KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees4, October, 2011

INSIDE

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● Full story - Page 8

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Themosttrustednewsbrandin thebusiness

GARY LONNEN

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Their s to reason why

Co lumn - Page 4

An EXAMINER publication

ExpertiserewardedLAW firm Ridley & Hallhas been recognised asnational experts by atop legal publication.The Huddersfield firmappears in The Legal500 – widely regardedas offering thedefinitive judgement oflaw firm capabilities.Ridley & Hall has beenparticularlyrecommended for it’sexpertise in family lawand trusts and probate.

It’s simplytopping!WORK on a £4.75mcare centre has reacheda significant stage. VIPguests saw the official“topping out”ceremony at MeridianHealthcare’s newdevelopment, which isbeing built Oakes inHuddersfield.

JONATHAN JAMESFTSE 100- 52 .98

5075.50

Research facilitylooks to the future

A COMPANY manufacturing motoroils for high-performance vehicles hasmade a six-figure investment.

Millers Oils, based at Brighouse, haspumped £500,000 into setting up a newresearch and development laboratory ina bid to continue its impressive record ofyear-on-year growth.

The new facility will help the firmdevelop new products and technology.

A focus of the laboratory will be ondeveloping technology to help in themanufacture of products that reducefriction – a key growth area for oil andlubricant companies.

The new facility, based at the firm’sBrighouse headquarters, will also allowmore in-house testing, analysis of usedlubricants and quality control.

The company is confident the invest-ment will pay off with superior productsand higher sales.

Joint managing director SteveWoollven said: “It is unusual for amanufacturer to make this kind ofinvestment at a time when the world

economy is struggling.“However, we are confident that the

new facility will boost our bottom lineas we improve our technology, productsand the service we can offer our custom-ers.

“Despite the recession, we have grownyear-on-year and we see that continu-ing.”

The new research and developmentcentre, which took seven months tocomplete, will house staff includingchemists and technicians.

Meanwhile, old offices elsewhere onthe site will be demolished to make wayfor the expansion of the factory.

Earlier this year, Millers Oilsannounced another year of increasedturnover.

The firm is continuing to invest indevelopments to assist further growth.

Earlier this year, the companyreached a landmark as turnover passedthe £25m mark.

The firm, which supplies the auto-motive, motor sport, classic car andtruck sectors, has more than doubledturnover in just five years.

In the past 12 months, the firm hasadded oil filtration services – crucial formanufacturers using hydraulic systems– to its range of activities and hascontinued to increase sales of its auto-motive oils and lubricants in the UKand across Europe.

The specialist oil and lubricant manu-facturer is based in Brighouse withdepots in Glasgow and Abingdon,Oxfordshire.

Companies miss out on financial opportunitiesMORE than a quarter of businesses inYorkshire may be missing out on access tofinance – simply because of fears aboutapproaching their bank.

One in four respondents in the BusinessFinance Barometer, independently com-missioned and published by Close InvoiceFinance, said they hadn’t asked forincreased credit from their bank for fear ofbeing turned down or the bank deciding toincrease the cost of their existing borrow-ing.

Ian Steward (right), of Close Invoice

Finance, said: “At a time when the countryis struggling to get back on its feet, it’sastonishing that small businesses, the veryengine room of our economy, find them-selves in a situation where they not only feelunable to access funds to grow, but actuallylack the confidence to even ask for it in thefirst place.”

He said: “The survey also demonstratedthat a fifth of businesses in Yorkshire aren’thappy with the level of personal servicethey receive from their bank.

“Ironically, our last Barometer showed

that the majority of firms remain reluctantto change provider – perhaps a case ofbetter the devil you know.”

The survey showed that a third of UKfirms had plans to expand over the next 12months, but Mr Steward said: “Given thatso many appear to have somewhat brokenrelationships with their banks, it’s espe-cially important that they realise there areother options open to them.”

A report for the Department for Busi-ness said invoice finance had a crucial roleto play in private sector recovery.

■ CONFIDENT: SteveWoollven, joint managingdirector of Millers Oils

Back from the sun

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

Solicitors for business inYorkshire

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICESLocal shares

FTSE closed at

5075.50Down 52.98

COMPANY managers are “very con-cerned” about the UK’s economicprospects – with most fearing anotherrecession, says a report today.

A survey of more than 600 man-agers showed that just one in 12believed the economy would growover the next year, compared with onein six during a similar poll earlier thisyear.

More than two-thirds of thosequestioned by the Chartered Manage-ment Institute said it was likely theUK will go back into recession andthree out of four believed businessinsolvencies will increase.

Half said their organisation had

frozen recruitment, while managers inprivate firms were most pessimisticabout employment opportunities.

The CMI said its findings had “ser-ious implications” for Governmentplans for the private sector to lead theUK back into growth and showed a“growing sense of impatience” withactions to reduce the deficit.

CMI director Petra Wilton saidmanagers were very concerned aboutthe immediate future of their firmsand the economy, adding: “Given thepressure on the private sector tospearhead the recovery, the predic-tions of business leaders make partic-ularly uncomfortable reading.”

Fear over new recession

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.53 dollarsBangladesh................. 110.31 takaBrazil.............................. 2.61 realsCanada....................... 1.55 dollarsChina ............................. 8.85 yuanCzech Republic ...... 26.51 korunasDenmark....................... 8.25 kroneEuro................................ 1.11 euroHong Kong................ 11.48 dollarsHungary ................... 305.51 forintsIndia.......................... 67.62 rupeesJapan........................... 113.83 yenMexico ....................... 19.25 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.90 dollarsNorway ......................... 8.73 kronePakistan.................. 127.87 rupeesPhilippines ................. 58.47 pesosSouth Africa.................. 11.77 randSouth Korea.............. 1598.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 161.49 rupeesSweden....................... 10.22 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.35 francsTaiwan ...................... 41.47 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.73 new liraUSA ............................ 1.48 dollars

