CloseUP for business March 2019 Edition by Yorkshire BusinessWoman & TopicUK

MARCH 2019

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MID YORKSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE- YORKSHIRE EDITION

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOPICUK

FOR BUSINESS

Eaton Smith Presents

Business of the month Awards 2018-19 Queens New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Honours List REVEALS MBE AWARD FOR CHAMBER EMPLOYEE Kirklees Business Conference

Returns for 9th Year

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WELCOME Welcome to our first 2019 digital edition of Close Up for Business, from all of us here at the Chamber, and our associates; TopicUK.

The year began with some fantastic news for The Mid Yorkshire Chamber, as our Head of Policy Steven Leigh was awarded an MBE for his services to business and the local economy. Steven is recognised as the ‘voice of local businesses’ and has been providing support to the community for 13 years. January also saw us welcome new Patrons, City Fibre and The Piece Hall, and we look forward to working in partnership with them to support our members. Having them on board will further aid our mission to support business growth across the Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield districts. We have now officially introduced The Halifax & District Chamber of Commerce, The Huddersfield & District Chamber of Commerce, and The Wakefield & District Chamber of Commerce, as part of our 2019 rebrand. By introducing these sub divisions, you will benefit from additional representation

and a more localised approach to business support.

part and provide insight from businesses across the region.

The uncertainty over the looming Brexit is having massive impact on the business community, both locally and nationally and how it will affect trade with Europe and beyond. For this reason, throughout February and April, we will be running a number of ‘Brexit and Beyond’ export workshops, focusing on the current EU processes and how they are likely to change. You can register your interest or obtain additional information by visiting www. myexporthub.co.uk.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that our ever-popular Kirklees Business Conference is returning on Wednesday 13 March 2019 at The John Smith’s Stadium. The conference provides exclusive networking opportunities to get connected and meet potential clients, as well as a specialised seminar programme that is at the forefront of business needs delivered by local and national experts.

In addition, between 18th February and 11th March, local business people will get the chance to voice their opinions, challenges and concerns by completing our Quarterly Economics Survey, designed to gain understanding of the most common issues in the business community. We encourage all of our members and non-members to take

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Close Up and look forward to seeing you at one of our many upcoming events.

Martin Hathaway Managing Director Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Contents &Comments This Issue

John Lewis MD opens innovation centre PAGE 10

Ramping up access at Leeds Corn Exchange PAGE 16

Town boss puts Bibiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the premier league

Business Conf award for I Kirklees ii MBE returns for 9th Year Chamber employee

PAGE 48

Kirklees College - CSR Showcase PAGE 60

Scarboroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Star Women in Business Awards PAGE 68

The force is with Umar PAGE 74

Cover: Adeem Younis Image: Irfan Boston

pizza shop Italianissimo 24 From to feeding the world in the Premier League 56 Bibis

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 Chadwick Lawrence & Ramsdens Solicitors LLP and TopicUK is not responsible for any advice given.

For a full list of where you can pick up your free copy visit our website: www.topicuk.co.uk Our ‘big interview’ for this edition is with

Gill Laidler

founder and businessman, Adeem

Editor Alex Mason

Younis. Adeem founded his own charity Penny Appeal and is the brains behind

Editors notes by Group Editor Gill Laidler

hugely successful online dating platform, SingleMuslim.com (in addition to being the winner of too many business and Hello everyone, Wishing you a warm welcome to what is our first edition of TopicUK in 2019. Despite the festivities being less than two months ago, most of us are well and truly back into the throws of our regular routines and making plans for the year ahead. Here at TopicUK, we’re certainly very busy. We’ve recently taken on a number of new distribution points including York train station, Huddersfield train station, Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel and Leeds Bradford Airport, meaning the magazine is reaching more readers than ever before and even taking to the skies as people fly out of our region’s airport. As a result of our growing reach, we’re delighted to have gained the support of several new partners from across the region who understand our vision for growth and have decided to join us on the journey. We are proud to partner with some of Yokshire’s best-known business names, and thankful to them for their ongoing support. You can find out more about some of the newest businesses to come on board on page12.

Group Editor

Wakefield-based entrepreneur, charity

social impact awards to mention here!). Adeem is also a long-time supporter of TopicUK, and I caught up with him from page 26 to help celebrate 10 years of Penny Appeal and find out what’s to come for the international charity. We’ve also introduced a few new features, namely Lessons In Business (page 65), Five in Five (page 45) and Out of Office (page 83), so please do get in touch if you’d like to contribute to those and we’ll do our best to get them in print or online. We have our regular round-up of some of the region’s movers and shakers on pages 22 and 23, and if you’ve already had enough of the January diet and are

Design Rob Blackwell Business Executive Mandy Taylor

Illustration

Buttercrumble

The Arts

Murray Edwards The Grand Theatre

Legal Matters

Ramsdens Solicitors Chadwick Lawrence

Food & Drink

Kevin Trickett MBE Create Restaurant

Recruitment

First Choice Recruitment Stafflex

Paul Heigham, Bellingham It

Education

Ackworth School

Banking Barclays Bank

looking for some eating out inspiration, you might just want to check out our review of Bibi’s Italianissimo in Leeds from page 48.

To Partner TopicUK

Tel: 07711 539047

Enjoy this edition everyone. Until next time…

Printed By: Charlesworth Press Wakefield

TopicUK February/March 2019

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Chamber News............................... I Member News............................. VI Chamber Events.............................X Business of the Month............... XII

News T

www.mycci.co.uk

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019

Following on from its success in 2018, the Kirklees Business Conference is back for 2019 at The John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield on Wednesday 13th March

Kirklees Business Conference Returns for 9th Year The conference aims to reinforce Kirklees as a hotspot for commercial activity in the wider West Yorkshire region and to sho wcase the thriving business community in the area. O rg an is e d b y th e M i d Yo r k s h i r e C h a m b e r of Commerce, which has bee n re prese nting

“KBC 2019 is a must-attend event, providing an exceptional opportunity to engage with businesses from all sectors...” local businesses for 166 years, Kirklees Business Conference is back by p o p u l a r d e m a nd a fte r going from strength to strength.

The ninth annual conference will consist of 43 exhibitors and a jam-packed seminar programme, including two workshops led by experts from local businesses, a discussion panel and an inspirational keynote speaker. There will also be opportunity to take advantage of one-to-one business clinics, a business breakfast and to take part in networking throughout the day. New for 2019 are improved sponsorship opportunities enabling businesses to

maximise their profile in Kirklees and the West Yorkshire region, plus business owners will be able to meet with speakers and other local businesses at the Business Lunch overlooking the pitch. Kirklees Business Conference also benefits from a brand-new website t h i s y e a r, e n h a n c i n g marketing capabilities. Rory Bourke, Events & Sponsorship Coordinator, Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, commented: “KBC 2019 is a mustattend event, providing an

exceptional opportunity to engage with businesses from all sectors. The conference also provides insights into key topics most relevant to businesses through the conference programme. KBC is the Mid Yorkshire Chamber’s flagship event that serves the purpose of connecting, supporting and representing businesses. Attending the event will open up more opportunities for attendees. We l o o k f o r w a r d t o welcoming new faces and catching up with returning sponsors, exhibitors and delegates.” To book your tickets visit kirkleesbusinessconference. co.uk

Mid Yorkshire Chamber Policy

The importance of answering the question ‘How’s business?’ A key role of our Chamber is to give our members a voice, whilst representing their best interests to policy-makers at the highest levels locally, regionally and nationally.

economy by policymakers such as the Treasury Department, the Bank of England, the Office of Budget Responsibility, and a range of private institutions.

What is the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES)?

The survey offers not only a rich archive of historical data dating back to 1989, but also a number of ‘forward-looking’ indicators which seek to capture business sentiment towards future investment decisions and anticipated trading conditions.

Established in 1989, it is the largest and longest-running private-sector business survey in the UK, and a powerful tool for representing the voice of business to Government. The QES results feed into the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly QES. Each quarter more than 7,500 companies from all regions of the UK participate in the survey. Businesses are questioned on a wide range of issues which measure 27 indicators on nine key areas, split by the manufacturing and service sectors, including: home sales and orders, export sales and orders, employment prospects, investment, recruitment pressures, cashflow, and business confidence. By completing the QES, at a local level, you are helping us to make the case for policies that promote local business growth and support this region’s economy. Past responses have helped influence investment into broadband and transport infrastructure, direct funding into skills programmes, advised on regional growth funds and targeted support for exporters. The QES is the first economic indicator published each Quarter, in advance of official figures and other private surveys, and it consistently mirrors trends in official data. For this reason the survey is closely monitored to assess the health of the UK

How can you contribute? The online survey consists of a number of tick-box questions covering sales and orders, employment and recruitment, business confidence and other business indicators. It only takes just a few minutes to complete, requires no detailed information and is completely anonymous. We urge all members and businesses throughout our region to participate in the next survey which opens for businesses to complete from 18th February to 11th March, and can be accessed through the Chamber website www.mycci.co.uk Steven Leigh, Head of Policy and Representation Call: 07809 658 533 Email: steven.leigh@mycci.co.uk

Queens New Year’s Honours List reveals MBE award for Chamber employee Mid Yorkshire Chamber’s very own ‘voice of business’ Steven Leigh, has been awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen in the New Year’s Honours list, for ‘his services to local businesses and the Economy in Yorkshire.’ Steven who is the current Head of Policy here at Mid Yorkshire Chamber, received the award-which royally recognises those individuals who go above and beyond to serve the Country, for his outstanding commitment to economic development, and passion for serving the local business community over the last thirteen years. A highly respected and successful businessman, Steven has resided in Yorkshire for almost 30 years, joined the Chamber in 2006 following a very impressive career in business, which saw the flotation of his company to a full listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1993, and successfully running it as Chief Executive. Since joining the Chamber as Head of Policy and Representation, Leigh has featured as our spokesman and become widely known as ‘the voice of business’ in our part of Yorkshire, on local and national TV, radio and in the press. His impressive depth of knowledge allows him to be a regular contributor to regional newspapers on a full range of business topics, as well as sitting on the Judging Panels for numerous regional Business Awards. His success continued when he was elected as the Calderdale Councillor for Ryburn Ward at the local Elections in May last year. Steven commented on the announcement of his MBE: “I am flattered and deeply honoured to have received this award. SME businesses are the real engine-room

of the British Economy, because they create wealth, provide employment, and sit at the heart of local communities.” “I am pleased to have been able to help the Chamber to play a very important part in helping businesses to develop in West Yorkshire, and to have provided a voice for businesses whilst lobbying over the years for Governments to introduce businessfriendly policies in order to promote investment and economic growth.” “Chambers of Commerce throughout the UK are very important to the promotion and smooth-running of businesses. Chambers such as ours provide essential export documentation and certification services, and our highly-skilled team facilitates the smooth operation of millions of pounds worth of export transactions every month - services which are likely to be critically important to the country in the post-Brexit era”. “I genuinely believe that it is the business community of the UK who deserve the congratulations. Businesses create real wealth and employment and sit at the heart of local communities. Serving those businesses on behalf of the Chamber is a great honour in itself.” Chamber Managing Director Martin Hathaway congratulated Steven by saying: “On behalf of all at the Chamber, I am delighted to congratulate Steven on this very well-deserved honour.” Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Dr Adam Marshall added: “Heartfelt congratulations from all at the BCC on the news of Steven’s MBE in the New Year’s Honours List. I’m so delighted to see his hard work and passion over many years recognised, and I know it will give a boost to the whole Chamber team as well.”

