ISSUE7 APRIL 2016
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MID YORKSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - WAKEFIELD & DISTRICT EDITION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOPICUK
FOR BUSINESS
The Big Interview
Tim Welton
Wakefield Business week
Save the date World Events
Affecting Business
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WELCOME
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Welcome to the April edition of Close Up for Business, from all here at the Chamber and our associates on the magazine, TopicUK.
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ince our last edition of Close Up we have been very busy at the Chamber, never more so than on Wednesday 16th March when the Chamber’s MY Conference Kirklees event took place at the same time as the UK’s 2016 Budget was announced. I am pleased confirm that over 480 people attended MY Conference Kirklees. I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this event a success, our partners and sponsors: Brand Yorkshire, The John Smith’s Stadium, TopicUK, KirkleesCORE, our exhibitors and speakers, and all the delegates who attended during the course of the day. We are now busy preparing for our next Conference, MY Conference Wakefield, which will take place on Wednesday 15th June during Wakefield Business Week (13th to 17th June). The Chamber are delighted to be delivering this focal point event during business week, working together with Wakefield first as a result of our recent Collaboration Agreement with Wakefield Council. In organising and promoting these conferences and business weeks, the Chamber sits at the very heart of our local business communities. In his Budget Speech the Chancellor supported our Chamber’s calls to avoid higher business taxes and costs – and he managed to lower them in some areas, such Corporation Tax. He also responded to our calls to reduce Business Rates, particularly for smaller SME’s. Further, he announced extra incentives for entrepreneurship and investment. We are pleased with his commitments to Northern infrastructure
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projects, and we just hope that they now move rapidly to the construction phase. The extra £700m raised by the increased tax on insurance premiums will be used for flood defences, and we are particularly pleased that the funding for projects in our Chamber area have been confirmed. We also wrote to the Chancellor asking for confirmation that a devolution deal for Leeds City Region could be progressed quickly.
Whilst our region dithers about choosing a geographical area for Devolution, there is a real danger that we will be unable to have a democratically elected mayor in place by May 2017 – on the same timescale to which Manchester, Sheffield and other major city regions of the North are working. From the evidence we have seen, the Leeds City Region deal seems to be the only option currently on the table that could be implemented in time. Businesses are blind to administrative boundaries: what matters to us is the continued development of our region’s economy. We cannot afford to be left behind on Devolution for our City Region. We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Close Up and you may be assured that all of us in the Chamber team will be doing our utmost to serve our members to the highest levels of satisfaction. It is our privilege to connect, support and represent your very best interests throughout Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and the wider City Region. Martin Hathaway Chief Executive Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
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SUMMARY & Contents Wakefield Mysteries A3.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2016 13:54 Page 1
Theatre Royal Wakefield presents
Rachel Dickie
08 12 16 Written by Nick Lane Directed by Andrew Loretto
Thursday 11 - Saturday 20 August Tickets: Part 1 £10, Part II £10, Parts I & II £17.50
Cathedral LEADING LADIES AtBoxWakefield ART UPDATE Office 01924 211 311 www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk Pledge for parity The Wakefield TheatreRoyalWakefield
Search for Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
@trwakefield
TheatreRWakefield
Mysteries
LOCAL HEROES
The Wakefield Mysteries are also supported by a number of corporate sponsors, individuals and trusts.
From bag man to partner
I VII XVI
CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS 2016
NEW APPOINTMENT for Sutcliffe Play
TRUST
To engage local commmunity
PHOTOGRAPHER - Danny Gartside 07834 705736 www.dannygartside.com COVER - Danny Gartside 1
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businesses. If this is of interest, let us know at TopicUK and we’ll pass on your details or email the99@iod.com.
We’d like to welcome two new partners this issue, Jordans Solicitors and Ackworth School. TopicUK will be helping promote both organisations over the coming months and bringing you all their news.
TopicUK EDITOR GILL LAIDLER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR ROB BLACKWELL
LOCAL HEROES EDITOR
We have launched a new section this edition centred around education and young people. Over the coming months we intend to grow the section, adding in offers and discounts for students, leisure and of course education and business for young people. If you would like to contribute or get involved, please let us know. The intention is to build this into a stand alone magazine.
Work has now started on a fifth edition, this time in Leeds. We hope to have the first issue ready for late summer. If you know any businesses who would benefit from free PR and affordable advertising in the area, please tell them about TopicUK.
FASHION KATIE PORTMAN
LEGAL MATTERS RAMSDENS SOLICITORS
BEAUTY & WELLBEING
Editors Notes When our last edition came out, we were in London launching a fourth edition of TopicUK in Soho. The magazine was very well received and we had an excellent turnout.
THE ARTS MURRAY EDWARDS ARTS & BUSINESS CONSULANT, KATIE TOWN THEATRE ROYAL
SOPHIE MEI LAN We also have an increased arts section and hope you all enjoy reading about what our region has to offer.
HEALTH DR ANDREW FURBER
FOOD & RESTAURANT REVIEW KEVIN TRICKETT, WAKEFIELD CIVIC SOCIETY As June fast approaches and Britain will go to the polls for the referendum, TopicUK RECRUITMENT ANDY TURNER, caught up with two local MP’s Andrea Jenkyns FIRST CHOICE RECRUITMENT (Conservatives) and Mary Creagh (Labour) to ask what their views are and why we should SOCIAL MEDIA vote to stay in the EU or leave. You can read SINEAD SOPALA, RAMSDENS SOLICITORS what they both have to say on page 30 and BUSINESS make up your own mind. GARY KING, TENDO LTD
IT Thanks to the Institute of Directors (IoD), I enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Rudding Park last month, at their BMW day and Rudding Park will feature next issue, as we choose a local business person to visit and write our hotel review.
The IoD have also offered TopicUK readers between the age of 18-40 who are founders of their own business, the chance to join the organisation at a discounted rate. This is an excellent opportunity to accelerate business growth and network with like minded
I was recently invited to join a ‘Leading Ladies’ panel event at Wakefield Girls High School, joining several other ladies to celebrate International Womens Day. The panel were invited to speak about their careers to a group of students and answer questions from the floor. I must say, what inspirational students they were, interested and career focused and a real credit to the school and future talent for Wakefield.
PAUL HEIGHAM, BELLINGHAM IT
EDUCATION DARRYL WIDEMAN SILCOATES SCHOOL
Gill Laidler
Tel: 07711 539047 - editor@topicuk.co.uk - www.topicuk.co.uk - Ghost Publishing Ltd - Suite 6 Unity Works Westgate Wakefield WF1 1EP To subscribe to this magazine, submit an article or press release please contact Gill Laidler on: 07711 539047 or email editor@topicuk.co.uk Published by Ghost Publishing Limited. Law pages are written by Ramsdens Solicitors and TopicUK is not responsible for any advice given. Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t Ed i t i o n A p r i l 2 01 6 5
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NewsUpdate
Ramsdens expand into new office Ramsdens, is expanding into newly refurbished office space in Wakefield in order to accommodate its growing team of lawyers.
Rhubarb Fest a roaring success for 10 years in a row! Wakefield’s 10th annual Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb proved a roaring success, with around 125,000 people flocking to the city centre to celebrate our local heritage and enjoy rhubarbthemed treats and goodies. The famous festival, from Friday 19 February until Sunday 21 February, included street entertainment, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations and live music, along with local businesses offering tasty products to sample and buy.
This move marks the culmination of a busy 12 months for Ramsdens with the firms recent merger with Baxter Caulfield and winning Law Firm of the Year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards. Ramsdens now has 11 offices across West Yorkshire with 25 partners and employs 250 people. Ramsdens launched their Wakefield office in January 2013 and this move will see their office size more than double. The office currently has three fulltime partners in its 20-strong staff complement. The firm is looking to increase that with additional staff. Visit www.ramsdens.co.uk to see their current vacancies in Wakefield. Laura Smith, partner at Wakefield office commented: “There’s a real buzz about Wakefield at the moment and we are delighted to be able to expand our presence here and continue providing valuable legal advice for businesses and residents across Wakefield and the Five Towns.
The festival played host to celebrity chefs Rachel Green and Peter Sidwell. Rachel is the star of ITV Yorkshire’s Flying Cook and World on a Plate and has appeared on Sunday Brunch and The One Show. Peter found fame presenting Britain’s Top Bakery and Lakes on a Plate. This year’s festival also welcomed a host of local chefs from the area with Heather Copley from Farmer Copley’s, David Greenwood-Haigh from Coeur de Xocolat Ltd, Stephanie Moon from Rudding Park, Gary Dennis from Handmade Burger, David Jones from Bier Huis, Ashley McCarthy and Ben McCarthy from Ye Old Sun Inn, Fiona
Sciolti from Sciolti Chocolates, Paul Marshall from Beer Exchange, Beth Dawson and Luke Jepson from The Six Chimneys, and Prett Tejua from Curry Cuisine. This year also welcomed a new addition to the festival line up – the free ‘Family Zone’. Provided in association with Wakefield Grammar School Foundation, the zone welcomed hundreds of families into its
Ridings Shopping Centre set for multi-million pound investment The plans include significant works and cosmetic changes to the centre covering all three levels of the mall. Eileen Holroyd, Centre Manager comments: “It is with a great deal of pleasure that we can announce plans for a multi-million pound investment into the Centre. The injection of funds by our new owners will support a refreshed and improved retail mix alongside a stronger food and beverage offering.
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Sainsbury’s Wakefield Trinity Walk raise £2000 for Sport Relief Daddy Cool supports customer and colleague fundraising Wakefield Wildcats club mascot Daddy Cool joined colleagues from Sainsbury’s Wakefield Trinity walk and cheered on fundraising worth £2000 for Sport Relief.
fun craft workshops and the Play Bus of children’s soft play equipment was lively all weekend. The Council’s Facebook and Twitter sites have been filled with messages from satisfied visitors along with pictures and messages of thanks from local businesses involved in the event. To catch up with the conversation
and photos visit www.facebook.com/ rhubarbfestival or follow #rhubarbfest Work is already underway to prepare for next year’s festival, and to help make it even bigger and better than before Wakefield Council is looking for local business to sponsor the event. Interested businesses are asked to email festivalsandevents@wakefield.gov.uk
The Ridings Shopping Centre has announced plans for a multimillion pound investment following its sale to NewRiver Retail, the retail property investor. “Discussions and planning are currently underway, but we will be sharing more details in the coming weeks. In the meantime, The Ridings alongside its new owners, will continue to work closely with key stakeholders including the local authority and Trinity Walk. We also look forward to restoring pride in The Ridings and Wakefield city centre as a whole.”
Situated over three levels, The Ridings Shopping Centre houses a mixture of stores including BHS, Primark and Marks & Spencer alongside quality independents such as Created in Yorkshire, Feather’s Confectionery and Artworld. For further details of the many events that are scheduled for the coming months please visit www.ridingscentre.com
The store helped to raise money for the nationwide charity event by holding in store events including, a colleague cake bake sale, a pool table speed clearance challenge, colleague head shaving and with the support of colleagues at Pure Gym, an exercise bike ride of 195 miles to Sainsbury’s head office at Holborn. Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives. The money raised by the public is spent by Comic Relief to support some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the UK and around the world. 50% of money raised is spent in the UK, supporting projects locally. Dee O’Brien, Store Manager at Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk added: “I’m really proud of my colleagues and the amount of money we raised for Sport Relief this year. I’d like to thank our customers for their support. My colleagues love getting behind the fundraising activities and we know we’re going to make a difference to such a fantastic cause.” Sainsbury’s is a proud partner of both Comic Relief and Sport Relief and has helped to raise over £100million since 1999.
Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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NewsUpdate
Wakefield Girls High School leading ladies ‘Pledge for Parity’ Many women around the world spent 8 March celebrating Internatinal Women’s Day and Wakefield was no exception.
Twelve successful business women from across the district, came together to form a panel, championing women across a diverse range of sectors and providing inspiration to our next generation of ‘leading ladies’. In keeping with this year’s theme ‘Pledge for Parity’, girls from across all year groups were invited to hear the ‘Leading Ladies‘ panel talk about their personal journeys and their chosen career paths. Girls also enjoyed the opportunity to ask a number of poignant and thought provoking questions which generated great discussion amongst the panel. Speaking of the event, which was hosted by School Speakers
Director, Claire Young, Head, Nina Gunson said: “The event was truly inspiring, and the achievements and opinions of all the guests left the audience in awe. A huge thank you to all the guests who took part and provided such perfect role models for our future generation of ‘leading ladies’”. Ladies taking part on the panel were: •
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Caroline Atkinson Relationship Director (Large Corporate), HSBC Bank Plc (WGHS Old Girl) Linsey Birkett - Technical Engineer at Interserve Industrial Services and WISE role model
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Gail Glover – Business Development Consultant currently working with Unity Works, Wakefield
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Claire Harper – Founder of IndiaCoco: awardwinning, online childrenswear retailer
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Stephanie Hirst – Radio presenter
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Helen Knowles - Director of Fundraising and Retail Operations at Wakefield Hospice
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Gill Laidler – Director at Ghost Communications and
Business author reaches Jo Haigh, author and CEO of fds Director Services Limited based in Wakefield, has achieved an impressive career milestone; her book Finance for Non-Financial Managers has been translated into Chinese. The book written for the FT, which has the full title FT Guide to Finance for Non-Financial Managers: The Numbers Game and How to Win It (The FT Guides), was published in the
UK in November 2011 and is available to UK readers in paperback and Kindle edition. The Chinese edition was first published by Face Publication in complex/traditional Chinese in
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Wakefield businessman appears on Masterchef
A Wakefield businessman is set to compete in this year’s MasterChef. Chris Hale, 29, will appear on the popular BBC One cooking show which is judged by chef John Torode and greengrocer Gregg Wallace (picured below). Mr Hale, CEO of Acclimatise Me Altitude Training company, was also featured in the television trail for the amateur cooking contest. We will keep readers up to date with Chris’s progress in our next edition. group editor of TopicUK Magazine
“No one can make you feel inferior without your permission” Eleanor Roosevelt
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Helen Massey – Founder of Romantic Cottage Holidays (WGHS Old Girl)
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Joanne Roney OBE – Chief Executive of Wakefield Council
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Charlotte Sweeney – Diversity and Inclusion expert
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Katie Town - Executive Director of the Theatre Royal Wakefield
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Claire Young - Director of School Speakers.
