CloseUP Wakefield edition May2018 by Yorkshire BusinessWoman & TopicUK

MAY 2018

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MID YORKSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-WAKEFIELD AND DISTRICT EDITION

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOPICUK

FOR BUSINESS

kirklees biggest conference EATON SMITH PRESENTS THE LATEST WINNERS

Business of the Month

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WELCOME Welcome to the May edition of Close Up for Business, from all here at the Chamber and our magazine associates, TopicUK.

I am delighted to welcome two new directors to our board. Jason McCartney, Head of Public Affairs at the University of Huddersfield, and Stefanie Hopkins, Founder and Managing Director of Faith PR, join the team bringing valuable communications experience. Their appointments strengthen the Board of Directors and help to steer and guide the Chamber as we aim to continue to deliver quality services that connect, support and represent our members across our region. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has recently launched its campaign for ‘No More Not Spots’, with the aim of ending ‘not spots’ for voice coverage where UK phone users live, work, travel and play. The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce fully supports this campaign; we are therefore urging all businesses to share and report your mobile not spots via www.

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mycci.co.uk. So that together we can take action to improve coverage for the future. Time is also running out to get your entry in for the Chamber Business Awards 2018. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Friday 29th June. This year’s winner of the Business of the Year award will have the chance to open the market at the London Stock Exchange, a rare opportunity for any business.

the course of the day. We are now preparing for our Wakefield Conference, which will take place in October as part of Wakefield Business Week. We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Close Up. Martin Hathaway Managing Director Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Finally, I am pleased to confirm that over 550 people attended Kirklees Business Conference which took place on Wednesday 21st March at The John Smith’s Stadium. We have received some fantastic feedback and I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this event a success, our sponsors, partners, exhibitors and speakers, and all the delegates who attended during

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Contact Us Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce The John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PG County Hall, Bond Street, Wakefield, WF1 2QW Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, Halifax, HX1 5ER Managing Director Martin Hathaway

Dav Owens the spirit of Wakefield

Was the Wicked Witch really wicked

Marketing Manager Rebecca Walker Membership Coordinator Rachel McDerby 01924 311605 Event and Sponsorship Coordinator Rory Bourke

FOR ADVERTISING SALES

TEL: 07711 Printed By: Charlesworth Press Wakefield

Cover: Dave Owens Image: Mark Newton Photography

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Direct Mail appoint Apprentice

18 years of business VII Celebrating

Contents &Comments DE TA I LS O F THI S M O NTH‘S CLO SE UP FO R B USI NE S S T HE MAG A ZINE FO R THE M I D YO RKSHI RE CHA M B E R O F CO M M E RCE

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W a k e f Wakeﬁ i e l d eld & & D District i s t ric t

Editor’s Notes by Gill Laidler

Welcome to the latest edition of TopicUK Wakeﬁeld and district.

For a full list of where you can pick up your free copy visit our website: www.topicuk.co.uk

This edition we have two lots of exciting news to share with our readers. Firstly, TopicUK is changing and from the next edition due to publish at the end of June, you will see an increase in pagination and news will be spread over a much wider geographical area, as we cover the whole of Yorkshire, amalgamating our three current editions and taking in additional news from Bradford, Harrogate and further afield for the first time. For our readers this means we can bring you business news from a much wider area and it’s excellent news for our partners, as they will reach a much wider audience to showcase their products and services at no extra cost to them. For any new partners considering joining us going forward, our current partnership rates will increase to reflect this larger, more widespread edition from 20th May, but if you’re quick and talk to us about the possibility of becoming a partner before then, you too can take advantage of this reduced offer. If we can help promote your business right across Yorkshire, do give me a ring on 07711 539047. Our second piece of news is the launch of our new publication Urban Market, also available from the end of June. This new newspaper is unique in that it will cover news and features about local food, drink, health, nutrition, gardening etc. Buying local produce should be our priority when it comes to food and drink, not only does this help our planet and help our local producers, the food we eat is fresher and possibly much tastier. We will be talking about how food is produced or grown by local businesses, visiting micro breweries and distilleries, bringing updates to you about new drinks on the market and let’s face it, we are spoilt for choice these days with Yorkshire having more than its fare share of fabulous drinks and food suppliers, offering

For Advertising Sales advice from experts on nutrition, diet and exercise and asking fruit and vegetable growers advice on what we can all grow at home, whether we have a large garden or a small patio. If you want to get involved please do give me a ring, this is a real community project and we want your views. We are planning a launch party for this new newspaper, so keep an eye on your mailbox for your invitation, or if you would like to be added to the guest list, let us know. We have an incredibly busy month ahead of us. As partners, we will be attending the second Business Catalyst Club lunch which launched a few weeks ago. This is an invitation only networking event with a real diﬀerence and if the inaugural lunch was anything to go by, the venue will once again be full and more importantly, by key decision makers. To ﬁnd out more, head over to our website www.topicuk.co.uk. We will be attending the Sue Ryder Women of Achievement Awards at the Royal Armouries on 18 May, where a whole host of women from our region will be celebrated. It’s then onto two events celebrating children and young people, where TopicUK are proud to be partners. These are the launch of Children of Courage Awards and Yorkshire Young Achievers launch parties.

Tel: 07711 539047

The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those held by the publishers and therefore, no responsibility can be held by the publisher for misinterpretation. Reproduction of this magazine without the express permission of the publisher is prohibited. Whilst every care is taken in the production of this magazine, the publisher/editor and staﬀ cannot accept any responsibility for errors in articles, advertisements or programme schedules. To subscribe to this magazine contact 07711 539047 or email editor@topicuk. co.uk. Published by Ghost Publishing Limited, Paragon Point, Paragon Business Village, Red Hall Crescent, Wakeﬁeld WF1 2DF. Law pages are written by Ramsdens Solicitors LLP and TopicUK is not responsible for any advice given.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue and for all the business updates until our next edition, check out our website at www.topicuk.co.uk.

Gill

Printed By: Charlesworth Press Wakeﬁeld MAY 2018

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Ramsdens acquires York law firm Ramsdens Solicitors has acquired Burn & Co Solicitors in York, effective 23 March 2018 and has a plan for further growth to meet the increased demand for its services, particularly in North Yorkshire. The deal makes Ramsdens one of the largest full practice law firms in Yorkshire. Paul Joyce, Managing Partner said: “We are delighted with this latest acquisition which strengthens our offering in the North Yorkshire legal market. Burn & Co is a long-standing, highly respected firm with two offices in York and Easingwold. This acquisition is part of Ramsdens’ ongoing strategic growth plan and gives us the additional geographic coverage we’ve been looking to achieve as part of our plan.

“Like Ramsdens, the firm has a reputation for providing straight forward, results-driven advice and this deal will benefit both clients and staff. Together, we will work to ensure that the firm continues to achieve excellent financial performance and deliver strong growth.” Claire Rutter, MD of Burn & Co commented: “The whole team are delighted to be joining forces with Ramsdens. We are looking forward to continuing working with our valued clients in North Yorkshire whilst benefitting from the support and expertise of a much larger network.”

David Bradley, Chairman at Ramsdens, added: “This is a good match for us with culture and values very closely aligned and the complement of Burn & Co staﬀ boosting expertise across departments will see Ramsdens continue to grow

July will see the launch of Urban Market This new newspaper is unique in that it will cover news and features about local food, drink, health, nutrition, gardening etc. Buying local produce should be our priority when it comes to food and drink, not only does this help our planet and help our local producers, the food we eat is fresher and possibly much tastier. We will be talking about how food is

produced or grown by local businesses and indeed amateurs, visiting micro breweries and distilleries sampling and recommending the many popular Gins and craft beers that have appeared in the last couple of years

from strength to strength.” The deal immediately increases headcount at Ramsdens to 266 and the number of oﬃces to 14 across Yorkshire oﬀering businesses across the region access to a wider range of expertise, experience and a more comprehensive service.

and growing in popularity and let’s face it, we are spoilt for choice these days with Yorkshire having more than its fare share of fabulous drinks and food suppliers, oﬀering advice from experts on nutrition, diet and exercise and asking fruit and vegetable growers advice on what we can all grow at home, whether we have a large garden or a small patio. If you want to get involved please do give me a ring, this is a real community project and we want your views.

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The Trustees of The Hepworth have appointed internationally acclaimed design critic, Alice Rawsthorn OBE as the new Chair of the Board.

Pictured L-R: Steven Singh, Mark Burn, Claire Trueman, Claire Rutter, Richard Dean and Graeme Burn

Alice will take up the role in May when the gallery’s ﬁrst Chair, David Liddiment steps down after a seven year term.

currently chairs the boards of trustees of Chisenhale Gallery and the contemporary dance group Michael Clark Company.

David said: “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to announce Alice as its new Chair. Alice has a wealth of experience and knowledge both as a Chair and Trustee of arts organisations that will be hugely beneﬁcial to realising the gallery’s ambitious plans in the coming years.”

Born in Manchester, Alice graduated in art history from the University of Cambridge. Awarded an OBE for services to design and the arts, she is an honorary senior fellow of the Royal College of Art and has an honorary doctorate from the University of the Arts.

On her appointment Alice commented: “As a proud northerner, who is passionate about the arts I am thrilled to be taking on this role. The gallery has achieved so much in such a short time, and I am delighted by the prospect of being able to contribute to its future development and growth.” Alice has broad experience in arts governance, working for seven years as a trustee of Arts Council England, and serving on the board of the Whitechapel Gallery for over 20 years. She

As a Financial Times journalist for 18 years, Alice pioneered its coverage of the creative industries and worked as a foreign correspondent in Paris. For the last 12 years, she has written about design for the New York Times, which syndicated her weekly column worldwide.

ESTD

Alice Rawsthorn (C) Michael Leckie

The Hepworth announces new Chair of the Board

The author of a number of successful books on design, Alice is an inﬂuential public speaker at important global events including TED and the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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MARKET

To learn more Tel: 07711 539047

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Barclays celebrates Yorkshire women in business

Barclays is looking for the region’s top female business talent as it launches their fourth Celebrating Women in Business Awards. The awards will recognise women and businesses that have made an outstanding contribution to business in the Yorkshire and Humber region and to coincide with International Women’s Day, was oﬃcially launched on Thursday 8th March at a networking event at Dakota Hotel, Russell Street, Leeds. Award categories include:

Last year’s winners L-R

• Woman of the Year SME Business (up to £20million turnover) • Woman of the Year Medium Business (turnover over £20million - £40million) • Woman of the Year Large Business (turnover over £40million) • Rising Star (Under 35 years of age) • Woman of the year (Professional or Not for Proﬁt) • Most Supportive Business or individual Promoting Diversity and Citizenship (Company Award)

Alex Pryce, Barclays, Shirin Kemp, Pace Communications, Belinda Williams, The Yorkshire Provender, Caroline Harrison, Aspire-igen, Suzanne Robinson, Ernest and Young, Linda Clarke, MKM Business Supplies, Mandy Atkinson, Hesco Bastion and Debbie Mullen, Barclays

Debbie Mullen, Head of Corporate Bank for Barclays in Yorkshire said: “Women from all sectors across Yorkshire are securing key roles in larger companies and we want to

recognise exceptional achievements for the contribution they are making. We are seeking entries from women at director level in any sector or industry and this is a fantastic opportunity to bring together business ladies from across the region to share knowledge and ideas, helping to grow the Yorkshire economy.” Previous award winner, Linda Clarke, Marketing and Digital Director at MKM Building Supplies, will be speaking at the event and oﬀering her unique take on what it takes for a woman to succeed in Yorkshire business. The awards ceremony will take place at an exclusive awards lunch later in the year. Please contact sophie.gryntus@barclays.com for more information of how to enter the awards.

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Premium bespoke doormaker Deuren has opened its new on-site showroom, in readiness for further growth and the unveiling of its latest product lines. Since bringing its manufacturing operations in-house in 2014, the company has crafted more than 7,000 doors, with the new showroom opening marking the latest signiﬁcant phase in the company’s in-house expansion. Spanning 2,000 sq ft, the display space will showcase 26 products from Deuren’s luxury internal, external and garage door ranges – including new additions that are set to launch this month.

Luxury manufacturer opens door to bespoke showroom

manufacturing. And this new space definitely achieves that. As well as highlighting the material, Before, it was only at exhibitions configuration, hardware, finish that customers could really test and security options on offer, the our doors, but now they can visit showroom will enable customers our site and truly get a feel for our to interact with the doors and products and the craftsmanship test the different mechanisms that goes into them.” available. Its adjacency to the fully Alongside the launch of its operational on-site workshop also means that visitors will be able to witness Deuren’s craftsmanship in action.

new showroom, Deuren has also enlisted the expertise of neighbouring digital marketing agency The Bigger Boat to overhaul its website. Elaborating on the website overhaul, The Bigger Boat’s creative director Doug Main commented:

“The main objective was to put more focus on the design of the doors themselves, in order to increase visual impact online. Alongside the new showroom, the website is another key avenue for prospective customers to see the quality and luxury of Deuren’s products.”

Regional Manager appointed

Commenting on the new showroom, founder and managing director of Deuren, Ian Chubb, said: “With our customer base expanding both nationally and internationally – especially in the US and Channel Islands – the need for a dedicated display space for our doors couldn’t be ignored for much longer. “We wanted a showroom that would demonstrate the potential that exists when it comes to bespoke design and

Building and civil engineering business, Britcon, has appointed Heath Williamson as Regional Manager at its base in Wakeﬁeld. The appointment follows strong performance from the Yorkshire team which has doubled in size to 12 members in the last 12 months. Heath, who is a Chartered Construction Manager, brings particular expertise in heavy engineering with over 27 years’

experience working in senior management roles for a number of leading regional and national building and civil engineering operators. He was most recently responsible for overseeing preconstruction activities for a £65 million biomass import terminal for Lynemouth Power Limited, at the Port of Tyne. Paul Clarkson, Managing Director at Britcon said, “We are delighted to bring Heath

on board to lead the team at Wakeﬁeld. A substantial amount of our business is now managed from this oﬃce and Heath has the depth of expertise in procurement and management to lead our growth strategy.

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Winning week for TopicUK partners Production Park Wakeﬁeld based Production Park consolidated its reputation as a world class centre for live events production collecting three leading industry awards in just one week.

twelve-week deadline,” said Project Director at Production Park, Toby Van-Hay. “Being recognised by TPi was fantastic because we were up against another Production Park company, Perry Scenic Creative as well as leading stage set manufacturers from around the globe.” Other Production Park companies shortlisted at the TPis were LS-Live and Cato Music for Best Rehearsal Facility, Brilliant was also shortlisted for Favourite Staging Company. Brilliant’s second award was a creative masterpiece designed digitally by Shannon Harvey, Technical Director at Production Park. He digitally developed an 80metre LED global building which stood 100m high and formed the centre piece of the EXPO. “It was like working with strings of DNA wrapped around a twisted baseball, which we mapped digitally and then created a workﬂow so that the builders could piece it together without us going on site. It was rewarding being able to create something so complex and communicate how it should be pieced together remotely,” said a proud Shannon.

Pictured from L-R: Shannon Harvey, Ben Brooks and Lee Brooks.

Brilliant was named the Favourite Set Construction Company at the Total Production Industry (TPi) awards with its multi-level design for German singer, Helene Fischer. The following day, Brilliant, working with VML Technologies, was awarded Best Use of Technology at an Event by Event Production Awards for a complex design for the EXPO 2017 in Astana. And two days later Production Park was named Collaboration Business of the year as recognition for its collective approach to design and development at the Yorkshire

Business Insider Made in Yorkshire Awards. Designed on ﬁve levels the Brilliant stage for Helene Fisher was one of the most ambitious the South Kirkby company has ever made because it was created on ﬁve levels and made more complex by the designer asking Brilliant to create a unique way of levitating the artist into the audience. The Brilliant team rose to the challenge in every respect by creating a huge clock arm like a cat walk that carried Helene Fischer into the midst of the audience showing the concept of time turning while elevating the performer from one level to the next. “Each level of the stage set was a mini project and we were really pushed by a tight

“There are probably only two or three companies in the world who can do this kind of thing so to be recognised by our industry peers is affirmation of our work here at Production Park,” he added. Picking up the Collaboration Award at the Yorkshire Business Insiders dinner at the Royal Armouries, Production Park Director, Ben Brookes said: “The creative businesses thrive at Production Park because of the collaborative hothouse we have created. Different businesses can share and challenge each other while helping one another through mutually beneficial introductions. It has helped many become world leaders in the live events creative industry.” Production Park has also been named one of Yorkshire’s 50 Fastest Growing Businesses on the Ward Hadaway annual list.