Mid Yorkshire Chamber News

III

Alison Palmer, corporate partner at Eaton Smith, Mark Evans, director of Better Telecoms, and Jan Szczepanski, director of the SFB Group Wakefield office, join the existing team to strengthen its growing support and representation of businesses across the Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield districts. After relocating from Sheffield-based Tofields, Alison Palmer joined Eaton Smith in 2006 to advise clients on all corporate law matters including: business sales and purchases; joint ventures; venture capital investments; corporate finance and re-financing; shareholders and partnership agreements; EMI schemes; exit planning and offering strategic advice to SMEs. A past president of the Huddersfield and Dewsbury Law Society, and a specialist in corporate law since 1990, Alison will bring a wealth of commercial experience to the board. Mark Evans runs Better Telecoms, a Huddersfield-based independent consultancy, with his wife Sara. Together they identify solutions for those who are struggling with the myriad of telecoms technology, connecting them with reliable suppliers, and supporting them throughout the whole process. Additionally, Mark is a Trustee for his local Scout group, as well as two charitable trusts. His expertise and involvement in organising local networking and community events, will strengthen the way the Chamber helps businesses stay connected. Jan Szczepanski joined the SFB group in 2014 following a merger with his own business, Sanders Geeson, which he founded in 2005. Finalists of the business of the year in Wakefield awards, SFB Group are a central Wakefield-based firm of Chartered

The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has appointed three inspiring professionals to its board of directors. Accountants, tax and business advisors. The Chartered Accountant, who successfully completed a Law degree, MBA and a Diploma from the Personal Finance Society, joins the board with over 30 years of financial experience and will support the team with the finance, administration and commercial side of the operations. The trio will take the current board to 10 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, Stefanie MD of Faith PR, Jason McCartney, head of Public Affairs at the University of Huddersfield and Tim Welton, partner at Williams & Co. The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is a growth driving business that provides the most relevant and valuable, services and benefits to businesses across the district. Its knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities of both now and the future ensure that members remain connected, supported and represented locally, nationally and internationally.

The role of the Board of Directors is to advise, challenge and ensure the Chamber is run in a sustainable way for the long-term benefit of its members, and act as ambassadors for the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

the Chamber continue to connect, support and represent our businesses.” Mark Evans said: “It’s an honour to be invited to sit on the Board. As a member of the Chamber myself, I am familiar with the benefits businesses receive through membership, and I want to play a part in raising its awareness.

M a r t i n H a t h aw ay, managing director of the Chamber said: “The new board members will strengthen our existing Jan Szczepanski added: team and will support our “I joined the Chamber growth in 2019 and our in 2005 as a member, vision to support more because in the various usinesses within the local businesses I worked in as a finance director districts.” I was able to benefit “The new board members enormously from the services and support will strengthen our of the Mid Yorkshire existing team...” Chamber. Alison Palmer c o m m e n t e d : “ I a m “I built up a great respect delighted to be joining the for Chambers generally. Board at such an exciting Having founded my own time, and I’m very much small start-up business I looking forward to the also found that there were growth plans for 2019. I’m several services which the extremely determined Chamber offered to help to do all I can to help grow our business.”

Mid Yorkshire Chamber News

2019 sees Mid Yorkshire Chamber welcome UK investor CityFibre as Patron CityFibre has become the first organisation of 2019 to join the Mid Yorkshire Chamber’s patronage scheme, further supporting its continued efforts to connect, support and represent businesses across the Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield districts. Taking on the responsibilities of a patron, CityFibre will provide an invaluable level of support to the Chamber and its activities on behalf of the business community. Established in 2011, CityFibre is the organisation behind Huddersfield’s ongoing transformation into a gigabit town. As the UK’s leading alternative provider of wholesale full fibre network infrastructure, it is currently working with Vodafone to give five million UK homes and businesses access to this gold standard in connectivity by 2025. In Huddersfield specifically, CityFibre is investing £30m in extending the town’s existing full fibre network to almost every home and business, giving residents access to gigabit speeds and near limitless bandwidth. Construction commenced in January and services will start to go live from summer 2019. This investment will not only benefit the community by providing better broadband, it will futureproof its infrastructure for future technological developments and support economic growth by driving productivity, innovation and inward investment. Steve Moore, CityFibre’s city development manager for Huddersfield, said: “Yorkshire

is a hugely important region for CityFibre, which is why we are so excited to be joining Mid Yorkshire Chamber this year. “As an ambitious community with a track record in embracing digital technology, Huddersfield has so much to gain from fresh investment in its broadband infrastructure. For instance, recent research estimates that over the next 15 years, the roll-out of full fibre could unlock £18m in business productivity and innovation, and £11m from new start-up activity. “Digital investment has the ability

to transform businesses and communities, and in the year ahead, we want to work with as many businesses and organisations as possible to raise awareness of our plans for the town. “Joining the Chamber means we can ensure everyone understands the long-term importance of reliable, ultrafast speed and limitless capacity broadband to their business, now and in the future.” The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce drives growth amongst businesses through their knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities of both now and the future, by offering the most relevant and value adding services and benefits, to ensure members remain connected, supported and

represented locally, nationally and internationally. The recent patronage will allow both organisations to access added benefits and services including; monthly networking events, shared public relations and promotion of events and news, providing greater opportunities for local businesses. Martin Hathaway, managing director of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “We are extremely proud to welcome CityFibre as a Patron as we begin our 2019 development plans. By enhancing our relationship with them, we hope to open up more opportunities for businesses in the district and continue supporting their growth.” CityFibre joins The Piece Hall Trust, Eaton Smith, Kirklees Stadium D e velopme nt Ltd, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Leeds Beckett University, Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation and Huddersfield Giants to becomes the Chamber’s eighth patron.

Mid Yorkshire Chamber News

PAXMAN wins national manufacturer of the year award PAXMAN, a leading manufacturer of pioneering scalp cooling technology, has picked up two major awards at the prestigious EEF Future Manufacturing Awards held in London. Huddersfield based PAXMAN was the biggest winne r on the night as they received the Manufacturer of the Year award – a title awarded to the most outstanding company amongst all the category winners. This was alongside winning awards in two separate categories, coming runner up in the Innovation award sponsored by HVM Catapult and winning the Business Growth and Strategy category, sponsored by RSM.

often people will refuse it because they do not want to lose their hair.

The UK scalp cooling expert have designed and manufactured pioneering technology used to reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Hair loss is consistently

The judging panel said: “This innovation displayed huge impact in terms of social and health benefits. It was multi-dimensional from finance, product development and service delivery. It clearly shows the benefits that innovation has upon business growth.” Winners were selected by a panel

ranked as one of the most feared and a common side effects of chemotherapy treatment and

PAXMAN’s innovative technology, which is used in over 95% of UK hospitals in and in 32 countries across the globe, also received recognition in the Innovation Award. Judges were impressed with different business models that PAXMAN employed for different international markets, according to local contexts and highly regulated environment.

of judges drawn from business leaders, industry experts and academics and was up against tough competition from a range of dynamic businesses, small and large, from across the UK.

thousands of people worldwide.” The PAXMAN Scalp Cooling System works by reducing the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees immediately before, during and after the administration of chemotherapy.

Richard Paxman, CEO at PAXMAN, says: “To be recognised as a leading manufacturer across the UK is fantastic. I’m thrilled with all of the awards as everyone within the business has contributed. To be able to provide our product across the globe really pleases me as I know what we do makes a huge difference to people in particularly tough times. We’re all delighted to have won.”

Made from lightweight silicone, the scalp cooling cap is soft and flexible - providing a snug, yet comfortable cap during treatment. Moulding to all head shapes and sizes, liquid coolant passes through the cap extracting heat from the patient’s scalp, ensuring it remains at an even, constant temperature to minimise hair loss.

Stephen Phipson, CEO at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation said: “Paxman are a fantastic organisation. I must commend Glenn, Richard and their team as they have been able to turn a personal tragedy into a positive solution and are now able to help

Used all over the world, it is available in two models, the single model provides cooling for one patient and is suitable for a small chemotherapy suite or private bed, whilst the double model provides cooling for one or two patients simultaneously with each cap working independently.

Mid Yorkshire Member News

Marketing Agency KC Communications Wins Two New Contracts and Appoints New Team Member Huddersfield-based PR and Marketing Agency KC Communications has commenced 2019 with two major client wins and the appointment of an Account Executive to support its ongoing growth. Following a competitive tender process, KC Communications were awarded the contract for Propel@YH, an accelerator hub for digital health innovation targeted at SMEs in the Yorkshire and Humber Region. The project which has been commissioned by the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network (YHAHSN) seeks to bridge the gap between businesses and the NHS. The accelerator hub will be delivered by mHabitat, an NHS hosted team specialising in co-design, digital skills, policy, strategy and evaluation. Commenting on KC’s selection, David Shapland, Head of Marketing and Communications at the YHAHSN said: “Of all the agencies who pitched for the Propel@YH account KC Communications clearly articulated their experience of similar previous projects and how they would apply that understanding to their work with us. This insight has also helped us to develop and improve not only our communications planning but the programme and as a whole. We are really looking forward to working with them as the accelerators grows and we select our first cohort of companies.”