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £29.06 +0.03Gannett 610.45 -5.82Hess Corp £32.97 -0.95Microsoft 1623.12 +13.58Motors Liquidation 48.50Wal-Mart Stores £34.13 +0.57

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 2763/4 -81/4BAE Systems 260 -71/4Rolls-Royce 598 +3

AIMBrady Plc 721/4Dawson Intl 15/8Man Brnze 34 -3Uniq 957/8

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 168 -77/8

BANKSBarclays 1561/4 -51/8HSBC 4875/8 -91/4Lloyds Banking Gp 331/2 -13/8Ryl Scotland 221/2 -1Stan Chart 12291/2 -571/2

BEVERAGESDiageo 12341/2 +21/2SABMiller £205/8 -3/8

CHEMICALSCroda 1663 +13Elementis 98 1143/4 -83/4Johnsn Mat 1581 -6

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2525/8 -3Costain 214

ELECTRICITYDrax Gp 473 -67/8Intl Power 3111/4 +43/8Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1312 +17

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTLaird 1381/4

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 320 -2

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1705/8 -31/8Cable & WirelessComm

37 -1/4

Cable & WirelessWwide

297/8 -11/8

Colt Group 100 -11/2KCOM 70 -1/2Talktalk Telecom 124 -21/4

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2867/8 -35/8Sainsbury 2811/8 +61/4Tesco 3701/2 -71/2

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1103 -7Tate Lyle 6321/2 +61/2Unilever £20 -1/8

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 3001/8 +23/8National Grid 640 +11/2Pennon Grp 687 +111/2Severn 1543 +2United Utils 6251/2 +11/2

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 1887/8 +11/4

ICAP 4041/4 -81/4London StockExch 813 -2Man Group 1603/4 -73/4Provident Financial 9961/2 -71/2Schroders 1275 -4Schroders NV 1036 -8

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 4153/8 -175/8REXAM 3073/4 -3Smiths Grp 955 -441/2

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 211/4 -3/8Carphone Whse 340Dixons Retail 113/8 -1/4Home Retail 1185/8 +61/4Inchcape 2847/8 +51/2Kingfisher 2483/4 +1/4M & S 318 +33/8Mothercare 325 +10Next £253/8 +1/8WH Smith 5021/2 +83/4

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 560 -22

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 85 +1Barrat Dev 765/8 -13/4Persimmon 4491/2 -6Reckitt Benckiser £331/4 +5/8Taylor Wimpey 341/2 -1/2

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 858 -9I M I 6851/2 -241/2

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 2621/8 -31/8

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION

BBA Aviation 1655/8 -17/8LIFE INSURANCE

Aviva 2885/8 -163/4Lgl & Gen 951/2 -11/8Old Mutual 1033/8 -15/8Prudential 5421/2 -15Resolution 2455/8 -13/4Standard Life 1961/4 -33/4

MEDIABSkyB 657 -7D Mail Tst 3573/4 -53/8ITV 583/4 -5/8Johnston Press 41/2 -1/4Pearson 1137 -2Reed Elsevier 4981/8 +33/4STV Group 1041/2 -1/2Trinity Mirror 401/2 -1/2Utd Business 442 -63/4UTV 1241/2 +1WPP 5941/2 -61/2Yell Group 4 -1/8

MININGAnglo American £221/8 -1/8Antofagasta 921 -51/2BHP Billiton 1710 -28Eurasian NaturalRes

5511/2 -25

Fresnillo 1604 +18Kazakhmys 763 -30Lonmin 1029 -22Rio Tinto £281/4 -3/4VEDANTARESOURCES

1010 -91

Xstrata 7907/8 -297/8MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 4911/8 -1/2Vodafone Group 1681/2 +21/4

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1258 -5RSA Insurance Gp 1091/8 -21/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERSBG 1234 -71/2BP 3867/8 -15/8Cairn Energy 265 -153/4Royal Dutch Shell A 1966 -34Royal Dutch Shell B 19781/2 -331/2Total £277/8 -5/8Tullow Oil 1300 -9

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 7901/2 -25Petrofac 1165 -33Wood Gp(J) 5121/2 -171/2

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry Gp 1092 -82

PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGYAstrazeneca £285/8Axis-Shield 456 +1/2GlaxoSmithK XD 4Shire 1972 -38

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 4683/4 -71/4Captl Shop Cent 3185/8 -83/4DTZ Hldgs 283/4 -3/4Hamrsn 3661/4 -117/8Land Secs 628 -14SEGRO 217 -31/4

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp £251/2Invensys 2163/8 -91/8Logica 791/2 +1/2Misys 2183/4 +33/4Sage Group 2571/8 +3/4

SUPPORT SERVICESBerendsen 4283/8 -21/8Bunzl 7721/2 +31/2Capita 711 +41/2De La Rue 8431/2 +71/2Electrocomp 188 -21/8Experian 707 -18G4S 2637/8 -31/8Hays 70 +3/4Homeserve 4641/2 +51/4Menzies J 498 +8Rentokil 701/2 -11/8Smiths News 851/4 -1/4Wolseley 1536 -71

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 540 -24Psion 551/4 +13/4Spirent Comms 1141/4 -81/4

TOBACCO

Br Am Tob £275/8 +3/8Imperial Tobacco £213/4

LEISURE & HOTELS

Bwin.Party Digital 1181/4 -51/4Carnival 1967 -48Compass Grp 5171/2 -31/2easyJet 3441/8 +1/4Enterprise Inns 33 -1/4FirstGroup 3133/8 -73/8Go-Ahead Gp 1318 -7Greene King 4373/4 +21/2Intercontl Htls 1017 -34Intl Cons AirlinesGp

1541/2 +13/8

Ladbrokes 1201/4 +11/8Mitchells & Butlers 2347/8 -5/8Natl Express 2291/8 -37/8Rank Org 116 +31/4Stagecoach Group 2441/8 -13/8TUI Travel 1483/4 -5/8Whitbread 1584

INDEXFTSE 100 5075.50 -52.98

INDEXFTSE 250 9750.56 -68.82

Carclo 299 -31/4Marshalls 97 -11/2National Grid 640 +11/2Weir Gp 1479 -70

FORMER Channel 4boss Andy Duncan hasquit the motor trade justa year after his surprisemove to run luxury cardealer HR Owen.

