Closeup Wakefield Edition

ISSUE E 2 JUNE E 2015 5

THE EO OFFICIAL FFICIAL L MA MAGAZINE AGAZINE EO OF F MID YORKSHIRE CHAM CHAMBER BER OF F COMMERCE - WAKEFIELD EDITION

IN ASSOCIATION A WITH TOPICUK

FOR BUSINESS

The Big Interview

JAMES HOWARD FROM YORKSHIRE PAYMENTS

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

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

”

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

T

Chief Executive of Wakefield Council and the Chairman of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

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

With a range of topics from motivational and branding to customer service and the use of social media it is an event not to be missed. Furthermore a panel discussion will feature a top-class group of business leaders from our region, including Joanne Roney and Roger Marsh, respectively the

We hope you enjoy reading this latest edition of Close Up. All of us in the Chamber team will continue to serve you to the very best of our ability in our efforts to connect, support and represent your very best interests throughout Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield

All of this firmly places your local Chamber at the very heart of business in the Mid Yorkshire region and as always we will continue to ensure that we are always in prime position to assist our member companies to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise within the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the LEP.

Martin Hathaway Chief Executive Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Stadium Way, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 6PG Area office for Wakefield New Commerce House, 168 Westgate Wakefield WF2 9SR

CONTENTS &

SUMMARY

Area office for Calderdale Suite 8, Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre Halifax HX1 5ER Chief Executive Martin Hathaway Membership & Events Manager Tracy Smith Marketing Manager Rebecca Walker Ghost Publishing Limited Suite 8 Unity Works Westgate Wakefield WF1 1EP Tel: 07711 539047

06 08 18 LONDON MARATHON CHARITABLE TRUST

Sir Rodney Walker appointed

TOPICUK KIRLEES & CALDERDALE Fantastic Reponse

LOCAL HEROES

The Quiet Revolution

editor@topicuk.co.uk www.topicuk.co.uk Advertising Sales Gill Laidler - 07711 539047 Printed by AB Print Group Search for Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce



II VIII X

POLICY

Government policy essential for UK success

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH 2 award winning businesses

MY EXPORT HUB Get informed on export procedures

 Cover Image of James Howard Thank you to all those who have contributed to this issue of Close Up for Business. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent the view of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

4 Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in the magazine, neither the Chamber nor the publisher can accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies it contains

EDITORS NOTES

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

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

I

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

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

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

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

Gill Laidler

TopicUK EDITOR

GILL LAIDLER

CREATIVE DIRECTOR ROB BLACKWELL

LOCAL HEROES/CHARITY SAMGRUNDY, KIDS.ORG

THE ARTS MURRAY EDWARDS, THEATRE ROYAL

FASHION EMMA LELLIOTT, TRINITY WALK

LEGAL MATTERS RAMSDENS

BEAUTY & WELLBEING CHILL BEAUTY SALON

HEALTH HELEN LAIRD, PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT

FOOD & RESTAURANT REVIEW KEVIN TRICKETT, WAKEFIELD CIVIC SOCIETY

RECRUITMENT ANDY TURNER, FIRST CHOICE RECRUITMENT

SOCIAL MEDIA SINEAD SOPALA, RAMSDENS SOLICITORS

BANKING JONATHAN ROSTRON, SANTANDER

IT PAUL HEIGHAM, BELLINGHAM IT

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

DARRYL WIDEMAN SILCOATES SCHOOL

MOTORING JOE WILSON, AUDI WAKEFIELD

MUSIC DEAN FREEMAN, UNITY WORKS

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

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

Wakefield Edition June 2015 5

•• News

Round Up

TOPICUK EDITOR NOMINATED FOR YORKSHIRE AWARD

Sir Rodney Walker appointed chair of London Marathon Charitable Trust

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

T

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

“There were just 66 nominees from all over Yorkshire and it was a real honour to be amongst them. I was also delighted to learn that fellow TopicUK board director, Claire Young from School Speakers was also a nominee.”

Wakefield Business Awards... as we went to press, we were also notified that TopicUK has been shortlisted for the New Business of the Year in the forthcoming Wakefield Business Awards taking place during Business Week on 25th June. “TopicUK are partners at Business Week alongside the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce; Wakefield First and Brand Yorkshire, so being shortlisted for the award at the annual business dinner is extra special,” commented Gill.

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

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

TopicUK Editor-Gill Laidler

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Following the success of the 34th London Marathon in April, Wakefield businessman Sir Rodney Walker has been appointed Chairman of the London Marathon Charitable Trust.

The trust owns London Marathon Events Limited: the company who organises mass participation sporting events. All profits are distributed by The Trust and since the first London Marathon, has distributed over £56 million to projects.

“It is an honour to be asked to chair the trust and I was delighted to accept,” said Sir Rodney, who was awarded The Yorkshire Man of the year in 2008 and Business Person of the Year at the 2014 Wakefield Business Awards and is the only person to have received First Wakefield’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition to his services to the city and in raising an estimated £40m for charities and good causes. He is a former chair of the Rugby Football League, World Snooker, Brands Hatch & Donnington Park.

This is not his first recognition in the world of sport however. Sir Rodney was recognised in the Queens birthday Honours in 1996 and awarded the honour of Knight Bachelor for his services to sport. More recently Sir Rodney was invited by the Government to chair the company charged with organising and overseeing the allocation of £10m of Government funds to support the very successful Tour de France Grand Depart, stage 3 which was delivered within budget.

Sir Rodney is married to Anne & have two sons, Alexander and Timothy as well as 4 grandsons: Dylan, Jack, Oscar & Isaac.

Wakefield Cathedral have throw down a challenge

O

nce again, Wakefield Cathedral are inviting people to help raise funds for their 2015 fundraising campaign, by abseiling down Wakefield Cathedral.

The event will take place on Saturday 26th September between 10am and 3pm and participants are asked if they can raise £100 by sponsorship.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MORLEY AND OUTWOOD MP We caught up with newly elected Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood, Andrea Jenkyns who was successful in winning her campaign to take the seat from labour MP and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, to find out what her plans are for the area.

“Coming from a business background myself I know how challenging things can be, so when I stood for election I did so on a platform of supporting local businesses. Only businesses, through hard work and innovation, can create the jobs that lift people out of poverty and give our young people a chance in life, so it is vital that the Government do everything they can to support them.

The Queen’s Speech contained good news for the business community including a Enterprise Bill to cut the red tape that stifles growth, and reward entrepreneurship. Also announced was a ‘tax lock’ that guarantees no rises in Income Tax, National Insurance and VAT. The Full Employment and

Welfare Benefits Bill sets out plans for the UK to reach full employment and meet the Government’s target of 3 million new apprenticeships.

I am working to fulfil my promises to support local firms. I have already taken on a number of business related items of casework, and I am working on some great events for MOBA (the Morley and Outwood Business Association). I founded MOBA in 2014 to bring together local businesses with education leaders, government, and the wider community. I will be launching a constituency wide survey of businesses and educational institutions, so we can start to address the skills gap in our area.

If you would like to take part, perhaps entering a company team, contact Terry Rigg by email on: terryrigg42@googlemail.com

Wakefield Business Forum The first of a planned quarterly Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Business Forum will be held on Wednesday 29 July at the Chamber Building in Wakefield.

Chaired by Copiserv’s Gareth Hunt, one guest speaker will be Andrea Jenkyns MP, who will discuss Government plans for business support, The City Region and Devolution and what it means for Yorkshire businesses.

The event starts at 8:00 finishing around 10:00. Further details on our website: www.topicuk.co.uk

Wakefield Edition June 2015 7

•• News

Round Up

Marathon success for Claire benefits hospice

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n 26 April Claire Kendall partner at Richard Kendall Estate Agent helped Wakefield Hospice celebrate their 25th anniversary by running this year’s Virgin London Marathon.

Wakefield Hospice opened it’s doors in April 1990 providing 8 single en-suite bedrooms and 2 four bed ward areas, a Day Therapy Unit, bereavement support and education. Over the years the Day Care Unit developed initially into a Day Therapy Unit and ultimately into a Drop-In Centre providing therapies, information and care for patients, carers and bereaved families.

Richard Kendall Estate Agent has proudly been supporting the Hospice in their fundraising efforts over the past 12 months, including sponsorship of this years Wakefield 10k Run, which helped generate a record breaking 2,000 entrants and raise over £50,000.

Claire would like to thank everyone who donated money to her fundraising campaign, she is overwhelmed with everyone’s kindness and generosity in support of this fantastic local facility.

TopicUK Board Director, Tim Welton

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

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

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

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

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

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

In October last year, Claire was selected as part of a team of 6 runners to take part in arguably the biggest marathon in the world.

From January 2015 to the end of April, Claire took to the streets of Wakefield beginning her training, of an average 5 runs a week, covering nearly 500 miles and climbing over 18,000 ft in the process, raising over £5,000 in sponsorship on the run up to the event, for this a purpose-built specialist palliative care unit.

FLEET CAR MANAGEMENT FOR SME’S Paul Brown Managing Director - Cars on Demand Staff vehicles are often one of the largest expenses faced by small businesses, however, there are more car sourcing options on offer than ever before as more businesses realise the benefits that leasing can bring over purchasing.

For those businesses keen to launch or improve their fleets, Paul Brown, Managing Director of car leasing firm Cars on Demand in Wakefield, explains how to manage car leasing cost effectively.

Ensure your lease agreements are flexible to your needs; rolling contracts and short term leases can be ideal for small to medium size companies that employ field sales teams or freelancers, as they often allow for more frequent vehicle changes over shorter periods of time.