Chinese financial audience May 2014 and to date has sold 3,500 copies. Jo Haigh is ‘delighted the book has reached an international audience. The book hopes to help those managers to whom numbers and financials are not second nature, and there are many, understand a key aspect of their business.’
Jo is the author of several bestselling business titles including Tales from the Glass Ceiling and Keys to the Boardroom, How to Get There and How to Stay There. Her full catalogue can be found on amazonwww. amazon.co.uk/Jo-Haigh/e/ B0034NFBRW Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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Ed i t i o n
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NewsUpdate
TopicUK welcomes new partner Jordans Solicitors TopicUK are delighted to welcome onboard new partners Jordans Solicitors Jordans Solicitors opened nearly 70 years ago and are a modern and energetic law firm, serving both the business community and private individuals across a broad range of specialisms.
Asparagus Green expand services at Museum Following a successful year providing the catering facilities at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, Asparagus Green, headed up by Anthony Hegney, have taken over the sales & co-ordination of Conference and Events at the Museum.
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ecently celebrating their first Birthday, Asparagus Green Catering Limited also provide complete party solutions using the best Yorkshire produce the region can offer. Specialising in an array of different events from conferences and exhibitions, parties and dinners, to weddings, christenings and funeral teas. Museum Commercial and HR Manager Katherine Morley commented: “Anthony and his Team already provide a high quality service for such events and with their experience in this area, it made sense for Asparagus Green to take on the overall responsibility for this. Asparagus Green have already made a tremendous impact on the visitor offer at the Museum and I have no doubt this extra collaboration will only enhance the conference and events arm of the Museum”. Anthony Hegney, Managing Director of Asparagus Green Catering Limited said: “To have the National Coal Mining Museum recognise our hard work, high standards, determination and vision is an honour.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our first year working with the NCM but the opportunity to take on the sales of conference and events was a no brainer for me! The potential of what can be achieved on this unique and picturesque site is so exciting and our calendar of events is already rapidly growing. To add to this, I am pleased to announce that we have recently appointed Jaine Binns, as our new Sales Manager. I have known Jaine for a number a years and have always been impressed with her attention to detail, the way she thinks outside the box and her excellent customer service skills. A welcome addition to our Team”.
They were the first legal practice in the Kirklees area to be awarded the Law Society’s prestigious Lexel Quality Mark, the practice management standard that is only awarded to solicitors who meet the highest management and customer care standards. Jordans aim to provide a high quality service which is responsive to their clients needs. As well as holding the Lexel Quality Mark they are members of the Law Society Conveyancing and Wills and Inheritance Quality Schemes. They encourage team members to become accredited members of quality schemes in their specialist area such as STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers), Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel (SCIL), Childrens Panel and Family Law Panels. “We are delighted to welcome Jordans Solicitors as partners for the next 12 months,” said TopicUK editor Gill Laidler. “We rely on companies such as Jordans to support us, so we can bring this free magazine to Wakefield and district and we are looking forward to helping promote their business in return.”
For information on holding an event at the National Coal Mining Museum for England contact Jaine Binns:
01924 844581 jaine.binns@ncm.org.uk
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Legal Expertise Business Sense
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Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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Cassandra Lumb
Solicitor
Ed i t i o n
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TheArts Theatre Royal Wakefield presents
Written by Nick Lane Directed by Andrew Loretto
Thursday 11 - Saturday 20 August Tickets: Part 1 £10, Part II £10, Parts I & II £17.50
At Wakefield Cathedral Box Office 01924 211 311 www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk TheatreRoyalWakefield
@trwakefield
TheatreRWakefield
The Wakefield Mysteries are also supported by a number of corporate sponsors, individuals and trusts.
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Katie Town Executive Director, Theatre Royal Wakefield
The Wakefield Mysteries Having recently moved from the artistic opportunities of London and the National Theatre, into the world of ‘regional theatre’ some people, both down south and in Wakefield, seemed to consider this must have been a big change for me...
However, having grown up in North Yorkshire, personally it has felt like a home-coming to be back to God’s Own County. Professionally, at the National Theatre I was proudest when producing innovative, challenging performance projects for young people and local communities. These projects opened up the skills, artistry and resources of the NT to give people opportunities to develop creatively. So, it feels great to have joined Theatre Royal Wakefield as we plan to stage The Wakefield Mysteries with a young company of actors and technicians in the newly restored Wakefield Cathedral during August 2016. This will be the first time in a generation that The Wakefield Mysteries are performed in public on this large-scale. There are going to be some surprises for those already familiar with the medieval play cycles. Wakefield proudly boasts one of only four surviving English mystery play cycles. The original Wakefield or Towneley Mystery Plays are a series of thirty-two short plays based on the bible. It is believed they were most
likely performed in Wakefield during the late Middle Ages until 1576. Rather than staging the original text, to ensure the productions are relevant to audiences and young actors of today, we’ve commissioned a new adaptation from the brilliant writer Nick Lane which brings the scripts up to date with a 21st century kick.
exciting challenges brought by working with the best creative team on a promenade performance in a newly restored Cathedral. It is more likely than not that the most complicated, and therefore interesting, challenges are still to come. So I’m delighted to be back in the north at the centre of this exciting project.
With generous support for the project from Arts Council England, we have assembled an excellent creative team of leading artists. The team is led by director Andrew Loretto, who has significant experience developing large cast, promenade performances through his work at Right Up Our Street in Doncaster and has previously worked in Wakefield with the Wakefield Lit Fest. The creative team is working hard collectively to pull together the essence of the piece, which will include video design and projection; and we have started to assemble a cast of young performers, musicians and technicians, who will contribute to this collaborative process.
What is really great is there are still all sorts of opportunities to get involved in The Wakefield Mysteries this summer. Young people aged 13-30 can still take part as actors, musicians or as a young technical team. Individuals and organisations can still donate to this project and help us stage it to the full potential we wish. And audiences can book tickets and experience this striking new production between 11 – 20 August.
For me this collaborative creative process is one that is fulfilling and familiar wherever it takes place. There are
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www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk 01924 215 311 (box office) mail@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk
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TheArts Murray Edwards, Arts and Business Consultant
The European referendum in or out? The decision of UK citizens to stay or leave the EU will affect the cultural life of future generations across the continent. Soon we shall be voting to stay in or leave the EU, and therefore be responsible for the wellbeing of future generations, as well as all the others in Europe who stand beside us in the European project.
A
rtistic life throughout Europe is formed and enriched by our cultural diversity and the many links between us. Recreating barriers which curb the mobility of artists, limit immigration and introduce visa requirements would pose a gigantic challenge to a thriving arts and cultural scene.
exasperation with UK positions which seek to “take the best and leave the rest”, negating the principle of solidarity.
The EU Creative Europe Programme (with a budget of €1.07bn for 20142020) supports the arts in Britain. In 2015 the culture sub-programme supported 145 projects, 54 of which involve UK organisations. Arts and cultural initiatives also receive support from much larger European funding programmes such as ERASMUS (€10.79bn for 2014-2020) which allows for student exchanges, training, volunteer and staff mobility, joint degree and masters guarantee schemes and alliances between research institutions. The UK receives about 25% of all European Research Council grants and it is worth noting that Switzerland lost all access to this funding when it introduced restrictions on EU-citizen mobility in 2014. The results can be devastating for arts professionals with the potential end of co-productions – such as the MEDIA film programmes – but also a lack of exchange and isolation, potentially suffocating artistic creation. European Structural and Investment funds (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are investing around £8.66bn across the UK (2014-2020) and these are only available to EU members. Many of our cultural organisations have already benefited from access to these funds
with The Hepworth and The Art House being two particularly good examples. The holes ripped in the European cultural landscape by a British exit would soon become apparent. The British cultural scene is much valued for its creativity and innovation. English is currently the means of communication chosen by many European exchanges. UK history, reflected in its multi-cultural approach, creates parallels with EU countries such as Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and France. Whilst all this is important, the EU is primarily a union of people, ideas, exchange and a shared heritage. It’s a union of peace and hope, giving a strong role for its member states in a globalised world. It’s a union of values, defending human rights on its territory and beyond. But only if it is a union of solidarity, in a balanced and stable environment, can the EU sustain a prosperous and peaceful society. This is critical and European politicians and civil society report a growing
It is important that we realise we’re not alone in our critical view of the EU. The EU’s functioning is criticised throughout Europe, which is a fruitful process in all democracies. Decisionmaking processes may seem slow, but reflect that interests of all citizens in the best possible way. It is always better to have a say in what changes are to be made and decisions taken. Positive change can only be made from within. Cultural life reflects political culture. Whilst the EU stands for solidarity, diversity and openness, a vote against remaining in the EU would lead to a more isolated, nationalistic approach towards cultural policy and cultural life – something that would be extremely detrimental to the UK’s arts scene, as well as for all of Europe and the world. We should not remain silent on Europe. We must use our strength to convey messages that cannot be gripped by words alone – messages that speak of common needs, hopes and aspirations. The UK and EU are stronger together and drive positive change on a national, European and global level. By standing together we can show the world, and future generations, that unity is powerful and can overcome fear and regression, creating a European Union that we can all be proud of. It is time to campaign, to mobilise and speak for Europe as it is. There are only three months left.
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Local artist focusses on continued development of interiors line Wakefield based homeware brand Fform is focussed on expansion and brand development during the next twelve months, owner, local artist, Alexandra Oddie has confirmed.
Originally launched in June 2015, the designer has spent the last seven months establishing the company, developing products and testing popularity in the market with her range of contemporary, design-led homewares. Currently available for sale online via the Fform website www.fform.uk.com the product range includes a slick collection of decorative busts, trunks and mirrors as well as smaller decorative ornaments. Focussed on producing individual contemporary pieces, Fform’s bespoke range features an array of one-off, handmade products produced using salvaged, recycled and vintage materials. Underpinning the range is
the brands ethos of recycle, rework and reinvent. Alexandra Oddie, Director of Fform Designs Limited, said: “Launching Fform has been a dream come true. Having taught art at a secure college for the last 2 years I felt ready to turn my attention back to my own creative passions and producing individual products that I know people will love…” “It’s a lot of work producing one off pieces. A lot goes into the design and production of each product before uploading them for sale and publicising their availability on social media but I love it and am finding the business really rewarding.” Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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LocalHeroes
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From bag man to partner TopicUK Group Editor Gill Laidler caught up with new Chamber member and well known local lawyer Tim Welton over lunch, to find out how he went from a ‘Bag Man’ to a successful respected lawyer After leaving university, Tim Welton started his career as an apprentice at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors, where he was to stay for the next 20 years! As he didn’t have a degree in law, returning to University to study part time, it took 9 years, for Tim to gain that important qualification that saw him progress through the ranks, reaching the position of Partner two years ago. However, in early 2016, Tim had the opportunity to set up his own law firm with fellow Chadwick Lawrence partners Jeremy Garside and Robert Brackup, leading to the trio buying already established Cleckheaton law firm, Williams & Co.“I enjoyed my time at Chadwick Lawrence enormously,” Tim told TopicUK, but after 20 years in the same role, it was time for a change. The opportunity came up for us to buy Williams & Co and I felt it was an opportunity too good to miss.” Leading a small team from his Wakefield office, Tim specialises in Commercial Litigation and Regulatory
Defense, but the firm also covers property, wills, probate, litigation and regulatory work. “It seems like a lifetime ago now that I started my career as a ‘bag man’ to Robert Brackup, who is now my partner” laughed Tim. What’s surprising when chatting with Tim is how he finds the time to get involved with the many committee’s and events that take place around Wakefield and Kirklees. Tim is a Director of Wakefield Theatre Trust, a Director of TopicUK, a member of the WEP Professionals Group and Inspiring Skills, founding member of Wakefield Annual Charity Christmas Luncheon (WACCL), committee member of Yorkshire Health Charity Ball and Vice Chair of Governors at Flushdyke School in Ossett. So when he’s not working or networking, what does Tim get up to in his spare time? Married to Claire, the couple have three children aged two, seven and nine, so you’re
probably thinking there is not much time for anything else. Tim enjoys listening to music and is quite the expert, he enjoys good food and for anyone that knows him well - good beer! He also enjoys going to the theatre whenever he gets the chance. Charity work does take up a lot of his time. WACCL has seen three successful years, raising funds for local youth groups. “The idea for WACCL came to me and my fellow founding members whilst on a night out, when we pulled the first event together with the help of local businesses, we never thought we would raise as much cash as we have. I’m delighted that the event has inspired a similar event in Kirklees and Calderdale and Christmas 2016 will see the first KACCL (Kirklees and Calderdale Christmas Lunch) taking place at Cedar Court Huddersfield, where funds raised will support The Forget me Not Children’s Hospice that serves both Kirklees and Wakefield.
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FACT FILE: Favourite Food: Italian Favourite Drink: Yorkshire Blonde Favourite Car: I don’t have a clue about cars so don’t have a favourite. Favourite Holiday destination: France, although I have not been to Nashville yet and would love to go. Favourite Gadget: iPad Favourite Place to Eat: Iris Restaurant, Wakefield.