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Accommodating the company’s continued growth, Monaghan’s has relocated to the new unit following its complete redevelopment that was designed and facilitated by the MWA team.

the internal layout but in creating a truly modern and vibrant working environment. It’s now a Grade A facility that has created an inspiring and positive working environment.”

James McCann, General Manager at the Monaghan Group, commented: “When we made the decision to relocate to new premises we knew that we needed a building that would work harder for us and whilst the footprint of our new facility was substantial, it simply did not offer the office space that we needed to effectively manage our business divisions and present to customers.

The existing warehouse space has undergone a full mechanical and electrical fitout to allow Monaghan’s to streamline their existing warehouse operations and increase efficiencies. Parking and service yard facilities have seen a drastic improvement and now present an open and inviting area to the sales area and workspace.

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MWA remodel industrial unit for Monaghan John Monaghan Limited, suppliers of performance doorsets and architectural ironmongery to the construction industry, has officially unveiled its new premises thanks to Martin Walsh Architectural (MWA) who has remodelled its head office and warehouse at Milner Way, Ossett.

“MWA has helped us to achieve this. Not just by maximising our space, but also in their recommendations and subsequent work that has created an economically and environmentally sound home for our business.” The original 1040 sq m unit now includes a two-story mezzanine floor that has created an extra 350sq m; with the first floor accommodating the central distribution company, which services the group’s architectural division that specialise in architectural hardware and doorsets. The ground floor, which houses the John Monaghan Ltd sales team, features an open and light office space, and includes a multi-function room to facilitate customer displays and presentations. Martin Walsh, Managing Director comments: “Monaghan’s new home has been completely remodelled, not just in terms of

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Car website named in top 3 technology businesses An online car purchasing company has been listed in the top three fastest growing northern tech companies. The Car Buying Group, based in Wakeﬁeld and Bradford, has been listed as the third fastest growing technology business in the North of England in the Northern Tech 100 League Table. The prestigious list is compiled annually by GP Bullhound.

e-commerce business in the Northern Tech 100 League Table.

The Car Buying Group demonstrated impressive revenue growth throughout 2017 to achieve the thirdplace position.

The Northern Tech 100 League Table has been compiled annually since forming in 2011 and is part of the events portfolio of GP Bullhound, the leading international technology investment bank.

This position also places The Car Buying Group as the second highest placed

Trinity Walk princesses world record

This year’s success builds on that of last year, when The Car Buying Group claimed the title of the north’s fastest growing technology business in 2017.

Once a year The Northern Tech 100 League table

The Ridings Cuppa Club

Flying the Wakefield flag at Shopping Centre Oscars

is created as part of the Northern Tech Awards to recognise the fastest growing technology companies in the north and celebrate the region’s biggest technology success stories. Wakefield’s Trinity Walk and The Ridings have beaten off stiff national competition to make the shortlist in the ‘Best Cause-related Event’ category at the high profile retail Oscars - The Purple Apple Awards. The two centres have made the finals for their own events, but teamed up last year to support the ultimately successful campaign to create a Business Improvement District (BID) in Wakefield

The Awards provide a unique way of celebrating the innovative technologies and businesses developed in the region, and recognise those who have contributed to their success. Established in 2014, The Car Buying Group provides a for the ﬁrst time. During the last years the two centres have joined forces to promote the wider city centre as well as their own schemes. The Ridings has been nominated for its Cuppa Club campaign, which aims to reduce loneliness through regular events hosted in partnership with AgeUK Wakeﬁeld District. Trinity Walk has been nominated for its Guinness

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Wa ke f i e l d Founder of The Car Buying Group, Tom Marley, commented: “We’re delighted to be named in the top three for the North’s fastest growing technology businesses and it is great to have our fantastic growth to date recognised once again on the Northern Tech 100 League Table. “Since we started the business we have demonstrated consistent revenue growth and continued to develop our leading valuation technology which is enabling us to deliver a hassle-free way to sell cars online. We look forward to further building on our success to date in what promises to be an exciting 2018 for The Car Buying Group.”

Tom Marley

fair, fast and hassle-free way to sell a car online. Requiring only a few basic pieces of vehicle information, a car’s valuation is provided instantly to the customer searching their website. The Car Buying Group offers a UK wide free vehicle collection service for maximum convenience. World Record attempt to create the largest gathering of people dressed as a princess to support West Yorkshire children’s hospice, Forget Me Not. Lucy Grice, Marketing Manager of Trinity Walk said: “This is a statement of intent for the city – two centres flying the flag for Wakefield at the biggest shopping centre awards in the UK. It’s fantastic news not just for us, but for the city. “We both want our centres to perform well, but ultimately what’s good for one is usually beneficial to the other. The real threats are from beyond our city’s

Vicki Shiel, Head of Content and Learning at Tech Nation said: “The Northern Tech 100 league table showcases the fastest growing tech companies in the North and the growth of some of these companies is testament to this exciting sector. For The Car Buying Group to go from taking the number one spot in 2017 to third in 2018 is an amazing achievement - to be in the top five out of 100 companies two years running is proof this company is growing at a remarkable rate.” borders and that’s why our events and overall shopping experience have to be first class.” Sara Hassan, Marketing manager of The Ridings, said: “We’re delighted that Cuppa Club has been shortlisted and it’s brilliant to see not one, but two Wakefield shopping centres representing the city. “For us, it’s been a campaign that’s hopefully made a real difference to a lot of people. It would be amazing if we could both come back with a win for Wakefield!” The awards will take place at The Brewery in central London on May 10.

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Stove supermarket selects digital marketing partner Stove Supermarket, ecommerce retailer specialising in wood burning and multi-fuel stoves, parts and accessories, have selected Fantastic Media as their digital marketing partner. Following an initial Insight workshop in early November, the Barnsley based ecommerce retailer will be working with the team at Fantastic Media on a rebranding of the business and implementation of a marketing proposition focusing heavily on digital marketing, particularly paid search. A full user-experience audit has already been completed across the site, with improvements set to roll out in February. Additional services provided by Fantastic Media include eCRM, social media and content marketing to compliment the digital PPC activity. Stove Supermarket is the online trading name of Pot House Stoves Ltd and boasts over 40 years of experience in the heating industry. Mark Turner, Managing Director

commented “We were very impressed with the proposal from Fantastic Media and wanted to get started with the improvements to the website straight away.” “We’re looking forward to building a solid relationship with Stove Supermarket and working with them to help their business grow from strength to strength,” commented Alisdair Straughan, Director of Communications at Fantastic Media. “Stove Supermarket are an exciting company who have demonstrated excellent growth in a short period of time and we are conﬁdent that the improvements to the user-experience on the website and the brand refresh will only continue to help develop the business into a recognisable and trustworthy brand in years to come.”

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RSK acquires Central Alliance Pre Construction Services Leading environmental and engineering services company RSK Group Ltd today announced that it has acquired Central Alliance Pre Construction Services Ltd “Central Alliance”, a pre-constructionservices company headquartered in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK. Central Alliance provides ground investigation, geo-construction, training, technology and survey services to the UK construction, defence, rail, utilities and transport sectors. Through its in-house experts and up-to-the minute technology such as satellite imagery, aerial drones and muon tomography, Central Alliance has been helping high-profile clients, including Highways England and Network Rail, to deliver major infrastructure projects. The company’s projects include the Transpennine East and West rail schemes; A1 road widening schemes; saturated ground analysis for the M1 motorway; ground investigation on the A47; mobile mapping of the Sheffield Innovation Corridor; 3D laser scanning of UK canal locks and of National Grid electrical substations; and utility surveys for Sainsbury’s supermarket car park projects nationwide. The acquisition of Central Alliance brings RSK’s headcount to over 2100 in

83 offices worldwide. The Central Alliance business will continue to operate under its existing brand. Richard Pidcock and Craig White will be the joint managing directors, and Jason Marbeck will join the board as the commercial director. Dr Alan Ryder, chief executive officer, RSK, said: “I am delighted that RSK has been able to acquire Central Alliance. It is a great business with great people and great clients. Our plan is to invest in the company and to help it grow. We welcome 80 staff at Central Alliance and look forward to supporting their clients on all manner of interesting projects.” Craig White, joint managing director of Central Alliance, said:“I am really excited about working with RSK and see great synergies between our companies in ground investigation and surveying. RSK is also a very professional organisation and we think Central Alliance will fit very well into the RSK group.”

Professionals wake up to safety with Hunter Hunter Safety opened its doors to local safety professionals for an information and networking session over breakfast. The company’s head oﬃce, Hunter House based in Glasshoughton, was the location of the event named ‘Wake Up to Safety’ which was an opportunity for directors, senior managers and safety professionals to share best practice and receive health and safety advice. The theme of the event was ‘Conscious Competence: The

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Ewe-nique collaboration brings two counties together A quintet of Yorkshire businesses are at the forefront of the UK’s textile manufacturing boom thanks to their unique collaboration with a Kent-based farm. Romney Marsh Wools is sending fleeces from its flock of 1000 ewes to Yorkshire’s famous textile mills to be turned into throws, cushions, caps and even toiletries. The fleeces are processed and woven using traditional methods in West Yorkshire to create a unique, beautiful product range.

role of the duty holder’, ensuring that each attendee was aware of their health and safety responsibilities and the implications in their individual workplaces around this. Katie Hunter, Managing Director said: “The event was a great success with attendees from a range of local companies, which made for a really interesting discussion. We hope they went away with some new information to help them in their roles and we’re looking forward to the other Wake Up to Safety events we have

planned later this year.” These will take place every quarter with a diﬀerent theme each time: mental health in the workplace will be the topic on Tuesday 5th June; the health aspects of safety will be considered on Wednesday 5th September; and the ﬁnal session on Tuesday 11th December will cover behavioural safety. The Hunter team are welcoming early bookings on these events, email info@ huntersafetysolutions. com or call 01977 878389 to secure your place now.

Romney Marsh Wools also has a selection of indulgent toiletries made in Bradford using Lanolin from the fleeces. In true Yorkshire fashion, the wider range includes hand-made flat caps produced in Castleford by Lawrence and Foster. The firm’s growth mirrors that seen in the UK textiles industry, which has reported a 25% increase in production in the past year. Kristina Boulden, director of Romney Marsh Wools said: “Wool is one of the few materials which is natural, renewable, sustainable and versatile. It has been our greatest pleasure to see the interest in British wool grow throughout our 10 years in business. “We marked our 10 year milestone and the expansion of our Yorkshire

connection by hiring a Northern representative who has already taken the brand to new stockists across the region.” Kristina adds: “We’ve had a longstanding association with Yorkshire and it seemed only fitting we develop our brand by showcasing the region’s skills which have been at the forefront of industry across centuries. Our range represents a growing collaboration between two of the UK’s largest counties and are truly born in Kent – made in Yorkshire.” The Yorkshire connection sees the raw wool fleeces traditionally cleaned by Haworth Scouring before being sent to Lightowlers Spinning Yarns in Meltham, Huddersfield. The wool is then sent a few miles over the hill to Townend Weaving in Slaithwaite. This year will also see new products for the Romney Marsh Wools range which include Lanolin lip balm, a special edition King Size throw and exciting gift options such as hot water bottles and knitting kits.

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Sweet music for Wakefield businesses Wakeﬁeld BID is urging local businesses to take pride in their city and make sweet music on the back of its three-day city centre festival Long Division.

and hosting both music and art at their Jolly Tap pub. Other central locations are also opening their doors and BIDmanager, Elizabeth Murphy said every business could capitalise. “Wakefield BID is sponsoring Long Division as part of our passion for promoting the city’s strengths, showcasing Wakefield at its best as a phenomenal centre for music and entertainment, and raising the city’s profile far and wide to attract more visitors, increasing footfall for local businesses,” she explained. “This is a golden opportunity for local businesses to work with the cultural sector while driving up their own income. I’d encourage more businesses to get involved through sponsorship such as offering performers food, drink or accommodation to raise their own profile alongside other key sponsors and attract fresh visitors to their location.” Two years ago Long Division delivered more than £100,000 in secondary spend and this year, with more than 100 performances taking place in 20+ venues, it is expected to be even bigger. A brand new attraction for the Sunday, thanks to the BID/ Long Division partnership, is a free performance in Wakefield Precinct by tribute act, the Magic of the Beatles.

Image: John Jowett

Set to attract thousands of extra people to Wakeﬁeld during the ﬁrst full weekend of June, tickets for the festival are selling faster than ever with more than 500 acts having applied to perform at a series of city centre venues. In tandem with the music festival,

Long Division has commissioned six Wakeﬁeld artists to create a new piece of art each to be premiered during the festival to elevate its cultural appeal to diverse genres. Some WF1 businesses have already pledged their backing with Jolly Boys Brewery creating a Long Division Ale

The BID is also supporting family friendly attractions such as Make Your Own Instrument, Painting and Tote bag printing workshops in the Elizabethan Gallery and Storytelling sessions for 0-5s and 6-11 year-olds in Brews, Bites and Books.

MAY 2018

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INSIDE Chamber News .......................I Chamber Policy......................IV Member News ..........................V Chamber Events ....................X Business of the Month ..........XII

Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commmerce

News www.mycci.co.uk

Over 550 Attend Kirklees’ Biggest Business Conference Business professionals from across the region gathered at The John Smith’s Stadium on Wednesday 21st March for the 2018 Kirklees Business Conference (KBC). The free one-day conference, organised by the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, gave delegates the chance to connect with over 50 exhibitors and learn from a number of fantastic speakers on the engaging seminar line-up. A discussion panel took place where expert panellists highlighted how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force from 25 May 2018, will aﬀect the way organisations hold and process personal information, and how businesses can best prepare for the changes. Delegates also had the opportunity to hear from keynote speaker Graham Leslie CBE, a self-made businessman who established Galpharm International in

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Huddersfield which rapidly grew to become the UK’s biggest supplier of non-prescriptive medicine. This year the event was sponsored by; AD:VENTURE, All My Systems, Wilby, Calder IT, Crowther Chartered Accountants, 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, Stafflex, RRG Group, MyUKVisas, and Juice Personnel. KBC was also supported by key partners; Kirklees College, Social Progress, John Steel Photography, The Design Mechanics, The John Smith’s Stadium, TopicUK, Merlin Tickets and Virtual Huddersfield. Rachael Thurlbeck, Business

Adviser at AD:VENTURE commented: “We were very proud to support the Kirklees Business Conference 2018 as headline sponsors. The planning, set up and interaction throughout the day was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the day. “There was a real buzz in the exhibition hall and we spoke to several great businesses not just from Kirklees but from further aﬁeld as well. It was great to see lots of networking, businesses connecting and educating via the seminars.” Rory Bourke, Events & Sponsorship Co-ordinator at the Mid Yorkshire Chamber said:

“We’re delighted with this year’s event; the feedback from both delegates and exhibitors has been excellent. “The business community in Kirklees is striving and we will continue to work to develop the reputation of the Kirklees Business Conference as a way of bringing together local businesses. I’d like to thank our fantastic sponsors and partners for supporting the event. With members continued collaboration we will be able to not only strengthen the Kirklees Business community, but also encourage businesses from further aﬁeld to choose Kirklees as a place to do business.”

