersfieldVolkswagen appointedfour new sales andbusiness centremanagers in late 2010 –and has reaped therewards by receivingpraise for improvedcustomer service inmystery shopper andcustomer satisfactionsurveys.

ProfitablepursuitsDEWSBURY companyRixonway Kitchens hasbeen named one of theUK’s fastest-growingbusinesses. It has beenlisted 36th in theSunday Times ProfitTrack 100

Graduate expandsrecruitment firmA YOUNG entrepreneur from Hud-dersfield is using Yorkshire know-howto expand his successful London-basedinternational recruitment consultancy.

Just three years after setting up VividResourcing in the capital, CharlieWalker has guided the business to a£1.6m profit on turnover totalling£7m.

Now the 27-year-old, who grew up inLinthwaite and attended Colne ValleyHigh School and Greenhead College, islooking to expand the business over thenext 12 to 18 months by taking on otherlike-minded young graduates and open-ing new offices in Leeds and Birming-ham.

Charlie, who regularly returns to hishome town to visit family and friends,studied modern history and politics atWadham College, Oxford, after gaininga scholarship.

He launched his career in recruitmentafter realising he lacked the financialresources to embark on a career inpolitics.

Just a few years later, he was able togive up a £150,000 salary with a leadingrecruitment firm in Bristol to set upVivid – working 13-hour days alone forfour months before establishing a smalloffice in Farringdon, north London.

“It was the right time to do it,” hesaid. “I had no mortgage and I had paidoff most of my debts.

“I thought that it I left it 10 years, Icould be married with kids and respons-ibilities. If you fail in business at 24 it’snot the end of the world, but if you failwith children to look after, that’s differ-ent.”

Said Charlie: “I had a great time withmy previous company, but I always hadthe desire to work for myself in Lon-don.

“To start with all I had was a coupleof desks and computers and phones.The financial climate in 2008 also didn’tdo us any favours, but I never doubted itwas going to be a success.”

Vivid Resourcing focuses on provid-ing contract and permanent staff for theICT, finance, engineering, public ser-vice and new media sectors – oneswhich Charlie sees as growth areas overthe next 12 to 18 months.

The firm employs 14 consultants andthis month relocated to bigger offices inSt John’s Street , g iv ing Viv idResourcing the scope to employ up to42 staff.

Vivid’s present team of recruitersincludes an ex-professional cricketer, aCambridge English graduate andgraduates from a broad range of discip-lines including engineering, business,French and law.

Charlie is now looking for 12 younggraduates to boost his consultancyteam.

He said: “I’m not concerned bypeople’s background. It’s really more acase of whether graduates can displaythe raw competencies and attitudeneeded to develop into successful con-sultants.

“People who excel in this area arealmost without exception great verbalcommunicators, intelligent with ambi-tious financial goals..”

Said Charlie: “Recruitment hasbecome something of a dirty word.Some people working in recruitmenthave a bit of a ‘wide boy’ image as pushysales people.

“We recruit graduates who are ambi-tious and intelligent, but who we canmould to deal with clients and candid-ates properly.”

By accident or design, Charlie, who

lives at Tufnell Park in London, hasrecruited a strong contingent ofnortherners.

He also regularly meets up with agroup of other Huddersfield“exiles”.

Although he frequently returns tohis home town, there are aspects ofHuddersfield he misses when he’s inthe big city.

“I miss the people quite a bit,” hesays. “Generally, people in Hudders-field have a dry sense of humour. Alot of people in London have apatronising attitude to places like

Huddersfield because they don’trealise how good it is. I also miss themoors and the music.”

Before moving into recruitmentCharlie helped to run the Rocks Offrecord shop in Huddersfield.

He also manned CD stalls at fest-ivals across Europe as well as playingtrumpet and singing with a variety ofgroups.

Now Charlie’s tuning up to makeVivid one of the top 50 fastest grow-ing UK businesses in under fiveyears.

■ LONDON CALLING: Colne Valley-born Charlie Walker, of VividResourcing, is making a success of business in the big city

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

Solicitors for business inYorkshire

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 2

TWO topical free eventsare being staged by theLockwood-based MidYorkshire Chamber ofCommerce.

Liz Robinson, of TheDigital Consortium, willshare tips on how topromote your company,products and servicesonline when she is theguest speaker at 60Useful Minutes. Theseminar takes place at8.30am on May 10 at thechamber’s offices at TheStable Block, BreweryDrive, Lockwood.

Delegates can takeadvantage of another 60Useful Minutes at thesame time and venue onJune 14 when formerSky TV reporter andQuest PR managingdirector Sharon Cain andNeil Kendall, regionaldirector of BusinessDoctors, are guestspeakers.

Go to www.mycci.co.uk

Firm earns awardfor a high wire act

Veryuseful

ORGANISERS ofYorkshire’s biggest foodand drink festival areseeking sponsors for thissummer’s extravaganza.

The Huddersfield Foodand Drink Festival willtake place over four daysfrom Thursday, August11, to Sunday, August14, at George’s Square.

Cathy Burger,Huddersfield town centremanager, said: “Theevent is rated by ourloyal stallholders asbeing one of the mostsuccessful in the UK.

“The HuddersfieldFood and Drink Festivalgives you the opportunityto raise your businessprofile in the town andbeyond.

“Sponsorship not onlyprovides exposure tomore than 65,000festival-goers, butthousands more who seeand hear the extensivemarketing and nationalpress campaign.”

Sponsorship optionsinclude a new goldpackage being offered totwo local businesses aswell as a number ofexclusive opportunities tomake the most of thefestival.

They include amarquee in a primelocation, a privateevening function of yourchoice, involvement of‘branded’ staff atworkshops and logos onall Huddersfield Foodand Drink Festivalmarketing materials.