Capitalise on tax and National Insurance savings; there are savings to be made on National Insurance contributions for companies that use leasing for small fleets of cars. The lower the CO2 emissions of the cars you lease, in general the lower the NI payments you will make for your employees.

Consolidate your repair bills; rental charges, injury claims and uninsured losses could potentially increase the cost of an accident significantly.

Consider arranging specialist accident management through your leasing company - it could reduce off road time by up to 60 percent.

Claim back the VAT. Most VAT registered companies can claim back 50% of the VAT on leased vehicles.

This can increase to 100% if the vehicle is used exclusively for business use.

Centralise accounts with fuel cards; when employees buy fuel on different accounts, or buy it themselves and claim back through expenses, this can become time consuming and a admin heavy task. Using a fuel card system helps to centralise costs.

Check your choice list; the type of cars you offer employees has a big impact on their running costs. Try and choose vehicles based on their lifetime cost as opposed to cost per mile and consult a leasing company for the most appropriate vehicle types.

Think about location; if you have sales teams or colleagues working in different areas of the country, consider whether they will be able to access your lease provider locally so that any issues with their vehicle can be addressed as efficiently as possible.

Track the metrics; a well managed vehicle management system will help you determine how much a vehicle costs per mile and how efficiently drivers are operating. It should be easy to find and check these figures regularly.

Stay one step ahead; the fleet marketplace is constantly evolving, so ensure you maintain contact with an expert that can update you on the latest developments and help maintain a productive fleet.

Outsource to the experts; many SMEs find it makes financial and practical sense. Call in the experts and make good use of a fleet management company’s industry and expert knowledge.

Expansion for IndiaCoco Independent childrenswear retailer IndiaCoco marked its third birthday with a move to a new store in Trinity Walk Shopping Centre.

The existing store on Wood Street closed in early May with the new store opening a few days later with a weekend of celebrations organised by owner Claire Harper.

IndiaCoco specialises in best quality British clothing brands for babies, girls and boys aged between 0-10, stocking well known brands including joules, Frugi and Lilly & Sid. Claire said: “moving to Trinity Walk is a natural next step for IndiaCoco as it evolves and attracts more customers. It’s going to be a very busy but exciting time but the new store will appeal to a wide range of customers and will be the starting point for more IndiaCoco stores to open across the UK in the future.”

Wakefield Edition June 2015 9

•• News

Round Up

New Kind Of Dentist Attracts Disillusioned NHS Patients

WAKEFIELD HOSPICE LAUNCHES 25TH ANNIVERSARY COLOUR RUN

A centre for Dentistry, has opened inside Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk, unsure as to how popular the concept of a dentist in a supermarket would be.

However, Practice Manager Natalie Asquith, has received a huge amount of interest from patients who are unable to get an NHS place or who can’t afford a high priced private dentist.

“We are really happy to take on more and more patients, but we have been surprised just how big the need is in the area. Wakefield is in dire need of accessible dentistry,” said Natalie.

“Since we opened the dentist in the supermarket, our phone has been red hot,” she continues. “We do have room for more patients, so if anyone needs a dentist in the area please do call us! “Apart from access, the other thing people worry about is cost of treatment. We are campaigning to make our prices affordable and visible in store, communicated clearly to the patient. This is something the dental industry should be more mindful of, as it causes stress to people when they don’t know how much they need to pay.”

Lisa Riley, who is the CEO of all 25 Centres for Dentistry practices in the UK said: “The average time that someone has lapsed treatment would be around two years but there are cases of patients leaving it longer than that – forty nine years between treatments is our record at the moment.”

To enquire about appointments contact: 01924 638002

Wakefield Hospice, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, will make its 2015 Colour Run, sponsored by Trinity Walk Shopping Centre, the biggest and best yet. It set an ambitious target of raising £20,000 in sponsorship from the run to fund its high quality end of life care.

The 2015 run was launched on 21 April at Trinity Walk, with a colourful ‘paint throw’ attended by Wakefield Hospice, Trinity Walk, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Fit24 and Lush.

This year there are two runs to choose from - a 3K and a 5K route – both through Wakefield’s Thornes Park. Both runs take place on Sunday 28 June, start time 11am.

This is the second year Wakefield Hospice has organised this, Wakefield’s only Colour Run. It is a fun, familyfriendly event with a difference: runners are splashed with colour paint powder every so often as they navigate through the route and several colour stations! The challenge is to make it round the route, whether walking, jogging or hopping, and be covered with as much of the colourful paint as possible, while raising money for a great cause. The run is suitable for anyone aged six and upwards.

2015 is a special year as the Hospice celebrates 25 years of great dedication and care. The Hospice has become an acknowledged centre of excellence providing high quality end of life care – both the physical, emotional, social and spiritual factors for patients, their families and carers. The support from the volunteers at the Hospice is invaluable Danielle Norman, events fundraiser at Wakefield Hospice, commented: “Following on from the long-running

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(no pun intended) Wakefield 10K run, the Colour Run is a vibrant, fun run for everyone of all capabilities. It’s all about the taking part and enjoying the day whilst raising some money for the Hospice in its 25th year. Just choose your route, paint yourself (and others) in the brightest, boldest (and safest) colours, and off you go!”

Emma Lelliott, marketing and retail liaison manager, Trinity Walk, added: “We’re proud to be the sole sponsor of the Wakefield Hospice Colour Run this year. The staff and volunteers at the Hospice carry out such a wonderful job and it is such a great cause to be involved in.”

It costs £15 to enter, £10 for a child, £45 for a family or £100 for corporate teams of 10 to enter and all entrants will receive a branded t-shirt, a goody bag packed full of essentials from Trinity Walk and its partners including water and healthy snacks from Sainsbury’s, as well as goodies from Fit24 and Lush.

Arriva will also be providing a free shuttle bus to and from Trinity Walk and Thornes Park, so those with cars can park at the shopping centre at the usual Sunday rate of only 50p for the day.

For more information and how to book, visit www.wakefieldhospice.org/Events/ Colour-Run and www.trinitywalk.com Good luck!

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•• The

Arts

Murray Edwards - Executive Director Theatre Royal Wakefield

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

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

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

Sometimes your distain is all too obvious. When it was suggested that Labour would cancel the Tory cuts to the arts, the Labour press team abruptly tweeted: “we won’t.”. As at least one commentator said at the time: “There is no hope in Westminster for the subsidised arts.” Then Labour tried to modify its cold dismissal with a Charter for Culture and the Creative Industries, published just a few weeks before the election. This had 20 principals, of which really only two were interesting.

No.7 said arts funding should be “balanced equally across the country”; and No.17 said: “The National Lottery should be opened up to full transparency.”

Let’s see why these two principals are so interesting and we’ll tell you what you must do about it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Theatre Royal Wakefield, Drury Lane, Wakefield WF1 2TE - www.theatreroyalwakefie 12

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

So, New Government, you must fix all this.

Listen above all to Hewison’s main point: the arts don’t fit into your wonky calculus of finance, economics and politics. If the arts are judged that way they will die. Their justification is one of intrinsic value, they don’t need petty metrics to make their case.

This does not mean that government has to pay; we may move from the European model of funding towards the American one, but it does mean that somebody must pay. Either we want a living country, or we want a wasteland of glass towers in habited by dead souls. You choose.

Murray Edwards Executive Director TRW

eld.co.uk tel: 01924 211311 - mail@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk Wakefield Edition April 2015 13

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•• Legal

Matters Each issue Ramsdens Solicitors will share with TopicUK readers information to keep us all within the law.

FINANCIAL ABUSE IS A FORM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE Domestic violence and abuse can take many forms. One more subtle form, which can slowly but surely escalate is financial abuse.

What is financial abuse?

Financial abuse is a form of controlling behaviour. It involves your partner exercising control over your finances.

What are the warning signs of financial abuse?

Your partner may make important financial decisions without your involvement. For example, a very expensive purchase or a loan.

HELEN THEWLIS - Head of

Family Law

 your partner directly controls your access to money and dictates what you can and cannot spend  Your partner uses your credit card without asking  Your partner takes money from your purse without asking  Your partner stops you going to work to be able to earn money

This is a real form of coercive and controlling abuse. You may feel that this is not a form of abuse, that you will not be taken seriously by this claim. However, under the Serious Crime Act a new law comes into force later this year. This means that coercive and controlling behaviour by partners, that causes serious distress, becomes illegal and can include financial abuse.

Speaking to the BBC, Pollu Neate Chief Executive of Women’s Aid says; “We know of many cases where women have not come forward about controlling coercive abuse - including financial abuse because they feel the Police won’t take any action unless they’ve been physically assaulted. We’re hoping this new law will change that.”

Domestic abuse in any form is unacceptable. Women and men suffering from abuse should feel empowered to come forward and put perpetrators of abuse to justice. A life of abuse is not normality - love should not invite misery and abuse into your life.

GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON MINIMUM WAGE PUBLISHED The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has issued statutory guidance, Calculating the minimum wage, to help employers comply with national minimum wage laws.

Its aim is to give businesses and other organisations practical advice and examples to help explain issues such as:

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• What counts and does not count as pay.

• What counts and does not count as working hours.

• The eligibility rules for the minimum wage.

• How to calculate the minimum wage.

• How the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will enforce the minimum wage Download the statutory guidance from the gov.uk website or call Gareth Dando at Ramsdens on 01484 558 060 or email gareth.dando@ramsdens.co.uk for advice on employment law.

CHANGES TO INSOLVENCY LAW THAT COME INTO FORCE FROM 26 MAY 2015 The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 received Royal Assent on 26 March 2015.

The changes it introduces will come into force over in dribs and drabs over the next few months and years.