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber News

Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce appoints two new directors to its board Jason McCartney, Head of Public Affairs at the University of Huddersfield, and Stefanie Hopkins, founder and managing director of Faith PR, will join the team to build on the Chamber’s work supporting businesses in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. After being the Member of Parliament for the Colne Valley between 2010 and 2017, Jason McCartney joined the University in October 2017. His current remit at the University is to strengthen its relationship with opinion formers and policy makers, with a particular focus on establishing the UK as a world leader in rail technology via the University’s Institute of Railway Research. Stefanie Hopkins is the founder of Brighouse-based award winning public relations agency, Faith PR. The agency, which last year celebrated its 10th anniversary, specialises in advising companies on PR strategy and delivering results-driven social, digital and traditional media content. Stefanie has over 15 years’ experience across a wide range of B2B and B2B sectors representing brands including Twisted Automotive, Premdor, Kirklees Council and Vorwerk. The pair will take the current board to seven members, joining Martin Hathaway, MD of Mid Yorkshire

Chamber, Brian Stahelin, MD of Stafflex, Gareth Hunt, MD of Copiserv, Andy Turner of first choice (recruitment) and Tim Welton of Williams & Co. The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce aims to protect and develop the interests of business in the metropolitan districts of Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. It also provides a range of services and benefits to help businesses grow, give members a voice, and help to understand policy issues and legislation that impacts on businesses in the region. The role of the Board of Directors is to advise, challenge and ensure the business of the Chamber is run in a sustainable way for the long-term

beneﬁt of members, and act as ambassadors and representatives for the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Brian Stahelin, Managing Director of Staﬄex and Chamber Chairman said: “We are delighted to welcome Jason and Stefanie to the board. They are both dedicated and experienced business people who will bring valuable communications experience to the board. “Their appointments will strengthen the Board of Directors and help to steer and guide it as it aims to continue to deliver quality services that connect, support and represent businesses across our region.” The prestigious competition is one of the showpiece events in the business calendar, recognising and promoting the best of British business through a series of regional heats, culminating in a Gala Awards Dinner, which will take place at Tobacco Dock, London on 29 November. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Friday 29 June. This year’s winner of the Business of the Year award will have the chance to open the market at the London Stock Exchange as a prize, a rare opportunity for a private business.

Time running out to enter Chamber Business Companies can enter nine categories covering; Awards 2018 Businesses from across the region are invited to compete in the ﬁfteenth annual Chamber Business Awards – hosted by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

exports, small business, exemplary employers, technology, high-growth, customer commitment, partnerships with the education sector, digital communications, and workplace wellbeing. Sponsors of this year’s awards include Bibby Financial Services, DHL, Legal and General, The London Stock Exchange, Qdos Consulting and RADA in Business.

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber News

Share and report your mobile not spots The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has launched its campaign for ‘No More Not Spots’, with the aim of ending not spots for voice coverage where UK phone users live, work, travel and play. The UK’s leading business group has launched the campaign to bring together business communities and those involved in delivering coverage to identify challenges and work through solutions to improve poor mobile coverage. Not spots, and areas of partial not spots hamper UK businesses. A recent survey by the BCC of over 1,400 companies, found that a fifth (21%) of firms say the UK mobile phone network doesn’t meet their needs in accessing new and existing customers, suppliers and employees. Despite welcome investment in geographic coverage for voice and text, not spots still exist, even in dense commercial centres, road and rail corridors where access issues, the built environment, and the economics of new infrastructure can combine to weaken coverage and frustrate network rollout. The campaign will mobilise Chamber member businesses and wider local communities to identify and report gaps in coverage to the BCC. It will bring together all those involved in delivering coverage with local business communities to Francis Martin, President of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Businesses are the driving force of the UK economy, generating jobs, prosperity and growth. Every year, the Chamber Network celebrates the best of British business, and recognises their contribution to both local communities and the wider economy. “Every time I visit Chamber member businesses I’m struck by the time and resources they invest in developing the technology and talent of tomorrow. The Awards acknowledge the relentless efforts of these businesses and their talented employees. “Each year the calibre and diversity of applicants to the Chamber Business Awards surpasses our expectations, and we look forward to seeing the scope of great companies that apply this year.” To enter online, to go www.chamberawards.co.uk or for further information you can contact the Chamber Awards team on 020 7654 5800 or e-mail awards@ chamberawards.co.uk.

identify priorities for action. The campaign is part of the BCC’s wider call for a greater focus on ‘fixing the fundamentals’ of the UK business environment to remove barriers to growth. Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), commenting on the campaign said: “A reliable mobile phone signal is one of the most basic requirements for any business, as more and more conversations and transactions take place while people are on the go. Unfortunately, dropped calls and poor signal remains an issue in many areas across the UK. “The Chamber network is now campaigning for an end to mobile phone ‘not spots’ all across the UK, so that businesspeople can connect to customers, suppliers and staff – and so that local communicates can better connect, too. “Our campaign will be constructive and focused on solutions. While we’ll press for investment and services improvements, we’ll work with mobile operators and all parties with a stake in getting this right across the UK. Working together, business, communities and operators can identify key gaps in coverage and find shared solutions to resolve the realworld connection problems many business communities face.

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“Our message to all businesses is simple: share and report mobile not spots – so that together we can take action to improve reliable coverage for the future. The UK’s future prosperity depends on getting the fundamentals right here at home – and a push for reliable, dependable and consistently improving mobile connectivity is the perfect place to start.” Steven Leigh, Head of Policy and Representation at the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce fully supports the BCC’s ‘No More Not Spots’ campaign which was launched recently. The BCC Survey on mobile telephone signals has confirmed what many businesses knew already - that telephone reception difficulties are still quite common. Where this is the case the BCC is collecting evidence in an effort to produce a co-ordinated response to the ‘Not Spot’ problem. “The No More Not Spots initiative will be instrumental to prioritising action to repair and enhance telephone services in parts of the country which suffer from service deficiencies, and hopefully help to get them fixed! “Businesses and the general public have come to depend upon mobile phones, and it is therefore essential that telephone reception and signals are functional at all times, in all areas of the country. In order to compete on the global stage, the UK needs to have fully operational and fit-forpurpose supportive infrastructure which encompasses road, rail, and all telecommunications systems. “This campaign is a proactive initiative by the Chamber network which can contribute to improved business efficiency and national prosperity, and we urge all businesses to support it.” To log your not spot please visit www.mycci.co.uk

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber Policy

Apprenticeships

up-skill workers at every level of the workforce.

Sometimes, when new business initiatives are introduced, the eﬀect can unfortunately produce the opposite results to those which were intended. Disappointingly, this appears to be the case with the Apprenticeship Levy.

“Apprenticeships are very much part of the solution, but the restrictions and complexity around the use of the Apprenticeship Levy have made it more difficult for firms to use it to train staff and plug skills shortages. Since the Levy was introduced almost a year ago, we have seen a worrying fall in the number of new Apprenticeships being commenced – and this could impact on business competitiveness. Something must be done urgently to reverse this trend.

In fairness, nobody predicted that this would be the eﬀect of introducing the new Levy. But the decline in numbers has continued, and ﬁgures released in late March by the Department for Education disclose that the latest take-up

ﬁgures for Apprenticeships in England dropped by nearly a third over 2017 (from 24,000 to 16,700), and the target of three million people starting Apprenticeships by 2020 is now nigh-on impossible. Businesses say that the Levy is too complex,

and that it should be made more flexible. Moreover, many employers have rejected the Levy – and criticised it as being unwieldy and difficult. Recognising the problem, in his Spring Statement, the Chancellor acknowledged that there are problems with the Levy, and he announced that £80m would be directed towards SME’s to assist them to take advantage of the new system. Chambers’ of Commerce are anxious to help fix these problems, and on behalf of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), spokesperson Jane Grattan observed: “With BCC research showing three quarters of businesses facing skills shortages, it is vital that employers can recruit young people into their businesses and

“The Government urgently needs to liaise with businesses to find ways to make the Apprenticeship Levy work better for everyone, and ensure that the UK economy has the skilled staff it needs. Some quick fixes include giving firms more time to source Apprenticeship training, introducing more flexible payment schedules and doing more to help SMEs access Apprenticeship funding.”

THE INFLUENCE OF CHAMBERS’ OF COMMERCE In March this year, Adam Marshall, the Director-General of the BCC, attended the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council, representing the Chamber Network. In attendance at the Council Meeting were leaders from major ﬁrms and business organisations, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Business Secretary and Brexit Ministers. The focus of the Meeting was on the overall state of the UK economy, ongoing Brexit

negotiations, and on Industrial Strategy. Adam MarshalI actively participated in the discussions, which were pragmatic, positive and focused on solutions. On behalf of the Chamber Network, Adam re-emphasised the importance of the domestic business environment, and the need for as much focus and eﬀort to go into delivering the fundamentals for economic growth as is being expended on Brexit.

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

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber Member News

Family solicitor joins Brighouse Legal Practice Brighouse law firm Wilkinson Woodward Bearders has announced the appointment of family lawyer and mediator Mark Green. Mark brings with him over two decades of experience in handling all aspects of relationship breakdown including finance, property and arrangements for children. After studying law in Leeds in the 1980s, Mark’s legal career began as an articled clerk with Holmfirth based Heap, Marshall and Heeley.

Direct Mail specialists announce Apprentice appointment West Yorkshire based, Propack Direct Mail are delighted to announce they have recently appointed Sarah Mann as an Apprentice Account Executive within the Client Services Department. With production facilities in Huddersﬁeld, Propack are a marketing services provider and specialise in Digital Print, Direct Mail, Print Management and Postage. The ﬁrm boast many major blue-chip clients including; Sky Bet, Travis Perkins and GHD.

further enhance the customer service offering. The National Business College in Huddersfield is facilitating the apprenticeship scheme which allows Sarah to work towards a Level 2 certification in Business Administration.

It’s great to gain real experience of the world of work...

Sarah commenting on her appointment said: “I was delighted to accept the apprenticeship with Propack. It’s great to gain real experience of the world of work whilst also remaining in education and working towards a qualiﬁcation.”

Limara McDermott, Senior Account Manager at Propack said: “Having previously experienced challenges recruiting the right candidates we decided to pursue the Apprenticeship avenue.

The ﬁrm’s decision to join the apprenticeship scheme came as a result of a number of new client wins. This immediately followed the recent appointment of Emily Parkinson and Nicola Gautry as Account Managers to

I would urge any ﬁrm looking at their recruitment options to seriously consider taking on an apprentice. It’s very satisfying to support someone on their ﬁrst steps into work and we’ve been delighted with Sarah’s approach and enthusiasm for the role.”

He qualiﬁed as a solicitor in 1987 and has specialised in family law for the past 25 years. Mark is a trained collaborative solicitor and an accredited family mediator. Mark, who lives near Holmﬁrth and is married with three grown up children, said: “I am very proud to be joining Wilkinson Woodward Bearders, a long established and trusted name in Calderdale and Kirklees.” Managing Director Maureen Cawthorn extended a warm welcome to Mark commenting: “Wilkinson Woodward Bearders continues to attract legal professionals of the highest calibre and we’re delighted to welcome Mark Green to our growing Brighouse team. His appointment forms part of our continuing plans to expand in Calderdale and Kirklees.”

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber Member News

Double celebration for Wakefield accountancy firm! our approach to meeting client needs and helping them and their businesses to grow! Jan Szczepanski, SFB Director said “With our new identity, we are excited about growing the Wakefield office and working closely with the Wakefield business community. We specialise in supporting businesses across a wide range of sectors including legal, creative, digital & IT. The expertise of our team means that a growing number of Polish businesses use our services too!”

Members of SFB Group’s Wakefield team L-R: Anna Trochanowska, Jan Szczepanski, Thomas Szczepanski, Weronika Dolezal and Marie Szczepanski

A Wakefield based firm of chartered accountants, wealth managers and business growth specialists have double reason to celebrate as they launch their new brand and expand their team. SFB Group, which incorporates established Wakefield firm Sanders Geeson, have recently recruited a number of talented individuals. Anna Trochanowska, who has recently passed her AAT

exams, has taken on the role of accountant and Weronika Dolezal has been recruited as a trainee accountant. The team expansion coincides with a complete company rebrand, which has been rolled out across the whole business. The new branding reﬂects the ﬁrm’s vision and EPIC values. SFB promotes a culture of enjoyment in the workplace, shows integrity and professional excellence in all that we do, provide innovative solutions for clients and are commercial in

SFB Group provide a wide range of services including accountancy, wealth management, tax advisory, corporate finance, forensic accounting business advice and marketing services. SFB also has offices in Nuneaton, Leicester, Hinckley, Coventry & London. To celebrate the rebrand, SFB Group are giving away a valuable tax card to all Wakefield based Chamber members. The tax card, which contains all the latest tax rates for 2018/19 is enclosed with the Wakefield Edition! For more information on SFB Group and how the firm can help you achieve your business and personal goals, please contact Thomas Szczepanski by emailing thomas.szczepanski@sfb.group.

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber Member News

West Yorkshire web designer comes out on top in London

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ongoing collaboration, a website partner to work with us now and in the future. Webbit was the obvious choice because they oﬀer more than just a website.” Gavin Stevens founded Webbit around an innovative Pay As You Go oﬀering. This allows smaller businesses and serious start-ups to have a professional presence without a big capital outlay.

Webbit Managing Director, Local web design ﬁrm, Webbit, based in Denby Dale, Gavin Stevens, explained: has won the contract to “We’ve found most of our design and build the website customers need help to for education-technology understand their business (Ed-Tech) start-up Going proposition, and in turn their Mobile in London.

Celebrating 18 Years in Business Five Talents Creative Design and Marketing celebrated 18 years in business in Halifax recently. The creative agency, founded by local creative designer Ade Prosser in 2000, chose to host their birthday event at The Piece Hall, the heart of Halifax’s arts and culture. The Five Talents team brought together many of their national and local clients, colleagues, friends and family to celebrate their 18th birthday in style. Local artist Peter J Chapple created a live art pieces and local band Got It Covered provided

the music whilst guests enjoyed local cheeses and wine.

Going Mobile provides tablets with educational speciﬁc software, full support and training, into primary schools to enhance learning and development. Webbit will design and build their website and help set up their social media presence. Jim Anderson, MD at Going Mobile, said: “We need more than just web design; we need

basic brand. Only then can a proper website be created, but obviously it will also evolve just like we did!”

Already Webbit’s involvement has made a diﬀerence to Going Mobile, as Jim continued: “We’re now totally clear about our values, and have begun identifying the basics of our brand. I’m looking forward to seeing all this incorporated in the website.”

Commenting on the celebration, Ade said: “What a way to celebrate 18 years, it was great to be able to thank my team, clients, friends and family for their support over the years. It’s not always easy but it’s been a great journey. I am proud of the work we do, and long may it continue. I would like to thank everyone for their continued support and for coming to Halifax to help us celebrate.”

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VIII

Mid Yorkshire Chamber Member News their chemotherapy treatment at home. In the US, the family run company have developed a unique sales approach which involves pay-per-treatment and personal cap to ensure a more affordable scalp cooling option for patients. This approach has involved setting up a HQ in Houston, a call centre, pharmacy and logistics (collectively the Paxman Hub), technical services and employing US training specialists who support providers and patients throughout their scalp cooling journey from start to finish. Paxman place scalp cooling systems on a low-cost lease with healthcare providers but directly bill the patient through the Paxman Hub for their scalp cooling cap and pay-per-use tokens. It is the only scalp cooler in the world to offer a single patient use cooling cap to each user.

Paxman awarded prestigious British American Business award for its US success UK scalp cooling expert Paxman, have been awarded the BritishAmerican Business TransAtlantic Growth (TAG) Award Small Gold Export Award for its US success. In less than a year since gaining oﬃcial clearance by the Food and Drug Administration; Paxman has installed or signed delivery agreements in the USA for 250 of its pioneering scalp cooling system at 121 cancer clinics. Hair loss is consistently ranked as one of the most feared and a common side eﬀects of chemotherapy treatment and often people will refuse it because they do not want to lose their hair.

The damage that chemotherapy causes to the hair follicle can be alleviated by using the scalp cooling treatment, also known as the 'cold cap'. It works by reducing the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees immediately before, during and after the administration of chemotherapy. In the UK, Paxman works directly with the NHS and private healthcare providers, including those who oﬀer patients the opportunity to receive

CEO Richard Paxman, said: “It is a privilege to be presented with this prestigious award. The US market is the largest in the world, so we are incredibly proud of the progress we have had in our first year since receiving FDA clearance. Our success in the US market, which is key to our global expansion, is also testimony to the growing understanding of the importance of scalp cooling as a way of improving quality of life and giving patients increased control during chemotherapy treatment. I would also like to thank all the team in the US and UK, my family and partner for all their support enabling us to achieve this success.” Currently the Paxman Scalp Cooling System has received market clearance for use during chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. The company have also filed an application for use of its scalp cooling system during treatment of patients with solid tumours. The expanded FDA clearance will substantially increase the company’s accessible market in the US. Paxman has already reached its initial target set for the US market – a total of 250 scalp cooling systems that are either installed or covered by signed delivery agreements – during the first year following FDA clearance.

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber Member News

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber Events ○ WHEN?

○ MORE INFO:

First Thursday of the month 09:30–11:00 ○ WHAT?

○ WHERE?

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

We rotate the location within the Mid Yorkshire region:

It’s FREE for members and just £20.00 plus VAT for non-members.

