KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWS paper for Kirklees 28, September, 2010 INSIDE examiner.co.uk ● Full story - Page 5 ● Full story - Page 7 The most trusted news brand in the business ROGER PEEL COLIN BARRATT Galloping ahead! Full interview - Page 3 HMRC proves taxing Full story - Page 4 FTSE 100 +11.04 5573.42 An EXAMINER publication Clearly better A COMPANY making curved glass for projects ranging from shopping centres to museums has clear plans for the future following a six-figure investment in new equipment. Milnsbridge firm Specialist Glass Products Ltd has spent £250,000 on new machinery which will open up wider markets for the company. Property search THE search is under way to find the best property developments in Yorkshire. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched its quest to find the top contenders for the 2011 RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards. Action stations for highways experts A FIRM of highways engineering consultants has turned up the heat. Grange Moor-based Sanderson Associates has been advising West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service on specialist vehicle access requirements for a new technical rescue and special operations base. The company has been working with the fire and rescue service to provide a highly specialist Urban Search and Rescue response facility at Birkenshaw, near Cleckheaton. WYFRS was selected by the Gov- ernment to provide a base for the USAR capability for the whole of Yorkshire and Humber. The purpose of the centre is to provide an effective response to large-scale emergency incidents involving structural or building col- lapse or other significant events that have been identified by a series of national risk assessments. Alison France, managing director of Sanderson Associates, said: “We have been both delighted and hon- oured to work on this vitally import- ant project. “A swift response to any large scale incident is absolutely crucial and the fire service’s Birkenshaw headquarters is now equipped to provide exactly that. “We worked closely with the fire and rescue service in planning and implementing this USAR develop- ment, providing highway consulting services including a highway report supporting the planning application, detailed design of the access road, off-site highway improvement meas- ures and a road safety audit.” Robert Davison, property manager for WYFRS, said: “The assistance from Sanderson was invaluable in providing specialist traffic and vehicle management consultancy services to facilitate this major new development at our fire service headquarters site. “Their involvement from an early planning stage through to completion ensured that the new main site entrance onto a main carriageway and the associated development was satis- factorily implemented.” Sanderson Associates has been working with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue for the past 13 years and has completed more than 25 projects for the organisation. Some of the services the company have provided include transport assessments, access and feasibility studies, detailed highway design works, tendering and site supervision, road closure and project manage- ment. Two of the major projects under- taken were for new fire stations at Leeds and Bradford. Both are large five appliance bay stations and stra- tegically located to meet the rapid response time to emergencies required by Government regulations. Distribution deal brings loads more options A FIRM in Elland is all set for a load more work following a tie-up with a company supplying equipment for loading and unloading cargo. Terberg DTS (UK), of Lowfields Business Park, has signed a distribu- tion deal with Finnish-based Actiw Oy to supply its LoadPlate loading system in England and Ireland. LoadPlate is a new loading system for standard cargo space such as sea containers and trailers. The agreement opens up new areas for LoadPlate, which is already selling into other European countries. Terberg DTS (UK) managing dir- ector Alisdair Couper said: “This is a unique opportunity to be in at the grass roots of an exciting new product. We operate in several sectors where the product will work well alongside other products we offer.” Mr Couper added: “We look for- ward to developing concepts and solu- tions which will in time bring huge cost saving to the end-user, improve safety of goods in transit and open up a new window of options for the shipping market in goods that previ- ously could not be containerised.” Actiw Oy managing director Reijo Viinonen said: “Logistics in general has been developing during the last two decades, but loading and unload- ing are still made by conventional and ineffective methods.” He said LoadPlate was a step for- ward for the industry, adding: “It is an advantage to get good partners such as Terberg DTS to bring such new methods on the market.” Terberg DTS (UK) Ltd is a subsidi- ary of Terberg Holland. Formed in 1998, the Elland firm supplies special- ist cargo handling vehicles such as industrial, seaport and aviation tract- ors for customers at ports, railways, airports and factories. ■ BLAZING A TRAIL: Alison France, managing director of Sanderson Associates
Transcript
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees28, September, 2010
INSIDE
exam
iner
.co.
uk
● Full story - Page 5
● Full story - Page 7
Themosttrustednewsbrandin thebusiness
ROGER PEEL COLIN BARRATTGalloping ahead!
Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3HMRC proves taxing
Fu l l s to r y - Page 4
FTSE 100+11.04
5573.42An EXAMINER publication
ClearlybetterA COMPANY makingcurved glass forprojects ranging fromshopping centres tomuseums has clearplans for the futurefollowing a six-figureinvestment in newequipment.Milnsbridge firmSpecialist GlassProducts Ltd has spent£250,000 on newmachinery which willopen up wider marketsfor the company.
PropertysearchTHE search is underway to find the bestproperty developmentsin Yorkshire.The Royal Institution ofChartered Surveyorshas launched its questto find the topcontenders for the 2011RICS Pro-YorkshireAwards.
Action stations forhighways expertsA FIRM of highways engineeringconsultants has turned up the heat.
Grange Moor-based SandersonAssociates has been advising WestYorkshire Fire and Rescue Service onspecialist vehicle access requirementsfor a new technical rescue and specialoperations base.
The company has been workingwith the fire and rescue service toprovide a highly specialist UrbanSearch and Rescue response facility atBirkenshaw, near Cleckheaton.
WYFRS was selected by the Gov-ernment to provide a base for theUSAR capability for the whole ofYorkshire and Humber.
The purpose of the centre is toprovide an effective response tolarge-scale emergency incidentsinvolving structural or building col-lapse or other significant events thathave been identified by a series ofnational risk assessments.