The agency has also been appointed as the Marketing and PR Agency for The Round Foundry and Marshalls Mill Estate on the South Bank in Leeds, with the objective to attract and retain tenants through raising the profile of the estate through placemaking and wellbeing. To support the company’s growth and efficient delivery of client projects, Heidi Hawkins has also joined the business as Account Executive. Heidi joins KC Communications with experience of working as part of an in-house marketing team and with a degree in Business Management from the University of Huddersfield. Founder Katrina Cliffe commented: “We’ve had a fantastic start to 2019 which has set us on track to achieve at least 25% growth this financial year. These recent wins are the outcome of outstanding team collaboration and the ability to demonstrate how we go above and beyond to deliver results. I am also delighted to welcome Heidi to the team, already she has played a vital role within the business and I look forward to that continuing”.

Schofield Sweeney starts the year off with a raft of promotions The Yorkshire-headquartered law firm has promoted three members of its team to Partner, Angela Cashin, David Cowgill and Karen Crutchley. The firm now has 35 Partners across its three offices in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield. Karen Crutchley, Commercial Partner, is based in Leeds. He r expe rt i se i n cl udes negotiating and advising on a range of commercial trading arrangements, including IT contracts for both providers of technology, and businesses purchasing IT systems and software. Angela Cashin, Corporate Partner based in Huddersfield, advises on a wide range of company matters and transactions. David Cowgill is a Partner in the Commercial Property team, and currently the President of the Leeds Law Society. He has experience in wide range of commercial property matters and

regularly works with investors, commercial landlords and tenants and property developers, with a particular focus on those clients operating within the leisure and hospitality industry. There were further promotions announced with Annie Gray (Employment), Annie HuiGillen (Litigation), Lucy Holroyd (Corporate), Nigel Brook (Litigation), Pardeep Khela (Commercial Property) all promoted to Associate. Gemma Sherbourne (Employment), Rebecca Beaumont (Litigation) and Zoe Oates (Insolvency and Restructuring) all promoted to Legal Directors. Martin Sweeney, managing partner said: “2018 was another successful year for us, there has been a solid increase in both volume of instructions and turnover. Corporate deal completion valuation alone saw a 85% increase on the 2017 figures for the same period. These promotions were well deserved and all part of the culture of recognition we have within the firm, we continue to attract and retain leading lawyers.”

Mid Yorkshire Member News

VII

A leading West Yorkshire PR and communications agency has won a prestigious public relations industry accolade at the 2018 Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards. Faith PR, which is based in Brighouse and services regional, national and international clients across B2C and B2B sectors, won a gold award in the Corporate and Business Communications Campaign category for its strategic work in cultivating the rooted reputation for Yorkshire commercial nursery, Johnsons of Whixley. All shortlisted nominees were invited to a black-tie ceremony at Leeds’ Queen’s Hotel on Thursday, 22 November 2018, where the winners were announced. Stefanie Hopkins, founder of Faith PR, Emily Raleigh, Account Director, and Hayley Paterson, Senior Account Manager, attended from Faith PR to accept the award. The award-winning strategic communications campaign with Johnsons of Whixley has reinforced the business’ position as one of the leading horticultural businesses in the UK. Turnover for the year ending 2017 increased by over 17 per cent to £12.4m - its most profitable year to date. Johnsons also added 500 new customers to its 4,700-strong database of existing and historical customers while the forward order book value increased by £1m to £4.6m. The CIPR PRide Awards recognise outstanding work within the public relations industry that delivers

Prestigious award win for Brighouse agency impactful results for companies and organisations across the UK and demonstrates the value of PR to the wider business world. The annual awards take place across nine separate regions and have been judged by a panel of PR industry experts. Stefanie said: “I’m over the moon with this award win. It goes to show that small agencies can also compete alongside larger firms and big brands to still produce award-winning PR and material. It is a testament to the team’s hard-work and determination and underlines our ongoing partnership with Johnsons. Our aim is to not only enhance their

communications activity, but also impact directly on the bottom line.” Graham Richardson, group director at Johnsons of Whixley, added: “This is a prestigious award and believe that it is a fitting accolade. With Faith’s expertise and perseverance, our marketing and PR function has transformed from an afterthought to an integral element of our operational business. We are firmly of the opinion that this has contributed significantly to business success.”

“It goes to show that small agencies can also compete alongside larger firms.

Faith PR, which has just celebrated its 11th anniversary, was also shortlisted in the awards for ‘Outstanding Small Public Relations Company’ in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire – for the third time in its 10-year history.

VIII

Mid Yorkshire Member News

Propack Direct Mail secures London Office

Direct Marketing specialist Propack is beginning the new year on a high after signing for office space in central London. The Award winning, £9m turnover firm with production facilities in Huddersfield, specialises in Digital Print, Direct Mail, Print Management and Postage. Following its successful 22-year history, Propack is now expanding outside of the West Yorkshire region as part of its ambitious growth plans. The new Bloomsbury based office will serve as a satellite sales office with the company retaining its West Yorkshire HQ and production facility. The expansion follows on the back of a raft of new London based client wins and a general upturn in the Direct Mail industry. The company currently serves many major blue-chip clients including; Sky Bet, Sue Ryder, Auto Trader, Travis Perkins and a number of Government Departments. Gary Walke r, Account D irector said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for us as a business. Direct Mail is seeing a huge resurgence with Marketers keen to

cut through the noise of competing channels and increase their ROI. Following GDPR and a general increased awareness in Data Security brands are increasingly looking for partners who can help to keep them compliant and secure. Holding the ISO27001 data security accreditation together with

“It’s an incredibly exciting time for us as a business...” a highly experienced team and an enviable reputation we are ideally positioned to capitalise on this growing demand. Our firm is in a very strong position which we attribute to a dedicated and focused team who continue to deliver excellent customer service. We are optimistically looking forward to the future.”

Yorkshirebased vehicle-hire firm appoints new manager Yorkshire-based vehicleHire firm, Arrow Self Drive has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of regional sales development manager, Nick Buck. The appointment comes following a management buyout in 2018, which saw the firm become fully family owned. The deal saw managing director James Hill and Arro w founder, Robert Hill sign a share purchase deal to buy former shareholder Chris Taylor out of the company. Newly appointed manager, Nick Buck will assist the management team as it now embarks on a Yorkshirefocused expansion plan, which will include the opening of a new depot in Sheffield later this year.

hire, managing director of Arrow Self Drive, James Hill said: “Nick joins us at an incredibly exciting time. We have built a solid re putation across the region and since becoming fully family-owned in 2018, we’re now moving towards our next stage of growth. Nick will play an integral part in supporting us to become Yorkshire’s rental company of choice.” In Nick’s new role he will support each of Arrow Self Drive’s eight depots in maintaining and building customer relationships. Prior to working at Arrow Sel f D ri v e, Ni ck hel d several positions within the recruitment industry, as well as a year and a half as a new business manager at a national vehicle-hire firm. Founded in 1988, Arrow Self Drive is the largest inde pe nde ntly o wned vehicle-hire company in Yorkshire. Commenting on the new

Nick Buck added: “I am thrilled to have undertaken the role of regional sales development manager at Arrow Self Drive; the team here is fantastic and I’m looking forward to using my skills to support a proudly inde pe nde nt, family-run business that delivers the best in quality and service to customers across Yorkshire. “It’s incredibly rewarding to work with a business with strong Yorkshire values, where developing relationships is of the upmost importance.”

Mid Yorkshire Member News

Manufacturer moves up the International Track 200 league table for the second year running A-SAFE has made the HSBC International Track 200 league table for the second year running. After achieving 68% average international sales growth over two years, the safety barrier expert achieved place 78, outranking their previous position of 82.

row, making the Export Track 100 for SME’s in 2017, 2016 and 2015.

The International Track 200 ranks midmarket companies with the fastest-growing international sales. A-SAFE has been recognised by the Sunday Times for export excellence five years in a

Amanda Murphy, Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC said: “We at HSBC are delighted to back the Sunday Times International Track 200 again this year. All the businesses it showcases

Romero Insurance Brokers have moved offices in Halifax

customers in the region.

Romero Insurance Brokers have moved offices in Halifax to cater for increasing staff numbers and growth in their business offering in the region. Staying in Dean Clough Mill, the company’s move to larger office space is a further signal of their commitment to Halifax and their desire to reach more

The 200 selected companies include a host of renowned British businesses such as Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, BrewDog and Bulk Powers.

Romero communications manager, Sam Humphrey, said of the move: “we created our Halifax office in January 2012 with a vision for the future of Romero in the area. We’re pleased that that vision is being

have truly inspiring stories to tell about creativity, resilience and ambition to succeed”. A-SAFE’s position in the league table comes at an exciting time for the company, who have recently achieved the Q ueen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade C a te g o r y. T h e aw a r d r e c o g n i s e s A- SA F E ’ s outstanding achievement in export and is due to be formally presented to the company in March. 2018 was another year of innovation for A-SAFE, with a host of new products contributing to their continued international expansion. The latest developments include a new

realised and we’re excited to reach more customers and offer them our exceptional service.” The office move isn’t the only news out of Romero’s Halifax office. They’re also delighted to sponsor the Overgate Hospice ‘Light Up

Dock Gate range, Alarm Bar, Sign Cap and Corner Guard, all scientifically engineered to solve customer problems and drive the global standard.

Brothers set to take Brighouse agency to new heights.