• Thursday 7th June, Calderdale – University Business Centre – Halifax, Piece Mill, 25-27 Horton Street, Halifax, HX1 1QE

Book your place online at www.mycci.co.uk/events

MY NETWORK WAKEFIELD

• Thursday 5th July, Wakefield – ASIC, Wakefield City Campus, Margaret Street, Wakefield, WF1 2DH

○ WHAT? A very informal networking opportunity, come along and make some new contacts in a relaxed setting and enjoy a drink on us! Run in partnership with Barclays, Copiserv, First Choice, Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, Northern Media and the Wakeﬁeld Trinity.

○ WHEN? Second Friday of the month 12:30-13:30

Tel: 01484 483 679 Follow @MidYorksChamber and #ConnectionsCount on Twitter

○ MORE INFO: No need to book, just turn up! Follow @MidYorkshireNet and #MYNetworkWakey on Twitter.

○ WHERE? The Hop, Bank Street, Wakefield, WF1 1EH.

○ WHAT?

○ WHEN?

○ MORE INFO:

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

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

No need to book, just turn up!

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

○ WHAT? Monthly lunchtime business networking meeting: have a chat, mingle and make some new contacts. Run in partnership with Barclays, Cresswells, and Ramsdens Solicitors LLP.

Follow @MidYorkshireNet and #MYNetworkHud on Twitter.

○ WHERE? The Media Centre, Northumberland Street, Huddersﬁeld, HD1 1RL

○ WHEN? Last Friday of the Month 12:30–13:30 ○ WHERE? Gin Lane The Piece Hall Blackledge Halifax HX1 1RE

○ MORE INFO: No need to book, just turn up and the ﬁrst drink is on us. Follow@LastFridayClub on Twitter

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Mid Yorkshire Chamber Events

Local Business Forums ○ WHERE? ○ WHAT? We rotate the location within the Mid Yorkshire region Enjoy a light breakfast and the opportunity to have your say about • Wednesday 27th June, Calderdale – The Room pressing business topics which are @ Town Hall Dental, The Old Town Hall, facing the local business community. Thornton Square, Brighouse, HD6 1EA ○ WHEN? Monthly, 08:00-10:00

• Wednesday 27th July, Kirklees – venue tbc

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

Courses in exporting The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has ten nationally accredited core courses in exporting and international trade. Together the courses create an export curriculum, providing invaluable basic exporting skills for small and large companies alike. By completing six courses, candidates achieve a nationally recognised foundation award in exporting. The courses are suitable for both experienced and inexperienced exporters. Courses are priced individually. A discount can be oﬀered when booking 6 or more modules or booking 3 or more delegates on the same course

The next courses are as follows: •

Import Procedures (Including Inward & Outward Processing) Thursday 14th June 2018 09:30 - 16:30 £270 (+ VAT) members and £310 (+ VAT) for non members.

•

Incoterms Thursday 19th July 2018 09:30 - 12:30 £125 (+VAT) for members / £140 (+VAT) for non-members

•

Methods of Payment Thursday 19th July 2018 13:30 - 16:30 £125 (+VAT) for members / £140 (+VAT) for non-members

For more information and to full our full export events calendar please visit www. myexporthub.co.uk/events

All of the courses will take place at The John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersﬁeld, HD1 6PG.

Wakefield Business Conference 2018 ○ WHAT? Part of Wakefield Business Week, which aims to drive economic growth in the district, and get more businesses in the Wakefield community connected. Wakefield Business Conference features an Expo and engaging speakers, attracting hundreds of business people and industry leaders.

○ MORE INFO:Register your interest as an exhibitor or sponsor to rory.bourke@mycci.co.uk or tel: 01484 483 679

○ WHEN? October / November 2018 ○ WHERE? TBC

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XII

Business of the Month

The Eaton Smith Business of the Month Award is open to ﬁrms in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakeﬁeld. Each month a new winner is chosen and all 12 then go through to the annual Business of the Year award. For your chance to win the Business of the Month award visit www.businessofthemonth.co.uk or contact Eleanor Cummings at Eaton Smith on 01484 821430

Photo L-R: David Hodgson – NatWest, Steven Leigh – Mid Yorkshire Chamber, Annie Bradley – DIT, David Busﬁeld – Crowther Accountants, Chris Taylor – Partner, Eaton Smith, Mike Roberts – PMG, Ellie Roberts – PMG, Alison Gibson – PMG, Martin Kearton-Smith – PMG

JANUARY AWARD WINNERS

The company manages nationwide campaigns across all types of media and formats, ensuring clients meet tight deadlines and that projects are delivered cost effectively. Furthermore, it takes measures to ensure its practices and processes are entirely renewable and Birstall-based PMG Print Management recyclable, with 94% of its paper coming uses innovative and cost-effective from Europe, in areas of forest that are solutions to deliver clever ideas expanding year on year. through numerous creative services, from finding the best print solutions Chris Taylor, Partner at Eaton Smith and managing campaigns, through to and member of the judging panel storage and distribution services. commented: “PMG has demonstrated innovation in order to stand out in a crowded marketplace. The dedication

PMG Print Management

the company shows in employing clever print management solutions to save clients both time and money should be commended. As a result of this, PMG continue to grow from their Yorkshire base which is fantastic for the region.” Mike Roberts, Management Director of PMG Print Management commented: “We are delighted to have won the Business of the Month Award. We have a fantastic team at PMG who are instrumental to the success of the business. This is a great start to 2018 which I believe will be a year of outstanding growth for PMG.”

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Business of the Month

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Photo L-R: Mike Hall, Paul Philmore – Philmore & Co, Phil Clarke – Partner, Eaton Smith, Katie Mallinson – Scriba PR, Louise Jagger – Scriba PR, Paige Catton – Scriba PR

FEBRUARY AWARD WINNERS

Scriba PR Scriba PR is a technical PR agency founded by Katie Mallinson in 2013. The PR industry is very competitive but the Scriba PR found a way to stand out by specialising in PR for technical B2B ﬁrms and focussing on briefs that most agencies shy away from. Phil Clarke, Partner and member of the judging panel said; “Scriba

PR stood out as a company that has grown through an innovative oﬀering in a crowded marketplace. It is clear that there is continual reinvestment in the business both in terms of developing systems and technologies and staﬀ training and well-being”. Katie Mallinson, MD of Scriba commented; “I am so proud of our team and client growth over the past couple of years and it is a great achievement for the business’s progress and hard work to be recognised with this accolade.”

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New Chamber Members

Chamber membership gives you access to a wide range of benefits including ways to raise your profile, save on company costs and get involved in policy at both local and national levels. Two of our newest benefits, exclusive to members, include:

Members can access a range of documents, including templates and advice, through an online library and also have access to a dedicated advice and support line 24/7 365 days a year. Also included is a comprehensive package of essential legal expenses insurance. There’s no extra fees the above is included in the cost of your membership!

Four services for all members Provided by fellow member, QDOS Consulting, the newest member service encompasses the following: • Chamber Tax • Chamber Legal • Chamber Health & Safety • Chamber HR

Energy Management For a number of years the Chamber has worked closely with member Kinect Energy Group formerly Orchard Energy who are based in Elland to provide members with access to cost savings against their utilities; These services and savings include: · Discounted HIA for Gas, Power and Water

New Members

Avitus Group Ltd www.avitusgroup.co.uk professional services

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30% instead of 40% Free kVa review Free energy eﬃciency walk around 10% discount on full technical audit, Data Management Portal, EPC’s and DEC’s Free legislative advice Dedicated Energy Consultant Invoice Validation Query Management, COT’s, and Terminations Independent Market News

To ﬁnd out more about membership and beneﬁts please contact Rachel McDerby, Membership Coordinator, on 01924 311605 or by email, Rachel.mcderby@mycci.co.uk

Aeroservices Ltd www.aeroservicesltd.com

Burton Safes Ltd www.burtonsafes.co.uk wholesale & retail trade

CW Dix Limited www.chrisdixaccountants.co.uk accounting

And Words Ltd marketing and public relations

Dutton Construction www.duttongroup.co.uk construction

Expert Locums Recruitment Ltd www.expertlocums.co.uk other business activities

Firebox Global Logistics www.ﬁreboxglobal.co.uk transportation & logistics

Global Diversity Positive Action www.globaldiversitypa.com registered charity

Kirkwood Hospice www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk registered charity

Stoelzle Falcconage Ltd Manor House Lindley www.manorhouselindley.co.uk hotels & restaurants

RAM Mobile www.rammobile.com wholesale & retail trade

Rhubarb Revolution www.rhubarbrevolution.co.uk marketing

www.stoelzle.com manufacturing

Ventas Sales Torchbearer Interactive www.torchbearerinteractive.co.uk computer and related activities

Unity Hall and Business Space Ltd www.unitybusinessspace.co.uk other business activities

www.ventas-sales.com business management consultants

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Chamber Member Offers

MemberOffers CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP GIVES YOU ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS DISCOUNTS, OFFERS AND FREE PUBLICITY! What? A heavily discounted service offered exclusively by members for members. Benefit from free publicity as a host or gain huge savings by utilising our Member Offer of the Month benefits. Why? We understand that members have a business to run, through hosting a Member Offer of the Month, you can save time on marketing and benefit from free publicity. By using members offers, save money on valuable services for your business. How? To discuss how your company could take advantage of the Member Offer of the Month and other publicity opportunities:

CONTACT RACHEL - 01924 311605 For details on our current Member Offer of the Month, please visit our website www.mycci.co.uk/get-connected/member-offers

Chamber Connect Card ENJOY EXCLUSIVE LONG TERM BUSINESS DISCOUNTS! What? Access a range of long term discounted offers, negotiated for your business as part of your membership package. You can also participate by offering your own discounted products and services to fellow members.

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

How? Log into the MY Chamber at www.mycci. co.uk/my-chamber to redeem and view all Connect Card offers. To discuss how your company could participate in a connect card offer, contact Rachel on 01924 311605

All Connect Card offers can be viewed on our website, some current offers include:

Eureka is offering Chamber members 10% off all corporate event bookings including; Teambuilding & Away Days, Function and Room Hire, Product Launches and Promotions and Event Sponsorship.

Avanti Corporate Solutions

Kerry Logistics (UK) Limited are offering a 20% discount to new Chamber members on all their Export and Import services.

We are offering a complimentary mystery shop and consultation to any Chamber member who would like to receive this valuable insight into their business.

Discount on IOSH Accredited Training Courses. Members can benefit from a reduced rate of £440+VAT (a £50 discount) for the Managing Safely Course and a £10 discount on the Working Safely course.

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XVI

Chamber Patrons Update

Is your Will up to date? So, you have a Will, is that it? No! You need to make sure your Will is up to date. A recent case highlights this: The deceased had made a Will following her divorce from her husband. As she didn’t have any children she made her best friend her executor and sole beneﬁciary. Years passed and the deceased lost contact with her friend and began a new relationship with a new partner and the new partner

sold his property in order that they could live together in her home. The deceased passed away suddenly and had not updated her Will. The result was that her estranged friend was not only the sole beneﬁciary of her estate, but also responsible for dealing with her assets including the property. The partner of the deceased was not mentioned in the Will and therefore brought a claim against the estate. An agreement was

reached at a lengthy delay and cost to the estate. So ask yourself; have there been changes to my relationships or Charlene Vilia, family that are not reﬂected in my Senior Solicitor Will? Have there been changes to at Eaton Smith the value of my assets? Does my Will reﬂect changes to tax laws? Finally, do I also need to have an LPA? Our team of expert solicitors in our Private Client team will make sure you have the documentation in place so that your estate is distributed according to your wishes. Contact us on 01484 821 300.

Pitch Refurbishment and Stadium Tours Our annual pitch refurbishment takes place in May, at the end of the football season. This is scheduled in and around Huddersfield Giants’ matches. The Stadium’s ground staff have a very short window to carry out the major refurbishment, which will include extending the pitch width by 1 metre 10cm to conform to Premier League guidelines. Huddersfield Town Football Club has

also purchased 3 pitch growth lights, so now the Stadium has 9 lights in total. The ground is maintained by 3 regular ground staﬀ and the grass is cut to a length of 25-30mm during the season. Why not take a look behind the scenes? Our tours of The John Smith’s Stadium are not to be missed. The tour will give you access to the usually restricted areas, reserved for players and oﬃcials. Along the way you will visit the various

stands of the stadium, the Town and Giants dressing rooms, the players’ tunnel and the dug outs. Your tour, together with a tour guide will include a full insight into the day – to – day activities of the football and Gareth Davies rugby clubs. Managing Director For more information or to book a Stadium Tour please contact our Reception Team on 01484 484100 or email reception@ksdl.org.uk. Visit our website http://www.johnsmithsstadium.com.

Opening of Piece Mill in Halifax Following the launch of our Wakefield Business Centre earlier in the year, Leeds Beckett University are now looking forward to the opening of their newest venture in Halifax. Located in the historic centre of Halifax, Piece Mill is an impressive converted mill providing open plan, affordable office and meeting space plus a range of business support which will be home to around 200 businesses. We offer everything from virtual office and co-working through to private offices accommodating businesses with up to 33 employees. Piece Mill will also benefit from Halifax’s first multi-Gigabit internet

connection, capable of achieving speeds of up to 5,600,000Mbps, providing an ideal base for digital and technology businesses. Our University Business Centres also provide businesses with advice and mentoring, professional training and development as well as access to knowledge transfer and research expertise. Through our Centres in Leeds, Wakeﬁeld and Halifax we also oﬀer access to additional training and support via our ERDF funded AD:VENTURE project. This support is available even to businesses that are not physically located in

our Centres. Eligible businesses are invited to contact the team for an initial diagnostic assessment which will examine your needs and current performance resulting in a personalised action plan to help you identify key areas to help your business increase turnover, create jobs and develop products or services.

Katie Rigarlsford UBC and Regional Development Manager

To ﬁnd out more about our University Business Centres and the support we can oﬀer visit www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/ universitybusinesscentres, email universitybusinesscentres@ leedsbeckett.ac.uk or call 0333 555 8855.

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BEER-lovers in need of a haircut will be able to kill two birds with one stone at this summer’s Wakeﬁeld Festival of Beer. For not only are Wakeﬁeld’s Black Dog Barbershop sponsoring the festival, they are also bringing along two barber chairs and treating visitors to hairstyles ranging from the traditional to modern as well as beard grooming. The cost will be similar to that charged in the shop with a cut of it being donated to charity.

Pontefract marketing agency expands PHD Marketing & Strategy, based in the iconic Pontefract Barracks building, has announced significant expansion due to increased demand for marketing services in the print, packaging and plastics sectors. Joanna Stephenson, Managing Director said: “It will come as no surprise that due to the large amount of attention being placed on the plastics industry that there has been a huge upswing for marketing services for our print, packaging and plastics clients.” Joanna, former vice president of marketing and innovation at local company, LINPAC Group, established PHD in 2014. LINPAC, now acquired by Klöckner Pentaplast, is a key client for the agency but the company has grown significantly in its short history and numbers 22 UK and internationalbased clients. Joanna added: “We now have 11 staff, appointing four new employees, including two apprentices, in the last six months. We were delighted to recruit Rachael Ryder and Rosie O’Brien as full time copywriters and we’re also investing in the future of the business with two new apprentices, Millie Kilburn and Ben Storey.

“The idea is that visitors can have their haircut and enjoy a pint of beer at the same time,” explained Black Dog Barbershop’s Clarke Knowles. “I’ve seen this done at a couple of festivals before and am all for trying something new so thought why not have a go at doing it ourselves! I’m quite excited about it! We have a number of beer monsters amongst our clientele in the shop who’ll be all for it. We offer our customers a free beer while we cut their hair now, so they are no strangers to supping while we’re cutting!” Clarke opened Black Dog Barbershop at Outwood four years ago, relocating from Leeds after spotting a gap in the Wakefield market for a traditional barber. Wakefield Festival of Beer will take place at Unity Hall and Business Space in

Want your business to be seen by 1500 others?

A cut whilst you sup Wakefield city centre from June 28-30. Organised by Wakefield District Round Table, the event attracts hundreds of visitors to Wakefield and raises thousands for city based charities Wakefield Hospice, Wakefield MS Society and Andy’s Man Club, which helps men fight depression. The festival is now in its 6th year and continues to evolve and innovate, offering something new every time to attract newcomers and continue to delight the loyal festival-goers.

