CloseUP for Business Kirklees & Calderdale

ISSUE E 2 JUNE E 2015 5

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MID YORKSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - KIRKLEES & CALDERDALE EDITION

IN ASSOCIATION A WITH TOPICUK

FOR BUSINESS

The Big Interview

JAMES HOWARD FROM YORKSHIRE PAYMENTS

WakeямБeld Business Week COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE EVENT

Big Screen Weekends COMES TO ST GEORGES SQUARE HUDDERSFIELD

Halifax Film Company Kirklees Ki kle ees & Calderdale Cald lderd erdale erd ale e Edi E Ed Edition d ditio tio on Ju JJune2015 une2 ne ne e2 2015 015 01 15 1 WINSKir MAJOR EUROPEAN AWARD

Ghost communications Graphic Design; Marketing; PR; Event Managment; Magazines; Branding gill@ghost-communications.com - Tel: 07711 539047

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WELCOME We are pleased to have received such positive feedback following the April edition of this newlook Close Up for Business Magazine (which is produced in association with TopicUK), as we welcome again a wide range of contributors to the magazine.

Close Up for Business includes contributions from a wide range of experts; ensuring members are kept up to date with all the latest news.

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he publication of this early-summer edition happily coincides with the Chamber’s MY Conference Wakefield event which will be taking place on Wednesday 24th June at the newly-refurbished Unity Works. This promises to be one of the main attractions of the Wakefield Business Week which runs from 22nd to 26th June, alongside our confirmed partners: Brand Yorkshire, Copiserv (UK) Ltd, Topic UK, Unity Works and Wakefield First, we are looking forward to meeting members and the wider business community.

The Conference and the Business Week are very important to the Wakefield business community as well as the rest of the region. They provide networking opportunities for hundreds of like-minded people looking to create opportunities and do business with one another. As well as the many exhibitors in the major and minor Halls at Unity Works, the Conference also features a highly-impressive list of speakers who will be making presentations throughout the day.

With a range of topics from motivational and branding to customer service and the use of social media it is an event not to be missed. Furthermore a panel discussion will feature a

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top-class group of business leaders from our region, including Joanne Roney and Roger Marsh, respectively the Chief Executive of Wakefield Council and the Chairman of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

All of this firmly places your local Chamber at the very heart of business in the Mid Yorkshire region and as always we will continue to ensure that we are always in prime position to assist our member companies to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise within the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the LEP. We hope you enjoy reading this latest edition of Close Up. All of us in the Chamber team will continue to serve you to the very best of our ability in our efforts to connect, support and represent your very best interests throughout Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield Martin Hathaway Chief Executive Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Head OfficeYorkshire Chamber of Commerce Stadium Way, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 6PG Area office for Wakefield New Commerce House, 168 Westgate

CONTENTS &

SUMMARY

Wakefield WF2 9SR Area office for Calderdale Suite 8, Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre Halifax HX1 5ER Chief Executive Martin Hathaway Membership & Events Manager Tracy Smith Marketing Manager Rebecca Walker

06 13 40 FANTASTIC RESPONSE

SUPERFAST BROADBAND

BIG INTERVIEW

To TopicUK's second edition

Can you keep it up?

Not a perfect start

Ghost Publishing Limited Suite 8 Unity Works Westgate Wakefield WF1 1EP Tel: 07711 539047 editor@topicuk.co.uk www.topicuk.co.uk Advertising Sales Search for Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

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POLICY

Government policy essential for UK success

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH 2 award winning businesses

MY EXPORT HUB Get informed on export procedures

 Cover Image of James Howard courtesy of Huddersfield Examiner

Thank you to all those who have contributed to this issue of Close Up for Business. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent the view of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy 4 of information contained in the magazine, neither the Chamber nor the publisher can accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies it contains

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EDITORS NOTES

went to press, we found out we are shortlisted for a Wakefield Business Award! (read about this on page 6).

Speaking of Wakefield Business, we are delighted to be a partner on this years’ Business Week and Conference and hope to see you there where TopicUK will be exhibiting at the Conference on 24th June. The new edition will be out by then so you will be able to pick up your new copy which will feature all that is happening during the week.

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t’s been an extremely busy time since our last issue, as we celebrated our second birthday in Wakefield and of course, launched our second issue in Kirklees and Calderdale. We were delighted to see a huge number of companies turn up to support us and would like to thank everyone who contributed to the first issue with editorial and advertising.

A big thank you goes to the John Smith’s Stadium and in particular to Jaine Binns for her support in getting the first issue off the ground.

It’s been almost 6 weeks since we moved into Unity Works and we are delighted that a number of visitors have popped in to see us and share their news. The place is a hive of activity with lots of events going on, so if you are organising something this summer, either for your business or a personal party, its well worth enquiring.

As TopicUK's popularity grows, don’t forget, if you can’t get hold of a physical copy of the magazine, you can visit the TopicUK website www. topicuk. co.uk and view our digital version

Gill Laidler

I was also honoured to be nominated for a Yorkshire Woman of Achievement Award and as we

TopicUK EDITOR GILL LAIDLER CREATIVE DIRECTOR ROB BLACKWELL LOCAL HEROES JAMES BEATTIE, SEE IT NOW SPORTS THE ARTS MURRAY EDWARDS LEGAL MATTERS SARAH CROWTHER, CHADWICK LAWRENCE BEAUTY & WELLBEING MAXINE STEAD, ALEXANDER HOUSE SPA HEALTH PROHMS OF HUDDERSFIELD FOOD & RESTAURANT REVIEW ANTHONY HEGNEY, ASPARAGUS GREEN RECRUITMENT NADIO GRANATA, STAFFLEX SOCIAL MEDIA SINEAD SOPALA, RAMSDENS SOLICITORS BANKING JONATHAN ROSTRON, SANTANDER EDUCATION DARRYL WIDEMAN, SILCOATES SCHOOL MUSIC DEAN FREEMAN - UNITY WORKS SPORT SEAN JARVIS - HUDDERSFEILD TOWN FC

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MARK HANSON, HANSON CHARTERED SURVEYORS

Follow the editor @topic_uk If you would like to stock copies, call us on 07711 539047 or email the address below. Alternatively, to ensure you receive a regular copy, you can subscribe and receive your own copy direct by post for just £20 per annum. To subscribe email your details to editor@topicuk.co.uk

Tel: 07711 539047 - editor@topicuk.co.uk - www.topicuk.co.uk - Ghost Publishing Ltd - Suite 6 Unity Works Westgate Wakefield WF1 1EP

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 5

•• News

Round Up

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH AND SAFETY

Board Director Tim Welton presents CloseUp

Safecontractor, which is a leading health and safety assessment accreditation scheme, recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors and the certification is held in high regard within the industry.

FANTASTIC RESPONSE TO TOPICUK’S SECOND ISSUE

WCS specialise in water system assessment and take health and safety seriously. Currently employing four specialists and continuously employing five sub-contractors, WCS are principally involved in the public and private sector.

When TopicUK launched the second issue in Kirklees and Calderdale in April at The John Smith’s Stadium, we did not expect to see so much support from local businesses, from Huddersfield and Halifax and of course Wakefield as we celebrated our second birthday in the district.

The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was motivated by their aim for a uniform standard of health and safety practice across the business.

Andy Hunt, Technical Manager at Water Compliance Solutions said, “We are actively committed to ensuring all of our work practices comply with up to date Health and Safety Law. Having already gained accreditation from Construction Line and CHAS, the Safe Contractor Accreditation is the final official seal of approval we wanted to enable us to show our existing and potential clients how seriously we take the health and safety of our working environment and the protection of our employees and those working alongside us.”

In addition, we also relaunched Close Up for Business magazine, the official publication of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce that TopicUK now publish on a bi-monthly basis, instead of the previous quarterly.

“We were delighted with the amount of support we received,” said TopicUK editor, Gill Laidler, “not just on the day but on the run-up as many businesses submitted their press releases and supported with advertising. We would like to extend a big thank you to all those companies.

There are many benefits to gaining Safecontractor accreditation including enhancing a company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.

“Going forward it is our intention to grow the magazine, offering more support and free publicity to businesses throughout Mid-Yorkshire.”

Safecontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contracted services.

If you would like to know about any of our editions, submit an article, or take advantage of affordable advertising, contact Gill on 07711 539047 or email editor@topicuk.co.uk

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Images Thanks to Mark Flynn Contact: mfphoto@btinternet.com

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ocal Birstall based business, Water Compliance Solutions (WCS) has been awarded accreditation for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety.

YOUR CHILDREN’S WARDROBE CELEBRATES 5 YEARS OF SUCCESS A Denby Dale based designer childrenswear retailer is celebrating its fifth anniversary and year on year growth since its doors opened in 2010.

APPOINTMENTS AT MANROCHEM Manrochem Limited, the Huddersfield based process and project engineering company, are delighted to announce the recent additions to their project engineering team.

Ian Walker, Tony Mackley (Project Managers) and Dan Haddock (Design and CAD Engineer) have joined the company in recent months and bring a wealth of experience to the existing Project Department.

A Denby Dale based designer and childrenswear retailer is celebrating her fifth anniversary and year on year growth since the doors opened in 2010.

Your Children’s Wardrobe – which was established by Barnsley born business woman Amanda Evans – sells a wide range of classic childrenswear brands from the UK and beyond, with traditional designers including Maison Jean Bourget and Oilily sitting alongside up and coming brands such as ilovegorgeous.

Since its opening, the store has established a successful online presence and now services international customers as far away as Hawaii and Australia – and has enjoyed a consistent growth in sales over the last five years, despite the serious decline in the luxury childrenswear sector during the recession.

Amanda has also worked hard to raise the profile of the store using social media, which has led to an increased celebrity following and seen the business dress the children of famous faces including former Coronation Street actresses Katherine Kelly and Lucy-Jo Hudson.

To celebrate, staff and customers enjoyed a three day in-store celebratory event last week, where they enjoyed cupcakes, coffee and champagne as well as browsing the new summer collections from brands including IKKS and Absorba.

Edward Jennings (Business Director) said; “This is part of the continuing planned growth of the company and further enhances the Manrochem portfolio, with an increased order book and client list, plus the prospects of continuing growth in the economy, exciting times are envisaged by myself and all my colleagues at the company” Full information about the services Manrochem can offer can be found on www.manrochem.co.uk

Commenting on the success Amanda said:“Seeing the business grow has been fantastic, and a vast amount of work has gone in to ensuring that we only stock the best collections from brands that our customers – and their children – want to shop.”

She continued: “I started the business in the midst of an economic downturn, but we’ve invested time and money into constantly growing our presence in the market, taking ourselves online and developing a loyal customer base that know they can come to us for a very personal service. We’re very family orientated, my mum helps me during the buying season and works regularly in the shop and my son Seth influences a lot of the collections for boys that we have introduced.”

Amanda now plans to grow the business further over the next year, with an extended personal shopping service and new online platform all in the pipeline.

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 7

•• News

Round Up

YORKSHIRE TALENTS COMBINE TO WIN PRESTIGIOUS EUROPEAN AWARD

TOPICUK EDITOR NOMINATED FOR YORKSHIRE AWARD

Rainbow Trout Films of Ripponden has become the first UK firm to win a prestigious German Agency Award for their work on a local business website.

James Mellor, Director was contracted to create video animations for local business, Ocean Learning Ltd, also based in Ripponden.

The animations took the prize in the Film category of the German Agency Awards, which recognise creative excellence from all over Europe

Paul Kenny, MD of Ocean Learning said “When we relaunched our website we were looking for new ways to communicate our brand and our courses. We worked closely with Halifax based Prime Creative to create the new site and had the idea of using short animated films as a fresh and engaging way to communicate our message.”

James Mellor, Director of Rainbow Trout Films said “I entered the German Agency Award at the recommendation of a client I have worked with in Berlin, I thought it was a great way to showcase UK talent within the European arena. I am thrilled we were successful, and have been able to share this award with our partners on this project.”

“James, an experienced film-maker, worked really well with the team at Prime Creative and with local illustrator Kate Taylor to produce a series of short animations, that we thought captured the spirit of our business perfectly.”

“We are delighted that the awards highlight the wealth of talent available here in Calderdale” said Sue Fearnsides, Director at Prime Creative, James’s award demonstrates that our creative talents can compete with any in Europe.”

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opicUK Editor Gill Laidler was delighted recently to be nominated in the Yorkshire Women of Achievement Awards business category for her part in work on TopicUK.

The event, which took place at Dock Hall, Leeds in May, was a glittering lunch attended by more than 700 guests including local celebrities and TV presenters.

“There were just 66 nominees from all over Yorkshire and it was a real honour to be amongst them. I was also delighted to learn that fellow TopicUK board director, Claire Young from School Speakers was also a nominee.” as we went to press, we were also notified that TopicUK has been shortlisted for the New Business of the Year in the forthcoming Wakefield Business Awards taking place during Business Week on 25th June.

“TopicUK are partners at Business Week alongside the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce; Wakefield First and Brand Yorkshire, so being shortlisted for the award at the annual business dinner is extra special,” commented Gill.

James Mellor - Director 8

"Once again Claire Young’s School Speakers has also been shortlisted so we are keeping our fingers crossed for them.”

Wakefield Business Week takes place w/c 22nd June with many events taking place at Unity Works, including the main conference on the 24th.

TWENTY NEW CLIENTS FOR HUDDERSFIELD FIRM Many companies are reporting an upturn in business in 2015 and Pennine Business Partners’ is no exception, adding 20 new clients to their ranks in the last six months.

The new appointments will see Pennine Business Partners providing support in all three areas of their business Marketing, HR and Health & Safety and the companies span across a range of industries from IT and Manufacturing to Travel & Tourism.

The majority of the new clients are based in West Yorkshire, with a few based further afield including Lincoln, Lancashire and Cumbria.

Some of the locally based clients include, Crosland Heath Golf Club, Geckops who focus on the provision of home improvements, refurbishment, modernisation and environmental grounds services, to the public and commercial sectors. Plus, Lindley

based firm, Crest IT. Other companies include Movesmaster Ltd – a fast growing commercial relocation company based in Leeds, Gleaming Fresh Clean - an established domestic & commercial cleaning company based in Wigan and the prestigious, Castle Hotel based in the heart of Lincoln.

Lynn Bradley, Pennine Business Partners’ HR Specialist said, “We are excited about working with such a variety of businesses and the next six months and beyond will see us delivering a whole host of services to our new clients including social media management, PR support, re-brands, Health & Safety assessments and HR guidance and management.”

ORCHARD ENERGY SHORTLISTED FOR TELCA AWARD Rising Star award in 2014, has been short listed for the Consumer Champion award, sponsored by Haven Power.

Elland-based Orchard Energy has been recognised for its commitment to the wider energy industry by being shortlisted for The Energy Live Consultancy Awards (TELCA).