Alison France, managing director
of Sanderson Associates, said: “Wehave been both delighted and hon-oured to work on this vitally import-ant project.
“A swift response to any large scaleincident is absolutely crucial and thefire service’s Birkenshaw headquartersis now equipped to provide exactlythat.
“We worked closely with the fireand rescue service in planning andimplementing this USAR develop-ment, providing highway consultingservices including a highway reportsupporting the planning application,detailed design of the access road,off-site highway improvement meas-ures and a road safety audit.”
Robert Davison, property managerfor WYFRS, said: “The assistancefrom Sanderson was invaluable inproviding specialist traffic and vehiclemanagement consultancy services tofacilitate this major new developmentat our fire service headquarters site.
“Their involvement from an earlyplanning stage through to completionensured that the new main siteentrance onto a main carriageway andthe associated development was satis-factorily implemented.”
Sanderson Associates has beenworking with West Yorkshire Fire andRescue for the past 13 years and hascompleted more than 25 projects forthe organisation.
Some of the services the companyhave provided include transportassessments, access and feasibilitystudies, detailed highway designworks, tendering and site supervision,road closure and project manage-ment.
Two of the major projects under-taken were for new fire stations atLeeds and Bradford. Both are largefive appliance bay stations and stra-tegically located to meet the rapidresponse time to emergencies requiredby Government regulations.
Distribution deal brings loads more optionsA FIRM in Elland is all set for a loadmore work following a tie-up with acompany supplying equipment forloading and unloading cargo.
Terberg DTS (UK), of LowfieldsBusiness Park, has signed a distribu-tion deal with Finnish-based ActiwOy to supply its LoadPlate loadingsystem in England and Ireland.
LoadPlate is a new loading systemfor standard cargo space such as seacontainers and trailers.
The agreement opens up new areasfor LoadPlate, which is already sellinginto other European countries.
Terberg DTS (UK) managing dir-ector Alisdair Couper said: “This is aunique opportunity to be in at thegrass roots of an exciting new product.We operate in several sectors wherethe product will work well alongsideother products we offer.”
Mr Couper added: “We look for-ward to developing concepts and solu-
tions which will in time bring hugecost saving to the end-user, improvesafety of goods in transit and open upa new window of options for theshipping market in goods that previ-ously could not be containerised.”
Actiw Oy managing director ReijoViinonen said: “Logistics in generalhas been developing during the lasttwo decades, but loading and unload-ing are still made by conventional andineffective methods.”
He said LoadPlate was a step for-ward for the industry, adding: “It is anadvantage to get good partners suchas Terberg DTS to bring such newmethods on the market.”
Terberg DTS (UK) Ltd is a subsidi-ary of Terberg Holland. Formed in1998, the Elland firm supplies special-ist cargo handling vehicles such asindustrial, seaport and aviation tract-ors for customers at ports, railways,airports and factories.
■ BLAZING A TRAIL: AlisonFrance, managing director ofSanderson Associates
Wolseley plans taxmove to cut costsBUILDING and heating suppliesgroup Wolseley said it planned to moveits tax base from the UK to Switzerlandin a bid to cut its outgoings.
The FTSE 100 Index-listed com-pany, which generates 81% of its busi-ness overseas, said it would create a newholding company called New Wolseleyas it looked to “achieve a competitive”corporate tax rate.
The group, which trades as BuildCenter and Plumb Center, said that thenew proposal would leave the tax posi-tion of the UK business unchanged.
The announcement came as Wolse-ley reported a 9% rise in revenues to£13.2bn and a 1% rise in trading profitsof £450m in the year to July 31.
Wolseley chief financial officer JohnMartin said the change would reduceits corporate tax rate from 34% to 28%
which, based on earnings in the lastfinancial year, would save the companyroughly £23m a year.
Mr Martin said Wolseley wanted tomove away from “unhelpful” UK legis-lation – called Controlled ForeignCompanies rules – which force thecompany to pay tax on its overseasearnings.
Mr Martin said Wolseley believed itwas being “taxed twice” under theCFC rules.
Talks were held with Governmentofficials before the decision was made,Mr Martin added, but stressed it wouldnot affect tax paid on the UK business,which employs nearly 10,000 people.
Chemicals group Ineos moved itsHQ from the UK to Switzerland in asimilar tax-saving move earlier thisyear. Publisher Informa switched to a
Swiss tax base in 2009 while advertisinggroup WPP and drugmaker Shiremoved their tax residence to Ireland.Drinks giant Diageo and consumerbrands firm Unilever have boththreatened to follow suit.
The new group holding companyshould be formed by late November,Wolseley said.
The company’s full-year resultsshowed that revenues in the UK, whichmakes up 19% of its business, fell by 9%in the year due to the impact of dispos-als and branch closures.
Earlier this year, the firm announceda deal to sell its Bristol-based buildingtools and equipment firm, BrandonHire.
Wolseley said it expects activity to below in the coming months as the coali-tion Government’s spending review islikely to hit its public sector business,which accounts for 25% of its UKtrade.
Mr Meakins said there were still anumber of possible disposals ahead,but declined to give details.
Cussons lands St TropezTHE owner of soap brands ImperialLeather and Carex said it has boughttanning lotion company St Tropezfrom private equity group LDC for£62.5m.
Manchester-based PZ Cussons,which also owns Original Source andCharles Worthington, said it hoped toexpand the St Tropez range in the UKand overseas together with its spabrand The Sanctuary.
St Tropez sells 30 self-tanningproducts mainly in the UK and Aus-tralia .