Two entrepreneurial brothers at the helm of a West Yorkshire digital marketing agency are preparing for a prosperous 2019 following a year of James Smith, A-SAFE’s double-digit business growth. Co-owner and Director Scott and Ryan Brant, directors at said: “We are extremely Vizulate Digital based in Brighouse, proud to be listed in the increased the agency’s revenue by Sunday Times Track 200 more than 20% by the end of 2018. for the second year running, They now plan to grow the business along with achieving the further, following a string of new prestigious Queen’s Award client wins and the appointment of for International Trade. younger brother, Ryan, to the role of We’re exporting more creative director. than ever, with 15 global Ryan Brant said: “Innovation is subsidiaries distributing central to the growth of the agency to six continents. We and our strategy for 2019. Outside of will continue to drive client projects, we’ve been working the business forward, on some very innovative projects safeguarding workplaces in the e-commerce space that will across the country and create additional revenue for the agency, one of which is set to launch around the world”. very soon.” Scott added: “Over the last year, A Life’ Christmas services. we’ve won several significant digital marketing accounts with the likes These popular events are a of nationwide ergonomic furniture fantastic way to remember specialist, VergoUK, and West loved ones and sponsor Yorkshire children’s day nursery O vergate. Romero has group, Children’s Place. stated that their immensely proud to sponsor such a “This has spearheaded our growth this year and enabled us to create worthwhile event. jobs with recruitment of a digital marketing administrator to help us service our growing client portfolio.” He continued: “Ryan’s appointment as creative director will allow us to work even more closely together to fulfil our ambitious growth plans. We hope to create further jobs next year with the recruitment of a digital marketing apprentice and are excited for what 2019 has in store.”

Mid Yorkshire Events  WHEN? First Thursday of the month 09.30–11.00am  WHERE? We rotate the location within the Mid Yorkshire region:

 WHAT? Join us for the opportunity to make some valuable new contacts via a series of quick one to one conversations. It’s a great way to make new contacts in an efficient way.

MY NETWORK WAKEFIELD

• Thursday 7th March, Piece Mill, 25 to 27 Horton Street, Halifax, HX1 1QE

• Thursday 2nd May, Hub 26, Hunsworth Ln, Cleckheaton, BD19 4LN

• Thursday 4th April, Create Café, Burton St, Wakefield, WF1 2DD

 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.

 MORE INFO: It is £10.00 + VAT for members and £20.00 + VAT for non-members. Sponsorship for this series is available for businesses looking to raise their profile in the Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield regions. Book your place online at www.mycci.co.uk/events Tel: 01484 483 679 Follow @MidYorksChamber and #SpeedNetYorks on Twitter

 WHEN? Second Friday of the month 12.30-1.30pm  WHERE? The Hop, Bank Street, Wakefield, WF1 1EH.

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

 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 09.00–11.00am

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.

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

 WHEN? Last Friday of the Month 12.30–1.30pm  WHERE? The Trading Rooms The Piece Hall Blackledge Halifax HX1 1RE

Follow @MidYorkshireNet and #MYNetworkHud on Twitter.

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

Mid Yorkshire Events

Courses in exporting We run a range of workshops and training courses providing invaluable skills suitable for both experienced exporters and those with no previous knowledge.

Customs Procedures & Documentation Tuesday 12th March 2019 9.30 – 4.30pm £220 (+VAT) for members / £270 (+VAT) for non-members

All of the courses will take place at Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, 1st Floor, Unit 3, Pennine Business Park, Longbow Close, Bradley Road, Huddersfield, HD2 1GQ

Documentary Letters of Credit & Methods of Payment Wednesday 10th April 2019 9.30 – 4.30pm

Incoterms Tuesday 26th February 2019 9.30 – 12.30pm

£270 (+VAT) for members / £310 (+VAT) for non-members

£130 (+VAT) for members / £150 (+VAT) for non-members

Brexit & Beyond Tuesday 30th April 2019 9.30 – 12.30pm

Preferential Trade Agreements and Rules of Origin Tuesday 26th February 2019 1.30 – 4.30pm

£130 (+VAT) for members / £150 (+VAT) for non-members

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

International Trade Conference

 WHAT?

The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is working in partnership with the Department for International Trade, MY Export Hub, Kirklees Council and the University of Huddersfield to deliver the International Trade Conference (ITC). This event will focus on new export markets, trade opportunities in post-Brexit Britain, as well as an opportunity for sharing export experience.

 WHEN? Thursday 11 April 2019 9.00am – 2.00pm

 WHERE? The Fantastic Media Suite, The John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PG.  MORE INFO: Register your interest as an exhibitor or sponsor to rory.bourke@mycci.co.uk or tel: 01484 483 679

Kirklees Business Conference. Huddersfield’s largest annual business event is back, attracting over 600 business people, 43 exhibitors, engaging speakers and industry leaders.  WHEN?: Wednesday 13 March 2019  WHERE? The John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PG More info:Visit www.kirkleesbusinessconference.co.uk or contact events@mycci.co.uk Tel: 01484 483 679

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Mid Yorkshire Member News

Circuit Electrical Testing

JULY AWARD WINNERS

Halifax-based electrical and fire safety testing company, Circuit Electrical Testing, specialise in the management of maintenance programmes for portable appliances and fixed electrical installations.

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: Viv Jebson (The Marketing Centre), Lesley Sutton (Revell Ward), Steven Leigh (Mid Yorkshire Chamber), Annie Bradley (DIT), Andrew Pedley (Eaton Smith), Brian Nolan, Kirsty Helliwell, Vicky Nolan and Amanda Matthews (Circuit)

Back in 2007, brothers Brian and Martin Nolan started the business to deliver PAT testing to local businesses. Now over ten years on, with the help of Brian’s wife Vicky, Circuit have earnt major contracts all over the UK with councils and public bodies such as South West Yorkshire NHS

Trust, Oxford Brookes University, Severn Trent Water and Derbyshire County Council. Chris Taylor, Partner at Eaton Smith and member of the judging panel commented: “Circuit Electrical Testing have grown and developed impressively over the past ten years and are focused on providing the

best possible service for their customers.” The company Director, Vicky Nolan commented on their win said: “We’re so pleased to have won the Business of the Month Award. The whole team have worked so hard to make the business a success, so it is a fantastic achievement to be recognised and awarded.”

Croft Myl

Photo L-R: Jorandi Daneel (Appleyard Lees), Paul Coope (Handelsbanken), Chris Taylor (Eaton Smith), Vicky Nolan, Brian Nolan, Rebecca Sewell and Richard Colbeck (Croft Myl)

Based in Halifax, Croft Myl offers flexible office space packages to suit all kinds of businesses. Husband and wife team, Brian and Vicky Nolan bought the Myl in 2015 after spotting a gap in the market when searching for premises for their other business. After a £1million

AUGUST AWARD WINNERS

refurbishment, Croft Myl is now a unique area offering 38,000 square feet of office space over four floors with further renovations in place to create additional space. Alison Palmer, Partner at Eaton Smith and member of the judging panel

Mid Yorkshire Member News

XIII

Olympus Technologies Ltd Photo L-R: Jason Metcalfe (Metcalfe Commercial), Steven Leigh (Mid Yorkshire Chamber), Annie Bradley (DIT), Martin Haigh (Lattitude7), Andrew Pedley (Eaton Smith), Adam Foster, Matthew Foster and Amber Ray (DIS)

Data Installation & Supplies (Northern) Ltd SEPTEMBER AWARD WINNERS

Cleckheaton-based cabling infrastructure and technology company, Data Installation & Supplies (Northern) Ltd, was started by Managing Director Mick Foster in 1983 from his home. Cleckheaton-based cabling infrastructure and technology

commented: “Croft Myl’s impressive application presented passion for their own business, but also passion for helping local businesses and the Calderdale community. Their hard work and financial success make them worthy winners of the award.” Brian Nolan, Director of Croft Myl said: “The team at Croft Myl are delighted to have been awarded Business of the Month. It’s an exciting time for our business and we’re very proud of what we have achieved.”

company, Data Installation & Supplies (Northern) Ltd, was started by Managing Director Mick Foster in 1983 from his home. Over 35 years later, with the help of his two sons the company is thriving. DIS takes pride in consistently delivering a high standard of customer satisfaction, consequently they have earned a loyal customer base who continue to call upon the services of DIS year on year.

OCTOBER AWARD WINNERS

Huddersfield-based Olympus Technologies Ltd specialise in Industrial and Collaborative Robotics, Automation and Welding Technologies. Olympus Technologies believe in providing bespoke high-quality technical solutions for their customers. Deborah Melluish, Partner at Eaton Smith and member of the judging panel commented: “Olympus Technologies is an very impressive company, the work they do really is

fascinating! It was a pleasure to meet the team at Olympus, they should be proud of what they have achieved in their 30 years in business.” Director Adam Swallow attended the Business of the Month event to collect the award and meet the judging panel. He said: “We are very proud of the whole team who work tirelessly to make the business successful, and we are looking forward to further exciting times ahead. We’re delighted to have won the award.”

Andrew Pedley, Partner at Eaton Smith and member of the judging panel commented: “DIS have shown impressive growth and success over the years and continue to do so with their plans for the company’s future.” Technical Director Adam Foster commented on their win said: “All of us at DIS are very proud of the work we do. The success of DIS is truly a reflection of our dedication and hard-work, we’re thrilled to have been recognised and awarded for our work!”

Photo L-R: Annie Bradley (DIT), Shaun Wood (Simpson Wood), Deborah Melluish (Eaton Smith), Adam Swallow, Mary Dixon, Sam Hilton, Gavin Jamieson and Amie Walton (Olympus Technologies)

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

Mid Yorkshire New Members

Join your local chamber Reduce Your Business Costs Membership offers access to a range of cost effective services and products including:

Being part of the Chamber network allows you to access a wide range of exclusive member benefits which will help you; raise your business profile, expand your network, reduce your business costs, and give you a voice.

•

Raise your Business Profile Access benefits including business advertising in our online member directory and exclusive sponsorship and marketing opportunities at local and national levels.

• •

Expand your Network Attend many free and discounted events for members including discounted exhibition space at our annual business conferences.



•

Free access to four essential services to help protect your business and reputation; ChamberHR, ChamberLegal, Chamber Health and Safety and ChamberTax Employee benefits including; Childcare vouchers, healthcare schemes and medical insurance Up to 50% off MY Export Hub services Save on commercial utility bills with an energy management audit Save over 60% on AA roadside assistance for company and fleet vehicles.