The national TELCA awards are in their third year and are designed to celebrate the achievements of energy consultants and brokers across the UK, attracting businesses of all sizes from the energy sector.Orchard Energy, which won the

The company had to demonstrate how it works with the wider industry for the benefit of its customers, focusing on its processes, the communication methods it employs, as well as showcasing real life examples of how they successfully improved a customer’s situation and used the experience to enhance the industry.

The black tie awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 25 June at The Mermaid Theatre, near Blackfriars Bridge in London.

Established in 2004, Orchard Energy Ltd is a fast growing energy management company specialising in energy purchasing, bureau services, energy solutions and water

management for business across the UK. Gareth Henderson, Orchard Energy’s group managing director, said: “The energy sector doesn’t stand still, so it’s important to stay ahead of the game.

At Orchard, we have a proactive approach, constantly monitoring the markets, and have built up solid relationships with our suppliers. We communicate regularly with all our clients on new legislations and shifts in the market, and they trust us to help them make the right decisions.

“It’s a competitive market out there, so being shortlisted for the Consumer Champion award is testament to the hard work our teams put in to making sure our clients get up-to-date information and the best advice to make informed choices on their energy purchasing.”

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 9

•• News

Round Up

HUDDERSFIELD CONSULTANCY FORECASTS 80% GROWTH Huddersfield-based All My Systems (AMS) is predicting 80% growth for the next financial year, after a successful 12 months in business.

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he brainchild of data expert Mark Pullar, this niche consultancy was established in spring 2014, with the goal of connecting clients’ business systems and driving sustainable growth through intelligent use of processes and customer information.

Twenty seven projects have been secured in that time, spanning the team’s web development, customer relationship management (CRM) and data engineering skill-sets. All have arisen from word of mouth or referral recommendations, with clients situated as nearby as Huddersfield and Leeds, but as far afield as Cork in Ireland.

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best use of the team’s consultancy time.

AMS’s target customer base is therefore micro businesses through to organisations with typically 25 staff, with turnover of up to £6.5m and a keen eye on sustainable business growth.

That said AMS has also already helped £30m businesses with their strategic development too. Mark explains: “Whether our clients are innovative and have recently expanded; or are drowning in spreadsheets, databases and paperwork and need to work smarter; they share that same desire to drive efficiencies with systems, processes and data.”

Located in the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, AMS now has three consultants on board, and is looking for its fourth employee to oversee the company’s own day-to-day operations.

Mark has worked on content-driven projects for more than ten years. In the earlier stages of his career, when Content Management Systems were unheard of by many, he was responsible for building a 1,500 page internal website for the University of Huddersfield.

Founder Mark said of this first year: “We left well-paid jobs to make All My Systems work, but that commitment is already paying dividends.”

A strict business focus is required to make

Briony Heyhoe-Pullar, Mark’s wife, is a fellow company director. Responsible for analysing projects – particularly web-based contracts – from the user’s perspective, Briony’s key focus is delivering customer service excellence.

Yorkshire firm flying ahead Huddersfield based leaflet Distribution Company, Mr Flyer has expanded by opening a new office in Leeds, due to huge demand.

Mr Flyer, one of Yorkshire’s leading direct mail firms was set up in January 2011 by Andrew Robinson at the youthful age of 24. Managing Director, Andrew, who lives in Marsh, Huddersfield now employs over 25 people who each share a passion for providing a reliable, expert distribution service.

MYcycle IS BACK! After the success of the inaugural MYcycle last year, Ramsdens have launched their charity cycle again for 2015, with a new route.

This year’s it will cover 60km (with some big climbs) and the team will be cycling and raising money for 2 local charities - the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice and the Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust.

This charity cycle is open to all and can be booked via British Cycling’s website www.britishcycling.org.uk.

Sinéad Sopala, Director of Marketing at Ramsdens says: “It’s going to be a tough challenge but it will be worthwhile as we’re raising money for fantastic local charities. The Tour de Yorkshire has inspired this event and long may it continue.”

The grand depart for this year’s cycle is at the Riverhead Pub in Marsden (Marsden being home to perfect cycling territory), combining the two most important things in any ride – fantastic roads and great food!

Gary Lodge, President of Huddersfield Star Wheelers comments: “The Huddersfield Star Wheelers are proud to be helping out for the second year.. The course is excellent, tough but not too long so we hope that it will encourage all levels of cyclists to join in.

Events like this can only happen with the support from brilliant people and this year it is being supported

by Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Barclays, Huddersfield Star Wheelers and Ossett Brewery.

It’s a privilege to be raising funds for such great local causes and working in conjunction with some brilliant businesses and other organisations, I can’t wait until the 18th of July!”

Entry to the cycle costs £15 (this includes snacks before you start, warm meal when you’ve finished and a finishers t-shirt).

Following the company’s year on year growth, Andrew chose to locate his second office in Leeds as opposed to neighbouring cities due to its excellent transport links and prime position within Yorkshire. The new location has allowed the business to offer additional leaflet distribution service in nearby cities, York and Harrogate. Andrew commented, “We decided to open a second office to meet the demands of our clients, the new offices allow us to serve our customers much more efficiently in this area.”

The new office has now created jobs for five members of staff with plans to employ a further four within the next three months. Andrew is a keen supporter of providing opportunities for young and unemployed people and he believes in rewarding staff for their hard work.

Andrew added, “This approach has worked well for my team and I am proud to provide a reliable, quality service to our array of clients throughout Yorkshire.”

For further information contact sinead.sopala@ramsdens.co.uk. You can follow #MYcycle on Twitter @ MidYorkshireNET and like us on Facebook to at https://www.facebook.com/ cycle4charitywithMYcycle

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 11

•• News

Round Up

RAMSDENS SLEEP OUT FOR CHARITY A team of staff from Ramsdens Solicitors were joined by 40 other local business people sleeping rough supporting Simon on the Streets.

The sleep out took place at the John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfield and was the first sleep out in the town for the charity.

SEEITNOWSPORTS.COM SEE FAST GROWTH

seeitnowsports.com

Huddersfield based sports events and corporate hospitality company seeitnowsports.com have completed a highly successful first year in business.

The company have worked with an array sporting legends including Sugar Ray Leonard, Paul Merson, Frank Bruno, Peter Shilton and Bryan Robson (pictured with Managing Director James Beattie) amongst others, and are looking to secure more big name events in the coming months. The companies services range from Sporting Dinner promotions to providing bespoke event services for corporate clients wishing to entertain guests and clients including tickets for all the major sporting events, a day at the races, Spanish football weekends and Golf weekends.

The team raised £582.50 and Sinéad Sopala, marketing director commented; “This is the second time the team have taken part in a #sleepwithSimon event, the first being the charity’s sleep out in Leeds last November.

Whilst the challenge was hard and very, very cold its nothing to the plight of the people the charity supports. Events

like this are important to raise much needed funds but also to highlight the struggle some people have in our very own community. Every little really does help!”

Simon On The Streets supports over 100 people across West Yorkshire who are either rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping and who don’t get any meaningful support anywhere else.

To find out more about the charity visit www. simononthestreets.co.uk.

07711 539047 or email editor@topicuk.co.uk

Managing director, James Beattie said: “We are starting to see and feel a positive economic outlook and companies are becoming more confident in and seeing the value of, hospitality provision. Our clients also use event sponsorship opportunities to promote their brand in association with high quality events.”

As a company we are also very keen on our corporate social responsibilities and have raised in excess of 5K for local charities at our events and promotions.

Seeitnowsports have a number of high profile events in the pipeline for the coming 12 months, including an exclusive evening with Joe Calzaghe, the former boxing champion, which takes place in October.

“Getting Joe to come to Huddersfield in a quite a coup for us and the interest we have had from companies wishing to attend has been phenomenal. Hes the biggest name we will have worked with and is just the start of things to come as we grow” Anyone interested this or other events should contact: james@ seeitnowsports.com or check out the website for further details.

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Ramsdens team spend a night out in the fresh air

Safety at Work

SUPERFAST BROADBAND CAN YOU KEEP UP?

When it comes to electrical safety in the workplace, there’s more to consider than many realise. In this first monthly column Ti Installations provide ten tips to keep employees and premises safe, whilst staying on the right side of the law.

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Electrical equipment can deteriorate over time, so Portable Appliance Testing (PAT testing) ensures it remains fit for use. There are no rules for the most suitable testing intervals, but annual inspections are a good starting point.

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Fixed wires can deteriorate over time, so they should also be tested.

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With the increasing use of workplace gadgets, comes the need for multiple plug sockets. Additional sockets are cheap and easy to install, by a professional, so don’t be tempted to overload existing sockets with extension cables. If you do use extensions, opt for the long fused variety rather than cube extensions.

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Never use cheap, imported phone and laptop chargers which may contain sub-standard components that heighten the risk of fire. Stick to manufacturers’ official products.

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When replacing light bulbs, adhere to the specific wattage. If the bulb doesn’t fit or the wattage is too high, the fitting could melt, causing a fire hazard.

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Beware of old re-wireable fuse boards, common in older premises. They provide little protection from shocks and pose significant fire risks. At the very least appoint a qualified electrician to check your board with fixed wire testing, and consider a modern replacement.

Thousands of businesses across the Yorkshire region are set to benefit from Superfast Broadband thanks to the government funded Super Connected Cities Scheme.

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he roll-out of the programme has already begun and from April 1st 2015 small businesses across the UK became eligible to apply for a £3,000 grant to upgrade to Superfast Broadband.

The new, quicker connection enables users to download large emails and files almost instantly and viewing multimedia and accessing streaming services online is much slicker than before.

However the installation and upgrade period hasn’t been completely smooth running with many people reporting no change in the speed of their connection or downloads. Michael Branford, Managing Director of Huddersfield based Crest IT Ltd supports many businesses with their IT needs and reports this is a common problem amongst companies who have recently upgraded to Superfast Broadband.

He says, “Superfast Broadband is something the public are very familiar with now and many businesses and homes have already upgraded. However, there is still an element of confusion and lack of knowledge when it comes to using Superfast Broadband effectively.”

He went on to add, “One of

the most common complaints people have after installing Superfast Broadband is that their computers are still very slow and this is caused by the PC itself, not the broadband connection. Computers need to be fit for the purpose that you need them – whether you use Sage, CAD, Design Software or simply Word, Excel and email it is important that your PC meets the recommended requirements for the programmes to perform correctly. Modern PC’s move forward very quickly and hardware gets better quicker – Superfast Broadband is great – but it is essential to remember that it is only part of the solution when seeking a speedy connection.”

Michael provides support and advice on a full range of IT issues and computer network services • across a variety of businesses across Yorkshire and Lancashire.

To find out more visit www. crest-it.co.uk and if you would like Michael’s advice you can contact • him by email – michael.branford@ crest-it.co.uk For further information about the • government funded scheme visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/super-connectedcities-programme-options-forwireless-connectivity

Fuses and circuit breakers will increase your electrical safety, but a Residual Current Device (RCD) will provide greater protection.

To protect your premises in the event of an electrical fault, fit a smoke alarm. If unsure where to position the devices, ask an experienced electrician/fire safety expert.

In larger commercial premises, fit a fire alarm. The system and its component parts – e.g. sounders, heat and smoke detectors – can be wired separately or installed on the same circuit. Ask for a site audit before you commit.

Don’t be tempted to ‘DIY’. Always invest in the skills of an NICEIC-approved electrician.

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 13

•• The

Arts

Murray Edwards - Executive Director Theatre Royal Wakefield

Dear New Government The arts are one of the most important products of the human imagination, and as such they should be a great deal higher up your agenda than I suspect they are. As well as influencing our human physche, there are two other reasons why they should be at the very top.

First, post war British arts policy has failed, and second the way that arts funds are allocated is shockingly unfair.

I know, I know. Amongst all the post-poll euphoria none of you gives a dam. There are no votes in the arts, and the public turn off at the sound of whining arts professionals demanding more “resources”.

Sometimes your distain is all too obvious. When it was suggested that Labour would cancel the Tory cuts to the arts, the Labour press team abruptly tweeted: “we won’t.”.

As at least one commentator said at the time: “There is no hope in Westminster for the subsidised arts.” Then Labour tried to modify its cold dismissal with a Charter for Culture and the Creative Industries, published just a few weeks before the election. This had 20 principals, of which really only two were interesting. No.7 said arts funding should be “balanced equally across the country”; and No.17 said: “The National Lottery should be opened up to full transparency.” Let’s see why these two principals are so interesting and we’ll tell you what you must do about it.

Back in 1965 Jennie Lee was labour’s arts secretary. The Arts Council was 20 years old and had lost the radical edge embodied in the post war faith that “nothing was

too good for the working man”. The regions and local government were being cut out of the picture, and a policy of “few, but roses” was applied to arts subsidies.

Lee set out to reverse this, especially the way funding went overwhelmingly to London, but she failed as did all her successors. The extent of this failure has been made explosively apparent by three authoritative documents that have emerged over the last couple of years.

The first is Robert Hewison’s book Cultural Capital: The Rise and Fall of Creative Britain, about cultural policy since 1977. The big message here is that the “nothing is too good for the working man” venture has not delivered a new audience for the arts. In spite of spending billions (thanks primarily to the Lottery) participation in the arts has flat-lined. Arts Council England (ACE) made much of a participation figure of 77%, but this included people who had “engaged” just once in the arts. In reality the figures showed that participation was stagnant, and it was still overwhelmingly the rich and educated who were turning up. Robert Hewison’s view is that this was because New Labour didn’t have faith in the arts themselves but saw them purely as a form of social and economic leverage.

The arts exist on a different value scale – cultural value – but they simply created a straightjacket of expectations about who would do what and when – and it totally failed.

This was followed by utter indifference in the Coalition years. As a result the arts now only attract an audience of the rich and well educated, those in possession of “cultural capital”. Cultural Capital needs to be created in schools, but under the Coalition the arts have been progressively squeezed out of schools. At present we may have a reasonably flowering field but within a few years if this continues it could be a wasteland.

Theatre Royal Wakefield, Drury Lane, Wakefield WF1 2TE - www.theatreroyalwakefie 1414

The other two documents are reports by a trio of arts experts - Messrs Stark, Gordon & Powell - entitled Rebalancing our Cultural Capital and Policy for the Lottery, the Arts and Community in England. The authors believe we need a national strategy (you probably thought the government, being a government, had one – but it doesn’t). The second is that this strategy should address the complacency with which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and ACE have accepted an unjustified and unfair bias towards London and away from the regions. The figures are jaw-dropping. Of the £450 million in direct funding from DCMS, the authors estimate that 90% goes to London. When this is combined with funding from ACE, the benefit per head of population is £68.99 in London as compared with £4.58 in the rest of England.

So, New Government, you must fix all this.

Listen above all to Hewison’s main point: the arts don’t fit into your wonky calculus of finance, economics and politics. If the arts are judged that way they will die. Their justification is one of intrinsic value, they don’t need petty metrics to make their case. This does not mean that government has to pay; we may move from the European model of funding towards the American one, but it does mean that somebody must pay. Either we want a living country, or we want a wasteland of glass towers in habited by dead souls. You choose.

