In Brief: Digital Barriers; 2 Sisters; R3; Twisted Willow; JYSK

DIGITAL Barriers, the parent company of Yorkshire surveillance company COE, has today announced a contract extension, worth around £2.34m.

The homeland security specialist which acquired Leeds-based COE in a deal valuing it at around £3.3m in 2010, said the contract extension follows on from the successful delivery to this UK customer of a fully integrated Unattended Ground Sensor solution.
 
Managing director of Digital Barriers, Colin Evans, said: “Since its launch last year, we have made significant progress in taking our integrated ground sensor solution to customers around the world.

“The technology is currently in trials with multiple customers in the United States, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

“This customer first acquired our integrated ground sensor solution shortly after its launch last year and it has now been deployed successfully. This contract extension illustrates customer confidence in the technology and further strengthens our position in the UK market, where we continue to provide world-class surveillance solutions to our customer base.”
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FOOD producer 2 Sisters Food Group is supporting a new graduate scheme which is targeting new talent for the future of British agriculture.

The Birmingham-based firm – the UK’s largest chicken producer – is supporting the Government’s Agriculture-Technologies Strategy with its retail partner Sainsbury’s. The group is run by founder Ranjit Boparan, who bought Leeds-based Northern Foods in 2011.

This first-of-its-kind agricultural graduate scheme is designed to shape innovation in British farming and engage young people.

A Sainsbury’s graduate will join 2 Sisters’ agriculture team later this year, gaining an insight into how the team works with farmers and retailers.
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ALMOST half (48%) of adults in Yorkshire and Humberside are concerned about their current level of debt, up from 40% in February, according to the latest survey of GB personal debt by insolvency trade body R3.

16% of people in the region say they are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ worried about their current debts, slightly lower than the GB-wide figure of 21%.

In Yorkshire and Humberside 40% of adults say they often or sometimes struggle to make it to payday, of whom the vast majority (82%) blame the rising cost of living for their financial difficulties.

Chair of R3 in Yorkshire and Northern restructuring partner for Mazars, Robert Adamson, said: “Although the economy is starting to pick up, many families are finding themselves left behind, weighed down by the cost of the day-to-day.

“Many people are struggling to afford the absolute essentials. It is hard to see the situation improving over the rest of the year, especially given the run-up to Christmas coming up in the autumn.”
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BUSINESS is blooming for Ripon florist Twisted Willow, which has seen its turnover grow by more than 60% in the past 12 months.

Owner Joanna McCrea said the business’s creative approach has paid off.

 She said: “The local wedding market is extremely buoyant at the moment thanks to the region’s superb venues and a growing trend amongst London brides to marry in Yorkshire.

“Our creative approach has really paid off as people are increasingly looking for something unique as well as excellent customer service.”

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GLOBAL furniture retailer JYSK will open a store in Pontefract this summer.
 
JYSK (pronounced Yusk) is already one of the world’s biggest retail furniture groups.  It recently broke the 2000th store barrier internationally.  
 
The Pontefract opening will create jobs for the town. 
 
Steve Stenhouse, country manager for JYSK UK said: “We are particularly keen on the location we have identified in Pontefract and aim to add choice and quality at irresistible prices to an already dynamic retail market place.”