He will take over nextmonth as UK managingdirector at Camelot,taking responsibility forthe National Lottery andits 700 staff.

Mr Duncan joinedRolls-Royce and Bentleydealer HR Owen lastOctober in a shockswitch away fromtelevision, where he washead of Channel 4 forfive years.

His departure from HROwen was announcedalongside a warning fromthe company that marketconditions haveworsened due to turmoilin financial markets.

However, HR Owensaid trading overall wason track.

Markets still jitteryamid debt worries

Camelot’snew MD

STOCKBROKER Charles Stanleywarned that the impact of recentfinancial turbulence will hit itshalf-year profits.

The group, which has officesacross the country, said its securit-ies division in particular had beenaffected by the dire markets.

The FTSE 100 Index had its worstquarter for nine years in the threemonths to September, affectingcommissions earned on share trad-ing as big investors steered clear ofthe market.

Corporate finance and advisoryfees have also been weak as uncer-tainty led to company deals and newlistings drying up.

Stanley’s private client and wealthmanagement divisions had a “solid”half.

The firm said that group revenueswere set to remain similar to the£59.7m seen in last year’s first half –but interim profits will be below the£7.3m seen then.

Stanley said it still sees opportun-ity for growth year-on-year, butadded that current market condi-tions made it difficult to see very farahead.

Shares in the stockbroker, whichat the end of June had more than£15bn of investment funds under itsmanagement, fell by 11% on theupdate.

Broker braced for fall in profits

‘Cut toptax rates’THE rate of tax for topearners and businessesmust be cut if the UK isto return to stronggrowth, it is claimed.

Simon Walker, directorgeneral of the Institute ofDirectors, urged that the50% income tax rate forthe highest earners bescrapped “to kill theperception that the UK isa high-tax country”.

He said corporationtax, which is alreadybeing reduced to from26% to 23% by 2014,should be cut further to15% by 2020 toencourage businesses tocreate more jobs.

■ SHARE SCARE: Stock marketturmoil is showing no signs of easing

PERSISTENT fears over the eurozonedebt crisis ensured a gloomy start to thenew quarter for embattled world mar-kets.

Greece’s admission that it will missits deficit targets and alarm bells overthe health of Belgian bank Dexiaspooked investors and saw furtherlosses on markets on both sides of theAtlantic.

The FTSE 100 Index was 1% lower,while France’s Cac-40 and the Dax inGermany were more than 2% down.Wall Street’s Dow Jones IndustrialAverage was also lower as the Londonmarket closed yesterday.

The weak performance in Londonfollows the FTSE 100’s worst quarter innine years, which saw about 14% wipedoff its value in the three months to theend of September.

London’s leading shares index closed

1% or 52.98 points lower at 5075.5yesterday after Greece revealed itwould not hit its deficit targets for thenext two years – making the prospect ofa debt default more likely.

The country will miss the targets –agreed with the so-called troika, whoare in Athens to discuss releasing thecountry’s next bailout instalment – as

its floundering economy failed todeliver the tax income needed.

The weak session comes after theFTSE 100 closed its worst quarter since2002 on Friday – falling by 14% andlosing £212bn of its value.

The poor sentiment was furtherweighed down by claims that financeministers from France and Belgiumwere meeting to discuss ways to bolsterthe balance sheet of Belgian lenderDexia.

The situation re-ignited fears of asecond banking crisis and promptedmore falls for UK banking stocks,including Standard Chartered, whichwas down by than 4% or 57.5p to1229.5p; Royal Bank of Scotland,which was off 1p at 22.5p; and LloydsBanking Group, which lost 1.4p to33.4p.

The debt crisis weighed on the euro,

which was down against the pound at1.16. However, sterling was off againsta stronger dollar at 1.54.

The only note of encouragementcame from the manufacturing sectorafter monthly purchasing manager sur-veys from both sides of the Atlanticcame in better than expected.

While the UK report showed growthfor the first time in three months,export orders hit a 28-month low astrade with the eurozone weakened.

The deepening sovereign debt crisisincreased fears over a wider globalrecession and – following disappoint-ing data on China last week – miningstocks continued to drop.

Luxury goods group Burberry wasone of the heaviest fallers in the FTSE100 Index, dropping by 82p to 1092p,amid fears about slowing demand in itskey Asia market.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS profile Page 3

GaryLonnen

GMLMaintenance &RefurbishmentLtd

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: OwnerAge: 44Family: Married to Kaywith children Bethanie,14, Alice, nine andfour-year-old MillieHolidays: I loveDevon, but we alsohave a holiday home inSpainCar: Renault ScenicFirst job: ApprenticedecoratorBest thing aboutjob: The diversity ofwork. It’s something dif-ferent every day thatmakes it brilliantWorst thing aboutjob: Travelling long dis-tances and being awayfrom home overnightBusiness tip: Don’tgive up. Give 100% ineverything you do

Work: Building andrefurbishment servicesSite: HuddersfieldPhone: 07854 240394Email: info@gmlmaintenance.co.ukWebsite:www.gmlmaintenance.co.uk

Backfromthesun!

IT sounds like the ultimatedream job.

For eight eventful years,painter and decorator GaryLonnen lived and workedon Spain’s Costa del Sol,helping ex-pats keep theirvillas spick and span byrunning the country’s firstDulux Decorator Centre.

Gary had already workedas a painter and decoratorfor firms in Huddersfield.

But when his wife’sparents moved to sunnySpain in 2002 the familydecided to join them.

“As a decorator by trade Idecided to go out there andpaint houses,” he says.

“In Spain I approachedICI, who owned Dulux atthe time and within threemonths of arriving, I hadopened the centre.”

Gary built up thebusiness, adding adecorating company and arefurbishment company tohis arsenal and shippingout a cherry-picker to rentto out.