It posted pre-tax profits of £7.4mon revenues of £20.7m for the year to
the end of July.Michelle Feeney, chief executive of
St Tropez, said she was “thrilled StTropez was going into such a greathome”.
PZ Cussons bought The Sanctuarybusiness in 2008, in a deal whichincluded the UK’s largest day spa atCovent Garden, as well as a line ofpersonal care products.
A PZ Cussons spokesman said thecompany hopes to exploit the StTropez distribution network – whichincludes Boots, Superdrug, Deben-hams, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis –to sell its Sanctuary range.
THE Co-operative Bank has accusedits rivals of abandoning and “closingthe door” on businesses wanting toborrow.
The bank said it had it shruggedoff economic turmoil and increasedlending to business by 40% in thelast three years.
In a period when “many of itscompetitors firmly closed the doorto companies wanting to borrow”,the Co-op said it had lifted businessborrowing from £6.2bn to £8.7bnsince 2007.
Neville Richardson, chief execut-ive at the bank’s parent companyCo-operative Financial Services,
sa id : “We put cons idera b leemphasis into forming close rela-tionships with our corporate andbusiness customers and this hasserved us well as many businesseshave felt abandoned by some of theother banks.”
The bank said it had also managedto double its regional corporatebanking centres from 10 to 20 andnearly tripled corporate depositsfrom £1.4bn to £4bn.
The bank’s approach helped drivegrowth at parent company CFS,which has reported a 34% increasein profits to £109.3m for the first halfof 2010, up from £81.4m.
CONSUMER goods giantUnilever unveiled a dealworth £2.3bn to add VO5shampoo and Simplesoap to its line-up of hairand skin care products.
Unilever, which alreadyowns brands such asDove, Sunsilk, Pond’sand Vaseline, said theproposed acquisition ofAlberto Culver wouldmake it the world’sleading company in hairconditioning and secondlargest in shampoo.
Other products in theAlberto Culver portfolioinclude hair care brandsTRESemme, Nexxus andSt Ives.
The business beganlife as a one-productcompany in 1955.Founder Leonard Lavincontinues to be adirector, while his familyare also keyshareholders in theIllinois-based firm.
The business, whichhas operations in ninecountries and employsabout 2,700 people,generated sales of £1bnin the first half of 2010.
Unilever chiefexecutive Paul Polmansaid the acquisitionadded some “powerful”new brands to thecompany’s portfolio.
He said the addition ofVO5, TRESemme andSimple would enable itsUK business to “covermore price points acrossa number of categories”.
Unilever’s other brandsinclude Knorr, Hellmann’sand Flora, while inSeptember last year itadded bath productsSanex and Radoxfollowing a deal worth£1.15bn.
■ IN THE PIPELINE: Plumb Centerparent Wolseley plans to move its taxbase from the UK to Switzerland
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3
Roger Peel
HENRYK ZIENTEK
Role: Dealer PrincipalAge: 45Family: Children Elliot,13, Spender, seven, andSavannah, twoHolidays: Dubai, SpainCar: Ranger RoverOverfinchFirst job: Youth TrainingScheme in the partdepartmentBest thing about job:Satisfied customersWorst thing aboutjob: Not enough holi-days!Business tip: Alwayshave the respect of youremployees
RACING horse owner Roger Peeladmits the going has been heavyfor businesses during therecession.
But the dealer principal atBrighouse-based NorthernCommercials is betting hiscompany will overcome anyremaining hurdles as theeconomy starts to pick up.
“This recession has been worsethan any others,” he says.
But he adds: “In January, weopened our used vehicle centrewhen most people were trying todownsize.
“The reason is that we see theused vehicle market as the first torecover.
“We are positive about goingforward, but it is going to be asteady recovery.
“It is not going to happenovernight.
“It is going to be a three-yearrecovery to get back to theposition the economy was inbefore the credit crunch.”
Mirfield-born Roger saysNorthern Commercials had beenless badly hit than somecompanies by the deep downturnbecause it took action early tobring its costs under control.
“We are now ready to run whenthe economy picks up,” he says.
Roger’s confidence is based onmore than 30 years experience inthe truck sales sector.
He started with NorthernCommercials on a Youth TrainingScheme in the parts departmentand after serving anapprenticeship progressedthrough the service department tobecome in turn serviceadministration manager, salesadministration manager, partsmanager and after-sales director.
He recalls: “At the age of 11, Iused to work on my brother’s milkround and in the evenings Iworked on a local farm.
“I left school with noqualifications – I just wanted towork. I was offered three jobs andone was a YTS.
“I had no interest in vehiclesbefore I walked through the door. Iwas more interested in farming.”
But he has always hadambition.
“When I was on the YTS, I
wanted to be set on full-time,” hesays.
“ When I was a supervisor Iwanted to be a manager.
“And when I became amanager, I wanted to own thecompany.
Roger duly became ashareholder in the business andwhen Northern Commercialswas sold to The Clipper Groupin 2005, he was asked to stayon as dealer principal.
“My place is here with mystaff,” he says.
“I didn’t want to go anywhereelse.
“When they asked me to stay,I said I would as long as they letme run it as I wanted.
“That’s how it has been since.Clipper bought the businessbecause it was successful – andit still is.”
Northern Commercials beganin 1973 as a Leyland DAFdealer – but when thatmanufacturer collapsed in 1993,the Brighouse firm found itssalvation in becoming afranchisee for Iveco.
Says Roger: “It was a cultureshock.
“We went from having aproduct we knew to a productwe didn’t.
“We went from a £3m partsholding to nothing. Still wecarried on selling Leyland ‘bits’until we built up the Ivecobusiness.”