New Members

Have Your Say Join us at our local business forums; raising your concerns and issues on the things that matter; members can also get involved in the Chamber sub-boards for Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Find out more today Membership starts from as little as 56p + vat a day and is based on number of employees. You can pay your subscription in one payment or via monthly direct debit. To find out more please contact Rachel McDerby, Membership Coordinator, on 01924 311605 or by email, Rachel.mcderby@mycci.co.uk

Action Coach (Business Coaches Yorkshire Ltd) actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/ jenni-morgan Business Management Consultants

Arthouse 97 arthouse97.co.uk Public Relations

Beanie Media beaniemedia.com Marketing

Attercopia Ltd (Digital Marketing Agency Group Ltd) attercopia.co.uk Marketing

Big Padlock (Self Storage) LTD bigpadlock.co.uk Transport Storage and Communication

Applied Digital Marketing applieddigital.co.uk Marketing

Autex Acoustics Ltd autexacoustics.co.uk Manufacturing

Avocet Dye & Chemical Co Ltd avocet-dyes.co.uk Manufacturing

Calderdale Credit Union calderdalecreditunion.co.uk Banking Monetary

Candle Learning candlelearning.com Other

CKS LAW CMS Distribution Ltd cmsdistribution.com Manufacturing

Colour Box Marketing colourboxmarketing.co.uk Marketing

Conrad King & Solomon Solicitors

ckslaw.co.uk Legal

Dakin-Flathers Ltd dakin-flathers.com Manufacturing

Mid Yorkshire New Members

Dizziness, Balance & Concussion Centre

dizzinesstherapy.co.uk Health and Social Work

Eve Accounting eveaccounting.com Accounting

HSBC hsbc.co.uk/commercial-banking Banking Monetary

Pete-R Design petertransport.co.uk Construction

Drummond Bespoke Fabrics

Manufacturing

Eitex eitex.co.uk Computer Related activities

Equal Care Co-op Ltd equalcare.coop Health and Social Work

Fountain Legal FountainLegal.co.uk Legal

Global PartnershipTraining globalpartnershiptraining.co.uk Education

GT Soft Furnishings

Ikoy Secretarial Ltd www.ikoy.co.uk Business Management Consultants

Other Business Activities

Perfect People Business Networking perfectpeople.group Other Business Activities

Sorton Solutions Ltd

Health and Social Work

Rob Beadle Copywriting robbeadle.co.uk Marketing

stephaniewalkercounselling.com Health and Social Work

Study Write Ltd studywrite.11plus.co.uk Education

The Piece Hall thepiecehall.co.uk Tourism

THS Industrial Textiles Ltd www.thstextiles.co.uk Manufacturing

Trinity Academy Halifax www.trinityacademyhalifax.org Education

TUV UK Ltd tuv-nord.com/uk/en/home Electrical/Electronic

Unmasked Mental Health unmaskedmentalhealth.co.uk Health and Social Work

Whisper Hotels whisperhotelscollection.com/ our-hotels Hotel & Restaurant

Stephanie Walker Counselling Service

Woodspeen Training woodspeentraining.co.uk Education

Pureland

Inchuition Ltd

Textiles

Business Management Consultants

XVI

Mid Yorkshire Patrons News

CityFibre to invest £30 million in full fibre infrastructure for Huddersfield in partnership with Vodafone Even more businesses across Huddersfield are set to gain a transformational gigabit boost following news that the town has been selected as one of the first communities in the UK to benefit from Gigabit-capable full fibre broadband under the new Vodafone and CityFibre Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) programme. the initiatives and investments which are being made by CityFibre to enhance the speed and availability of broadband services in our region. Fast and reliable digital access is a fundamental building-block to achieving significant increases in business productivity, and fit-for-purpose internet connectivity is now an absolute necessity for businesses and individuals in all aspects of life.

Having enjoyed Gigabit City status since 2014, Huddersfield already boasts a 52km next-generation full fibre infrastructure, which is dramatically accelerating the digital capabilities of businesses, the local council, schools, libraries and community centres alike by delivering gigabit-speed, high capacity internet connectivity. Now, with £30 million fresh investment proposed by CityFibre, the network is set to extend across the town, bringing modern, fit-for-purpose infrastructure within reach of even more businesses, as well as residents for the first time. With the full support of Kirklees Council, work on installing a new full fibre infrastructure across Huddersfield will begin this spring. CityFibre will use modern build techniques to deploy the network quickly, while minimising disruption to residents. Once completed, nearly every home and business in the Huddersfield area will have full fibre access.

We are fortunate that great strides are being made to facilitate this by forward-looking companies such as CityFibre”. “Our own Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) indicated for the final Quarter of 2018 that despite a difficult global economic outlook, businesses in our region have started the New Year with an element of business confidence - and continuously demonstrate their great ingenuity and resilience to challenging business conditions”. making it easier and less expensive to set up base and run efficiently.

But what is full fibre? And residents can expect to benefit too, with the By using fibre optic cables for every stage of the value of homes across the town set increase by a connection from the customer’s business or total of £26m in the same period. As we progress home to the internet, rather than aging, capacity- into 2019, this potential can only build on the constrained copper cables all or even part of the positive outlook shared by the local business way, users can experience a significantly superior community in Mid Yorkshire Chamber’s latest and more reliable broadband service, capable of Quarterly Economic Indicator survey. Gigabit speeds (1000Mbps). This roll-outwill benefit the local business community as well Greg Mesch, Chief Executive at CityFibre, said: as home users, by helping them become more “Huddersfield will be one of the first locations efficient, adopt the latest technologies, and take in the UK to benefit from this game-changing their products or services to an international infrastructure programme, which will have a transformative impact on homes and businesses audience. alike. Full fibre is well documented for its immediate positive impact on local economies. According We’re moving closer to our vision of a Gigabit to research by economic consultancy, Regeneris, Britain, where digital inadequacy is a thing of access to gigabit-speed full fibre connectivity the past and full fibre connectivity is the norm. could unlock £18m in business productivity and For the businesses and residents of Huddersfield, innovation in Huddersfield over a period of 15 the future is now.” years. A further £11m could be driven from new Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Managing business start-ups, with enhanced connectivity Director, Martin Hathaway added: “We welcome

“But in order to compete in global markets our businesses need to have at their disposal every technological advantage. In the modern business world, high-speed broadband availability will become progressively more important to economic growth and prosperity in the UK”. If you’re interested in a full fibre business connection, register your interest and one of our partners will be in touch: cityfibre.com/connect To keep up to date with the Gigabit City network extension in Huddersfield, visit: cityfibre.com/huddersfield or follow @ GigabitHudds. Residential services are available via Vodafone, register your interest in Gigafast broadband: Vodafone.co.uk/gigafast

XVII

New service to help suppliers write better tenders YPO is launching a new service for suppliers to help improve the procurement process. Joining forces with ‘the bid toolkit’, an online tendering guide and training platform, YPO will provide engagement, tools and training opportunities to help suppliers when bidding for public sector contracts. The partnership will bring together cutting-edge private sector bidding best practice with procurement specialist insights, to help with the often quite daunting prospect of public sector tendering. YPO’s strategic markets manager Duncan Spokes said: “The aim of the partnership is to deliver great value for the public sector by increasing the volume of better quality, compliant tender submissions. This will in turn help to reduce bid costs through

increased win rates, reduce staff stress levels around bids and overall, create a smoother, better understood buying process.” The bid toolkit’s lead, Jeremy Brim said: “Public sector procurement bodies find that the quality and compliance levels of submissions they receive from the private sector can often be fairly low. This has become an increased concern, as more and more organisations are forced to bid for opportunities for the first time, such as for apprenticeships providers.

Both the buyers and the suppliers end up wasting time in dealing with unsuccessful tenders, with prolonged exchanges of queries, that ultimately don’t deliver value for buyers and their stakeholders.” The bid toolkit website is now live, giving suppliers the opportunity to access a range of guidance on submitting successful tenders to the public sector. The website includes free information on the tendering process, with the option to purchase further training content

KSDL to host Take That ‘The Greatest Hits’ Tour 2019 marks Take That’s 30th Anniversary. To celebrate their milestone, the band have announced an impressive UK arena and stadium tour performing all their much loved greatest hits live. The tour will see Take That play shows in many towns and cities that they have never played before plus they will be joined by special guest 80’s singer/songwriter Rick Astley.

and tools to support successful bidding. In addition, the bid toolkit and YPO will be hosting a series of bidding masterclasses, sharing techniques for successful tendering. The sessions will run through practical exercises along with unique sections and Q&A’s delivered by YPO procurement experts. For more information, to book courses or to access the bid toolkit website please visit https://www.ypo.co.uk/ the-bid-toolkit

the incredible musical history of one of the UK’s most successful bands of all time. Their longevity and ability to create relevant, timeless pop music has taken Take That to the summit of British pop music and ‘Odyssey’ will celebrate their place as the one of the world’s greatest ever bands.

In the lead up to the tour Take That confirmed the release of ‘Odyssey’ a re-imagined greatest hits album that takes the listener on a journey through

The John Smith’s Stadium is excited to be hosting the Tuesday 4th June concert in 2019, as well as continuing to support Huddersfield Town in the Premier League and The Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.

XVIII

Mid Yorkshire Patrons News

Leeds Beckett Business Centres Leeds Beckett University are approaching a year since they opened their doors to their new Halifax and Wakefield University Business Centres. Over the last 12 months the centres have welcomed new clients and played host to in excess of 50 events and training opportunities which have benefited the local business communities.

Kirstie added: “As part of this programme businesses will be able to access a Registered Business Address and hot-desk in one of our Centres while benefiting from a package of 12 hours business support which will include a tailored diagnostic package, mentoring and masterclasses.”

Kirstie Frenneaux, UBC and Sponsorship Manager said: “It’s fair to say it has been a busy year. We are now also moving into the final phase of delivery in our ERDF funded AD:Venture project where we are offering eligible businesses a unique opportunity to grow their business with us and try out our facilities for free for 6 months.”

Leeds Beckett are also taking part in Calderdale Enterprise Month in March, working collaboratively with their partners the Mid Yorkshire Chamber, Halifax BID, and Calderdale Council to celebrate entrepreneurship and business growth in a series of fantastic events some of which will be hosted at the Halifax Centre.

