KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWSThe business NEWSpaper for Kir k lees27, Ju ly, 2010

INSIDE

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● Full story - Page 4

● Full story - Page 8

Themosttrustednewsbrandin thebusiness

JULIE GOULD FIONA WOODSoft furnishing fortunes

Fu l l i n te r v i ew - Page 3Winning formula

Fu l l s to r y - Page 5

FTSE 100+38.50

5351.12An EXAMINER publication

TrainingplacesHUDDERSFIELD Townhas completed a newbusiness tie-up.The club hasannounced apartnership withinternational brandDale Carnegie Training,which will see thetraining provider getinvolved in commercialactivities at the club –especially the businessevents held throughoutthe season.

InternetchallengeHIGHWAYS engineeringconsultancy SandersonAssociates is taking ona new challenge.The GrangeMoor-based companyis sponsoring a newwebsite to promote theprofession across thecountry.

Cleckheaton firm secured Scottish acquisitionA CLECKHEATON company mak-ing friction products for the automot-ive and rail industries has engineeredthe takeover of a Scottish firm.

TMD Friction Group has acquiredEurofriction Ltd, the automotive fric-tion parts manufacturer.

Eurofriction supplies replacementbrake pads for cars to leading distrib-utors in the European independentafter-market.

It generated sales exceeding £12m in2009 and employs 130 people at onelocation in Kilmarnock.

German-owned TMD Friction saidthe acquisition further strengthenedits position as a European and world-wide leader in the development, man-ufacture, sale and distribution of highquality brake pads to the independentautomotive aftermarket.

George Walker, the majority share-holder and managing director ofEurofriction, will resign from his roleas MD and leave the business.

However, he will continue toprovide support over the comingmonths to ensure a smooth integra-

tion following the takeover.Mr Walker said TMD Friction was

“the most innovative technologyleader” in its field, adding that the dealwould bring long-term stability to theplant with the prospect of futuregrowth.

Josef Besting, senior vice-presidentof TMD Friction’s global aftermarketdivision, said: “This acquisition is aperfect fit. Eurofriction’s businesscomplements our own activities andhelps us grow our manufacturing foot-print and customer base further.

“While customer demand for bothbranded and private-label productsfrom TMD Friction increases, we see agrowing need to build up additionalmanufacturing resources dedicated toour aftermarket organisation.”

TMD Friction Group makes discbrake pads and drum brake linings forcars and commercial vehicles togetherwith brake pads for racing cars andfriction materials for rail and indus-trial applications. Its brands includeTextar, Pagid, Mintex, Don andCobreq.

Mamas & Papasgo island-hoppingNURSERY products firm Mamas &Papas has sealed a franchising deal totake it into the sunny Mediter-ranean.

The Colnebridge-based companyhas announced a franchise partner-ship with the Michele Peresso Groupto provide three stores over the nexttwo years in Malta and Gozo.

Statistics show the islands haveexperienced “consistent populationgrowth” over the last 10 years and anincreased birth rate for the first time infive years.

Allen Hill, business developmentdirector for Mamas & Papas, said:“The Mamas & Papas brand isquickly expanding over the whole ofthe southern Mediterranean.

“The agreement with the MichelePeresso Group signals the demand thebrand is receiving across all Europeanmarkets.

“We are delighted that Malta hasjoined our global family of interna-tional retail destinations.”

Michael Peresso, of MPG sharedhis enthusiasm for the latest premiumbrand launched in to the Malteseluxury market.

He said: “The Michele PeressoGroup of companies was establishedover 45 years ago and is among thelargest retail groups in Malta.

“The agreement between MPG andMamas & Papas allows MPG to caterto the domestic and international vis-itor market with a sophisticated port-folio of globally recognised premiumbrands.

“We are delighted to bring the UK’snumber one parenting brand toMalta.”

Michele Peresso Group was firstestablished to import pharmaceuticalproducts, but has grown to cover

sectors, including pharmaceuticals,sports retail and retail fashion.

Family-owned Mamas & Papas wasestablished in the UK in 1981 andoperates 66 stores worldwide, includ-ing ones in the UK and the UnitedArab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Ara-bia, Qatar, Bahrain.

It also exports to independentretailers, premium department storesand distributors in more than 35countries, including France, Ger-many, Spain, Austria, Finland, Aus-tralia and – since March, 2010 –Japan.

New Mamas & Papas stores forsummer, 2010, include Athens inGreece and Croydon, Surrey.

Mamas & Papas will also launch inthe USA next month through a23-store deal exclusively with Toys RUs offshoot Babies R Us.

■ NEXT STOP MALTA: Allen Hill,international franchise associatedirector for Mamas & Papas

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS national Page 2

SHARE PRICESLocal shares

FTSE closed at

5351.1Up 38.5

Pearsonprofits upPUBLISHING groupPearson lifted is full-yearguidance after a sharprise in interim operatingprofits.

The group, which ownsthe Financial Times andPenguin Books, saidunderlying operatingprofits rose to £178mfrom £84m a year earlier.

Pearson hailed areturn to growth inadvertising revenues atthe FTduring the firstquarter, while its boomingUS educational businessdrove profits higher.

Companyon targetHOUSEHOLD productsfirm Reckitt Benckiser issticking by its growthtargets – despitepressure on its Vanishfabric care division inEurope.

The firm, which lastweek announced thetakeover of Durex andScholl owner SSLInternational, reported a19% rise in half-yearprofits to £971m.Revenues grew by 6% atconstant exchange rates.

Reckitt is targeting a5% rise in full-yearrevenues, helped by newproducts such as AirwickAqua Mist.

However, competitionfor its Vanish stainremover combined withweak demand forlaundry detergent, fabricconditioners and watersoftener affected thefirm’s fabric care divisionin Europe.

Jobs under threat at William HillUP to 350 jobs are in jeopardy atWilliam Hill after the bookmakerannounced plans to move its tele-phone business offshore and reviewsome loss-making betting shops.

William Hill said 150 jobs could belost at its Sheffield and Leeds callcentres – which together employ 400staff – as part of a move to establisha new call centre in Gibraltar.

The Leeds centre will close andthe Sheffield site will be handed overto outsourcing firm Vertex.

The firm is also reviewing thefuture of 50 of its 170 unprofitableshops, which it said could putanother 200 jobs at risk by the end ofthe year.