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RestaurantReview By Kevin Trickett - President of The Wakefield Civic Centre - Follow@MrTrickett
Dining with the qualitytaking Yorkshire to the House of Lords Our restaurant reviewer is always prepared to travel in search of that special meal and when the Yorkshire Society provided a rare opportunity to dine at the House of Lords back in February, Kevin Trickett, President of Wakefield Civic Society, needed little convincing. Here is his review of a rather unique evening. . and individuals, whether from Yorkshire Back in 2013, I took the opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament, doing the or just based here, to join together in full guided tour offered to members of the “promoting the county”. public. If you know that in my career as a My tickets duly arrived. Our official host Civil Servant I made the occasional visit for the evening would be Lord Kamlesh to the building in my official capacity, Kumar Patel of Bradford, OBE, one of the this might sound surprising but the tour Yorkshire Society Vice Presidents, and we revealed parts of the building to me were to present ourselves at Black Rod’s that I’d never seen before when there on Garden Entrance at the House of Lords business, so it was well worth the entry for 7pm. Train tickets were ordered and fee: the building simply oozes history with parts of it dating back to the eleventh a hotel was booked for the evening (talk about pushing the boat out!). century. The tour also proved fascinating for my partner whose ancestors include On the day, we travelled down to London one of the stone masons, Timothy Peckett and checked in to our hotel before setting (born in Barnsley in 1819), who helped out to do some sight-seeing. As luck with the construction of what is the New would have it, by evening, the heavens had Palace of Westminster after the fire of opened so we decided on a taxi – a tear1834 destroyed much of the former palace inducing extravagance in London! building. Timothy Peckett was recruited to work on the building because he had It’s not every day that you have to go experience of working with the Yorkshire through airport-style security to gain Stone from which the New Palace is built. admission to your dinner but the process was efficiently handled and we soon One thing that I never did when visiting found ourselves in the Cholmondeley with my work, was to have a meal there Room in the House of Lords rubbing so when the Yorkshire Society announced shoulders with around 120 members and that they would be holding a dinner at the House of Lords, I found it difficult to resist guests of the Yorkshire Society at a drinks reception. Many had travelled down from and purchased tickets for my partner and Yorkshire especially for the dinner (and myself. it was good to count a few members of Wakefield Civic Society in their midst) Now, my relationship with the Yorkshire Society is through Wakefield Civic Society but some had travelled from elsewhere, including some now resident in London. as each organisation has reciprocal One particularly recognisable face was membership of the other. The Yorkshire BBC Look North presenter, Harry Gration, Society is a not-for-profit membership another of the Yorkshire Society’s several organisation established in 1980 with the Vice Presidents. aim of encouraging businesses, charities
In due course, we were ushered into the Terrace Dining Room which gave commanding views across the River Thames. Seats were pre-allocated and we discovered that we would be in some very good company as we joined a table with Sir Rodney and Lady Walker (Sir Rodney is also a Vice President of the Yorkshire Society and Chairman of TopicUK), Rod and Sheila Scholes (Rod is Treasurer of the Yorkshire Society), Wakefield business leader Margaret Wood MBE, as well as two people whom we got to know better over dinner – Karen Swainston and Caroline Pullich, both Yorkshire representatives of Barclays Bank. Speeches were from Lord Patel, Sir David Wootton (the first Bradfordian to be Lord Mayor of London), businessman Ken Wootton (no relation but he and Sir David did both attend Bradford Grammar School), and Keith Madeley, MBE, chairman of the Yorkshire Society. One of the mains reasons for the dinner
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I’m pleased to report there was no stinting on the measures – which probably helped with the rather relaxed atmosphere and we were all in party mood as we left having had a truly marvellous evening in a splendid setting. As we emerged into the late evening rain, my partner and I looked at each other and after some conferring, we agreed that we’d walk back to the hotel – no more expensive taxis for us. Well, we are from Yorkshire after all! While dining at the House of Lords might require a specially organised event or a private invitation, you can enjoy a tour of Parliament and follow it with an afternoon tea on most Saturday afternoons throughout the year. See www.parliament. uk/afternoon-tea for more information.
was to mark the creation of a Yorkshire Society branch in London which will be chaired by Ken Wootton with Sir David Wootton taking on the role of President. Having a Yorkshire Society branch in London will not only provide a place of sanctuary for homesick Yorkshire folk but will also help to promote the interests of Yorkshire including its business and sporting achievements to a London audience, particularly to decision makers and influencers within governme explained, if the Northern Powerhouse was to become a reality, there had to be a connection between the region and the Westminster village.
very enjoyable). Special diets were, of course, catered for and the vegetarians among us, me included, were presented with vegetable cannelloni. To finish, there was coffee and House of Lords truffles (the latter wrapped in little presentation boxes). Wine accompanied the meal and
Find out more about the Yorkshire Society membership@yorkshiresociety.org.uk www.yorkshiresociety.org.uk
Now, and not forgetting my role here as a restaurant reviewer, I must turn my attention to the meal iteslf. This consisted of a three-course set meal starting with a double-baked cheese soufflé, followed by loin of venison with all the trimmings and then what was billed as a dark chocolate brûlée for dessert (it was closer to a chocolate mousse in reality – but still
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BookReview
WellRead
Well Read will be a regular feature in your magazine, so if you have any books you are thinking of reading, but want to know more about them first, do let us know and we’ll ask Waterstones to review them for you.
HOW TO BE A PRODUCTIVITY NINJA:
THE EXAMINED LIFE:
Worry Less, Achieve More and Love What You Do –
How we lose and find ourselves
Graham Allcott
Stephen Grosz background or someone who works in the area as the book is written to be enjoyed by anyone with or without prior knowledge. As the chapters are short you are constantly introduced to new stories, experiences and analysis and it does cover a wide variety of issues offering an insight into each world.
your in-box down to zero and using less time achieve more.
In our current climate of information overload with constant communication, overflowing in-boxes and ever increasing to-do-lists traditional management techniques are quickly becoming a thing of the past. With so many distractions, demands and expectations it can be a never ending struggle to stay on top. Indeed it’s easy to be so overwhelmed and easy to fall into the trap of overworking on unimportant tasks or procrastinating over the important tasks. This is where learning how to be a Productivity Ninja will change your life. Using techniques such as mindfulness, Zen and also a little bit of stealth and ruthlessness you can get
I picked this up as I am a terrible procrastinator and sometimes struggle to prioritise aspects of my life effectively and was looking for tips and hints to improve my productivity. The quirky title of the Productivity Ninja jumped out to me and caught my attention. As flippant as the title was a quick read through of the authors history and management experience assured me I was in capable and knowledgeable hands. Full of interesting tips and strategies for increasing productivity this is an effective and easy to use guide that you can dip in and out of as needed. With excellent examples and exercises this is a book that’s both easy to digest and alter to your own needs and aims. A mustread for anyone wanting to increase productivity of their workload in any walk or life although would be of more benefit for those in the fields of business and management. Become a Productivity Ninja today, achieve more, work less, stay cool and calm and learn to love work.
The Examined Life draws upon Grosz 25 years of experience as a psychoanalyst to offer a simple and interesting introduction to his subject using patient stories and histories to draw the reader in and highlight universal fears and issues such as love, loss, loneliness etc. Each chapter focus on a different patient of Grosz and their experiences and from that Grosz is able to expand out creating universal themes and experiences that makes every chapter personally relevant to the reader. It is a fascinating process that challenges you to reflect honestly about your own experiences and learn more about yourself in the process. It is interesting to read the insights into people’s lives and as Grosz keeps the tone very simple with layman terms it is readable for everyone despite their knowledge of the subject or area. Indeed this is both the perfect book for someone with no psychology
I found the book extremely interesting as many of the stories have so many layers of interest however that did have a slight negative effect as I would want more analysis and depth of certain stories that were of interest to me and I did find it a little unsatisfying for the chapters to end so quickly and not scratch beyond the surface. For lack of a better analogy this book felt more like a compilation album of various artists rather than a studio album as each story is different and has a different pattern and speed however as a cohesive book it does jar between each chapter as you jump to a different personality. However this style does make the book very easy to read with bite-size stories meaning you can dip in and out at your leisure and if a tale does interest you there is enough substance to research further. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting an interesting and fascinating social science read and it is a book you’ll remember long after reading.
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for all your legal needs call your local solicitors Ramsdens ZLWK RĴFHV DFURVV :HVW Yorkshire we’re never too far away
#knowyourlawyer #askRamsdens
01924 669510 www.ramsdens.co.uk
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NewsUpdate
KACCL announces headline sponsor KACCL Business supporting Kirklees District’s Children & Young People
The Kirklees & Calderdale Annual Christmas Lunch (KACCL) has announced the headline sponsor for its inaugural event this December. dersfield accountants Crowther will support the charity event in raising funds to support the activity at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, based at Russell House in Huddersfield. The hospice was hit by a devastating fire in January and lost £140,000 in funding. The lunch – which takes place on Thursday 15 December at the Cedar Court Hotel in Huddersfield – will be hosted by well-loved magician John Danbury, who will also provide entertainment and act as the event’s auctioneer on the afternoon. The KACCL organising committee represents figures from local businesses including James Robinson Fibres Ltd, Chadwick Lawrence, Stafflex, TopicUK and Faith PR. Gill Laidler of TopicUK said: “We’re delighted to welcome Crowther as our headline sponsor, and look forward to a great afternoon of fundraising with magic tricks galore from John Danbury.” Tickets are priced at £50 per person, for tables of ten to 12 people including a Champagne reception and a three course lunch from 12.30pm. 01484 509 900
New National Living Wage greeted with cautious optimism by UK and local businesses alike A well-established London legal firm recently published the results of its research into the views of UK entrepreneurs on the impact the National Living Wage is starting to have on business. From 1st April 2016, the National LivingWage came into force and workers aged 25 or over and not in the first year of an apprenticeship are being paid a minimum of £7.20 per hour - an increase from the previous minimum of £6.70ph. They surveyed over 100 entrepreneurs and found that over a third believe that the National Living Wage will have a positive impact on their business. Over 50% however are unsure as to whether the impact of the increased National Living Wage will be positive or negative. Of those entrepreneurs who think that the introduction of the National Living Wage will have a positive effect on business: • Almost three-quarters think the chief benefit will be improved employee morale. • 56% confirmed the introduction of higher pay under the National Living Wage will improve their reputation. • Over half (55%) think that the National Living Wage will improve the ease by which they recruit talent. • Almost half (48%) commented that productivity will improve or significantly improve. • Only 15% of those surveyed believe that the National Living Wage will have a negative impact on their business, but of those that do:
• 38% said that the National Living Wage’s introduction will reduce recruitment. • Almost half (48%) believe that investment will be reduced in other areas of business to meet the increased cost. • Half of the respondents think it will reduce employee reward packages and benefits. These statistics mirror the feedback we’ve been receiving from our business partners locally. I believe they’re quite reassuring showing the positivity in their assessment so far of the impact of the National Living Wage, many seeing the benefits higher pay can bring such as improved morale and increased productivity. Yes there has been a worry from some SME’s about how the ‘extra cost’ will be met, possibly leading to job losses and even reduced investments in other areas of the business but all the signs so far suggest that although the new legislation has certainly changed the landscape of pay for SME’s, it’s perhaps of minor significance. Only 8.5% of our local business partners were affected by the change by paying under the £7.20ph figure many by ‘only a few pence’ and have certainly embraced the changes fully since 1st April leaving a ‘so far, so good’ verdict!
• 70% stated that increased labour costs are their main concern. • A third believe that the implementation of the National Living Wage will lead to job losses.
Written By Andy Turner First Choice Recruitment @AndyPTurner5 @FirstChoice_UK
Stefanie@topicuk.co.uk
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Ramsdens Relay for Sport Relief Ramsdens Solicitors set themselves an epic challenge in aid of Sport Relief. Their #RamsdensRelay challenge was a 65 mile relay across their 11 offices in West Yorkshire which saw 35 members of staff #running #cycling #walking over the Yorkshire hilly terrain. The team raised a whopping £1,055. Sinead Sopala, Director of Marketing, who managed a live radio interview on BBC Radio Leeds during her run from Holmfirth to Wakefield commented: “As a firm we participate in lots of charity events but Sport Relief is a charity event that we really take to heart. We were overwhelmed by the amount of staff that wanted to take part and make a difference in this year’s challenge and are delighted to have been able to raise as much money as we did. We’re already making plans at how we can beat this challenge next year!
A great afternoon of support for Wakefield Hospice! Great British Bake Off 2014 winner, Nadiya Hussain, returned to her Yorkshire roots to entertain over 260 Wakefield Hospice supporters with tales from her time in ‘the tent’ and how her life has changed since winning one of the UK’s most popular reality TV shows. In true British style, hospice supporters enjoyed an afternoon tea at the prestigious Oulton Hall Hotel and whilst tucking into sandwiches, scones and of course plenty of home-made cakes guests enjoyed learning about what goes on behind the scenes to make such a popular show. There were laughs a plenty as Nadiya confessed to ‘bun fights’ with other contestants, describing Paul Hollywood as “not that scary, really” and that when waiting to hear who had won the show all she could think about was how her shoes were covered in flour and needed a wash!
I would like to thank all the Ramsdens colleagues and Bramleys team for taking part in fundraising and helping make it another fantastic year for Sport Relief.”
Local business woman and finalist in The Apprentice series 4, Claire Young, hosted the afternoon and as well held a question and answer session with Nadiya to find out everything guests wanted to know. This was a brilliant partnership as Claire empathised about the long waits between filming and just how many hours of footage are required to produce these one hour shows.
Ramsdens were also joined by local estate agents Bramleys who took part in the relay. Paul Keighley Partner at Bramleys said: “We were delighted to be part of the Ramsdens Relay. We felt it was such a good cause, we wanted to help raise as much additional money as possible. It was also great to get out in the fresh air and run with friends!’