Murray Edwards Executive Director TRW

eld.co.uk tel: 01924 211311 - mail@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk Wakefield Edition April 2015 15 Kirklees Kirkle Kir klees kle ess & Calderdale Cald Cald alderd erdale erd ale Edi Ed Edition ti n Ju tio June2 June2015 ne2 e2015 015 1 15

Dining Out

A LITTLE TASTE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN IN HALIFAX

Joanne gave us plenty of time to look over the menus while enjoying our drinks, she pointed out the special board that we could keep referring to as it was opposite our table on the wall.

WRITTEN BY ANTHONY HEGNEY - ASPARAGUS GREEN CATERING

I must say it took some time to make our choice with the huge selection that we had to choose from our maybe we are just indecisive!!

King Cross Main Street in Halifax is one of those streets that I don’t often find myself driving along, but every time I do I find something new or in this case think We had two menus to choose from, the that it’s been too long since we have eaten there! fixed price menu or the A la carte along with the specials, I chose to mix mine I had down the high street we found ourselves the Chicken Pinchitos from the fixed price La Tavas who offer a range of traditional at the restaurant door, with its very menu followed by the Lamb Tavas from the and contemporary dishes from across Mediterranean look from the exterior A la carte menu, while Glen went for the the Mediterranean, North Africa and it almost gives you that feel that you Starter off the A la carte and the main off the the Middle East has occupied the set should be abroad. fixed price, he went for the Haloumi to start back from the payment shop for the followed by the French farmhouse Chicken La Tavas is simply decorated whilst past 19 years and is run by husband breast as a main course. fitting with the countries it reflects and wife, while Joanne runs the floor of with the authentic décor and simple the restaurant her husband Tony cooks One thing that I regretted once we had but effective furniture, the background all the food from the semi open plan ordered was not ordering the duo of dips to music is very fitting while unimposing. kitchen at the rear of the restaurant. graze over while waiting for our starters, as After stepping inside Joanne took us to you would expect all the food is cooked with On this occasion I dined with Glen as our table in the window which I have to fresh raw ingredients which does take a little we both really enjoying a good dining say I really enjoy as we get to watch the more time. out experience and of course love our world go by in between conversation food, from booking the table in the restaurant to leaving, Joanne was as ever and waiting a short while for our food to Once our starters arrived, they were both well worth the wait, Glen's Haloumi cheese arrive at the table. attentive as you would expect from a was served on a bed of roasted red peppers, family run restaurant. beetroot & shallots and drizzled with olive oil, We were asked if we would like any balsamic & honey dressing, the colour on the On arrival parking the car was simple on drinks, I opted for a traditional beer white crockery really stood out, with the deep from Greece a Mythos, while Glen who the main road with no parking charges red in the beetroot and the bright peppers doesn’t drink went for the sparkling which these days I have to say is a really complimented the slightly tinged white water with fresh lime. massive benefit, then with a gentle stroll of the Haloumi.

My Chicken Pinchitos arrived which was sat upon a warmed flatbread and served with a beetroot tzatziki & a chunky salsa all the flavours really complimented the chicken without them being overpowering bringing out the flavours.

While enjoying our starters Joanne came to check if everything was ok which in between mouthfuls we could confirm. On the table there was a small tent card promoting upcoming events and house special drinks, the next event being Tapas & Cocktails with live Spanish guitar on the 17th June. On the reverse there was the special cocktail of a Brandy sour at £4.95

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Once again we noticed that other diners that had arrived before us were starting to leave after finishing their meal, most of them I have to say were regulars who referred to Joanne by name and were all complimentary towards the food and service.

Once our starters were cleared I couldn’t help noticing the table that was sat behind us opted for the Greek board which consists of all the best that Greece has to offer, when this was brought to her table she couldn’t help but compliment it, I do have to say it looked pretty impressive, perfect for grazing over whilst sharing a bottle of wine from the wine list and chatting to friends, I certainly will be having one of these on my return visit.

Whilst waiting for our mains Joanne asked if we would like any more drinks, I opted for the glass of the Chilean Sauvignon Blanc while glen opted for a second mineral water, I have to say it’s great that Glen doesn’t drink as I then have a driver, not that I have too many.

After a short wait our mains arrived, mine was the Lamb Tavas named after the restaurant itself, a casserole of lamb. Potatoes & Tomatoes, flavored with cumin & lemon juice, the flavors in this and the tenderness of the lamb was simply stunning and the side of vegetables that complimented the dish were cooked to perfection, Glens was the French farmhouse chicken, cooked with onions, tarragon, thyme, Dijon mustard & white wine vinegar finished with crème fraiche and was served with Cyprus style potatoes & green beans, you could really taste the tarragon in the sauce which was full of flavor, the green beans really stood out against the white sauce that was drizzled over the large Chicken breast.

La Tavas King Cross Road Halifax open 4 lunch times and 5 evenings a week call for 01422 364747 www.latavas.co.uk

With about 40 seats downstairs there is enough space without all the tables being on top of each other, at the rear there is an open plan staircase which leads up to a small lounge with the toilets off, a perfect area if you are with a group of friends to enjoy pre dinner drinks or even coffee after your meal.

Once we had finished off our mains Joanne offered us the delights of the dessert menu, I opted for the simple but tasty Tia Maria Crème Brulee whilst Glen opted for the traditional Baklava which is a traditional middle eastern dish, both I have to say tasted fantastic, the Crème Brulee was creamy and smooth with the hint of tia Maria which was perfect and not too overpowering, the Baklava was perfect in presentation and flavor.

All in all we had a great evening with fantastic food, if you haven’t tried La Tavas I would certainly recommend, they have the two menus with the fixed price at 2 courses for £12.95 or 3 for £15.95 or the Al a carte wehre prices for starters start at £4.50 and go up to £6.00 and mains range from £9.25 and go up to £14.00 the wine list is well priced with house wine at £13.00 per bottle or if you're out celebrating a special occasion a bottle of prosecco is £19.95.

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 17

•• Local

Heroes

HARD WORK & DETERMINATION DRIVE HUDDERSFIELD INTERIORS GROWTH BUSINESS WRITTEN BY JAMES BEATTIE - SEEITNOWSPORTS.COM

Allan Scholefield is the owner and founder of HCIP Ltd (www. Huddersfieldinteriors.co.uk) and the subject of our latest “Local Hero” series.

HCIP are a complete office solutions company specialising in delivering modern, high quality office projects.

The services HCIP provide include a bespoke design service which includes glass and joinery as well as high quality ceiling and wall designs & finishes. Some of the recent clients added to their portfolio include Barclays Bank, Pinset Mason and the NHS. Previous to HCIP’s inception, Allan worked for a number of companies involved in the commercial interior business, but after working for a business that merged with another in Leeds it was time to make the leap and make his own way. “Like many people you are either happy with your status and need a push, or you are forced into making the decision, for me it was a bit of both,” Allan told TopicUK. As the owner of a young start-up myself, I was keen to learn Allan’s tips for starting out in business. “Keep your overheads low and manage your cash flow, but most importantly always be involved at every level until you have built up a team you can trust because the smallest details do make a difference.”

Attention to detail is obviously a key aspect of Allan’s business philosophy and a key ingredient to success in his sector in the long term.

I quiz Allan on the best bits of business advice he has received.....he is keen not to come across as cynical, but the old adage of “trust no one” and “partnerships are the worst ships that ever sailed” are unfortunately the ones that come to his mind in such a competitive industry As with all my “Local Heroes I’m keen to learn what Allan views as the key ingredients in the make-up of an individual such as himself who has been successful in business?

“Find something you enjoy doing and try to do it better.

I feel privileged to be in this position but in truth it was sheer hard work and determination with failure

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not an option, if you want it badly enough you can succeed.”

Certainly common traits in succesful people in business!

The future for HCIP looks bright as the chat turns to the future growth of the company.

Alan is working hard to build a team which can continue the year on year improvements in the company. We are looking to manage more work locally and move away from the London markets and develop relationships with local businesses.

Locally, we are not well known as most of our work has been limited to the big city developments including banks, law firms and solicitors.

Fact file: •

Favourite food?

Anything my wife makes as she has a real passion for home cooked food which is hard to beat.

•

Favourite music/band?

I’ve always liked Paul Weller, but anything from classic to folk!

The team at HCIP

•

Favourite Sport?

Golf but I like most sports & enjoy watching & coaching football

•

Favourite holiday destination?

America, but in the UK, I always enjoy weekends in the lakes

•

Guilty pleasure?

Scotch Whisky, hence the red nose!

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 19

Manufactured Yorkshire offers funded apprentice Apprenticeships are a key part of manufacturing and to celebrate this year’s sell out Manufactured Yorkshire conference in Huddersfield on June 9 and 10, one lucky company will have a fully funded trainee for six months.

The scheme, backed by Kirklees College, is part of Manufactured Yorkshire’s commitment to its legacy to ensure that the energy and enthusiasm for manufacturing is continued in the next generation.

Conscious that the future stability of manufacturing is linked to its skills bank, Manufactured Yorkshire believes the investment will have benefits reaching far beyond the apprentice and the company who win their services for six months.

BIG SCREEN WEEKENDS coming soon to Huddersfield Stafflex Recruitment and Food Festivals Limited are delighted to announce the launch of Big Screen Weekends, taking place in St Georges Square Huddersfield.

There will be a host of family films shown over two weekends: 26, 27 and 28 June and 21, 22 and 23 August.

Following on from the success of The Tour de France and Festival of Light, both shown to huge crowds on big screens in the square, Big Screen Weekends is the brainchild of Nadio Granata from Stafflex and Cathy Burger from Food Festivals.

“It was amazing to see all the people out in the square watching these events on the big screens,” Nadio told us, “this is when we came up with the idea of the Big Screen Weekends. As well as the films, there will be a selection of food stalls and of course a beer marquee 20

selling a selection of local beers, wines and spirits. We want families of all ages to come and join us and enjoy what will be an exciting couple of weekends.”

“A number of sponsors have helped us,” added Cathy, “without whom the event wouldn’t be happening. We would like to thank Delicious Media, Kirkwood Hospice, TopicUK, Huddersfield Daily Examner, Holmfirth Silents, Virtual Huddersfield and the Huddersfield Town Foundation.”

To find out more and view the films and showing times, visit the website at: www.bigscreenweekends.co.uk or follow on Twitter @bigscreenhudds or Facebook Big Screen Weekends.

“Manufacturing is a sector that relies on skills and has a heritage of training for the next generation to take up the baton,” said Event Director Chrissie Slater. “Manufacturing companies love to take a recruit, train them and have them work alongside existing team members in the workplace inspiring them with a strong company ethos.

“We ran a similar competition two years ago and it was hugely popular and successful; inspiring companies who were not successful to take on their own apprentices. We hope this year to do the same and by investing in a six month apprentice ourselves will support one local company during the early days.

Heckmondwike based 600 UK won the apprentice in 2013. Managing Director, Mike Berry said: “We are proud to have worked so closely with Huddersfield Town Foundation and Manufactured Yorkshire and are really impressed with the level of young Yorkshire engineering talent. Luis Lowe joined 600UK 18 months ago as an engineering apprentice, where he has made a strong impact with us and we are fully confident that he will continue to do so in the future.”

Melanie Brook, Vice Principal (corporate services) of Kirklees College added: “From research, we know that apprentices are more loyal, they stay with the company longer and the employer gains a better return on staff investment. This is a real opportunity to mould and shape a young person whilst having the dual benefit of receiving bespoke training to meet the needs of their business.”

Companies can register through the website www.manufacturedyorkshire.com

Employee Management Skills Workshops www.eatonsmith.co.uk Employee Management Skills Workshops As mentioned earlier in the Patrons section Eaton Smith and The Personnel Partnership have joined forces and invite you to a series of practical and interactive workshops aimed at all managers with responsibility for additional skills development.

Each workshop will cost £49 plus VAT and will include refreshments and all training materials.

Workshop 1: Performance management 23 June 2015 (9.30am – 12.30pm) This workshop will look at a strategic approach to performance and to deal with issues at an early stage before they become unwieldy. We will look at what you might want in a performance management policy and give you lots of ideas to help you create your own or change your existing policy. We will also look at how performance management might lead to dismissal, and how it may be used to your favour in the Employment Tribunals.

Workshop 2: How to conduct an investigation 8 September 2015 9.30am – 12.30pm In this workshop we will focus on how to run an effective investigation to ensure that you get to the centre of an issue without absorbing too much management time, including taking witness statements, dealing with reluctant witnesses and preparing an investigation report. We will also look at the right to privacy and when covert surveillance may be used to your advantage.

Workshop 3: Running a disciplinary hearing 10 November 2015 9.30am – 12.30pm This workshop will look at all the practicalities of running a disciplinary hearing from making the arrangements, to interview ing the alleged wrong doer and ensuring that your paperwork is in order. It will also look at what could go wrong and how to keep control of the disciplinary hearing. We will consider, with case studies, what disciplinary sanctions should be imposed when and how an Employment Tribunal will review them. We will also look at the appeal process and dealing with the aftermath of a disciplinary hearing, including claims for unfair dismissal.

Workshop 4: Attendance management 12 January 2016 9.30am – 12.30pm Absence management can be a thorn in the side for employers.

In this workshop we will look at how absence can be managed is becoming an increasing problem for many businesses. We will use practical examples and case studies to look at both short term and long term absences, and what to do when you think an employee can no longer continue in their role. We will look at what you might want in an attendance management policy and give you the tools to create this.

Workshop 5: Restructures and Redundancy 8 March 2016 9.30am – 12.30pm This workshop will take a strategic look at the factors to consider when re-structuring a department or a business, and how you might go about changing an employee’s job role and their terms and conditions. We will look at some practical case studies to help you work through a best practice approach to this often

Who are your speakers?

Kate Booth from Eaton Smith – Kate is a Partner with Eaton Smith and an experienced solicitor specialising in employment law, with particular interest in business acquisitions (including the TUPE Regulations), restructures and discrimination issues. Kate has been dealing with employment law issues for many businesses in and around Kirklees and nationally for the last eight years and brings with her practical examples of what can and does go wrong in the workplace and how you might address this!

Helen Straw from The Personnel Partnership - Helen is the Managing Director of The Personnel Partnership and is also a Chartered corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Helen operates at a senior level, providing HR support and advice during times of company set up, business growth, major reorganisations and deals with complex employee issues.

Group booking discount: if you book 3 or more workshops in one go or book 3 or more people into a particular workshop you will receive a discount of 10%.