Chief executive Ralph Topping hitout at “unfair pressure” caused bycompetition from offshore operat-ors and betting exchanges like Bet-fair, which work under a morefavourable tax regime.

William Hill’s telephone bettingbusiness lost £1.8 m last year and isexpected to make a small operatingloss for the first half of 2010.

The business pays 15% grossprofits tax and a 10% horse racinglevy on its takings.

It has hit out at major players“laying” huge volumes of wagers onbetting exchanges, effectively trad-ing as bookmakers but not payingthe same charges.

Crown back in the blackCROWN Paints has hailed a turn-around in fortunes following itsprivate-equity-backed managementbuyout two years ago.

The company said it was now prof-itable after clawing its way out of thered last year on the back of a majoroverhaul launched in the wake of itstakeover from Dutch group AkzoNobel in 2008.

Crown’s latest accounts show oper-ating profits of £2.8m in 2009 – amarked improvement on the heftylosses seen at the height of the finan-cial crisis and housing market slump,which left it £11.4m in the red for thefinal three months of 2008.

The Lancashire-based group said itremained in the black throughout thefirst half of 2010, with “significant”profit growth after trading exceededits own forecasts.

Crown said it was on course forfurther profit progress, despite costpressures facing the sector.

Chief executive Brian Davidsonsaid Crown was benefiting fromself-help measures put in place afterthe takeover in September, 2008.

Crown Paints, with a 15% share ofthe UK retail and trade market, hasreshaped the business, strengthenedthe management team and slashedcosts to get back on track.

Building firm pleasfor additional funds

TOURIST RATES

Tourists going abroad can expectthe following rates for sterling:Australia...................... 1.63 dollarsBangladesh................. 101.36 takaBrazil.............................. 2.45 realsCanada....................... 1.52 dollarsChina ............................. 9.38 yuanCzech Republic ...... 27.59 korunasDenmark....................... 8.48 kroneEuro............................... 1.14 euroHong Kong................ 11.41 dollarsHungary ................... 305.44 forintsIndia.......................... 63.90 rupeesJapan........................... 128.77 yenMexico ....................... 17.53 pesosNew Zealand .............. 1.97 dollarsNorway ......................... 9.11 kronePakistan.................. 124.79 rupeesPhilippines ................. 61.15 pesosSouth Africa................. 10.68 randSouth Korea.............. 1607.00 wonSri Lanka ................ 164.62 rupeesSweden....................... 10.80 kronaSwitzerland.................. 1.55 francsTaiwan ...................... 43.38 dollarsTurkey....................... 2.20 new liraUSA ............................ 1.48 dollars

NORTH AMERICANAmerican Express £29.31 +0.42Gannett 951.55 +44.51Hess Corp £33.96 -0.04Microsoft 1683.76 +18.71Motors Liquidation 48.38Wal-Mart Stores £32.89 -0.44

AEROSPACE & DEFENCEAvon Rbbr 1131/2 +1BAE Systems 3167/8 +3/8Rolls-Royce Gp 603 -4

AIMBrady Plc 671/2 +1/2Dawson Intl 2Man Brnze 35

AUTOMOBILES & PARTSG K N 1443/8 -3/4

BANKSBarclays 3155/8 +135/8HSBC 6491/4 +31/8Lloyds Banking Gp 66 +21/2Ryl Scotland 465/8 +13/8Stan Chart 1850 +26

BEVERAGESDiageo 1143 +11SABMiller 19671/2 +4

CHEMICALSCroda 1173 +2Elementis 98 711/2 +13/4Johnsn Mat 1703 +8

CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALSBalfour Beatty 2581/8 +11/2Costain 1991/2 +51/2

ELECTRICITYDrax Grp 3763/4 +31/8Intl Power 3631/4 +3/4

Scottish & SthrnEnergy

1168 +9

ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTChloride 3731/2 +1/2Laird 1111/2 +2

EQUITY INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTSAlliance Trust 3213/8 +31/2

FIXED LINE TELECOM SERVICESBT Grp 1421/4 +11/2Cable & WirelessComm

611/8 +1/8

Cable & WirelessWwide

687/8 -1/8

Colt Group 1341/4 -7/8KCOM 45Talktalk Telecom 123 +3

FOOD & DRUG RETAILERSMorrison W 2773/8 -1/8Sainsbury 3473/4 +3Tesco 3953/8 -31/2

FOOD PRODUCERSAB Food 1086 +12Nth Foods 461/2Tate Lyle 4683/4 -3/4Unilever 1928 -12Uniq 103/4 -1/4

GAS, WATER & MULTIUTILITIESCentrica 3121/2 -2National Grid 509 +61/2Pennon Grp 5721/2 -31/2Severn 1283 -2United Utils 5661/2 -1

GENERAL FINANCIAL3i Group 2843/4 +11/8ICAP 401 +57/8London StockExch 6281/2 +3Man Group 2245/8 +81/4

Provident Financial 8821/2 +7Schroders 1246 +3Schroders NV 1039 +5

GENERAL INDUSTRIALSCooksn Grp 4651/2 +31/2REXAM 3433/8 -31/4Smiths Grp 1147

GENERAL RETAILERSAshley L 13Carphone Whse 204 -1DSG International 275/8 +1/8Home Retail 242 +1Inchcape 317 -23/4Kingfisher 2213/4 +15/8M & S 3541/4 +1/2Mothercare 522 +1Next £22 +1/8WH Smith 4301/2 +2

HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICESSmith Nph 546 -10

HOUSEHOLD GOODSAga Rangemaster 95 -41/2Barrat Dev 1001/4 +1/8Persimmon 3701/4 +1Reckitt Benckiser £333/8Taylor Wimpey 271/4 +1/4

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGCharter 743 +14I M I 764 -2

INDUSTRIAL METALSFerrexpo 2921/4 +21/4

INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATIONBBA Aviation 1951/4 +1/4Forth Ports 1252 +12

LIFE INSURANCEAviva 3551/8 +51/8

Lgl & Gen 921/2 +17/8Old Mutual 1221/8 +3Prudential 5271/2 +1/2Resolution 2253/4 -81/2Standard Life 199 +21/8

MEDIABSkyB 704 +2Chrysalis 100 +2D Mail Tst 4983/8 +71/8ITV 553/8 +7/8Johnston Press 14 +1/4Pearson 1029 +56Reed Elsevier 5341/2 -21/2STV Group 811/2 +1/2Trinity Mirror 833/4 +41/2Utd Business 5591/2 +3UTV 1233/4 +31/4WPP 6861/2 +3Yell Group 263/4 +1/4