Eaton Smith welcome new team members In 2018, in testament to the firm’s growth, Eaton Smith welcomed 12 new team members across all areas of the business, 13 if you include their virtual assistant Esmi. Esmi is Eaton Smith’s chabot which is akin to the website’s virtual assistant who has been built to make the customer journey more efficient and effective. Esmi points users to free online legal resources to help them decide whether they need further legal advice and then, if they do, direct them to one of Eaton Smith’s solicitors.

With so many new members of staff Eaton Smith have put employee engagement at the top of their internal communications agenda. They have introduced several employee incentive schemes over the last 12 months including Perkbox which enables their team to receive discounts on retail and leisure purchases. They have invested in training in areas to, not only keep their technical staff up to date, but to make sure they continue to deliver a high quality of client service. Eaton Smith have also

continued to give back to the community through their charitable giving. One of their team members ran 10 marathons in 10 days for the Brathay Trust, they have held dress down days in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, they have joined the 99er Business Club and at their Open House event they raised money for the Forget-me-not Children’s Hospice. As always, they’ve had 12 fantastic businesses win the Business of the Month Award, the highlight of which was the Business of the Year Award in July

where Arrow Self Drive were announced the winners. They’re half-way through the 2018/19 series and there have been some very impressive winners so far. It is going to be an unenviable task for the judging panel to choose a winner of the 2019 Business of the Year. 2019 is already looking like it’s going to be a busy year with four new team members joining the firm in January alone. Eaton Smith are very much looking forward to seeing what opportunities 2019 brings.

N N EE W W SS U U PP D D AA TT EE Staff and management at a Bradford garden centre are celebrating after securing planning permission for the next stage of their ambitious growth plans

News

Perks are gained by all

Award-winning corporate finance boutique fds Director Services advised member benefits specialists Parliament Hill on the sale of its entire share capital to Boundless by CSMA.

Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee unanimously voted to approve Tong Garden Centre’s £4 million plans that include a new two storey building, a plant canopy, a bespoke soft play and event space and the development of the lakeside area with log cabins for educational and horticultural use. Tong’s Managing Director, Mark

Parliament Hill is a dominant player in its market, offering benefit packages to over 90 UKbased prestigious organisations. It is has a UK membership base of over 2.8 million. Poonam Kaur led the deal and was supported by CEO Jo Haigh to ensure an effective and timely completion. Poonam commented: “October was an exciting month for fds, we completed on a few deals just before our company year-end which was a bonus. Parliament Hill is a specialist business, and we are delighted that we have secured an ideal strategic partner to enable accelerated growth within its sector.” Andrew Holden said: “I was extremely satisfied with the service provided by fds, it was important for me to find the ideal home for my business. Poonam along with the team ensured that the deal progressed positively throughout.”

Jet Aire appoints Compliance Manager Leeds-based drainage and civil engineering company, Jet Aire Services, has appointed Jon Holman as Compliance Manager to oversee environmental, safety and quality standards at projects across the UK. Jon has decades of experience in compliance management for construction, highways and associated civil engineering works. Prior to joining Jet Aire, he was HSEQ Manager at AK (Lighting & Signs) Ltd, where he supported subcontract partnerships with local authorities, civil engineering contractors, major electrical contractors and commercial developers. Jet Aire Services Managing Director, Charlie Kirk, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jon to the management team. He brings outstanding credentials in environmental management and analysis as well

as comprehensive knowledge of the legislative and operational requirements relating to health and safety in the sectors that we serve. Jon will play a vital role in ensuring

that Jet Aire Services continue to maintain best practice throughout our programme of work in drainage maintenance, highways maintenance and civil engineering.”

N N EE W W SS U U PP D D AA TT EE

Garden Centre secures planning for next growth Farnsworth (pictured) said: “We are delighted to have been ed permission to continue with the work that we started three years ago to turn Tong into one of the top destination garden centres in the UK.

Contractors have been appointed and work started in January, with plans for the plant canopy to be completed by March and the soft play and event space to be open by the summer.

“We have had such positive feedback from our customers about our progress so far that we have taken these plans to the council well ahead of our original plan.”

Mark concluded: “Whilst we are, and always will be, a garden centre led by gardening products, we will now be so much more than a garden centre. The soft play and events space will

Vapour rings in new telecoms partnership Elland-based cloud technology specialist Vapour has secured a new partnership with Bolton-headquartered telephony brand Telesis. The partnership will see Telesis become a reseller of Vapour’s Sanctm product suite. With access to robust servers hosted in Vapour’s UK data centres and secure backup and storage services – it is hoped the collaboration will boost Telesis’ turnover by up to 20% over the next three years. The move will also see Vapour expand its presence in Lancashire, particularly on the M61 corridor. Commenting on the partnership, Telesis managing director, Christian Bleakley, said: “The technology sector is becoming increasingly crowded with suppliers vying for customers’ attention, which can make it difficult for organisations to know where to turn. We’ve worked hard to build a solid reputation in the telecoms market but when it came to client requests for wider digital transformation support, this was a gap we couldn’t previously plug.

“The relationship with Vapour will allow us to expand on our service offering to existing customers, while enhancing our proposition for new prospects. We’re very excited to see how this unfolds in 2019 and beyond.”

be a great addition to our facilities.” Since Mark and his business partner, Tom Megginson acquired Tong Garden Centre in 2015, they have invested over £2 million to improve the centre with a new plant area, the launch of Grass Hoppers adventure playground, a food hall with instore bakery and butchery departments and the creation of a 320 seater restaurant. The business now provides employment for 160 people and it is anticipated that this will rise to over 200 by the time that the expansion is completed in June 2019. Photo: Mark Farnsworth, General Manager. Telesis will also plug into Vapour’s marketing automation engine, allowing the team nurture new business opportunities. Vapour’s CEO Tim Mercer adds: “We’ve spoken extensively throughout 2018 about our partnership strategy and the importance of collaboration in the channel. We’re big believers in concentrating on our own niche and fostering partnerships with other organisations to leverage expertise in their key areas.

Action needed to tackle the scourge of late payments Responding to the report into small business productivity from the Parliamentary Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee, FSB National Chairman Mike Cherry said: “The UK’s economic success and productivity rests on the success of small and micro businesses. This report sets out a clear challenge to Government. “Critically the committee is right to have identified that the issue of the UK’s poor payment culture is crippling for many small firms. “FSB has long highlighted that some larger companies exploit the imbalance of power with small suppliers to impose unacceptable terms, exceedingly long payment periods and late payments. “This sort of behaviour is unacceptable and this crossparty group of MPs has rightly challenged the Government. Eliminating the scourge of late payments would see 50,000 businesses saved each year, add £2.5bn to GDP, which would be a real boost to UK productivity. “Government must respond to this report with tough action on late payments, supporting smaller businesses to further develop their leadership and management capability and to improve the adoption of basic digital technologies that small businesses need to grow and become more productive.”

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Accountancy firm appoints senior manager Huddersfield-based accountancy practice, Crowther Chartered Accountants has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of accounts manager, Sam TaskerGrindley. Sam will support the firm’s founder and managing director, Steve Crowther in running the business, whilst also managing his own portfolio of clients. P re v i o u s l y, S a m c o m p l e te d a n accounting and management degree at Cardiff University. He is an ACA Chartered Accountant and began his career at a leading corporate accountancy firm in London, where he gained experience in accounts, tax advisory and planning. Commenting on the new hire, Steve said: “Sam joins us at an exciting time. We have built a solid reputation in the region and as we move towards our next stage of growth, Sam’s skills and experience will support us in reaching 2019’s goals and objectives. Sam added: “I am excited to undertake my new role. The firm delivers exceptional customer service to its clients across the region and I hope to use my skills and experience to really add value for my clients.”

UPDATE

State of the art terminal extension set for take-off Plans for a major extension to the main airport terminal building at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) have been approved by Leeds City Council. The decision means that construction of the two/three storey extension to the main airport terminal building to provide an improved arrival experience, including significantly larger immigration and baggage reclaim areas, improved departure gate facilities, additional retail and food and beverage outlets and additional free seating will look to commence in spring 2019. Part of the airport’s ‘Route to 2030 Strategic Development Plan’ which will see annual passenger numbers increase from four million to seven million by 2030 - it is the biggest investment to date in the site by AMP Capital since it purchased the airport in October 2017. The planning application was made on behalf of Leeds Bradford Airport by Deloitte Real Estate. David Laws, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “This is fantastic news for the region’s passengers and the wider economy. With work scheduled to be complete in winter 2019/2020 we are increasing peak-time capacity to deliver a first class passenger experience and create an airport Yorkshire can be proud of.” “This will allow us to attract a greater range of airlines and support

route development, which in turn will deliver additional international destinations that our business and leisure passengers’ desire.” Nolan Tucker, director at Deloitte Real Estate, planning consultant on the project, added: “This is a significant step in the successful development of Leeds Bradford Airport. It is hugely important that this gateway to our region reflects its scale and importance to the wider UK. “This is the first in a series of future infrastructure projects which will improve access to the airport, helping to increase its capacity, deliver tangible return on investment and fuel future economic growth. The role of Leeds Bradford Airport in the City Region’s development strategy cannot be overstated.” LBA contributes £336m to the local

economy every year and delivers over 2,350 direct jobs, and the development comes as part of the wider strategy to improve the region’s connectivity nationally and internationally. Once the new building is complete, works will the n commence on re-modelling the existing terminal building to provide a new security central search area, enhanced check-in facilities, and a simplification of the customer journey through the existing departure lounge, which will also include new retail and F&B offers. The final phase will include the construction of a new pier, replacing the current passenger walkway with a two-storey structure, housing arrivals and ground level, and departures being processed at additional new boarding gates on the first floor.