There are however some insolvency specific changes that will come into force on 26 May 2015. A summary of such changes is provided below:

INHERITANCE LAWS JODIE GAJIC - Private Client team

Savers with ISAs should consider making wills, or revising existing wills, to see if surviving spouses or civil partners could benefit from new ISA inheritance laws when they die.

An individual saver can save up to £15,240 (2015-16) per year in an ISA and does not pay tax on the income or capital gains it generates. Previously, the tax-free status of income or gains from an ISA ceased when the saver dies. Under new rules, a saver’s surviving spouse or civil partner will, in certain circumstances, be able to benefit from the saver’s ISA allowance when the saver dies.

Now, a surviving spouse or civil partner of an ISA saver who dies on or after 3 December 2014 can increase their own ISA allowance for the tax year in which the saver died, by an amount equal to the aggregate value of the deceased’s ISAs. There are a number of conditions, some of which are strict – for example, the surviving spouse or civil partner must already have an ISA, managed by the same manager as the deceased - and time limits apply.

There are also differences between the way cash ISAs and stocks and shares ISAs are treated.

Jodie Gajic, solicitor in Ramsdens Private Client team comments “Savers with ISAs should consider taking advice on whether their surviving spouses or civil partners could benefit under the new ISA inheritance laws, and making or revising their Wills accordingly.”

Administrations The creditors of a company in administration will be able to extend the administration for a period of 12 months (currently six months) without the administrator having to apply to court.

Fast Track IVAs will be abolished.  Sanction A Liquidators and Trustee in Bankruptcy’s will no longer require the sanction of the court or creditors to exercise powers detailed in Schedule 4 and 5 to the IA 1986.  Progress Reports Confirmation that a progress report must be filed in a voluntary liquidation where the liquidator changes in the first 12 months.

The general duties of directors detailed in the Companies Act 2006 will also apply to shadow directors from 26 May 2015 unless they are incapable of applying.

An administrator will no longer need to apply to court for permission to distribute the prescribed part and it will not be possible to move from administration to CVL if the only distribution to be made to unsecured creditors will be through the prescribed part.

The Secretary of State will be given reserve powers to regulate prepack sales to connected parties.  Small Debts A creditor owed a small debt will no longer need to formally prove in the insolvency to potentially receive a distribution. It is currently intended that a “small debt” will mean anything less than £1,000.  Voluntary Arrangements Where, in the case of an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) no interim order has been sought by the debtor it will be made clear that the period in which a creditor can challenge a decision of creditors in relation to the IVA proposal will be 28 days from the date of the decision.

Wakefield Edition June 2015 17

•• Local

Heroes

The Quiet Revolution Businessman Chris Hill is the driving force behind the newly reopened and beautifully restored Unity Works.

Written By Sam Grundy

S

ituated on the corner of Smyth Street and Westgate, the building is a glorious example of Wakefield’s grand past. The venue has seen such bands as The Specials, Boomtown Rats, Human League, The Skids, The Only Ones, Iron Maiden, Penetration, Eurhythmics and Def Leppard perform there in its heyday. The freshly restored venue is already attracting new bands such as New Model Army, The Sonics and The Cribs.

for the buildings to truly reflect the local community, none of the dreaded corporate dullness pervades Unity Works!

I asked Chris what he likes about Wakefield and what drew him to Unity House. “Leeds is an example of corporate dullness. What Wakefield has to offer is the potential to create a town centre that is vibrant, unique and local, reflective of its community,” he said. “Wakefield centre is physically attractive but the future for city centres is unclear.

However, Unity Works is not just a music venue but a venue for the whole community to benefit from, whether it be for business such as conferences and seminars like this year’s inspired by Wakefield Business Week and conference, a “the meeting highlight of the business calendar or private point of functions such as weddings and parties. community

and

The move to greater on-line shopping will leave the centres free to be more centres for leisure than for retailing. How Cities adapt to this shift in visitor expectations will be interesting. The challenge is how to accommodate the local, the unique in the heart of the City.”

Chris came to the project on the back of numerous successes. He specialises in the restoration of used buildings of historic and local significance and breathing new life into the derelict structures. He uses the format of co-operatives and community based companies to bring the buildings back to community / arts based / commercial cross overs. He is inspired by “the meeting point of community and business”. This approach allows

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What is unusual about Chris is that he not only delivers on his vision but he doesn’t carry a massive ego about his achievements. What he does is breathe new life into jewels of historic buildings. Is not easy but the impact the active use of the buildings have on the community is unique. This isn’t a talent that many people have, but Chris has a quiet authority that is rare. Long live the revolution!

Image: Danny Gartside

Chris was particularly proud of the “banners business” So what excites Chris about the future of Wakefield? He immediately identified the held high” evening at Unity Works. He said potential for redevelopment of Smyth Street. that the daylong event was truly moving with over 800 people reflecting on the impact of the miners’ He praised the Councils vision for a potential new urban park, supported by the strengths of Unity Works, The strike and the on-going legacy.

Theatre, The Art House and The Orangery.

It says a lot about the Unity Works project, that all the new office units are all now fully let, except for a lovely And where would he recommend for a good night out?

Harry’s Bar and a visit to Prego’s, topped off obviously shop fronted office unit on Bank St. with a night cap in the fabulous new café / bar in Unity Upcoming events include: Wakefield Beer Festival in Works, with its large selection of fine ales and wines. The June and The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Night in cafe also boasts a mouth watering menu by day, with all ingredients sourced from local companies.

July, there really is something for everyone.

WakeďŹ eld Edition June 2015 19

DESCEND TO THE HEIGHTS OF BLACKPOOL TOWER The National Coal Mining Museum offer a venue with a difference, put down your briefcase and don a hard-hat for a unique tour with a real miner and make your event one to remember. Where else can delegates delve 140m underground, that’s the height of Blackpool Tower!

For conferences, The Caphouse suite offers an interchangeable space designed to offer maximum flexibility whatever your requirements. Our DDR includes; room hire, an extensive range of Audio Visual equipment, laptops, flipcharts and pads and pencils. All delegates also have access to Wi-Fi and free parking for over 200 cars!

NCM offer a whole range of extras to help you enjoy your time with them, from their unique private underground tour, to discovering the life, history and culture of coal mining through their exhibitions. You can also take time out and stroll around the beautiful 45 acre site, meet the friendly pit ponies or discover the nature trail and all of its inhabitants.

On site catering offers the best of Yorkshire with all food products locally sourced. Refreshments are kept flowing through the day and serve a delicious working lunch that delegates can’t stop talking about, especially the chips! Come the afternoon the cake bites are a much welcomed treat to cheer up any delegate.

Give your meetings the edge

Looking for a unique venue for your meetings?

The Asparagus Green cafe offers a relaxed atmosphere • Free Parking

• Free Wi-Fi

• Breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea available

• Option to go 140m underground and discover mining

• Experience events team

• Easy access from to M1 (J39 or 40)

To book your event call now on 01924 844581

The museum also offer private hire and can cater for a wide range of events from; informal buffets, seated meals, champagne receptions and everything inbetween. Their flexible event spaces can include a bar and a classic parquet dance floor or consider using the outdoor areas for barbeques, marquees or tipis.

Wedding packages offer a unique way to celebrate your special day in style. Not only will you be surrounded by the history and culture of coal mining but the remarkable site offers a beautiful backdrop for stunning photographs.

Flexible packages give you the option to make your day one of a kind. Host your perfect drinks reception up at Hope Colliery, meet the ponies, ride the mine train to your breakfast reception or create a tipi/marquee wedding all of your own. The possibilities are endless.

An event at The National Coal Mining Museum is never ordinary; it’s truly unique.

For that less informal meeting why not call into the Café where free Wi-Fi is available. Open at 9am 7 days a week and offer breakfast, Lunch and afternoon tea’s or if you are just simply looking for some where quite to study that paper or book over a cup of locally roasted coffee or Yorkshire tea then the café is the perfect place.

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Open daily 10am - 5pm T: 01924 848806 | E: info@ncm.org.uk Company Registration Number: 1702426 Charity Registration Number: 517325

www.ncm.org.uk

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 Wakefield Edition June 2015 21

ACHIEVING YOUR AMBITIONS

Over the last month I’ve taken on a new role as National Head of Santander’s Breakthrough programme, this month I’d like to tell you about what this delivers for SME’s in the UK. Santander has always had big ambitions in the SME market space, and over the last 6 years has moved from a relatively unknown bank, through a “challenger bank” position and ultimately to a major high street brand, providing banking for thousands of businesses across the UK.

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

To do this we have had to be innovative and offer a credible differentiator to the other banks – we realised that quality people, delivering an excellent customer experience through a local branch network was just the start. That’s why we worked with a panel of businesses to understand what really mattered to them, and together we designed Breakthrough Santander’s programme of support to help ambitious businesses grow and prosper.

Connections – we can help you connect with other businesses through our programme of events. Year to date in Yorkshire we have already held four events specifically helping female business leaders and entrepreneurs do business. Our summit event in Leeds in April saw over 76 businesses get together and hear directly from speakers such as Myleen Klass and Microsoft.

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

Talent – We have a partnered with 76 Universities across the UK, and through this in 2014 we provided SME’s with access to 1500 interns, and in 2015 we have grown this to 2000. We fund £1500 to the cost of employing a graduate or undergraduate on a three month internship, which is match funded by the SME. Locally Huddersfield University, Leeds University, Sheffield University and York University are all partners to deliver this talent.International – If you think your business product or service would be ideal for a market outside 22

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

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

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

Every eight minutes we help a business take on the world

Whether building your local network or a global presence, we could help your business achieve its next breakthrough.