Now Northern Commercials issole Iveco dealer for WestYorkshire and has a retail vancentre in Leeds to complementits new and used vehiclesbusiness in Brighouse.
In April this year, the firm wasalso appointed Iveco dealer forthe north-west – coveringManchester, Liverpool,Stockport, Bolton, Chester andthe Isle of Man.
It also provides vehicles forhaulage and logistics firms,including Hill Hire, Bedfords,Brocklehurst, Nelsons andSam’s Transport as wellsupplying chassis for companiessuch as IRS Motor Home andAccess Hire. In total it has up to350 vehicles on “live contracts”.
Under Roger’s leadership,
Northern Commercials hasachieved annual sales of about£100m and employs 200 peopleacross all its sites.
Roger is at the heart of Iveco’srelationships with its franchises –sitting on the national panel for theIveco National Dealer Council.
“We are a very well-respecteddealership,” he says. “We areabove Iveco’s national average inall sectors.”
Part of the success of NorthernCommercials is down to Roger’smanagement style and experiencegained in all areas of itsoperations.
“I visit each of our sites everyweek,” he says.
“The first thing I do everymorning is to look in at the garagehere at Brighouse.
“I make sure I know everyone’sname and what’s going on.”
Roger’s leisure time is devotedto children Elliot, 13, Spencer,seven, and two-year-old Savannah– and his four-legged friend.
“I have a hospitality box at theGalpharm Stadium to watchHuddersfield Town and take thefamily along,” he says.
“But my biggest passion is horseracing. I have owned a number ofhorses. Currently, I have a horsecalled Go Maggie Go – namedafter my mother-in-law, Margaret!”
The filly, which is stabled atThirsk, has had a number ofoutings on the flat, but has yet towin a race.
Roger, who got a taste for theturf when his father used to placesmall wagers at the local bookies,believes it’s only a matter of time
before Go Maggie Go crosses thefinishing line a winner
“I got interested in horse racingwhen I was young,” says Roger.“My father used to go to thebookies to put 20p on a horse.
“Now I go racing to York,Chester and Royal Ascot.
“It is an expensive hobbyrunning a racehorse, but it’s awonderful hobby. You can’t beat aday at the races.”
■ TRUCK STOP: Roger Peel (right), dealer principal at NorthernCommercials in Brighouse, with workshop controller Phil Dawson
KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4
TAXTALKColin Barratt
Colin Barratt is tax partner at Wheawill andSudworth chartered accountants, Huddersfield
Agency stickswith key clientA MARKETING agency inHuddersfield is helping to keep thetills ringing for one of itslong-standing clients.Manifest Communications, based atHighfields, provided advertising,point-of-sale material and publicrelations for Dunlop Adhesivesduring a series of trade events heldthis summer.The first trade day in Leeds was sosuccessful that the specialist brandfor the jobbing builder decided toroll it out across the country.Run in conjunction with Dunlop'slargest client, builders' merchantsSelco, the trade mornings prove thecommitment of the specialist brandbehind tile adhesives, grout,finishing and ancillary products,when it comes to investment intraining.The events included productdemonstrations, technical advicesessions and giveaways.
Ask provides allthe right answersA MARKET research company inHuddersfield has landed two majordeals.
Ask: Insight, based at the MediaCentre in Northumberland Street,has been named official researchpartner by organisers of a majorexhibition in London.
In a separate move, it has beencommissioned to undertake aresearch and mapping project for theBarnsley Development Agency.
Ask is launching a new researchtool at the exhibition, ad:Tech Lon-don 2010, which runs this week atOlympia.
Using data collected throughoutthe event, Ask will deliver informa-tion about visitors’ experience tohelp organisers for next year’s exhib-ition.
While learning about the type ofvisitor the show attracts, key inform-ation about the offer of the show ingeneral will also be collated from anotoriously hard-to-reach group ofbusy media professionals.
Richard Noon, online researchaccount manager at Ask, whodesigned the data collection system,
said: “The events and visitor experi-ence market is traditionally a diffi-cult arena in which to collatefeedback, without detracting fromthe reason for them being at theshow.
“Gaining insight into key motivesfor attendance, the visitors’ percep-tions of the show in general and whatmakes a visitor attend a seminar,conference or a particular exhibitorstand are key to measuring the suc-cess of a show and driving value tofuture shows and visitors.”
Meanwhile, Ask’s research projectfor Barnsley Development Agency isdesigned to determine what kind ofbusinesses exist in the town, whatthey are doing and how they can behelped to develop and grow further.
Said Mr Noon: “Respondents tothis survey may be sole traders work-i n g f ro m h o m e, s t a r t - u p s,micro-businesses, SMEs or largercompanies and organisations.
“We want them all to be includedin this vital research project whichseeks to identify and explore currentgrowth barriers, future challenges togrowth and areas where support is
needed.”Tracey Johnson, BDA sector spe-
cialist for creative and digital indus-tries, said: “Barnsley has some greatbusinesses in these sectors, but we
need to know more about them so wecan ensure we are supporting themas much as possible and helpingthem access opportunities for newbusiness, innovation and growth.”
Co-operativeconnectionsA CO-OPERATIVE supplyingwholefoods from a base in Ellandhas teamed up with a similarorganisation in Italy.Suma, which operates frompremises at Lowfields, haslaunched a range of organic pastswith Iris, a co-operative based inthe Oglio Sud National Park innorthern Italy.And the partners, which have beenoperating for a combined 65 years,are also carrying out a workerexchange to get to know eachother’s business better, learn fromeach other – and improve theirlanguage skills!