Tel the festival officeon 01484 487933 oremailhtcpl@kirklees.gov.uk

Food forthought

New developments for Brighouse photo shopA PHOTOGRAPHY shop inBrighouse has re-opened followinga major makeover.Local councillor Colin Stout cut theribbon to open the new-look LordsPhotodigital store in company withowners and brothers Jim andSteven Lord.Clr Stout applauded the success ofthe firm, saying: “I am veryimpressed with all the latest digitalprinting technology at Lords. Weare very lucky to have this type ofbusiness in Brighouse. Shops likethis help bring footfall into thetown.”Clr Stout said Brighouse was aflourishing town – with only fourempty shops in the town centreand almost 50% of shops underindependent ownership.Lords Photodigital was selected byKodak out of 250 stores throughoutthe UK and Ireland to have acomplete makeover.The Brighouse firm has investedheavily in state-of-the-art digital

printing equipment – allowingcustomers to print their images upto poster size within the hour fromthe new in-store kiosks or to havetheir images converted into a rangeof photo gifts and books.Jim Lord said he was delighted bythe response of customers to thenew look store, saying: “The shophas a real buzz about it. Customerslove it. It was an honour to havebeen chosen to be Kodak’s firstnew look store and these are veryexciting times.”Janice Paterson, businessmanager for Kodak Express UKand Ireland, said: “Retailing isSteven and Jim’s passion and theyhave attracted and retainedcustomers, driven incrementalsales and profit.”Lords Photodigital was formed in1966 by Bill Lord. Steven’s oldestson Tom has worked there sincefinishing his marketing degree lastyear – and on Saturdays hisyoungest son Matthew helps out.

■ IN THE PICTURE: Clr Colin Stout cuts the ribbon to open the revampedLords Photodigital outlet with Jim Lord (front, right) and Steven Lord (front, left)

BRIGHOUSE-based specialist wirefabricator Siddall & Hilton ProductsLtd has scooped a top prize.

The company triumphed at the LiveWire Awards ceremony – a nationalevent focused on improving health andsafety at work for people employed inthe UK wire industries.

All of the UK’s major wire industryemployers are members of Live Wire –and Siddall & Hilton Products hassupported the concept since its launchfour years ago.

The Live Wire Health & SafetyAward is sponsored by Tata Steel andrecognises firms which encourageemployees to embrace health andsafety at all levels, share best practiceacross the industry and come up withideas which improve health and safetyin the wire industry.

Siddall & Hilton Products’ winningpresentation was made by productionsupervisor Gareth Bush and produc-tion operative Simon Edwards.

They put forward a working solutionfor an issue experienced throughout theindustry – the safe storage of rod andcoil wire.

It is common practice in the wireindustry to stack one, two and even five

tonne coils as many as five high, usingwooden chocks to prevent lateralmovement.

Siddall & Hilton Products said thispractice had been the subject of numer-ous “near miss” health and safetyreports – prompting the company toassemble a task force to tackle theproblem.

The Coil Cradle developed by thecompany uses the weight of the coils tohold the barriers in place and preventlateral movement.

The cradles are now in use across thecompany’s site on Birds Royd Lane inBrighouse. Since their installation,there have been no accidents and noreported near misses involving move-ment of coils.

Managing director Neil Stewardsonsaid: “The coils used at Siddall &Hilton Products weigh around onetonne.

“As we process some 20,000 tonnesof wire every year, safe handling andsecure storage is key to protecting thehealth and safety of our employees.

“This initiative has proved a greatsuccess, and the Live Wire Health &Safety Award has recognised thisamongst our peers.”

■ WIRED UP: Gareth Bush (left), production supervisor for S&H Products,Sean Lyons (centre), site director for Tata Steel at Scunthorpe, and SimonEdwards, production operative at S&H Products

Networking eventBUSINESS people in Huddersfield are invitedto let off steam at an informal networkingevent next month.

First Friday, which enables town centreprofessionals to get together on a regularbasis, will hold its next event from 12.30pm to1.30pm on Friday, May 6, at The Head ofSteam, St George’s Square.

Email krishna.patel@revellward.co.uk tofind out more.

IoD regional director sets date to step downA LEADING business figure inYorkshire is stepping down.

John Thompson will step downfrom his post as regional director ofthe Yorkshire and Humber regionof the Institute of Directors in Julyas he reaches his 65th birthday.

Mr Thompson said: “I’ve beenmost fortunate to hold this veryprivileged and enjoyable position

for almost a decade.“It has been a fantastic way to

meet many of the region’s businessleaders, grow the IoD brand andhelp in fostering business growth inthe region as well as bringingtogether some great minds toshare their experiences, networkand foster businesscollaborations.”

The IoD Yorkshire Region hasalmost 2,000 members with activebranches in West, South, East andNorth Yorkshire.

Margaret Wood, who chairs theYorkshire IoD, said: “I wish to thankJohn enormously for all his hardwork and effort on behalf of theIoD.”

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

Sarah Young

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: Managing partnerAge: 41Family Married to Willwith children Alex, nine,Libby, seven, and Kate,fourHolidays: Camping inPembrokeshire orNorthumberlandCar: Volvo V50First job: Office junior fora firm of solicitorsBest thing about job:The people I work with andthe clientsWorst thing about job:ComplaintsBusiness tip: Always behonest with people

Work: Law firm acting forpeople who need us tochallenge authority ontheir behalfSite: HuddersfieldEmployees: 45Phone: 01484 538421Web: www.ridleyandhall.co.ukE-mail sarah.young@ridleyandhall.co.uk

Ridley & Hall

Swapwas agooddeal!

JOURNALISM was SarahYoung’s first choice ofcareer – until she did aswap with a friend!

Sarah, who hails fromEpsom in Surrey and waseducated at a conventschool in Wimbledon, said:“I was going to be ajournalist or a writer. Butwhen I was in the sixthform, a friend asked me togo with her on anintroduction to law course.She wanted me to go forcompany.

“My friend wanted tostudy law at university whileI wanted to do English. Butafter attending the course,she decided to do Englishand I decided to do law!The thought of being ableto debate and argue hadmassive appeal – that andthe influence of LA Law,which was on TV in thosedays!”

Sarah attended HullUniversity and York LawSchool. “That’s what reallyintroduced me to the northand made me want topractice law here,” shesays.

Sarah qualified in 1994and spent a year in Norfolkbefore moving toHuddersfield and joiningRidley & Hall.

“It was a bit of a cultureshock,” she recalls.“I wasthe only vegetarian solicitorRidley & Hall had everemployed. I also came towork wearing a trouser suit,which was a big deal inthose days. That started atrend of women at the firmbeing allowed to weartrousers.

