News in brief – Retail sales boost; XSEM secures golf event; Business of Security debate; New CEO at Kingston

RETAIL sales entered positive territory for only the third time in the last 12 months, with like-for-like sales up by 1.3% in March, according to the latest edition of the BDO Stoy Hayward High Street Sales Tracker.
 
However, homeware sales increased for the first time since July 2008, with like-for-like sales up by 5.7%, the study revealed.
 
Tim Clarke, corporate finance partner at BDO Stoy Hayward in Leeds, said: “After a dismal February and very difficult trading conditions on the high street, retailers reported surprisingly robust results in March. Underlying demand was much higher than we expected, and sales appear to have been bolstered by the driest March weather for six years.”
 
“It is clearly premature to classify these upbeat figures as a definite recovery trend; however, there are signs that demand is holding up and not contracting as sharply as we feared last month.”  

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PPG Architectural Coatings, the paint and coatings company behind brands such as Johnstone’s and Leyland, has awarded Leeds-based sports event firm XSEM the contract for a major client golf event which will culminate in a grand finale at the world famous Valderrama Golf Club in Spain.

The PPG event consists of 20 regional golf days, utilising 10 of the very best courses in the UK and Ireland, including the likes of The Carrick in Loch Lomond and Alwoodley in Leeds.

The winners of each of the 20 events will qualify for the final which will be held at Valderrama in Southern Spain, home of a string of PGA European Tour events as well as the venue for the 1997 Ryder Cup.

Director and co-founder of XSEM, Dan Bardgett said: “This contract is a huge shot in the arm to the ambitious growth plans for XSEM. In the face of stiff competition, we’ve proved that creative and cost-effective corporate solutions remain a vital part of any company’s ongoing plans, regardless of the current economic climate.”

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A PANEL debate called The Business of Security and Protection, chaired by Crimewatch presenter and BBC newsreader, Matthew Amroliwala, has been organised by Marketing Leeds and the University of Leeds Business School this month.

The event, at the Royal Armouries on April 23, will explore how businesses can better secure and protect themselves in today’s risk conscious society, where business crime costs £12.6bn a year.

It will feature a panel of nationally significant figures in the field including David Crompton, Deputy Chief Constable, West Yorkshire Police and Bruce Mann, Head of Civil Contingencies Secretariat at the British Cabinet Office.

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KINGSTON Unity Friendly Society (KUFS) has appointed Andrew Townsley as its new chief executive.

Mr Townsley joins the Leeds-based society from Sheffield Mutual Friendly where he was chief executive.

He is also a director and immediate past president of the Association of Friendly Societies – the professional organisation representing the friendly society movement.

Brian Kinsey, chairman of KUFS, said: “We are confident that we have found the right man for the job.

“Andrew’s immense experience and proven track-record will prove invaluable as we navigate the current difficult circumstances, and at the same time seek to build on the excellent position we have reached under Roger Frier’s astute guidance.”