■ QUIZ TEAM: Ask: Insight colleages Lucy Kenyon and Richard Noon
Airlines flies offwith top prizesYORKSHIRE airline Jet2.com hasscooped two top travel awards.The Leeds-based carrier won thesilver award in the best airline forvalue for money category andbronze for best airline cabin crewin the Holiday Extras CustomersAwards 2010.The UK travel industry’saccolades were presented bytravel writer and TV personalitySimon Calder at a ceremony heldat London’s Institute ofContemporary Art.More than 24,000HolidayExtras.com customerscast their votes in the secondannual awards. Travellers ratedtheir air travel experience acrosstwelve categories, voting for 112airlines, 28 UK airports andhundreds of airport hotels,lounges and car parks.
Gearing up for abig business dayFINAL preparations are under way forthis week’s Kirklees BusinessConference.The free event takes place on Thursdayat Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium.The full one-day programme includesseminars, an exhibition involving 60businesses, a clinic to help curebusiness “ailments” and unlimitednetworking.Mirfield-based organiser DannyMatharu said: “KBC '10 will providebusiness leaders, entrepreneurs andstart-ups across Kirklees with theopportunity to improve skill sets notonly for themselves, but also withintheir companies.“Seminars come from Brad Burton,managing director of 4Networking;inspirational speaker Richard McCann;and Sharon Wright, BBC’s ‘DragonSlayer’. They are supplemented byseminars from Business Link andHuddersfield University, covering keytopics of innovation and businessgrowth.”Almost 500 business owners haveregistered to attend the event.New features this year include a “ChillOut Zone” where delegates can enjoystress-busting treatments includingIndian head massage, reflexology,hand and foot massages and hot stoneback massages.Go to www.kirkleesbusinessconference.co.uk
Taxing calculations!THERE has been much
press attention given toHM Revenue & Customs inrecent weeks.
In particularly, attention hasfocused on the reconciliation oftheir PAYE records – as a resultof which it is estimated that morethan 6m individuals will receive aTax Calculation (P800) of whatthey believe those individuals taxliabilities are for the two yearsended April 5, 2010. In somecases individuals will be due a taxrefund, but others will owe taxwhich could amount to severalhundreds of pounds.
These tax calculations arecomputer generated withouthave been reviewed prior to theirbulk issue and are not necessarilycorrect. Anyone receiving a P800needs to ensure that the informa-tion contained in the calculationties in with their records ofincome and expenses for theyears concerned.
There may be a number ofreasons for these calculationsbeing incorrect. It may be thatHMRC records show a full year’sworth of income in the calcula-tion although the source mayhave only started part waythrough the year – such as a carbenefit or those receiving the
state pension for the first time. Orpossibly job-related expenses arenot taken into considerationwhen HMRC has issued theP800. These instances would leadto a calculation showing toomuch tax beings owed.
If a calculation is found to beincorrect, then the individualshould contact HMRC concern-ing the nature of any discrepancyso that it can be rectified. Need-less to say, any amendments totax calculations should also bechecked for errors. Where theP800 is correct and the amount oftax that is payable is £2,000 orless, it can be collected by way ofan adjustment to a later years’PAYE Code. According toHMRC, in cases of genuine hard-ship they will allow payments tobe spread across a period of up tothree years.
If the amount of tax due is over
£2,000, HMRC will write to theindividual again setting out thenext steps for settling the arrears.It has recently been confirmed bythem that interest charges on taxof this magnitude will not belevied where the individualengages with HMRC concerningthe collection of the tax.
Where an individual is due atax refund, this also needs to bechecked to confirm it is correctand although the reconciliationprocess is for the last two taxyears only, it is advisable toreview earlier years as well in casefurther tax repayments are due.Those not required to completeSelf Assessment Tax Returns canmake claims for repaymentsgoing back to April 5, 2005. Buttime is of the essence as they haveuntil January 31, 2011, to puttheir claim in.
KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5
t
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e theand
Clear route forglass companyA COMPANY making curved glass for awide range of prestigious developments hasclear plans for the future following a six-fig-ure investment in new equipment.
Milnsbridge-based Specialist GlassProducts Ltd has spent £250,000 on astate-of-the-art laminating machine whichwill open up new markets for the firm.
The move follows an increase in ordersfor the company, which has enabled it tointroduce a second shift for some areas ofits Colne Vale Road factory.
And it comes as the company celebratesthe success of 20 employees who havegained NVQ level 2 qualifications in areassuch as glass processing and glass handling,which they have completed followingassessment by the Vocational College. Sev-eral of them are now progressing to lNVQlevel 3.
SGP managing director Andrew Taylorsaid: “We are still expanding.
“We have put on a second shift and spent£250,000 on a new laminating machine,which will open a new market for us.”
The machine will enable the firm toproduce toughened and coloured glasswhich weighs less than conventional lamin-ated glazing and is in demand from archi-tects and specifiers for staircases, balconiesand balustrades.
The company, which has 43 employeesand is recruiting another three in the nextfew months, supplies and installs productsincluding bomb-proof glass for airportsand security glass for banks.
It has clients across the UK, the ChannelIsles and Ireland.
Recent major projects include ones forTree House School, the National School forAutism in north London, where SGP had athree-week period in which to glaze anatrium and staircases.
In another project, the firm provided 400curved and toughened glass sections for thebalustrades at a new shopping centre inScotland.
It has also supplied and fitted 120 metresof glass balustrade at the new Darwin
Centre at London’s National HistoryMuseum.
Others include glass staircases in the newNext store at Oxford Street and glassinstallations for the Liverpool FC super-store on Merseyside.