To find out more visit santandercb.co.uk or contact Jonathan Rostron 07850 640 600 jonathan.rostron@santander.co.uk

Source: Internal data 2014.

Santander Corporate & Commercial is a brand name of Santander UK plc, Abbey National Treasury Services plc (which also uses the brand name Santander Global Banking and Markets) and Santander Asset Finance plc, all (with the exception of Santander Asset Finance plc) authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Our Financial Services Register numbers are 106054 and 146003 respectively. Credit cards are provided by Santander UK plc. In Jersey, Santander UK plc is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission to carry on deposit-taking business under the Banking Business (Jersey) Law 1991. Registered office: 2 Triton Square, Regent’s Place, London NW1 3AN. Company numbers: 2294747, 2338548 and 1533123 respectively. Registered in England. Santander and the flame logo are registered trademarks. Santander UK plc is a participant in the Jersey Bank Depositors Compensation Scheme. The Scheme offers protection for eligible deposits of up to £50,000. The maximum total amount of compensation is capped at £100,000,000 in any 5 year period. Full details of the Scheme and banking groups covered are available on the States of Jersey website (www.gov.je/dcs) or on request.

CCBB 0580 NOV 14 HT

•• Beauty

PAMPERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS At this time of year most of us have special dates in our diaries, whether it be a day at the races, a hen party or a wedding. Here we look at beauty treatments to make you feel pampered and that will help you to look your best on that special Day! Hands & Feet

length, volume and lift.

If your nails look nice, you feel nice, but there are so many different polishes, gels, foils and acrylics around that it is sometimes difficult to know which to choose.

The treatment takes 45 minutes including an eyelash tint and the results last up to 6 weeks.

Treatment Manicures & Pedicures.Before the introduction of gel polish this was the most popular treatment. It concentrates on promoting healthy nails and uses products such as nail moisturisers, hand conditioners and proteins to treat specific nail conditions. The treatment manicure and pedicure takes around 45 minutes and consists of a file, cuticle tidy, exfoliation and massage, then finish with a nail paint.

Gel Polish Manicures & pedicures.The use of gel polish has increased over the past few years and is popular as it lasts up to 2 weeks and needs no drying time. It is important when choosing a gel that you look for a make that has a vitamin infused basecoat and also one which has the least soak off time. This will help to promote healthy nail growth.

Tanning At this time of year, a spray tan is a great way to give you a golden glow without the use of sun beds. Some salons may offer a lotion application, but most will use a spray gun. The application takes approx 10 minutes and there is usually a drying time of 10 minutes before clothes can be put back on. The tan usually needs a development time of around 4 hours and brands such as Su-do have various shades, making it much easier for the therapist to match the colour to you skin tone. It is important to exfoliate and moisturise the day before a tan application to ensure an even result.

Create your own package at Chill Beauty by choosing any four treatments in our top to toe pamper bundle making a pamper package that is taylor made for you!

NEW Flexible Colour System Manicure and pedicure.This is a new technology that provides extended wear, easy removal and contains shock –absorbing polymers that allow the finish of the manicure to bounce back, helping prevent smudges and dents. This is a great alternative for people who want longer lasting polish, but like to remove their polish at home with a nail polish remover.

Nail Enhancements.

Nail enhancements give an instant length to nails. A tip is glued to the nail, a coating of either acrylic or a builder gel are applied. Foils. These can be applied to finger and toe nails, however they tend to last longer on toe nails. Lasting up to 4 weeks foils come in lots of different colours and designs.

Eyelashes Extensions.

There are two main types of eyelash extensions - single lash and clusters. The single lash are individual lashes that are applied to your own lashes and give a more natural lengthened look . Hollywood Lashes for instance come in different lengths, curls and thicknesses to enable either a natural or glamorous look. These last up to 3 weeks and can then be in-filled rather than having a full set each time. The cluster lashes have 3 lashes on a bulb which when applied give a more glamorous fuller look. These are usually not infilled and last up to a week.

NEW LVL Lashes. These are a great alternative to eyelash extensions as they enhance natural lashes, giving them 24

Choose any

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Treatments

FROM THE LIST BELOW AND CREATE A PACKAGE TO SUIT YOU!

Package Price £100.00 •Su-do Spray Tan •Nailtiques Manicure •Hollywood Lash Extensions •Gel Polish Manicure •Get Fresh Pedicure •Minx Pedicure •Party Lashes •LVL Lashes •Flexible Colour manicure •Acrylic Nail Extensions •Espa Body Polish •Cleanse and Make-up Chill Beauty, The Old Co-op Building, Cooperative Street, Lofthouse, Wakefield WF3 3NQ tel: 01924 873000

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Wakefield Edition June 2015 25

•• Information

Technology

The Future for the Technology Sector Paul Heigham, Director of Bellingham IT, explores some of the ways the Conservative Government is heavily promoting and prioritising the tech sector.

During the election campaign, Prime Minister David Cameron promised to continue working on “digital skills, start-ups, broadband and providing digital public services.”

According to a survey published in early May, 82% of tech entrepreneurs in Britain believe they will fare well under the Conservative government.

This widely shared sentiment stems from the fact that the Tories introduced a number of initiatives during the last five years designed at backing the tech industry and IT companies. These initiatives included the Enterprise Investment Scheme, the patent box, and research and development tax credits, amongst others.

Developing cyber intelligence For example, the Conservatives have pledged to use money in encouraging home-grown “cyber intelligence” innovation.

Over the next nine years the Government is set to invest £3 billion on developing cyber intelligence. Part of the initiative includes the Conservatives working with “hundreds of small businesses” to develop, what Chancellor Osborne described as, the “next stage of national cyber intelligence.”

Key Technologies: £3 million for business innovation Innovate UK is the Government’s Technology Strategy Board which manages funding competition programmes for innovation across a range of areas. Part of the Innovate UK strategy includes businesses being able to apply for a £3 million injection for feasibility studies into technology projects across four key areas.

According to the Government, future UK economic growth will be driven by innovation in four key technology areas – Advanced materials, biosciences, electronics, sensors and photonics and information and communication technology.

Innovate UK’s £3 million in advances for feasibility studies led by small or micro business into innovative projects is part of the Government’s drive to be at the forefront of technological innovation and to generate significant economic growth.

Start-up loans and tax breaks Part of the Conservative Party manifesto included a promise to treble the government start-up loans program if they were elected. Extending on the already established start-up investment tax breaks, such as the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the more recently created Enterprise Capital Funds, the tech entrepreneurial landscape in Britain is lapping up what they have referred to as the Conservatives’ “tech-friendly attitude”.

If you or your business are involved in the technology sector or you are looking to get involved in the creative, digital or technology sectors within the Wakefield area, there is an industry group available.

Please visit the www.cognitiv.co.uk website for more details and for upcoming events, everyone is welcome.

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Artwalk showcases National Print Exchange

The Art House will play host to a national touring exhibition of creative prints. The annual 20:20 Print Exchange Exhibition visits Wakefield to coincide with May’s Artwalk.

Work from 20 of The Art House’s resident creatives will join over 500 prints from a selection of artists from studios across the UK. The exhibition will show in Wakefield as part of an on-going continuing tour of UK cities.

Local artists whose work features in the exhibition include Amy Lilley, Ali Appleby, Rachel Richardson, Dave Foley, Helen Riddle, Mary Duggan, Teddi Coutts, Chloe Smith, Tracey Abraham, Hilary Hume, Ian Smith, Terry Lister and Carrie Scott-Huby.

Delivered in partnership with Salford-based Hot Bed Press, the 20:20 Print Exchange encourages artists to submit work in a variety of print mediums; from letter press and laser etching through to wood engraving and traditional print processes. Prints are then exchanged between workshops and their artists after the tour has been completed.

Local artist Amy Lilley – who has been coordinating The Art House’s 20:20 Exhibition with fellow printmaker, Ali Appleby comments:

UNITY WORKS A FABULOUS PLACE FOR PARTIES

CHRISTMAS BUFFET PACKAGES 2015 Friday 4th December & Friday 11th December 50 places available (15 tables of 10) at £18.00 per head + VAT includes two course buffet with live band performing 70's & 80's classics

Thursday 3rd December & Thursday 10th December 150 places available (15 tables of 10) at £25.00 per head + VAT Two course meal + entertainment, DJ and live Band.

“We’re so pleased that prints from The Art House’s artists will once again be a part of a celebrated national show.

This is an exciting opportunity for local artists to have their work exhibited nationally and is a chance for those attending The Artwalk to get a real sense of the variety and diversity of work produced by Printmakers across the UK.” Now in its fifth year the 20:20 Print Exchange tour for 2015 will be shown in Wakefield before travelling to Belfast Print Workshop.

For more information visit The Art House’s website www.the-arthouse.org.uk

catherine.yaffe@unityworks.co.uk or holly.dugan@unityworks.co.uk

•• Health

A HEALTHY WORKFORCE IS A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE The evidence is clear, a healthy workforce is a more productive workforce. Taking small steps to improve the health and wellbeing of your employees makes good business sense.

Dr Andrew FURBER - WAKEFIELD PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT

W

orking age adults spend an average of 8 to 10 hours a day in the workplace so this is an ideal environment to make a change to the health and wellbeing of your staff.

Sickness absence, musculoskeletal disorders, staff turnover and low staff morale are some issues that may affect your staff and can have a direct impact on the productivity of your business.

The average cost to businesses for each absent employee is £975 (CBI’s absence survey 2013). The annual cost to the UK economy of people taking time off work due to ill health is estimated to be £100 billion. The direct costs of employee absence to the economy are estimated at over £14 billion per year.