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Pioneering campaign for Trinity Leeds Specially-designed bins and signage have now been installed to ensure Leeds Trinity visitors’ used coffee cups are properly recycled instead of going to landfill. In a UK first, an industry-wide working group – established by Trinity Leeds owners Landsec – have partnered with a consortium of national coffee retailers, led by Costa Coffee, for the initiative that aims to vastly improve the sustainability of the coffee industry. As well as Trinity Leeds, two other Landsec retail destinations – B l u e w a te r a n d G u n w h a r f Quays – are running individual trials to establish the best way of encouraging customers to dispose of their coffee cups properly to ensure the cups reach appropriate papermills in a suitable condition to be treated and recycled. The trials are being run with partners such as The Hubbub Foundation, an environmental campaign charity. There are significant barriers preventing disposable coffee cups from being recycled, despite a public wave of enthusiasm for waste reduction and recycling. The 5% plastic insert inside the cups is difficult for papermills to remove, whilst UK legislation also prevents papermills who produce food packaging from recycling disposable coffee cups. This includes a large majority of UK papermills, and waste companies have historically been reluctant to shoulder the cost of the increased transportation and logistical implications of delivering cups to a mill which doesn’t produce food packaging.

To c h a n g e t h i s , L a n d s e c i s intervening at two key points in the lifecycle of a coffee cup. At the point of disposal, Landsec is working to increase the number of cups that consumers put in dedicated coffee cup recycling bins or are recycled in-store, therefore reducing the likelihood of contamination and increasing the rate of successful recycling. As part of the trial, there are both new bins and new signs at each of the retail destinations, alerting consumers to the importance of separating used coffee cups from other waste. Landsec is also ensuring that, after collection, used coffee cups are distributed to a suitable mill, by brokering relationships between coffee retailers and waste companies. Landsec’s unique position in the supply chain means that it is able to promote a best-in-class approach to waste management. Although individual coffee retailers are responsible for the sale of the cups, Landsec, as the property owner, assumes responsibility for the waste generated at its sites. Tom Byrne, Sustainability Manager, Landsec, commented: “Problems of this scale cannot be eradicated by one organisation – or even one industry – alone. The complexities of supply chains are such that we need to view sustainability issues

holistically, to drastically reduce the amount of waste that doesn’t get recycled. “Consumers are largely unaware of the significant barriers to recycling coffee cups on a large scale. This initiative is about bringing organisations together to find a solution, in a pragmatic and practical way. “We’re saying to the industries involved that we can see what the problem is, we’ve got a good idea of how to fix it and we’d like to work together to do so. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to sharing the outcomes of our trials in due course.”

“Problems of this scale cannot be eradicated by one organisation...

Ollie Rosevear, Head of Environment, Costa, said: “Costa Coffee has been at the forefront of addressing the complex issues around coffee cup recycling and we’re delighted to partner with a landlord as forward-thinking and passionate as Landsec to look at increasing the recycling rates within their operating environments. We are collectively working on exciting solutions with the will of consumers wanting to do the right thing and look forward to further innovating UK-wide solutions”. Landsec plans to roll the scheme out across the rest of its portfolio in the coming months.

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News

John Lewis MD opens new Innovation Centre Paula Nickolds, Managing Director of John Lewis, has officially opened the Harrison Spinks’ £2.5 million Innovation Centre at its headquarters and manufacturing site in Leeds. The Innovation Centre houses the company’s development engineering team, Sleep Lab, management, sales, IT, purchasing, customer services, finance and marketing teams and also a stateof-the-art showroom for its Somnus range. The opening was also in celebration of an incredibly successful year for the 178-year-old bedmaker following a series of high-profile award wins including two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Innovation and International Trade, a Furniture Makers Company award for export

and most recently being named Bed Manufacturer of the Year 2018/2019 (turnover over £10 million). Harrison Spinks has been working with John Lewis since 1997 and manufactures beds under its John Lewis Natural Collection and Ultimate Collection brands. Simon Spinks, Managing Director of Harrison Spinks, said: “We’re delighted that Paula officially opened the Innovation Centre. Our companies share many of the same values and both pride themselves on quality, integrity and vision so we can’t think of a better partner to share this milestone with. “2018 has been a great year for us as many of our investments and hard work have come to fruition and have been recognised with some great accolades and awards – not least the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

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“As we move into 2019 we’ll take on a new focus with some exciting new developments for the direction of the Harrison Spinks brand.”

Leeds taxi firm lands private hire contract with Airport Leeds-based Arrow Cars, the official private hire partner of Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Bristol and East Midlands airports, has expanded into its fifth region after being awarded a five-year contract with Birmingham Airport to deliver private hire services from January 2019. With turnover this year forecasted

to hit £20million, Arrow Cars is the second largest taxi/private hire company in the UK, excluding Uber. The expansion into Birmingham will see 14 new jobs available for full-time administration staff along with more than 100 additional drivers. This brand-new, premium offering is a first for Birmingham Airport and will see the experienced operator

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Vet-tech gains worldwide recognition and investment start-up. Leading regional law firm Lupton Fawcett LLP and global brand design consultancy Elmwood have also invested in return for a minority stake, demonstrating their belief in the start-up’s potential. Jonathan Sands OBE (Elmwood and now Chairman of Vet-AI) commented: “This is a hugely exciting venture and one that I believe will transform the future of the veterinary industry. I can see a huge upside, both in improving the work life balance for vets themselves, whilst at the same time making pet care more expedient, more convenient and better value for every family with a pet. It is a very exciting proposition and I am delighted to be involved. A UK-based veterinary research and development start-up with ambitious plans to revolutionise the global pet market has raised almost £1 million in investment. Leading the way in bringing AI to the veterinary industry, Vet-AI was founded in 2017 by Paul Hallett and experienced veterinarian Robert Dawson. The R&D firm is developing a number of solutions that focusses on supporting pets, vets and giving pet owners the

tools to access pet healthcare more affordably and conveniently. The company has received investment from several key stakeholde rs to furthe r the growth and development of new technologies.

world. I have been hugely fortunate to have had the opportunity to treat thousands of wonderful animals and to meet their parents during 25 years as a vet and this investment is an opportunity to build a business which will enable the same for millions of pets across the globe.”

Having invested £500,000 into the company, co-founder Robert Dawson commented: “I’m passionate about improving the care of pets and all animals around the

Vet-AI is making significant progress to innovate the industry, which has attracted interest from global animal health companies, who have since invested in the

manage terminal front-based bookings for walkup journeys on-site. It follows Arrow’s successful relationships with four of the UK’s major airports, having worked exclusively with them for more than 10 years. The partnership will also provide customers with the opportunity to pre-book journeys online, via both the Arrow Cars and Birmingham Airport official websites, plus a downloadable app available on any smart device.

“We get asked on a regular basis to support start-ups of all shapes and sizes and so we have to be quite selective. However, Vet AI was an easy decision, as the business model is so compelling, and even before launch the project is attracting so much excitement and interest from all corners of the industry.”

Vet-AI’s flagship pet care app, Joii, will officially launch in May 2019.

David Richmond, Chairman, said: “We are delighted to undertake this partnership with Birmingham Airport. Our shared ethos and vision of outstanding client work, corporate social responsibility and global growth makes this a match made in heaven.

Richard Gill, Acting Commercial Director from Birmingham Airport, added: “Arrow Cars impressed us with its experience, service and professionalism, it also has a clear strategy to introduce environmentally friendly vehicles from the beginning of the contract term.

We will be investing over £1,000,000 in a large fleet from day one to deliver this unique service to millions of passengers flying in and out of the major hub.”

This premium private hire service will be a valued addition for our growing airport and we are looking forward to working together to expand our complete passenger offering.”

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News

Rosenbauer UK restructures senior leadership team

Sophie Conboy promoted to CEO

Yorkshire-based Rosenbauer UK – the leading British manufacturer of firefighting appliances – has significantly restructured its senior leadership team, as the company prepares to consolidate its growth over the next five years.

Connect Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s leading not-for-profit business membership organisation has announced key changes within the organisation which sees Sophie Conboy promoted from COO to CEO. Connect Yorkshire (CY) is a not-forprofit business support group which helps ambitious Yorkshire business owners grow their businesses through direct access to some of Yorkshire’s leading entrepreneurs for support and advice through a range of programmes including masterclasses, peer board groups and 121 mentoring.

Nick Uwins takes the reins as Managing Director, following a promotion from his former role of Sales and Engineering Director. With over 28 years of fire industry experience, he replaces founder Oliver North, who led the business since its formation in 2008. Mr North will now fulfil an official advisory role for Rosenbauer in conjunction with pursuing new challenges outside of the fire sector.

Sophie’s promotion will see former CEO and founder, Nick step back to focus on supporting and adding to its 98 Entrepreneurs in Residence who provide one-to-one mentoring for Connect Yorkshire’s 310 members. Craig Batham has also joined the organisation as Operations Manager to ensure it continues to offer outstanding service levels to its growing membership. Commenting on her promotion, Sophie said: “I’m excited for the future and how we will continue to provide our members with the opportunities to enable them to grow their businesses and in turn create jobs and wealth in Yorkshire. I am also committed to driving diversity within the organisation and encourage women and ethnic minorities to discover what Connect Yorkshire has to offer and what they could potentially offer to other businesses within Yorkshire.”

Ian Robertshaw has taken up the post of Head of Operations, from his previous role as Service Director, while Nina Robertshaw – who has been with the firm since February 2017 – has assumed responsibility of Head of Finance and Administration. The reshuffle comes on the back of a record year for Rosenbauer UK in 2018, which saw the organisation increase turnover by over 210% to £18 million; in turn filling its order book up to March 2020. Rosenbauer UK will also bolster its sales and service team throughout 2019 to uphold its quality of aftersales care and strong period of growth. Commenting on his new role,

Rosenbauer UK has formed a well-earned reputation...

fulfilling the contracts which we have secured over the past few months. We’ll also continue to increase front line vehicle and equipment technology.”

Nick said: “Rosenbauer UK has formed a well-earned reputation for delivering firstclass technology and service, alongside an unrivalled culture among our employees. These internal appointments will therefore ensure consistency during this period of change, as Oliver steps back from the fore.

Finishing, Oliver North said: “Combined, Nick, Ian and Nina have wide-reaching experience, knowledge and expertise, and I look forward to maintaining my involvement within an advisory ca pa cit y, as t he company continues through its current phase of growth.

“Having been a part of the team since January 2016, it’s a pleasure to now be leading the company, and I look forward to

It has been an honour to drive the organisation to where it is today and know the new Senior Leadership Team will continue to drive quality and efficiency.”