“Ridley & Hall has neverbeen a ‘stuffy’ firm, buttrousers for women wasn’tthe done thing. I don’t thinkthey knew what to do withme!”

Sarah began working ingeneral litigation, but wassoon specialising inpersonal injury casesalongside colleague NigelPriestley.

She worked on somevery big cases involvingcases of cerebral palsy andhead injuries, which held aparticular interest becauseof the often complex issuesinvolved compared totypical PI work on slips andtrips.

“These complex casesinvolve getting together arange of experts andworking with a family for along time,” she says. “It islike conducting anorchestra, bringing togethera team of excellent peoplewho can really help theclient.

“If you are able to get theright support for someonewith an injury like that, youcan see things change forthe better for them.”

Says Sarah: “I really likemeeting people and a lot ofclients will keep in touchafter we’ve dealt with theirproblems. It’s a privilege tohave people feel they cancall on you and rely onyou.”

Sarah is also handlingmore ‘contentious probate’cases – typically familiesarguing over wills.

She is a member ofSolicitors for the Elderlyand the Association of

Contentious Trust andProbate Solicitors.

“It is still all about theskills I use in litigation, but itis a different area of law,”she says, pointing out thatdisputes over wills arebecoming more prevalent inan age of “broken” families,divorce and re-marriage –and when people are livinglonger but face issues suchas dementia.

“It is creating a realtimebomb,” says Sarah.“People have more assetsand there is more money toargue over. Husbands mayhave children from a firstmarriage and make willswhich leave everything totheir wives, unintentionallycutting out those children.”

Unsurprisingly, Sarah iskeen to encourage people tomake a will – ensuring thatthey make their intentionsclear.

Sarah’s skills asmanaging partner at Ridley& Hall contributed to herwinning an award from theAssociation of WomenSolicitors last year.

And as if she isn’t busy

enough, Sarah completed ayear in office as president ofHuddersfield Law Society in2010 and is active in thesociety’s twinning project –set up by Nigel Priestley – towork with solicitors inUganda.

“I got involved about fiveyears ago,” she says, “and Ihave been out to Ugandatwice. It is challenging anddifficult at times, but it is amassive thing to do.”

Huddersfield lawyers haveprovided relevant textbooks“begged and borrowed” fromtraining providers andbarristers to furnish aburgeoning legal library forthe Ugandan Law Society.

“Huddersfield Law Societycomprises relatively smallfirms of solicitors and thereis a lot of synergy with lawfirms in Uganda,” saysSarah.

“What they really need isnot the big corporate lawfirms from London tellingthem how to do bighigh-profile deals, but peoplelike themselves dealing withissues such as setting upfiles, dealing with theaccounts, how to treat yourstaff and time management.

“It isn’t a one-way street,however. We are learning allthe time about how we oughtto be doing things. It’s abouthelping each other tobecome better lawyers.”

Says Sarah: “I enjoyed thewhole experience of meetingpeople and travelling aroundthe country. It is notsomething I expected to bedoing as a solicitor, but inmany ways it has beenlife-transforming.”

Sarah is proud of otherinitiatives set up by theHuddersfield Law Society,including a rota of solicitorsproviding free advice onWednesday and Fridaymorning at HuddersfieldCounty Court.

She says: “When

Huddersfield solicitorscome together they are aformidable group. Thesociety is in vibranthealth.”

One initiative Ridley &Hall has pioneered is anew service backed by adedicated website calledElderflower.

Says Sarah: “We havea lot of people livinglonger, but local servicesare not always geared upfor people approachingretirement age or thosealready retired.

“They are having toconsider issues withserious legal and financialimplications such as wills,lasting powers of attorney,pensions, equity-releaseand care home costs.

“Elderflower is a uniqueservice because we bringtogether the financial andlegal advice on issuesaffecting older people.”

Ridley & Hall is joinedin the scheme byHuddersfield accountancyfirm Sheards, UK WealthManagement and Bell &Buxton, a specialist intackling “elder abuse” andcontentious probate.

Sarah could also givegood advice to anyoneseeking a better work-lifebalance.

“I work four days aweek and I have one dayat home to spend timewith the family,” she says.

“About 50% of our staffwork part-time in someshape or form and Isupport that because youget the best from peoplewhen you enable peopleto have a working life thatworks for them.

“We let staff work fromhome on occasions toavoid a long commute.Everyone works welltogether to make surethere are no ‘gaps’.”

Away from work, Sarah

finds great delight tendingher flock of hens. “Theywere a birthday presentfrom my husband,” shesays. “There’s somethinglife-affirming aboutcollecting the eggs in themorning.”

■ LAW REPORT: SarahYoung sees a likely rise incontentious probate cases

Rocked in Hollywood.Made in Borehamwood.

Business

Issued by HSBC Bank plc. *Lines are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).AC18837

It may sound like a quiet little town but Borehamwood is home toOrange Amps, which has been supplying the world’s music industryfor the past 40 years.

At HSBC we believe that a local business doesn’t have to stay local.By thinking about your business from a global perspective, we canhelp you thrive both locally and internationally.

Speak to Jill Hague, Area Commercial Director, on 07786 524353*,or email jillhague@hsbc.com

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

Firms get £5m funding

Neil Wilson is an employment lawyer atChadwick Lawrence Solicitors

EMPLOYER’SBRIEFNeil Wilson

Sandwich manTHE Subway store at RavensthorpeShopping Centre in Dewsbury hasmarked three years of trading –under one of the youngest storefranchisees in the Yorkshire region.Local entrepreneur David Cameronstarted his career as a “sandwichartist” at a Subway store inHuddersfield when he was 22. Atthe age of just 24, he decided topurchase his own franchise. Now27, David has seen his business gofrom strength to strength, withgrowing sales and thousandsinvested in the local economy.

