In a ballot held during February employees voted three to two in favour of a pay deal which reduces the working week by one hour in return for flexible working practices. This includes Remploy's knitwear factory in York, which has 87 employees.

Remploy's personnel director, Ray Fletcher, said: "Our employees have recognised the need for more flexible working hours to meet customer requirements, and this is yet another phase in the modernisation of operations."

He continued: "This is a major step forward. We now have a formal commitment by all the Trade Unions to actively work in partnership with the company."

Sights set on Taiwan

Mutually-beneficial long-term links between York and Taiwan are in the pipeline.

Paul Murphy, chief executive of York's Inward Investment Board, and Professor Tony Robards, pro vice-chancellor of York University, recently returned from a trip to Taiwan. Their brief was to raise York's profile as a science city.

Mr Murphy said: "We had a fascinating trip, making well over 40 contacts. I don't think anything is likely to come out of Taiwan in the short-term, but if the City of York is prepared - along with the business community and the university - to build long-term links with Taiwan, then a great deal will be gained.

"Taiwan is at the start of a profound shift in its economy to manufacture higher-value added goods and services. Traditionally, goods have been produced very fast. The Taiwanese now realise they have to think long-term, fusing ideas with vision to undertake research and development. However, this has not been their forte and they're looking for help."

Motor dealer in two parts

A long-established North Yorkshire motor dealership is to split into two separate companies.

Walfred Motors is developing into Walfred Motors and Peter Stockhill Ltd. While retaining Walfred Motors in York and Hull, David Wilbraham will take control of the Volvo and Hyundai franchises. Peter Stockhill Ltd will hold the Chrysler Jeep franchise.

For the time being, however, both companies will remain at 479 and 481 Hessle Road, Hull, respectively. Walfred Motors, based in York and Hull, will become a Solus Volvo operation.

Walfred Motors, a Volvo dealership for 20 years, was acquired by the partners in 1991. Over the past eight years, it has expanded, with the partners setting up Walfred Motors in York for Volvo and Chrysler Jeep in 1993.

The Hull dealership also gained the Chrysler Jeep and Hyundai franchises.

"We realised some time ago we had two very strong, growing brands and that each would develop more positively if they were managed within separate companies," they said in a joint statement.

Management team buys in

Specialist suppliers of water gardening products, Bradshaws Direct, has been taken over in a management buy-in deal for a substantial undisclosed sum.

The new management team at the York-based firm, consisting of managing director, Andrew Ferrey, and commercial director, David Fordham, have hinted that other acquisitions could also be on the agenda.

Mr Ferrey said: "Bradshaws is the leading player in the water gardening market which has been the strongest-growing sector in the gardening products market in the last five years. We recognised the consumer interest in this market and it is our intention to consolidate and grow the business by expanding and diversifying within the gardening and related markets."

The 19-year-old company, which has 27 employees, supplies products by mail order nationwide.

The buy-in team has been supported by organisations across the North of England. Advisors to the deal were Leeds-based BKR Haines Watts Corporate Finance and solicitors Read Hind Stewart.

Seeking further acquisitions

Specialist engineering group United Industries plc has reduced its borrowings and is looking to make further acquisitions.

The York-based group made its intention clear, despite posting a £2.75 million reduction in pre-tax profit for the year ended January 2, 1999 - from £3.6 million to £850,000. Turnover rose by £21 million from £38 million to £59 million.

United's chief executive Roy Freeland explained the drop in profit: "The major improvement programme took its toll," he said. "In addition, we have spent £4.4 million in the year on one-off costs such as redundancy, consulting and closing fees."

Mr Freeland outlined the plans for the current year. "Hopefully, the City will be adequately impressed with us so we can make some more acquisitions in the UK engineering sector. We will apply our proven skills to improve those businesses in a very short time.

"In addition, we aim to dispose of some of our businesses, if we can get sensible prices."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.