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June 9 Business Events
Cuts and thrust of the IT world The atest press release from IT services company Affiniti has an unfortunate ring to it.
The release, from the subsidiary of Hull-based telecoms group KCom, is entitled: "Cut now, suffer later – kneejerk staff reductions risk impeding future growth".
Could that be the same Affiniti that recently axed 150 jobs as revenue slumped?
Affiniti, which networks big businesses and public-sector
bodies, says its research shows 37 per cent of IT decision-makers admit they will be cutting costs by reducing IT staff levels rather than considering other solutions.
Still, at least KCom's job cuts look to be behind it, with executive deputy chairman Bill Halbert saying that further cost savings will
now come from increased efficiency and better deals with suppliers.
Taking time to get things right
As the new head of PriceWaterhouse- Coopers in the north of England, Steve Denison inherits the issue of Cattles, the stricken sub-prime lender for which PWC is external auditor.
The Batley-based company announced earlier this year that the accounts for 2007 would have to be restated following a breakdown in internal controls.
Mr Denison said that PWC had advised Cattles to take as much time as necessary to make sure the current investigation is completed fully, and then take decisions on the back of those findings.
"If there is an early knee-jerk (reaction], it is often the wrong thing to do," said Mr Denison.
Top marks for M&S birthday bash
Marks & Spencer's 125th anniversary dinner, in Yorkshire, was a very slick affair.
The great and the good gathered in Leeds to toast the retailer's remarkable achievement and remember its fine Yorkshire heritage. Like so many great businesses, M&S has its roots in this region.
Those present celebrated the occasion with fine food and wine (though our Sancerre was corked) and a string quartet playing the works of, er, Pink. Sir Stuart Rose, the chairman, was on good form, visiting each table at the Great Hall at the University of Leeds, to talk to guests.
He also drew attention to the 16 glamorous hostesses of the evening.
"You might have noticed the girls wearing rather delightful grey and white spotted dresses," said Sir Stuart.
There's an understatement. The university precinct was full of the women in red lipstick. It was like a Helmut Newton photo shoot.
A Python, a lemur and a reason to work
John Cleese revealed to journalists at last week's Yorkshire International Business Convention, in Harrogate, the real reason why he agreed to speak at the conference.
Mr Cleese, who turns 70 in October, said that, until he is 76, he has to pay alimony of $1m a year to his soon-to-be-ex-wife, American-born psychotherapist Alyce Faye Eichelberger.
He said: "I shall have a very good 76th birthday."
Asked if it was the reason he is still working, he said: "It's why I do some jobs, like dragging myself up to a god-forsaken place like Yorkshire."
He added: "I am joking. I woke up this morning thinking, 'I like this place'."
The Monty Python legend also revealed that there is a species of lemur named after him.
The comedy writer and actor, who admitted his favourite work is his 1998 documentary, In The Wild – Lemurs With John Cleese, said: "That's my claim to fame. The lemur is very small, very uninteresting and brown and it's called Avahi cleesei or Cleese's woolly lemur. I'm very proud."
Honest – the claim for two human statues
Eight out of 10 Yorkshire folk are scrupulously honest when it comes to claiming their business expenses, but a naughty 20 per cent are on the fiddle.
According to a survey by Premier Inn, two out of 10 Yorkshire businessmen and women have exaggerated their expenses or claimed for something
personal.
Apparently, we are also claiming more expenses than ever. Premier Inn says this is due to workers ensuring that every receipt is submitted as we keep a closer eye on our pennies during the recession.
Workers lost out on an average of 576 last year by not submitting all their receipts, but this year they are rifling through wallets and pockets to make sure they submit every single one.
It's a time-consuming job, with each worker taking an average 12 hours a year to calculate their business expenses.
But while business folk may be generally honest, there have been some weird and wonderful claims. According to Premier Inn, they have included the services of a camel, a sick bucket, two human statues and even an aeroplane.
We asked, but they wouldn't tell us where they worked...
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Weather for Yorkshire
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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