Business Diary: December 21

If there's one Yorkshire executive who knows football, it's Spice's new chairman, Sir Roy Gardner.

Sir Roy, the one-time chairman of Manchester United and chairman

of Plymouth Argyle, joins the Leeds-based utility support services firm to complete its heavyweight board line-up.

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He will be alongside new chief executive David Owens, the former Thames Water CEO, after Spice was bought by private equity firm Cinven.

Mr Owens said there'll be no footballing rivalry in the boardroom.

"I support the wife and kids," he said.

"I've got no particular (football) allegiance.

"Part of the selection process is to make sure that the personalities work, and I must admit I think he's a nice bloke who I can get on with."

Stocks to flirt with

Stockbroker Finncap has an innovative new approach to stock picking.

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In a note to clients, analysts at the brokerage suggest playing a dating game with telecoms stocks.

"Snog, Marry, Avoid is the modern equivalent of a parlour game where one has to choose one activity to undertake with one of each of three names presented," said said.

"With the investment equivalents as Hold, Buy, or Sell, outcomes change with time, tastes, and appetite for risk."

Finncap suggests "marrying" KCom because of its growth potential. The Hull-based telecoms firm is enjoying a renaissance after a tough restructuring.

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On the "snog" side, it suggests investors "flirt with Telecom Plus for its income". Telecoms group Daisy is tarred with the "avoid" brush, because of its lack of yield and "much higher risk".

Twitter party

The decision by a Yorkshire digital agency to dump its traditional office Christmas party in favour of a seasonal celebration shaped entirely by Twitter and Facebook could have ended in disaster but instead it ended in charity.

Last Thursday Mixd, based in Harrogate, launched its festivities by posting a tweet to all the agency's followers, who responded with suggestions on where the team should go and what they should do.

The event unfolded purely as a result of input from the social networks.

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Digital director Phil Shackleton said: "The tweet that started it off was from the charity Henshaws who asked us to pick up some Santa costumes and collect money from them. We raised over 80 and it was an unusual start to the evening." The five staff also ended up drinking tea in Betty's and drinking a wide range of drinks in various bars around the town.

Mr Shackleton added: "It was a very different kind of Christmas party but it was a tremendous success and the unexpected nature of what we did made it more exciting."

Airport concert

Meanwhile, passengers at Leeds Bradford International Airport joined in the festive spirit yesterday with the help of a charity carol concert in the terminal.

Members of the Aireborough and Wharfedale community gathered with local community members to entertain passengers. The carollers, led by the airport's chaplain and Guiseley minister Reverend Nick Baker, sang a number of traditional carols in the terminal.

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The money will go to Action for Children, who provide help and guidance to neglected and vulnerable children in Yorkshire.

Tony Hallwood, LBIA commercial director, said: "The carol concert has brought lots of festive cheer to the terminal and helped raise money for Action for Children. I am delighted that Leeds Bradford Airport was able to join together with members of the local community to help such a worthwhile cause."

The Rev Baker added: "Christmas is a time for celebrating as well as being an opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves."

On the cards

Diary would not be complete without a round-up of Christmas cards. There were few with a traditional religious theme – apart from an image of the Three Kings, well done to York public relations firm Robert Beaumont Associates – but there were many more with attractive designs.

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Leeds stockbrokers Redmayne Bentley, used one of the most striking images, the sun glowing a sharp yellow through the snow-bound branches of a leafless tree. The most innovative, however, came from Ilkley public relations firm Anita Morris Associates, a spectacular red snowflake print on a white background – simple but effective.

If any one thinks they can beat these efforts, however, then there is still time to drop off a card. And to all our readers, Happy Christmas.

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