For details contact Kate or Ian at KateBooth@eatonsmith.co.uk or Ian.Greenwood@eatonsmith.co.uk

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 21

The garden at Alexander House Spa in Huddersfield

IT’S OK TO TAKE TIME OUT FOR YOU Creating balance in your life is important for your mind and body Maxine Stead - Proprietor ALEXANDRA HOUSE SPA

E

very day at Alexander House Spa I see people seeking balance, peace and space, seeking solace and tranquillity , seeking time for themselves. So why don’t we regularly reward ourselves with these basic elements in life? Why do we feel guilty or selfish if we give ourselves time and space? Why is it OK for us to spend our lives caring for everyone else, nurturing the family, working hard, yet never giving ourselves time and space?

Think for a moment about who you are. A parent, wife, husband, carer, employer employee, housekeeper? You are an individual, you are YOU! So often we put ourselves at the bottom of the list. We

22

put everyone else first, but sometimes you need to be the priority and it’s OK to do that. It’s not selfish or mean, it’s being kind - kind to yourself and others around you.

If you think about it, none of us are much use to other people if we’re always tired, feeling rushed, regularly ill or stressed.

So every now and then, weekly at least, you should make time for yourself to nurture and do something that makes you feel good and worthy. When you do this regularly, you’ll begin to notice that you feel better about yourself and your life. You’ll feel more energised and enthusiastic and you’ll be able to fulfil all the roles that you have in your life. Your friends and family will see the changes and will enjoy your company more.

CHAMBER

Close Up

News

Students spread their wings with 2015 Tinker Fisher scholarships The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce in partnership with local solicitors Eaton Smith LLP have awarded 23 University of Huddersfield students with funding for overseas work experience.

Further growth for the Chamber We are pleased to announce further growth in the Chamber team, with the appointments of Rachel Adams and Emily Prieditis.

Rachel joins MY Export Hub as a trainee certification and customer services coordinator and Emily as a marketing assistant supporting Rebecca Walker, marketing manager.

Rachel and Emily are both based at our head office at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield.

Fund trustees and Chamber directors Steven Pollitt and John Moore presented the students with their awards at an awards ceremony on 20th May at the Student Central building at the University.

Originally funded by local philanthropists John Tinker and Edward Fisher in 1911, the Tinker Fisher fund has been facilitating awards to local students ever since. Now in its 104th year the fund is still distributing awards every year, allowing ambitious students from Kirklees to travel abroad for research, work experience or study.

The awards, which were set up with the purpose of broadening educational horizons, were judged on merit by an independent panel representing the Chamber, the University of Huddersfield, Kirklees College and Eaton Smith Solicitors.

The successful students were awarded a share of over £9,500. Three of the students were awarded an additional £200 funding by the judging panel for the most impressive application presentation.

Steven Pollitt, commented: “It is a privilege for us to be part of this yearly tradition which is a timely reminder, once again, of the important link between the business community of Huddersfield with the development and aspiration of young people in the district. We wish all the beneficiaries every success in their travels and hope they will bring back new perspectives and new skills as a result.”

For more information on next year’s scholarship please contact Rachel.dickie@mycci.co.uk

Jo Palmer, Certification Services Manager said: “It is an exciting time at MY Export Hub, Rachel joining our team will help us to provide further support to our ever increasing number of exporters within the region.”

Close Up for Business I

Chamber News

Kirklees Business Conference 2015

We are pleased to announce the date for this year’s MY Conference Kirklees.

Following on from the success of last year’s conference, MY Conference Kirklees will take place on Wednesday 4th November at the John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield.

If you would like to take part and become a partner of this conference or book exhibition space, please email myconferences@mycci.co.uk, make sure to follow @MYBizConfs for updates on the conference.

Local Business Forum: local, national or regional government?

Following on from the General Election, our Kirklees Local Business Forum held last month discussed how the new Government would impact on businesses.

Chaired by Chamber president Brian Stahelin, the attendees were joined by two key speakers: Ashley Shackleton, Head of Public Affairs at the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) and Jacqui Gedman, Director of Economy, Environment & Skills at Kirklees Council.

Ashley started the discussion by highlighting the effect of the unpredicted election results, before focusing the debate around the devolution of power away from Westminster to a local/regional level.

Ashley and Jacqui called for businesses to be at the heart of this proposed change and to get involved.

A clear message from the attendees was that local businesses need to be made

II Close Up for Business

more aware of the money coming into the region through the LEP and how to access the funds.

Closing the discussion, the Forum gave consideration to the question of an Elected Mayor for our part of Yorkshire, and a full debate ensued upon whether or not this will enable local businesses to secure faster devolution of powers and the maximisation of Government investment in our region.

We rotate the location of the local business forum within the Mid Yorkshire region. Make sure you get involved in the next Local Business Forum for Wakefield, which will be held at our Wakefield offices on the 29th July. To book a place visit www.mycci.co.uk/events.

Policy

Business-friendly Government Policy is essential for the UK’s success The General Election has now come and gone, and we have a new Conservative Government which is likely to be in place for the full five year term of office.

E

arlier this year there was much speculation about the election, and this produced uncertainty which affected business confidence.

It is strenuously hoped that confidence will now be fully restored and that the remainder of this year will see accelerating economic growth and business optimism for the future.

We still have many issues to address if we are to truly see sustainable economic growth. It is our job at the Chamber to do our utmost for our members, as well as for the wider business community. We aim to influence the Government to implement policies which will promote a business-friendly environment and provide a solid framework within which business can do what they do best, which is doing business.

This is the only way in which wealth is created, not just for business owners and shareholders, but for the nation as a whole.

fill in the survey to best refine our lobbying positions to help your businesses.

We are in the process of arranging to meet with all the MPs in our area to discuss the various issues which we believe should be addressed with a degree of urgency.

INVESTMENT

Access to affordable finance for SMEs through the proposed Business Bank needs to be introduced without further delay. The recent temporary extension of the Capital Investment Allowance needs to be made permanent. Public Sector Procurement opportunities should be made more accessible to SMEs, and the various rules and compliances greatly simplified. The forthcoming review of business rates by the Government needs to address the effects of the present system on SMEs in general, and on high-street retailers in particular. As a minimum, business rates should have a performance related element in the determination of the levels of taxes to be levied.

Steven Leigh Head of Policy and Representation Call: 07809 658 533 Email: steven.leigh@mycci.co.uk

INFLUENTIAL

The importance of the most up-to-date information in decision making should not be underestimated. That is why the Bank of England, MP’s, Economists and Government Agencies place great importance on the national British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), the biggest survey of its kind in the UK. The data presents a truly influential and highly-respected quarterly snapshot of national business sentiment and forward intentions. It is for that reason that we urge businesses to take just five minutes to complete this online survey.

In our own Chamber we use the survey results to help us to determine our local policy and lobbying agenda. This data, as well as the feedback we receive from members at our Local Business Forum meetings held in each of our three local authority areas, really ensures that we keep our finger on the pulse of the economy, and the issues which business most wish to be resolved at local, regional and national levels.

IMPORTANT

This is why it is important for all members to

The previous coalition Government emphasised the need to rebalance our economic activities in favour of manufacturing and exports, in order to address the balance of trade deficit.

If the new Government is really serious about this rebalancing, then much greater support should be given to our exporters and to small manufacturing companies - in the form of enhanced investment allowances and tax incentives.

FEEDBACK

There are many more important areas of Government business policy which need to be reconsidered and modified to promote domestic and international trade, and we need maximum feedback from all our members in order to prioritise our lobbying efforts.

One thing is for sure, our Chamber will stand alongside our members and the wider business community in West Yorkshire to promote a healthy business environment which will produce the economic growth and employment prospects which are essential to the UK’s sustained wellbeing and future prosperity.

Close Up for Business III

Member News

Chamber Miner’s Gala family membership fundraising day is pays off back!

Wakefield-based member the National Coal Mining Museum is once again hosting its annual Miner’s Gala family fundraising day.

A new Chamber member is already reaping the benefits of their membership after winning new business from local company Shelley Automation.

Marketing and business development specialists, Working Insync had been a Chamber member for less than six months when they received a call from Shelley Automation who were looking for marketing support to increase its business profile.

They found Working Insync on the Chamber members’ directory and contacted them to see how they could help. It only took a brief meeting and one proposal for Shelley Automation to realise that Working Insync was the right agency for them.

Working Insync is now helping to improve the company’s marketing and online presence, developing a new website and supporting them in delivering e-marketing campaigns.

Sarah Holbrook, director of Working Insync, said: “It just goes to show how being a Chamber member can really benefit your business. I didn’t think for one minute we’d get some new business so quickly.”

To find out how your business could benefit from Chamber membership please contact our membership team on info@ mycci.co.uk For more information on Working Insync go to www.workinginsync.co.uk

IV Close Up for Business

This year there is an incredible schedule of events lined up to make sure your family enjoys every minute.

Join the Museum on 28th June from 10:00 - 16:45 for a day packed with traditional miners’ fun and games for the whole family. The day includes; live music, face painting, bouncy castle and Giggle tots, children’s rides and coconut shy, mini animal farm and rescued birds of prey, Get cycling!, Sparkies - a play by John Kelly, and much more!

The Museum will have some great competitions going on too, so put your creativity to the test with its design-aplate and craft competitions. There will also be a delicious selection of food from the Asparagus Green Catering cafe along with ice creams, a hog roast and crêpes!

The Miner’s Gala is free admission and has free parking; a programme can be purchased for just £2 and includes entry in to a raffle to win some great prizes!

To find out more visit www.ncm.org.uk or follow NCMME on Facebook and Twitter.

Member News

Orchard Energy’s website gets renewed look Elland-based member, Orchard Energy, has launched its new look website in line with its recent corporate rebrand.

Sleeping with Simon On Thursday 23rd April the John Smith’s Stadium hosted Huddersfield’s first #SleepWithSimon event for charity partner Simon on the Streets.

Simon on the Streets is an independent charity that helps and supports those who are sleeping rough or are in danger of doing so. Sleeping rough is not just a case of not having a home, it stems from many other problems including; drugs, alcohol, childhood problems and social, mental and behavioural issues.

The purpose of the sleep out is not to replicate sleeping rough, that is not something that could be recreated overnight, instead it is to raise money and awareness of the charity and the

incredible service that they provide.

Around 40 fundraisers attended the sleep out, including staff from KSDL and Chamber members Stafflex, Ramsdens, YTL and Yorkshire Payments, and together helped to raise £4,715.00 so far.

Commenting on the event, Aissa Gallie from Simon on the Streets said, “The first sleep out in Huddersfield was a great success for the charity with over 40 participants, we were able to create a great atmosphere and expect the final fundraising total to be in the region of £6000. Our sincerest thanks to all that took part, to Yorkshire Payments who sponsored the event and to the John Smith’s Stadium for hosting it. We look forward to next year!”

O

rchard Energy specialises in energy purchasing, bureau services, energy solutions and water management for businesses across the UK. It invested heavily in rebranding its logos and promotional literature earlier this year, so in keeping with consistency has given its website a makeover with a more up-to-date feel.

Incorporating the company’s corporate colours, the new website is fresher, fun, bright and colourful and reflects the company’s friendly, approachable image, as well as communicating its services and the industry through simple, yet effective visuals.

One key feature that still remains is the client portal, which allows Orchard’s customers to log in, manage their own energy consumption and download their own demand reports.

Amar Hussain, Orchard Energy’s commercial director, said: “Our old website was very dated and had lots going on, whereas our new site is much simpler and easier to navigate around.

We now have an improved platform that enables us to inform people about energy consumption, that’s not confusing, and people can certainly find things much quicker than before.

“This is just stage one of the website.

We’re currently working on making the site much more interactive with videos, as well as rolling out regular market updates and client testimonials.”

For more information go to

Events

=WHAT? Enjoy a light breakfast and an opportunity to make some valuable new contacts. Delegates get the chance to introduce their business in a short elevator pitch and then follow-up new business leads. It’s a great way to make new contacts in a friendly, but focused way. You are also welcome to bring your company literature and banner stands.

=WHEN?

=MORE

First Thursday of the month 09:30–11:00

It’s FREE for members and just £10.00 for non-members.

=WHERE? We rotate the location within the Mid Yorkshire region: nd

Thursday 2 July Unity Works, Westgate, Wakefield, WF1 1EP

Thursday 6 August The John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PG

Book your place online at www.mycci.co.uk/events or contact tracy.smith@mycci.co.uk Tel: 01924 311607.

Follow @MidYorksChamber and #ConnectionsCount on Twitter

=WHAT?

=WHEN?

=MORE

An informal networking opportunity, come along and make new contacts in a relaxed setting and enjoy a drink on us!

Second Friday of the month 12:30-13:30

No need to book, just turn up!

=WHERE?

Follow @MidYorkshireNet and #MYNetworkWakey on Twitter.

Run in partnership with Barclays, CIM, Copiserv, First Choice, Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, Statement and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The Hop, Bank Street, Wakefield, WF1 1EH

INFO:

=WHAT?

=WHEN?

=MORE

A fantastic opportunity to network in an informal environment, making some great new contacts for your business.

Third Wednesday of the month 09:00–11:00

No need to book, just turn up!

Run in partnership with CIM, Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, Better Telecoms and The Media Centre.

The Media Centre, Northumberland Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1RL

=WHAT?

=WHEN? Every last Friday of the Month 12:30–13:30

Monthly lunchtime business networking meeting: have a chat, mingle and make some new contacts.

Run in partnership with Barclays, CIM and Ramsdens Solicitors LLP.

28

th

INFO:

VI Close Up for Business

=WHERE?

=WHERE? Maggie’s, 24 Fountain St, Halifax, HX1 1LW

INFO:

Follow @MidYorkshireNet and #MYNetworkHud on Twitter.

=MORE

INFO:

It is completely free to attend, just turn up and the first drink is on us.

Follow@LastFridayClub on Twitter

Events EVENTS

Local Business Forums =WHAT? Enjoy a light breakfast and have your say about pressing business topics which are facing the local business community.

Speakers for this meeting will include a senior member of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Policy team, as well as a representative from the local Council.

MY Conference Kirklees 2015 =WHAT? Following on from the success of last year’s conference, this will be the fourth time the annual conference is held; celebrating and connecting businesses in Kirklees. MY Conference Kirklees will be held at the John Smith’s Stadium and promises to be a date for businesses not to be missed.

=WHEN? Bi-monthly from 08:00 - 10:00 =WHERE? We rotate the location within the Mid Yorkshire region, next meeting held: Wednesday 29th July at Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce offices, Westgate, Wakefield, WF2 9SR

=MORE

INFO:

It’s FREE for members and just £10.00 for non-members. Places are limited, book your place online at www.mycci.co.uk/events or contact steven.leigh@mycci.co.uk Tel: 07809 658533

=WHEN? Wednesday 4th November 2015, 09:00 - 16:00 =WHERE? John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PG =MORE INFO: See our website for more information and follow @MYBizConfs on Twitter to stay up to date with all the latest news, speakers and exhibitors.

Book your place on any of our events at www.mycci.co.uk/events or speak to the Membership and Events team on 01924 311607 / info@mycci.co.uk

Business Growth in Courses in exporting Calderdale Events The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has ten nationally accredited core courses In partnership with Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Calderdale Council, we are running a series of FREE monthly events across Calderdale in 2015/2016 to help promote business growth within the region.