You can by booking your space at the 9th Brand Yorkshire Business Conference. You need to hurry though as 65 stands are already sold. The conference takes place on 4th October at the Pavilions of Harrogate, The Yorkshire Showground and with almost 100 exhibitors and more than 1500 business people expected to attend again, this is a fantastic opportunity for you to meet potential new customers and partners. To reserve a stand call Mona on 07748 117977 or email: mona@brandyorkshire.com com

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Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk raises £3408 for Sport Relief Left: Icing and decorating Sport Relief buns at St Austin’s Academy. Above: Steve Scriven, Katie Hill and Stacy Smart posing through the Sport Relief selﬁe frame.

In addition the store sold £2749 of Sport Relief merchandise, including branded deeley boppers, wrist bands, pin badges and much more.

Colleagues at Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk are celebrating after raising £659 for Sport Relief. The team took part in a variety of fundraising events, including a visit to St Austin’s Academy, where the kids iced and decorated Sport relief buns, during the weeks leading up to Sport Relief’s big ﬁnale, which took place at the end of March. The store’s main activity was a Wakeﬁeld to London static bike ride, which raised £115. Customers were also invited to join in the fun and one of the other highlights was Play Your Sport Relief Cards Right at the front of the store which raised £110. The store also collected donations in the buckets on the checkouts right through the whole campaign.

Dee O’Brien, Store Manager said: “Sport Relief is a fantastic opportunity for us to come together with the local community to raise as much money as possible for a great cause. We always enjoy coming up with lots of fun and creative activities to get everyone involved. I’m really proud that our store has been able to contribute to the impressive figure donated from Sainsbury’s to Comic Relief and we’d like to thank our colleagues and customers in Wakefield for their support.” This year Sport Relief challenged the nation to come together to walk one billion steps a day, every day from 17 to 23 March, counting their steps through the official Sport Relief App. Sainsbury’s led the charge with colleagues walking over 500 million steps as part of Team Sport Relief. During the Sport Relief finale evening on TV, Sainsbury’s announced it had raised more than £6.1 million for the charity with more funds still to be collected.

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cases. In addition to this, Sarah is a trained Collaborative Lawyer, the Secretary to the Huddersfield Incorporated Law Society and a member of the regional Resolution Committee. Dan Hirst joined the team in 2012 following the merger between the firm and Godloves Solicitors. He is recognised as a leader in his field in commercial litigation having had a number of high profile successes.

Chadwick Lawrence announces new equity partners Yorkshire’s Legal People, Chadwick Lawrence, have announced three new equity partners following a year of exceptional growth and performance, and as part of the Firm’s wider succession planning.

Daniel Krigers, Sarah Power and Dan Hirst have each taken an equity share in the business and will focus on further implementing the many investment and development plans across their teams in the year ahead. Daniel joined the ﬁrm in 2006, completing a part-time degree and post-graduate course and qualifying in 2013. Daniel heads up the employment team and wider commercial services arm of the

Firm, along with sitting on the Operations and Marketing boards. Sarah Power has been with the team since 2008, where she started as an Assistant Solicitor. Since then, Sarah has developed her specialism in Family Law with a particular emphasis on the ﬁnancial aspects of divorce and separation. She regularly represents professionals, business owners and their spouses and is experienced in dealing with business interests, pensions and oﬀ-shore assets in Family Law

Neil Wilson, Managing Partner commented: “The last twelve months have been incredibly successful for the firm, and we delivered against some very ambitious plans. “Whilst those achievements in the past have facilitated the offer of equity to Daniel, Dan and Sarah, this is merely the start of the next chapter of the Firm. We have developed the next phase of our strategy with extremely challenging and ambitious growth plans, with a view to building revenue, profitability and reputation, and making Chadwick Lawrence the employer of choice in the legal sector. A key part of the strategy is to secure the long term future of the firm through the delivery of a carefully considered succession plan.”

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A career in the drinks and hospitality industry wasn’t on the cards for David Owen’s when he left the North East at 18-yearsold to study Aerospace Engineering in Bristol. TopicUK Group editor Gill Laidler caught up with David recently to find out how this initial career path flew so much of course. “I started to work in the evening economy, initially to fund my studies. These were mostly cocktail focussed venues and this is where I picked up my passion for drinks creativity and service etiquette. You could say it was my calling and it soon became my full time focus,” David told us. It wasn’t long before his name become well known in the industry and David became a trainer for several large companies nationally. He was just 23 when he accepted his first international role at an iconic hotel in Beiruit, Lebanon and after a successful

three month project, he began an extensive international career, stemming over 25% of the world’s countries and six of the seven continents. “My travel highlights at this time were Australia, South America and extensive coverage of the Middle East which I loved, mostly because of the food and the flavours,” he told us. It was during an international sabbatical that David arrived in Wakefield to help an old colleague establish a premier cocktail bar on Bank Street. The city’s green space and thriving night life encouraged a longer stay than he had planned and it was during this time that he met his Wakefield-born better half! Determined to stay in the area, jobs followed in Leeds and Manchester before he joined the fledgling beverage training service providers Fling Bar Services and pulled in their first major opening project with the highly exclusive One & Only resorts in the Maldives, where he went on to establish the business as an international leader in the

www.marknewtonphotography.co.uk

Hospitality Training & Development sector. In 2005, David and his partner moved to the Lao PDR in remote, communist SE Asia where he opened his ﬁrst private food and beverage opertion, The Spirit House. IN 2010, David established his own training and development brand and beverage consultancy group Fluid Dynamics, before moving from SE Asia to the remote Seychelles Islands, where he began a long term project with a small rum distillery and importer. “This is where I became familiar with rum distillation and blending and put down roots on a historic plantation site.” However, family circumstances forced him to return to Yorkshire in 2014, but this allowed him time to focus on his son and the ﬁnal stage development of a new rum brand, St Abbs, that had become a hobby passion!

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at Leeds Gin Distillery and Folklore Gin Distillery, where he applied his experience in drinks production to Gin distillation. After successfully helping two Yorkshire Gin brands expand over the festive season, David began cuckoo distilling at the site to tailor his own Gin recipe, a recipe that was aimed at celebrating the city’s fascinating history and giving it its first ever boutique, very small batch Gin and first commercial Gin distiller. “We launched Nightingale Gin, The Spirit of Wakefield in December 2017, influenced by the journals of Charles Waterton,” he said “and combined traditional ingredients from his period, with some less expected flavours from his South American explorations.” David hand-crafts every bottle himself in a still that produces only 30 bottles at a time and he has already perfected two expressions. The West Riding Dry combines subtle sweet notes of liquorice-root with roasted cocoa nibs and the classic Gin flavours of Juniper, citrus and corriander seed and of course there is the Rhubarb and Mulberry celebrating our famous Mulberry Bush nursery rhyme and our iconic local crops of Rhubarb, not forgetting Pontefracts famous liquorice.

“After my extensive work in the Seychelles and a great deal of time in my make-shift blending room in Wakefield, I eventually finalised my blends and brand story of St Abbs Reserve Rum for the Black Mountain Spirits Company. The Brand was bottled in December 2015,” he continued, “and launched in the UK in March 2016. Just a month later our rum won 8 medals across two internationally acclaimed spirit competitions and more recently is due to be listed in the rum list of the World’s best cocktail bar, The American Bar at London’s iconic Savoy Hotel.” Late in 2015 it was time to put down roots and David found his place in the city centre at Wakefield Beer Exchange. He chose the position over several lucrative national contracts so that he could remain in Wakefield and enjoy quality time with

his family and also learn about the very quirky craft beer scene that had boomed during his time away. “I love the industry and always need to be learning something new, so this was perfect for me,” he added. “Is has been a decision that has carved some real opportunities that a corporate position wouldn’t have given me and the craft beer bar has become my second home!” In 2016 another opportunity came David’s way when he was asked to take the lead role in the Wakefield BID steering group and after a successful campaign, was nominated as the chair of the business-led organisation. “I think it was my passion for the city centre that encouraged me to get involved in the BID. I didn’t want to see the city survive, I wanted to see it thrive.” During late 2017, David started spending his days off from Wakefield Beer Exchange

“I’m now working on expression number three,” he added, “and have started working on the development of a liqueur range, which I am confident will turn heads on the national beverage stage. You can also expect to see some of the botanicals from Nostell Botanical Gardens and possibly an oak aged Gin to celebrate the Chippendale anniversarty at the historic site.” Although travel and drinks have always been Dave’s great Passion, his family life has made him put down roots and this has given him a wealth of opportunity that could have quite easily been bypassed. David has now stepped down from his role with Wakefield BID to focus on Wakefield Beer Exchange and his drink production projects and has recently joined the steering group who are driving Wakefield Evening Economy’s Purple Flag project.

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The arts are being sidelined in a new creative industries deal! By Murray Edwards - Art and business consultant

The Arts and culture are given no more than a passing reference in the recently announced new Creative Industries Sector Deal, an agreement under which the Government and creative sector businesses in England will work together on initiatives to “boost productivity, employment, innovation and skills”. The Deal will support the development of creative clusters and the roll out of a “creative careers” programme but prioritises digital businesses over culture. Instead, the Deal emphasises measures that will support the growth of IT, software, computer services and digital businesses, which account for over a third of the Gross Value Added (GVA) in the creative industries – more than four times the value of the cultural sector. The Deal will see a range of new policies introduced and an extra £150m committed to the sector by business and government, with a view to unlocking its growth potential. The associated promotional campaign will be developed and led by the Creative Industries

Federation (CIF), which took a leading role, together with the Creative Industries Council, in arriving at the Creative Industries Sector Deal. Caroline Julian, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at CIF, explained: “Through an advertising campaign and complementary activity, we will profile the spectrum of creative careers – from the creative entrepreneur who has set up their own business through to the designer working alongside engineers in other industries. The campaign will give particular focus to high growth areas that currently suffer from skills shortages and where certain skills will be in high demand in future.” Due to be launched next year, the campaign will also “aim to dissolve commonly

held assumptions that have put many people oﬀ from pursuing a creative career, particularly those from disadvantaged and minority communities”. Investing in talent Investment in developing the creative workforce is primarily targeted at improving digital and computing skills, with £84m earmarked for a new National Centre of Computing Education and £20m for a new Institute for Coding. Up to £2m will be “available (subject to business case)” to support a Creative Careers Programme, and the Government expects the value of the industry’s contribution, including in-kind resources and expertise, to “more than match” its own funding. Workforce development The Creative Careers Programme will “address shortages in critical skills for creative businesses and ensure broader outreach to a more diverse, future workforce”. It will speciﬁcally aim to

rectify the significant underrepresentation of people from less advantaged backgrounds in the creative industries. At least 2,000 schools and 600,000 pupils will access the Programme, which it is hoped will recruit more than 50 ambassadors from the sector and encourage 100 employers to participate in “encounter events” reaching 15,000 young people. It will involve three elements: Producing and distributing a comprehensive creative industries toolkit and supporting material for students, parents and schools. Facilitating events and visits, including schools’ ambassadors. Delivering a promotional campaign to “improve awareness and understanding of the range of occupational roles on offer in the creative industries”. Education ignored Identifying the skills shortages affecting the UK’s creative industries, the Deal singles out dancers and orchestral musicians, but whilst recognising that a “combination of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and artsbased subjects” are needed to develop future talent, it outlines no new measures for improving arts education. Instead it makes a commitment to creating “a technical education system that

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rivals the best in the world”. It makes no mention of the crisis unfolding in schools as the gradual introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) continues to shut down opportunities for young people – especially those living in disadvantaged areas – to study the arts. It is equally silent on the challenges facing the cultural sector caused by the UK’s departure from the European Union, including the potential talent drain. CIF has stressed that a Creative Careers Campaign will be complemented with ongoing advocacy on the importance of creative skills and education to the future, not only in the creative industries but also the economy at large. They believe that the campaign will add significant weight to their advocacy efforts and further the impact that the Federation has achieved to date on creative careers and skills. Whilst this may be welcomed as a “first step” and highlights the significant contribution this sector makes to UK innovation, productivity and growth, it does not address some of the fundamental issues facing the Arts today. There has been a steady erosion of opportunities to study creative subjects at school and if the UK is to continue to be at the forefront of creative development then this has to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Gala Dinner raises £30,000 The fourth annual Gala Dinner and Variety Performance saw two hundred and eighty guests fill Wakefield Cathedral in March, to celebrate and raise money for Theatre Royal Wakefield and their work with young people. The evening commenced with a dinner catered by Wakefield’s Create Café and was followed by an auction in the opulent surroundings of Wakefield Cathedral. Guests then made

their way down to the Theatre for a Variety Performance. This annual fundraising event supports work with the learning and participation programmes created by the Theatre for young people including Performance Academy and In On The Act. Guests had the pleasure of seeing some of the participants of these programmes perform during the Variety Performance amongst others. Joining the young talent on stage was local singer and songwriter Ruby Macintosh, award winning Crofton Silver Band and contortionist Tula Sparkles.

Jon Ingham, Theatre Royal Wakefield’s Head of Fundraising and Partnerships, said “To raise £30,000 for our work with young people in one night is a magnificent result. It shows how the people of Wakefield have taken Theatre Royal Wakefield to their hearts. We are proud to have worked with Wakefield Cathedral in bringing together two of the city’s most historic venues for one outstanding creative event” Theatre Royal Wakefield offers 60 bursaries for weekly training sessions, which are held in three separate academies across the Wakefield District.

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Wicked UK Ireland Tour 2018 Amy Ross (Elphaba) Photo by Matt Crockett

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Wicked UK Ireland Tour 2018 Helen Woolf (Glinda)

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Was the wicked witch really

Wicked? Was the infamous Wicked Witch of the West really wicked, or the innocent victim of a corrupt regime? By Gill Laidler Editor TopicUK Group Editor Gill Laidler went along to find out when she was invited to the official Leeds Launch of the hit musical Wicked, coming to The Grand Theatre in June. “Strangely enough, I had just returned from New York where advertisements for Wicked were everywhere, billboards in Time Square and on top of taxis, but we had opted for the other long running show, Miss Siagon at The Broadway Theatre, so I was delighted to find on my return an invitation to this event at Aspire, along with an interview with Executive Producer UK, Michael McCabe.” When Dorothy famously triumphed over the Wicked Witch, we only ever heard one side of the story. Gregory Maguire’s “outstanding novel” (The Independent), ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, ingeniously re-imagines the Land of Oz, creating a parallel

universe to the familiar story written by L. Frank Baum and first published as ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ in 1900. Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wizard, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences for her future. Wicked has already been seen by over 53 million people around the world and is one of the most

celebrated and successful musicals of all time. Winner of over 100 international awards, the original production has already been performed in over 130 cities in 16 countries around the world and has also been translated from its original English into six other languages. Now in its 12th year and already the 15th longest running show in

“one of the greatest musicals of our time” (Daily Mail)

London theatre history (and the 10th longest running musical), the West End production premiered on 27 September 2006 and has played almost 5000 performances at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Now also the 7th longest running show currently playing in the West End, Wicked has been hailed as “one of the greatest musicals of our time” (Daily Mail).

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Wicked UK Ireland Tour 2018 Aaron Sidwell (Fiyero) Photo by Matt Crockett

Designed by Susan Hilferty, who won a Tony Award for her creations, Michael was followed on stage by costume supervisor Margie Bailey who explained how some of the costumes were made. Guests were then treated to a special vocal performance by Amy Ross who plays wicked witch Elphaba, who later was joined by co-star Helen Woolf who plays Glinda, both dueting for the delighted audience,” continued Gill. “It was then time for me to meet the award winning Executive Producer. Michael is an independent, four-time Olivier Award-winning theatre producer in the UK and Tony® nominated on Broadway. His previous producing credits include: An American In Paris, the 2013-2017 UK & International Tour of Wicked; Sweeney Todd (Olivier Award, Best Musical Revival), starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton and the 2011 West End production of Million Dollar Quartet, to name a few. Michael was also the original Marketing Director of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ Mamma Mia!, from 1998-2004 (overseeing the ﬁrst 14 international premieres).

The multi record-breaking original Broadway production remains “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times) after 14 years and almost 6000 performances at the Gershwin Theatre, where it premiered on 30 October 2003. Now the 8th longest-running show in Broadway history, Wicked has already been seen by over 10 million people on Broadway alone and been acclaimed as “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart and courage” (Time Magazine). If you have not been lucky enough to see the production, now is your chance as it comes to the Grand Theatre in from Wednesday 13th June to Saturday July 7th. “On arrival at Aspire the press and invited guests were welcomed

Helen Woolf, Amy Ross and Aaron Siddell Image: Ant Robling

by Executive Producer Michael McCabe, who explained a little about the origins of the production and how the plot came about. “Michael was ﬂanked on stage by costumes from the hit show. Two from the Emerald City and of course Glinda’s bubble dress.

