Business Diary: April 3

The Leeds-based group blamed a slight fall in the penetration of its software among GP surgeries partly on “aggressive sales and marketing behaviour by competitors”.

The finer details? A competitor had been offering incentives including tea at the Ritz in return for doctors using its software. That same competitor was hauled before the Advertising Standards Agency for making “denigrating” claims about Emis.

Chief executive Sean Riddell said Emis instead prefers to focus on its own “merits”.

Champion stuff

CHAPS at the Charles Stanley office in Leeds are walking proud after the team they sponsor, the Darlington Mowden Park Under 11’s mini rugby team, became the Durham County Champions for the fourth year running.

The tournament saw the Under 11’s concede only one try all day while scoring 11 on the way to the final where they met a tough and well-drilled Billingham side.

However the team rose to the occasion and scored two tries in the final through some exceptional and consistent rugby by the whole team to emerge as victors.

Investment manager at the Charles Stanley Leeds office Simon Martin said: “I really cannot say just how proud we are to be associated with this fine group of players.

“It is a wonderful achievement and the team played some exceptional rugby to win the county championships.”

The Yorkshire border is just a drop kick away from Darlington Mowden Park and the boys’ aim is to make it a double on the Yorkshire side of the border next year.

Celebrity guest

When Diary rang the head of food manufacturer Symington’s on Sunday to ask about the company’s plans to raise new finance, it wasn’t quite expecting the answer it got.

After chatting for a few minutes, chief executive David Salkeld said: “I’ve got to go, I’m just dropping off some friends at the station.”

It later transpired that one of those friends was celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott who had stayed over at Mr Salkeld’s house following the company’s 21st birthday party in Leeds on Saturday night. The Leeds-based company, which can trace its roots back to 1827, was celebrating the 21 years since the company was founded as the Brand Partnership. The company later changed its name to Symington’s in 2006.

Harriott, whose range of dried foods is manufactured by Symington’s, led the awards presentation at the event, which was held at the casino Alea Leeds at Clarence Dock.

“It was a fantastic night,” said Mr Salkeld. “Ainsley helped us to celebrate and then we carried on the party back at my house.”

Man with a van . . .

Not many celebrities can claim to have a camper van named after them.

Theo Paphitis, the star of BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den, came face to face with his four-wheeled namesake this week.

Mr Paphitis provides mentoring for budding tycoons, through his small business Sunday twitter feed.

Harrogate Motorhomes owner Annette Wingate was so grateful for his help, that she named her newest vehicle Theo.

She drove “Theo” down to Egbaston to meet the man who helped her to win £15,000-worth of business in a matter of days.

She told Diary: “We’re enormously grateful for Theo’s help and support. Naming our newest vehicle after him just seemed a great way to express it – although we can’t claim all the credit.

“The idea came from on online competition we ran which was won by Harrogate’s Anna Glazier, who suggested Theo first.

“There were plenty of other great ideas too but Theo seemed the natural choice after all the help we received from the real one.”

Around 400 delegates from 200 small firms enjoyed a champagne reception and lunch before a two-hour presentation from Mr Paphitis.

“His advice was to have passion and belief in your business – and to do something else if you don’t love what you’re doing,” said Ms Wingate.

“It was an inspirational day and a fantastic opportunity to meet other small businesses and some now making millions.”

Harrogate Motorhomes was founded in August 2010 after Ms Wingate set out to investigate the possibility of hiring a camper van from a local company.

When she couldn’t find one, she decided to launch her own business.