The statistics surrounding health related problems are quite shocking. The Office

for National Statistics data shows that 175 million working days are lost to ill health each year with 15.2 million being due to stress, anxiety or depression!

Workplace Health in the Wakefield District….

• Smoking breaks cost businesses1 in Wakefield £39m of lost productivity with a cost of £20m to the wider local economy.

• Sick days due to smoking cost businesses £17.8 million a year • There are 69.6% of adults with an unhealthy weight • 42% of adults do not do enough physical activity • Most people in the District do want to make some changes to their health and wellbeing and you as a business can help!

Benefits to me as a business Businesses in the region who already promote their staff’s health and wellbeing find it costs very little and the returns more than justify the investment.

National research bears this out, with employers getting impressive returns on their investment: • Up to 9% increase in productivity • Average return on investment of £4.10 for every £1 spent on wellbeing interventions • Improved retention and reduced turnover – saving the costs of replacing and training an employee, which costs up to four times the original employee’s salary What can I do?

The Wakefield Wellbeing Charter Mark scheme has recently been launched to help local businesses demonstrate they are taking steps to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees. Any small to medium sized businesses based within the Wakefield District can apply for the Charter

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Mark. Some companies may already have health and wellbeing as a priority in their business, whilst others may need some advice, mentoring and guidance help them demonstrate they are taking steps to promote workplace health. If this is the case the Wakefield Council Charter Mark awards team can work with you and your team free of charge to put in place small but meaningful changes to improve the health and wellbeing of your organisation.

Often small changes can make the biggest impact with online tool kits to help. Free support and advice is available for small to medium sized businesses and organisations to develop health and well-being initiatives in the workplace.

We can offer you a wealth of expertise and experience in a range of health matters along with online tool kits to help.

The following areas we can help with: • Workplace health initiatives • Developing a healthy workplace culture • Enabling staff to be more physically active • Support for staff who want to stop smoking • Promote healthy eating and weight loss • Support alcohol awareness • Looking after the mental health of your staff The aims of the award: • To reward businesses that look after their employers • To work with local businesses to provide a healthy environment at work.

• To improve business performance by reducing absenteeism For more information and an informal chat please email the Health Improvement Team healthimprovement@wakefield.gov.uk

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Associated Waste

Management YORKSHIRE’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT WASTE MANAGEMENT BUSINESS TRADE WASTE AND SKIP/RORO SERVICES ZERO WASTE TO LANDFILL DEDICATED ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

Associated Waste Management Limited, St Bernard’s Mill, Gelderd Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS27 7NA Tel: 0845 4567128 Web: www.awm.uk.com Wakefield Edition June 2015 41

BONDHOLDERS ROLL OUT WAKEFIELD WALLPAPER The Wakefield Wallpaper, developed by the Wakefield First Bondholder Scheme to visually promote the district, has been rolled out thanks to a number of strategic partnerships.

H

ighlighting the legends that are associated to the area - from reminders of the city’s rich heritage through to examples of nationally recognised and local businesses that call Wakefield their home - the wallpaper acts as a strong example of why this is such a great place to invest and do business.

Since officially launching the Wakefield Wallpaper the Bondholder team have been working hard to demonstrate how this visual showcase can help to recruit bondholders whilst also promoting the district internationally to attract investment.

In recent months the wallpaper has been communicating the ‘on a roll message’ at events staged by the Bondholders.

Thanks to a number of strategic partnerships the visual is also beginning to appear on a much larger scale.

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DESIGNED BY THE WORLD FAMOUS FRANK MATCHAM

OPENED IN

1894

THE HOME OF LIVE

COMEDY, MUSIC

DRAMA AND PANTOMIME

France as part of MIPIM – the world’s leading property event that brings together the most influential players from all international property sectors.

Profiling the district, Our Agency, the design and digital agency based at Nostell Priory, transformed the Wakefield Wallpaper by creating a short animation that brought a selection of icons to life.

The animation was unveiled at a First Friday breakfast event, receiving excellent feedback – it was also featured on the big screen throughout the city as part of the Tour De Yorkshire event and also at the recent Buy Yorkshire Conference that took place in Leeds Ian Winterbottom of Our Agency comments: “The Wakefield Wallpaper is really starting to take shape, we’re increasing visibility locally and also internationally.

Since launching at The Art House during the redevelopment of The Old Library, the wallpaper has recently appeared in Kirkgate. In addition, Sandal Cricket Club took delivery of the visual to support the ongoing recruitment of bondholders during the Tour de Yorkshire celebrations.

“Our intention has always been to bring the wallpaper to life and MIPIM allowed us to do just that. The animation is fun and engaging and it helped the inward development team to promote the district and stand out in what was a very competitive showcase.”

In March, the Wallpaper took its place on the International stage in Cannes,

You can see the animated wallpaper by visiting https://youtube/TY4hCx2t9H4

MY CONFERENCE WAKEFIELD 24th JUNE 2015

•• Wakefield

Business Week

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

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

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

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

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

In this funny and down to earth session Lee will wean you off bad slides forever. He will also teach you how good presentation slides can even work for you and help you stand out from the crowd. Using Lee’s simple techniques we can kill death by bullet-point once and for all!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UN

ITY HALL

Wakefield 2015 B

 NIGEL GREENWOOD

US INESS

E WE

K

Unity Works Major Hall

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

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Statement

YTL

Kingston Unity

Bee Social

Bagden Hall

Perry’s Jaguar

Wakefield College

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New Car Deals

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Barnsley College

Jordans’s Solictors

Santander

Arthouse 97

National Coal Mining Museum

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Juice Personnel

Wakefield Manufacturing Forum

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Re: work Office Furniture

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Maze 7

4N Networking

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Fasprint

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Eitex

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

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

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

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Northern Media

Spot Factoring UK Ltd

HDP

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Copiserv (Sponsor)

Social Progress

Occupational Therapy

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Leeds Beckett Uni 34

Sovereign Health Care

Jolliffe Cork

Stada Media 35

Time SFB Sanders Geeson Communications

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Arriva Yorkshire

Abzorb

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FSB

Ramsdens

Creative Analysis

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Yorkshire Payments

First Choice Recruitment

Go Media

Unity Works Minor Hall •

Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

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Wakefield First

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TopicUK

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Brand Yorkshire

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Unity Works

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Forget Me Not Children's Hospice

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

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

The Kings Croft Hotel

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

 13:30 - 16:00 Your hired - The Next Generation How to increase sales, boost your profile and future proof your business.

Unity Works: Major Hall

 15:00 – 17:00 Carmel Harrison PR Communications Strategy Unity Works: Conference Room One

TUESDAY 23rd JUNE  08:00 – 10:00 Getting the best of Google AdWords Unity Works: Conference Room Two

 08:30 – 10:00 Join Cognitiv the creative and digital online members group for informal networking for likeminded creatives Unity Works: Major Hall

 10:00 – 14:00

WEDNESDAY 24th JUNE  08:00 – 10:00

Bellingham IT IT Workshop Unity Works Conference Room Three

4Networking Breakfast 4Networking provides a great start to  10.00 – 12.00 MY Conference Wakefield.

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

G-Park, Europort Unity Works: Cafe Bar

 19:00 till late  08:45 -16:00 MY Conference Wakefield 2015 Unity Works

 16:00 – 18:00

Wakefield Business Awards Unity Works

FRIDAY 26th JUNE

MY Network drinks  10:00 – 12:00 Join us at MY Network Wakefield for an Maze informal drinks networking event. Just Creating Brand Ambassadors turn up and take advantage of Unity Works: Conference Room Two this great opportunity to make some valuable new contacts in a relaxed setting  13:30 – 15:00 and enjoy a drink on us!

Bondholders BBQ This event is sponsored by Copiserv Cooking Up A Vision For Wakefield and run in partnership with Barclays, Wakefield First Bondholders will help CIM, First Choice, Mid to close an action packed Business Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Week 2015 with burgers and buns at Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, Statement and a special informal BBQ networking the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. event.

The Hop, Bank Street Cooking up conversation about what’s next for #WorldclassWakey, Adrian Spawforth will also deliver the THURSDAY 25th JUNE Wakefield Bondholders vision for the future of the district.  08:00 – 09:30 The Bondholder BBQ will take place Wakefield City Centre Partnership Forum from 1:30pm at Merchant Gate offices, Kay on 07825 061022 in Burgage Square (across from the Westgate Station). It costs just £10.00  08:00 – 10:00 per delegate and includes networking, WMDC lunch and a drink.

Retail & Nighttime Burgage Square, Merchant Gate Unity Works: Minor Hall MSCP, Westgate, WF1 2QN

F5 (Refresh) Your Digital & Creative Skills  09:00 – 10:00 Unity Works Simply JP Mind Reading for Business Unity Works: Conference Room Three  10:00 – 12:00 Sitting Pretty!

HDP Occupational Therapist  09:00 - 11:30 Unity Works: Conference Room Three Finders Keepers 2 part interactive workshop - Grow your business by gaining and retaining  13:00 – 14:00 customers Perfect Tribes (Judy Parsons) National Coal Mining Museum The Power of LinkedIn Unity Works: Conference Room One 46

 09:00 – 12:00

 17:00 – until late Wrap Party Join TopicUK and Unity Works for the Business Week Wrap Party, an event certainly not to be missed!

Share your experiences of the week with colleagues over a drink from the bar, listen to music and enjoy the best party in town!

Unity Works Cafe Bar

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WakeямБeld Edition June 2015 47

•• Charity

Sainsbury’s Community Budget scheme benefits Wildcats Trust

MYcycle is back!

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

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

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

Events like this can only happen with the support from brilliant people and this year it is being supported by Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Barclays, Huddersfield Star Wheelers and Ossett Brewery.

