In brief: Johnston hit; Accountants merge; Free seminar and more

REGIONAL newspaper group Johnston Press has been hit by another dramatic fall in advertising revenue.

In an interim management statement the business said the decline had worsened with total advertising revenue for the 44 weeks to November 1 down 15.5%, compared with 9.5% in the first half.

The group, which owns newspapers across Yorkshire including the Yorkshire Post and the Sheffield Star, said advertising had been hit by substantial falls in property advertising combined with falls in other areas.

It said: “In weeks 27-44, there were year-on-year declines in property of 48.4%, employment 32.1%, motors 24.3% and display 12.1% on a like-for-like and constant currency basis.”

While print advertising has continued to slide the group saw strong growth in digital advertising of 36.8%.

Johnston, which has seen its shares fall more than 60% to 19p in the last two months, said it would now focus on managing its cost base and reducing debt levels which currently stand at £465m.

It said it expects to deliver a full-year operating profit at the lower end of current market expectations.

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SCUNTHORPE-BASED accountants Taylor Patchett & Co have merged with national accountancy firm HW Chartered Accountants.

The company  was founded in 1925 and also has an office in Brigg.

HW Chartered Accountants is a leading business advisory and accountancy firm, with other offices in the region in Leeds, Sheffield, Grimsby and Hull and is part of the Haines Watts Group national network of more than 50 offices, one of the top 15 accountancy firms in the UK.

Jennifer Toulson, managing partner of HW’s Grimsby and Hull offices, said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Taylor Patchett. The firm has built up a very solid reputation over more than 80 years.”

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A FREE seminar at Sheffield United Football Club on November 18 will offer expert advice from a Yorkshire’s lawyer on the continuing threat of litigation.

David Pugh, insurance litigation specialist at the Sheffield office of Halliwells, will highlight the issues of historic company liabilities and the complexity of the law surrounding them.

He will also address why insurance is not always in place and provide a practical guide on how to deal with uninsured claims.

Mr Pugh said: “Asbestos litigation is a continuing threat to all businesses and claims can have a significant impact in terms of the expense and resources needed to address the issue.”

For more information e mail marianne.pujol@halliwells.com

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PROFESSIONAL services firms throughout Yorkshire are being targeted by corporate social responsibility champion Business in the Community as part of a nationwide drive to recruit new members to its ProHelp programme.

Yorkshire & Humber ProHelp currently has more than 100 members including firms from legal, property, marketing and accountancy sectors which last year provided £250,000 worth of professional support to 135 voluntary organisations across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

With an aim to double this professional support over the next five years, more professional services firms from across the region are being called upon to take part in the programme.

As part of National Pro Bono Week, which runs until Friday, ProHelp will be running a professional workshop and lunch in Leeds to demonstrate the positive effect that ProHelp members have had on community groups and organisations throughout the region and to outline the benefits of joining to potential new members.

The Leeds event will take place on Friday from 10am to 12.30pm at Leeds Civic Hall.