Business Diary: May 28

Harrogate-based Neil Beasley, Yeadon-based David Griffiths and Huddersfield-based John Billington worked on the Arthritis Research UK garden, designed by Mr Beardshaw. The garden received a Gold Award.

The trio were involved in building the dry stone wall feature within the garden.

Mr Beasley said: “It was a great experience to be involved with the Chelsea Flower Show and helping to transform Chris Beardshaw’s designs into reality was a real privilege.

“It was a labour of love in the end, as we shaped nine tonnes of stone, each one sculpted by hand, into Chris’s vision for the end of the garden forming part of the contemporary glass retreat. To be part of the Centenary Show at Chelsea and to be part of a garden that has won gold was amazing.”

The garden was project managed by Yorkshire-based Keith Chapman Landscapes.

Trust turns to dust

WORKERS are divided over whether they love or loathe their boss, a new survey has suggested.

Apparently almost half of people in the UK do not trust their boss, while 48 per cent of people do not have faith in his or her integrity.

However, the Yorkshire Building Society Trust Study, based on a survey of 2,000 people, found that it is not only the top dog that workers are wary of – almost a quarter feel the same about the rest of their colleagues, with only 11 per cent claiming they trusted all of their workmates.

The new research highlighted that the more you earn, the more you apparently trust – with those on the lowest incomes less likely to put faith in co-workers and employers.

Across the UK, 57 per cent of people with a household income of less than £25,000 don’t trust work colleagues, compared to only 13 per cent of those taking home more than £75,000, the study found.

Prof Karen Pine, of the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Psychology, said: “Trust is based on the belief that another person has our interests at heart and it is not uncommon for bosses to put business needs before those of the individual.

“Within the workplace, issues about money create competition between colleagues and where there is competition there will inevitably be a loss of trust. ”

Built on sandbags

FLOODSAX, the company behind an innovative flood defence sandbag, has big international expansion plans.

The company has just announced the appointment of a Nigerian distributor to sell its “‘sandless sandbags’ ahead of the deluge expected next month.

Think of Nigeria and rain is probably the last thought in your mind, but while Africa isn’t the most obvious place when it comes to flooding, Nigeria can be badly affected by torrential rain and last year the worst floods in more than 50 years killed 363 people.

FloodSax contain a super-absorbent polymer that causes the bags to inflate when they come into contact with water. Once they absorb the water they transform from large ‘pillowcases’ to become as tough and heavy as sandbags.

But Nigeria isn’t the most unlikely place FloodSax has exported to.

The company behind the sandbags, Huddersfield-based Environmental Defence Systems, has also shipped out to international hotspots such as Australia, Singapore, Thailand, the US, South America and India. But perhaps the most unlikely destination is the Middle East. The incongruity of one of the hottest places in the world needing flood defence sandbags hasn’t escaped Environmental Defence Systems’ managing director Richard Bailey.

“I have to say it tickles me that we sell sandless sandbags to the Arabs,” he said.

Greenhouse effect

A YOUNG chef from Leeds City College has taken the leap to run his own business, after taking up an enterprise opportunity provided by Citu, the team behind pioneering low carbon development Greenhouse.

Citu runs a number of different initiatives at Greenhouse in Beeston, to encourage greener living and a more sustainable lifestyle. In line with these values it was important to them that when revamping the deli, they identified local talent to support and involve in the opportunity.

As a result they have provided a launch platform for 18-year-old Bradley Dunhill who has now set up in business to service Greenhouse residents, corporate clients of the in-house event space Greenspace, and the local community in and around Beeston.