He worked onrefurbishment contracts forswimming pools, officesand even a bank.

However, working insunny Spain was notwithout its problems – notleast the growingcompetition from Spanishpaint suppliers and theheadache of deliveryproblems between Spainand the UK.

By the end of eight years,Gary and the family wereready to return home.

Not that they hadn’tenjoyed the adventure.

“We have three childrenand my oldest daughterspeaks fluent Spanish,” hesays proudly.

“We took Bethanie overwhen she was five. Alicewas six months old andMillie was born out inSpain. The children had awonderful life out there.

“We had our ownswimming pool and we hadparties with 40 peopleattending.

“We probably hadbarbecues four times aweek.

“But you don’t makelifelong friends out there.You meet socially withpeople and have a drink ortwo. Family bonds are thestrongest.

“One day I got back fromwork and decided that I’dhad enough.

“The kids were askingwhen we were going home,so we settled our businessaffairs, sold up and cameback to Huddersfield.

“Family and friendshelped out by giving mework, so I had a fewdecorating jobs, but I wasdetermined to grow my ownbusiness.

“I targeted companies,wrote letters and got someresponses.”

Gary set up GMLMaintenance andRefurbishment Ltd,providing a 24-hour reactivemaintenance service.

Now is client list includesBatley-based PPGArchitectural Coatings.Gary’s company helps dealwith maintenance issues atseveral of its 200Leyland/Johnstone’s

Decorator Centres acrossthe UK.

Although the workfocuses mainly on centresin the north, the contractoften takes him furtherafield.

The company offers arange of building andrefurbishment services forproperties ranging fromdomestic houses and shopsto offices, schools andcolleges.

GML also handlescontracts for facilitiesmanagement and energyservices company Dalkiaplc – applying specialistcoatings to protect concrete“bunds” from damage bychemicals at sites includingdistilleries, food processingplants, and chemical works.The company is accreditedas a main contractor forFlowcrete, the corrosionprotection business.

GML supplies a range ofseamless coating systemsbased on shrink resistantresins which providecorrosion protection againstconcentrated acids,alkalines and solvents.

The work takes Gary andhis sub-contractors all overthe country – from Scotlandto Wales and from Carlisleto Cambridge..

It means days and nightsaway from home, but Garyhas never been afraid ofhard work.

“I want to grow thisbusiness,” he says. “I wantfour or five vans and 20people working for me!

“I have a number ofsub-contractors who I knoware good at the job, but myplan is to grow the businessinto a nice-sized companyand employ a few guysregularly.

“I enjoy my job. I get abuzz from it – especiallywhen we get some nicecontracts and someonerings up wanting a jobdoing.

“I still get the same buzzas I did when I was ayoungster starting out in thetrade because I am stillhungry for success.

“I don’t want to be aone-man band. I also wantto make some brass!”

Gary, who was a pupil atColne Valley High School,admits that painting anddecorating was not his initialchoice of career.

He recalls: “The schoolsecretary lived across theroad from us and she cameover to say that someonehad been looking for thecareers teacher because hewanted to set on anapprentice.

“I left school on a Fridayand started as an

indentured painter anddecorator the followingMonday with GA Fosterand Son at ScapegoatHill.

“At the interview I wasasked how long I’dwanted to be a decorator.I said ‘about half anhour’. I think they set meon because of myhonesty!

During his time with thefirm, Gary worked onseveral notable contracts,including the clean-upwork following severeflooding in Keighley andMaltby.

Although he laterworked for othercompanies, Gary onlyfinally parted companywith Foster and Son in2003.

“I learned a lot fromFoster’s,” says Gary. “Ilearnt the ‘behind thedesk’ stuff, how to quotefor a job and how to dealwith customers.

“But I decided it wastime I worked for myself.”

Now Gary has 25years experience in theindustry – as well as theinvaluable lessonslearned during his eightyears in Spain.

And while he hasambitions for hisbusiness, he is oldenough to know thatquality time with is wife,Kay and the children iswhat counts.

“I try to keep myweekends free because Ilove my spending timewith the children.

“We go swimming onSaturday or Sundaymornings and I like towatch Town when they’reat home as often as Ican. I love that afternoon

out with the lads.“As a family, we do a lot of

walking, but we also like atakeaway or two!

I used to play lots ofsports. I was mainly anathlete – running withLongwood Harriers andYorkshire. But I’ve alsoplayed football for localteams including Golcar andMarsden as well as a fewSunday sides.

“I played rugby andbasketball, but these days Iwatch rather than play.

“I do a stint in the gym,but my time is mainly spentwith the kids.

“We’ll got out for a familymeal – and if not we’ve afridge full of cracking food.”

■ PAINT WORK: GaryLonnen says he’s just asenthusiastic about his work aswhen he started as anapprentice

KIRKLEES BUSINESSlocal Page 4

Time to considerthe reason whyWILL the last word ever

spoken be “why”?I hope Roger Whittaker will

excuse me ripping the words of oneof his songs out of context andapplying it to an article aboutproperty rights rather than pollu-tion!

A couple have lived together fora good number of years. One ofthem has a business. Perhaps it wasstarted before they got together,perhaps after. The business isowned by just one of them – as soleshareholder or as sole proprietor.The other has worked for the busi-ness for years but has never beenrecorded as an owner.

For example, this might involveone of the parties actively tradingand the other carrying out thebusiness administration.

If they separate, is the non own-ing party entitled to a share in thebusiness?

Well it’s all about why. Why didthe non-owning party carry outwork for the business?

The law takes a hard-headed,even callous approach to this.

If it was an exercise in helpingout the person you love, there areno rewards for that. If it wasbecause the household would beworse off if an outsider had to bepaid to do the work, ditto. If it wasfor more mercenary reasons, therejust might be a viable claim.

The first question is, did the twoof them ever discuss ownership ofthe business? If there were someoffer, “however imperfectlyremembered”, as one judge put it,then there may be a claim.

Did the owner say in some waythat the business was now shared?Then the court wants to know ifthe non-owner did something theywouldn’t otherwise have donebecause of the discussion.