Event topics include: Crowdfunding, The Manufacturing Advisory Service, Supply Chain/Growth Accelerator and the LEP Skills Service.

For upcoming dates, please visit mycci.co.uk/events or contact Brij Chagger at brij.chagger@wyea.co.uk/07764927849 for further information.

in exporting and international trade. Together the courses create an export curriculum, providing invaluable basic exporting skills for small and large companies alike.

By completing six courses, candidates achieve a nationally recognised foundation award in exporting. The courses are suitable for both experienced and inexperienced exporters.

Individual full day courses cost £175 (+VAT) for members and £200 (+VAT) for nonmembers and individual half day courses cost £100 (+ VAT) for members and £125 (+ VAT) for non–members. Or book six courses (half and full day courses) for £850 (+VAT) for members and £1000 (+VAT) for non-members to complete the foundation award in exporting. All of the above courses will take place at Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PG

The Next Courses Are As Follows: =IMPORT PROCEDURES Tuesday 23rd June 09:30 – 16:30 =UNDERSTANDING EXPORTING & EXPORT DOCUMENTATION Tuesday 14th July 09:30 – 16:30 For more information and to book, visit www.myexporthub.co.uk/events

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 29

Close Up for Business VII

Business of the

Month

Marketing agency with Awards success for an impressive record Halifax sourcing firm Innovations, a Halifax-based of growth wins award Textile business that supplies raw materials and finished goods to manufacturing companies across the UK was awarded the Business of the Month Award for April.

Founded by David Holdsworth eight years ago, Textile Innovations has doubled its number of customers in the past twelve months and increased its turnover by 30 per cent, almost hitting the million pounds mark for the first time.

The Business of the Month Award is open to firms in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Each month a new winner is chosen and all 12 then go through to the annual Business of the Year award.

The ceremony will be held on the 3rd July at Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield, where an overall winner will be named.

For your chance to win the Business of the Month award visit www. businessofthemonth. co.uk or contact Ian Greenwood at Eaton Smith on 01484 821 389

Pictured left to right: Steven Pollitt MYCCI, Caroline Priestley Handelsbanken, Mark Johnston Handelsbanken, Vicky Heywood Eaton Smith, Chris Elliott Northern Media Anthony Bowyer Northern Media, Jess Venson Northern Media

Northern Media, a Wakefield based full service marketing agency has been awarded the Business of the Month prize for March.

Directors and long-time friends Jonathan Scott and Chris Elliot decided to pool their skills and set up their own marketing agency back in 2008. Since then business has grown steadily demonstrating an impressive 30% growth year on year.

Northern Media operates across Yorkshire and the North of England to a variety of clients from a range industries including construction and manufacturing, food and drink and professional services.

They provide a full range of professional marketing services primarily to the SME sector including website development, search engine optimisation, branding, social media, graphic design and email marketing.

They are also actively involved in supporting local charities and sporting teams which contribute to the local community, as well as being active in working with a number of local business networking groups.

The judging panel were impressed by the clear and honest ethos that the firm operates with and the impressive client list which they have grown and developed over the years, and with ambitious future growth plans they are gaining a reputation as one the leading design and marketing agencies in the region.

David Holdsworth is one of the well-known Holdsworth family who established John Holdsworth & Company, who at time were the world’s largest manufacturer of passenger transport upholstery fabrics, which was based at Shaw Lodge Mills in Halifax.

After the family firm was sold in 2007, David decided to put that expertise to good use with his new business, Textile Innovations formed in September 2007. The company works across key market sectors including healthcare, construction and passenger transport, sourcing materials to create products such as disposable surgical masks, rubber car mats and retail bags.

Kate Booth, of Eaton Smith and part of the judging panel commented: “We were very impressed with David’s strong history in the textile arena and his positive strides in growing his own business, which is clearly going from strength to strength. In addition, we were interested in David’s contributions to the region and his emphasis on working with other local businesses” David Holdsworth, Director of Textile Innovations said: “This is a welcome step forward for our rapidly growing business. It’s fantastic to receive such independent recognition of all the hard work put in by our team and local associates. We are very honoured and this award has given us yet another boost to drive our businesses forward and support the local economy.”

Commenting on the award win, Northern Media’s Managing Director Chris Elliott said: “Northern Media has come a long way in the last 2-3 years and it is great to receive recognition for our achievements.

The award reinforces our commitment to growing the business through ambition, hard work and continuing to recruit young, talented and passionate individuals from the local area.”

30

VIII Close Up for Business

From left to right: Chris Jowett Jowett Chartered Surveyors, Martin Bown MY Management Accountant, Chris Taylor Eaton Smith, Jill Howarth Textile Innovations Ltd, David Holdsworth Textile Innovations Ltd

Patrons Update

Employment Management Skills Workshops Hospitality goes from strength to strength Regardless of the unlucky spell that the Wakefield Wildcats have had in first half of the season, it has not deterred sponsors and business clients from coming to enjoy the facilities at the Club. Our hospitality at Belle Vue has been going from strength to strength this year which is great to see.

Eaton Smith and The Personnel Partnership have joined forces and invite you to a series of practical and interactive workshops aimed at all managers with responsibility for people management or HR staff who would welcome additional skills development.

The majority of businesses who use our hospitality do so to build and maintain productive relationships with clients and colleagues. This seems to be working, with a number of our box holders claiming that they have won business off the back of entertaining clients at Belle Vue during the anticipation and lead up to our games. Ultimately, facilities that benefit your business are worth using time and time again.

Win, lose or draw, the hospitality experience at Belle Vue is first class and at the highest standard for all of our guests.

Each workshop will last around three hours and will be delivered by two experienced practitioners who will use practical examples, case studies and discussion to work through problem areas to build technique and confidence.

Each workshop will cost £49 plus VAT and will include refreshments and all training materials.

Workshops run from 09:30-12:30 and our first will be held on 23rd June 2015 covering the subject of performance management, the one after on the 8th September 2015. We are focusing here on how to run an effective investigation into an employment problem without wasting too much management time.

For more details, please contact Kate Booth katebooth@eatonsmith.co.uk 01484 821309

Verity Thomas Commercial Manager Verity.Thomas@wakefieldwildcats.co.uk 01924 211611 www.wakefieldwildcats.co.uk

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 31

Close Up for Business IX

My Export EVENTS Hub

Your Community Stadium The John Smith’s Stadium is a versatile sports, entertainments and hospitality facility, operating as a central hub for its local community.

The Stadium hosts a number of events every year to help facilitate the many local businesses and clubs in the district. This ranges from company training sessions, health screenings, local sporting events to charity fundraisers.

Events include the Kirkwood Hospice ‘Midnight Memory Walk’, Simon on the Streets ‘Sleep with Simon’ and the Forget me Not’s ‘Annual Sporting Dinner, the Examiner Community Awards, local football Cup Finals, NHS hearing tests, MRI screenings and young persons driving lessons.

Not forgetting our commitment to the Greenstreams environmental project, which is in place to help support our local wildlife and keep the river bank clean. These events continue to place the Stadium at the heart of the community. With plans to further develop the site with the HD One scheme, which will be looking to combine leisure, entertainment, retail, restaurants and bars, the Stadium will be able to increase this community presence not only in Huddersfield but also the whole of West Yorkshire.

Gareth Davies Managing Director Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd 01484 484100 Gareth.davies@ksdl.org.uk www.johnsmithsstadium.com

Get informed on exporting procedures MY Export Hub run a full calendar of training courses covering the key areas of international trade, helping you get to grips with all the different aspects of exporting and importing; everything from incoterms to documentary letters of credit to import procedures.

This training is designed to equip Yorkshire businesses with a highly skilled workforce ready to take on international markets.

Our courses also offer you the opportunity to speak to experts on international trade and to network with fellow exporters from our region.

Our training is part of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) ten nationally accredited core courses that form an export curriculum to provide invaluable skills.

These events are suitable for small and large companies and both experienced exporters and those with no previous experience. With the successful completion of six modules, candidates can gain a nationally recognized Foundation Award in exporting.

NEXT TRAINING COURSE IS: =Understanding Exporting and Export Documentation Tuesday 14th July 09:30-16:30 John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PG To book your place on any of our courses contact Jo Palmer on 01484 486666. A full calendar of upcoming exporting events please visit www.mycci.co.uk/events Contact the Export Hub team on 01484 438660 to make an appointment or if you would like to discuss your documentation needs.

X Close Up for Business

New Members

1017 Marketing Ltd

Abzorb

Action Medical Research

MARKETING

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CHARITY

www.1017marketing.com

www.absorb.co.uk

www.action.org.uk

Barclays Bank PLC

Castle Communication Services

Digital Bubble Limited

FINANCIAL SERVICES

DEAF COMMUNICATION SERVICES

GRAPHIC DESIGN

www.barclays.co.uk/business

www.castlecommunicationservices.co.uk

www.digital-bubble.co.uk

Laura Crane Youth Cancer Charity

TaxAssist Accountants

Trumpet Communications Ltd

CHARITY

ACCOUNTANTS

PR

www.lauracranetrust.org

www.taxassist.co.uk/huddersfield

www.trumpetcomms.co.uk

Vantage 24

West Riding Recruitment

Learndirect Ltd

ACCOUNTANTS

RECRUITMENT

Learning & training services

www.vantage-24.com

www.westridingrecruitment.co.uk

www.learndirect.com

McCarthy’s Storage World

Kangen Well

Butterworth & Co

SELF STORAGE FACILITIES

WATER PRODUCTS

ACCOUNTANTS

www.mccarthysstorageworld.co.uk

www.kangenwell.com

WHL Chemicals

C M Environmental

CHEMICAL CONSULTANTS

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS

If you would like to join these companies in becoming part of the Mid Yorkshire business community please contact our Membership and Events Manager

Tracy Smith on 01924 311 607 tracy.smith@mycci.co.uk to find out more.

Close Up for Business XI

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP GIVES YOU ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS DISCOUNTS, OFFERS AND FREE PUBLICITY!

MemberOffers What?

A heavily discounted service offered exclusively by members for members. Benefit from free publicity as a host or gain huge savings by utilising on our Member Offer of the Month benefits.

Why? We understand that members have a business to run, through hosting a Member Offer of the Month, you can save time on marketing and benefit from free publicity. By using members offers, save money on valuable services for your business

How? To discuss how your company could take advantage of the Member Offer of the Month and other publicity opportunities:

CONTACT REBECCA ON - 01484 483 678

Current Member Offer of the Month Did you know a saving of up to 90% can be achieved by applying the latest lighting technology?

J. G. Harrison & Sons are offering all Chamber members throughout June 2015 a free site and home visit service and 20% off your order placed as a direct result. Log in the the my chamber area of the website for details on how to redeem the offer.

LOOK OUT FOR UPCOMING OFFERS FROM:

• •

Simply Customer The John Smith’s Stadium

Chamber Connect Card ENJOY EXCLUSIVE LONG TERM BUSINESS DISCOUNTS! What?

Access a range of long term discounted offers, negotiated for your business as part of your membership package. You can also participate by offering your own discounted products and services to fellow members.

Why? Your Connect Card is a value added service that could represent significant savings for your business. By participating as an offer provider you can gain increased brand exposure and create new business opportunities.

Bradley Environmental Consultants Chamber members can benefit from an exclusive 10% discount on all Asbestos, Health & Safety, Environmental and Training services.

First three months printer rental FREE, 26ppm Black and White, and Colour Desktop Printer/ Copier/Scanner £13.00 per month. 26ppm Black and White, and Colour Desktop Printer/Copier/ Scanner/Fax £15.00 per month.

J.G. Harrison & Sons Did you know a saving of up to 90% can be achieved by applying the latest lighting technology? J. G. Harrison & Sons are offering all Chamber members a free site and home visit service

Panda IT Solutions 15% discount on all IT services; ad hoc or full annual support contracts, web design, off site back ups, web hosting and more. This includes a free, no obligation consultation.

Brand Yorkshire Free cost saving audit on all gas, electric, telecoms and insurance costs.

How?

Reach Higher HR

Offers are available across a range of categories including Business Travel, IT, Business Services, Cars and Motoring and Lifestyle.

Members have access to HR Enhance™ cloud based employee management system at a discounted rate with a two week free trial from just £9 per month (based on company size).

XII Close Up for Business

Copiserv

Business Doctors Are you a successful business owner? Striving to achieve growth? Frustrated by slow progress and poor staff performance?

Members can receive a free business health check worth up to £1000.

Log into the MY Chamber section of www. mycci.co.uk to redeem and view all Connect Card offers

ACHIEVING YOUR AMBITIONS

Over the last month I’ve taken on a new role as National Head of Santander’s Breakthrough programme, this month I’d like to tell you about what this delivers for SME’s in the UK.

Santander has always had big ambitions in the SME market space, and over the last 6 years has moved from a relatively unknown bank, through a “challenger bank” position and ultimately to a major high street brand, providing banking for thousands of businesses across the UK. To do this we have had to be innovative and offer a credible differentiator to the other banks – we realised that quality people, delivering an excellent customer experience through a local branch network was just the start. That’s why we worked with a panel of businesses to understand what really mattered to them, and together we designed Breakthrough - Santander’s programme of support to help ambitious businesses grow and prosper.

Businesses told us that there were five key areas that really mattered to them: Talent, International, Connections, Knowledge and Finance. We turned this into tangible ways we can support local businesses, whether you are a Santander customer or not.

Talent – We have a partnered with 76 Universities across the UK, and through this in 2014 we provided SME’s with access to 1500 interns, and in 2015 we have grown this to 2000. We fund £1500 to the cost of employing a graduate or undergraduate on a three month internship, which is match funded by the SME. Locally Huddersfield University, Leeds University, Sheffield University and York University are all partners to deliver this talent.International – If you think your business product or service

would be ideal for a market outside the UK then why not give it a try? In 2015 we are helping business access new Markets in Spain, Poland, Mexico, the USA, the UAE, India and China. In May our team took businesses to Spain and introduced them directly to new trading partners for their products.

Connections – we can help you connect with other businesses through our programme of events. Year to date in Yorkshire we have already held four events specifically helping female business leaders and entrepreneurs do business.

Our summit event in Leeds in April saw over 76 businesses get together and hear directly from speakers such as Myleen Klass and Microsoft.

Knowledge – there is a lot that businesses can learn from other businesses, and we facilitate companies to learn from other local businesses and national iconic names. In May we took a dozen businesses to Autotrader for a masterclass in recruitment and retention – the businesses found it invaluable, particularly the session on how to recruit for under £100.

Funding – we provide a funding product, “Growth Capital”, that goes beyond normal bank funding, helping businesses achieve what would normally only be possible through private equity. To date we have provided over £100m of new debt facilities which has accelerated the growth plans of over 50 businesses UK wide.