Both Nadiya and Claire delighted guests by going round the room, taking photos and taking the time to chat to many of them. This fantastic afternoon has raised over £3,000 for Wakefield Hospice, all of which will go toward patient care. Many thanks to everyone who attended and in particular the event sponsor Glenton Palmer Holidays.
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The fourth annual Wakefield Festival of Beer returns to Wakefield on 24 and 25 June, taking place at Unity Works.
Wakefield Festival of Beer returns topic_wakefield_April16.indd 25
This year the festival will see a larger, more diverse range of beers with up to 700 guests expected per session. There will be perfectly chilled cask and craft keg beers, focused on the best of our local breweries, there really will be something for everyone with a large selection of fruit beers, the best of imported lagers, bottled beers and ciders and even a little wine and prosecco. It is hoped up to £15,000 will be raised for worthy causes: Wakefield Hospice; RoundTable Community Service and Wakefield and District Down’s Syndrome Support Group. Sponsorship packages are available. If you would like to get involved email: contact@ wakefieldbeer.co.uk
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LegalMatters Each issue Ramsdens Solicitors share with TopicUK & Close UP 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 Ramsdens to answer it for you!
Top 10 tips to get through your divorce Deciding to end your marriage can be very difficult. You may be unsure of what to expect, and may have heard horror stories from other people about their divorces and fear that the same may happen to you. You may be worrying about what will happen to you and your children. Will you be able to stay in the home? Will the children stay with you? Can you afford to retire? What are you entitled to? The best way to find out the answers to these questions is to see a solicitor. At Ramsdens we offer a free initial 30 minute consultation when you can receive expert advice about what may happen if you take the plunge. But what should you expect from your divorce? A divorce is not an easy process to go through, being one of the most stressful life events but you can take steps to minimise the stress. Helen Thewlis, Head of Family at Ramsdens explains the top 10 tips for getting through the divorce process as painlessly as possible.
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Ask family or friends for personal recommendations of solicitors and find one that you are happy to deal with. The divorce process could take over a year and your solicitor will be by your side throughout the process, advising and assisting you and it is important that you trust your solicitor, and that you get along.
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Take a pen and paper with you to your first appointment and any questions you may have. There will be a lot of information to take in and you may wish to take notes. You may have had questions circulating in your head for days or even weeks before the appointment and it is difficult to remember them all at the time. Your solicitor is there to answer your questions and will not mind if there are lots! It is often useful to take a close trustworthy friend or relative to your initial meeting to take the notes for you.
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Find out as much as you can about your family finances such as bank account details, mortgage balances and details of any pensions you have. The more information you have, the better your
solicitor can advise you. However, you should not take any documents belonging to your spouse.
can take time to obtain these, particularly if expert reports are needed to value properties, pensions or businesses.
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Consider all of the options for resolving financial matters. It does not always have to end in court proceedings. There are a number of options such as mediation, the collaborative process and arbitration. Your solicitor will advise you on the different options and recommend one for you based upon your particular circumstances.
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If possible, discuss the divorce process with your spouse. For example, try to agree who will petition and what fact they will rely upon. It avoids costly arguments through solicitors later!
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Try to agree the arrangements for any children, for example, where they will live, when they will see the other parent and how much maintenance will be paid and what it will cover. Disputes over where the children will spend their time are particularly stressful, and can involve children having to express opinions about their parents.
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Be clear about what you want and what you expect from your solicitor. If you do not tell your solicitor what you want, they will not know. Your solicitor can only work in accordance with your instructions.
8
Be patient. Divorces and the resolution of finances can take time, not because solicitors are trying to increase costs but because your solicitor can only advise you on settlement when they know precisely what assets are available. It
Try to keep things in perspective. At the time, things will seem insurmountable and you may struggle to see light at the end of the tunnel. However, it will only last a short time in proportion to the rest of your life but it will enable you to move forward with your new life.
10
Be willing to compromise. Life is not going to be the same as it was before. The same amount of income, equity in the home and pension is now going to have to be shared across two households, not one. There will be less money coming in and less for the future. Without compromise, proceedings are likely to end up in court which is costly, time consuming and takes all the decision making process out of your hands. These tips will not make the process stress free but they should help you to wind your way through the process, with your solicitor at your side. The experienced family solicitors at Ramsdens can help to guide you through the process and advise you on all aspects of your family breakdown. Many of the team are members of Resolution, family solicitors committed to resolving these issues in a constructive and nonconfrontational way. For a free initial consultation with an experienced family solicitor at Ramsdens, please call us free. 0800 988 3650 www.ramsdens.co.uk text LAW to 67777
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Changes to Employment Law A number of key changes to employment law come into force in April 2016, including the introduction of the National Living Wage. 1 April 2016: Living Wage The National Living Wage will be implemented through the National Minimum Wage Regulations. The first national living wage is to be set at £7.20 and will apply to workers aged 25 and over.
6 April 2016: Non-payment of tribunal awards to incur financial penalty Employment tribunal enforcement officers have the power to levy a financial penalty against employers that fail to pay employment tribunal awards.
6 April 2016: Tribunal compensation limits The maximum Employment Tribunal compensatory award cap for an unfair dismissal will increase from £78,335 to £78,962. A “week’s pay” will increase from £475 to
£479. This is used for calculating statutory redundancy payments and Employment Tribunal basic awards.
6 April 2016: Tribunal postponement provisions of SBEEA Provisions limiting the number of postponement requests that can be made by parties to an employment tribunal claim to two requests unless there are exceptional circumstances. In addition, any requests made within 7 days of the hearing, or at the hearing, will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
6 April 2016: Increase to the basic rate tax threshold. The basic rate tax threshold increases to £32,000 from 6 April 2016. April 2016: Pension tax relief to be reduced for top earners Pension tax relief to be reduced for individuals earning in excess of £150,000. It has been confirmed that there will be no increases in Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption or Shared Parental Pay, Maternity Allowance of Statutory Sick Pay for the year 2016 - 2017.
6 April 2016: Abolition of contracting-out on a salary related basis
gareth.dando@ramsdens.co.uk
Government NICs rebates for contracting out of S2P will be removed and employers and employees will have to contribute in full.
01484 558060 www.ramsdens.co.uk
Ensure your future together is protected If you don’t make a Will, the law dictates who gets your estate, which is everything you leave behind when you die, and in what shares. This means you may find the law and your wishes are different. If you have a partner but you are not married, your partner will receive nothing under the intestacy rules, no matter how long you have been in a relationship and/or lived together. This applies even if you share a home (although your partner may have property rights under other laws, and may be able to claim ‘reasonable financial provision’ against your estate as a dependent in certain circumstances - but this can be expensive and upsetting). On the
other hand, the intestacy rules may benefit people you would not choose to inherit. Finally, friends, or charities you support, don’t automatically benefit under the rules. The way to be absolutely ensure your wishes are carried out is to make a Will. Where an individual dies without leaving any blood relative or a Will the deceased’s estate passes to the Crown as ‘Bona Vacantia’, which means vacant goods. Vacant goods are ownerless property and the Treasury Solicitor in the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department administers the Estate of these individuals. To have a Will in place, you are ensuring that your estate will be dealt with by the
individuals you trust most and your estate will not end up on the Bona Vacantia Division’s unclaimed asset list. At Ramsdens we have an expert private client team who can advise you of your options regarding your Will. To speak to us about maximising the benefits of your estate, call Rachael Sykes, Partner in Ramsdens Private Client team.
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rachael.sykes@ramsdens.co.uk 0800 988 3650 www.ramsdens.co.uk text LAW to 67777
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NewsUpdate
ByPaul Heigham - Director of Bellingham IT
Why do I need an IT Strategy? Have you ever asked yourself this question……? If not, why? Behind every successful business is a business plan, this is defined as; a formal statement of business goals, reasons they are attainable, and plans for reaching them. Paul Heigham, Director of Bellingham IT, explains, why implementing an IT Strategy should form part of every business plan process. place makes shrewd business sense.
An IT strategy is a comprehensive plan that can be used to guide your company. Having a clear-cut IT strategy is key in establishing a competitive advantage over your competition. It can be the difference between a business’ success and its failure. An IT strategy should cover all facets of technology within your business, including cost management, hardware and software management, vendor management, risk management and all other considerations in your business technology environment. Executing an IT strategy requires strong IT leadership; the chief information officer (CIO) and chief technology officer (CTO) need to work closely with business, budget and legal departments as well as with other user groups within the organization. Many successful organizations choose to formalize their information technology strategy in a written document or balanced scorecard strategy map. The plan and its documentation should be flexible enough to change in response to new organizational circumstances and business priorities, budgetary constraints, available skill sets and core
competencies, new technologies and a growing understanding of user needs and business objectives. Regular review meetings are essential to keep the strategy current.
IT service provider a better working relationship, which will in turn help you and your business become the success that you want it to be and what it deserves.
You may well be thinking, this is very well for the large corporate companies, these may have a chief information officer (CIO) and chief technology officer (CTO), but why is this relevant for me and my SME business?
Some of the benefits that your business will experience by implementation of a good IT strategy are; a cost reduction to your business, through the use of the right technologies in the right areas. Increased customer satisfaction, for example, streamlining of business processes, improvement of efficiency and the shortening of the sales order process cycle. Revenue generation, IT has historically been viewed as a cost center. But what if it were used as a marketing tool or system streamliner? It has the potential to get your message out to a much wider audience than could be reached through traditional marketing and sales. It also has the ability to cut traditional or less efficient workflow times in half. positive story about how your business has escaped the jaws of data oblivion then please get in touch.
Well the answer is simple, you do not have to be a large corporate company to take control of your technologies. Whilst you may not employ either a CIO or a CTO, you will probably use a third party IT service provider to look after your hardware, software and infrastructure. To this effect, this company is providing you with these roles and therefore can help you create the IT strategy for your business. Just remember, the issues and threats faced by business are the same no matter of its size. In some instances, the smaller the business the bigger the threat or impact. In essence implementing an IT Strategy aligned to your business plan and company vision will give you and your
paul@bellinghamit.co.uk 01924 253 205.
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ReferendumSpecial JUNE 23 WILL BE AN HISTORICAL DAY IN BRITAIN WHEN VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS TO DECIDE WHETHER THE COUNTRY REMAINS WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION OR NOT.
Should Britain remain within the EU? Mary Creagh
Why we should stay
Wakefield needs to be a high-skill, high-wage economy to prosper. Over a third of a million Yorkshire jobs depend on trade with the EU, through local factories of multinational companies like Haribo, Nestle and Coca-Cola. The CBI has warned that the uncertainty around the referendum could harm British businesses and cost 1 million British jobs, British growth and British investment. The business case for remaining in the EU is clear. But what do local companies in Wakefield think? I recently surveyed businesses to gauge their opinions on the EU, gaining the views of 24 companies employing from 2 to more than 2,000 people in Wakefield. When asked “If the UK is to remain a member of the EU in what form would you prefer?” the majority said a resounding ‘yes’ to remaining: only one business intended to vote ‘leave’. The other 23 opted for remaining in the EU in its current form, with further integration, with some powers transferred back, or - the most popular option - with reforms. 20 of the businesses said that they don’t feel restricted by EU regulations. 18 stated that they would be affected by Britain leaving, citing the number of people their business is able to employ, and its ability to buy or sell products and services to other EU countries.
Like local businesses, reform is exactly what I and my Labour colleagues want. We want to see Britain playing a full role in shaping a better and reformed EU, which deepens its single market, and offers more jobs and hope to its young people. A Europe which uses its collective strength in trade with the rest of the world to make us stronger, safer and better off. Having a seat at the EU table gives us global influence, whether it’s forging the future of the biggest single market of consumers in the world, having a say in major international trade deals, or tackling climate change. We will get the best deal for Britain by remaining in the EU and shaping it from the inside. Why would we take the risk and relegate ourselves to the second division by embracing some kind of second-class or associate membership while still paying the full costs of membership? That would leave Wakefield weaker, not stronger. Why would we opt for the Norwegian, Swiss or even Canadian model when we already have the British model? I want to hear from more local businesses about your views on the EU and the referendum - please feel free to contact me via mary@marycreagh.co.uk. I believe that Britain is stronger, safer and better off in the EU and I hope that you, like me, will vote ‘remain’ on 23 June.
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TopicUK caught up with two local politicians, Mary Creagh, Labour MP for Wakefield who explains why she believes Britain should remain within the EU and Andrea Jenkyns, Conservative MP for Morley & Outwood, who believes we should leave. When we publish our next edition at the end of June, a decision will have been made by the British people and we hope to catch up with both MPs again to discuss the outcome.
Andrea Jenkyns
And why we should go of stagnation only happens when you have to take into account the disparate economies that make up the European Union. Britain would be free to craft and strike deals that work for our own market.