So if the non-owner startedworking unpaid for the benefit ofthe business after the discussion,that would be the sort of thingwhich the court has in mind.

There are two potential pitfallshere. If the work started before anypromise was made, then it wasn’tdone in reliance on the promiseand the argument fails.

The second is if payment wasmade for the work. If thenon-owner was on the payroll andreceived a wage, no detriment was

suffered.There is another way in which a

claim could be made. If one partyacted in such a way that the onlyrational explanation is that therewas an agreement to share owner-ship, a court will find this to be thecase.

By far the most likely basis forthis sort of claim would be wherethe non-owner has put substantialmoney into the business.

However, this on its own will notnecessarily be enough.

The court could find that thiswas simply a loan repayable ondemand and only a return of themoney is needed.

My advice? If your partner isworking for your business, do theright thing – pay them a decentwage.

It’s fair and it may avoid seriouscomplications and legal expensesomewhere down the line.

FAMILYBUSINESSJonathan James

Jonathan James is head of private client and familydepartment at Austin Kemp Solicitors

Netherton firmpraised for apolished resultJUDGES took a shine to a Huddersfieldcompany during a custom bike show.Family-run REV’DUP landed fourtrophies at the Stormin The Castle bikefestival held at Wittan Castle in CountyDurham for its range of motorcyclecleaners and polishes.The Netherton-based company,founded in June this year, has alreadysecured 16 distributors in Yorkshirealone.It also supplies a well-known nationalchain of motorcycle accessories shops.REV’DUP director Paula Mallinson saidthe firm had been spending thesummer months attending bikefestivals across the UK to demonstrateits products.Said Paula: “We only producebike-friendly cleaners that are kind topaint work and metals – a pointwell-proven when we were offered twobeautiful custom bikes to clean atStormin The Castle.“The bikes were entered into the bikeshow after receiving the REV’DUPcleaning treatment and returned fromthe show winning four awards.”Said Paula: “This is the third time thisyear we have cleaned bikes for customshows and on each and every occasionthe bikes have come back withtrophies!“It definitely shows the quality of themotorcycle cleaners that we produce.”

Town set for atraining sessionA GLOBAL company providingtraining for all sizes of businesseshas teamed up with HuddersfieldTown for a second season.Dale Carnegie Training, founded in1912, has been associated with theclub since 2006 before becoming anofficial partner before the 2010/11season.Last year, Dale Carnegie and Townlaunched the Executive Programmea training course for companyexecutives and directors. Theprogramme will also run this season.Juliette Dennett, managing directorof Dale Carnegie Training, said:“We’re delighted to continue ourrelationship with Huddersfield Town.The club continues to make wavesboth on the pitch and on thebusiness side and we are proud to bewith them during this excitingperiod.”Visit www.dalecarnegie.com

Seminar adviceon raising fundsBANKS and businesses will comeface to face at an event inHuddersfield.Business Link Yorkshire has teamedup with major high street banks torun a series of free seminars offeringadvice to firms on finding and raisingfinance.Businesses in the Huddersfield arare invited to attend a RaisingFinance for SMEs seminar onTuesday, November 1, at the CedarCourt Hotel, Ainley Top. The eventruns from 9am to 12.15pm.A panel of industry specialists willcover a wide range of topicsincluding business planning,financial forecasting and invoicefinance. An independent expert willalso discuss alternative types offinance currently available, includingequity and angel finance.Nick Greenwood, area businessmanager for Barclays Business inWest Yorkshire, will speak about hisbank’s attitude to lending – at a timewhen banks have been criticised ffailing to lend to business.He said: “We hope this event willinspire confidence in SMEs to applyfor finance.“Barclays Business is committed tolending and making it easier forbusinesses to access finance. Assmall businesses play a major pardriving both local and nationaleconomic growth, it is vitallyimportant they feel confident to lendfrom banks.”Delegates to the seminar will hearabout available funding – and how topresent their business case in orderto maximise the chance of successAreas will include how to write acompelling business plan, producingand presenting credible financialforecasts, how factoring and invoicediscounting can work for yourbusiness, alternative sources offunding, the bank’s approach tolending to business and how amentor can help you achieve yourbusiness goals. Call 08456 048048 .Milestone for finances

A GROUP providing funds forsmall and medium-sized firms inYorkshire has reached amilestone.

Finance Yorkshire has mademore than 100 investments with atotal value of £10m in businessesacross the region. The landmarkmilestones comes just 12-monthsafter the venture capital and loanfund made its first investments inthe region.

Finance Yorkshire offersseedcorn, loan and equity linkedinvestments, ranging from£15,000 to £2m to help SMEsmeet the gaps in funding theyneed for growth and development.

Investments have been made ina variety of sectors such asengineering, healthcare, digitaland IT, manufacturing, energy andrenewable.

During the first half of the year,investments have created andsafeguarded hundreds of andgenerated about £27m inadditional private sector backing.

Companies assisted haveincluded Silsden-based cosmeticscompany Badgequo, whichreceived funding made up of a£800,000 equity investment and a

£100,000 business loan todevelop and grow the company inthe UK and Europe.

Alex McWhirter, chief executiveof Finance Yorkshire, said: “It hasbeen an excellent first year ofinvesting and laid the foundationsfor further development andgrowth.

“To provide more than £10m tosmall and medium-sizedenterprises has really provided aboost to the regional economy at

a very difficult time forbusinesses.”

He added: “The environmentwe work in continues to be fragile.

“However, we have seen a greatmany number of applications forinvestment in so many differentbusinesses that it provides us withgreat optimism that this regioncan steer itself towards a morepositive future.”

Visitwww.finance-yorkshire.com

■ EXCELLENT FIRST YEAR: Alex McWhirter, of Finance Yorkshire

One of Yorkshire’s leading commerciallaw firms based in Huddersfield and

Leeds, delivering comprehensive legaladvice in corporate and commercial

matters, commercial property,litigation and intellectual property.