We can help you achieve your business ambitions, talk to us today jonathan.rostron@santander.co.uk

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 35

WORKING INSYNC CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF FIRST YEAR A Huddersfield marketing and business development agency, Working Insync, is celebrating a successful first year with a string of new client wins.

F

ounded in June 2014 by business growth expert, Sarah Holbrook, Working Insync, has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months, and now boasts seven clients dotted across the North of England, four of which have been secured since January.

Working Insync offers the whole marketing package. Specialising in strategy, planning and management, it helps organisations from the outset to build a strategic plan to enable them to drive their businesses forward. It also offers a wealth of marketing services from web development, graphic design, events management, social media, PR and copywriting.

But it’s not all just about marketing, Working Insync also provides business

development consultancy for companies that want to generate results and positive outcomes, from tender research and writing, networking, telesales, and data sourcing.

Sarah Holbrook, director said: “We offer our clients a bespoke and flexible approach, whether it’s outsourced marketing management or short-term consultancy.

For us, it’s all about trust and we like to get under the skin of companies to better understand what it is they need to boost their business growth. “We’ve had a really busy first year and have exciting plans in the pipeline for the next 12 months. We are looking to increase our client portfolio and will also be investing in a dedicated telesales service”

Of interest to Developers, Investors and Speculative Builders

Contact Jason Metcalfe orPhilip Deakin

01484 432043 83 Fitzwilliam Street Huddersfield HD1 5LG

N

FOR SALE The Former School House and School Hall, Cow Lane Womersley Residential development opportunity in a well sought after village Site area approximately 0.47 acres (0.19 hectares) Planning permission implemented in perpetuity for 3 new build cottages and 2 conversions of the existing school house and school hall Well connected to major arterial routes and public transport links EPC Rating: G (235) Sat Nav: DN6 9BD

36

www.hanson-cs.co.uk

•• Recruitment

A GUIDE TO FLEXIBLE WORKING Nadio Granata - Stafflex Recruitment Are you retired or looking to retire?

Do you have spare time on your hands and are keen to keep yourself busy?

How many people do you know who have reached a certain age in life when they are able to ‘wind down’ their career. Their children have grown up and ‘fled the nest’, the mortgage is paid off or certainly under control, their pension is kicking in, their health is good and they have time to kill.

Traditionally we would expect to be ‘retiring’ at 60 or 65 and not expecting to work ever again. But things are changing. For many different reasons, not least financial or health reasons, 60 is the new fifty and many of us still have a desire to work, albeit not at the same pace as before or indeed in the same industry we have been employed in.

The evidence is all too clear to ignore, keeping ‘busy’ can have all sorts of benefits both physical and mental … and financial too.

At Stafflex, we are seeing an increasing number of over fifties enquiring for part-time or short-term jobs. Often it’s just to see them through the winter months until the weather picks up and they resume their hobbies or holidays, sometimes it’s to raise a specific amount of cash for a one-off occasion or increasingly it is to top up the ever-decreasing pension contributions.

Whatever the reasons for flexible work, there is lots of it available and here are our top tips on how to make the most of the opportunities:

2. Update your profile Traditionally this would mean ‘update your CV’ ... but job opportunities come in many different guises and it’s no longer necessarily the case that you must supply a cv. You might want to use a stylish resume or a LinkedIn profile or simply a letter of introduction. Our new website actually enables you to ‘build’ your CV online. Whatever form you use, make sure it is up to date, factually correct and shows off your RELEVANT and most recent accomplishments appropriate for the roles you are seeking.

3. Prepare well If you are reading this article, then you are very likely to be of an age that suggests it’s been some time since you last applied for a job. Get into shape, physically and mentally with exercises. Test your physical stamina by carrying out tasks similar to those you are applying for and get up to speed with the tools you may be required to use.

4. Talk to people Get out and amongst the communities you are interested in working with. Familiarise yourself with what’s new and who’s recruiting or laying staff off.

5. Register for work Most temporary employment requires you to be registered with an agency or directly with the employer. The sooner you get your details registered the sooner they will be in touch should an appropriate opportunity arise.

1. Your research 6. Be enterprising Make sure you are up to date on employment law. Rules and regulations that apply to you are unique to your financial position and may vary depending on the terms of your financial arrangements.

Flexible working requires a certain amount of sacrifice. Look at the bigger picture and make yourself open to new ways of working should you be required to adapt.

Additionally, flexible working includes a multitude of options that may or may not fit with your availability. Better information will lead to better decision making.

Happy job hunting! For more information visit: www.Stafflex.co.uk E: nadio@stafflex.co.uk T: 07748118438

A fabulous weekend is in store this August as St Georges Square will once again host the Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival.

In it’s 15th year, the festival takes place on Thursday 6 August through until Sunday 9, with over 100 fantastic stalls. Sample the delights of Food avenue with Crispy Duck, Riverford Organic Farm, Empire Brewery, jerk pork pies from Barringtons Deli, curries from Kabana and burgers from Exotic Burgers.

Take your cookery skills to the next level with demonstrations in association with Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food and test your chocolate knowledge with the Ministry of Chocolate!

In addition, there will be lots of free entertainment for the children with craft crazy workshops and face painting and on Friday and Saturday from 6pm there will be live entertainment in the Festival of Dusk.

Brought to you by The Huddersfield Partnership and sponsored by John Smith’s Stadium, Heart 106-108, Virtual Huddersfield.com, HVM, Huddersfield Examiner, Heineken and Wilkinson Woodward Solicitors there is something for everyone including frinze events taking place from 18 July that includes a real ale and cocktail trail to name just one. For more information about the event visit: www.huddsfoodfest.or.uk

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 37

PROMOTING SUPER LEAGUE NETBALL IN YORKSHIRE Chamber member Waverley Consultancy, has been appointed by Yorkshire’s Super league Netball team, Yorkshire Jets, to boost their marketing and communications.

The communications and strategy consultancy is led by Stephen Naylor a former journalist and leader of press and communications for The Conservative Party in the North of England.

•

Waverley was appointed to support the Yorkshire Jets who are one of only eight teams who play in the sport’s highest competition in the country, with games broadcast live on Sky Sports. Waverley’s objectives were: increase the profile of the Yorkshire Jets.

• ensure matches are publicised to encourage ticket sales.

• improve the match day experience.

• develop a brand and communications that encouraged partnerships with companies and organisations • The audience was as broad as possible, promoting the team and the sport across Yorkshire “Engaging with people who are already interested in netball – from school girls who are passionate about the sport to those

who may have loved it in the past but had ‘lapsed’ was key,” explained Stephen. “These were identified as the most likely to be able to be encouraged to come to see games, driving revenue for the franchise.”

One of the priorities was to forge partnerships with key companies and organisations across Yorkshire who could assist with getting the message out.

Waverley’s work with Jets also focused regionally on developing close relationships with key journalists from BBC Yorkshire, Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post. This included introducing coaches, players and management to journalists and ensuring that they had the information which was required week-in week-out to be able to cover the Yorkshire Jets. There is also a weekly column from the Yorkshire Jets captain in the Yorkshire Evening Post, believed to be the first regular column from a female sports columnist the paper has ever featured.

Bramleys Commercial 20 – 26 Peel Street, Marsden, Huddersfield, HD7 6BW

To Let

1ST Floor, Colbeck House, Colbeck Row, Birstall, WF17 9NR

To Let

Commercial & Industrial Surveyors, Residential Estate Agents, Auctioneers & Property Management Consultants

Whitacre Street Industrial Estate, off Leeds Road, Huddersfield, HD2 1LY

To Let

Colne Vale Works, Colne Vale Road, For Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, HD3 4NY Sale

• Double fronted retail premises

• First Floor Office Suite

• Modern Single Storey Industrial Units

• Yard and Buildings

• 67.98 sqm (731 sqft)

• 214.26 sqm (2,306 sqft)

• Due for completion Summer 2015

• Site Area 0.9 Acres

• Popular village centre

• Prominent main road position

• 240m (2,583ft) AND 300m (3,230ft)

• Buildings 798.22sqm (8,592sqft)

• Main shopping parade

• Finished to a modern specification

• Good yard space and parking

• Freehold secure yard with buildings

• Rateable Value £6,500

• Good car parking

• Part concrete surfaced

• EPC Asset Rating: D

• Close proximity to junctons 26 & 27 of the M62 motorway network

• Recognised industrial location situated just off the main Leeds Road (A62)

14 St. George’s Square, Huddersfield HD1 1JF

01484 530361

• Previous use as a scrap yard and waste transfer station

Offices at Mirfield, Heckmondwike, Elland and Halifax

e: commercial@bramleys1.co.uk www.bramleys.com/commercial

BRAMLEYS COMMERCIAL CLOSE UP AD_190x115_080415.indd 1

38

27/05/2015 16:41

•• Health

IS YOUR POSTURE AFFECTING YOUR JOB? Poor posture in the workplace is a major cause of back pain, workplace stress and can lead to repetitive strain injuries.

This can result in poor employee health and low morale, which will ultimately lead onto reduced productivity, lost time, and higher business costs.

The key to good posture is training your body to sit, stand and walk in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during weight-bearing activities.

Sleep tight

The first step is to identify the cause of the issue.

Common causes of posture include:

Sleep on your back or side. If on your back, then you can place a small pillow under your knees and if on your side, then place a small pillow between your knees. This is not a must, but it may help you maintain a straight back.

- Sticking your bottom out - Standing with a flat back - Leaning on one leg - Hunched back - Poking your chin out - Rounded shoulders - Sitting cross legged - Cradling your phone - Slouching in a chair Once you have outlined the cause of the issue, the next step is to look at improving it.

Stand up straight Stand up and look in a mirror. Check out which areas are preventing you from standing up straight. Are your shoulders slouched forward? Is your head down? Is your back bent? Straighten out whatever is slouching and observe the difference.

Your ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles should make one straight line. Relax your shoulders and slightly bend your knees — you don’t want to look like a robot. If you’re standing for a long period of time, make sure to continue shifting your weight every so often.

Sit back, relax We recommend that you use a high, firm chair with a high back. Make sure to sit with your hips as far back against the back of the chair as possible, and keep your knees at hip level (or a little lower).

If your back is not getting the support it needs from the back of the chair, or you find it difficult to stay against the back of the chair, then try placing a pillow or a towel to support your lower back.

Always sleep on a firm mattress. Don’t sleep on your stomach. If you do, place a pillow under your waist.

Use a pillow for your head that keeps your head aligned (at the same level) with the rest of your body.

And finally stick to it!

If you require any further information or advice, we recommend that you speak with your doctor or occupational health nurse.

Written by Sandra Babbings of PROHMS Huddersfield. PROHMS is an established group of Health Professionals consisting of occupational health physicians, specialist practitioners, nurses, occupational health technicians & Physiotherapists

HUDDERSFIELD FIRM BECOMES NATIONAL BRAND IN 18 MONTHS It’s been a whirlwind 18 months for Ti Installations, the Huddersfield-based electrical engineering company. But as they explain in an exclusive interview with Topic UK, a carefully considered business plan has been key to the multidisciplined firm’s national expansion.

W

hen Kris Johnson and Mark Copley joined forces in January 2014, their goal was clear.

They believed they’d identified a market gap – a need for a multiskilled engineering firm that could offer electrical, security and audio installations to domestic and commercial customers. Their thinking was that one single trusted supplier, who could deliver the variety and quality of services provided by large contractors, for fees typically charged by smaller firms, would prove popular in the marketplace. And there’s no disputing it has.

Only 18 months later, and the firm is a popular name among households in the Kirklees and Calderdale area. But look to the commercial market and the brand has spread much further afield.

Ti has completed more than 50 national projects for high street brand Poundworld, for instance, and has a potential further 11 projects in the pipeline. The team is also approaching the final phase of a 26-week contract in Wokingham – their largest single project to date – having helped to transform a 3-storey redundant office building into residential apartments.

Works have included full electrical wiring, and the installation of fire alarms, door entry systems, TV aerials and all external lighting.

The success of Ti’s first 12 months meant year-end turnover figures exceeded their initial predictions by 91% and their gross profit performance was 116% stronger than expected. But that’s not to say the directors haven’t invested in the business along the way.

Joint managing director Mark explains: “We’ve worked hard to put a number of internal processes and procedures in place, to grow the business in a best

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practice manner. Unfortunately there are many less scrupulous companies in the CCTV, electrical and audio industries who will not invest in adequate training, try to save money by opting for lower quality kit, and cut corners to cut costs which can have devastating health and safety consequences. We didn’t want to be one of those firms.

“Not only did we want to build a reputable Yorkshire business that believes in doing things right, we wanted to help shape industry standards too.”

This may sound like a bold ambition but it does indeed seem that their desire to impart knowledge is being heard. Ti has provided authoritative electrical and security commentary to various national trade journals, in sectors including waste management, facilities management and retail. The directors have also secured a regular advice-led monthly column on Electrical Times, helping them shape the development of their fellow peers.

So what’s next for this fledgling business? In July, the team will find out if it has secured the Eaton Smith Business of the Year Award, having scooped Business of the Month recognition back in March. The hunt is also on for Ti’s next City & Guilds qualified electrician.

Ti Installations will be providing free electrical, security and audio advice for Topic UK readers in Kirklees and Calderdale, in a new monthly column.

See page 13 for their first instalment. for young, enthusiastic and relatively inexpensive labour and ‘experience’.

The KC Works programme ensures that tomorrow’s young recruits are not only enthusiastic and highly motivated but they are also work-ready.

•• Property

Matters

Hanson Chartered Surveyors was established in October 1989,

by Mark Hanson FRICS to service the needs of clients expecting direct and uncomplicated advice

SHORTAGE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BY MARK HA NS ON - H A NS ON C H A RT ER ED SURVEYO R S

D

espite the reported uncertainty due to the election and the continuing concern about the In/Out Referendum, life goes on.

To that extent the West Yorkshire market, heart of George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse hasn’t blinked. It’s as though we let the children play and we get on with it, regardless of the noise they make.

We are, after all, used to noise in the beer garden.

True, we all want to know whether our future lies within or without Europe but Halifax and Huddersfield will still be here regardless of the result.

Industrial development has been steady through the recession with supply of property equalling demand. However, a general lack of supply due to successive Governments’ policies of charging 100% business rates on all types of empty industrial and commercial property, with very few exceptions and after only a brief respite, has caused a shortfall now in supply as demand has increased following the end of the recession.

Firms can only wait so long and if the correct supply is not available, we will lose out to other parts of the country and even other countries where planning policies are set up in favour of industry. Housing supply

and house prices get the headlines but without the correct supply of industrial land and buildings, there will not be the jobs to provide the finance for mortgages.

I attended a lunch recently and very positive words were spoken by senior members of Kirklees Council in support of industry and development but the shortly to be introduced CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) could seriously forestall development.

More will be written about CIL, but essentially it is a development land tax but raised by individual local authorities rather than central government, to be set at a level by each authority for assisting in raising funds for local infrastructure. It is essentially a locally raised hypothecated tax.

