Business Diary: February 9

OVER the last 150 years, the Leeds Club – or Club LS1 as it is now called – has hosted some illustrious events.

Diary can safely say that few of them have revolved around walking, talking traffic cones.

The club was chosen for the launch of businesswoman Chris Madeley's children's book – The Cones.

Mrs Madeley got the idea for her first book 15 years ago, when she was stuck in a traffic jam on the M1.

She had a flash of inspiration. Why not write a children's book about traffic cones that come to life?

A decade and a half later, the Leeds author, who is married to Mr Yorkshire Keith Madeley, chairman of the Yorkshire Society, is hoping her stories, in the traditions of Teletubbies and Postman Pat, will become a bestseller. The launch event attracted 120 people, who had the chance to peruse Mrs Madeley's book – The Cones: The Beginning – which, fittingly, has been printed in York.

According to Mr Madeley, the event provided plenty of food for thought.

Mr Madeley told Diary: "We had phone calls and emails all day suggesting new ideas and pledging support. Graham Ibbeson (the Yorkshire artist who created a sculpture of the late comedian

Eric Morecambe) has already started on a cone sculpture which

we hope can eventually be displayed in Leeds."

Finnish a non-starter

Jamie Allan has worked for Scandinavian stainless steel manufacturer Outokumpu for more than 30 years, but he has yet to learn more than a few words in Finnish.

"It's one of the hardest languages in the world," he told Diary last week.

"The Finnish have no expectation of anyone learning it. My Finnish goes as far as 'two beers'!"

Outokompu employs 530 people at two sites in Sheffield. Glaswegian Mr Allan, a member of the group's executive committee, divides his time between the steel city and Helsinki.

Moscow intrigue

Troubled sub-prime lender Cattles appears to be suffering from an identity crisis.

Last week's announcement about another wave of job losses at the Batley-based group left investors scratching their heads.

The statement referred throughout to Moscow plc, a previously unheard-of company.

"We've been left out in the cold," said one disgruntled shareholder.

A hastily drafted replacement statement soon followed: "The company name throughout the announcement should read 'Cattles plc' and not Moscow plc' as previously stated."

Apparently Moscow is the code name for the company, used to disguise Cattles' identity in draft communications. Well that's blown it.

The white stuff

The business world is full of men who like to talk about the Olympic spirit – without any experience of it – but here is one who really know his stuff.

Martin Allison, dean of the business and law faculty at Leeds Metropolitan University is also chairman of the board of the British Bobsleigh Association.

He'll be sharing his insights on modern business, the Olympics and how to be successful in both fields at at Leeds Metropolitan University next week. The presentation, on Thursday February 11, begins at 6.30pm with refreshments from 6pm. To book a place email [email protected]

Open-plan Archie

Archie Norman, the man who introduced the term colleagues to the supermarket world to make workers feel more valued, is apparently sharing a bit of the love at ITV. The former Asda boss, once renowned for insisting that the management team wore the same green badges as the checkout staff, has sent round an email to his new ITV colleagues telling them he is available for chats in his open-plan office on the 17th floor.

Colleagues have also been asked to share their ideas with him, although they are hoping it won't become compulsory for everyone to roll up their sleeves and muck in Asda-style.

All in a good cause

SO what is it everyone really wants to do, all in a good cause of course? That's right, pelt the finance director with wet sponges.

Mark Buxton, of Bradford-based Optima Legal, was the man who took the pain as part of a fundraising day for the Haiti appeal which pulled in nearly 3,000. Anthony Ruane, partner with the firm, thanked those who gave prizes, including a flying lesson, electronics and champagne, and said they were delighted at raising so much.