Tel: 01484 483 033Fax: 01484 741 442

www.austinkemp.co.uk

creative marketingsolutions

01484 483194 info@qtcreative.co.ukwww.qtcreative.co.uk

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Ways to makea great websiteWHAT makes a great website? And

is this the same thing for busi-nesses as it is for users?

After creating hundreds of website duringmy career, I now look back nostalgically atsome of the early ones and how the techno-logy has evolved so quickly.

We had huge restrictions in downloadspeeds, resulting in using images in anobsessively sparing way. Screen size waslimited to the lowest average – 640 x 480 –and colours were also restricted. E-com-merce wasn’t really established and anima-tion of any sort was in its infancy.

It really wasn’t long ago, but it seems likea distant memory.

Now we don’t need to worry about down-load speeds – enabling us to use a variety ofmulti media forms on our sites; streamingvideo, animation and sound.

We have other considerations now such ashow well a site works on a smart phone andtablet computer.

We are much more concerned with howwell a website is found on a search enginethan how it might look.

However, there is one thing that hasn’tchanged and that is the fact that a website isnever finished.

Unlike a brochure, a successful websiteshould always be seen as an evolving form.Since the technology is ever changing, thewebsite will look out of date very quickly if itis left alone.

If you want your users to keep comingback, there needs to be a reason for them to

do so whether that is information or productdriven.

Look at well-known e-commerce website,Amazon.

It hasn’t really changed from a designpoint of view since its birth – but there hasbeen a myriad of small changes, perhapsgoing unnoticed to us, but all designed tomake the user experience easier and moredirected to “buy” and of course using thelatest technology.

Many of us could learn a lesson fromthat.

Design gives us recognition and comfort.How many of us have been ‘turned off’ by afavourite website that has radicallychanged.

Many e-commerce sites find that sales dipmassively after a total redesign, believed tobe because users establish a relationship orloyalty with the design and its usability.

Like shopping aisles in supermarkets, weall get very cross when things have moved!

A website is a company’s “virtual” front

door, so they would be ill-advised to leave itto waste.

So what makes a website successful? I havebeen researching what others in my industrysay.

Many talk about usability, purpose,adhering to web standards, good design,planning etc.

But I say the best rule of thumb is toremember who it is for and make it forthem.

Many businesses get so bogged down indetail that they forget what their audiencereally want.

So my advice is to start with trying toestablish what your user will want if theycome to your website, then the rest willevolve from there.

You could actually ask your customers –never a bad thing as it will make them feelpart of it.

And if they say it’s great the way it is, thenasking why is a good start!

Increase in feeincome fails tomask concernsFEE income at the UK’s Top 100 lawfirms rose by 4% in the three months tothe end of July, according to latestfigures from accountancy firm Deloitte.A report by the firm said the figuressuggested that the industry wasrecovering, but stressed that a closeranalysis revealed continuing weaknessin the UK market and a stark variation inthe performance of firms.The survey revealed that while one in sixfirms enjoyed revenue growth above12%, a similar proportion suffered adecline of 4% or more.Generally, it was the larger firms withinternational presence which achievedhigher growth – benefiting from morebuoyant overseas markets.These firms also benefited fromSterling’s weakness, resulting inoverseas revenues contributing more inSterling terms.Those firms with a larger proportion oftheir business generated in the UKcontinue to find the markets tough.Higher revenues were generated througha combination of increases inproductivity and in the number of feeearners, which rose by 2.8% and 3.1%respectively.Stephen Hall, tax partner for Deloitte inWest Yorkshire, said: “The increase infee income will be welcome, but shouldnot mask the fact that conditionsgenerally are challenging.“Litigation has performed reasonablywell, but low levels of M&A activitymeans that corporate revenues remainlacklustre.“There is a general feeling ofnervousness about the prospects for themonths ahead with domestic demandexpected to remain weak and continuedpressure on rates.”

MARKETINGMATTERSClare Quartermaine

Clare Quartermaine is director of QT Creative

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Award-winner is riding high!A FAMILY firm providing high quality horsetransport for some of the world’s top showjumpers has galloped away with an award.

Meltham-based Equi-Trek Ltd, founded in1999, is the latest winner of the Business ofthe Month Award run by Huddersfield lawfirm Eaton Smith in conjunction with theLockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber ofCommerce at Business Link Yorkshire.

The company’s owners, who havethemselves competed at major equestriancompetitions, aimed to re-design andproduce a range of trailers which offer safe,easy loading and comfortable travel for thehorse and good facilities for the rider orowner.

Due to their unique side-loading trailersand patented designs, Equi-Trek trailershave proved hugely successful and thecompany has sold thousands worldwide.

The business developed from being asmall manufacturer of side-loading horsetrailers to introduce 3.5 tonne motorisedhorseboxes in the mid-2000s. Last yearsaw the launch of the 26 tonne Enterprise,which can carry up to nine horses incomfort.

Equi-Trek has also been among thewinners in each of the past two ExaminerBusiness Awards.

Managing director Tom Janion receivedthe latest accolade at a presentation atEaton Smith’s High Street offices.

He said: “This is an exciting award for

Equi-Trek. As a proud, local employer westrive to provide the best value horsetransport at the highest quality andrecognition of our success is alwaysrewarding.”

The Eaton Smith Business of the MonthAward is open to all companies inCalderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Go to www.eatonsmith.co.uk or contactIan Greenwood on 01484 821389.

■ CLEAR ROUND: Chris Taylor (centre) presents the award to Equi-Trek's Tom Janion(fourth right), Neil Jons (third right), Hilary Janion and Lucy Earnshaw (right) with (fromleft) Tim Hill, of Jolliffe Cork; Carl France, of Sanderson Associates; and Alan Lascelles,of Business Link Yorkshire

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

Milestone momentat new care centreWORK on a £4.75m care centre hasreached a significant stage.

VIP guests were on hand to see theofficial “topping out” ceremony atMeridian Healthcare’s new develop-ment, which is being built bydeveloper Conroy Brook at Oakes inHuddersfield.