For me the referendum debate goes to the very heart to what we as a country want to be. Do we want to be one of 28, ruled by an unelected Commission in Brussels? Just one voice around a table of disparate nations, all with an eye on their own self-interest? Just one small cog in a vast, bureaucratic machine which has seen its economy go backwards when we and the rest of the world are motoring ahead? I’ve always been passionate about Britain leaving the European Union, I sentiment that I think is shared with many people around Yorkshire. We have always ourselves been fiercely proud of our identity first as Yorkshire folk, and second as Britons. That is why I think we have things in Morley like the annual St George’s Parade which is coming up next month, and it’s why I think we are more naturally pre-disposed towards Brexit. I am a little saddened by the way the referendum campaign is being fought so far. For too long, the debate has been framed in negative terms, with especially the Remain side pumping out rhetoric about the dangers of leaving the European Union. I want to create a campaign based around hope; hope about what Britain could be if we voted to leave and take control of our own destiny. There would be a period of uncertainty if we elected to leave the EU while we hammered out a deal that is best for Britain, that’s undeniable. But I
am tired of Britain being done down, suggesting that we would be unable to secure good terms on exit. As the fifth largest economy in the world, our situation would be in no way comparable to Norway or even Canada. Outside the European Union, there is a tariff-free trade area that extends from Iceland in the North to Turkey in the South. Neither of those countries is in the European Union. The idea that the European Union would put up trade barriers in the way of a country that is its single largest export market is not only absurd, but also illegitimate. Punitive tariffs are specifically outlawed by the World Trade Organisation. We’d also be free to seek our own trade deals with countries like China, the US, the Commonwealth. We wouldn’t be waiting seven years like the EU did with their deal with Canada. That sort
When I was first elected I went to the Chancellor with a suggestion to help our high streets. I asked if we could look at reducing the VAT charged on the high street when compared to online outlets to kick-start ailing areas. We couldn’t do it because VAT is set by the EU. Look how long it took us to get sanitary products zero-rated. By Leaving we could bring these powers back home and be free to set things like VAT in a way that works for Britain. Leaving is also the safer option. Outside the European Union we would not be held back by other countries’ reticence to share data with the 28 states, many of whom do not have as robust security services as we enjoy. Europol already works with 18 other countries that are not part of the EU. We would simply join that list. The UK has a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. We are the world’s fourth largest spender on defence. Britain could truly project it’s power on the world stage once again. The United Kingdom is a strong and proud nation. We need to bring back the £350 million we sent to Brussels every week to spend on priorities at home. Voting Leave is our chance to create a safe, secure future for everyone.
Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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NewsUpdate
Getting clarity on your cash Gary is a business growth and strategy expert for ambitious SME’s in Yorkshire. Having spent more than 25 years in business, tackling just about every issue and challenge you are likely to encounter, he 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 you – or the ones you don’t dare ask yourself. He combines this with an uncompromising drive for accountability which has transformed over 100 high growth businesses across diverse sectors. Gary is a regular columnist for TopicUK and will offer solutions to your growth challenges. If you have any questions for Gary send them to editor@topicuk.co.uk.
Wakefield: 01924 201155
One of the biggest issues that business owners have is cash, or lack of it. A wise man one said “turnover is vanity, profit is sanity.” I go one step further by adding “cash is reality.” Most don’t understand cash and therefore don’t have the clarity needed to make strategic decisions. Here are a few tips so you can start to get the clarity needed: Choose an accountant that proactively supports your business and gives you advice that you need and don’t know to ask for. If you don’t know what questions to ask, a good accountant will be invaluable. I have seen many choose their accountant on price and it is often false economy. Ensure your revenue line is split into product and project categories so you know where your sales are coming from and below this ensure your costs are allocated accordingly. This gives you detailed profitability information.
Leeds: 01132 070100
Ensure that you have your future pipeline for both customers and prospects mapped out and linked to your P&L. This will give you clarity on income, profitability and cash flow so you can make informed investment decisions. Review your P&L actual versus target with your accountant monthly so you are clear what key actions need to be undertaken in the next month and quarter.
ByGary King, MD of Tendo
www.firstchoice-uk.com
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Wakefield
Business Week 13-17 June 2016 www.wakefieldbusinessweek.co.uk
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www.wakefieldbusinessweek.co.uk
Save the Date Wakefield Business Week & MY Conference Wakefield Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Wakefield First have teamed up once again to bring you a bigger and better business week as it now enters its 4th year. Aimed at driving economic growth in the district, and getting more businesses in the Wakefield community connected, this week is for you and we want you to get involved! Building year-on-year, MY Conference Wakefield, taking place on Wednesday 15th
June at Unity Works, has become a focal point of the week and 2016’s event promises to be the best yet! Keeping with the format of previous years, the week will see a number of high profile events supported by a host of partners that will connect, educate and inspire your business. There is also the opportunity for you to deliver your own event, adding to the diverse programme of the week.
Who are the organisers and why do we do it?
Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, a membership organisation which exists to protect and develop the interest of business across Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, sits at the heart of
Wakefield first is a public and private sector led strategic organisation responsible for attracting inward investment, supporting trade, and raising the profile of the Wakefield district. Wakefield Council & Wakefield Bondholders support Wakefield first in the promotion of Wakefield District to encourage strong
our local business community. Helping companies - of every size and sector - to grow and thrive. Martin Hathaway, Chief Executive of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said: “We are delighted to be delivering MY Conference Wakefield and be a part of Wakefield Business Week, working with Wakefield first as part of our recent partnership
with Wakefield Council. Wakefield Business Week and MY Conference Wakefield are fantastic opportunities for Chamber members and the local business community to raise their profile and help put Wakefield and the five towns on the map for investors. I would encourage as many businesses to get involved to make 2016 the biggest and best business week to date.”
economic growth that will help benefit Wakefield’s businesses.
to drive investment and build sustainable economic growth” “With this year’s theme of International Trade we can really put Wakefield on the map! All partners recognise the growth opportunities that come from increased export potential and the week can help amplify Wakefield’s voice to continue to attract the investment that boosts our economy, creates jobs and secures business confidence”
Paul Reid, Chair of Wakefield first said “Wakefield Business Week continues to build on the great work being done by first, Wakefield Council and the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce to bring new investment into the district. The Business Week is a great showcase for Wakefield, regionally, nationally and internationally as we look
Together our job is to help your business thrive. By supporting Wakefield Business Week 2016, we can provide a platform to raise your profile and offer access to a host of free events, that will develop your business and create
new connections. Business Week is also our opportunity to showcase Wakefield District and its businesses to a national and global audience, showing investors that we really are in a prime position for growth and investment.
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International Trade
at Wakefield Business Week The business community has given some great feedback in previous years, and as a result, one thing that we will do differently this year in Wakefield Business Week is to have a theme, which provides focus to the activity and will benefit our district economically. Although not exclusive, as the week will encompass events covering a wide range of topics, our theme for 2016 is International Trade. 80% of small businesses in the UK shy away from trading overseas due to concerns over size, competitiveness and language barriers. But importing and exporting offers businesses of all sizes opportunities to grow and discover new markets. Growth in international trade creates employment and improves economic growth. Traditionally export jobs have been in manufacturing industries – an important source
of full-time employment, but in recent years, exports have also become more diversified with a greater reliance on service sector based exports. Increased growth of international trade will have a positive impact on our local economy as businesses grow; we increase employment and create more spending power within our district, and the wider region. UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will be working with us on a number of events through the week. Offering opportunities for you to find out how you can increase your access to overseas markets, diversify your supply chain and increase your business growth.
Get Involved! With almost a 1000 people participating last year and excellent feedback received, this year promises to be a week not to be missed! With many ways you can get involved, use this opportunity to make your business part of Wakefield Business Week 2016.
Statement – Media Partner
A big thank you for all the support, so far, from our partners and sponsors for the week! We couldn’t make this happen without you!! We are proud to announce our partners and sponsors already signed up to support us in bring you the best week yet!
Techmonkeys - Sponsor
Topic UK – Promotional Partner Unity Works – Conference Venue Partner Copiserv - Sponsor DooGood Recycling - Sponsor The Ridings - Sponsor
Want to be a part of it? Find out what’s on? To book your places, Sponsor, Exhibit or hold your own event. Visit www.wakefieldbusinessweek.co.uk to find out more!! Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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Health&Wellbeing
10 Top Tips for WBW16 Unity Works
Unity Works are delighted to be working as a partner with Wakefield’s Business Week. Unity Works is a creative hub providing office, co-working, conference, meetings and events space for the business community. As a growing social enterprise we understand the importance of connectivity and engagement within the business community, both locally and on a wider scale. Having a platform and space where we can develop, grow and support businesses from all sectors is at the heart of what we do. Throughout Business Week, as well as hosting MY Conference Wakefield on Wednesday 13th June, there will be many diverse, creative workshops and events here at Unity Works. We're passionate to ensure that everyone gets the most out of this fantastic opportunity, and as we a major venue for conference & business events in Wakefield here’s a few pointers to ensure you get the best out of the week! Don’t be shy! Everyone at the event are there to help so don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. Check out the Business Week website before arriving, plan your day well allowing plenty of time to meet everyone. Make sure you have lots of business cards! Finally take time out to collate your thoughts during the day, relax with a coffee and make notes to remember all your conversations. Follow up and keep the conversations flowing after the event, we hope that you will make long lasting relationships that will benefit your business and help build a greater economy for Wakefield.
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www.wakefieldbusinessweek.co.uk will be your main guide to the week. All events and activities will be listed here with full details of the topics, formats and venues for the week. Plan the events you want to attend and what you want to achieve. Make sure you aren’t double booked for that important meeting by planning ahead!
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Follow and use #WBW16 and #MYCW16 to engage in the discussion on Twitter and get the whole week trending. Free WiFi will be available at most venues throughout the week and make sure you check with the organisers so you can login and get tweeting. Tagging in @wakefieldfirst @MidYorksChamber @MYBizConfs certainly won’t hurt either!
Plan ahead –
Register your place! – 2016 will be the biggest Business Week yet and we expect a number of the events to be over subscribed. If you want to guarantee your place then get registered in advance via www. wakefieldbusinessweek.co.uk Prepare to network – Building new and lasting connections in the Wakefield business community is one of the main aims of the week. Make sure you get out there and don’t be afraid to speak to someone new, they may be just the connection you need!
Know your message – You
need to be able to sell your business and services to everyone you want to make a connection with. Do you know how to explain what you do clearly, concisely and jargon free? Before the week begins work on a strapline for your business and that will help get you connected and networking effectively.
Social Media –As well as the great conversation happening at each event we want to keep the virtual discussion ongoing.
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you could meet 100s of different businesses and come away with a pocketful of new connections and opportunities. Make sure they can follow you up when they are next in the office by bringing your cards, and where appropriate, marketing literature to every event.
Wakefield Business Week can extend well beyond the events you attend and even after the whole week is finished. Once the events are over this is your chance to follow up on your contacts, connect with them again whether it’s through LinkedIn, an email or a phone call the connections you generate are only as good as those you follow up!
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Don’t forget your business cards! – Throughout the week
Maximise the opportunity to showcase your business –
There are a host of great sponsorship packages available throughout the week. With events happening across the district if you take up a sponsorship package then your logo and bio could feature on our website, your brand could be featured on event presentations and agendas. With regular newsletters going to over 9000 contacts and regular postings to Twitter and LinkedIn can you afford not to reach thousands of people in the run-up to and during the week?
Follow up your new connections after events –
Think outside the box – If you are exhibiting at MY Conference Wakefield, make sure you stand out from the crowd. Get creative with your 2.5m x 1.25m exhibition space and entice delegates to your stand using clever and innovative ideas.
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Shout about your involvement - Get involved
in the promotion for the week and spread the message to your networks via social media, websites and newsletters to help make Wakefield Business Week & MY Conference Wakefield the best yet!
Want to be a part of it?
Find out what’s on? To book your places, Sponsor, Exhibit or hold your own event.Visit www.wakefieldbusinessweek.co.uk to find out more!!
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To find out more about Wakefield Bondholders, the work that they are doing or for details on how to become a member, contact Kelly Smith on: 01924 306901 or email: kesmith@wakefield.gov.uk
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The Wakefield First Bondholder Scheme, has announced more than 30 new members in recent months. A private sector initiative that aims to accelerate the growth of the Wakefield District by branding, marketing and promoting it nationally and internationally, now boasts representation and support from companies of all sizes and from a variety of sectors including manufacturing, professional services, creative and digital as well as cultural and leisure.
Certified Accountants
13/04/16 22:57
FashionUpdate By Katie Portman
EFFORTLESS WEDDING SEASON FASHION Regular TopicUK Fashion editor Katie Portman is a freelance journalist and an award winning lifestyle and fashion blogger at Pouting in Heels. Katie has been a magazine cover girl (just the once!) and is the owner of an award winning pout (don’t ask!) and as a great fondness for all things that are glamorous – especially when it comes to heels and frocks.
The wedding season is fast approaching and as a guest, it’s important that your outfit does the happy couple proud. Katie Portman explains how to get it right. Weddings are becoming ever more personal and varied so it can be tricky to find the right guest outfit for the big day. And even trickier, if you’ve got a number of weddings to attend within a few months. But fret not it’s easier than you think, if you follow just a few golden rules. Do not overshadow the bride It’s never okay to steal the limelight away from the blushing bride, consciously or not. So to be safe, stay well clear of bridal white or anything too revealing or ‘showy’. Keep things classy and feminine and you won’t go wrong. Dress appropriately Before you go shopping, think about the type of wedding you are attending. A black-tie affair will
require something very different than for a relaxed church wedding or barbecue reception for example. When in doubt veer more towards elegance and if you’re attending a number of weddings this year but only have the budget for one outfit, spend wisely. Buy a simple sheath dress and revamp it’s look a couple of times over with different accessories. Think style and comfort Weddings are wonderful occasions but they’re also very long days, so your outfit, to some extent, needs to be as comfortable as it is stylish. Steer clear of anything that is too tight or fitted as it will only make you feel miserable and opt for softer fabrics like jersey or silk indeed Also remember that happy feet are pain free! So if you must wear heels, try opting for a medium height, block heel or pair of wedges.
Alternatively you could always wear heels for the day and swap them later in the evening for a pair of comfy, fold up ballet pumps that you can easily stash in your clutch bag. Go all out and dress up! There aren’t many occasions today when you can dress up, like you can for a wedding, so enjoy it and make the most of it. If your budget is limited, use accessories to turn an ordinary or simple dress into something incredible. (Bold and beautiful accessories are also great talking points for guests. ) Or think about wearing something altogether a little different, like a smart trouser suit or skirt and blouse combination instead of a dress. Be bold, keep it classy, give your favourite occasion pieces an outing and the bride will love you forever.