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

This charity cycle is open to all and can be booked via British Cycling’s The Government and ACE have acknowledged the imbalance, but argue that it is because the major national institutions are based

website www.britishcycling.org.uk.

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

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

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

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

Sainsbury’s Trinity walk has donated £300 to Wakefield Wildcats Community Trust as part of its support for the local community. Colleagues including PR Ambassador Steve Scriven handed over the donation to Tracy North from the Wildcats Community Trust at the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Stadium, in Belle Vue. The donation will be used to buy t-shirts for the use of the Community Trust.

Wakefield Wildcats Tracy North said, “These T-shirts will be used in our community work within schools and the groups we have down at the club. They will be used to reward participants in our schemes and clubs.”

Funded through the Sainsbury’s Community Budget scheme, it was set up to help charitable groups in the local community and is partially funded by sales of the retailer’s ‘Bag for Life’. So for customers at Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk, this means that they are not only making an environmental choice, they are also contributing to their local community.

Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk Store Manager Sean Higgins, said: ‘Our store is at the heart of the local community and is important we can play our part to support it. When we heard about the Wildcats Community trust and their story, we just wanted to help to help out as much as we could”.

This year, Sainsbury’s has donated over £600,000 to local charities and community groups as part of the Community Budget scheme. Last year, colleagues at the Trinity Walk store helped several local charities and groups through the scheme, including a donation of £500 to Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which helped to provide emergency care when needed.

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

WakeďŹ eld Edition April 2015 49

Mixing things up in Northgates Restaurant Olive And Meze adds a distinctive turkish flourish WRITTEN BY KEVIN TRICKETT Follow him on twitter @ MrTrickett Heddy and Zafer

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o, you’re in the business and you’re looking to open a new restaurant. You cast around and find the premises you’re looking for and they are in Wakefield. You make an approach to the landlord, sign a deal and get the keys.

The place needs a few decorative touches and a bit of a tidy up, which you set about doing. Then, you open for business……

Just a few weeks later, nearly 20 members of Wakefield Civic Society’s Dining Club decide to pay you a visit. They do at least tell you in advance that they are coming; they even email their orders through to you a day or so beforehand; but you know they will be a demanding and discerning group, well used to putting a restaurant through its paces. And to top it all, at the end of their meal, they will score you on how well you did!

That’s a challenge that might just give you pause for thought but it does explain how I came to be dining at Wakefield’s newest addition to the ever expanding range of restaurants in and around the city. (As President of Wakefield Civic Society, I see it as

my duty to participate in the activities of the Society’s Dining Club and it’s a duty I take seriously. The club has been going for over five years now, visiting nearly 60 different establishments, and I think I’ve only missed a couple or so of the monthly outings).

Regular readers of TopicUK may remember that I reviewed Grill! Primal Kitchen (Grill! PK, previously known as Grill! at 31) in February 2014. Sadly, the restaurant later closed and the premises at 31 Northgate stood empty for a while.

However, they have now re-opened under new management with a fresh new look and name to match. Olive and Meze bills itself as a “Turkish Grill and Cyprus Mezes” restaurant and is now starting to get noticed by the people of Wakefield.

The restaurant itself has a small frontage onto Northgate but it stretches back inside to provide room for 30 customers.

The kitchen and bar area, tucked away at the far end of the restaurant are compact, so proprietor Zafer Firinci and his staff Heddy and Nik have to be well organised and fairly nifty to work around each other.

Members of Wakefield Civic Society’s Dining Club 50

As the name suggests, the restaurant offers a selection of home-made dishes representing Turkish and Cypriot cuisine.

The menu offers a mix of cold and hot starters, very reasonably priced between £3.90 and £6.95 although there are meze dishes (a selection of starters) priced at £12.60 for the cold selection and £14.50 for the hot dishes but these are intended to be shared between two people. Main courses start from as little as £8 and work up to £15.50 (for Sirloin Steak or King Prawns). Again, there is a sharing dish – a mixed grill described on the menu as “a sumptuous platter of barbecued Lamb Shish, Adana, Chicken Shish and Pirzola, served with rice, salad, dip sauce and home-made bread”. This costs £24.90 but, remember, this is intended for two people.

There is a limited choice of desserts – Baklava, ice cream and chocolate cake being on offer at the time of our visit, again very reasonably priced at £3.50 each. If you opt for the set three-course meal at £22 per person (a minimum of two people required as it comprises of meze dishes for starters and main courses), the Baklava is included.

A lighter lunch menu is available from Monday to Saturday. One piece of advice: from Sunday to Thursday, the restaurant offers two courses for £13.50. However, it is possible to select two courses whose prices total less than £13.50 – a point that caused some confusion when we were trying to work out the bill for the Dining Club members!What was it like, I hear you asking? Well, on the whole it proved

end of the table who’d been a bit slow to put their hands up when their meal was called out by one of the waiters! However, the quantity was still generous and, by all accounts, the quality was good.

I opted for the Aubergine Salad as my starter: oven-roasted peppers and aubergines with spring onion and olive oil dressing. It was light and very fresh – but those onions were very hot! To follow, I had the vegetarian pide. This is rather like a pizza but, in this case, topped with fresh Mediterranean vegetables, feta, halloumi and mozzarella cheeses and served with salad. For dessert, I opted for the strawberry ice cream. Total cost of the three courses, excluding drinks, was just £15.50 – a real bargain and the quality of the food could not be faulted.

Opening Times Daily Lunch: 12.00 to 14.00 Evening: 17.30 to 21.30

to be a rather enjoyable evening. The staff are lovely, very friendly, helpful and willing to please and the camaraderie of the Dining Club members always adds a certain something to the experience wherever we go. Dining in a large group can, of course, bring its own kind of chaos: even when people have ordered meals in advance, there’s always one or two who forget what they’ve ordered, but Heddy and Nik kept their cool and made sure everyone ended up with the meal of their choice, even if it didn’t quite start that way. A couple who had ordered the set meal were rather surprised by the apparent over-generous quantity of food served up as their meze starters – until it was realised that they’d been given two plates of meze rather than just one between two, the second plate being intended for another duo at the opposite

31 Northgate, Wakefield WF1 3BJ Telephone: 01924 609380

The general consensus seemed to be positive enough although one person had ordered the ‘Salmon on Grill’ and this arrived a little too well grilled at one end (the waiter said it would not be charged to the bill, so all ended well enough). Will Olive and Meze win the accolade of the Dining Club’s Restaurant of the Year for 2015 when all the votes are counted? Well, that’s too early to say just now: we’re not yet half way through the year and it will be next April before we reveal the winner.

After the meal, I chatted to the proprietor Zafer. He told me he had been in the restaurant business for 25 years, first in Turkey and then in the UK. His last restaurant, Tom, Dick and Harry’s, was at Thorpe Arch near Wetherby but he told me that he wanted to move to a city centre where people would find access easier than being out on a trading estate.

He took over the lease from Grill! PK and decided to redecorate to provide a much lighter and more airy feel. This is still a work in progress; there was some evidence of the old Grill! branding on display but I suspect that will be removed in due course.

Opening a new restaurant is a brave move, especially with so much competition, but as Wakefield’s only Turkish restaurant, Olive and Meze is definitely worth a try and, as a new venture, it would be nice to see it build up a loyal following.

If you’re looking for somewhere new to try, do pay Olive and Meze a visit.

Wakefield Edition June 2015 51

•• Council

News

SKILLS OPPORTUNITIES FOR WAKEFIELD BUSINESSES Wakefield businesses have the opportunity to develop the skills of their workforce and apply for funding to deliver tailored training thanks to the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

T

he LEP skills service can help businesses identify their skills needs based on business growth objectives, and then find the right training solutions to match.

Companies in Wakefield and throughout the Leeds City Region that have a budget to put towards training could also be eligible for funding of between £500 and £50,000 to train their staff through the £13.9 million skills service.

The aim of the funding is to put money in the hands of small and medium sized businesses in the region’s key sectors, enabling them to source the skills solutions they require to develop and grow.

Wakefield firms are already benefitting from the support and funding including Custompac, a manufacturing business who took advantage of the LEP skills service offer to access training for their staff.

Jeremy Smith, Director of Custompac said: “The skills service is an amazing opportunity for businesses. Our contact at Wakefield Council, recommended we apply to the service for support with staff training. Thanks to the LEP, Custompac were able to get funding for Solid Solutions CAD training, enabling us to advance staff skills and stay ahead of the

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competition. For us the process was simple and easy to understand. We were able to pull together a complete training plan for our team and thanks to the funding we could provide staff with opportunities we wouldn't have been able to otherwise. I would definitely encourage other Wakefield businesses to contact the LEP and see how they can grow!”

Mark Ridgway, CEO of Wakefield-based Group Rhodes, and Board member at the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said: “As the Board member overseeing the LEP skills service and a Wakefield business owner with 10% of our employees in apprenticeship schemes, I am committed to ensuring that the service is employer driven and links seamlessly with other support to help businesses grow and thrive. To succeed, we need to work in partnership with businesses, ensuring we collectively invest in the workforce of the future, positioning the Leeds City Region as a place where everyone who works and does business can prosper.”

Do you want to find out more about how the LEP skills service could help your business?

Find out more and apply for funding by visiting: www.the-lep.com/skillsservice or contact one of our experienced skills advisors: skills@the-lep.com or 0113 386 1910.

LC GEORGIA CARTER HEADS FOR HONG KONG! Georgia Carter, a Leading Cadet with Wakefield Sea Cadets has successfully applied for a place on Sea Cadets’ prestigious international exchange programme and has been awarded a place on the Hong Kong adventure this summer.