This is already achieved by Section 106 Agreements; legally binding but negotiated conditions on planning permissions whereby developers generally pay for dedicated elements of Council expenditure; typically low cost housing provision, education contribution, road improvements in the vicinity of the development etc. However, S106 Agreements are both negotiated and subject to a Viability Test. As each development has different characteristics and costs, so too does each S106 Agreement.

CIL, by contrast, is a scale charge set down by a local authority and non-negotiable. It is set before all costs are known and, so far as we yet know, will not be subject to a Viability Test.

CIL is not supposed to replace S106 but augment it. It is another tool in the box, but like all development control tools (the clue is in the word “control”) it is a negative influence/ effect on all types of development.

All planning and development control, by its very nature, is a negative process but it needn’t be.

Planning is part of the democratic process but there needs to be real leadership and a continuing positive rather than negative attitude towards development.

Care will need to be taken, therefore, in establishing a correct level for this levy if development and therefore industry is not to be frightened off.

There is enough noise in the beer garden.

We don’t want to give any reasons to our wealth creators and providers of jobs to find a more appealing place to drink. limitations. The number of times we all need specialists are few and far between but when I need a decorator, I pick up Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 41

•• Sport

WHAT DO YOU DO OVER THE SUMMER? One of the most common questions we are asked at Huddersfield Town is “what do you do over the summer?”

June at the Stadium.

Our Advertising Department is hard at work selling advertisements for the Club’s fixture posters, fixture cards and our match day programme, as well as advertising boards at PPG Canalside and the Stadium for the new season.

People always seem surprised when I tell them that the closed season period is one of the busiest for any employee at a football club!

I oversee Huddersfield Town’s business to business relationships and I can tell you that the closed season is one of the busiest times for our Partnerships team, as we sign up the 2015/16 commercial partners who support the club. We are aiming towards the magic number of 100 partners, after which we will close the door and make this the ‘Huddersfield 100’.

Our events continue throughout the summer, including a Golf Day, a visit to the Races on 31 July and not forgetting the 20 Year Reunion of Neil Warnock’s Promotion winning team on Friday 5

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A key date for the calendar is Wednesday 17 June when our fixtures are released.

Once these are announced, our planning takes another step forward. It tells us when our big local derbies will be and when our games against ex-Premiership opposition are. This naturally brings with it a lot of excitement from our fans, as we internally begin to piece together what themes and activities we will create around the fixtures, as well as plan our logistical requirements for travel, ticketing, accommodation, stewarding, and policing. It also gives real focus to our Corporate Hospitality and take up on this is proving really popular already, with a high retention rate of Boxes and White Rose Club and Partners Suite places.

If your business is interested in a partnership with our club, please get in touch with me. We will welcome new businesses to the club on Friday 10 July when our commercial team is putting together an event not to be missed – not going could mean not growing! Contact business@htafc.com to find out more.

Sean Jarvis Commercial Director Huddersfield Town Football Club

MY CONFERENCE WAKEFIELD 24th JUNE 2015

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 43

•• Wakefield

Business Week

SPEAKER PROGRAMME This year, we are delighted to have seven fantastic speaker sessions and a panel discussion running alongside the conference. These sessions are a great opportunity to hear from experienced professionals and learn something new.

The sessions will be hosted by Lee Jackson, fellow of, and past-president of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA) in Yorkshire and a popular funny motivational speaker. He’ll be introducing the excellent list of speakers, keeping us to time and entertaining us throughout the day. You can tweet questions to him throughout the day at @leejackson.

 LEE JACKSON PowerPoint Surgery: How to create slides that make your pitches more, not less effective!

09:40 – 10:00 Lee Jackson is an international speaker, PowerPoint surgeon, presentation coach and the author of nine books.

Having worked in the voluntary, public and private sectors, he now works with businesses and within education to help people succeed in challenging times.

In this funny and down to earth session Lee will wean you off bad slides forever.

He will also teach you how good presentation slides can even work for you and help you stand out from the crowd. Using Lee’s simple techniques we can kill death by bullet-point once and for all!

 NINA JOY Mind, Body and Business 11:00 – 11:20 With a background in financial services, Nina runs her own business as a professional speaker, author and coach, and is a regular media commentator. In 2012, Nina’s life changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer and was not expected to live more than a few months. Not one to accept the inevitable, she took control of the situation and is now not only surviving but thriving, against all expectations. Nina now works to inspire her audiences, workshop attendees and readers to achieve the impossible.

 PANEL DISCUSSION  DEBORAH OGDEN Personal Brand & Impact: What do people say about you?

10:20 – 10:40 Deborah Ogden is a nationally respected speaker on personal branding and making a positive impact. Personal brand and reputation building are crucial to every modern professional whatever your role, seniority or sector.

Deborah will cover the what and the why of personal brand, including key tools and techniques to ensure you make a positive impact.

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11:30-12:30 This discussion is a chance to hear from representatives within the region on their views on business within Wakefield. The floor will then be open to a question and answer session.

The panel includes; Joanne Roney, Chief Executive Wakefield Council; Roger Marsh, Chairman of the LEP; Michael Carter, Chairman and Owner of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats; Dan Conboy, Co-founder Cognitive; Sam Wright, Principal Wakefield College; Adrian Spawforth, Wakefield Property Forum.

 GARY KING Building the business you want and having your desired lifestyle.

13:00 – 13:30 Having spent more than 25 years in business, tackling just about every issue and opportunity you are likely to encounter, Gary King is perfectly placed to advise ambitious businesses with an appetite for growth. He asks the difficult questions, the ones no one else dares to ask – or the ones you don’t dare ask yourself. Attendees will leave with greater clarity of some of the growth challenges in their business, as well as a few growth tips that can be implemented immediately to overcome them.

 JANET BEBB Social Media Crisis Management Ready, Steady, Relax it’s under control 13:45 – 14:15 Janet is a highly regarded local social media subject matter specialist with over 10 years’ experience in business and enterprise. Janet approaches social media marketing from three different angles; how it affects the business, how it benefits the customer and how it is embraced by staff. Janet ensures the online sentiment, tone and voice accurately reflects our customers’ brand. She will give tips on how to get your social media management under control.

UN

ITY HALL

Wakefield 2015 B

 NIGEL GREENWOOD

US INESS

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Unity Works Major Hall

The six things that all customers want a practical guide to delivering simply brilliant customer service 14:30 – 15:00 Nigel Greenwood has over 30 years’ experience in designing and delivering great customer experiences for all sizes and types of businesses - covering sales, marketing, product design, channel development, administration and retention. His forté is understanding business processes and how they impact customers. Nigel will be delivering a practical guide to customer service to deliver more sales, better customer satisfaction and loyalty and fewer complaints.

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Statement

YTL

Kingston Unity

Bee Social

Bagden Hall

Perry’s Jaguar

Wakefield College

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New Car Deals

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Barnsley College

Jordans’s Solictors

Santander

Arthouse 97

National Coal Mining Museum

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Juice Personnel

Wakefield Manufacturing Forum

Arthur J Gallagher 41

Re: work Office Furniture

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Maze 7

4N Networking

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Fasprint

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5

Eitex

 RICHARD NORMAN Marketing with Emotional Intelligence 15:15 – 15:45 Richard has 30 years’ experience starting, developing and selling numerous successful businesses and presently runs the business community of Brand Yorkshire.

His key pointers to success are: developing and implementing a strategic business and marketing plan, together with developing his and his teams’ emotional intelligence.

His presentation will illustrate how to get in front of new customers, through the use of emotional intelligence in your marketing. Richard will also share 10 other marketing methods, to help you develop your brand recognition and help you to find your dream new clients.

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Northern Media

Spot Factoring UK Ltd

HDP

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Copiserv (Sponsor)

Social Progress

Occupational Therapy

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Leeds Beckett Uni 34

Sovereign Health Care

Jolliffe Cork

Stada Media 35

Time SFB Sanders Geeson Communications

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Arriva Yorkshire

Abzorb

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FSB

Ramsdens

Creative Analysis

Yorkshire Payments

First Choice Recruitment

Go Media

Unity Works Minor Hall •

Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

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Wakefield First

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TopicUK

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Brand Yorkshire

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Unity Works

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Forget Me Not Children's Hospice

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 45

WAKEFIELD BUSINESSWEEK 22nd - 26th JUNE EVENTS A full run down of whats happening during Wakefield Business Week

MONDAY 22nd JUNE  09:30 –12:00 Unlocking Potential and Inspiring Growth Wakefield's Place in the Leeds City Region

The Kings Croft Hotel

 13:00 – 16:00 WMDC Apprenticeships Unity Works: Major Hall

WEDNESDAY 24th JUNE  08:00 – 10:00

 09:00 – 12:00 Bellingham IT IT Workshop Unity Works Conference Room Three

4Networking Breakfast 4Networking provides a great start to MY Conference Wakefield.  10.00 – 12.00 As part of the meeting, delegates receive Logistics the Gateway To the Future three ten minute 1-2-1 appointments with G-Park, Europort people who you have chosen – a simple yet highly productive way to get to know  14.00 - 16.00 people better and to explore mutual Access the World A Guide to business opportunities.

Exporting Unity Works: Cafe Bar G-Park, Europort

 08:45 -16:00 MY Conference Wakefield 2015 Unity Works

 16:00 – 18:00

 19:00 till late Wakefield Business Awards Unity Works

FRIDAY 26th JUNE

MY Network drinks Join us at MY Network Wakefield for an  10:00 – 12:00 informal drinks networking event. Just Maze turn up and take advantage of Creating Brand Ambassadors  13:30 - 16:00 this great opportunity to make some Unity Works: Conference Room Two Your hired - The Next Generation valuable new contacts in a relaxed setting How to increase sales, boost your profile and enjoy a drink on us! and future proof your business.  13:30 – 15:00 This event is sponsored by Copiserv Unity Works: Major Hall Bondholders BBQ and run in partnership with Barclays, Cooking Up A Vision For Wakefield CIM, First Choice, Mid Wakefield First Bondholders will help  15:00 – 17:00 Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, to close an action packed Business Carmel Harrison PR Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, Statement and Week 2015 with burgers and buns at Communications Strategy the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. a special informal BBQ networking Unity Works: Conference Room One The Hop, Bank Street event.

Cooking up conversation about TUESDAY 23rd JUNE what’s next for #WorldclassWakey, THURSDAY 25th JUNE Adrian Spawforth will also deliver the  08:00 – 10:00 Wakefield Bondholders vision for the Getting the best of Google AdWords  08:00 – 09:30 future of the district.

Unity Works: Conference Room Two Wakefield City Centre Partnership Forum The Bondholder BBQ will take place Kay on 07825 061022 from 1:30pm at Merchant Gate offices,  08:30 – 10:00 in Burgage Square (across from the Join Cognitiv the creative and digital  08:00 – 10:00 Westgate Station). It costs just £10.00 online members group for informal WMDC per delegate and includes networking, networking for likeminded creatives Retail & Nighttime lunch and a drink.

Unity Works: Major Hall Unity Works: Minor Hall Burgage Square, Merchant Gate MSCP, Westgate, WF1 2QN  10:00 – 14:00  09:00 – 10:00 F5 (Refresh) Your Digital & Creative Skills Simply JP  17:00 – until late Unity Works Mind Reading for Business Wrap Party Unity Works: Conference Room Three Join TopicUK and Unity Works  10:00 – 12:00 for the Business Week Wrap Party, an Sitting Pretty!  09:00 - 11:30 event certainly not to be missed!

HDP Occupational Therapist Finders Keepers Unity Works: Conference Room Three 2 part interactive workshop - Grow your Share your experiences of the week business by gaining and retaining with colleagues over a drink from the customers  13:00 – 14:00 bar, listen to music and enjoy the best National Coal Mining Museum Perfect Tribes (Judy Parsons) party in town!

The Power of LinkedIn Unity Works Cafe Bar Unity Works: Conference Room One 46

Yorkshire’s Legal People Chadwick Lawrence delivers a comprehensive range of expert legal services to commercial and private clients. Our integrated approach allows us to manage your business, personal and family affairs with seamless expertise.

For more information or to arrange an initial free consultation at any of SYV SJ½GIW SV ]SYV TPEGI SJ [SVO TPIEWI GEPP

01484 519999

or visit chadwicklawrence.co.uk

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 47

•• Legal

Matters

Each issue Chadwick Lawrence will share with our readers information to keep us all within the law. If you have a legal question, or need to know about a particular subject email editor@topicuk.co.uk and we'll get Chadwick Lawrence to answer it for you.

DO I NEED A LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY? whether or not you have lost mental capacity.

Under a registered Health and Welfare LPA your attorneys can make decisions in respect of your personal care, including decisions about where you should live, your day to day care and medical decisions. However, this LPA can only be used once you have lost capacity.

An LPA usually takes approximately 3 months to register and as part of the process we need a certificate provider to confirm you, the donor, have sufficient capacity to give us instructions, that you are not under any undue influence or duress and that you fully understand the nature and scope of the LPA.

Nosheen Bukhari at Chadwick Lawrence

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a Court instrument which gives someone that you choose and you trust the legal authority to deal with your property and financial affairs and/or your health and welfare on your behalf, should you lose capacity. These individuals are referred to as your attorneys. It is advisable that you appoint two attorneys, usually on a joint and several basis, which means they can act together or independently.

It is extremely important that you (the donor) ensure that you have adequate provisions in place so that if you require assistance, someone of your choosing will be in a position to act on your behalf if you lose mental or physical capacity in the future.

Under a Property and Financial Affairs LPA your attorneys will be able to deal with your financial matters which includes dealing with your Bank Accounts, ISA’s/Investments, Benefits, Utility Bills, and the Sale or Rental of your property. You can of course put in guidance and restrictions in respect of what your attorneys can or cannot do.

Your attorneys can assist you regardless of

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We also need to give notice to a named individual who then has the opportunity to object to the OPG if they believe the LPA should not be registered for any reason. The most important aspect of a LPA is the fact that you cannot secure a LPA if you have lost mental capacity.

If an individual has lost mental capacity and someone needs to access their monies in order to discharge their liabilities, they will have to make an application to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order. This can be an expensive, long and drawn out procedure which requires the submission of yearly accounts and requires the Deputy to put insurance in place.

It is vitally important that if you are a business owner you have made the appropriate provisions to ensure your business continues to trade if you lose capacity. An LPA is a document that you should have in place to allow your chosen attorneys to continue to run the business on your behalf without having to make an application for a deputyship order or having to wind down the business itself.

£12m Claimed & Counting Spotlight on Financial Mis-selling The last 18 months have been busy within the Finance Litigation Team at Chadwick Lawrence. The mis-selling of Interest Rate Hedging Products (Swaps) has been a hot topic.

Since the FSA (now FCA) found serious failings in the sale of complex derivative products we have assisted clients to recover more than £12M in compensation. That figure continues to grow.