MININGAnglo American £253/8 +1/8Antofagasta 1014 +3BHP Billiton 19681/2 +4Eurasian NaturalRes

921 +71/2

Fresnillo 1063 -28Kazakhmys 1203 +18Lonmin 1541 +16Rio Tinto £331/2 +1/8VEDANTARESOURCES

£243/8 -1/8

Xstrata 10361/2 +21/2MOBILE TELECOM SERVICES

Inmarsat 754 +111/2Vodafone Group 1521/8 +11/2

NONLIFE INSURANCEAdmiral Grp 1506 +8RSA Insurance Gp 127 +15/8

OIL & GAS PRODUCERS

BG 1066 -151/2BP 417 +183/8Cairn Energy 471 -21/8Royal Dutch Shell A 1824 +41/2Royal Dutch Shell B 1750 +1/2Total £321/8 +1/8Tullow Oil 1239 +60

OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICESAMEC 899 -4Petrofac 1345 -8Wood Group 3693/8 -1

PERSONAL GOODSBurberry 884 +15PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Astrazeneca £311/4 -1/4Axis-Shield 2481/2 +1/2GlaxoSmithK 15Shire 1475 +6

REAL ESTATEBrit Land 466 +31/2Captl Shop Cent 3511/2 +5DTZ Hldgs 581/4 +1/4Hamrsn 3903/4 +71/4Land Secs 616 +41/2SEGRO 2823/4 +31/4

SOFTWARE ETC SERVICESAutonomy Corp 1630 +7Dimension Data 1241/4 +3/4Invensys 2951/4 -15/8Logica 1035/8 -13/8Misys 2501/4 -15/8Sage Group 2517/8 +43/4

SUPPORT SERVICESBunzl 7271/2 +1Capita 747 +71/2Davis ServiceGroup

3913/4 +13/4

De La Rue 7561/2 -181/2Electrocomp 227 -21/2Experian 647 -6G4S 2653/4Hays 937/8 -15/8Homeserve £231/4 -1/8Menzies J 3971/2 +41/2Rentokil 109 -1/2Smiths News 1131/2 -11/2Wolseley 1448 +6

IT HARDWAREARM Hldgs 3461/8 -71/4Psion 83 -1/2Spirent Comms 1345/8 +35/8

TOBACCOBr Am Tob £227/8 +1/8Imperial Tobacco 1851 -8

LEISURE & HOTELSArriva 771

Brit Airways 2235/8 +3Carnival £235/8 +3/8Compass Grp 5661/2 +1/2easyJet 4295/8 +3Enterprise Inns 1075/8 +23/4FirstGroup 3803/4 +11/4Go-Ahead 1168 +13Greene King 4491/8 +33/4Intercontl Htls 1199 +10Ladbrokes 139 -3/8Mitchells & Butlers 3207/8 +33/4Natl Express 2481/4 +11/4PartyGaming 249 +151/4Rank Org 110 +1/2Stagecoach Group 1817/8 -13/4TUI Travel 2211/4 -7/8Whitbread 1466 -2

INDEXFTSE 100 5351.12 +38.50

INDEXFTSE 250 10138.12 +44.45

Carclo 155 +3Chapelthorpe 251/2Marshalls 87 +2National Grid 509 +61/2Weir Gp 1250 +12

THE crisis at social housing companyConnaught has deepened – after thefirm revealed it was in “urgent” need ofextra funding.

The company has been in turmoilsince its warning last month that Gov-ernment spending cuts could blow a£200m hole in revenues over this yearand next.

Connaught said it had identified an“urgent requirement” for additionalfunds to meet current business – partlydue to pressure from suppliers andsub-contractors.

The firm will breach banking coven-ants after warning that net debt will besignificantly above the previouslyadvised level of £120m by the end ofAugust. Connaught described talkswith its lenders about securing addi-tional funding as constructive.

Sir Roy Gardner, who became chair-man in May, has moved to strengthenthe management team with theappointment of four new directors,including the former finance chief atBritish Energy and WS Atkins.

He said: “These are challengingtimes for Connaught.

“We are fortunate that we have beenable to attract a number of senior andexperienced individuals to support thecompany at this time and we welcomethe constructive discussions with ourlenders.”

Connaught recently announced thedeparture of founder Mark Tincknellon health grounds less than six monthsinto his second spell as chief executive.He will take on a new role at the firm,while finance chief Stephen Hill is todepart in October.

Connaught has identified 31 projectswhere spending will be delayed as aresult of the government clampdown –wiping £80m off revenues and £13mfrom underlying profits in the currentfinancial year.

If the squeeze continues into 2011,sales and profits will fall by a further£120m and £16m respectively.

Shares fell by another 69% or 70.6pto 31.5p yesterday – giving it a marketvalue of less than £50m.

Roger Wood, a former director ofBritish Gas Services and the AA, hasbeen hired to chair a steering commit-tee responsible for delivering signific-ant cost savings.

Collins Stewart stockbrokers said thelatest update implied net debt in excessof £150m.

Analyst James Gilbert added: “Bal-ance sheet strength is one factor hous-ing associations and local authoritiesevaluate when awarding new work.

“We are therefore concerned aboutthe impact this will have on orderintake and whether it will impact ongo-ing social housing tenders.”

Investec Securities reiterated its sellrating and said rivals Mears andMITIE were likely to benefit from theturmoil at Connaught.

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

Julie Gould

HENRYK ZIENTEK

Role: ProprietorAge: 49Family: Married toRae with daughtersTonya and StaceyHolidays: Portugaland the Greek IslandsCar: Nissan Note (Ineed the space!)First job: Factoryassembly line workerBest thing aboutjob: Everything. I loveit!Worst thing aboutjob: PaperworkBusiness tip: Aimhigh and just go for it!

Work: Soft furnishingsand interior designSite: MarshEmployees: OnePhone: 01484 546577Email:decor80@live.co.ukWeb: www.decor80.co.uk

Decor 80

Luckandhardwork

LIFE is full of “happyaccidents” forbusinesswoman Julie Gould.

After a series of cannycareer moves and bymaking the most of somegolden opportunities, Juliehas attained her dream ofbeing her own boss –running soft furnishings andinterior design businessDecor 80.