“There is still a lot of construction goingon in the UK,” said Mr Taylor. “We arepushing in all directions.
“We have been successful with the install-ation and glass processing sides of thebusiness.”
Commenting on the firm’s training suc-cesses, he said: “We believe in developingpeople from within the company. We have
installed new equipment and we are givingpeople in the company the opportunity tolearn and develop.
“It has a positive effect on the workforceb e c a u s e t h e y s e e t h a t i n t h eseven-and-a-half years we have been trad-ing, we have always gone in the sameupward direction.”
During the recession, the company saw aslight fall in turnover – but a rise in profits.Mr Taylor said: Being able to do thingsin-house rather than rely on outside suppli-ers has moved us up the pecking orderbecause we can deliver more promptly.
■ GLASS ACT: Some of the successful employees at Specialist Glass Products withtheir NVQ certificates
Media group shows the wayMEDIA group Trinity Mirror has set the“green” standard.
The company, which publishes TheExaminer, has become the first company inthe UK to achieve decertification with theCarbon Trust Standard – the UK’s premiercertification for firms that reduce theircarbon emissions.
Since 2005, Trinity Mirror – whichemploys more than 6,500 people in morethan 68 locations – has consistently reducedcarbon emissions across its operations.
The Carbon Trust Standard is awarded toorganisations making a sustained commit-ment to tackle climate change by measur-ing, managing and actively reducing their
carbon emissions.To achieve the Carbon Trust Standard,
organisations must firstly measure theirdirect carbon footprint, prove they havegood carbon management practices in placeand demonstrate genuine reduction in theiremissions over a three-year period.
Upon initial certification, organisationsalso commit to continually reduce boththeir direct and indirect carbon emissionsover the next two years before reassess-ment.
Paul Vickers, Trinity Mirror’s secretaryand group legal director, said: “Our staffcan feel rightly proud of this achievementbecause they have contributed greatly to this
recertification. Moreover, to be the firstbusiness to retain the Carbon Trust Stand-ard demonstrates to our staff, customersand readers our genuine commitment toreducing our environmental impact.
“Obviously these reductions also have abenefit for our bottom line and savingenergy in these challenging times makesgood business sense.”
Trinity Mirror was the first media groupto achieve certification with the CarbonTrust Standard. Two years on, it has imple-mented a range of energy saving measuresacross the group that have resulted in a 9.5%absolute reduction in carbon emissionssince certification.
Signings forTown teamFOUR Kirklees businessmen havevolunteered to help spread the wordabout the newly-launched HuddersfieldTown Enterprise Academy in therun-up to its first event next month.Sam Turner, business adviser forBusiness Link; Paul Scott, managingdirector of Yorkshire Business Growth;Alex Mullen, owner of Absolute Media;and Andrew Earnshaw, businessdevelopment manager at SMiLeS, haveall agreed to promote Town’s newbusiness scheme in the region in aneffort to attract new businesses to“The Yorkshire Club”.The Enterprise Academy is free ofcharge to business representatives andis open to all business. It will be a focalpoint for businesses in Yorkshire tocome together and exchange ideas –as well as learn new skills regardingbusiness practice.As Enterprise “Scouts”, the four will beextolling the virtues of the HTEA andlooking to recruit new companies inthe run-up to its first event on October12. The event will be held at theGalpharm Stadium and will feature apanel of three Huddersfield Town clubpartners who will answer questions onsubjects such as finance, marketingand human resources.Huddersfield Town commercial directorSean Jarvis said: “One of the aims ofHTEA is to get new businessesinvolved with Huddersfield Town –ones from totally different walks of life– and the scouts play a vital role in itssuccess.“It is up to the scouts to convey howworthwhile and easy it is to become apartner of the club.”He added: “The club has a growingreputation as a ‘hub’ for businesses inthe Yorkshire area and the creation ofthe Enterprise Academy is furtherevidence that there is much more toHuddersfield Town than what goes onout on the pitch on a Saturdayafternoon.”Mr Scott said: “I was introduced to theidea of the HTEA by Sean Jarvis andstraight away I could see how differentand worthwhile a venture it is.“Businesses should be jumping at thechance to get involved, especially witha club like Town, whose reputation isgrowing.”
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Safety firstfor builderA BUILDING firm in Yorkshire has gained atop safety award.
BAM Construction, which has carriedout projects for Huddersfield University,has received a gold medal from the RoyalSociety for the Prevention of Accidents forits performance on health and safety – andhas now won more RoSPA gold medalsthan any UK company.
James Wimpenny, director of BAM NorthEast, said: “Health and safety is somethingwe have prioritised – and while it’sfantastic that our success has beenrecognised, it’s something we never let upon.
“Getting great buildings out of theground requires that we care about people– the ones we build for, those living aroundour projects and those who work for us.Hopefully, that’s reflected in the placespeople then live, work and study.”
David Rawlins, RoSPA awards manager,said: “BAM has shown a commitment toprotecting the health and well-being of itsemployees and others.
“Organisations which do this deserve tohave such dedication recognised andthat’s where the RoSPA Awards come in.”
Among its major schemes, BAMConstruction was the main contractor onHuddersfield University’s latestdevelopment – its £16m new businessschool at Firth Street.
The company has worked on projects forclients including York University, Selby WarMemorial Hospital, Sheffield Arts Tower,Rotherham Hospital, and Leeds CityVarieties as well as the new CarnegiePavilion at Yorkshire’s Headingley cricketground.