Bowling themover at Lord’sA FIRM providing surface heatingand cooling systems for theproperty sector bowled overdelegates to a major business eventheld at Lord’s cricket ground inLondon.Huddersfield-based Velta chose thehistoric venue for its secondSustainable Design andConstruction Forum after staging itsinaugural event last September.The second forum – held inassociation with Hanson BuildingProducts, Stuarts Industrial Flooringand Creagh Concrete and sponsoredby Project Sales Achiever – attracteda bigger audience with some highprofile industry guests inattendance.The event was attended by morethan 100 delegates, ranging fromconsultants to engineers andarchitects from well-knowninternational organisations acrossthe construction and engineeringindustries. They included delegatesfrom as far as Spain and Sweden.The forum is unusual in the industryas it is dedicated to professionals inthe commercial, residential andindustrial buildings market.Speakers included Prof BjarneOlesen, of the University ofDenmark, and Prof Doug King, ofKing Shaw Associates.The event provided building owners,managers, architects, contractors,consultants and mechanical andengineering specialists with thelatest knowledge in the developmentof thermo active building systems(TABS), including renovationsolutions for the cooling and heatingof offices.Sustainability and energy efficiencyare important factors within theconstruction industry due topressure from the public andpoliticians to ensure the buildings ofthe future fit in with the “green”agenda.Velta’s TABS allow existing energyto be used to provideenvironmentally-friendly heating andcooling. Many development schemesare using it for projects in the UKand internationally.Velta managing director GeraldKemp said: “Both of our forumshave been very successful and weare delighted that so many keypeople within the industry attendedthe events.”

Temporary staffto get extra rights

A FUND backing go-aheadbusinesses in Yorkshire hasinvested more than £5m in thepast seven months.

The sum invested by FinanceYorkshire also triggered threetimes as much investmentthrough private sector leverage –meaning the funding has helpedthe organisations involved gen-erate growth and revenue to thetune of nearly £16m.

Alex McWhirter, chief execut-ive of Finance Yorkshire, said:“The investment figures areencouraging and we are lookingforward to providing more fund-ing for businesses during the restof the year.

“After a delayed start, to haveinvested over £5m is a great signfor the future both for the fundand for businesses in Yorkshireand Humber.”

He added: “We encouragegrowth companies looking toexpand their business to get intouch with us. As the latest fig-ures show, the investments are

crucial to supporting businessgrowth in Yorkshire and Hum-ber.

“This will create a significantboost to the region’s economy.”

The figures highlight how theinvestments made since August,2010, have helped 75 of theregion’s small and medium-sizedbusinesses meet their fundingrequirements for growth anddevelopment – and secure mil-lions of pounds of private sectorleverage.

Firms benefiting from thefunding include ones in sectorssuch as business services, engin-eering and industrial products,energy, IT and media.

Finance Yorkshire providesseedcorn, loan and equity-linkedinvestments ranging from£15,000 to £2m.

Finance Yorkshire is suppor-ted by the European Union.

It has attracted £30m invest-ment from the EuropeanRegional Development Fund aspart of Europe’s support for the

region’s economic developmentthrough the Yorkshire andHumber ERDF Programme,£15m from Yorkshire Forward’sSingle Programme and £45mm at c h f u n d i n g f ro m t h eEuropean Investment Bank.

■ BOOST: Finance Yorkshirechief executive Alex McWhirteris keen to encourage growth

THE implementation date for the AgencyWorker Regulations will soon be upon

us and the Government has now issuedguidance on how they will work in practice.

Coming into force on October 1, 2011, tempor-ary workers will, for the first time, have a right notto be treated less favourably than permanentemployees in terms of their basic working andemployment conditions, subject to a 12-weekqualifying period of service with any hirer.

Workers will also have rights to certain facilitiesand benefits from day one of an assignment.

An agency worker is defined as someone who issupplied by a temporary work agency, to worktemporarily for and under the supervision anddirection of a hirer and who has a contract ofemployment or any other contract to performwork and services personally for a temporarywork agency.

Those individuals who are genuinelyself-employed contractors will not be covered bythe regulations.

The agency worker will be entitled to the samebasic working and employment conditions as hewould have been entitled to for doing the same jobhad he been recruited directly by the hirer. Theright to equal treatment will not apply until anagency worker has undertaken the same role,

whether on one or more assignments, with thesame hirer for 12 continuous calendar weeks.

To establish less favourable treatment, theagency worker will have to compare himself to adirectly-recruited comparator (whether real orhypothetical) and then identify the terms andconditions which are ordinarily included in such aperson’s contract.

Continuity will be broken if the worker starts anew assignment with the hirer where “the work orduties that make up the whole or main part of thatnew role are substantively different from the workor duties that made up the whole or main part ofthe previous role”.

“Basic working and employment conditions”most importantly relates to “pay” which includesbonuses, commission, holiday pay or other emolu-ment referable to the employment. This alsotherefore includes shift allowances, overtime pay-ments, unsocial hours premiums and bonuseslinked to personal performance – e.g. out-put-related bonuses.

Workers will also be entitled to rest breaks ofthe same duration and frequency and the sameentitlement to annual leave.

In addition, there are some entitlements whichshall apply from day one of any assignment.

Agency workers will have the right to be told ofany ‘relevant vacancies’ in the hirer during anassignment along with being given access to‘collective facilities and amenities’. This includescanteens or similar facilities, childcare facilitiesand the provision of transport services.

Agency workers will have the right to bringvarious claims in the Employment Tribunal,including where a worker has been dismissed orsubjected to a detriment for exercising his rightsunder the regulations, treated less favourably thanan actual or hypothetical comparator with regardto his basic employment and working conditionsor has been denied access to collective facilitiesand amenities.

Employers who use temporary workers, alongwith the agencies who supply such workers, areurged to review the guidance issued by the Depart-ment for Business Innovation and Skills, inadvance of the regulations coming into force inOctober, 2011.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Safeguarding your good ideas

BANKER’SBLOGJill Hague

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

hemes

Exporting keyto UK economyWITH many experts predicting that

Britain’s exporters hold the key tocontinued economic recovery over thenext 12 months, at HSBC we expect tosee increased international trade drivenby significant growth in emerging mar-kets.

This growth is playing a key role in helpingbusinesses to see opportunities beyond theborders of the UK – both in these emergingmarkets and in mature markets where growthis slower.

Emerging markets are driving a new waveof consumer and business investmentdemand, providing exciting export opportun-ities for businesses.

