Business Diary: January 5

It sounds like the ultimate job for someone looking to unleash their inner child.

Sheffield's Electric Works is advertising in the Yorkshire Post this week for a person to manage its helter skelter.

The building has become one of the most high profile office spaces in the country since it opened in March 2009, due to the fact it houses the UK's only work-based helter skelter.

The post also involves managing the workspaces for the digital and media companies who are based in the building, including Warp Films and research specialists Bunnyfoot.

Toby Hyam, managing director of Creative Space Management, which manages the building, said: "We're looking forward to seeing the calibre of people who apply for what must be one of the most unusual positions in the country."

Better class of banger

Motor dealer JCT600 has described the government's car scrappage scheme – known as cash for bangers – as a fantastic boost for the UK car industry.

But the scheme has attracted some cars that might not properly be classified as wrecks, according to the family-owned Yorkshire business.

JCT600, which has completed nearly 1,000 deals under the scheme, has noticed some quite good cars destined for the salvage yard.

Andrew Coulthurst, a sales director, said: "We had one Volkswagen customer in York who traded in a 1990 Mini with no previous owners that had only done 9,000 miles; a customer at Mazda in Leeds traded in a 1992 MX5 that she had owned from new for a Mazda 3; and a Bradford customer who bought a Volkswagen Passat and traded in a Jaguar XJ8 with only two previous owners and 67,000 miles on the clock.

"Some of these cars have obviously been much-cherished, the purchaser of a new Volkswagen Golf in York who traded in an Alfa Romeo that she had paid 18,000 for brand new, even asked if she could keep the car badges as a memento.

"Although it's sad to see some of these cars heading for the crusher, it's a positive move for the environment with the CO2 emissions from a new car likely to be around 17 per cent less than those from a 10-year-old banger."

Calling cards

You have to feel sorry for the call centre workers at First Direct in Leeds. Hundreds had to work through Christmas and New Year to offer customers the 24/7 service the bank promises.

But apparently it wasn't all hard work.

Of the 16,000 calls they received on Christmas Eve and the 1,400 on Christmas Day, a large proportion were from satisfied customers who didn't actually have a query they just wanted to wish the staff a Merry Christmas.

In fact one customer who goes under the name of "bigajm" even tweeted to say he'd called up First Direct to wish them a Merry Christmas.

His tweet concluded: "Got a bloke though rather than a giggly Scottish girl. Luck of the draw!"

Apparently the call centre also received some interesting calls on New Year's Eve from customers who had a few too many, but none of the messages were printable.

Ready for Christmas?

No sooner has one Christmas passed than the next one rears its head.

The award for the earliest Christmas reminder comes from Yorkshire Building Society, which has just launched a Christmas saver account.

"Ease the financial burden of Christmas 2010!" shouts the email.

"Whilst I'm sure next Christmas is the last thing on people's mind, there's no better time than the present to start saving," said Iain Cornish, chief executive of the society.

While there's a lot to be said for planning ahead, most people are probably still worrying about paying off the last one.

Vote for charity

Those charitable souls at Leeds Building Society have donated 1,279 to St George's Crypt, a charity for the homeless based in Leeds.

The money was raised through the charitable incentive donation scheme, in which the mutual donates money for votes received from members following the annual general meeting.

Members selected which partner charity they wanted to receive the donation from their vote.

Martin Patterson, of St George's Crypt, said: "We would like to thank Leeds Building Society members for their generosity and support throughout 2009.

"During the holiday period, and the current cold snap, their support is much enjoyed and appreciated by our clients."