FurnishedpropertyA FURNITURE makerbased in Bradford hasmoved to largerpremises inDrighlington.Chartered surveyorsEddisons concluded thedeal for DFK on almost35,000sq ft space atFairfax House onHodgson Lane off anasking rent of £120,000a year.The new site willcontain a manufacturingfacility, showroom,trade counter, dispatchfacilities and alladministrationfunctions.Five new jobs have alsobeen created inreadiness for when thenew site is fullyoperational later thismonth.DFK is committingabout £500,000 on themove, which includes asignificant investmentin new state of the artmachinery.The investment includesa computer-controlledmanufacturing cellwhich is the first of itskind in the country.DFK was launched in1992 and employs 28full-time staff.
Tall orders poseno big problem!A BRIGHOUSE photographer’s high-risebusiness is scaling new heights.
John Bairstow set up Elevated MastPhotography to provide birds-eye views ofbuildings for clients including companies,commercial property agents, architects andsurveyors, retailers and golf clubs.
Now, he has discovered another niche inthe market – to provide roofing surveys andspecialist photography for the roofing sec-tor.
Elevated Mast Photography is workingwith firms to eliminate the risks and cut thecosts involved with close-up roof inspec-tions and high-level photographic sur-veys.
Teh firm uses a specially-adapted vehiclewhich has a telescopic mast to captureimages from 85ft – meaning expensivescaffolding and platforms are no longerrequired.
The state-of-the-art camera systemenabled detailed photos to be taken–providing visual information aboutweather damage and the general conditionof features such as solar panels as well aschurch steeples, gutters and architecturalstonework.
Mr Bairstow is also woprking with insur-ance company associates who use this
photography to validate claims.Elevated Mast Photography has com-
pleted contracts for MITIE’s roofing divi-sion at sites including the Stagecoach depotin Ecclesfield, South Yorkshire; NewheyCarpets in Rochdale and at Whitby Hos-pital.
The firm has also completed a project forCembritt, a firm supplying materials to theconstruction industry, at Canada Lodge inSouth Wales, a lakeside property fittedwith Cembritt roof slates.
Other recent commissions include pro-jects for Burnley Unity College, Isra Devel-opments in Manchester, Morgan Ashcroftin Leeds, Bradley Hall Golf Club in Hali-fax, Rockliffe Hall in Darlington andDesso Sports Systems in Oxfordshire.
Said Mr Bairstow: “My specialist equip-ment allows me to provide comprehensiveand detailed surveys or expert photo-graphy whether a company wants a roofsurvey, to showcase specific products orneeds factual images for facilities manage-ment purposes.
“It’s an area that is really taking off andsomething I intend to build on in thecoming months to help my business standout from the crowd and grow further.”
Focal point for residentsA NEW summer house has beenopened for residents at an apart-ment development in Hudders-field.
The new conservatory – knownas the Somer House – has beenbuilt by Brockholes-based Con-roy Brook at its award-winningSomersbury Court developmentin Almondbury.
Michael Armitage, one of thefirst people to move into the
development with his wifeNorma, was invited to cut theribbon to open the conservatoryat a ceremony attended by ConroyBrook chairman Ivan Conroy andother residents.
Said Mr Conroy: “We built thissummer house as a communalmeeting place for residents toenhance their experience of livingat Somersbury Court. We trustthat it will become popular.”
Somersbury Court has 30two-bedroom luxury apartmentsbuilt in natural stone and featur-ing curved balconies as well ashigh quality fixtures and fittings.Facilities include landscaped gar-dens, a sculpted stainless steelwater feature, security gates andCCTV. The development is afinalist in the best design categoryof the national Housebuilder ofthe Year Awards.
Search forsuperstarsTHE search is under way to find next year’ssuperstars of the Yorkshire property andconstruction sectors.
The Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyors has launched an eight-monthquest to find the top contenders for the2011 RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards.
Billed as the region’s property “Oscars”,the RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards showcasethe region’s top projects and highlight theachievements and success of all propertyprofessionals working in the built andnatural environments.
Colin Harrop, chairman of the Yorkshireand Humberside regional RICS board, said:“The awards are a terrific opportunity for usto shout about the great things happeningin this region.
“While the buildings are the focus, weshine the spotlight on the talentedprofessionals who are behind such fantasticbuildings.”
The awards are split into eight categories– regeneration, sustainability, communitybenefit, building conservation, commercial,residential, design and innovation, tourismand leisure.
There is also an award for project of theyear, which goes to the entry judged to havescored the highest across all of thecategories.
The winners will be announced at a blacktie dinner on Friday, 20 June, in Leeds.Entry forms – which must be returnedbefore the end of January, 2011 – areavailable from events co-ordinator EmmaDarwin on 01924 229307
■ PICTURE SHOW: John Bairstow, ofBrighouse-based Elevated Mast Photography, atwork in his specially-equipped van
■ MEETING POINT: Michael Armitage (centre, left) opens the “Somer House” with Conroy Brookchairman Ivan Conroy (centre), sales executive Christine Jackson (centre right) and fellow residents
For more information contact Alec Michaelon 07717 870 320 or email [email protected]
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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8
Stairway to success!
A PUBLIC relations firm headed by aSpen Valley businesswoman has beenshortlisted for three industry awards.
Approach PR, led by Gomersalwoman Suzanne Johns, is in the runningfor the Chartered Institute of PublicRelations annual PRide Awards, whichcelebrates the most talented agenciesand outstanding campaigns in Yorkshireand Lincolnshire.
Approach, which began as a soletrader business in Cleckheaton andexpanded to a team of six PRprofessionals this summer, has beenshortlisted for outstanding smallconsultancy, best use of media relations– with its “Dales does Bollywood”campaign for Skipton’s RendezvousHotel – and best newsletter for itsDélifrance UK staff journal.