“Thinking” businesses are approachingthis shift in global trade with optimism, usingit as an opportunity to innovate and cash-inon the creativity, strong heritage and know-ledge-intensive base Britain is renowned for.

The latest HSBC Global Small BusinessConfidence Monitor revealed that by 2013,some 40% of the world’s SMEs expect to beoperating internationally. With 29% of busi-nesses already trading overseas, the next twoyears will see an acceleration of this trend.

At HSBC, we truly believe that businessesin the UK should make the most of theinternational opportunities open to them.Currently, 20% of UK SMEs are tradinginternationally and our data highlights anincreased appetite to venture overseas.

Among our 1m commercial customersacross the UK, we are seeing an increase inour trade finance lending to UK businesses –particularly within the export component.HSBC invoice finance turnover is also on therise, which is a lead indicator of overalleconomic activity.

At HSBC, our global footprint and con-nectivity around the world enables us tosupport customers with their internationalrequirements and provide access to our ownlocal contacts and insights.

As such, we are encouraging businesses inKirklees to consider international growthopportunities. For the second year running,HSBC has launched Business Thinking – aninitiative to find the UK’s best businessthinker and an opportunity for 18 companiesacross the UK to benefit from up to £6m oflending and a financial reward of up to

£120,000.The initiative will see six entrants from

across Yorkshire and the North East selectedas regional finalists. These finalists will havean opportunity to participate in an interna-tional thought exchange visit to network andgain valuable business insight.

While international trade offers many firmsan opportunity to exploit their strengths,diversify their customer base and expandtheir business, we would encourage any busi-ness to seek professional advice and carry outthorough research before venturing into anew market to enable them to maximise theirsuccesses overseas.

To find out more about how HSBC mightbe able to help your business or to find outmore about HSBC’s Business Thinking initi-ative, contact jillhague@hsbc.com or visitwww.businessthinking.hsbc.co.uk

■ ENQUIRIES: Karen Marsden,customer information centremanager for Business Link

MORE company bosses areseeking help to protect theirintellectual property – whetherthat’s their company name andbrand, a design, invention ornew process – it is claimed.

Intellectual property is anyform of original creation thatcan be bought or sold, frommusic to machinery – and it’s ahugely valuable asset to busi-nesses.

And Karen Marsden, head ofBusiness Link Yorkshire’s cus-tomer information centre, said:“We have seen an increase in thenumber of callers looking forhelp with inventions or newideas.

“The type of help they areseeking ranges from how to raisefinance for prototyping to howto go about finding out if there isa market for their product andpotential routes.

“It is really important toresearch and assess ideas and weadvise customers how to goabout this. For those furtheradvanced, we help them findways to exploit their ideas morequickly so they can go further.”

Said Karen: “There is a wealth

of support available in the regionthrough the universities, invent-ors’ clubs, patent attorneys andthe Patent Libraries in Leedsand Sheffield. We help custom-ers access the most appropriatesupport for them.”

The Patents Library in Leedsprovides services includinginformation on IP and busi-ness/IP related seminars. Unithead Stef Stephenson said: “Wehave also noticed an increase inall types of businesses and indi-viduals needing IP advice.

“They are sometimes con-fused about different types of IPand what they protect. There has

been a small but noticeableincrease in those seeking advicebecause they are worried thatthey may be infringing someoneelse's IP.”

The Patents Library runs freemonthly IP clinics in Leeds andlast month ran an additionalclinic because demand was soheavy.

In the next few weeks, Busi-ness Link Yorkshire is holding aseries of free workshops calledDeveloping and Bringing NewIdeas to Market.. They include asession running from 9.30am to12.30pm on Tuesday, June 14, atthe Briar Court Hotel, Birchen-cliffe.

Business Link Yorkshire isalso encouraging businesses toconsider a new scheme offeringpart-funding to small andmedium-sized enterprises,enabling them to engage inresearch and development pro-jects in science, engineering andtechnology.

The Grant for Research andDevelopment supports R&Dprojects which offer significantrewards and could stimulate UKeconomic growth.

Race meetingproves a winnerA DAY at the races provided the idealbackdrop for a regional businessnetworking event.Huddersfield Town hosted its thirdEnterprise Academy in the sunshine atPontefract Racecourse.More than 100 business delegates fromacross Yorkshire attended the event –with one lucky person picking a 100/1winner in one of the races!Club partner TOG 24 gave attendees aninsight into how it has become one ofthe biggest outdoor clothing specialistsin the UK.The presentation was given by salesdirector Michael Wood and nationalretail manager Paul Ramsden.The business networking event wasattended by several of the football club’spartners, including Chadwick Lawrence,Kirklees College, Stafflex, Revell Ward,Dale Carnegie, TC bathrooms, Voot, CBCComputers and TOG 24.Following TOG 24’s presentation,delegates networked and watched theday’s racing.One lucky guest from CBC Computersspent the best £10 of his life when hebacked 100/1 shot Spruzzo in the 3.40pmrace. Spruzzo won by a length andcapped off a wonderful day for all thedelegates.Huddersfield Town and ChadwickLawrence’s joint venture the YorkshireBusiness Forum sponsored a race fromthe card.Town commercial director Sean Jarvissaid: “Pontefract Racecourse was theperfect setting for the EnterpriseAcademy. It was good to network withour club partners and meet some newones.“Our Enterprise Academy is quicklybecoming one of the biggest businessevents in the Yorkshire region. It is anexcellent opportunity for companies tomeet and create new business.”

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

Valuation scheme deadline nearsA SCHEME to “reinforce” theaccuracy of property valuationscomes into force in Yorkshire atthe end of this week.

The Royal Institution ofChartered Surveyors hasdeveloped the Valuer RegistrationScheme, which becomesmandatory in Yorkshire andHumber from April 30.

The scheme was devised after7,000 members in the regionagreed it was “appropriate toachieve proportionate and betterregulation in the market place”.

The VRS was launched inOctober, 2010, to ensure thatRICS members across the UKadhere to and can be monitoredon practising the professionalstandards contained in the RICSValuation Standards, also knownas the Red Book, whenundertaking valuations.

So far, more than 11,000 UKvaluers have signed up – withmore expected before thedeadline.