It’s quite an achievementfor someone who –approaching her 50thbirthday – admits that mostpeople her age might becontent to settle for thesecurity of paid employmentand the prospect ofretirement.

But it still takes somegetting used to!

“I think you work a lotharder when you work foryourself,” she says.

“I work a full day six daysa week – and even onSundays I am alwaysthinking of ideas for newwindow displays andproducts.

“I often don’t finish workuntil 8 o’clock at nightbecause I visit customersafter the shop closes tomeasure up.

“I have to keep on top ofthings. I have to try topredict the trends and comeup with design ideas, workeverything out and advisecustomers.

“I also have to handle allthe management issues andpaperwork.”

Julie has only a shortcommute from home atSalendine Nook to hershowroom and workroom atWestbourne Road, Marsh.

“But she says: “I still feelas though I’m coming in towork for someone else –and I’m always worriedabout being late for work!”

Perhaps she still can’tquite believe what she hasachieved, admitting: “I haveto pinch myselfsometimes!”.

Julie left Moor End HighSchool with a love of art anddesign, but recalls: “I didn’tknow where I wanted to gowith it.”

She found work on afactory assembly line, whichshe did not enjoy.

“I wanted to get out of it,”says Julie.

“After I had my twodaughters, I went to work forThorntons, the chocolateretailer, and got involved inwindow displays.

“I found I enjoyed doingthings that were creative,even though it was relativelysmall scale.”

Julie moved on to work fora specialist lightingcompany, which gave her aninsight into the wider worldof interior design.

After a few years, shetook another change ofdirection and joinedfurnishings retailerThatchers, where shelearned about fabrics andfurniture.

From there, she went tomanage a soft furnishingsfirm in Halifax, beforechanging circumstances ledto ideas of self-employment.

In May, 2008, Julie tookthe biggest step.

“It got to the point wheresomething needed tochange,” she says.

“My husband Rae hadbeen made redundant,which provided the ideaabout working for myself.

“Our daughters Tonya andStacey were both grown-up,so there were no worriesabout childcare.”

Julie started working fromhome, visiting customerskeen to give their houses amakeover to measure up forcurtains and blinds and helpthem choose fabrics andcolours.

She says: “I worked fromhome and business gotbigger. I built up a goodclient base.

“Those people are stillwith me today.

“Last Christmas, I was ata point where things weregetting busier and I couldn’tcontinue to work from home.I decided I neededpremises.

“In April this year, I wasdriving down Marsh when Ipassed this shop andthought it would be ideal.

“It was a bathroomshowroom at the time, but aweek later it was empty, so Idecided to got for it – andsigned for it in May.”

Julie found herself with asizeable showroom and abasement workroom forsewing.

The premises provideDecor 80 with a prominentroadside presence and thespace to display curtains,cushions, throws, upholsteryand furniture.

Having premises alsoenables the business to bemore efficient andcompetitive on price.

Setting up a business justas the credit crunch gotunder way wouldn’t normallybe considered a lucky move.But Julie says it proved ablessing in disguise.

“I can’t say it affected thebusiness,” she says.“People will find the moneyto spend on their home.

“If there is a recessionand they are not able tomove house, they want tomake their home morewarm and comfortable.”

Home improvementshows on TV have alsoencouraged people to thinkabout how decor andlighting can help to makethe most of their property.And trends are changing,says Julie.

“We have had theminimalist look,” she says.“There’s only so much youcan do with cream curtains!

“People are going forsomething more opulent.Carpets and wallpapers areback in fashion and peopleare looking for warm fabrics,luxurious silks and velvets.

■ HIGH CHAIR: Julie Gouldin her Marsh showroom

“People are going for a‘rich’ look again.”

Julie sees part of her roleas advising people aboutthe look that best suits theirhome – whether it’s aspacious barn conversionor a Victorian terracehouse.

“I look at the person andwhat might suit theirlifestyle,” she says.“Everyone’s home isdifferent and everyone hasa different taste.

“Some people want to beultra-trendy and others seetheir home just as a placeto live.

“But everyone knowswhat they want and theywill decide what they like.

“I will show people what Ithink will work best, but atthe end of the day it’s theirchoice. They are the peoplewho have to live with it.”

Julie’s customers rangefrom homeowners to carehomes and family-runhotels – and most of themare gained byrecommendation and wordof mouth.

Winning a massivecontract to furnish a majorhotel chain would be nice,but Julie is content with herlot.

She says: “When I set upthe business, I just wantedto be able to pay myself adecent wage.

“I don’t have much timeto relax. When I do, it’sspending time with familyand friends.

“I have had lots ofsupport from some reallygood friends and people inthe same business.

“Sometimes I wonder:‘What have I done?’because it was such a bigstep.

“I fell into this by

accident, I think, but Iabsolutely took to it.”

There’s no way Juliewould go back to theassembly line now.

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local Page 4 KIRKLEES BUSINESS

Judges pick a winner

Creative agencyjoins the film setA CREATIVE agency in Huddersfield haspassed the screen test with a leading film-maker.

The Sharp Agency, based at the MediaCentre, worked with film director David Whit-ney on his award-winning movie KandaharBreak.

Sharp developed the identity for the film’spublicity, film poster and film on-screen title.For the website, Sharp worked with MakeOnline, also based in The Media Centre.

The film has won a string of awards, includingbest feature film and best actor for star SeanDooley at the Newport International FilmFestival.

It was also named best film at the Phil-adelphia Independent Film Festival, where fest-ival director Benjamin Barnett described thefilm as a “truly compelling story” and said itwas “film making at its best”.

Mr Whitney said: “Sharp came up with a lotof fantastic ideas and some truly engaging anddramatic imagery, which really helped to attractattention to our movie.”

British distributors Revolver will be announ-cing the UK cinema dates for the film very soon. In the USA, Peacearch Entertainment will be

releasing a schedule shortly.The film follows the fortunes of a team of

British mine clearance engineers working for theTaliban in the scorching deserts of SouthernAfghanistan – clearing the vast minefields afterdecades of conflict.

One of the team, an ex-British Army bombdisposal expert, falls foul of a corrupt local policechief, who instigates a manhunt to find and killhim.

The hunted man must escape on foot across theborder into Pakistan – but during his journey isambushed by a force of rebel guerrillas, who agreeto help him flee the vengeful Taliban.

Sharp, which covers areas such as advertising,design, direct marketing and branding, is led byTom Wass, Richard Sharp, Darlene and MandiTaylor.

