In Brief: Fenner; Elite Taxis; Yorkshire Marathon Corporate Relay; Business Excellence Awards

FENNER today said it anticipates a return to growth in its 2013/4 financial year. 

Following a successful end to its financial year, the Hessle-based industrial belting and reinforced polymer technology business said its balance sheet remains strong and net debt at August 31 2013 was better than expected at approximately £125m, having benefitted from the timing of payment of capital expenditure, reduction in working capital and exchange rate movements. It said that it expects its financial results for the year ended August 31 2013 will be in line with expectations.

Fenner said trading conditions across the group have remained broadly unchanged since the interim management statement in July. The firm expects to release its results for the full year in November.

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A NEW taxi firm has been launched in Harrogate with the latest and most advanced communication technology, a fleet of cars and expansion plans to become one of the largest taxi service providers in the area.

Elite Taxis has been formed by ten Harrogate-based taxi drivers and has invested heavily to become one of the first taxi firms in the region to use the latest in GPRS-based communication technology for call handling and customer communication which includes long-distance contact.

The company plans to increase the fleet to 30 cars within the first year.

One of the founding partners Paul Williamson said: “Between us we have extensive experience in the industry and believe there is a gap in the market for providing a truly personal service with reliability, cost effectiveness and efficiency at the core of everything we do.

“We aim to be the best in the market and have ambitious expansion plans; we welcome approaches from experienced, professional taxi drivers who want to be part of a growing concern.”

The company will be based from offices at Claro Court Business Centre, which has seen the creation of a number of office jobs.

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COMPANIES are being given the chance to make sporting history by having a crack at Yorkshire’s new corporate challenge.

The James Potter Eggs Yorkshire Marathon Corporate Relay forms part of the first Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, which sold out of general places within days of being launched, leaving team entry as now the only way to be part of the event on October 20.

Hundreds of businessmen and women from scores of companies will be bidding to be crowned Yorkshire’s fastest firm. Legal companies, major manufacturers, architectural practices and banks are among those to have already secured their relay places.

The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon is being staged by a new company under the Jane Tomlinson’s For All Events umbrella – the legacy of the late fundraiser of the same name who raised almost £2m for charity through a series of amazing endurance feats.

All 5,500 initial general entries sold out just three days after the event was launched in January. Capacity was increased to 6,100 – with the additional places being snapped up within just two minutes. In addition, a further 500 people will take part in the corporate relay.

Event Lead Lisa Ashcroft said: “The corporate relay will bring a whole new dimension to the marathon and is a great opportunity for businesses to get involved in what will be one of the major days in the North’s sporting event calendar for 2013.”

Entry into the James Potter Eggs Yorkshire Marathon Corporate Relay is £300 for a team of six. 

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COMPANIES are being urged to enter the annual Goole and Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate the best of local business and offer opportunities to be recognised in categories: Learning and Development, Innovative Business, Marketing Excellence, Charity of the Year, Customer Service Excellence, Employee of the Year, New Business of the Year, Small Employer of the Year, Large Employer of the Year, and due to popular demand and new for this year three additional categories – Retail Business of the Year, Manufacturing Business of the Year and Service Sector Business of the Year.

The Awards, which are run in association with the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, will be presented at an event on February 28 at Goole High School where the evening will be compered by Look North’s Harry Gration.

Chairman of the Awards committee, Garrey Haase, said: “The 2014 Awards present a fantastic opportunity for the local businesses of Goole and Howdenshire to be recognised for their professional services to the local community. They present a fabulous occasion to network with colleagues from a range of business industries, being attended by local stake-holders, employers and elected representatives. We welcome entries from all sizes of businesses and see the Awards as a real highlight in the business annual calendar.”