From April 30, all valuersundertaking these valuations inthe UK will need to haveregistered with the VRS in order

to continue to provide Red Bookvaluations.

This has been put in place tofurther assure the quality ofvaluations, raise the credibility ofchartered surveyor valuers andprovide clearly identifiabledesignation for the best regulatedand qualified professionals in thefield.

Jennifer Welch, operationsdirector for RICS Yorkshire, said:“The Valuer Registration Schemehelps to further establish thecredibility, skills andprofessionalism of RICSmembers among clients andpublic authorities. It alsodemonstrates RICS’ focus oncontinuous enhancement to itsregulatory approach andoperations.

“’We are delighted with thenumber of members signing up tothis scheme which clearlyreinforces the importance ofchartered surveyors as theleading valuation professional,providing sound, independentand consistent advice delivered toglobally accepted standards.’’

Companies double-bookedCOMPANIES in Meltham andElland have come together onprojects to build two hotels.Elland-based contractorMarshall Construction Ltdapproached building systemsfirm Structherm Ltd, ofMeltham, with plans for twohotels in northern England –a Premier in at Halifax and aRamada Encore at Gateshead.

Structherm’s Fastbuildprecast concrete buildingsystem is being used toprovide walls, floors, liftshafts and staircases at thehotels – with the firm’s designteam working closely withMarshalls.Both projects will begin in thenext few weeks withcompletion in the summer.

Rixonway onthe fast trackA DEWSBURY company has beenlisted as one of the UK’s fastest-grow-ing businesses.

Rixonway Kitchens has beenranked 36th in the Sunday TimesProfit Track 100 – and third in itshome region of Yorkshire.

The list highlights private compan-ies with the fastest-growing profits,based on their latest three years ofavailable accounts..

Rixonway, one of the leading kit-chen manufacturers in the affordableand social housing sector, earned itsranking after defying the downturn tolift revenues by 23% in 2009/10 to£28.8m.

Chief executive Paul Rose said:“We are delighted to have receivedthis recognition in spite of tougheconomic conditions.

“Our results have been excellentover the last year, which is down to thehard work of the whole team.

“I would like to extend my personalthanks to every one of them and lookforward to a successful 2011 for every-one.”

Despite tough economic condi-tions, the 100 companies on the listgrew their profits over the last threeyears by an average of 72% a year to acombined total of £1.2bn in theirlatest available audited accounts.Together they employed 82,250 staff,having added 22,350 employees totheir workforce during this time –some as a result of acquisitions.

Rixonway, which has 450 employ-ees, has continued with a programmeof capital investment despite the eco-

nomic environment.The recent addition of bespoke

systems and equipment includes Pre-actor – to increase efficiencies anddeliver time and cost savings to clients– and dust extraction system Ecogate,which has dramatically reduced thefirm’s carbon footprint.

Said Mr Rose: “Over the last sixyears our focus has been on innova-tion, reliability and further improvingour service.

“Our success in delivering this hassecured many new contracts and hascreated excellent relationships amongthose who provide and maintainaffordable and social housing stock.It is this to which we really owe oursignificant growth and recordturnover and profit.”

The company is now producingmore than 12,000 rigid units a weekand also employs 40 designers whooperate nationwide.

■ STEPPING UP: Rixonway Kitchens’ top team of (from left) IT DirectorAndy Pickard, sales and marketing director David Anderson, chief executivePaul Rose, commercial director Julian Dudley, financial director KeithRobinson and operations director Nick Greenall

Opening day focuson sport and artGIANTS chairman Ken Davycut a ribbon to mark theopening of a new DIY andbuilding supply business.Myers Build & DIY is the latestdevelopment from The MyersGroup, which is alreadyrenowned in the constructionsector for its activitiescovering quarrying, builders’merchanting, plant hire andconcrete.James Berry, who takesresponsibility for Myers Build& DIY with his sister Katie,welcomed guests to theofficial opening, which wasalso being held to supportKirkwood Hospice at Dalton.The new firm’s premises atCrosland Hill include an areawhich has been set aside as agallery to display thepaintings of SharonJankowicz, a patient atKirkwood. who is selling herpaintings to raise muchneeded funds for the hospice.A number of paintings weresold during the day with allproceeds going to thehospice.In his speech, Mr Davyreferred to former rugbyleague star David Valentine,who once worked for MyersGroup business Readymix,and his son Ian Valentine,who has worked with theMyers Group for more than 30years and is now Readymixgeneral manager.More than 200 peopleattended the opening, whichincluded champagne, lunchand refreshments. The fun

continued over the Easterweekend – with the businessopen to the general public –with a bouncy castle andtreats for children.Myers Build & DIY stocks allthe products required forhomebuilding, renovating andDIY, including kitchens andbathrooms. Seasonalproducts will include a rangeof landscape and gardenproducts for spring.The Myers Group owes itsorigins to Jack Myers who inthe late 1950s expanded thefamily business – founded in1929 in the name of IsaacTimmins Ltd – from itsbuilding and civil engineeringroots into the manufacturerand supplier of constructionmaterials.Among its businesses,Readymix Huddersfield,which also includes Mini Mix,Conveyormix and MobileConcrete Pump Hire, suppliesconcrete from variouslocations around Yorkshire.Naylor Myers was founded in1973 and is now a leadingindependent builder’smerchants with 12 branchesthroughout Yorkshire.Johnsons Wellfield Quarries,also based at Crosland Hill, isone of the largest and mostadvanced plants of its kind inthe UK, supplying products toa range of prestigiousprojects nationally.The group also includes HSHSkip Hire and timbermerchanting business BoardsHuddersfield.

■ SPORTING GESTURE: James and Katie Berry – the fourthgeneration running Myers Build and DIY – with Huddersfield Giantschairman Ken Davy (right), who officially opened their newpremises at Crosland Hill

■ FOCUS: Jennifer Welch, operationsdirector for the Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyors in the north

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSKIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property Page 7KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS

ResidentialdevelopmentA H O L M E Va l l e y p ro p e r t ydeveloper has made a key appoint-ment.

Brockholes-based Conroy Brookhas appointed Goldsborough Estates,a member of the Bupa Group, tomanage its Holme Valley Court devel-opment of 45 one and two-bedroomluxury apartments and penthouses.