Approach has previously won sixregional PR awards, including gold forbest use of media relations, gold forcorporate and business communicationsand silver for its charity and not-for-profitcampaign. In January, the team wasnamed national winner of the CIPRPresident’s Grand Prix Award for itsexecution of the Yorkshire Biz Awards.
Said Suzanne: “I’m incredibly proud ofhow the business has evolved from aback bedroom operation in 2001 to amulti-award winning, six-strong team.
“PR is an important part of anybusiness strategy, particularly in thischallenging climate and we’re alldelighted that our campaigns, creativityand tangible results are once againbeing recognised by the very best in thepublic relations industry.”
Richard Covell
DeloitteDELOITTE has strengthened itsnorthern forensic and disputeservices team with theappointment of Richard Covell.
Mr Covell (pictured), who willlead development of the firm’sforensic technology services inthe region, has 13 years’experience in computerforensics, electronic disclosureand data analytics and theirapplication to areas such as corporateinvestigations, regulatory matters and litigation.
He said: “In recent months, we have seendemand growing with companies and law firmsincreasingly looking to specialist consultants forsupport. Recent cases have involvedinvestigation of the alleged removal of sensitivecompany information, handling the electronicdisclosure requirements associated with litigationand supporting clients in responding to requestsfor information from regulators.”
Kerry Dawson & Rachel Hunter
RelayRecruitmentA RECRUITMENT group in West Yorkshire hascontinued to build its commercial permanentstaffing team by appointing South Africanstaffing specialist Kerry Dawson (left) andwelcoming back former consultant RachelHunter (right).
Ms Dawson joins the firm’s Leeds office fromKelly of Johannesburg, while Ms Hunter returnsto the York branch after a year at Spring. Theywill head up the commercial permanent desks ateach location.
Steven Street, managing director ofBradford-based Relay Recruitment, said: “Inrecent years, we have become an employer ofchoice for some of the industry’s topconsultants.
“However, these arrivals are bothnotable. Nobody has travelled so far to join usbefore as Kerry, while Rachel is the eighthhigh-calibre consultant to return from aninternational recruitment provider to progresstheir career with us.”
■ RISING STARS: Suzanne Johns (centre), with the Approach PR team of (fromleft) Verity Hudson, Vikki McCrindle, Michael Hodgson, Claire Moulds and BeckyArmstrong
Forum fires offthe questions!TWO new Conservative MPswere guests at a meeting of agroup promoting best practicein the workplace.
Colne Valley MP JasonMcCartney and DewsburyMP Simon Reevell took partin a question and answer ses-sion at a meeting of the Hud-d e r s f i e l d B e s t P ra c t i c eBusiness Forum.
The event was held at theShepley premises of campervan manufacturer WellhouseLeisure.
Wellhouse managing dir-ector David Elliott helped setup the forum two years agowith support from BusinessLink to enable local compan-ies to exchange ideas to helpcope with the recession. The
forum meets four times a yearwith members taking turns tohost the events.
Said Mr Elliott: “The ideaof the latest meeting was toengage local politicians withlocal companies – especiallywith the impending closure ofYorkshire Forward and theloss of funding.”
Others taking part includedrepresentatives of governmentexport support arm UK Trade& Investments, Business Linkand the Manufacturing Advis-ory Service.
Mr Elliott said discussionscovered proposals for the newLocal Enterprise Partnershipsas well as ways for local busi-nesses to work with govern-ment agencies.
CuttingcommentsKIRKLEES firms are getting a helpinghand to cut costs – by improving their“green” credentials.
Business in the Community and theYorkshire Bank are delivering aseminar on Wednesday, October 6, toshow how easy it is to implementenvironmentally sustainable businesspractices.
The event, called The BusinessCase for Cutting Carbon, will look atthe top 10 cost-free ways to reducecarbon, cut costs, identify the businessbenefits of going green and how to getfurther assistance and freeenvironment benchmarking.
Senior business figures will shareexperiences of their ownenvironmental upgrades and howthere is a correlation between that anda reduction in costs.
Elizabeth Edgington, BiC’senvironment campaign manager, said:“It’s important to take everyopportunity to cut costs and growprofits. If we can do this by looking toour so-called green credentials, thenwe should take that opportunity.
“Some companies may have alreadyembarked upon that path. If so, wecan help them further. Being receptiveto limiting a company’s environmentalimpact and making it more efficient isa sure fire way of maximisingcompany profits.”
David Gold, a senior partner atYorkshire Bank, said: “This seminardemonstrates the need to bepragmatic and to really look at everyoption to cut costs.”
The free seminar will be held atYorkshire Bank’s West YorkshireFinancial Solutions Centre in Bradford.Contact [email protected] call 0113 2058226.
■ BEST BEHAVIOUR: Pictured at the Huddersfield BestPractice Business Forum are (from left) Richard Paxman, ColneValley MP Jason McCartney, Philippa Coultish, Dewsbury MPSimon Reevell and David Elliott
Called to accountACCOUNTANCY firm PricewaterhouseCoopershas appointed 40 new graduates to work acrossits Yorkshire offices in Leeds, Hull and Sheffield.The graduates, most of whom will be studying forthe Association of Chartered Accountantsqualification, will work in the firm’s assurance,business recovery, forensic, risk assurance,public sector, and tax departments.Steve Denison, northern chairman at PwC, said:“PwC believes in fostering and retaining theregion’s graduates along with supporting thelocal community.“This will help to further strengthen our practiceand our local expertise which in turn benefits ourclients.”