The agency counts Chrysler, NHS Sheffield andthe National Union of Students among its otherclients.

■ ROLL ‘EM: Huddersfield-based creative agency Sharphas worked with filmmaker David Whitney on his movieKandahar Break. Above – Sharp Agency partner RichardSharp, who runs the business with Tom Wass, Darlene Sharpand Mandi Taylor

Town secure atraining tie-upHUDDERSFIELD Town is trying anew tack when it comes totraining.While the players get back to thetraining ground, the club hasannounced a partnership withinternational brand Dale CarnegieTraining.The global company, founded in1912, has been involved with theClub since 2006 and is regardedas one of the leading trainingproviders for all sizes of business,supporting organisations todevelop their talent.“We're delighted to be formallyrecognised as partners of thefootball club,” said JulietteDennett, managing director ofDale Carnegie.“The club is making waves bothon the pitch and on the businessside and we are proud to ‘up’ ourcommitment with them.“Their business base is growingrapidly along with their reputationthroughout not only the sportsindustry, but in the Yorkshirebusiness community – so themore we can become involvedwith them the better.”The partnership sees aninvolvement of Dale Carnegie withthe commercial side of the club,especially the business eventsconducted throughout the season.Town commercial director SeanJarvis said: “We are honoured towelcome such an establishedcompany to the club.“We have entrusted them in stafftraining over recent years and it’sclearly reaping rewards, not onlyon the commercial income sheetbut in the quality of individuals wehave working behind the scenes atthe club. This includes AndyBooth, who has been on theircourses since he hung up hisboots.”As a special gesture to allTown-supporting businesses andto mark the partnership, DaleCarnegie will provide a 10%discount on any training courses.Visit www.dalecarnegie.com

■ TRAINING PITCH: JulietteDennett (centre), managing directorof Dale Carnegie, with Townbusiness development managerMark Davies and operations directorAnn Hough

YORKSHIRE businessmenCarl Hopkins and JonathanHick have made their choice ofjudges in a competition toreward talented young entre-preneurs.

Brighouse-based Carl andJonathan, who hails from Hull,nominated Derbyshire-basedonline mapping service Gaist astheir winner of The Pitch 2010northern heat, which was stagedin Liverpool.

Gaist representative Nick Kit-chen wowed the judges with apresentation explaining thefirm’s robust business plan andhuge market potential – and beatoff stiff challenges from fourother Northern entrepreneurs toclaim a place in the grand final inLondon in November.

The Pitch, which is run byBusinessZone.co.uk in associ-ation with business directoriesservice Yell, is a small businesscompetition giving entrepren-eurs the chance to pitch theirbusiness to high-profile experts

for the chance to win a prizepackage worth £50,000.

Carl and Jonathan have bothappeared on Channel 4’s TheSecret Millionaire.

Carl’s business interestsinclude running a business“angel” service and a web-basedrecruitment agency. He is a

non-executive director ofregional businesswomen’s net-working group Forward Ladiesand has investments in otherbusinesses, including fundrais-ing site JumbleAid.com, JoblinkSystems and Parties Around theWorld.

Jonathan is founder of Direct-orbank, Europe’s leading pro-vider of senior directors toprivate equity and venture cap-ital-backed companies. Sinceselling part of his stake in thecompany in 2006, he has beenbusy helping to start and buildother businesses.

Said Carl: “I was extremelyimpressed with Nick’s pitch andthe potential Gaist has for beinga really impressive business. It’sbeen fascinating to be involvedwith The Pitch and I’ll lookforward to the grand final.”

The winners of the regionalheats will compete for the title ofBritain’s Best New Business aswell as £50,000 worth of businesssupport prizes.

■ TOP PICK: Brighousebusinessman Carl Hopkins

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS local Page 5

Simon Kaye is divisional director at Rensburg SheppardsInvestment Management

CITYTALKSimon Kaye

Fiona steps up towin bank’s awardA CLECKHEATON businesswoman has taken abig step towards success.

Fiona Wood, founder and owner of Children'sCold & Sun Protection Natural Products, has beennamed as the north-west regional winner of theTake One Small Step competition run by BarclaysBusiness.

The £500,000 competition – which has attractedmore than 3,500 entries from around the UK – isdesigned to help aspiring entrepreneurs make theirbusiness ambitions a reality.

Ten regional winners were chosen from a finalshortlist of 30 – with each of them receiving£50,000.

Ian Aitchison, regional director of BarclaysBusiness, said: “It is a life-changing amount ofmoney designed to help them realise theirdreams.

“These businesses will now be able to start orexpand their companies, manufacture someincredibly innovative products, and give back tothe community that has shown them so muchsupport in the voting stages.

“The standard of entries for the competition hasbeen incredibly high, but the winners were all ableto demonstrate the business X factor to gain hugesupport from the public to vote for them.

“They have displayed a fantastic mix of creativ-ity, ingenuity and business acumen to capture thepublic's imagination.”

Fiona said she was delighted to be one of thewinners, adding: “This really is as good as it getsfor me. I am just so excited to have won!

“It's been an amazing journey with a lot ofsupport from friends and family on the way.

“Winning the competition will enable me to laythe foundations to my business, starting withdeveloping and registering a name.”

Children's Cold & Sun Protection NaturalProducts includes a body balm to ease breathingand warm the chest, sniffle hangers for rooms toease breathing, lip and cheek protector for chaffingas well as sun protection creams.

■ SUNNY SIDE: Fiona Wood, of Cleckheaton, has been named regional winner in the Barclays "TakeOne Step" competition

GreensolutionFIRMS in Kirkleescould cut their landfillcosts by signing up toa new segregatedfood waste collectionservice.About half a milliontonnes of food wasteis thrown away everyyear in Yorkshire,according to industryfigures. Most of thiswaste is sent toexpensive landfillsites, where itdecomposes andemits harmfulgreenhouse gases.“Waste collectioncompanies can solvethis problem,” saidMike Greenhalf, ofbusiness developmentprogramme CO2SenseYorkshire.“By segregating foodwaste from the otherwaste, they can sendthe food waste toanaerobic digestionenergy sites insteadof landfill. This willsave local businessesmoney and wastecompanies who don’toffer this service willbe missing out on animportant salesopportunity.”Delegates to aconference run byCO2Sense Yorkshirewere given free adviceabout segregatingwaste and sending itto environmentally-friendly compostingand green energyfacilities.Several AD sites aredue to open inYorkshire during 2010.Chris Mills, of thegovernment’s Wasteand Resources ActionProgramme, said thiswould provide a wayof diverting foodwaste from landfillsites – and helpgenerate moreelectricity fromrenewable sources.Emailmike.greenhalf@co2sense.org.uk

Profits can offer antidote to fearTO many investors, the past

three months in financialmarkets have felt particularlyfraught.