“Born and raised in Sussex, Michael’s career spans more than 35 years. He spent two years living and working in New York where he worked as a marketing consultant on many Broadway productions. A Trustee of the English Touring Theatre, Michael has worked with companies including Cirque du Soleil and the English National Opera. “I had to ask the inevitable question and got the predictable answer. Which is your favourite theatre outside London? Of

course it is The Grand Theatre. “Contrived I know, but true,” he told me. “It is such a beautful theatre and has been lovingly looked after, how could anyone not love it. “I also prefer to tour rather than be based in just one theatre either in the West End or on Broadway,” he told me, “but it is very hard work as every part of the set, the costumes and props have to be transported carefully in as many as 12 trucks. It does, in my opinion help the cast to bond, as we are together 24/7 whilst the production tours across the country, which will be for many weeks if not months. “One of the things we are proud of is that the touring show is exactly the same as the London show. In fact, it might even have a few extra surprises,” he continued. “It is always the one thing I insist on when taking a show on the road, it is exactly the same as the original production or it doesn’t tour!” The show runs from Wednesday 13th June to Saturday 7th July. Tickets are on sale now, but hurry as they are selling fast. Book online at www. leedsgrandtheatre.com or call the box oﬃce on 0844 848 2700. fast.

MAY 2018

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Wa ke f i e l d

D i s t ric t

Palestinian activist to run London Marathon with Penny Appeal

Mohammad Al Qadi a Palestinian activist and marathon runner, who runs to raise awareness of the plight of his people, is joining the Penny Appeal team at this year’s London Marathon.

Wakefield’s Centre for Creativity is revealed Scaffolding that surrounded Theatre Royal Wakefield’s new extension has finally been removed to expose the new performance space for the first time.

a new performance space named The Walker Studio and a new café bar. Fundraising is still taking place to support the ﬁt out for the new space but in a short matter of weeks, the interior is due to be complete and the Centre for Creativity will showcase its ﬁrst performance.

It has been nine months since the hoarding covering the derelict space between Lala’s restaurant and Theatre Royal Wakeﬁeld was replaced with scaﬀolding in the beginning stages of a new venture for the Theatre.

Executive Director, Katie Town, said “After many months of preparation and fundraising, it’s so amazing to see our plans come to fruition. This new Centre will allow us to expand our reach to new audiences and bring something fresh into the changing face of Wakeﬁeld”

After many years in the making, the plans for the new performance space are finally going ahead and for the first time, the progress can now be seen on Westgate. The view of the scaffolding has been replaced with the giant, glass fronted Centre for Creativity, which will house

In On The Act, Theatre Royal Wakeﬁeld’s innovative 18 – 30 group of theatre makers, will be the ﬁrst to perform in The Walker Studio with their modern retelling of Thumbelina at the beginning of May.

Fresh from running the Palestinian Marathon on 23 March, where Penny Appeal Midlands Fundraising Manager Haroon Mota also took part, Mohammad will arrive in the UK ahead of the London Marathon to ‘Run for Palestine’, helping to raise funds for the Gaza Water Tanker, hoping to raise as much as £10k, whilst the rest of Team Orange will run for Thirst Relief. London is just one of many Marathons that Mohammad, who lives in France, takes part in. He was recently asked if he would like to take part in the Turkish Marathon after being refused entry to the United States to take part in the Chicago Marathon. “It was quite a shock to learn that I had been refused entry to the US,” Mohammad told us. “All I wanted to do was raise awareness of the plight of my people and raise funds to make their lives a little more bearable. When I was refused, I was invited to run in Turkey and was delighted to meet the Turkish Prime Minister afterwards.” Three children die every minute from drinking dirty water. With access to clean water, thousands of lives could be saved. Installing a water pump costs just £300, in a needy community, that’s just 82p a day to give the gift of water. By ‘digging deep’ and supporting Mohammad and our London Marathon runners, you could oﬀer someone the gift of life from just a few pennies a day. To donate, visit our website at www.pennyappeal. org or call 03000 11 11 11 today.

MAY 2018

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Wa ke f i e l d

YOU NG

D i s t ric t

E NTR E PR E N E UR

Tragedy led to success for Sam Are entrepreneurs born or made? This is a question that many people ask but nobody knows the answer to. Regardless of which it is, we have an abundance of young entrepreneurs in Yorkshire, who have all successfully launched their own businesses. Levels, after making the decision to defer his university scholarship for a year. KGlazing is a glass and glazing company specialising in replacing single, double or triple glazed windows, creating bespoke glass projects and installing new glazed home improvements. “I’d always worked part-time in the business during school holidays to earn extra money,” Sam told us, “but I ﬁnally joined in September that year, working along with my bricklaying course at Leeds College of Building.” However, tragedy was to strike, after just one month of working alongside his father, his dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and became quite ill whilst undergoing chemo. “This was a very hard time, not just for the business, but for our whole family,” said Sam, who is single. “Alongside my mum, I started to learn how to complete some of the oﬃce paperwork and proceedures, along with the all important pricing and estimating, a job my dad had always done, but was unable to.” One of these entrepreneurs is 27-year-old Sam Kay, Managing Director of KGlazing Limited, based in Pontefract. TopicUK Group Editor Gill Laidler

caught up with Sam to hear about his journey. Sam joined his father’s business KGlazing that started trading in 1978, in 2009 after completing his A

Sadly just one year later on 1st May 2010, Sam’s father lost his battle and passed away. “After my father passed away it was time for me to step up and this is when I took full charge of the business, working

alongside my mother,” Sam, who was voted as one of the top three young people in the National Federation Awards in 2016, told us. “Although the business was in great shape, there was work to be done with our online presence and SEO,” he added. “We decided to rebrand, creating a new logo for our niche product. By doing this we massively increased our business and turnover. The company has trebled in size over the last few years and we have worked hard setting up an additional manufacturing company alongside, so we can make all our own doors and windows. We manufacture and supply UPVC and aluminium windows, doors and conservatives to both retail

“I’d always worked parttime in the business during school holidays... and trade customers throughout Yorkshire. We also supply glass and glazing products, such as sheet glass, ﬁre glass and triple glazed products.” So what are the plans for the future? “we are opening our new showroom later this year and we want to diversify and improve our product range to reach a larger target audience, this should see us move into more areas of Yorkshire. There is much more to do, but I am determined to do this for my dad.

MAY 2018

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Wa ke f i e l d

BANKING&ECONOMY

A third (31%) are taking environmental action ‘because it’s the right thing to do’ and 27% because they want ‘to be recognised as an environmentally responsible business’. Lack of funds (19%) and concerns about return on investment (16%) were the most commonly cited financial worry As green issues continue to make big headlines, four fifths (82%) of mid-sized UK businesses have taken action on environmental sustainability. However, less than half (40%) indicated that they expect the amount they will invest in this area to increase over the next five years and only a similar amount (39%) view environmentally responsible programmes as ‘extremely important’.

D i s t ric t

UPDAT E

Environmentally responsible actions beneﬁt business Three quarters (73%) of businesses say they have experienced at least one commercial beneﬁt from taking environmentally responsible actions, as consumer demand for ‘green’ credentials is increasingly affecting buying behaviour*

Published recently, the Barclays Environmental Commitment: Beyond a ‘Nice-to-Have’ report examines the emphasis being placed on green investment by business leaders and the obstacles they are facing when considering whether to invest more in green projects. While the UK’s biggest companies are increasingly embracing more investment in environmentally sustainable activity, less focus has been given to the environmental actions of mid-sized organisations. For this reason, the report explores the specific challenges facing mid-sized businesses and looks at the regulatory, reputational and commercial considerations that are influencing investment decisions. The financial and reputational benefits of going green Three quarters (73%) of businesses say they have experienced at least one commercial benefit from taking environmentally responsible actions, with more than a third indicating that this investment had led to reduced operational costs (37%). Reputational consequences are also recognised by a significant number of leaders, with a third (31%) taking environmental action ‘because it’s the right thing to do’ and 27% because they want ‘to be

recognised as an environmentally responsible business’. Regulatory demands were cited by fewer respondents as the driver behind green investment (19%). However, four in ten (40%) do believe that existing environmental rules and regulations have had a positive effect on their business, compared to just 16% who think they have had a negative effect. Despite the commercial benefits identified by most businesses who have invested in green projects, a quarter of businesses reported that that investment of this kind was ‘not a business priority’. The primary barrier to investment identified was cost, with financial concerns highlighted by one in three businesses as preventing more green investment. Lack of funds (19%) and concerns about return on investment (16%) were the most commonly cited financial worry. For the companies discouraged by financial obstacles, more than half (57%) think that the most effective way for these barriers to be overcome would be through incentives from government such as tax breaks or subsidies. Tony Walsh, Head of MidCorporates, Barclays Corporate Banking, said:“It’s a mixed picture, with most mid-sized companies taking some steps to invest in

green activity, but with much more still to do. We found that there are clear commercial and reputational benefits if businesses do more in this area, as well as growing regulatory demands to increase green investment. It’s up to all of us: individual companies, trade bodies, government and finance providers to come together and make sure that investment in green initiatives is accessible and prioritised sufficiently. If you’re a business leader and the risks and opportunities around the green agenda are not being discussed in your boardroom, you might miss out on the commercial advantages that are available and suffer reputationally, and could be left behind.” One business to have recognised the benefits of green investment is Unipart Group, the manufacturing, logistics and consultancy provider headquartered in Oxfordshire. They have become the first company to implement an environmentally responsible initiative through Barclays Green Asset Finance programme. Unipart has secured a £370k loan facility to fund the installation of LED lighting, fixtures and sensors at their warehouse in Cowley. The new lighting is environmentally positive as it will result in lower energy consumption and longer lifespan compared to traditional lighting. Unipart will also gain from lower energy costs in the warehouse, with the commercial benefits expected to be realised within 12 months.

MAY 2018

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Wa ke f i e l d

D i s t ric t

I N FO R M AT I O N

T EC H N O LO GY

The Real Benefits of going Virtual…. INFORMATION is everything to business and good quality information delivered in a timely manner will propel your business to the next level, give you the competitive edge, boost profits and increase your overall performance.

information because they lack the in-house skills and the budget to employ someone to manage and implement systems and processes to drive a business forward. Often solutions are put in to a plan then added to in an ad hoc manner over time – this and the ever changing nature of the cyber threat out there leads to insecure systems not working eﬀectively for the business.

Jason Newell, Director of iclaritate Limited highlights the virtues of outsourcing the roles of IT Director, IT Manager and Project Manager to your business. Many SMEs struggle to take full advantage of good quality

If you do not have an IT Strategy for your business how can it deliver for you? IT Support is often reactive and whilst bringing new technologies into your business the lack of a coherent planning can reduce the beneﬁts and lead to further problems down the line. Throw into the mix the additional requirements for compliance, training and security and you are faced with a mineﬁeld. Forget the premise that once your systems are up and running that is it, like a website you cannot implement it then just forget about it and assume it

will always just work without nurturing and protecting it. The needs of your business change as do the risks. Getting strategic advice will help you formulate an IT Strategy going forward, allowing you to plan and budget for the future. Often that budget is not enough to cover all the skills you may need and this is where a Virtual IT Manager can help – working on behalf of your business to optimize the relationships and processes you already have and make them more effective. A Virtual IT Director can provide the roadmap for your IT infrastructure, helping you understand the needs and responsibilities of the business and identify the best technologies and solutions for you as well as helping understand the needs for compliance and security. Planning and implementing projects can also provide a significant challenge especially if taking staff away from their

normal routines. Engaging a qualified Project Manager can help deliver complex projects that you have identified to deploy in your business. What of compliance and security? The need for process, education and monitoring has never been greater – the changes to data protection laws have mandated that everyone starts to think about the information they hold and how they use it, the process they go through to train staff and how they both secure that data and how they identify any data loss. The Data Protection Bill ensures that all the fundamentals of GDPR will be enshrined in UK Law even after we fully exit the EU. Understanding the technologies that can help protect your business is not easy and it is easy to be misled which can be a costly process. The requirement to use “cutting edge technologies” does not necessarily mean spending more money if you get the best advice!

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Wa ke f i e l d

D i s t ric t

Data Driven rebrand to SSG Insight One of the UK’s leading SaaS providers to the manufacturing sector has relaunched today as SSG Insight, reﬂecting the growing role of insight in making intelligent business decisions for the manufacturing and distribution industries.

The Wakefield-based company, formerly known as the SoftSols Group, has earned an impressive reputation for delivering world-class data analysis, helping British manufacturers compete globally by effectively managing their assets to drive better business performance. Alongside the rebrand, the firm has also announced the appointment of two new C-suite directors, Ian Dowd as Group Chief Marketing Officer and Andrew Orme as Chief Commercial Officer in EMEA. Both will be based at the Yorkshire headquarters and will be responsible for driving the business forward, with ambitious growth plans to

expand in to EMEA and ASPAC regions already underway. Central to SSG Insight’s future strategy is investment in key product areas, including Agility, which provides visibility over costs and production eﬃciency among other core KPIs. A product roadmap is in place which is set to see two major new launches come online in the next three months. Working with its core Agility customer base, SSG Insight recently concluded a major Data Intelligence Project, drawing upon a sample of more than 4.6 million work orders from January 2014 to December 2017. Manufacturers

represented in the project spanned food, chemicals, paper, aerospace, automotive and plastics industries. Work completed on time was shown to improve by over 50 per cent on average as a result of utilising the product’s insight, mobile solutions and KPI tracking. Breakdowns, leading to expensive downtime periods, were also shown to reduce by over 30 per cent. Ian Dowd, Group Chief Marketing Officer said: “The coming years represent an incredibly important period of change for the UK manufacturing sector. The relationship Britain holds with the EU under BREXIT, along with factors at play in Rest of World territories under Industry 4.0, both cement a step-change in process and innovation across the globe. Our rebrand enables us to be in the best possible position to help our customers retain a competitive advantage by providing valuable business insight, helping British manufacturers navigate the challenges and maximise the opportunities ahead of them.” Andrew Orme, Chief Commercial Officer in EMEA said: “We are proud to work with businesses of all sizes around the world, including major international brands in the manufacturing and distribution sectors, as well as the transport and healthcare industries. As SSG Insight we are helping our customers to unlock the value in their operational data and processes.” Jon Moody, Group Chief Product Officer added: “We have ambitious plans underway for SSG Insight including a busy product pipeline with multiple launches scheduled over the next three months. We are building on the SoftSols legacy, which delivered more than three decades of innovation, to focus our future new product development on enhancing the user experience, supporting integrated mobile working for better productivity, and creating powerful reporting tools for tracking trends and improved decision making.”

MAY 2018

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CWDIX LIMITED ACCOUNTANTS & BUSINESS ADVISORS

If you are looking for advice on Accountancy and Taxation matters... OR HAVE THE NEED FOR SPECIALIST SERVICES SUCH AS

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Inheritance Tax Planning, Business planning, Mergers or Acquisitions.

Contact Chris Dix or Carolyn Harman for your free initial consultation

CWDIX LIMITED ACCOUNTANTS & BUSINESS ADVISORS

Unit 4 Silkwood Court Wakefield WF5 9TP Telephone: 01924 263766

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Wa ke f i e l d

D i s t ric t

RECRUITMENT

UPDATE

Wakefield Works supporting positive change By Andy Turner Managing Director - First Choice Recruitment

As a founding member of Wakeﬁeld Works, an employment initiative that launched in 2012 and is delivered in partnership with Job Centre Plus, we have seen ﬁrst-hand the positive impact that we can have when we bring our resources together. From the start, we recognised that we needed to take a more proactive approach if we were to get young people into work, so decided that we would host a day that would match suitable candidates with prospective employers.

would deliver half-day sessions from 9am – 1pm. Running over four weeks, the events would give businesses the chance to meet with Job Centre Plus clients to identify any relevant roles that may assist local people back into employment.

Although the results were positive, achieving more than we could ever have hoped, we felt there was more that we could do to have a wider impact and to extend the initiative to engage with people of any age that were having diﬃculty ﬁnding employment.