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WHO SAID BUSINESS ISN’T GLAMOROUS?
Award winning Paula McQuilkin adds a little glamour to business.
At the end of last year Paula won £1000 in a pitching completion funded by NatWest, using the money to buy a kiln This helped launch her glass jewellery business, isiko, a Zulu word meaning culture. Paula started her career in fashion design, and knew she would ultimately work in fashion. What she didn’t know was that she would be founder and CEO of her own company in glass statement jewellery. Why glass jewellery? A day trip to Wales and a visit to an art gallery, Paula discovered a beautifully framed, all glass picture of a house on a hill, with grass and fields and somewhere in the distance a setting sun, nothing like anything she had seen before. “I simply couldn’t afford it and that was it, I knew at that point that I would learn how to do that myself.” A short course 8 months later in 2014, practicing every weekend in a makeshift, garage workshop, lots of disasters whilst she learnt about the properties and physics of melting glass perfecting her trade and the rest as they say, is history!
isiko’s stunning, contemporary and jewellery is handmade, each piece being unique and can be commissioned for intuitive females and any discerning gentlemen who want to both spoil their loved ones or themselves. Unlike other jewellery, pieces are 100% unique, genuine limited editions of one by combining glass with precious metals. “A decision to leave a well-paid job and commit whole heartedly to something that I had no real understanding of has been a real challenge but now I am thinking of expanding into homeware, coasters, bowls, bespoke glass tiles,” concluded Paula.
Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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HealthUpdate
How to save a life, let’s talk about Suicide…
Facts If you are less well off, if you are male – then you are much more likely to take your own life. More than 6,000 people die by suicide every year in the UK, and recent figures show that numbers are increasing. Nearly 80% are men and male suicides are now at their highest level since 2001
By Dr Andrew FURBER, WAKEFIELD PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT It’s a bit of a conversation stopper isn’t it? No one likes to talk about death or suicide, why would you? But the truth is if we can start to talk about it and listen, it may just prevent someone from taking their life.
Barriers and Myths Having contact with people who may be feeling suicidal can naturally raise anxiety levels and leave us fearful of making the situation worse. This can often be exacerbated by some of the common perceptions that surround the subject, for example. •
‘You have to be mentally ill to be suicidal’.
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‘Suicidal people would want to take someone with them’.
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‘If a person is serious about suicide, there is nothing you can do’.
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‘There are no warning signs regarding suicidal behaviour’.
•
‘If you intervene and stop a suicide they’ll only come back anyway’.
Interestingly, all these common beliefs are myths, and often simple tried and tested intervention techniques
can be incredibly effective in preventing suicides. Whilst there no definitive list of behaviours that a suicidal person will display but these behaviours may be show by a person in need: • Talk of, or preoccupation with, death or dying • Self-harming • Loss of interest in daily life or hobbies • Changes in appetite and/ or weight • Substance and/or alcohol abuse • Changes in mood and/or behaviour • Isolating themselves, looking distant and becoming withdrawn • Out of the ordinary appearance
Tactics for approaching people in need Often people might suggest that they are thinking about suicide in the hope you will pick up on it and ask what they mean. You don’t have to be an expert in mental health or suicide prevention to help someone who is thinking about suicide (we don’t ‘commit’ suicide any more as it’s not an offence!) but there are a few tips you could think about if you are ever faced with a situation where a person is suggesting that they are contemplating suicide. You can help someone just by giving them the opportunity to talk about their problems and feelings. If you are comfortable and it’s safe to do so: • If you don’t know the person, introduce yourself and ask their name • Encourage them to talk and focus on listening • Be patient • Offer to take them to a more comfortable place to talk • Seek Professional support If you are worried about yourself or someone else and want further information, please use the following details: The Samaritans 116 123 (UK) free jo@samaritians.org Saneline: 0300 304 7000 PAPYRUS (for young people) 0800 068 41 41
Further resources on this topic can be found at the following websites: Mental Health First Aid is an educational course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help a person who may be developing a mental health issue. Find out more at http://mhfaengland.org/
Mindful Employers is a voluntary scheme to support employers to support mental wellbeing at work. Find out more at http://www.mindfulemployer.net/
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by Natalie Sykes, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS
Businesses must weigh up the pros and cons of EU membership The debate over the UK’s membership of the European Union is hotting up with fewer than two months before the referendum on 23 June. The pros and cons of our EU membership are being keenly discussed, not just by politicians but by the nation’s citizens too. Businesses are also being urged to consider the issues and think carefully about how the referendum will affect them. A recent survey by the Institute of Directors shows six out of 10 UK business leaders are set to vote to remain in the EU. This follows the reform deal secured by Prime Minister David Cameron. The survey showed three times as many IoD members thought the agreement was good for business compared to those who thought it was bad. Overall, however, they said that the package was not likely to be the decisive factor in how businesses voted in the referendum.
Four in 10 of those surveyed said the deal had influenced how they would vote but over half had not had their view altered. Now that the date for the referendum has been set, businesses are being urged to consider what the potential outcomes would mean for them.
supporting businesses as they debate the issues at hand. No doubt the debate will hot up even further but my hope is that companies and their employees are wellinformed when they come to choose ‘in or out’ on 23 June.
The business leaders in attendance said the debate so far had been too negative with little explanation of the benefits presented by both outcomes.
Join Michael Martins, IoD economist, for a series of events focussing on the Northern Powerhouse and the effect on an in or out EU vote. Starting in Leeds on April 13th there is a Policy Voice Meet Up at 5pm, then a Breakfast Briefing at Hotel du Vin, Harrogate at 8.15am on April 15th. This is the warm up to our EU Referendum Roadshow in May with Allie Renison, head of Europe and trade policy at the IoD.
In the coming weeks, the IoD, along with other business organisations, will be
For details visit www.iod.com or email iod. yorkshire@iod.com
The IoD recently staged an EU debate in Yorkshire and there were strong opinions on both sides. It was clear that people have many questions and are looking for information and intelligent guidance.
from international designers
Sandwich, Marc Cain, Oui, Riani, Faber, Betty Barclay, Joseph Ribkoff and more.
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www.theoldpostofficealmondbury.co.uk Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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TravelUpdate
Cheeky Royal yet to return the ball! IF YOU’RE a rugby union fan with a void in your life now the Six Nations is over, why not take a trip to the birthplace of the game itself?
W
illiam Webb Ellis created the sport we know today in the town of Rugby in 1823, when he first picked up the ball and ran with it. And there is plenty to see and do there today - whether you are a fan of the game or not. A must-see is the famous Rugby School. A magnificent building, it featured in bestselling novel Tom Brown’s School Days and is the place where Ellis made history all those years ago. Like something out of Harry Potter, the school, which was founded in 1567, is where Prince Harry launched the countdown for last year’s World Cup. The cheeky Royal even borrowed a ball from the school shop, and still hasn’t returned it! But that kind of cheekiness is nothing compared to what the schoolboys used to get up to, and you can hear all about their escapades if you take a tour of the school. Maybe it was the beer - because the school used to have its own brewery, and instead of drinking the dirty local water, the boys used to have a pint with every meal instead. Even breakfast. It’s no surprise they earned a reputation for terrorising the locals, and many of their typical adventures are featured in the Thomas Hughes novel mentioned above. Beer is another good reason to visit Rugby these days, with plenty of local pubs serving some of the finest real ale in the country. Well worth a visit is the Rugby Tap, a wonderful little Micropub offering a huge choice of local ales straight from the barrel. If you’re lucky you might even meet “Multiple Half John”, a cheerful old character with a story or two to tell, who is one of landlord Colin Arthur’s best customers, and something of a legendary local figure.
And if anything in particular takes your fancy, you can buy it from the shop next door. Also on the doorstep is the Webb Ellis Museum, where you can actually watch a rugby ball being made by hand and check out the rich collection of artefacts gathered over the last 160 years. The sport has changed massively since it’s early days when the whole school would take part and games would often turn so violent they needed a wooden “death cart” for the injured. The first rule book even contained a rule forbidding players from hammering nails into their shoes because it was considered “unsporting”! You can see both in the school museum, along with loads of other interesting novelties which help tell the story of the sport. But perhaps the best of all is the sight of all the intricate and sometimes very personal graffiti left by former pupils on desktops which have since been hung up on the walls of the Classics room.
A good travel feature can do wonders for your business. If you have a local business or attraction, small or large, that you think would make a good story, get in touch with @pbsportswriter and you could feature in the next issue of Topic.
by @pbsportswriter
If you’re missing your rugby fix, why not check it out.
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Throw away your To-Do list There are 1,440 minutes in every day. But, most of us have, at some point wished there were more as we struggle to tick off everything on our daily to-do lists. There are 1,440 minutes in every day. But, most of us have, at some point wished there were more as we struggle to tick off everything on our daily to-do lists. While there may be satisfaction to be gained by crossing off each action point in your daily diary, throwing away your to-do list altogether is the most practical way to make sure the tasks which really need doing get done. It’s all about changing your mindset to think about being effective, rather than efficient. Type “time management tips” into your search engine and you’ll find the majority of the content which pops up is about hacks which concentrate on saving you 10 minutes or so. But, what is really important is not the quantity of tasks completed but being clear about your priorities and goals.
Weekly, not daily Set these out every week, rather than every day. That way, you can take a more holistic approach to business, rather than becoming addicted to urgency. A daily to-do list sets you up to do what is most urgent, without ever getting round to the really big, important tasks. Instead, concentrate on weekly preparation and planning which looks at those big projects, rather than getting stuck into minor, but urgent activities which take up your day. Many entrepreneurs find that by taking time to do some planning on Sunday, they hit the ground running on Monday morning. While you’d assume that if you’ve reached a certain level in your career, you’ll be adept at time management, that’s often not the case. People who move up the career ladder can simply find they take on more
and more tasks, rather than shedding the role of manager and growing as a leader.
Rocks, sand and water It’s useful to think about the analogy of a jar. If you take an empty jar and put in half a dozen big rocks, is it full? No, you could put in some pebbles around the rocks. Then you could add some sand. Then you could add some water. The lesson here is not that there’s always room for more. It is about prioritising what you put in first. If I put the sand and the pebbles in there first, I wouldn’t have room for any rocks. Think about those big, important tasks
that will take your business forward as those rocks. While you still need to do the urgent, yes less important activities, these are the pebbles and sand which you must fit around the rocks rather than trying to manage your workload in the opposite way. If those urgent tasks aren’t important, it shouldn’t be you who is doing them. You should delegate those. Whatever the priorities for your business might be, just remember to put your big rocks in first. Or you’ll never fit them into your day, or your week, at all. Pictured: Sharon Klein and fellow director Sue Alderson, Expert Leadership Consultants at Azure Consulting, Wakefield
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MORE 5)"/ " ."5$) Whilst professional Rugby League has been played here at the Post Office Road since 1921 the Big Fella’s Stadium is home to more than Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The facilities we have here mean that whether you are looking for a venue for business or pleasure we can offer a bespoke package to meet your needs at a price that we believe represents outstanding value for money. We have various spaces that can cater for a business meeting for four to a wedding reception for 120 with the added bonus of your business helping our community Club progress as we tackle the challenge of the 2015 season. We can offer
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For details of our prices and facilities please contact our Commercial Manager Paul Taylor on 07584 684 329 or via paul.taylor@featherstonerovers.net Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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CharityUpdate
Meet the fundraisers:
The Forget Me Not Hospice Corporate Fundraising team With just 6% of Name: Emma Kovaleski this coming from government funding, the support of the local community is vital. Tasked with fundraising towards the annual figure is the charity’s Corporate Fundraising team: Emma Kovaleski, Sammie Loucas and Sharon Ennis. TopicUK caught up Name: Sammie Loucas with them to find out a little more about what they love most about working with the charity.
Name: Sharon Ennis
As part of its ongoing work to support local children with life shortening conditions and their families across West Yorkshire, Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice must raise £3.8 million every year to continue offering its services across the district.
Previously I was: a Development Manager for a national Community Interest Company within the energy efficiency industry.
I love my job because: every day I am inspired by the amazing team at the hospice and the outstanding care we provide.
I managed local and national energy efficiency programmes, and along the way had the opportunity to work in the US and review a commercial lighting programme for the State of Minnesota.
I have the pleasure of developing mutually beneficial partnerships with businesses across West Yorkshire and supporting both their CSR and business strategies.
Previously I was: a Post Graduate student in Biological Sciences at University of Leeds. I worked in retail for eight years and was a part-time fundraiser for several years. After graduating I spent a year working in the financial sector before taking a full time job in fundraising.
I love my job because: I’m from West Yorkshire and supporting families in my local area really motivates me each and every day in my role.
Previously I was: UK Sales Manager for a health company and an Area Sales Manager for a large international manufacturing company.
I love my job because: I get to work for an organisation making a real difference within the local community and I am able to see the difference we are making to the lives of local families in West Yorkshire.
To get involved or for more information, contact the fundraising team today on 01484 411040 or at fundraising@forgetmenotchild.co.uk
for the whole family to get involved in! Run, jog, walk or dance your way through the 3km rainbow.
PLUS…The Forget Me Not Colour Run is back!
The event takes place on Saturday 21st May 2016 at Farnley Estates, Farnley Tyas.
Take part in the most colourful event of the year! The Forget Me Not Colour Run is the perfect event
Find out more and how to sign up today at bit.ly/ fmncolourrun
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Do you know your Deezer from your Jango? By Ed Fairfield Marketing professional based in Wakefield
Stamp duty land tax changes Jonathan Kidd, Partner at Holroyd Miller M.R.I.C.S
Well I’ve one thing to thank George Osbourne for…he has very conveniently found me a subject for this column! Commercial property sales and some high value lettings are subject to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) payable by the purchaser. Before the March 2016 budget the rates were briefly nothing to pay up to £150,000, 1% for 150,001 to £250,000, 3% for £250,001 to £500,000 and 4% for anything above £500,000.