LC Carter is working hard to raise the £1000 necessary to fund her place; arranging raffles, cake sales and a number of other fundraising events, but still has a fair way to go.

The international exchange programme received over 300 applications for places on its exchanges in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Sweden and the USA, with only 45 places available. Alongside the UK cadets, cadets from the other members of the International Sea Cadet Organisations will be in attendance in each of the host countries.

The programme enables cadets to learn about new cultures and participate in a variety of activities whilst discovering friends, fun and adventure in a completely new country and environment.

LC Carter, 17, joined Wakefield Sea Cadets as a Junior Cadet at the age of 10 and has been a strong performer ever since, gaining advanced qualifications in Marine Engineering, Cook Steward and Seamanship along with her rowing, sailing and power boating qualifications. In addition, she has completed her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and

is well underway towards completing her Gold award, and has recently commenced BTEC qualifications at the unit.

Alongside her personal development, she is a regular attender at unit fundraising events and community projects. She also takes the time to assist with the instruction of Junior Cadets, sharing her experiences and passion for the Cadet experience, and encouraging her two sisters to join the Wakefield unit.

Being one of the first sea cadets from Wakefield to be offered a place on the international exchange programme, this provides Georgia with an excellent platform to promote opportunity to cadets across the West Yorkshire District. The experiences on offer are unrivalled, providing a strong perspective and level of independence.

If anyone is able to provide assistance with her efforts to raise money for Georgia, please contact Wakefield Sea Cadets, Thornes Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 5QW. Tel – 01924 372519, E – wakefieldseacadets@btconnect.com

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Wakefield Edition June 2015 53

•• Motoring

TT SECURES BEST SPORTSCAR ACCOLADE IN DIESEL CAR AWARDS

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ports car desirability and agility with far fewer visits to the filling station – this is the winning formula that has just secured the frugal Audi TT TDI ultra the ‘Best Sportscar’ accolade in the 2015 Diesel Car Magazine Awards.

Diesel Car Editor and Publisher, Ian Robertson said: “Despite evolving over the years, the shape of the Audi TT remains as one of the most instantly recognisable cars on the road, as well as being highly desirable.

TT and A3 Product Manager Julie Salsbury said: “The new TDI ultra model – encapsulates this sportscar DNA with the added advantage of remarkable efficiency, and it’s tremendously encouraging to have these attributes recognised by the go-to publication on diesel cars.”

Lowest BIK in the TT range In the ultra-version of the TT, the impressive 184PS output from the

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2.0-litre TDI engine is bolstered by peak torque of 380Nm available between 1,750 – 3,250rpm. Acceleration to 62mph is dealt with in 7.1 seconds on the way to a maximum speed of 149mph. The potential for over 62mpg comes with a benefit in kind (BIK) threshold of just 21 per cent – the lowest in the TT range – and a VED rating in band C (free for the first year and only £30 thereafter).

“This is a fabulous car, Audi Wakefield’s Joe Wilson told TopicUK and we are all very proud that it was the category winner. If anyone is interested in booking a test drive, pop in and see us at our Calder Park showrooms, you won’t be disappointed!”All in all, for the majority of motorists, fleet managers and business owners, the hot topic when considering vehicle purchases is cost of ownership. We have no real control when it comes around to the Budget.

My recommendation when considering a new car would be to clearly access your needs and requirements, do your

research, look at the Whole Life Costs when narrowing down your shortlist and make a decision based on what’s right for you or your business.

For more information please contact Joe Wilson at Wakefield Audi on 01924 241 400

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•• Commercial

Property

DON’T IGNORE THE TOPIC OF REPAIRS

I was speaking with a property owner recently and like many, he was considering his options for the upper floors of his City Centre retail units.

Many owners and tenants find this space of little commercial benefit and costly to maintain and even when it can be occupied as offices, without ancillary ground floor space or lift access, occupiers are looking elsewhere, particularly when out of town space comes often with inclusive car parking and city centre parking is relatively expensive. The result of these and a number of other factors have led to much of this space standing empty.

So what is the answer?

The government seems to be of the view that residential conversion is the way to go and changes in planning legislation in 2012 mean that you can now convert upper floors above certain retail units into a maximum of 2 flats without the need for planning consent, however, notwithstanding these changes, and in certain areas, the offer of some financial assistance, the conversion rate is still low.

The issue, I suspect, is two-fold, firstly, conversion costs are high when considered against the resultant value of the completed flat and secondly residential property management is more hands on and tenancies short term. But attitudes are beginning to change as owners begin to see long term vacant commercial space as a liability as opposed to an asset the advantages of conversion are starting to outweigh the risks, and, when coupled with a national shortage of affordable housing, be prepared to see more and more of such conversions and hopefully an increase in City Centre residents and more importantly shoppers.

Jonathan Kidd 56

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

•• Education

PUNCH THE AIR MOMENTS! Darryl Wideman is the headmaster of Silcoates School in Wrenthorpe, Wakefield, a co-educational independent day school for 670 pupils aged from 3 to 18 years. Darryl will report each edition on educational issues.

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henever I meet with students who are about to sit their GCSE or A Level exams, I talk to them about creating ‘punch the air moments’ when they get their results – i.e. celebrating achievements that at least match their abilities, and preferably go beyond their expectations. It has been very gratifying over the last seven years to have witnessed so many such moments on results days at Silcoates.

As Big Ben struck ten o’clock on Thursday 7th May and David Dimbleby announced that the exit poll was predicting a win for David Cameron, I confess there was a ‘punch the air moment’ in my living room. As the night wore on and it became clear that a majority was possible, there were several more.

This column is not the place to air my political views. For what it’s worth, I have

probably voted for all the major parties in various general and local elections over the years, and I am by no means convinced our new government has all the qualities needed for the challenges ahead.

My positive reaction was not to a political party, but in response to the impact the news will have on the business I run.

It is quite a challenge for a head teacher to convince people, whether it is the staff who work in a school or the parents who are customers, especially in the independent sector, that a school is first and foremost a business. Of course, it’s not a factory that makes widgets or a call centre for those seeking a deal on insurance. Instead, it is a people business where our primary objective is to get the very best out of everyone – both the children and the grown-ups.

But the books still need to balance.

The reason I was punching the air was

therefore because the election result was decisive. Like stock markets, parents who invest in their children’s futures by choosing private education need confidence and certainty about foreseeable economic improvement. If they are going to commit to several years of paying fees, they need to know their jobs will be secure and they will be better off for the rest of the decade and beyond.

Any other result on 7th May would surely have jeopardised such an outcome.

It’s hard to see how the economy will do anything other than improve in the next few years. If, and it’s a very big ‘if’, Mr Cameron can thread his way through the minefields of Scotland and Europe, then we are probably looking at many more years of Conservative government ahead. Regardless of my personal views, I can only conclude that this has to be good for my business, and it was therefore well worth punching the air!

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CALLING BARBERS, BAKERS & MODEL MAKERS The Old Library on Drury Lane is preparing to reopen as part of The Art House, following a £3m restoration project and transformation into creative studios, but space is not just for traditional artists, according to the arts organisation.

The Art House is now looking for fixers, growers and makers of things to join in.

Stuart Tulloch, Artistic Director of The Art House explains: “The building will be home to a number of artists who make things that are commonly thought of as art, design and craft. We want to challenge preconceived ideas of what art and creativity is and its value to society, and create a place for people from a wide variety of backgrounds with a broad range of interests and occupations - artisans, designers, engineers, inventors and makers of all kinds. As well as being for those already pursuing their ambitions, we want to hear from people who fancy room to turn their spare-hour interest into something serious.”

Stuart continues: “The Art House was born from a vision to provide a fully accessible building without physical barriers to anyone wishing to pursue a career in the arts. I want to fulfil this ambition by making it a place for people from diverse backgrounds and interests to share.”

considers what they do to be creative.”

Printmaker and textile artist Laura Slater who has had a studio in The Art House since it opened in 2008, and will be taking on an additional studio in The Old Library said today: “The new studios really appealed to me because they will give me the chance to be in and amongst a diverse creative community – a place that will challenge conventional ideas of craftsmanship and making. I like the idea that there may be opportunities to work collaboratively with people I wouldn’t usually get to mix with in more conventional studio settings.”

Rob Dee of independent record label, Philophobia Music, added “It’s really vital for us to be in and amongst like-minded people.

The studios in The Old Library will be a place for us to draw inspiration from other creative people. I’m excited to be moving the label from my living room (where we’ve outgrown) and into a space we can really grow.”

The first intake of tenants have just moved into studios, with traditional craft makers, artists, photographers and film makers taking up studios alongside a freelance writer, a costume designer and a record label.

The conversion of The Old Library has been supported by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Arts Council England and the European Regional Development Fund.

The Art House are now inviting people to propose how they could join the community and add further to the occupations and interests of those basing themselves in The Old Library. Stuart adds “I’m open to conversations with anyone who

Those interested in renting studio space at The Art House should visit its website www. the-arthouse.org.uk for further information and download an application form.

Alternatively email info@the-arthouse.org. uk or contact the team on 01924 312000.

Stuart swaps the Bright Lights, for Wakefield’s new shining star With the imminent opening of the Old Library at the Art House, we caught up with new Chief Executive Stuart Tulloch.

Originally from Blackpool, Stuart studied fine art at Newcastle University for four years, the last year of which he helped with the running of the university art gallery, which went on to be saved when threatened with closure by novelist Catherine Cookson.

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Copyright Nick Singleton

On leaving university Stuart went to work at the Haywood Gallery in London where he stayed for 4 years. “It was a real learning curve and I had the opportunity to work with some amazing artists. However, I felt I had hit a glass ceiling so when I was offered a position at The Grundy Art Gallery, I returned home to Blackpool. Friends thought I was mad to leave London,” he laughed, “but in the 9 years I worked there, I met some amazing people from across the world.”