The route to compensation is not straightforward. Customers have 4 options to pursue a complaint for the mis-selling of Swaps:•

An internal Complaint to the Bank;

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The FCA Review process;

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Financial Ombudsman Service;

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Litigation.

An internal complaint and the FCA Review are controlled by the banks.

The Financial Ombudsman Service is swamped with claims and can only award compensation limited to £150,000. Litigation can be stressful and potentially expensive.

The FCA Review is drawing to a close but the complaints are not. Whilst the date for new submissions under the Review passed at the end of March 2014 we continue to receive instructions.

Yorkshire Bank were not included within the FCA review and we continue to receive instructions from clients who have purchased Tailored Business Loans.

The banks are rejecting consequential loss claims and clients who have previously been offered compensation arising out of regulatory breaches on the parts of banks are mystified as to why a consequential loss claim has been rejected.

It is reported that banks are working hard to re-build their reputations. As further instructions are received it is clear that there is little trust left in the banking system. The FCA Review is a process where customers are told that they do not need specialist advice.

Throughout the process of dealing with claims arising from the sale of Swaps clients have raised repeated concerns

at the lack of transparency - How is an Independent Reviewer, instructed for and paid for by the banks, truly “independent”?

Challenges continue through the courts and we see more and more cases settled before they reach trial. Perhaps there is a shift in the way that the Judiciary approaches cases of this nature and the starting point in the mind of the Judges is no longer that the banks must have acted appropriately.

This perceived shift may be influenced by the further scandals hitting the headlines. Deutsche Bank were fined £227M by the FCA for LIBOR and EURIBOR failings. The FCA reported that Deutsche Banks failings were compounded by them repeatedly misleading the FCA. As recently as April 2015 Clydesdale Bank were fined £20,678,300.

an increase of complaints across the area of financial mis-selling claims and have seen a focus on LIBOR, mortgage mis-selling, pension transfers, and the sale of investments. With the recent changes in Pension Law and the ability for consumers to get their hands on their pension pots I anticipate that we will see the number of financial services complaints increasing.

There is little certainty in this expanding area of law. The only thing that I can predict with certainty is that appears the Chadwick Lawrence Finance Litigation Team are going to get busier.

Case law is developing and customers continue to challenge the compensation process. We are eagerly awaiting clarification on the question of Judicial Review of the assessment of an Independent Reviewer. We have seen Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 49

••Wining

& Dining

ERIC’S SEARED SALMON, LEMON ROASTED POTATOES, BABY SPINACH & GREEN BEANS Welcome to our regular wining and dining feature where each issue we team up with Eric’s Restaurant in Huddersfield to bring you a recipe to try.

R E S T A U R A N T

Eric in the Kitchen

E

ric is an accomplished and enthusiastic chef and proprietor of this award winning fine dining restaurant.

Menus are crafted with flair and imagination and all ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible.

This issue Eric has supplied us with this amazing salmon dish and as usual, we have asked a member of the Huddersfield business community to make the dish and let us know how they got on.

This issue, agreeing to take part is Veronica Mullins, a Partner based at Ramsdens Solicitors Halifax office who deals with all aspects of Private Client work.

For those of you who would like to have a go at making the dish for yourself, we have listed the full recipe and all the ingredients you will need.

If you would like to take part in a future wining and dining feature, drop us a line at editor@topicuk. co.uk or ring Gill on 07711 539047.

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A tasty recipe, brought together with a sweet zingy vinaigrette. Everything but the fish can be prepared ahead, so it’s a great one for dinner parties. Serves 4.

Ingredients: • 4 organic salmon fillets • 1lb new potatoes cut into small chunks • Zest & juice of 2 lemons • Baby spinach • Fine green beans • Thinly sliced red onion • Virgin olive oil • Salt & pepper • Juice of 1 orange •

1 tbspn castor sugar

• 1⁄4 tspn sweet paprika • A handful of fresh mint Method: Preheat oven to 220°C / 425°C / Gas mark 7.

Toss the potatoes with olive oil, salt & pepper, & spread them onto a baking sheet.

Roast in the oven for approx 25 mins or until cooked. Take them out of the oven & place in a large mixing bowl along with the lemon zest. Toss together then cover & set aside.

Blanch green beans in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Drain & run under cold water to cool & stop the cooking process.

Spread the beans out to dry on kitchen paper. Now place green beans, onion & spinach in a new mixing bowl.

To make the vinaigrette, place 3 tablespoons of olive oil & the cider vinegar, lemon juice, orange juice, paprika, castor sugar & mint into a blender & blitz to combine. Pour this onto your potato mixture & toss with your hands just before you’re ready to serve.

For the fish, preheat oven to 220°C / 425°C / Gas mark 7 again. Season the salmon on both sides. Heat a frying pan & put in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When it starts to smoke, add the salmon & let it cook until a nice brown crust has formed (usually 3-4 minutes). Carefully turn the fish & place it in the oven to finish cooking (usually 5 or 6 minutes more, but take care not to overcook & make it dry).

Serve as illustrated with potatoes on the bottom, salmon resting on top & crowned with a handful of the dressed greens.

Drizzle some of the vinaigrette over & around the fish. Serve immediately.

MY OSSO BUCO HAD MORE HOLES IN IT THAN I’D BARGAINED FOR! BY NADI O G R AN ATA -MARKETI N G D I RECTOR . W W W. STA F F L EX .CO.UK

Firstly, I’d like to start by thanking the guys at TopicUK for inviting me to contribute to the magazine. A closet wannabe best selling author combined with my previous 20 years as chef, I couldn’t resist the opportunity of trying out a new dish, some fine wine and writing all about it too!

To say that my Osso Buco (pronounced: osso – book – o, meaning ‘bone with a hole) dish resembled anything that Eric’s makes is to liken Blackpool Tower to Eifel Tower, or even Emley Moor Mask.

Let me explain...

Traditional Osso Buco, in my experience, is a Milanese casserole of veal shanks, gently braised with finely chopped fresh vegetables, rosemary, garlic and bay leaf with some chopped Italian tomatoes and a splash of vino rosso.

However, what I actually made was a greasy veal stew with pork knuckle!

I had totally ignored the fact that veal shank has now become something of a rarity in the UK and on the morning that I was to attempt my culinary feat, I failed at the first hurdle by not being able to locate the core ingredient! My favourite butcher, Richard Williams of Mitchells on Station Street in Huddersfield, could not get me the four shanks I required without a few days’ notice. Panic beginning to set in, I zoomed up to those nice people at Bolster Moor Farm Shop with 20 minutes to go before Saturday closing time, explaining my challenge like some demented male equivalent of Anika Rice (without the notable rear). To my eternal gratitude they provided me with the ‘nearest thing’ to veal shank, ie four veal loins and some pork bones oozing with marrow.

Somewhat relieved, I headed home to do the easy bit

…. finely chopping the veg, sautéed with some fresh rosemary, home-grown bay leaf and wild garlic. I duly removed the veg, and sealed the veal loins in the hot pan with a fine coating of flour. Once sealed, I chucked in 1/3 bottle of valpolicella and helped myself to a large glass to ease the stress ala Keith Floyd!

I then threw the veg back in, with the marrow bones, a tin of finely chopped pomodoro from the fields near Castelnuovo Bocca D’ada (I promised my aunty I’d mention the old place back home!), some big chunky peeled carrots and covered with a light chicken stock, a handful of lentils to thicken the sauce and the rest of the red wine (minus one small refill!).

In the meantime, I boiled some maris piper spuds, seasoned with coarse salt and pepper and far too much butter to be good for you, and prepared some crispy spring greens. In a few minutes I had the gremolata finely chopped and ready to serve.

I cooked the veal/pork for 2 hours in a thick bottomed pan on a low heat with a solid lid on top.

And so, to the tasting …

The veal was tender, succulent and full of flavour.

With a sprinkling of the gremolata it became tangy and almost Morrocan in flavour. The mashed potatoes were an excellent accompaniment as were the greens. Unfortunately, however, the pork bone marrow, though undoubtably a great provider of flavour, was also really quite greasy which rendered (excuse the pun) the whole dish somewhat disappointing.

So, my advice to anybody reading this … if you fancy some Osso Buco leave it to the experts and get yourself booked in to Eric’s at Lindley!

Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 51

The Chamber Big Interview

NOT A PERFECT START FOR SUCCESSFUL BRIGHOUSE FIRM By his own admission, Managing Director of Brighouse based Yorkshire Payments, James Howard had a less-than-perfect start in life.

G

rowing up on a council estate in Wolverhampton, which was voted the fifth worst city in the world by the Lonely Planet Guide, James left his local comprehensive school with no GCSE’s. “I was written off by my teachers as all I wanted to do was cause mischief and make people laugh,” he told us. “But the one thing I was interested in was gadgets and how they worked, perfect at that time as it was the 1990’s and the mobile phone boom.”

At 16, James saw a Saturday job advertised in a mobile phone shop. “I managed to get an interview but I never dressed smart and the whole interview was a shambles, but I was a local lad who knew everyone in town, keen and the store manager could see that I had banter and personality, so offered me the job!” James started a few weeks later on £7,000pa before commission.

“I was just a lackey as there were more experienced sales advisors there who had been in the industry for years, but I was delighted to be there and have a brain like a sponge, so I learned quickly. In the four years I worked there, I worked hard and rose through various positions eventually becoming store manager and senior sales advisor, breaking lots of sales records. I also learned a valuable lesson about people. The manager used to judge whether someone would buy from their appearance but on one occasion

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he told me to get rid of a customer who went on to purchase a mobile phone on a two-year contract with insurance, earning me a very nice commission!”

At the age of 20, James took a job with BSkyB selling packages within their store, completely smashing all the targets set by the company, simply by being able to interact with people and not judge them.

Then came a change of direction that took him into the payments industry and the start of his ambition to become self employed. I had a real ‘can-do’ attitude and freelanced for a number of different payment providers for many years.

After meeting and marrying his wife Julie, the couple moved to Northowram at a time when James was feeling the pinch! “I had spent everything I had earned, was in negative equity with my property and had no savings, but a visit to my local pub was the start of networking and the start of Yorkshire Payments.”

James began making contacts through business networking groups in Halifax and he never looked back!

James started his one-man business from an office at the rear of a printers merchants with just a desk, laptop and a telephone line. However, with the backing of a silent partner, the business now occupies well presented offices and

provides card processing services for sole traders, SME’s and large companies.

“We now employ 16 staff covering administration, sales, finance and IT,” said James, “and I head up the business with my co-directors Marc Greenwood, formerly of Lloyds Banking Group, who handles operational matters, and Mark Prince, whose forte is strategy and finance.

“We are licensed directly with Visa and Mastercard and compete with the likes of HSBC and Barclays as well as a number of other independents based in London.

“We can’t compete with them in terms of marketing budgets. We don’t have a branch on every street corner to advertise our services. But we are pro-active, and ethical. It’s all about service. Everything is in-house and there’s no shipping things out to foreign call centres. We believe our brand will grow further, we currently have two apprentices and will recruit a third shortly.”

James is proud of the firm’s Yorkshire roots. “Yorkshire itself is a brand,” he says. “It’s not just a region. The Yorkshire economy grew more than the whole of the French economy last year and I’m so proud that my business is based here.”

Among the good causes Yorkshire Payments tries to support is the homeless charity Simon on the Streets. James and members of staff took part in a sleep out in front of the John Smith’s Stadium to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people recently and told us: “there are people who may have had a good education, but they have had a bit of bad luck or drugs have taken over their lives,” he says. “We shouldn’t write them off.”

FACT FILE:

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Holidays: The family will be going to France this summer. James also enjoys camping at Flamborough Head with a group of friends.



First job: I was a pot washer at Dunstall racecourse, Wolverhampton to raise enough money to buy a video recorder.

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Best thing about the job?

Working with the team. James loves going into the office and hearing what everyone’s been up to. He loves winning new customers and managing existing customers because he’s still a salesman by trade!`



Worst thing about the job?

Paperwork and industry politics



Business tip: Never judge a book by its cover. Just because someone wears a Primark coat doesn’t mean they’ve no money to spend – and If someone’s wearing an Alex McQueen shirt, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve masses of cash.

Phone: 01422 323785 Email: info@yorkshirepayments.com Web: www.yorkshirepayments.comand Kirklees & Calderdale Edition June2015 53

MUSIC CORNER WITH UNITY WORKS

Welcome to our brand new regular feature about what our region has to offer music lovers. Dean Freeman from Unity Works who is responsible for organising music festivals and bringing live bands to the region will regularly update us with what’s happening in the music industry.

I

can honestly say that, after my many years of promoting live music in Wakefield, the city has never had it so good when it comes to venues.

I’m very proud to be working at Unity Works, but it is my work with Long Division that gives me the privilege of working directly with so many of them.

If you’ve not heard of Long Division Festival, it takes place in Wakefield City Centre and over the last 4 years we’ve used all kinds of places as venues; The Town Hall, Old Drury Lane Library and even the old Mustangs nightclub, which was quite strange.

But for our fifth year we are spoilt for choice. A Long Division ticket on June 13th gets you access to over 70 bands playing across two stages at Unity Works, two stages at The Hop, the Theatre Royal, The Orangery, Westgate Chapel and Players.

Nationally renowned bands like British Sea Power and Ash play alongside the local area’s best upcoming talent and people travel from all over the country to enjoy live music in Wakefield. I once bumped into a man from Lincoln who told me his weekend at Long Division was his actual holiday that year.

This is why I work in Live Events; because I believe they can show our city in the best possible light whilst helping local businesses thrive. The point is that as many people benefit as possible but in a city like Wakefield I sometimes feel it is hard to explain that in a way so people ‘get it’.

It was especially hard at the beginning, because no-one had seen anything like this in the city centre. I tried to persuade local restaurants to work with us; feed a couple of our bands in exchange for free advertising to hundreds (and these days, thousands) of people. But they all

felt it was too much of a risk and so instead Subway received all our visitors’ custom.

That is a shame because we bring so many new people to the city. Unity Works does the same thing. It’s a little sad perhaps, but I love looking through all the postcode data we collect and see where people have visited from. I feel confident that once they journey here, their opinion of the place is changed forever. Getting them to make that first journey is the absolute trick I’ve been trying to master for ten years and it’s something that becomes easier if we work together.

The change in Wakefield since 2011 has been considerable, not least for the music venues that have appeared but also for this growing air of joint partnership. I’m proud of Long Division’s record of bringing around 450 bands and 7500 people to the city, using 25 venues and generating around £150,000 for the city economy.

That’s not ticket sales and the money we make, but secondary spend in the city with other businesses.

For that reason alone, I dearly hope that other businesses see the worth in this kind of enterprise. Unlike some in the entertainment industry, I didn’t create this festival to make money. It was for a greater good, and that’s probably why I feel so at home at Unity Works. But the flip-side is that these things can only run on goodwill for so long.

Photo credits : John Jowett

54

Auto Enrolement is here Are you ready???????????????????

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