I suppose to someone born in the late 1990s, a large telephone with an integrated printer may look a little bizarre. ‘It’s a fax machine’ I replied, realising I was being a little more cocksure than he was. As I returned to my desk after a decent chat, I realised the double edged sword of being born after the mid-1990s. Yes, you might know your Deezer from your Jango, but you’re still out of date – just in the opposite direction. It also reinforced to me how business, and specifically marketing, is developing so quickly. Working in the technology industry as I do, my colleagues told me story of winning their first deal from a fax-shot. They’d design it on Pagemaker, print it in monochrome and fax it to as many companies as they could muster from the phone book. They described it nostalgically as if it were on a cine camera (had to Google how to spell that – I’m an early 80s kid – I guess my visitor would have asked Siri. On his watch. Whilst sending a Snapchat to his ex). And here we are just 15 years later. From designing fax shots on Microsoft Works to building eshots in the cloud, wherever that is. We add a 15px padding
around a transparent .png header, we tap a click through to view a Full HD movie streaming from our Vine channel. We use tracking code to analyse Traffic Acquisition on Google Analytics, made more accurate if we utilise unique embed code to feed a survey form from Dotmailer so we can allocate a campaign source and track ROI. And all to the backdrop of dawn chorus #whatevs So when our visitor comes of age and hits his mid-thirties, in (gulp) 2030ish, we assume a mouse will look as fruitless as a fax machine and a USB stick will be as comedy as a 5 ¼” floppy. We’ll still all come to work though, even if an Android has done the driving, and have a banter in the kitchen over a brew. We’ll still sit around a table and discuss how to generate a healthy return on cost, even if half the table is half way across the world. I guess we’ll still be sending mail shots as well, and also what will essentially be an eshot. Fax shots though? It’s a long shot, but you never know.
The rates were also based on what had become known as the ‘slab’ approach, this meant that once the price of the property went over into the next band the entire purchase price was charged at the upper band rate. In short if you bought a property at £250,000 you would pay £2,500 in SDLT, but if you bought at £250,001, then the SDLT bill leapt up to £7,503. This could be even harsher if the reason for the increase was because the property was VAT registered and it was the VAT that forced the purchase price over a particular threshold as the Inland Revenue very kindly adds the VAT before calcula ting SDLT. Anyway you will be delighted to know all that changed on 17th March when the chancellor elected to change to the ‘slice’ approach. So now up to £150,000 you still pay no SDLT, £150,001 to £250,000 is at 2%, but only on the element of the purchase price over the £150,000 threshold, £250,001 onwards is at 5%, once again only on the part of the price over the previous threshold. Unfortunately they still add the VAT before calculating the Stamp Duty, but the good news is that for the majority the changes will result in a smaller SDLT bill on commercial property purchases. I’m reliably informed that those buying up to about £1,050,000 will be better off under the new system. So more reasons to keep investing in property!
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NewsUpdate
Big brand social media - tactics that any business can use As a small business owner, you want your social media channels to be popular and engaging, like the big brands do, right? Well, it’s easier than you think. Here are my top 5 tips in how to do so.
By Social Media Coach-Sarah Louise Stevenson
1
Follow The 70/20/10 Rule. 70% of your social media content should focus on brand building and adding value to your followers; giving them the content they want to see. 20% should be content gained from other sources, such as bloggers, customers or partners. Leaving only 10% for self-promotion. People are following you on social media because they are most likely already a customer, so only promote offers and events, not content with the intention of new business.
2
Capitalise On Events. And Holidays The biggest learning I’ve gained over the years, is to align your content to current events, holidays and seasons. Promote your service or product to each of these throughout the year. Need to know when they all are? Click here to download a calendar of events, holidays and awareness days for 2016: bit. ly/SocialContentBundle
3
Be Fun! Post jokes, quotes or ask your followers to send photos of your product or service in return for a prize or mention on your Page. Featuring your customers will increase reach and engagement.
4
Create A Mini Focus. Group You can learn what your customers really want from your product or service via social media very quickly. Simply ask your followers what they’d like to see on your Page or Twitter account; then provide that content to them!
5
Shine With Your Customer Service. Your customer service aim is for the majority of customer comments to be an expression of love for your brand. To activate this, be visible, active and responsive to all queries and comments. Doing so will boost your engagement and show your brands human side If you aren’t sure what content your fans want, simply test, learn and refine. Try a variety of posts over the course of one week and use Facebook Insights to see what your fans are most engaging with. Then post more and more of that content type! If you would like more information about the services which Sarah offers, please contact Sarah Louise Stevenson 07793 279 296 info@SLSocial.co.uk
Hospice relaunches 99er Business Club Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice has relaunched its business networking club for 2016, aiming to increase the effectiveness of the scheme both for the charity and its members. The hospice, which delivers care and support to local children with life-shortening conditions and their families across West Yorkshire, will be hosting their first 99er Business Club event of the year on Monday 25 April at the hospice in Huddersfield. The 99ers club was launched as an initiative designed to provide a valuable and sustainable source of income for the hospice, with members donating 99p a day (£30 a month) and receiving access
to benefits including quarterly networking meetings. The re-launch of the club has been designed to help local businesses achieve important CSR objectives in addition to the usual networking benefits, and the hospice has also launched a new 99er Business Club LinkedIn group exclusively for members. Samantha Loucas, Corporate Fundraiser at the charity said: “We are delighted to be relaunching our 99er business scheme for 2016. “For a number of years organisations have supported us by signing up to the 99er Business Club and we are determined to really increase the effectiveness of the club this year, giving members real value for their money.
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“We hope to see as many 99er Business Club members at our upcoming event in April as possible, and would love to invite any other organisations who are interested in joining our club to come along and find out more about the work Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice does within the local community. “It costs £3.8 million each year to fund the charity and with just 6% of this coming from government funding, the support of local organisations is vital.” Attendees will be given
the opportunity to network with other like-minded businesses, have a tour of the hospice building and receive an update on the charity and the 99er Business Club.
French4u
To register for the event or to find out more about being part of the 99er Business Club, please call 01484 411040 or visit bit. ly/99eraprilevent. Anyone who registers via the online page will also be entered into a draw to be chauffeured to the event in a purple Rolls Royce kindly supplied by Together For Short Lives.
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Advertorial
Local business paints future for budding decorators Family-run business Ramsay Clay, which has worked on prestigious contracts including The London Savoy Hotel and Westminster Abbey, will continue developing the next generation of expert painters and decorators, thanks to funding from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Management and then the LEP helped to cover the costs, which we are very grateful for. It’s already had a massive impact as we now have an apprenticeship mentor who has taken the extra responsibility in his stride. “This is just the beginning of the next phase for Ramsay Clay, but we will definitely return to the LEP for the next round of apprenticeship training.” Mark Ridgway, LEP Board member and chair of the skills service management board, said: “We’re delighted that we could provide Ramsay Clay with the funding that the business needs. As a business owner with 10% of our employees in apprenticeship schemes, I’m especially pleased we were able to help Ramsay Clay to support apprentices in order to grow their business. “The LEP’s skills service offers the opportunity to work with a team of expert skills advisors who support employers to tackle paperwork and submit a robust application for funding. In particular, with Ramsay Clay, we offered additional support to help them find an appropriate training provider. “The LEP is dedicated to ensuring local businesses, primed for growth, have the skills to succeed.”
The £1,415 grant from the LEP’s skills service will allow Yorkshire-based Ramsay Clay to train the next generation on delivering the same high quality work that the business has been providing for more than 70 years.
since then, we want to continue to grow and innovate. We’d like to take on more specialist restoration work over the next few years, but in order to do this we need to increase capacity within the business to secure those projects.
Ramsay Clay offers both commercial and domestic decorating services nationwide, with particular expertise in working on heritage and listed buildings, conservation projects and ecclesiastical painting.
“A recent recruitment drive through Entice, led sister company Enhance, to identify the need to create a mentor position within the business, and we wanted to fill this position from our existing staff. We therefore approached the LEP for two pieces of support which included leadership training, and helping staff understand the skills needed to take on more of the day-to-day running of the business.
Following the recruitment of two young apprentices, the business recognised the need to invest in further training, in order to maximise productivity and sustain the future growth of the business. Caroline Clay at Ramsay Clay said: “Ramsay Clay was first established in 1946, and whilst we’ve come a long way
“Enhance identified and developed a bespoke piece of training to support our mentor, we enrolled a staff member on the ILM Certificate in Leadership &
As part of the LEP’s wider ambitions to invest in business growth, the skills service can support up to 50% of training costs for eligible businesses throughout the Leeds City Region through grants of between £500 and £50,000.
Funding is available for a limited time. To find out if your business is eligible and to apply, please visit: www.the-lep. com/skillsservice or contact us on 0113 386 1910 and skills@the-lep.com.
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“I don’t like beer” It may surprise you, but Wakefield Beer Exchange are delighted when they hear these words. The reason? It’s an opportunity to share their passion. Their response? Perhaps you don’t like beer as you know it. They love independent beer in all it’s forms. To a customer who isn’t sure they like beer they may offer a sample of a delicious Belgian Kriek, a slightly sour beer flavoured with cherries, or perhaps a coffee-infused Milk Stout (which some say resembles a chocolate milkshake in flavour). Or any of the wide range of beer styles they have in stock that they think challenge the perception of beer. At Wakefield Beer Exchange, they are confident whatever your taste they can find a beer that, at the very least, gets you interested. In 2016 beer is a classy, delicious and versatile thing. Wakefield Beer Exchange currently stocks over 80 different styles of beer with ABV ranges from 0.05% to 11.5%. All packing in sensational flavour. To share their passion for beer with customers who want to find out more about where their beer comes from, how it was made ad why, they are hosting an evening called ‘Beer Pioneers’ with beer guru Paul Marshall. You’ll get to sample and learn the history behind ten of the greatest beers from around the world, and enjoy great bar food provided by their fantastic award winning neighbours, Iris restaurant. Beers are all served in a combination of 1/3 pint and 100ml measures dependent upon the beer’s strength, and there is a break in the middle when you can enjoy your food and talk about the beers you’ve
tried. These include Lager (perhaps not as you know it), Saison, Belgian Quadrupel, Gueze and a few others that they like to keep as a surprise! You’ll receive a card with all of the beers that you have tried and customers encouraged to give each one a mark out of ten based upon its aroma and flavour then, at the end of the session, they have a look at the results to see which beer was the overall hit of the evening!
Customers will have a record of which styles you enjoyed the most and be ready to commence your journey exploring the delicious world of beer at Wakefield Beer Exchange. Don’t like beer? Perhaps you don’t like beer as you know it. Places for the next Beer Pioneers can be reserved at the bar, by emailing info@ wakefieldbeerexchange.com or calling the bar direct on 01924 339913.
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Yorkshire Pigeon with salt baked beetroots, onion chutney and parsnip crisps Welcome to our wining and dining feature, where we have teamed up with the Iris Restaurant and Sainsburys Trinity Walk to bring you a recipe and wine review. This issue, Iris owner Liam has sent us the recipe that will feature on the menu at the forthcoming monthly event Beer Pioneers, held in conjunction with their neighbours, The Beer exchange. Details of the event can be found under the adjoining article ‘I
What you will need…
don’t like beer.’ Each issue, we ask a member of the business community to make the dish and report back. This issue taking part is Keira Rawden, Head of Commercial and Property at Jordans Solicitors. Keira will also enjoy two bottles of wine, kindly donated by Sainsburys Trinity Walk. If you would like to take up the challenge and feature in a future edition, drop us a line at editor@ topicuk.co.uk.
Chutney 10 banana shallots 1 sprigs thyme 1 clove garlic 300ml red wine 150ml red wine vinegar 150g light brown sugar 150g sultanas Peel and thinly slice the shallots then gently sweat them down in a heavy based pan with the crushed garlic and chopped thyme until soft and translucent. Next, add the wine and sultanas and reduce by half, now add the vinegar and sugar and turn to the lowest head until reduced and sticky, refrigerate until needed.
Beetroots 1kg beetroots200g table salt. Place the salt on the bottom of a metal baking tray. Put the beetroots on and bake at 180oc for around 30-40 minutes or until soft. Leave to chill and then peel them and quarter.
a speed peeler. Discard the peel. Now peel around the parsnip using the peeler to give you thin pieces. Heat the oil to around 160oc and carefully drop in the parsnips, using a metal slotted spoon keep the parsnips moving to cook them evenly until golden. Remove from the oil and place on a j cloth. Season with salt.
Pigeon 4 pigeon breasts Season the pigeon breasts with salt, pepper and oil. Heat a frying pan until smoking hot, place the breasts skin side down for 2 minutes and then turn over and cook for a further 2 minutes. Finish under a hot grill for 1 minute then leave to rest before serving.
To plate Place a spoonful of chutney on the plate. Dress the beetroots in olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange on the plate, top with the pigeon and parsnip crisps.
Parsnip crisps 1 parsnip Small heavy based pan of veg oil (about an inch of oil in the bottom of the pan). Peel the parsnip with
The Government and ACE have acknowledged the imbalance, but argue that it is because the major national institutions are based
TopicUK proud to be working with...
or who can afford it. The report also points out that had Londoners won a comparably disproportionate number of Lottery prizes compared to people in the rest of England, equivalent to
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ChatBack Magazine for Schools, Colleges, young professionals, apprentices and students.
