JANUARY
STAFF at the Huddersfield branch of camera chain Jessops were told that store closures were “inevitable” after the business went into administration. About 2,000 retail jobs were under threat following the appointment of administrators from PwC.
A MULTI-BILLION pound fund to create high-tech products and generate jobs was championed by the Deputy Prime Minister on a visit to Huddersfield. Nick Clegg visited turbocharger manufacturer Cummins Turbo Technologies to see how the company was using Regional Growth Fund support to develop a Holset-branded turbo system for medium and heavy duty truck engines.
FEBRUARY
BRITVIC’S proposed £1.4bn merger with Irn-Bru maker AG Barr was referred to the Competition Commission. The Office of Fair Trading said it could not rule out the possibility of higher prices following a tie-up after surveys suggested Britvic’s brands Pepsi and Tango were sufficiently close alternatives to Irn-Bru to raise competition concerns. Britvic’s product range included Pennine Spring and Drench, both bottled at the company’s Birkby premises.
ONLINE retailer Buy It Direct snapped up one of the UK’s largest web-based furniture businesses. The Deighton-based company, which sells products ranging from TVs, laptops and cameras to kitchen appliances and pushchairs, bought Furniture 123 for an undisclosed sum.
MARCH
ENGINEERING giant David Brown outlined ambitions to turn the UK into a world-leader for the supply of parts for offshore wind turbines. The Lockwood-based firm was leading a project with 30 firms to position Britain as the only country in the world to create large gearboxes for the next generation of offshore wind turbines.
NURSERY products firm Mamas & Papas bucked the retailing slump to open new stores in the UK and overseas this year. The family-owned firm, which already employs 500 staff at its Colnebridge site, was to open its first store in Beijing at the end of May and two stores in South Africa during the summer.
STAFF at British Car Auctions in Brighouse celebrated completing the 5,000th sales day to be held at the Armytage Road site.
APRIL
A GOLF retailer in Huddersfield landed a £3.5m funding deal. Direct Golf UK secured the funding from RBS in a move to take the award-winning business to the next level. Chairman and PGA professional John Andrew set up Direct Golf UK in 1991 and in that time had taken the firm from one store in Huddersfield to 21 stores across the UK.
SERIAL entrepreneur Graham Leslie led a multi-million pound drive to boost Yorkshire firms. The man who made his fortune with pharmaceuticals firm Galpharm aimed to inject £25m into the regional economy, create 300 jobs over the next three years and safeguard hundreds more by investing in up-and-coming companies by joining forces with marketing and business specialist Patrick Allen and finance expert Richard Smith to launch funding consortium One Degree Capital.
MAY
HUDDERSFIELD-based Gardinia Windows marked 30 years in business with new products aimed at helping the firm maintain its position in the marketplace. The firm, founded in 1983 by owner Michael Foster claims to be the only firm in its sector in the town to trade continually for 30 years. SOFT drinks firm Britvic announced plans to close its Huddersfield bottled water plant with the loss of 40 jobs. The former Ben Shaws site at Willow Lane, Birkby, will close early next year – ending production of Britvic’s Pennine Spring and Drench brands.
JUNE
A KIRKLEES manufacturer was enjoying double digit growth and success overseas. Sewtec Automation reported an order book from clients in France, Brazil, Morocco, Poland, Russia, Germany, China, America, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa and Dubai after seeing double digit growth year-on-year for the last five years and having trebled turnover in just 12 months.
DAVID Brown scrapped plans for a multi-million pound move to Mirfield. The engineering firm abandoned the scheme to build two new engineering centres on land at Leeds Road, Mirfield, in favour of redeveloping its existing premises at Park Works, Lockwood.
JULY
THE pioneering 3M Buckley Innovation Centre in Huddersfield aimed to boost local manufacturing with a new 3D printer – enabling high-tech tenants at the £12m centre to develop their products.
HUNDREDS of postal workers in Huddersfield were promised free shares as part of a controversial privatisation of Royal Mail. They were among 35,000 employees across the North and up to 150,000 UK-wide to get 10% of the new company under the £3bn sell-off planned for later in the year.
AUGUST
A HOUSING association in Huddersfield joined an exclusive club for top-notch employers – as it prepared to celebrate its silver anniversary. Sadeh Lok, which owns and manages more than 1,200 homes in Kirklees and Wakefield, was gained Gold Investors in People status just 18 months after signing up to the initiative.
LINTHWAITE-based pharmaceutical firm Thornton & Ross Ltd announced the £221.11m sale of the business to German giant STADA Arzneimittel AG. Thornton & Ross chairman Jonathan Thornton, the grandson of one of the founders, said he was sad to be leaving the 91-year-old firm – but pleased to be leaving it “in capable hands”.
SEPTEMBER
STRUCTURAL steel maker CH Fabrications secured a five-figure funding deal from Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance to built new premises and take on new staff.
DAVID Brown landed a major contract for work on the Royal Navy’s newest warship. The Lockwood firm was awarded a contract to create detailed designs and progress plans for the gearbox of the new Type 26 Global Combat Ship with BAE Systems.
OCTOBER
A COMPANY making liquid-filling and capping machinery completed a move to new premises in Huddersfield. Karmelle Liquid Filling and Capping Solutions transferred operations from premises at Canal Street, off Leeds Road to a modern unit at Lockwood.
TEXTILE woollen manufacturer Stork Brothers Ltd marked 150 years in business by inviting former directors, managers and employees to its premises at Birkby. The event followed its takeover earlier this year by seating fabric specialist Camira
NOVEMBER
A CAPACITY audience raised the roof at the John Smith’s Stadium to celebrate success at the eighth Examiner Business Awards. The main award of Business Person of the Year, sponsored by Chadwick Lawrence, went to Glenn Paxman, chairman of Paxman Coolers and Brewfitt.
SPORTS equipment firm Continental Sports secured the contract to supply sports and leisure equipment for Huddersfield University’s new £22.5m learning and leisure centre scheme.
DECEMBER
PUB group the Head of Steam, which includes a pub of the same name at St George’s Square in Huddersfield, was sold by Emley-born Tony Brookes to brewer and retailer Camerons Brewery.
INCIDENT management specialist FMG was awarded a major contract to reduce risk for a 336-vehicle fleet belonging to commercial product manufacturer, Ingersoll Rand.