Media commentators have turnedfrom optimistic cheerleaders for a“V” shaped recovery in both theeconomy and stock prices into seem-ingly inconsolable pessimists, greet-ing every political development andfluctuation in the economic data asconfirmation that we are set inexor-ably on the path to ruin.

Objectively, it cannot be deniedthat there is some cause for concern.There is clear evidence in Americaneconomic data that the Eurozonedebt issues have adversely affectedcorporate and consumer sentiment.At the same time, measures to takethe steam out of the Chinese growthengine appear to be bearing fruit at apossibly inconvenient time.

Judging from a stalled improve-ment in employment data in Amer-ica, the increased uncertainty has atthe very least delayed the transitionfrom a cyclical rebound driven byinventory re-stocking to the moredesirable sustainable growth patterncharacterised by investment andemployment growth.

However, the concern of those who

fear a “double-dip” into recession isthat a reticence to invest, if extendedto the end of the year, will then becompounded by increased fiscal dragmanifest in Europe directly through“austerity budgets” and in the USthrough the natural expiry oftax-breaks originally instituted underthe Bush presidency.

The hope of those who expect amore benign outcome is that therecovery in corporate profits hasgained sufficient momentum to over-whelm these new uncertainties. Spe-cifically, in the context of “noreward” for sitting on cash, the pres-sure will be intense for any liquidity“build up” on corporate balancesheets to be deployed into productiveinvestment – such as machinery oreven the acquisition of competitors.

Understanding these possible out-

comes, the half year corporate earn-ings reporting season that is nowupon us is more than usually import-ant. As usual, America is particu-larly prompt in delivering its resultsand as this is going to press alreadyglobal blue-chip companies Intel, JPMorgan and General Electric havereported solid numbers. Althoughthe reception to these results has notbeen warm enough to move marketsupwards, the broad message isencouraging.

Should the balance of results overthe coming three weeks match–up tothe vanguard, forecasts of 50%year-over-year earnings growth forcorporate America will be exceeded.Those inclined to look at the glass ashalf empty will rightly point out thatsuch rapid growth is largely a func-

tion of the depressed “base” againstwhich this year is being compared(last year’s second quarter was a verydifficult time).

The evidence backs this up, sinceon a quarter over quarter basis thereis likely to be very little growth.

Franklin D Roosevelt famouslysaid that “we have nothing to fear butfear itself”.

For corporations, the antidote tofear is profits.

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property Page 6

High strike ratePROPERTY agency Bramleys hasreported a near-100% success rate atits latest auction.The residential estate agents, charteredsurveyors and specialist propertyconsultants – which has offices at StGeorge’s Square in Huddersfield – sold12 out of 13 lots at the auction, whichwas attended by about 200 people.Highlights included The Old Red LionPub at Marsden, which had a guideprice of £150,000 and sold for £224,000.Auctioneer Andrew Moorhouse said:“Regularly, an auction sale of the rightsort of property will achieve a highervalue than the private treaty process.”Bramleys holds its next sale onTuesday, September 14, at theGalpharm Stadium.

Landlords canearn top marksPROPERTY landlords have been urged to dotheir homework – when it comes to tenantswho work from home.

Belvoir Lettings, which has offices at JohnWilliam Street in Huddersfield, said high fuelprices, increasing parking charges and trafficcongestion were leading more people to switchoff from commuting and work from homeinstead.

Mike Goddard, chief executive of Belvoir,said: “As employers offer greater flexibilityregarding work hours and location, a growingnumber of employees are taking advantageand working from a dedicated space athome.

“An increasing number of tenants now havea home office high on their list of criteria andlandlords should be responding to this.”

Mr Goddard said: “Some landlords maynot have the option of devoting an entire roomto office space, but for those that do a relativelysmall investment can add considerable lettingappeal to their property.”

Belvoir said landlords keen to make theirproperties more attractive to the homeworkershould ensure they provide ample phone andelectrical sockets; office furniture or the spacefor a tenant to put a desk and cabinets; goodlighting; and appropriate decor.

Said Mr Goddard: “Even if the space is onlyused for organising bills or for students doinghomework, landlords need to realise thedemand for a dedicated working space.

“The kitchen table just won’t suffice any-more.

“With millions now working from home

across the UK, landlords should be consider-ing the changing market and making provi-sions for it.”

■ HOME OFFICE: Belvoir said landlords should ensure their properties appeal to the needsof tenants working from home

Quarterly rise in new home registrationsHOUSEBUILDERS havereported a rise in the numberof new homes registered inYorkshire during the secondquarter of the year.Figures from the NationalHouse-Building Councilshowed there were 2,294registrations across the regionbetween April and June. Thatcompares with 1,153registrations for the same

period in 2009.Nationally, registrations roseby 41% to 30,597 from 21,637last time. Private sectorregistrations were up by 50% at19,977 against 13,328 whilepublic sector registrations roseby 28% to 10,620 from 8,309.However, registrations for Junealone were down, according tothe NHBC. There were 9,263registrations last month

against 10,870 in May this yearand 8,305 in June, 2009.NHBC chief executive ImtiazFarookhi said it was too earlyto say if the June dip was acause for concern, adding: “Inthe longer, term thedemographics of UKpopulation growth and thecontinuing under-supply ofexisting housing demand mustrequire the country to build

significantly more new homes.“Shorter term factors such asuncertainty around planningreforms, the economicbackground and the outlook foremployment, together withcontinuing issues withmortgage availability, may wellcombine to limit the scope andpace of this much-neededrecovery in volume.”

Property firm booked inPROPERTY adviser Christie + Cohas booked in for business.

Acting on behalf of StarwoodCapital’s Louvre Hotels, Christie + Cois marketing the company’s UK groupof 18 hotels – comprising 17Campanile branded properties andone Première Classe brandedpremises.

The hotels, which are a mixture offreehold and long leasehold sites, arespread across the UK and includeones in Bradford, Doncaster, Hull andWakefield.

The 18 hotels comprise almost1,600 bedrooms in total.