We want you to Chat Back! As TopicUK Wakefield edition celebrates it’s third Birthday, we are once again moving forward with the launch of a new section called Chat Back. This new section will be aimed primarily at young people and will feature apprentices, education, students, offers and young entrepreneurs. This issue we have started to receive contributions and welcome on board new partner Ackworth School who will join Silcoates as regular contributors. Young people are key to the future of Wakefield and we want to encourage them when their education is complete, to stay within the city.
you a school or college with courses to offer? Are you a business who can offer discounts and offers to young people? If any of this applies to you, we want to hear from you. We are hoping to host the first West Yorkshire Schools and Colleges Expo in the autumn, if this is of interest, please do get in touch. More details to follow about this in forthcoming issues.
We are looking forward to receiving your news on this subject from both businesses and educators, but in particular, we want to hear from young people themselves.
By engaging with the community, the aim is to grow this new section considerably, providing a valuable young person’s guide. We hope to appoint an apprentice to take over as editor and run the publication that will eventually stand alone.
Are you a young entrepreneur under 30 who has set up your business in the city? We want to hear from you. Are you a business who can tell us about your success by appointing apprentices? Are
If you are interested in coming onboard as a partner or want to be a sponsor of the West Yorkshire Schools and Colleges Expo, call Gill on 07711 539047 or email editor@topicuk.co.uk.
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ChatBack
Darryl Wideman Headmaster of Silcoates School,
May you live in interesting times This wish is known as the Chinese curse, though it doesn’t actually have anything to do with China or its people.
And while I appreciate that another few months of debate about the EU Referendum hardly looks to be an interesting prospect, there seems little doubt that we are potentially on the verge of some seismic changes, both domestically and internationally, for good or ill. By training and vocation, I am a history teacher. I have never
described myself as an historian because I think this would suggest a level of expertise that I do not possess. However, I have always taken a keen interest in the past and I believe it is very important that young people learn about history to help them gain an understanding of why the world operates in the way that it does.
I have never really subscribed to the idea that we need to study history to avoid the mistakes of the past, not least because I don’t think human beings are sufficiently sophisticated or altruistic to admit that they have learned from the failure of others, or sometimes even from themselves! However, I do believe that our history can give us context at key moments. I always try to encourage my students to take an interest in the world around them. The American comedian Woody Allen said that the first rule of enlightenment is to show up, so if you just switch off and claim that it’s all too boring, complicated or difficult then you are not really going to get very far at the moment, or at any moment, come to that. But this feels like a particularly
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important time to be engaged with the world around us and to ensure we are all playing as important a role as we can. By Christmas, it is possible that Donald Trump could be the US President; Britain could have voted to leave the EU, which would probably mean that Boris Johnson would be Prime Minister; if Brexit happens, the Scots would want another referendum and they would probably vote for independence this time around. Such scenarios at the very least merit a label of ‘interesting times’!
Wakefield College hosts inaugural Apprenticeships Awards
We can have no control over what our American cousins do when election time comes round, but all of us over eighteen will have the chance on 23rd June to have a say in the future of our own country. This is not the time or place for me to say what I think we should do, but it breaks my heart as someone entrusted with the education of young people that we have already managed to reduce something so important to such an uninformed and childish debate. If two of my pupils stood in the playground and just shouted: ‘You’re wrong.’ ‘No, you’re wrong.’ ‘That’s rubbish.’ ‘No, that’s rubbish.’ ‘You’re just trying to frighten me.’ ‘No, you’re just trying to frighten me,’ then I’d send them both away with a flea in their ear and tell them to grow up. Alas, our political masters don’t seem to have learned anything much at all, either from the past or anywhere else. General Douglas MacArthur said that bad news is never as bad as it first appears and good news is never as good, which probably sums up what will happen in the next six months quite nicely. He would have been well suited to the current debate because he also famously once said, ‘We are not retreating: we are advancing in a different direction,’ which feels about right just now!
Wakefield College’s inaugural Apprenticeships awards ceremony took place at Unity Works, kicking off a week of activities to mark National Apprenticeships Week. Award winners at the glittering ceremony were joined by College staff, parents and local employers to celebrate the success of apprentices, recognising those who have shown hard work and commitment, both in their College work and in their workplace. Businesses that provide their apprentices with exceptional support and mentoring were acknowledged. The event was attended by the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Wakefield Metropolitan District, Councillor Harry Ellis and Mrs Janet Ellis, the Principal of Wakefield College, Sam Wright,
and nominees in both ‘Employer’ and Apprentice’ categories. Head of Apprenticeships at Wakefield College, John Eastwood said: “We’re delighted to have held our first ever Apprenticeships awards ceremony where we recognised the success of both apprentices and employers that work with us. National Apprenticeships Week is the perfect opportunity to showcase the great benefits of an apprenticeship and we’re looking forward to the exciting activities we have planned.”
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De Lacy Academy Embraces Apprenticeships De Lacy Academy is a mixed secondary school and sixth form in the City of Wakefield. The academy is ranked third of DfE League tables awnd have a 100% pass rate in A-Level and BTEC qualifications. The Academy’s career approach is to provide as many opportunities as possible to students following on from school and sixth form. The academy actively promotes a diverse range of external training providers and influential people to ensure the careers advice is as impartial as possible. A training provider, Interserve Learning and Employment, are providing fully funded, impartial Information, Advice and Guidance services across the UK to reach 55,000 young people. This is to increase awareness of Traineeship and Apprenticeship routes available to 14 – 18 year olds. The IAG services provided to De Lacy Academy include year 10 and year 11 assemblies, registration workshops and CV workshops, hosted by Apprenticeship Adviser, JoAnne Woolsey, who provides expert Apprenticeship Advice in the North East region. Each month Interserve Learning and Employment host a monthly iPad Mini give away whereby every learner who has registered their interest in an Apprenticeship has the opportunity to sign up and win an iPad mini. January’s iPad mini draw had an outstanding sixhundred and twenty-five entrants with the most sign ups yet. The winner is a Year 11 student from De Lacy Academy, Tyne Connelly. Tyne received the iPad mini in an
assembly. Tyne currently studies Art and Catering and is actively looking for an Apprenticeship in health and social care. Tyne felt the information given about Apprenticeships was really useful and frequently visits the Gov.uk/ Apply-apprenticeship website for more information. Tyne felt the services provided by Interserve Learning and Employment have made her realise how many options there are out there. Mr Williamson, Head of Careers, has said the IAG contract has had a “positive spin on a daunting nxt phase of the students’ lives.” As well, the Apprenticeship advice has enabled students to think about their future realistically, and focus on the job roles they would like to go in to. The school has said the relationship with Interserve Learning and Employment has been very positive for both students and the academy. The academy hopes to provide more information about Apprenticeships for year groups in the coming years as a result. Having an iPad mini winner in the academy has been fantastic and given a massive incentive to the whole year 11 group to register their interest in an Apprenticeship. For more information please contact apprenticeship.advice@ interserve.com or visit them at: www.apprenticeshipadvice.co.uk
TopicUK welcomes Ackworth School as new Partner TopicUK are delighted to announce that Ackworth School have joined us as new partners. Ackworth is a co-educational, boarding and day school and for over 230 years, they have maintained a passion for teaching and learning. They are proud of their traditions and family values, but equally proud of their innovative approach to co-education. Ackworth is a dynamic and forward-thinking school. They strive to develop resilient individuals who not only think creatively, but also act ethically and with responsibility. Ackworth School encourage their students to express themselves with confidence, to embody the Quaker value of speaking respectfully to others, but also in a way that is true to themselves and their beliefs. Located in a beautiful rural setting, they offer broad educational opportunities from nursery age to sixth form, for both day pupils and boarders. Some of these opportunities are: •
proven academic performance
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a safe and supportive atmosphere
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the strength of quiet reflection
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excellent sport, music, drama, visual arts and recreational facilities
TopicUK will be working alongside Ackworth School bringing our readers fun and informative articles from both the staff and students. To find out more about Ackworth School, visit the website: www.ackworthschool.com
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Ackworth School HMC, Quaker, Co-educational Boarding & Day School for 2 to 18 Years
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www.ackworthschool.com Wa ke f i e l d & D i s t r i c t
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Aspiring, dedicated, employable
Change100
Change100 is a programme of paid summer work placements and mentoring opportunities for disabled students and recent graduates and is part of a national initiative to help kick start the careers of talented university students and graduates with disabilities. Prospective employers are currently being sought to offer paid summer placements of approximately 100 days to participants.
One in six people in the UK have a disability. If your organisation doesn’t understand or make the most of disabled jobseekers and employees, how can you be sure you’re accessing the best talent? equally, if the estimated spending power of disabled people in the UK is £80 billion, can your organisation afford not to have access to the insight that comes with having disabled people embedded in your workforce?
what are the benefits?
Change100 students have already made their mark with 26 leading employers, including the BBC,BBSRC, Barclays, Bevan Brittan, Centrica, the Department ofHealth, the Department for International Development, Experian, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Interserve, Lloyds Banking Group, SABMiller, Swiss Re, Taylor Wimpey, Thomson Reuters and Wall to Wall.
A better organisation.
Whatever the size or sector of your organisation, or the opportunities that you have available, we invite you to experience Change100’s benefits.
Access to untapped talent Reaching a pool of high-calibre candidates that you might not reach via traditional selection and recruitment. Becoming more confident about disability With 83% of disabled people acquiring their disability during their working life, there are real benefits to your organisation being confident in employing and engaging with disabled candidates.
A diverse organisation reflects the community in which you are based and the people that you work with. “There was a degree of nervousness as to how it would benefit us commercially as an organisation as well as be a positive development experiencefor the students who joined us. We have been delighted with the quality of candidates and the value that they have brought to the organisation. We think that the programmeis a great success and look forward to a
long relationship with Change100.” Ollie Roberts Director: HR, Group Corporate Offices and Global Functions, SABMiller plc “Lloyds Banking Group strives continuously to embrace a more diverse and inclusive culture. Having two candidates with us over the summer was very rewarding and I am delighted to say both were offered roles on our Lloyds Banking Group Graduate Programme when they complete their studies. Leonard Cheshire Disability helped us understand the individual needs of the students and acted as avital contact between them and the Group.” Anthony Williams Head of Consumer Services and Entrepreneurs, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking Participants are salary for the duration of the placement at living wage or higher, and a £3,750+VAT fee If you would like to be a ‘disability confident’ organisation, employer@ change100.co.uk or call Chris Surr on 020 3242 0419.
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Once upon a time in a classroom at St Austin’s
On 3 March, colleagues from Sainsbury’s Wakefield Trinity Walk visited St Austin’s Primary Academy and hosted a reading corner in celebration of World Book Day.
The annual event is in its 19th year and celebrates authors, illustrators, books and reading. It’s the biggest celebration of its kind and marked in over 100 countries all over the world. Checkout assistant, Luke Powell, read extracts from Mog the Forgetful Cat to 45 children at the Academy as part of the retailer’s ‘Make Believe’ campaign. The children dressed up as their favourite book characters for the special event. Sainsbury’s has signed up to the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge which is an exciting project led by the National Literacy Forum, to demonstrate their commitment to tackling the literacy challenges faced by communities in the UK.
Kevin Flood the Head Teacher of St Austin’s said: “It was a great experience taking part in the Mog reading corner with Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk. The children had a wonderful time and it has definitely helped them be more interested in books, which is a great thing.” Dee O’Brien, Store Manager at Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk, added: “We’re always looking for ways to work within the local community. Child literacy is extremely important and this was a fun way for the children from St Austin’s to get involved with reading. For some colleagues it was a flashback to their childhood so they had as much fun as the children.”
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Apprenticeship Job Shop opens in Wakefield Shoppers hitting the high street in Wakefield could bag themselves an apprenticeship after the Apprenticeship Drop-in Centre was officially opened. The shop, based in Market Hall on Union Street, is a joint venture backed by Wakefield College and Wakefield Council. being the largest provider of apprenticeships in the district. Wakefield College Principal, Sam Wright was joined by Dan Conboy, Joanne Roney, Mike Denby and Councillor Peter Box to cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the centre.
Staff from the College will be on hand to welcome visitors to the centre which promises to be a one-stop shop for people to find out how apprenticeships work, discuss their options and get help with CV writing and job applications. Visitors will also be able to access current apprenticeship vacancies across the district and apply directly for any jobs currently on offer.
From left to right: Dan Conboy, Statement; Sam Wright, Wakefield College; Cllr Peter Box, Wakefield Council; Joanne Roney OBE, CEO Wakefield Council and Mike Denby, Wakefield Council.
The idea of the shop came from Dan Conboy, Chair of Cognitiv, an industry-led group which aims to put the spotlight on the District’s creative, digital and IT sectors. Dan saw a similar shop in Manchester and suggested a set up like it would work well in Wakefield. After consulting with senior colleagues in the Council
and College, a suitable location was identified. Dan welcomed the new shop in the heart of the City. He said: “We are big supporters of apprenticeships, so I think that the expansion of Wakefield College’s promotion of their apprenticeship opportunities is great for both Wakefield’s young people and businesses across the district.” Apprenticeships continue to become an increasingly popular route for more people as the Government pledges to create 3 million apprenticeships by 2020. Wakefield itself saw a 12% increase in new apprentice starts with 3,700 now on the scheme, with Wakefield College
Sam Wright said: “Apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular way for people of all ages and abilities to get work experience, earn a wage and gain a recognised qualification all at the same time. Apprenticeships not only benefit individual learners but also help the local economy by helping fill the skills gap. We’re delighted to be working with the Council on this joint initiative and look forward to helping more people start an apprenticeship.” Cllr Peter Box CBE, leader of Wakefield Council said: “I am very proud of our role in supporting apprenticeships and I hope this new venture will encourage even more young people to consider taking this route. “Apprenticeships offer young people the opportunity to learn and develop skills that will help them build their future careers.” Wakefield Council was recently named as a top 100 employer for apprentices, at a national awards ceremony. It was the only local authority in Yorkshire to receive this recognition.
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