Business Diary: December 6

As the season of goodwill approaches, Diary’s inbox is usually groaning under the weight of emails from employment lawyers about the “perils of the Christmas party”.

As all good employers know, staff who enjoy a little too much of the Christmas spirit can cause a HR hangover that lasts into the New Year.

Diary is a tad sceptical. Aren’t these guidelines for “good behaviour” at Christmas parties simply common sense?

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But some warnings are worth heeding. What if for example, there’s an accident on Christmas Eve and nobody knows how to save a life?

St John Ambulance is urging businesses in Yorkshire to ensure they are manned by first aid trained staff over Christmas. Failure to be aware of the risks could be a matter of life and death.

According to St John Ambulance, 79 per cent of businesses have days where there will be no trained first aiders on site.

It’s difficult to argue with Fred Owen, the training manager for St John Ambulance in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, who told Diary: “First aiders could be the most missed employees of all if something goes wrong over Christmas.”

Giving the smoothest gift of all to children

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DIRECTORS of Ilkley-based FRUT, Michael Booth and John Phillipson, are donating 2,300 bottles of fruit smoothies to Bradford’s Big Give campaign.

Be Involved’s annual campaign provides gifts to Bradford’s disadvantaged children at Christmas.

Mr Booth said: “We know nourishment can be difficult to sustain with children in any family but repeated evidence shows that children from poorer backgrounds are more likely to suffer nutritionally.

“Although Christmas is often about toys and presents, one of the biggest gifts is good health and by effectively giving away 4,600 portions of fruit through our donation of FRUT, we’re hoping to put some zest and goodness into this year’s Big Give Christmas gift packages.”

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FRUT was established in 2009 supplying smoothie dispensing machines in head offices, motorway services, schools and colleges.

Three months ago, the six-strong team launched its first bottles of four natural blends of fruit smoothies.

Mr Booth added: “We’re an altruistic company and alongside the Big Give, we’re also in talks with Kidney Research UK who would like their logo to appear on our bottle.”

Bean counter keeps coffee costs in check

FINANCE directors haven’t earned the nickname “bean counters” for nothing.

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At Renew Holdings’ recent results presentation, finance director John Samuel made it clear he’s an eye for detail.

He recalled an eyebrow-raising bill from a US investment bank for arranging a high-yield debt issue, received while he was FD of electronics group Filtronic.

“I remember when the bill came through,” said Mr Samuel. “It was $50 per person for the provision of coffee and pastries.”

Asked about the £1.36m costs for Renew’s acquisition of engineering business Amco, Mr Samuel made it clear he’s scrutinised the bills.

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“That’s for our friends, the lawyers, the accountants and the bankers,” he said. “There are no pastries in there.”

Special welcome from children of Jinja

Chris Bevington normally spends his days designing railway infrastructure for Amey.

But the 25-year-old swapped the rail track for dirt tracks when he flew to Africa with members of his local church St Michael-le-Beflrey in York, to make sure his recent fundraising efforts were put to good use helping children in need.

He completed a 10k run to raise more than £1,260 for the Dayspring community school near Jinja in Uganda.

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Mr Bevington helped with maths and science lessons, wowing the children with scientific experiments including a water bottle rocket kit that he brought from the UK.

He also helped to build the school’s new dormitory.

Mr Bevington said: “Each morning when I entered the classroom the children stood and shouted loudly with big smiles ‘Welcome visitor, you are most welcome, you are special and unique’.

“This is my most treasured memory from my trip,” he said.

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