In brief: Yorkshire hotel figures, Eastwood and Partners, Timberform, Heywood Homes
HOTELS across Yorkshire reported positive rooms yield figures during November, according to data released by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services.
Harrogate fared the best in terms of occupancy figures, with a 10.5% improvement serving to offset the 6.2% decrease in room rates while a similarly robust performance was posted by hotels in Leeds during the period, with occupancy up 2.9% to 78.1% compared with November 2011. This coupled with a 2.2% increase in room rates saw rooms yield grow by 5.2% to £45.40.
Despite a decrease of 0.3% in occupancy, hotels in Sheffield posted modest improvements in room rates and rooms yield, up 0.4% and 0.7% respectively while hoteliers in York also witnessed lower room occupancy with 2.9% fewer visitors. A 5.1% improvement in room rates boosted rooms yield figures to £48.83, growing by 2% on the results from last year.
Paul Clarke, partner at PKF commented: “After a slow start to the season, it’s great to see hotels in Yorkshire posting an encouraging set of results. November can often be a quiet month, particularly for holidays and weekends away, as people are tightening the purse strings in time for Christmas. Operators across the region will be hoping this improvement is a sign to come for 2013.”
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EASTWOOD and Partners, the Yorkshire-based independent insurance broking firm, has opened a new office in Halifax.
The office at Dean Clough D Mill is being managed by senior account executive, Andrew Templeton.
The firm, which employs more than 90 people, already has offices in Huddersfield and Sheffield and a financial services operation in Elland.
John Eastwood, managing director of the Eastwood and Partners Group, said: “Whilst we act for individuals and companies nationally and internationally, the core of our clients is based locally and we are delighted to have offices in the town of Halifax and to employ staff who demonstrate and nurture their strong links with the Calderdale business community.”
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THE launch of a brand new e-commerce system is set to help a manufacturer increase sales both at home and abroad.
Timberform, which is owned by Barnsley-based Metalliform, employs 50 people at its Foxwood Industrial Park factory in Chesterfield.
It has tapped into support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to improve the functionality of its website and develop a sustained e-marketing campaign.
The specialist manufacturer of outdoor wooden shelters, buildings and play equipment believes its increased online presence will help it add an extra £1m of sales this year, with particular attention focused on boosting market share of the buoyant private education sector in the United Arab Emirates.
If successful, this will see the firm take turnover past the £5m barrier for the first time since it was taken over by Metalliform in December.
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NEW family and starter homes are to be built in Kirklees after the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) announced a loan investment of almost £1.2m to Heywood Homes.
The loan, the first contract of the Get Britain Building round two programme, will see an 18 home site in Brockholes near Holmfirth, developed for completion later this year and next year.
The homes will be constructed using the latest timber frame technology and the frames, roof trusses and floorings are all being made locally by Heywood Timber Engineering in Halifax.
Stewart Brown, managing director of Heywood Homes, said: “We are committed to ‘sustainable building techniques’ and are pleased to be working with our sister company, Heywood Timber Engineering, who are an integral part of the manufacturing process and our overall green ethos.”.