The purpose-built, 130-bedroomCampanile Bradford features a60-cover restaurant, a bar, 10meeting rooms with total capacity formore than 300, and a car park.

Sited close to the KeepmoatStadium, just south of Doncastertown centre, the 49-bedroomCampanile Doncaster features a36-cover restaurant, a bar andterrace, a meeting room with totalcapacity for 30 and a car park with apark and fly service to DoncasterAirport.

Prominently positioned near thecity’s harbour, the 48-bedroomCampanile Hull benefits from aseparate 38-cover restaurant, a bar, ameeting room with a total capacity for20, and a car park.

The purpose-built, 77-bedroomCampanile Wakefield, which islocated on a well-establishedbusiness park, features a 46-coverrestaurant, a bar and terrace, ameeting room with a total capacity for

25 and a large car park.Campanile is Louvre Hotels’

leading two-star chain, operating innine European countries through anetwork of more than 380 hotels andrestaurants.

Jeremy Jones, director at Christie +Co, said: “The opportunity to acquireover 1,500 bedrooms in some of theUK’s best trading locations issomething of a rarity. To secure aleading flag on these assets bymeans of a management contractwith Louvre Hotels makes this dealeven more exciting.

“We anticipate a strong responsereflecting the quality of theopportunity and the ability to keepgrowing one of Europe’s best knownhotel brands.”

In the runningA FORMER co-operative building inHalifax is in the running to win anational award following a makeover toturn it into a permanent communityroom and shop.The project at Midgley has beenshortlisted for the 2010 BiffawardAwards, which celebrates projects thathave benefited from Biffaward fundingin the previous year.

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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS property Page 7

Sovereigndeal forGatehouseA MAJOR property deal has beenconcluded in West Yorkshire.Gatehouse Bank has acquiredOne Sovereign Street, the homeof BT’s regional headquarters inLeeds, for £40.175m.Property adviser DTZ acted forGatehouse Bank on theacquisition of One SovereignStreet from UK fund manager LaSalle on behalf of Royal MailPension Fund, which was advisedby Stephenson Day.The office space, totalling morethan 139,000sq ft, is let on asingle lease to BT untilSeptember, 2020. The deal is oneof the region’s largesttransactions of 2010.Gatehouse is a fullyShariah-compliant investmentbank based in the City of Londonand provides investmentopportunities to its target investorbase.One Sovereign Street representsGatehouse’s third real estateacquisition in the UK followingthe acquisition of theheadquarters building of Proctor& Gamble in Weybridge, Surrey,and a portfolio of studentaccommodation units inLiverpool and Loughborough.

Market reacts tocutbacks threatTENANT demand in Yorkshire hasremained positive, according to aproperty survey.

But worries about the impact ofpublic spending cuts are dogging thesector, says the latest commercialproperty survey from the RoyalInstitution of Chartered Surveyors.

Across the UK, demand fell dur-ing the second quarter of the year.The survey said 7% more charteredsurveyors reported a fall than a risein tenant demand – down from apositive 6% in the first quarter andthe first negative reading since thefirst quarter of 2009.

Tenant demand for offices fellacross all regions – with Londonseeing the biggest fall in sentiment.There, 38% more chartered survey-ors reported a fall than a rise inoffice demand from a positive 32%in the first quarter.

Surveyors said uncertainty overpublic sector spending cuts hadweighed on investment decisions.Demand in the retail and industrialmarkets also fell across most

regions, although the north is buck-ing the trend.

In Yorkshire, tenant demandremained strong in the retail marketwith 25% of the region’s survey.

Industrial demand slipped with6% of surveyors in the region report-ing a rise – down from 7%. Officedemand fell from 6% to a negativereading of 4%.

Nationally, more survey respond-ents reported a fall than a rise inenquiries – with the net balancefalling to minus 10% from a positive7% in the first quarter. Confidencein the outlook for lettings has alsofallen for first time since the secondquarter of 2009 – with the balance atminus 7%.

Enquiries into space in Yorkshirefell across all markets, which in turnaffected confidence in the retail andindustrial sectors.

However, a significant rise wasreported in the office market with11% of the region’s surveyors hop-ing for an improvement in lettings

over the next quarter. That’s upfrom a negative reading of 3% inthe first quarter of 2010.

The availability of space foroccupation picked up, driven byincreasing space in the north andthe Midlands.

Available space increased atslower pace in the south, while itbroadly stabilised across all sectorsin London.

Alex McNeil, of Huddersfieldproperty agency Bramleys, said:“Increasing supplies of vacant sec-ondary offices are weighing heavyon rental levels.

“The increasingly rare numberof tenants are aware of their posi-tion and trying to turn this to theiradvantage by insisting on greaterincentives and driving rents down.

“The fall out from public sectorcuts is likely to worsen this.

“Demand remains for smallersuburban retail units in sharp con-trast to the increasing voids intown and city centres and shop-ping centres.”

■ RENTAL VIEW: Alex McNeil,of the Huddersfield office ofproperty agency Bramleys

Graduates join BramleysTWO employees at a propertyagency with offices inHuddersfield have beensuccessful in their studies.Lynsey Garside, 23, ofNorthowram, has gained afirst class honours degree inbusiness propertymanagement at SheffieldHallam University.And Oliver Moorhouse, 22,has graduated in real estatemanagement from NottinghamTrent University.Both students had placementsat Bramleys during theirfour-year courses and are nowemployed in various roles withthe company.Oliver is working in theresidential valuation andsurveying departments whileLynsey is working in thecommercial agencydepartment.Lynsey, who attendedHipperholme Grammar schooland North Halifax GrammarSchool, began working atBramleys in Halifax atweekends as a salesnegotiator.Oliver attended HuddersfieldGrammar School andHuddersfield TechnicalCollege, where he earnedtriple grade distinction on aBTEC national diploma inconstruction.He joined Bramleys when hewas 16, working through thesummer and other holidayperiods, doing valuations andsurveys in the commercialdepartment and helpingaround the office.