A period followed at the Icon Gallery in Birmingham, before once again Stuart was lured back North, this time to Wakefield.

•• Recruitment

Printmaker and textile artist Laura Slater & Rob Dee Philophobia Music

IS IT TIME TO FIND A NEW JOB? Andy Turner-First Choice Recruitment

I mentioned in one of my previous articles that industry ‘experts’ believe this year up to 37% of people will be thinking about a new job. Although I believe this percentage is on the high side, there has certainly been more movement in the six months so far this year than in years previously. So when should you start looking for a new job?

When is the right time?

at the little quirks of the workplace you might have shrugged off in better times, you need to take these feelings seriously. While it’s natural to be irritated by that guy three desks away who seems to spend the better part of every afternoon loudly crunching on baby carrots, if you’re spending most of your working hours in a state of mounting annoyance, there’s clearly a bigger issue.

•

Sometimes, it’s an easy decision to make (your boss is rude, you have to catch three buses each way, the company is downsizing, you’re relocating to another city), but frequently the choice isn’t clear-cut. There are, however, some tell tale signs to look for when trying to make up your mind. If any of the following circumstances apply to you, it may well be time to start working on a new round of cover letters and prepping yourself for a job search.

Here are some of the key signs: •

Your friends and family are sick of listening to you moaning about your job.

It might be noble to suffer in silence, but most of us aren’t cut out for stoicism.

“It is a fabulous city and the Art House and Old Library is amazing,” he added, “I am really looking forward to the challenge.

It’s a place where you start with people and build art around it. Wakefield has a wonderful industrial past and we want to bring back the days of engaging with people and capturing their imagination,” he concluded.

If your nearest and dearest have started dodging your calls and emails because you won’t shut up about your job and they’re all one more complaint away from cutting you off, take heed. Not only are you alienating those around you with your bellyaching, your unhappiness is evident to anyone dumb enough to innocently ask you, “How’s work?” If you don’t have anything nice to say about your current position, it’s a sign you should start looking for a new one.

•

Every little thing irritates you.

Your colleagues laugh too loud, they ‘get on your nerves’ just talking about last night’s television, your coffee is never hot enough, the lift takes too long. Every single meeting leaves you wanting to flip over the table. If you find yourself both listing and getting unreasonably annoyed

You can’t think of any change in circumstances that would re-ignite your passion.

Imagine getting a £10,000 pay increase, imagine being promoted to a nicer office, imagine your boss being replaced by a giant panda. If none of these things bring a smile to your face or the possibility of more money, more power or a cuddly new superior doesn’t move the needle on your feelings of dissatisfaction, it’s time to think seriously about looking for greener pastures. When the spark is dead, it’s dead. If you can’t envisage a single scenario in which you’d feel renewed enthusiasm about your job, you’ve already mentally checked out.

There are times when you’ll want to start looking for new work, even if you enjoy your current one. One of those times is when you start to notice that other employees are heading for the exit. A certain degree of turnover is normal, but if your company is hemorrhaging talent or can’t hold on to the new talent it does land, that’s a big red flag that there are organizational issues surfacing or about to surface. The fact that half the sales team has left in the last three months might not directly affect your role right now, but a smart employee will take talent flight as a sign of greater instability and will start exploring what else might be out there. When turnover starts to become a trend, it’s time to begin polishing that CV. There’s lots to be said for loyalty, thankfully at First Choice we’re blessed by the longevity of most of our employees, but sometimes ‘the writing is on the wall’ so read it and contact your local recruitment agency, we’re here to help!

Wakefield Edition June 2015 61

Wining & Dining

BLACK PUDDING HASH BROWN WITH POACHED EGG AND ENGLISH MUSTARD VELOUTE Welcome to our fifth wining and dining feature, where TopicUK have teamed up with the Iris Restaurant and Sainsburys Trinity walk to bring you a recipe and wine review.

This issue we bring you a delicious starter using the finest locally sourced ingredients to create this elegant dish. As usual we have asked a member of the business community to make the dish and report back telling us what they thought. Munir Mamujee from m2r has kindly agreed to take part and will also sample the two bottles of wine,

kindly donated by Sainsburys to accompany the meal. These are a Petit Chablis Bourgogne - Yonne from France, crisp and rounded with a good balance of acidity and Pinot Noir Gran Reserva from Chile, well structured with velvety smooth tannins.

If you would like to feature drop us a line at editor@topicuk.co.uk

*Prices correct at the time of going to press. Adults over 18 years should drink responsibly

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WHAT YOU WILL NEED...

HASH BROWN • 4 large baking potatoes • 200g allums black pudding Bake the potatoes in an over on gas mark 6 for 2030 minutes until al dente (but not soft like a jacket potato) Cool the potatoes for 20 minutes and peel off the skin with a small paring knife, now grate the potato on the large side of a grater. Season with salt and pepper.

Using a deep 2 inch ring press the potato into the mould leaving a hollow middle for your black pudding. Add 50g of the black pudding and add more potato to form a lid and press down to release from the mould.

Chill until needed ENGLISH MUSTARD SAUCE • 2 shallots • 150ml white wine • 400ml double cream • 1 sprig thyme • 1 teaspoon English mustard Finely slice the shallots and swaet them down slowly in a pan with the thyme. Add the white wine and reduce by half then add the cream. Bring to the boil then transfer to a blender and puree until smooth then add the English mustard.

POACHED EGGS In a deep pan of water put in 3 table spoons on white wine vinegar. Put the pan on the heat and wait for the tiny little bubbles to appear (there should be lots of them) crack in the eggs and turn down the heat and cook for 5 minutes. (you can always make the poached eggs, put them in cold water and reheat them later when you are ready to serve TO SERVE Deep fry the hash brown until golden. Spoon the sauce onto the plate and add the hash brown, place the egg onto and garnish with salad, enjoy!

our last issue, Liam Duffy, owner and chef at the Iris Restaurant in MADE IN FRANCE For Wakefield challenged one of our readers to make a beautiful Vanilla Creme Brulee, just one of the desserts he serves in his restaurant. impossible to source Yorkshire Rhubarb in Paris so I had to make substitutions of berries, cooking these in the same way as the Rhubarb with the Grenadine and lemon juice.

“The Brulee was relatively simple as I have made this before, slightly different recipe here in France as we use Creme Fresh, but the outcome is just the same.

Now thinking about this classic French dessert we thought, who better to make this than our very own TopicUK British art director Rob Blackwell who is based in France.

Now Rob just loves cooking and baking in particular, so this dish should prove not to be a problem.

“Now I have to point out that it is

“Another substitution was the blood oranges, again these were difficult to source.

“Fruit and Brulee done just left me with the task of decorating. As I don’t have a blow torch, I used Liam’s tip of making the caramel and sprinkling on the top before grilling, quite a good tip! “As I had used rather a lot of creme fresh in the brulee and the dessert was going to

be sampled by two young children, I decided to add homemade vanilla ice cream to serve instead, topped off with some of the left over fruit!

The verdict? “Well as the kids don’t normally eat things like this (being too rich) the cleaned plates spoke for themselves!”

Now I have just one complaint! As I am in France, it was impossible (so I was told) to send me the two bottles of dessert wines supplied by Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk. I had a promise that I could collect these next time I am in the UK, but the TopicUK editor tells me that one of them was delicious and a perfect accompaniment to the Rhubarb compote served at a recent dinner party, so maybe I might have the chance to sample the other bottle (which I am assured has been saved for me) on my next visit to the UK!

Wakefield Edition June 2015 63

The Chamber Big Interview

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

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

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

“I was just a lackey as there were more experienced sales advisors there who had been in the industry for years, but I was delighted to be there and have a brain like a sponge, so I learned quickly. In the four years I worked there, I worked hard and rose through various positions eventually becoming store manager and senior sales advisor, breaking lots of sales records. I also learned a valuable lesson about people. The manager used to judge whether someone would buy from their appearance but on one occasion 64

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

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

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

After meeting and marrying his wife Julie, the couple moved to Northowram at a time when James was feeling the pinch!

“I had spent everything I had earned, was in negative equity with my property and had no savings, but a visit to my local pub was the start of networking and the start of Yorkshire Payments.”

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

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

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

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

“We are licensed directly with Visa and Mastercard and compete with the likes of HSBC and Barclays as well as a number of other independents based in London. “We can’t compete with them in terms of marketing budgets.

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

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

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

FACT FILE:



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



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



Best thing about the job?

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



Worst thing about the job?

Paperwork and industry politics



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

Phone: 01422 323785 Email: info@yorkshirepayments.com Web: www.yorkshirepayments.comand Wakefield Edition June 2015 65

MUSIC CORNER WITH UNITY WORKS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subway received all our visitors’ custom.

That is a shame because we bring so many new people to the city. Unity Works does the same thing. It’s a little sad perhaps, but I love looking through all the postcode data we collect and see where people have visited from. I feel confident that once they journey here, their opinion of the place is changed forever.

Getting them to make that first journey is the absolute trick I’ve been trying to master for ten years and it’s something that becomes easier if we work together.

The change in Wakefield since 2011 has been considerable, not least for the music venues that have appeared but also for this growing air of joint partnership.

I’m proud of Long Division’s record of bringing around 450 bands and 7500 people to the city, using 25 venues and generating around £150,000 for the city economy. That’s not ticket sales and the money we make, but secondary spend in the city with other businesses.

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

There are interesting times ahead for Long Division, but even more so for Wakefield.

Photo credits : John Jowett

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