Kirklees Mayor Clr Eric Firth andColne Valley MP Jason McCartneywere joined by Kirklees councillorsand residents for the event, which sawthe final roof tile put into position.

Work now continues a pace on theinterior, with completion expectednext spring.

This latest development continues asuccessful working relationshipbetween the two companies, withBrockholes-based Conroy Brook pre-viously developing White Rose Housein Holmfirth for Meridian Healthcare.That scheme was named best newdevelopment at the Healthcare DesignAwards.

The new 60-bed care centre at Oakesis being developed on the site of aformer care centre, which was demol-ished to make way for the new build-ing.

The modern development has beenspecially designed to provide superbliving and bedroom accommodationfor older people.

As well as a hairdressing salon, nailbar and cinema, the care centre willinclude hi-tech features including afree wi-fi service for its residents andvisitors.

Susan Firth, managing director ofChershire-based Meridian Health-care, said: “Meridian has long-stand-ing experience of delivering highquality care to older people. I am

delighted to be present at the toppingout of what will be an amazing facil-ity.

“This home is not just for the peopleof Oakes and Lindley. It will providefirst class care and support for peopleacross Huddersfield. We have builtclose working relationships withsocial services and the planningdepartment here in Kirklees, whichhas helped to ensure that this firstphase of the bui ld has gonesmoothly.

“We have reached an exciting mile-stone and we look forward to the nextphase of this project, which will see uswelcoming residents into the home in

spring, 2012.”Richard Conroy, chief executive of

Conroy Brook, said: “We aredelighted to be working withMeridian once again to deliver anexceptionally high standard of careprovision for the people of Kirklees.

“The development will also bringback to life a redundant site, contrib-uting to the long-term regeneration ofthe area.

“Our construction programme isgoing extremely well and is, in factslightly ahead of schedule, so we’rehoping that the centre will be able towelcome new residents earlier thananticipated!”

■ TOP SHOW: Pictured at the topping out ceremony are (from left) DebbieThomson and Mark Birchenough of Meridian Health Care; Richard Conroy,of Conroy Booth; Kirklees mayor Clr Eric Firth, Clr. Christine Stanfield andColne Valley MP Jason McCartney

Lettings firmsuited by itsblock booking

■ BUILD QUALITY: Tim Dickinson (left), of Dickinson Harrison, with (fromleft) Martin Mollitt, of Colin Appleyard Cars; Andrew Egerton, of DickinsonHarrison; abd Dave Scott, of Colin Appleyard Cars

A CAR dealership has secured adeal to provide vehicles to anElland-based letting and propertymanagement company.Colin Appleyard Cars, which has asite at Folly Hall in Huddersfield,has linked up with DickinsonHarrison to supply five new SuzukiAlto cars.Motorcycle enthusiast and longstanding Colin Appleyardcustomer Tim Dickinson wasimpressed with the Alto when hefirst saw one in a showroom.The new fleet will be driven by thecompany’s block managersresponsible for overseeing themanagement of the numerousresidential apartment blocks thebusiness services along the M62corridor.Director Andrew Egerton said: “Asa company we like whereverpossible to buy locally and fromthe outset Colin Appleyard staffhave gone out of their way to

provide a professional and friendlyservice.”As well as Suzuki car dealershipsin Keighley, Huddersfield, Shipleyand Ashton-under-Lyne, ColinAppleyard has multi-franchise

motorcycle showrooms inKeighley and Leeds.Dickinson Harrison’s propertymanagement company is based inElland with lettings agencies inHalifax and Bolton.

Alarm soundsas orders fallTHE building industry is headingtowards a “nose dive” withworkloads now falling for the15th consecutive quarter,according to a survey today.

The state of trade survey fromthe Federation of MasterBuilders for the third quarter of2011 reveals that workloadsamong small and medium-sizedbuilding firms have now beenfalling since 2008 and that one inthree builders expectconstruction workloads to fallduring the final three months ofthis year.

Richard Diment,director-general of the FMB, saidthe Government had to bemindful that the building industry“is in a dire state with little hopein the immediate future thatthings are going to get better”.

He said: “It is hard to think ofanother period in living memorywhen the building industry hasbeen so badly hit by aneconomic crisis. The Chancellorneeds to understand that arecovery in the constructionsector is essential if it is todeliver economic growth in thewider economy.”

Mr Diment said that 44% ofFMB members reported fallinglevels of enquiries and thenumber expecting to increaseemployment had now fallen tojust 16%.

He said this was depressingnews for young people wantingan apprenticeship or a job in theconstruction sector.

The rising cost of materials

was also a serious concern tobuilders with 88% expectingthem to increase over the nextsix months.

Said Mr Diment: “TheGovernment’s home energyefficiency improvementprogramme, the Green Deal,which will be launched next yearoffers a glimmer of hope. Butwithout a reduced rate of VAT tohelp boost consumer demand itis difficult to see any real upturnin building work.

“A targeted reduced rate ofVAT in the Chancellor’s AutumnStatement would create tens ofthousands of much needed jobsin the building industry as well asstimulating more job creation inthe wider economy.”

Two deals for agencyTHE industrial team at propertyconsultants Knight Frank in WestYorkshire has completed twosignificant deals in the region.

Knight Frank has sold a137,000sq ft warehouse unit inOtley Road, Shipley. The unitwas bought by greetings cardfirm Card Factory following thecompany’s recent purchase ofprinting business Printcraft.

Knight Frank were the soleagents, acting for ownersHavells Sylvania.

Meanwhile Knight Frank hasalso let 20,000sq ft at HartleyBusiness Park in Bradford toBarrett Steel.

This is the first letting on the120,000sq ft business park forclient Hartley Property Trust.

The joint agents are Eddisons.

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Franklyn Court,Off Wakefield Road, Lepton1,500 – 12,250 sq ft

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Law firm gainstop 500 ratingA LAW firm in Huddersfield has beenrecognised as national experts by a legalpublication.