Holme Val l ey Cour t i s anaward-winning development of retire-ment apartments set in the grounds ofthe Holme Valley Memorial Hospitalat Holmfirth.

Conroy Brook, which has won thecoveted title of Housebuilder of theYear, designed Holme Valley Courtwith the needs of its customers firmlyin mind.

The complex has full disabledaccess, eight-person lift, communallounge, patio and garden areas withoutdoor seating, water features, art-work and lighting.

It also has two guest bedrooms forvisitors and 24-hour careline alarmcall system.

In addition, each apartment alsohas a video-phone entry system andburglar alarm, while the complexitself has building CCTV and hasbeen designed for comfort and secur-ity.

Richard Conroy, chief executive ofConroy Brook, said: “As we now onlyhave one apartment left to sell at thisexclusive retirement complex, we feltthat the time was right to bring in a

management company that couldguarantee to maintain the level ofservice that the residents have becomeused to with ourselves and who wouldalways have their best interests atheart.

“We are sure that the team atGoldsborough Estates will manageHolme Valley Court to an extremelyhigh standard, commensurate with itsstatus as a prestigious, state of the art

retirement complex.”Simon Crewe, managing director of

Goldsborough Estates, said: “We aredelighted to have signed a manage-ment agreement with the developersof Holme Valley Court.

“It is a beautiful building which willcater for all resident’s needs, whilealso allowing them to retain theirindependence.”

Team secures quality standardA LAW firm in Huddersfield has become oneof the first in the country to secureConveyancing Quality Scheme status, theLaw Society's new home buying quality mark.

Armitage Sykes Solicitors, based at NewNorth Road, joins the select band ofaccredited firms. At the end of March, the LawSociety had only accredited 20 firmsnationally.

Law Society president Linda Lee said theCQS award was recognition for the firm’s highstandards in residential conveyancing.

She said: “These first practices are the flagbearers of the CQS and this recognition of thequality of their service begins a new chapterin the home buying process.

“In what is already a crowded conveyancingmarket, CQS accredited legal practices will beclearly visible to anyone looking to buy ahome. For what is the most expensivepurchase of anyone's lifetime, it is vital thatthey can rely on the quality service provisionof CQS.”

Partner Diana Walker said: “We aredelighted to have secured CQS accreditation.It is a signal to home buyers and lenders thatwe provide that level of service.”

The CQS scheme has the support of theCouncil of Mortgage Lenders, the BuildingSocieties Association and the Association ofBritish Insurers. The Land Registry has alsowelcomed the scheme.

College scheme contractorpraised for safety policiesTHE company building themulti-million pound KirkleesCollege campus inHuddersfield has won a topaward for health and safety.GMI Construction Group,main contractor on thecollege project at Chapel Hill,has gained a gold award inthe prestigious RoSPAOccupational Health andSafety Awards 2011.The award will be presentedat a ceremony on Wednesday,May 18, at the NEC inBirmingham.The Royal Society for thePrevention of Accidentslaunched its awardsprogramme 55 years ago. Thescheme looks not only ataccident records, but alsoentrants’ health and safetymanagement systems,including important practicessuch as strong leadershipand workforce involvement.David Rawlins, RoSPA’sawards manager, said:“RoSPA firmly believes thatorganisations that havedemonstrated theircommitment to continuousimprovement in accident and

ill health prevention deserverecognition.“GMI Construction Group hasshown that it is committed tostriving for such continuousimprovement and we aredelighted to honour it throughthe presentation of an award.”Jarrod Best, managingdirector of Leeds-based GMIConstruction, said: “We aredelighted with our gold awardand it’s great recognition forthe work we have put into thepromotion of safety at theworkplace, particularly withour local school engagementinitiatives.”The majority of RoSPA’sawards are non-competitive,marking achievement at merit,bronze, silver and gold levels.Organisations maintaininghigh standards can win goldmedals, president’s awardsand orders of distinction.Competitive awards arepresented in more than 20sectors and specialist awardsrecognise excellence inspecific areas, such as themanagement of occupationalroad risk.

■ HOME TEAM: The conveyancing team at Armitage SykesSolicitors of (from left) Michelle Riordan, Diana Walker, AlisonWithington and Ruth Walker

■ SUNNY OUTLOOK: Some of the residents of Holme Valley Court withRichard Conroy (far right) and Simon Crewe and Annette Elliott (second andthird left), of Goldsborough Estates

Property agency is fuellinginterest in petrol stationsA PROPERTY agency hasbeen instructed to sell twopetrol stations in WestYorkshire.Christie + Co is offeringSilsden Self Service onKeighley Road, Silsden, andStepping Stones ServiceStation, Leeds Road, Ilkley, forsale as a pair at an askingprice of £150,000 for theleasehold interest.The sites operate under theShell banner and are rununder management. Thebusinesses have been ownedby the current owner for more

than 20 years and are beingsold to allow him toconcentrate on otherbusiness interests.Nick Nunn, of Christie + Co inLeeds, said: “These two fillingstations are approximatelyseven miles apart and couldeasily be integrated into anexisting group or portfolio.“They offer a new,enthusiastic owner hugescope to develop theforecourts and the shops andalso introduce other facilitiesand income streams.”

City centre office lettingsfor CB Richard Ellis teamTHE office agency team forCB Richard Ellis in WestYorkshire has secured twonew lettings at a Leeds citycentre building.Acting on behalf of EvansAbstract Ltd, CB Richard Ellishas let 1,715sq ft on afive-year lease at MinervaHouse to recruitmentconsultancy BlackrockExecutive Ltd.Iliad Solutions Ltd, whichworks with the world’sleading banks, retailers andcard payment schemes totest all components ofelectronic payment systems,has taken 2,037sq ft on afive-year term.Minerva House occupies a

prominent position in theheart of Leeds on EastParade and comprises58,000sq ft of high qualityoffice accommodation overnine floors.Current tenants include TheSports Council, TempletonLPA, JMP Consultants, HeathLambert and Royal Bank ofScotland.The building consultancyteam at CB Richard Ellis hasrefurbished the building’scommon areas and thereception.CB Richard Ellis and JonesLang La Salle are marketingthe remaining office suiteswhich range in size from1,500sq ft up to 20,000sq ft.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Simon Crossley

ApplebysA LAW firm in Huddersfield has made a seniorappointment.