Fundamentally what we learnt over the years is that it isn’t about whether people do or do not want work, far from it, it’s about oﬀering support to build conﬁdence, which in turn creates relationships that are established through face-to-face meetings.

Since that time the initiative has evolved and in its seventh year we changed the format to create #WakeﬁeldWorksWednesday, which

As a recruitment company we know only too well how challenging it can be when ﬁrst impressions are based entirely on a written CV or an online application.

Of course, this is the process that many of us still rely on. At First Choice we would always reinforce the importance of personality. After all, the skills required for one job will be vastly different to another and this needs to be considered before rash judgements or decisions are made. The beauty about Wakefield Works is that it is a great opportunity for us to showcase the diversity of organisations and also the range of talent that we have across the district. Rather than being Wakefield centric, we have extended the locations to include Pontefract,

Surge in demand for industrial property Work has started on the third phase of construction at Marshall CDP’s South Kirkby Business Park. Hundreds of tonnes of steel are currently being used to build three industrial units on the 22-acre site adjacent to the new A628 and close to the A1, A1(M) and M62 motorway network. Commenting on the development, Ian Greenwood, managing director of joint marketing agents Carter

Towler, said: “We have already had lots of enquiries about this latest phase which is fantastic as these units are being built speculatively. “Marshall’s have been bold in their approach to developing additional property on this site from the outset. “There is considerable demand for

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Wa ke f i e l d

D i s t ric t

Hemsworth and Castleford offering more people the chance to get involved. Growing year on year, we can’t believe that what started out as an opportunity for young people, is now a model for best practice and is being rolled out across Kirklees and Bradford. The figures are testament to the hard work and effort that goes into Wakefield Works behind the scenes. In 2017 we attracted 2,400 candidates and over 500 of those secured part and full-time positions. In addition, 87% said they had come along to the event with the intention to find work, while 96.6% said they would like to see the event held again in the future. We now have some amazing examples of the people that have been supported through Wakefield Works and this includes those that have been unemployed for years. Although they all have their own unique stories to share, what these case studies do make clear is that when we come together we can make a very powerful and positive difference to our communities. After the success of March 2018 we are pleased to announce that we are on track to smash last year’s figures with Wakefield Works Part 2 being planned for September, where a further four half-day sessions will be hosted across the district. We would urge anyone who would like more details, either as an organisation that would like to showcase possible employment opportunities or as a candidate, to register your interest with me: andyturner@firstchoice-uk. com.

industrial properties like these across the region, as there has been for some time, and we are therefore very positive that these will be sold or let just as promptly. The initial phase which started in 2014 completed very quickly.” The three completed detached units have been bought by PHS and commercial vehicle converters VFS. The remaining three which measure 13,600, 10,000 and 11,500 sq ft will be ready for occupation in May 2018. Nick Arundel, joint agent at AWS, added: “This £2.25m scheme is in a great location in the heart of West Yorkshire and Marshall’s are committed to building top quality premises that are suitable for small to medium sized distribution, warehouse or manufacturing companies.”

Free support for business owners Anyone running their own business knows it can be a lonely place at times and that having a supportive network can make all the difference to your happiness, effectiveness and success. To help provide this, Yorkshire based Business Mentor, Gary King from Tendo, has recently joined forces with Mike Hall and Clare Taylor from marketing agency, ThinkSmart to become the voice of experience behind new Facebook Group, The Business Squad. In just a few weeks since its launch, The Business Squad has already grown to over 650 members and has fast established itself as an energetic and mutually supportive community of small business owners.

Lives covering top tips and guidance on some of the common issues business owners face and are keen to get your views on what topics to cover next.

The Business Squad has recently created a survey and would be very grateful to any of you running, or thinking of starting, your own business to give just a few minutes to fill it in and share your views here: https://www.surveymonkey. co.uk/r/TopicApril18

“Everyone who knows me knows how incredibly passionate I am about helping local businesses succeed,” says Gary. “The free tips, tools and support we give out through the Business Squad is just one way we’re doing that, and we want to make sure it stays relevant and useful.” As well as regular posts, the trio behind the group have hosted several webinars and Facebook

Gary King

MAY 2018

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Bounce into and before a

Spring into

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where will it take you?

Around 70 big name shops and restaurants, enjoy free Wi-Fi, and park for only 50p on evenings and all day Sunday in a choice of 1,000 spaces. A great day out awaits you in Wakefield city centre.

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Wa ke f i e l d

TELECOM

D i s t ric t

UPDAT E

Digital innovation for the future workplace The UK is in the middle of a digital revolution. The rise of new technologies and cloud services are radically transforming the way people live and work. Cloud-based technology solutions, Voice over IP (VoIP) and unified communications, along with full fibre gigabit internet speeds, are among the advances enabling businesses to work smarter and increase productivity while remaining secure. This digital revolution forms the centrepiece of the Business Technology Forum 2018 – an annual one-day expo hosted by partners NGC Networks, Blue Logic and Ben Johnson. Now in its fifth year, the Business Technology Forum provides an unmissable opportunity for IT Managers and Directors together with Finance and Commercial Managers and Directors to learn how to transform the way their business works. Free educational seminars running throughout the day will demonstrate the raft of technologies available to enhance business coupled with predictions about where the digital revolution is headed for the future. NGC Networks has partnered with Avaya, Gamma, IBM and CityFibre to deliver five seminars all providing topical insights for business leaders: Avaya – Demystify Cloud Telephony, Unified Communications and Video. An educational, informative session exploring what is on offer from cloud telephony, unified communications and

video, where the offerings differ and understand how collaborative and flexible working tools are shaping the way we manage our work-life balance. Nikki Guest, Director NGC Networks

IBM – Mobile Device Security in the Workplace. While most cybercrime is targeted at corporate networks, mobile devices are extremely vulnerable too. Learn how Mobile Device Management can protect against data breaches, providing the ability to control and manage devices remotely, ensuring compliancy and cost savings for businesses. Gamma – The Evolution of SIP SIP technology is transforming business communications. Learn how SIP is more than just lines - it enhances business communications with backbone resilience, storage backup and disaster recovery. The next generation SIP will provide network level PCI compliant call recording and ﬁxed mobile conversions. Join us to discover how you can harness this technology to provide a rich communication experience.

how the latest technology can increase your CSAT scores whilst reducing costs and learn how to “move at the speed of the consumer”. Industry expertise and market research from top vendors will be shared at this session. CityFibre – Future-proofing business with Smart Cities Learn how CityFibre is revolutionising UK network infrastructure with full fibre gigabit internet speeds, offering complete resilience from Openreach and Virgin Media Business. We will also discuss the government funding support that is available to SME businesses in order to invest in this technology. To book your place at the Business Technology Forum 2018 and your choice of seminars, please visit: www.businesstechforum.co.uk

Avaya – The Future of Customer Contact Centres. Learn about the current and future trends in Customer Experience Management that will help you understand Omnichannel Contact Centres and how they can help your business provide ﬁrst class customer service. Explore

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D i s t ric t

Music futures continues to hit the right note for business Wakeﬁeld’s reputation for nurturing talent within the music industry is certainly hitting the right note thanks to Music Futures, a series of masterclasses delivered by Generation and led by Wakeﬁeld Council as part of the ERDF funded AD:VENTURE programme.

Bringing together leading experts from the music and live events industry to share their experiences with members of the district’s creative, digital and IT community, the Music Future sessions have proven incredibly popular with those that have recently established or are considering a career in the sector. Kick-starting the programme for start-up businesses in February, the initiative will go on to deliver a total of six events that have been developed to support this vibrant and emerging industry within the Leeds City Region.

Over the course of the day, we’ll cover key digital marketing and promotion tools, communicating eﬀectively on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook making the most of video content, how to build your fan or customer base, managing mailing lists, how to analyse your Facebook and digital data, and take advantage of it. Any individual considering launching a company, business startup or organisation that has been trading less than three years within the industry is encouraged to attend.

Tweeting feedback from recent Music Futures events, Scott Wilson commented: “Some great talks yesterday looking forward to the next session, massive thank you to the people who took the time to come and share their knowledge and experience #musicfutures @ADVENTURE_LCR @WakefieldFirst.” Isaac Tyler tweeted: “Huge props to @ADVENTURE_LCR @ Wakefieldfirst and @GeneratorNE for yesterday! A day filled with some great talks from some great people in the music industry.

Jim Mawdsley from Generator, designers of the Music Futures programme comments: “There is real growth within live and recorded music which demonstrates the opportunity for those starting out or considering a business within this innovative sector.

Sue Dyde added: “@isaactylermusic and I buzzing after today’s session. Highest quality input have ever experienced and people so approachable and genuinely interested. Gamechanger. #musicteacher #adventure.

The next events will take place on 3rd May, which will focus on “Wakeﬁeld is already recognised Digital Marketing featuring insight for its forward-thinking approach, and practical advice from special with Production Park and Tileyard guest Darren Hemmings, founder each playing a role in inspiring of Motive Unknown. Between and showcasing best in class. This managing campaigns for artists such programme provides the practical as Alt-J, Run The Jewels, Blink-182, steps to help our local businesses J Dilla, Richard Ashcroft, Leftﬁeld, push forward in the exciting Jack Savoretti, James and DJ industry and has received fantastic Shadow, and running the feedback from those who took part.”

For further details about AD:VENTURE and the extensive range of business activities, master classes and grant support that is available to start-up and recently launched enterprises throughout the Leeds City Region, please visit www.adventure.org.uk and for updates about Music Futures please follow #MusicFutures #ThinkAdventure.

Daily Digest, there’s not much they don’t know about digital marketing. Our Digital Marketing Masterclass will take a detailed look at the online tools available and oﬀers practical, bespoke advice to you through expert tuition, case studies and practical tasks.

Future masterclasses will cover topics including VR/AR/XR streaming, digital led marketing strategies and complex industry rights, while also oﬀering access to incredible coaching opportunities from music industry specialists including Tileyard and Production Park.

MAY 2018

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for all your legal needs call your local solicitors Ramsdens

with 12 offices across West Yorkshire weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re never too far away #knowyourlawyer #askRamsdens

Yorkshire Legal Awards, Law Firm of the Year 2011, 2015 & 2017

01924 669510 www.ramsdens.co.uk

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Wa ke f i e l d

LEG AL

D i s t ric t

M AT TERS

Ramsdens solicitors launches new specialist department Ramsdens Solicitors have brought together a multi-disciplinary team to support Professional Service ﬁrm clients. Clients range from Legal and Accountancy practises to Surveyors, Architects, IFA’s and Estate Agents as well as Medical and Dental practitioners.

Ramsdens Solicitors

Each issue Ramsdens Solicitors, share with our readers information to keep us all within the law. If you have a legal question, or need to know about a particular subject, email editor@topicuk. co.uk

Ramsdens clients in this sector normally operate in one of three forms; as a partnership as an LLP or as a limited company. The objective of the multidisciplinary team is to support and advise clients from the point of creation through every stage of development. The specialist team boasts expertise across the range of advice and representation Professional Service ﬁrms require, including: Core documentation, governance and change management. Mergers and acquisitions. Reward and progression structures and performance management. Succession planning and implementation.

Regulatory issues and liaison with governing bodies. Sensitive investigations. Pre-dispute and dispute resolution support and litigation. The Ramsden team is made up of experienced Lawyers and Advisers, many of whom are or have held Senior Management positions in their own successful firms. David Bradley, Chairman of Ramsdens and member of the specialist team commented: “By bringing together experienced professionals working across disciplines, we provide a focussed and highly relevant service to clients in the Professional Services firm sector. The business dynamics within a Professional Services firms often display unique characteristics which as Lawyers, Partners, members and owners ourselves we understand and tailor our advice accordingly. We believe this sector of the market is not currently served particularly well and with our Partner led service we aim to improve upon that situation.” Ramsdens other specialist team members are, Paul Joyce, Stephen Newman, Joanne Coen, Paul Booth and Richard Dean.

How serious are data breaches?How safe are your systems & policies? The recent High Court case of Various Claimants WM Morrison Ltd illustrates that employers may be held responsible for the actions of their employees in respect of data breaches.

MAY 2018

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Blue badges for ‘hidden disabilities’? assets will pass under the laws of intestacy meaning that the people you wish to inherit may not beneﬁt. As well as nominating beneﬁciaries, you can also detail any funeral wishes you have and, is appropriate, appoint guardians for your young children.

Recent government proposals suggest that the ‘blue badge scheme’, which allows people to park closer to their destination free of charge, may be extended to those living with disabilities that are not always visible, such as autism and dementia. The proposals have received a welcome response in light of a recent report showing that 75% of blue badge holders admitted that they would go out less frequently if they were not part of the scheme. Supporters of the proposal feel that it will enable and encourage many more people to lead and to beneﬁt from a more independent lifestyle.

In this case an employee of Morrison’s published payroll information of nearly 100,000 employees on the internet and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Following the data breach, those employees concerned argued that the breach had exposed them to the risk of identity theft and potential ﬁnancial loss. Although Morrison’s was not directly liable and had not breached its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) the DPA required employees to have adequate security measures in place to prevent any unlawful processing of data. Evidently, Morrison’s did not have adequate protections in place. The court held that Morrison’s was vicariously liable for the

Living with a hidden disease such as dementia highlights the importance of ensuring that your legal aﬀairs are in order. A Will is a vital legal document which dictates what should happen to your Estate after you die. Without a Will, your

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint people whom you trust to act as your attorneys and deal with your aﬀairs on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so. There are two types of LPA; Property and Financial Aﬀairs and Health and Welfare. The Property LPA allows your attorney to deal with your bank accounts and property whereas the Health LPA covers decisions about selecting a care home or making choices relating to medical care.

data protection breach as the employee was ‘acting in the course of his employment’ when the data was disclosed. The ruling in this case, together with the current General Data Protection Regulation, emphasises the need for well enforced organisational processes and procedures to ensure that the risk of such information security breaches are mitigated. The GDPR is a substantial and ambitious piece of legislation which aims to overhaul attitudes towards the handling of personal data. The reform will introduce concepts such as the right to be forgotten, data breach notiﬁcation and accountability as well as requiring a higher standard of consent.

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creative media hub in central London and is aiming to create a ‘Northern extension’ of the brand, in partnership with the council. The applicant has described its vision for the project as ‘the final stage of a regeneration masterplan that will give ten acres of Wakefield’s historic riverside a new lease of life and see it become a significant cultural destination in the North of England’. The intention is to turn the Rutland Mills site into a new mixed use creative quarter for collaborative partnerships in music, film, TV, design and new media. The planned development would include a new four storey building, riverside pier and new public realm creating a large open air events space. A flexible range of uses are proposed, including new shops, market stalls, a hotel, food and drink outlets, conference and education spaces, art galleries, a microbrewery, craft workshops, studios and offices. One of the grade II listed buildings on the site would be demolished with the rest to be restored.

Green light recommended for Wakefield creative waterfront The conversion of the listed Rutland Mill on Wakeﬁeld’s waterfront to create a new creative quarter that could become a signiﬁcant cultural destination in the North of England has been given the go-ahead. The site is located to the south of the city centre, adjacent to The Hepworth art gallery and a grade II listed watermill. It currently comprises a complex of nine 19th century buildings, including the grade II listed Rutland Mill complex, grade II listed Phoenix Mill Building, associated curtilage listed buildings and the locally listed Caddies Wainwright Mill building. City and Provincial Properties is behind Tileyard Studios, a

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TRAVEL

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UPDAT E central jungle region is perfect for a day getting to know the local wildlife. But George Town – the island’s capital – is a constant draw for people seeking new adventures. George Town is a hub of excitement. The old town streets, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are filled with quaint alleys and streets filled with boutiques and restaurants. Artisan stores filled with local works and crafts can be found all over the town. The streets are alive with the mix of Chinese, Indian and traditional Malay cultures, with a variety of stunning temples and religious spaces as a result of this. Throw in influences from the British colonial days, and you have yourself one of the most architecturally vibrant cities in the East. George Town has built an incredible reputation for itself over the last twenty years – particularly as a haven for foodies.

One that should reach the bucket list!

Street food is massive here, and the vibrant mix of cultures make for an interesting meal at any of the island’s hawker centres. Often associated with Singapore, hawker centres are like food-courts or indoor markets made of street food vendors, and they’re a great way to sample many local specialities, particularly those of Far Eastern inﬂuences. Transport yourself to the market streets of Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai with an evening walk around the streets of Little India – George Town’s Indian enclave – and discover sample the crossover Indian-Malay cuisine.