The Legal 500, published for morethan 20 years, provides the most com-prehensive worldwide coverage cur-rently available on legal servicesproviders in over 100 countries.

It is used as a yardstick to measurefirms by commercial and private clientsas well as professional advisers.

The Legal 500 is widely regarded asoffering the definitive judgement of lawfirm capabilities.

The publication is updated every yearand relies on reports not just fromsolicitors’ firms themselves but alsointerviews with clients.

Now Ridley and Hall, based at Mar-ket Street, has been particularly recom-mended for it’s expertise in family lawand trusts and probate.

The family team headed by partnerMeena Kumari deals with divorce andfinancial issues as well as domestic

violence and parents seeking contactwith children.

The firm also has a specialist childcare team which includes award-win-ning partners Nigel Priestley andMichael George.

Susan Cash who heads the wills,trusts and probate team, said: “We’verecently launched a service for thosenearing or at retirement age called‘elderflower’ because we feel stronglythat older clients need specialistadvice.

“Membership of the Legal 500provides further assurance of ourexpertise to offer this service.”

Business development partner AdamFletcher said: “I’d like to thank ourclients who were willing to recommendus.

“It’s their recognition that reallymeans a lot. For a small firm in WestYorkshire this is quite an achieve-ment.”

■ ACHIEVEMENT: Adam Fletcher, partner atlaw firm Ridley & Hall in Huddersfield

Here’s a manwith a plan...WHEN it comesto tackling theeconomy, politicalopinion is divided.

Prime MinisterDavid Cameronseems wedded toPlan A of cuttingpublic spendingwhile Labour iscalling for theadoption of aPlan B to slowdown the scale and speed of cuts.

So how about a Plan C? That’s thetheme for the next Partners inManagement Forum to be held at9.15am on Friday, October 14, at theMedia Centre in Huddersfield.

The forum is a think-tank comprisinglocal business leaders who discusstopical items at their regular meetings –and have achieved a high success ratein forecasting economic and businesstrends.

Forum founder David Broadheadcommented: “It will be interesting tosee how different our suggestions willbe to those we made back in February,2009, when – for example – we floatedthe idea of commercial credit unionsbeing necessary to support businesslending and generating growth.

“Given that the forum has beenincredibly accurate in its findings andanticipations to date, can its membersbe as equally forthcoming insuggesting how we might avoidentering the dreaded ‘zombie’ economyand re-ignite growth instead?”

Said Mr Broadhead: “While there is awide representation of sectors amongthe membership, there are still someplaces available and attendees fromthe legal, financial advice andaccountancy professions would bemore than welcome.”

Contactdavid@partnersinmanagement.co.uk

Project packs a punch

AN export packaging company in Melthamhas scooped a national award from theChartered Institute of Purchasing andSupply.

Neal Brothers Ltd, with operations atBent Ley Road, won the category for bestpurchasing initiative by a small-mediumenterprise at the CIPS 2011 Awards.

The firm gained recognition for aprogramme of cost savings coupled with acorporate social responsibility initiative.

Under the leadership of ElenaSelezneva, head of procurement, NealBrothers developed and installed a timberpurchasing and tracking system to cutmaterial costs and comply withinternational regulations over traceabilityof source materials.

The system has now been rolled out in

the company’ sites in the UK andRomania.

Said Elena: “The UK is recognised asone of the first EU nations to have astrong system and it is used as the basesnow for several other EU and otherEuropean nations.

“Neal Brothers has introduced bettercontrol of waste and energy cost savings,coupled with a reduction in the company'scarbon footprint.”

Judges recognised the innovativeapproach taken by the company withlimited resources in a very demanding andchallenging environment.

Other entrants included high-profilemulti-nationals including AstraZeneca,DHL, Microsoft and Skanska.

■ TROPHY TIME: Elena Selezneva (left), head of procurement at Neal Brothers, withcolleague Elizabeth Todd at the CIPS Awards presentation ceremony in London

Louise Smith

The Agency(Recruitment)LimitedA RECRUITMENT firmbased in Cleckheatonhas strengthened itsteam.

The Agency(Recruitment) Ltd hasappointed Louise Smith(pictured) asrecruitment consultantto work alongsidemanaging director KimBarnes-Evans in theday-to-day running ofits temporary and permanent divisions.

Miss Smith (pictured) who lives in the town,brings with her a wealth of human resourcesand recruitment experience.

Her appointment comes as The Agencycontinues to grow and restructure its servicestowards the new processes that are demandedby the Agency Workers Regulations.

The Agency specialises in placing temporaryand permanent commercial office staff withWest Yorkshire employers.

Miss Smith said: “I’m really excited aboutjoining The Agency and am looking forward tothe new challenges it will bring as well asmeeting their new and existing clients.”

Meet the buyersto boost salesKIRKLEES firms with anappetite for sales havebeen invited to a Meetthe Buyer event.

Major food and drinkbuyers from across theworld will attend theevent tomorrow at theDerbyshire Hotel, SouthNormanton to investigatepotential suppliers ofbranded products fromYorkshire.

Buyers in attendancerepresent markets as farafield as Singapore, Malaysia and Brazil.

Mark Robson, regional international trade directorfor event organiser UK Trade & Investment, said: “Byexporting, businesses can reduce their risks whilegrowing their business.

“This event gives local companies a realopportunity to secure new deals and drive thatgrowth.

“Yorkshire is internationally renowned for qualityfood and drink – and the 20-strong team of buyersare especially keen to see what the white rose countyhas to offer.

“Companies can book one-to-one meetings withthese buyers so the chances to clinch sales arehuge. These are major distributors with links withsupermarkets and big retailers in their homecountries.”

UK exports of food and drink have risen for thesixth consecutive year to reach £10.83bn – up by11.4% on the previous year. Including alcoholicdrinks, the total value of food and drink exports is£16.1bn.

Government figures show that the UK’s top exportmarkets are Ireland, France, Holland, Germany andSpain.

They also rate Russia, China, South Africa, Turkeyand India as emerging key markets for the future.

Visit http://foodanddrink.brackenevents.co.uk