■ NEWCOMERS: Oliver Moorhouse and Lynsey Garsidehave successfully completed their degrees

TO LET10 New North ParadeHuddersfield, HD1 5JP1 Character town centre offices1 Suite of 3 private office suites1 66.1m2 (712 sq ft)1w/c & kitchen facilities1 Private on site car parking provisionRental: £8,500 pax

TO LET/May SELL – NEW INSTRUCTION

Caldervale WorksRiver Street, Brighouse1Various workshop units1 265 – 2,748m2 (2,857 – 29,581 sq ft)1Ample secure yard/parking provisionRent: Upon application

FOR SaLERipponden Business ParkOldham Road, Ripponden, HX6 4FF1Modern new build offices in semi rural environment1Offices From 63.68m2 (685 sq ft) to 591.24m2 (6,364 sq ft)1High spec, modern designs, designated car parking, air con,

eco friendly heat pumps, feature lighting, perimeter walltrunking, fully carpeted

1 Ready for immediate occupation,1 Close to J22 M62Prices: From £100,000

TO LETFieldens WorksWalton Street, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 1aW1 1,529.39m2 (16,462 sq ft)1 Industrial/warehouse unit1 Private yard and car park1Two rolling gantry cranes1Two storey officesRent: Upon application

KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS Movers and shakers Page 8

Jamie Farrell, Dan Hurst & Kris Keen

BarclaysCorporateBARCLAYS Corporate has made a trioof new senior appointments to its debtfinance team in Yorkshire and thenorth-east.

Geoff Durkin (above, right), who wasrecently promoted to head the team,has announced the appointments ofdirector Jamie Farrell (second left) andmanagers Dan Hurst (left) and KrisKeen (second right).

Mr Durkin said: “These three keyappointments are a reflection of ourconfidence in the business opportunitieswithin the region.”

Mr Farrell joins the team fromSantander Corporate Banking, where heworked as a relationship director. Beforethat, he spent 10 years at Fortis, wherehe was a key member of the bank’sacquisition and leveraged finance team.

Mr Hurst joined on the bank’sgraduate scheme in 2007 and joins fromhis previous role as associate director inthe corporate relationship team.

Mr Keen joined Barclays in 2008 andhas previously been responsible forbusiness development.

Five reasons for a celebration!

IT all adds up for accounting softwarespecialist Liquid Accounts.

The company is celebrating its fifthbirthday by assessing just how far it hascome in that short space of time.

The Longwood-based business wasset up by three of the current directors –Matt Holmes, Lisa Kendrick and JonWright. It has experienced expansion,gained investment and won a variety ofindustry-recognised awards.

The firm, which started out with threemembers of staff, now employs 16 andhas three non-executive directors tosupport the business in its rapid growthand development.

It originally focused the award-winningonline accounting software at small localbusinesses, but now has a much widerclient base with international clients,including one in Switzerland.

It has won a hatful of awards for its useof internet technology and web-basedaccounting software.

Managing director Matt Holmes hasalso been recognised by being invited tochair the special interests group forCloud Computing for the BritishApplication Software DevelopersAssociation. He has also spoken at

high-profile events across the UK and inFrance.

Earlier this year, Liquid raised equityinvestment worth £770,000 to help withmarketing and expansion over thecoming years. Liquid raised the funds byselling an 18% stake to a syndicate ofprominent local business angels – with afurther 12% being match-funded by theGovernment’s flagship fund forwomen-led businesses, The AspireFund.

It also followed up by undergoing acompany-wide re-brand with a new brandidentity and website to strengthen itsposition as market-leader by workingalongside Birstall-based Fantastic Media.

Said Mr Holmes: ““It has been aroller-coaster journey. However, we aredefinitely in the right place at the righttime to be leading the way in CloudComputing.

“Microsoft has just announced that it’sputting the majority of it’s developmentinto the Cloud and big names like CocaCola are moving their internal systemsonline. We are the only UK onlineaccounting software provider to havegained major equity investment so farand we offer many benefits, advantagesand cost-savings for our clients.”

■ PIECE OF CAKE: Liquid Accounts founders (from left) Jon Wright, Lisa Kendrickand Matt Holmes celebrate the firm's first five years

At the doubleand in the pink!STAFF at a haulage firm have raised morethan £2,000 for charity.

Employees at Netherton-based companyThe Pink Link Ltd were joined by familyand friends when they took part in the 5kRace for Life.

The runners (pictured, right) were hopingto raise about £1,000 for Cancer ResearchUK – but in the event doubled that.

The Pink Link is no stranger to charitablecauses – having completed numerous runsand hosted various fundraising events forboth regional and national charities.

In total the company has raised almost£83,000 in 10 years.

Sales and commercial director Vicki Dav-enport said: “We started supporting CancerResearch UK in 2001 as we wanted to dosomething to help all the women out there

affected by cancer.“We are delighted to have reached then

doubled our target amount and want tothank everyone who supported us.

“We have now completed five Race forLife events, raising more than £5,000 – andI’m sure we’ll be involved in many more.”

About 5,000 females took part in the2010 Race for Life, which has raised anestimated £250,000 for Cancer Research.

The run started and finished at LeedsRoad playing fields in Huddersfield and thecourse took in the Galpharm Stadium andSt Andrew’s Road.

The Pink Link Ltd was formed in 1981and its strikingly colourful fleet of vehicleshas become a familiar sight around York-shire.

Agency onright roadwith websiteIT may seem an unlikely internet hit.

But a Grange Moor firm is onto a winnerafter launching a website devoted toexplaining the wonderful world of highwayengineering.

Award-winning highway engineeringconsultancy Sanderson Associates issponsoring the website to promote theprofession across the country.

Managing director Alison France explained:“The kind of questions we are asking – andanswering – on the new website are: ‘Whatexactly does a highway engineer do? Do Ineed one? And how do I become one?’

“These are all questions that we areregularly asked and – in response – we havesponsored this website which gives an insightinto our work in highways and transportationand seeks to explain in an easilyunderstandable manner some of the technicalaspects of our world.

“The website shows the involvement of thehighway engineer in the various stages of adevelopment proposal from the concept tophysically getting started on site.

“It highlights some of the traffic modellingprocesses that are used daily, the follow-on,highway-related legal aspects of implementinga development proposal and the off-sitehighway works.

“Crucially, we examine what you do if, at theend of the planning application procedure, youare landed with a refusal of consent.”

Judith Walker, chief executive of the Instituteof Highway Engineers, praised the initiative,saying: “Highways need to attract enthusiasticyoung entrants – despite the recession – andthis site will definitely help”.

The website also aims to help people in thedevelopment and property industry, includinganyone needing a transport assessment,statement or scoping study, travel plan, roadsafety audit, detailed design work, feasibilitystudy of potential access arrangements andthe design of a service area or car park.

Go to www.highwayengineer.co.uk

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