A small, buzzing capital with a renowned street food scene, dense jungle home to a variety of wildlife, white sand beaches, and history both ancient and modern – the small island of Penang, along the western coast of Malaysia, should be on everyone’s Far East bucket list. People generally ﬂock to the island for some R&R following a few days in Kuala Lumpur – the Malaysian capital is only an hour’s ﬂight away. Penang can, however, be exactly the place you need it to be. The coastal resorts along the West are the perfect place to enjoy year-round great weather by the side of a pool, and the

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Here, you’ll also ﬁnd the Sri Mahamariamman Temple – the island’s oldest Hindu temple, dating back to 1833. Those interested in temples should deﬁnitely check out Kek Lok Si, a stunning Buddhist temple often adorned in stunning colourful lanterns, located on the outskirts of George Town itself.

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Why I became a foster carer

“A short time later Claire and Julia came to see me. They were both very friendly and recognised my uncertainty about such a life changing career move. Through their positivity and understanding I decide to continue along this journey.

Fostering to Inspire had their ﬁrst foster carer, Lesley, approved in March.

“That’s when Julia became my assessing social worker. Together, over three to four months we worked on my proﬁle and I found I could talk to her about some very painful memories. She was lovely and helped me explore my past, and assess what valuable skills I already have for the fostering task.

With many families in assessment the agency is looking forward to setting up their ﬁrst constellation as part of the Mockingbird Family Model. Lesley has kindly shared her thoughts on making the decision to foster and what she is looking forward to about the future. “An everyday woman sat scrolling through Facebook came upon an article about fostering. That woman was me. Fostering was something I’d been interested in but never done anything about it. Well, for some reason my ﬁnger twitched that night and I liked the page.

a strong, positive, supportive home for vulnerable children and young people. I would like to thank Fostering to Inspire and look forward to the challenges ahead.” Fostering to Inspire is working in collaboration with The Fostering Network, aspiring to be a Mockingbird Family Model accredited service. This model brings together clusters of six to eight foster satellite families to form constellations. Each constellation is supported by a hub home carer who provides a range of support including peer mentoring and shortbreak care for the adults and children within the constellation.

“Julia then supported me through the fostering panel, and spoke on my behalf when I stumbled, she was there for me. “Now having gone through panel, I’m preparing the house for children again. I’m scared yet really excited. I’m looking forward to the unexpected and the unknown. I know and trust the team at Fostering to Inspire will be there to help me when children arrive. I’m feeling very proud that all these people are supporting me and believe in me to provide

Do something

extraordinary

Yorkshire needs foster carers

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Digital innovation for the future workplace

Join us for the No.1 Technology Event The Business Technology Forum is back for a 5th year. Join us for this annual one-day expo bursting with educational seminars from industry experts that will help transform the way you work. This year we focus on digital innovation for the future workplace, discover how technology can empower your business to work smarter, make better more informed decisions and aid productivity and collaboration.

THURSDAY 17TH MAY 2018 | 8AM - 3PM THE VILLAGE HOTEL, TINGLEY, LEEDS LS27 0TS To register for your FREE place, please visit: www.businesstechforum.co.uk

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Wa ke f i e l d

D i s t ric t

R ESTAURA N T

REV I EW

New Inn

The name ‘New Inn’ seems a misnomer for such an old building although it must, of course, have been new once upon a time. Walton is known to have been settled in Anglo-Saxon times (when it was known as known as Weala-tun, meaning 'village of the Welshmen') and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Waleton. Records show that there were at least six licensed houses in Walton at one time. As well as The New Inn, there were The Cross Keys, The Star Inn, The Rose and Crown, The Boot and Shoe and an apparently unnamed beer house on Greenside, not to mention numerous other unlicensed ones. (1) That there were so many thriving pubs in the past can probably be attributed to the fact that many navvies came to the area to help with building the canals and later the railways, adding to the number of agricultural labourers and coal miners already working in there.

There was a time when you could have reached The New Inn at Walton by land or by sea...

The New Inn at Walton is a thriving pub and restaurant at the heart of a very old village. Wakeﬁeld Civic Society president, Kevin Trickett MBE, visits the ancient settlement for his latest restaurant review

OK, that last part might be a bit of a stretch, but Wakefield was once an inland port, navigable to (and from) the sea, and the canal system enabled boats to reach just about anywhere inland. The Barnsley Canal, dug in the late 1790s used to connect Barnsley and Wakefield and passed close by the pub until the canal was closed in 1953. Although the canal has long gone with some sections filled in and even built on, there is a group, The Barnsley, Dearne & Dove Canals Trust, who are campaigning to get the canal reopened. Until that lucky day, though, the only way to get to The New Inn is by road.

Kevin and his partner dined as guests of

The New Inn 144 Shay Lane, Walton, Wakeﬁeld, West Yorkshire WF2 6LA http://www. thenewinnwalton.co.uk Tel. 01924 255447 Email: info@ thenewinnwalton.co.uk

Follow Kevin on Twitter @MrTrickett

Today, though, The New Inn is the only pub in the village and is run by husband and wife team Ria BrooksBell and Iain Bell. They bought the property in November 2011 and invested heavily in the premises and the business to create a thriving village pub and restaurant that oﬀers visitors a warm welcome in comfortable surroundings. Ria, who is a native of the village, and Iain each have a background in the licensed trade and were both working for the Slug and Lettuce chain when they ﬁrst met ten years ago – Ria was employed in sales and marketing while Iain ran one of the chain’s pubs in Leeds. Having ‘teamed up’ the couple took

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on responsibility for running the Slug and Lettuce in Deansgate, Manchester, but then, around seven years ago, Ria’s father, Adrian, drew their attention to the fact that The New Inn was being offered for sale and, with a bit of help from the bank of mum and dad, the couple decided to make an offer, which was accepted. The pub is today very much a family affair; Ria’s father and two brothers help to keep the business running (if mostly by doing their socialising in the bar) while Ria’s mother, Jacqui, does the office work, allowing Ria to focus on running the pub and Iain to lead in the kitchen where he is head chef. It is perhaps a mark of their success that the pub now employs some 28 staff: it was certainly very busy when my partner and I dined there one Wednesday evening at the end of March as guests of the establishment. As I’ve mentioned before, the life of a restaurant reviewer is not without its challenges. To do the job right, you have to work your way through three courses and so it was that we set about ordering our meals. For a starter, I opted for Salt and Pepper Halloumi Slices in batter. These come with a salad garnish and chilli chutney (although I had mine with ketchup!). I followed this with a Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie served with ‘seasonal vegetables’ and then topped it all off with Caramel Apple Pie and custard. Had I been paying, that would have set me back £21.65, which is not at all bad for a threecourse meal and typical of what you can expect to pay there. Meanwhile, my partner chose dishes from the specials menu. He started with a Bread-Crumbed Brie Wedge, with mixed salad leaves, and for

pub’s website). Should you be visiting at lunchtime, there is the option of a main course from a lunchtime specials menu for just £6.95 and even the oﬀer of a sandwich, chips and a soft drink at the same price. No wonder the place does good business. Or how about an afternoon tea – you have to order these at least a day in advance but at just £12.95 per person (£17.95 if you want it with Prosecco), it certainly looks like good value.

mains chose the Penne Pasta with Pesto, topped with rocket leaves and parmesan shavings. For dessert, he went with the ice cream. Again, the meal would have cost around the £20 mark. The specials’ menu is changed daily while the standard menu is refreshed every six months (so by the time you are reading this, the summer menus will be in use - you can check the menus on the

The New Inn can cater for groups in the main restaurant area or there’s the option to book a private room – the Chef’s Table, which seats up to eight people for a private dining experience. Or try the upstairs dining room, Lock Eleven, named after the Eleventh Lock on the aforementioned Barnsley Canal which was closest to the pub, where you have the choice of dining inside and experiencing the cosy surroundings, or outside on the open air terrace enjoying views of the surrounding

countryside. Lock Eleven can be booked for private groups of up to 20 people. The New Inn is open from 12 noon until late, seven days a week, and food is served until 9 pm. There’s an extensive garden area with lots of seating and a large car park, there’s plenty of room for everyone. Taking the dog for a walk? Well, provided your pooch is well behaved, you’ll ﬁnd your four-legged friend is even allowed into the tap room! So, there you are. If you’ve not yet sampled The New Inn for yourself, there’s really no excuse. The service is friendly, the food is good and the price is right. The canal may no longer be there, but the road still leads to Walton….. Why not follow it there? (1) Source: A History of Walton by Peter Wright Published in 1985 by Countryside Publications.

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FOO D

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D RIN K

Cook the perfect steak with Create Cafe…

Ingredients Steak – this is obviously the most important element and we urge you to buy the thickest steak you can. Going to the butcher or the butchery counter is a good way to get a thick steak as opposed to buying ‘from the shelf’. There are many diﬀerent cuts and this is a personal preference. Rump is usually thin, whereas sirloin, rib-eye and ﬁllet can be thicker. We’ll leave it up to you which cut you prefer but as we say we urge you to get the thickest steak you can as it makes cooking the perfect steak much easier! You will also need: - Knob of butter - Sprig of thyme - One clove of garlic per steak, cut in half - Salt and pepper

Method Remove your steak from the fridge and let them reach room temperature for an hour or two.

Happy Spring from all of us here at Create Café! Father’s day is fast approaching so that must mean we have some better weather coming our way. This month we thought that you may like some ideas to treat the dads in your life, so we have created a beer inspired cocktail (one that suits the ladies as well as the gents). Alongside this we thought that you may like to treat the man in your life, to most men’s favourite food – steak. Cooking steak is easy I hear you cry, and you would be right. To cook a steak perfectly though is more of a challenge. See the recipe below to learn the cheﬀy way to cook a steak and impress your dads!

Choosing the right pan and getting it hot is key. Go for a heavy bottomed pan or a griddle pan. Once the pan is hot, on medium heat for a good 10 minutes to let the heat radiate through the metal and get the pan evenly hot all over. It should be smoking before the steak goes anywhere near it! Just before adding the steak, turn the pan up to full heat. Next step is to oil and season the meat. Go with oil ﬁrst, ideally vegetable oil not olive oil. Use a good amount of salt and pepper. This is a very important part of the cooking process. Use more salt than you would think! It won’t make the meat salty but will add ﬂavour throughout the cooking process. Lay the steak in the pan, away from you to avoid any oil splashing back. Cook it for two minutes and turn it, cooking for a further two minutes.

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Wa ke f i e l d Add the butter, garlic and thyme. Once the butter is foaming start to baste the steaks. This will add all of the flavour from the thyme and garlic to the meat and the butter helps to impart the flavours deep into the steak. Do this stage for two minutes. Now is the time to check how the steak is coming along. Gently prod the meat with your finger, it should feel fairly soft, so about medium rare. (This depends how thick your steak is, if it was thin it may well be further along). There is a good way to check how done the steak is by using the palm of your hand. Just look up ‘checking how done steak is’ on you tube or google and there will videos showing you this technique. If you like the meat more well done then turn it again and give it another minute, then turn one last time and give it another minute. Last step is to rest the meat. A rule of thumb is to leave it to rest for the same amount of time it was cooking for. This allows the fibres of the meat to relax and will make it much more tender. Just add whatever you would like to accompany your steak and enjoy!

The Eclipse With summer being around the corner, here is a fruity, beery, refreshing drink that can suit all tastes: Ingredients 4 Raspberries 4 Blueberries 4 Mint leaves 35ml Tequila blanco 18ml Lime 18ml Sugar syrup ½ pint of lager

Method Squash the berries and mint in a cocktail shaker. Add the tequila, lime and sugar syrup. Shake with ice and strain into an ice ﬁlled glass. Top with the lager and gently stir. Garnish with a mint sprig and a couple of berries. Enjoy!

Each edition, Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk provide goodies for us to review, either here in the TopicUK office or to give to our partners and clients for their view.

We also tried a Taste the Diﬀerence Cepa Alegro Rioja Reserva, a smooth and

D i s t ric t

then add the perfect cocktail

Taste the Difference at Sainsbury’s This issue we have a delicious Taste the Difference Casablanca Chilean Sauvignon wine that we tried with Chicken Stir Fry. Zesty and crisp with grapefruit and gooseberry flavours this wine was quite dry and fresh and sat perfectly with our chicken. It would also work very well with fish. This is a fantastic value wine at just £6.00.

mellow red that has intense ﬂavours of ripe cherries, raspberries and chocolate, underpinned by warm oaky notes. This time one of our staﬀ tried it with roast lamb. This was a little more expensive than the white, but equally good value for money at £7.50.

were crisp without too much salt, Cheddar Cheese Twists, which were very cheesy and our favourite Chive & Onion Twists that had a lovely savoury flavour, perfect as a snack on their own or for dipping. Finally, we saved the sweet until last. 140g of delicious Taste the Difference Belgian Salted Caramels, a definite office favourite and just £4.00. We were pleasantly surprised when we opened the box as each of the Caramels are coated in ‘gold’ making them not only taste wonderful with just the right amount of salt and sweet, but looked very glamourous too. Perfect for after dinner served with liquors.

Aside from the wine, we also opened a box of Sainsbury’s savoury selection. There are three snacks in the 115g box, great value at £1.40. There are plain Salted Breadsticks which

MAY 2018 2018

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BEAUTIFUL RANGE OF FULLY SERVICED OFFICES

I N WA K E F I E L D Wakefield Business Centres provide quality serviced offices in centres of Wakefield and Ossett. All offer a range of office suites either furnished, unfurnished, hot desks or virtual, with a friendly unrivalled service and tailor made packages to suit all. Safe gated car parking with CCTV is available and all three buildings are close to major transport links. Excellent meeting room and conference facilities are offered, and the offices in Wakefield are situated 300m from Wakefield Westgate train station with services to London in less than 2 hours, and 5 minutes walk away from Wakefield centre.

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Tel: +44 (0) 1924 580959 - Web: www.wakefieldbusinesscentres.com Email: info@wakefieldbusinesscentres.com - Twitter: @WakeOffices

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Steve said: “I am delighted to have been able to complete the buy out and provide a welldeserved exit for Mick. “We ﬁrst started working together at Top Treads over 20 years ago, and we have been a great partnership.” He continued: “I’m looking forward to building on the foundations that have been put in place over a long period time, and am conﬁdent that Top Treads can go from strength to strength. “I am particularly pleased to retain Mick’s expertise within the group on a consultancy basis and he will continue to retain and develop key accounts in Yorkshire.”

Tyre business acquired as MD buys out long-term partner The Wakefield-based business is now solely owned by managing director Steve Evans, who acquired shares from long-term partner Michael Blackshaw through a newlyformed holding company. Top Treads wholesales retread commercial tyres for local councils, international fleets and owner operators in the North. The company was founded in 1991 and today employs over 40 people. As Europe’s largest independently owned Bridgestone-certified tyre retreader, Top Treads operates from factories in Crigglestone and the Wirral, Merseyside.

Paul Davison of PD Tax Solutions provided tax advice on the transaction. Accounting and deal structuring advice was provided by Chris Dix Accountants. Sharon Lowther, of NatWest, arranged the acquisition funding and Daniel McCormack, corporate partner at law ﬁrm Lupton Fawcett, gave legal advice to the newly formed holding company. Daniel commented: “Top Treads is a great Wakeﬁeld business with bags of potential to grow still further. “It was a pleasure to work alongside Paul and Chris, plus Sharon at Natwest, to help get the deal done. With Steve’s drive and determination I am sure that the future is bright for Top Treads.” The buyout was completed for an undisclosed sum.

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The Wakefield First Bondholder Scheme is a private sector initiative that aims to accelerate the growth of the Wakefield District by branding, marketing and promoting it nationally and internationally. It now boasts representation and support from companies of all sizes and from a variety of sectors including manufacturing, professional services, creative and digital as well as cultural and leisure.

Our latest campaign says it best: Wakefield is a great place to Live, Invest or Visit.

To find out more about Wakefield Bondholders, the work that they are doing or for details on how to become a member, contact Melissa Armitage on: 01924 669220 or email: membership@wakefieldbondholders.com

L I IVNVEVI W ES SIATK E F I E L D www.wakefieldbondholders.com

Topic_Wakefield_May18.indd 54

L I V E â&#x20AC;¢ I N V E S T â&#x20AC;¢ V I S I T â&#x20AC;¢ W A K E F I E L D

19/04/2018 00:20

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