Simon Crossley, a senior litigation executive,has joined Applebys Solicitors at WestbourneRoad, Marsh.

Mr Crossley joins Applebys having gainedover 20 years of experience dealing with casesinvolving industrial disease and especiallyindustrial deafness and vibration white finger –an illness characterised by the loss of feeling inthe fingers and often brought about by the useof vibrating machinery.

Mr Crossley is experienced in dealing with allaspects of a victim’s claim. He has dealt withcases involving steel workers, miners and millworkers.

Amin Ullah, principal of Applebys Solicitors,said: “We are really excited that Simon hasjoined us. With over 20 years of experience inindustrial disease personal injury claims andespecially industrial deafness and vibrationwhite finger, he will make a big contribution toan already strong team.”

Mr Crossley’s experience has includedworking for Irwin Mitchells and GraysonsSolicitors.

Suzanna Gallagher

Town CentreSecuritiesPROPERTY company TownCentre Securities PLC hasappointed Suzanne Gallagheras asset manager.

Ms Gallagher (pictured) wasformerly with Strutt and Parker.

Her new role will includemanaging Town CentreSecurities’ 13-acre mixed-usePiccadilly Basin Manchesterdevelopment.

An offer they can’t refuse

REGIONAL business networkinggroup The Yorkshire Mafia hasbrought together two Kirkleesorganisations.

When Peter Branson, chiefexecutive of Huddersfield’s Forget MeNot Children’s Hospice, posted arequest on the Yorkshire Mafia’sLinkedIn site for a human resourcesand employment law provider, anumber of locally-based businessesresponded to register their interest.

As a result, Peter was able to holda number of meetings with interestedparties before identifying hispreferred partner. NowCleckheaton-based Howarths hassecured the contract to supply HRand employment law services to thecharity.

Said Peter: “The process wassimple and effective. All I had to dowas submit my request and localbusinesses were able to contact medirect. It saves time and as the site isapproved I was able to ask for

suppliers knowing that I wouldn’treceive an inbox full of spam as aresult.

“Howarths supplied the serviceoffer which matched up to what I waslooking for – and at a great price.”

Tracey Hopkins, businessdevelopment director at Howarthssaid: “This just shows that theYorkshire Mafia LinkedIn site is verypowerful and is generating businessbetween Yorkshire companies.

“We are proof that it works and cangenerate genuine leads and referralsfor companies in the area.”

Geoff Shepherd, co-founder of TheYorkshire Mafia, said: “This is whatthe Yorkshire Mafia is all about –bringing Yorkshire businessestogether to share, learn andultimately trade.

“We bring thousands of businesstogether online and offline and I’mreally pleased that we’ve able tofacilitate another deal betweenmembers.”

Well-timed gift forstalwart PennyA TEXTILE worker has been rewarded for25 years of loyal service.

Penny Clancy, who works in the windingdepartment at Holmfirth firm WestwoodYarns, received a watch from managingdirector Trevor Chippendale and operationsdirector Neil Gledhill.

Penny, who lives in Holmfirth and hasworked in the department for most of hertime with the firm, becomes the 11thcurrent employee to complete 25 years withthe carpet yarn manufacturer, which is partof Victoria Carpets PLC.

Mr Chippendale said: “The long serviceawards are a testament to our dedicatedand loyal workforce who are a valuableasset to our business.”

■ TEAM WORK: Peter Branson (left), chief executive of Huddersfield charityThe Forget Me Not Trust, with Geoff Shepherd, founder of The Yorkshire Mafia,and Tracey Hopkins, business development director at Howarths HR andEmployment Law

■ WELL-DESERVED: Penny Clancyreceives her long service award from TrevorChippendale (right) and Neil Gledhill

Ian Sheppard

WestinDesignA COMPANY supplying kitchenextraction equipment has announced amajor appointment.

Ian Sheppard (above, right) has beenappointed managing director at WestinDesign in succession to John Reed(left), who is retiring after 16 years withthe Phoenix Mills company.

Mr Sheppard joins the firm when ithas just posted a record sales year. Hebrings to the role a background infinance and operations, includingprevious positions at Bonmarché,Holland & Barrett and Lloyds ChemistGroup.

Mr Reed, who lives at Meltham, hasbeen credited with developing thebusiness into a modern and innovativemanufacturer of domestic cookerhoods and extraction systems.

Mr Sheppard, who lives at Stockport,will focus on maintaining and improvingthis position as well as driving thefurther use of technology andinnovation.

He said: “Westin Design has built areputation for delivering performanceand design with the highest levels ofcustomer service, all of which I amseeking to further build on.”

New team withdriving ambitionA NEW management team at aHuddersfield car dealership hasmade an instant impact.

H u dd e r s f i e l d Vo l k swag e nappointed four new sales and busi-ness centre managers in late 2010 tomark a new era for the Leeds Roadsite.

And in a successful start to theyear, the showroom received praisefor its improved customer service,which was monitored through mys-tery shopper reports and customersatisfaction surveys.

The team comprises new car salesmanager Steve Rimmer, used carsales manager Shaun Cahill – bothof Halifax – with new businessmanagers Simon Fletcher, ofElland, and Kristian Keighley,from Mirfield.

Regional franchise directorRobert Scaife said: “I’m delightedthe customer satisfaction figures

have improved with the new team asthe Huddersfield Volkswagen’smain focus to deliver exceptionalcustomer service.

“Steve and Shaun have given thesales team a boost with Simon andKristian overseeing the businesscentre.

“They are ensuring businesses inthe area, both big and small, receivea first class service.”

The four have more than 60years’ experience in the automotiveindustry – a fact that is alreadybenefiting staff and customersalike.

Said Mr Scaife: “This retailer hasenormous potential and I’mpleased the initial hard work haspaid off.

“I know the continued hard workof all staff will help give Hudders-field Volkswagen the positive repu-tation the brand deserves.”

■ NEW DEAL: Huddersfield Volkswagen’s management teamof (from left) Simon Fletcher, Shaun Cahill, Steve Rimmer andKristian Keighley