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Shoppers raise £8,090 for the Poppy Appeal Customers at Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk store have raised £8,090 for The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. As one of The Royal British Legion’s longest standing corporate partners, Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk welcomed Poppy Appeal volunteer collectors in the run up to Armistice Day. Phil Butterfield, Store Manager said: “We love being involved with the Poppy Appeal and this year our customers and colleagues showed their continued support for this great cause.

We’re thrilled to have raised such a huge amount for The Royal British Legion and look forward to seeing what the future holds for the 24 year partnership.” Ben France, Head of Corporate Partnerships at The Royal British Legion, added: “This year we have set our biggest ever target for The Poppy Appeal to raise £50 million to provide life-long support to the Armed Forces community. The level of activity that took place in Sainsbury’s stores will help contribute to our grand total and we are so grateful to the colleagues, volunteers and customers who were a part of it. Sainsbury’s has been a much valued partner, especially in this poignant year as we marked the Centenary of the end of the First World War.”

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The Huddersfield Literature Festival has announced dates and themes, supported by a major Arts Council grant The Festival will return in March 2019, having won its bid for funding from the Arts Council.

Stafflex partner with The Welcome Centre for 2019

UPDATE

Literature Festival brings in funding

The annual Festival will run from 21-31 March 2019 with a theme of ‘Memory’ and a programme that will include major names, author talks, panel discussions, workshops, performance poetry, free family events, LGBTQ+ performers and more.

Stafflex have renewed their partnership with The Welcome Centre for the next 12 months making a substantial donation of £1,000.

Festival Director, Michelle Hodgson said: “We’re really thrilled to have been awarded an Arts Council grant again this year to support our 2019 Festival. There is a lot of competition for Arts Council funding, but we put forward a strong case, with a wide range of high-profile and community events.”

The funding helped support the volunteer’s lunch which took place at Landings 72, Kirklees College, where 37 volunteers joined together to celebrate their amazing dedication for 2018.

She continued: “The grant brings important funding into the local economy, supporting printers, distributors, venues and local organisations, as well as established and emerging writers, poets and performers.

Emma Greenough, marketing and publicity worker at The Welcome Centre commented: “We are a people organisation and so it feels fitting that we support the Volunteer’s Lunch recognising and celebrating all the hard work the volunteers have done over the last 12 months.”

“The Festival also brings money into the town from outside visitors, which again benefits the local daytime and night-time economy. “We also very much appreciate the funding and support we receive every year from the University of Huddersfield and from local business sponsors, such as Wilkinson Woodward Norcliffe & Co, Stafflex and the Kingsgate Centre, to mention a few.” Michelle is currently putting in bids for authors and events. Already confirmed for Thursday 21 March is a familyfriendly talk ‘Ask an Ocean Explorer’

by Dr Jon Copley, an Associate Professor in Ocean Exploration & Public Engagement, who worked on David Attenborough’s popular BBC series Blue Planet II. And if you’re feeling the pressure of work and life in general the Festival has a relaxing day of health and wellbeing on Saturday 23 March, including proactive parenting tips from Mandy Saligari; a talk on harnessing the power of jeopardy by entrepreneur Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones; advice on how to free yourself from anxiety from Sam Owen; stories from The Happiness Bible with Cheryl Rickman; and a workshop on how to support your mental wellbeing with Tom George.

Partne rship e ve nts are in the pipeline with Magic Rock Taproom, Huddersfield Town Foundation, Words In Mind and several other local organisations, and the ‘Events Around Autism’ strand, launched in 2018, will return and be developed in 2019.

Information on events and tickets will be posted on the Festival website: www.huddlitfest.org. uk, over the next few months, where anyone wishing to receive advance information can sign up to the mailing list or unlock special benefits by becoming a ‘Festival Friend’.

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Huddersfield graphic display specialist Leach has helped bring a prestigious art exhibition to life at the iconic Louvre museum in France. Leach – part of the global Chargeurs Group – provided the stunning backdrop for a 600-strong event at the world-renowned glass pyramid venue. The project saw four double-sided, free-standing Lightwalls make the 470-mile journey from Huddersfield to Paris, for an immersive evening which aimed to draw young people into the world of art. French actor Fabrice Luchini – ambassador of The Société des Amis du Louvre – unveiled the visual spectacle, in partnership with Chargeurs’ Philanthropies Foundation. As part of the event, Leach’s illuminated displays were used to highlight classical masterpieces by Jean-Dominique Ingres, with the exhibit showcasing masterpieces from Rembrandt, Eugène Delacroix and Matthias Grünewald.

Leach helps showcase French masterpieces at the Louvre Manufactured at Leach’s 30,000sqft site in West Yorkshire, the displays were also designed to direct the flow of traffic during the busy evening.

Commenting on the project, Leach managing director, James Lavin, said: “We have worked on some brilliant international arts and heritage briefs throughout our 127 years in business, but for our displays to be installed within a Louvre exhibit has to be up there as one of our favourites.

“For our displays to be installed within a Louvre exhibit has to be up there as one of our favourites.

“Not only is this Pa r i s i a n v e n u e globally-acclaimed – the Société also sought the cuttingedge of display innovation for the classic works on show, so we were delighted that our Lightwalls were selected for the job.”

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Ramping up access at Leeds Corn Exchange In addition to the transformational construction works, additional investment inside has seen an inspirational art installation light up the main entrance, creating a visual spectacular for visitors. Named ‘The Course of Days’, the artistic art and light installation, created by Output Arts, uses cutting-edge digital technology to explore the changing seasons and the rhythms of passing time. Leeds-based poet, Ma Maposa’s words have also been hand-painted onto the inner circle that divides the ground and lower ground yard, and all of the retailers’ doorways have been painted in fresh new independent colours. Richard Baker from Rushbond, added: “This is a major moment in time on this new journey for Leeds Corn Exchange.

Work to create a new entrance, as part of the transformation programme for Leeds Corn Exchange, has now been completed. For the first time in the building’s history, the re is no w a fully accessible ramp front entrance, dramatically improving access for all users. The new entranceway at the front of the building now incorporates a beautifully curved sloping stone ramp, designed to blend seamlessly with the original 170 year old steps.

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The works, commissioned by Rushbond, the award-winning property company behind a series of major restoration and regeneration projects in the City, were carried out by Yorkshire-based contractors Dobsons, working with specialist stonemasons Bullens. Newly appointed centre manager at Corn Exchange, Adam Warner, said: “Accessibility has been an issue with the building for a number of years. Following Rushbond’s acquisition, their new design team, led by Seven Architecture, evolved an innovative design to address this longstanding weakness. Leeds Corn Exchange now has a new and welcoming main entrance that looks fantastic and is easily accessible for prams, wheelchairs and everyone else visiting the building. It blends in so well, I suspect that many people may not even realise it’s new!”

For the first time since 1863, the building is fully accessible and it’s something the whole team is immensely proud of.

Designed by Cuthbert Brodrick, a Hull architect best known for Leeds Town Hall, this Grade I listed structure was completed in 1862 and opened on 28 July 1863

“The beautiful design of the steps and ramp, which follow the building’s natural curved contours, integrate effortlessly with the historic landmark. We hope it will further enhance the Corn Exchange’s reputation for promoting creativity and innovation, as well as being home to many of the city’s leading independent retailers. “It’s all part of delivering a whole programme of works through into 2019.”

New Wizz Air service at Doncaster Sheffield airport Flights went on sale on in January for a new twice-weekly Wizz Air service from Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) to Timisoara, Romania, taking off on 2nd September 2019. The new service will deliver an additional 38,000 seats and will

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Welcome new partners to TopicUK

The Piece Hall Trust has become the latest organisation to join the Mid Yorkshire Chamber’s patronage scheme. The Piece Hall Trust was established in 2013 and joins Eaton Smith, Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Leeds Beckett Unive rsity, Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation and Huddersfield Giants to become the Chamber’s seventh patron. It will help support the Chamber’s c o n t i n u e d e f f o r t s to connect, support and represent businesses across the Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield districts. Standing at the heart of the local and regional business community, the Trust exists to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the local environment, by preserving Halifax’s finest cultural and historical site, The Piece Hall. Since it’s re-ope ning in 2017, The Piece Hall w a s aw a r d e d ‘ h i g h l y commended’ by the British Guild of Travel

TopicUK is delighted to welcome two new partners, Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel and Applied Digital.

Mid Yorkshire Chamber welcomes The Piece Hall Trust as Patron Writers in the Best UK Tourism Project category and announced overall UK winner at the Historic England Angel Awards. The Grade I listed building i s h o m e to a m i x o f independent new start-ups, expanding local businesses and returning tenants, meaning that members of the Chamber will benefit from a wider and diverse range of connections.

Nicky Chance-Thompson, chief executive of The Piece Hall Trust, commented: “The Piece Hall is once again at the heart of the local and regional business community, as it was in Georgian times when it was at the centre of the global woollen industry.

The recent patronage will allow both organisations to access added benefits and services including; monthly networking events, shared public relations and

“It is of great importance to us that we work collaboratively with our peers and by becoming a patron of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

add to what is already expected to be a record year for the award-winning airport. A significant 25% increase over the previous year is forecast with almost 300,000 new seats being added for the year ahead that will see passenger numbers grow to 1.5 million per annum. This latest destination comes just weeks after Wizz Air announced new routes to Krakow, Poland, and Budapest, Hungary. Chris Harcombe, Aviation

promotion of events and news, providing greater opportunities for local businesses.

Development Director said: “This is great news for Doncaster Sheffield Airport, and we’re delighted by the confidence airlines have shown in the easy, friendly, relaxed experience that we offer our customers across our growing catchment area of passengers covering the wider Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire regions. This is the fourth new route announcement from Wizz Air over the last 12-months, offering almost

we believe that together we can make a significant impact in the local area and beyond, putting Halifax and the region front and centre of any business opportunities.”

Built over 400 years ago, the award winning Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel is steeped in history, charm and character. They even have their own onsite Jacobean Pub. They are ideally located in the quiet countryside yet close to major road links of the M62 and A1. They offers complimentary car parking, fast and reliable high speed Wi-Fi and an exclusive residents only Lounge Bar.

All of the bedrooms have fully interactive TVs, wifi and comfortable memory foam mattresses, as well as the luxury items that you associate Martin Hathaway, managing with a Best Western Plus hotel. director of Mid Yorkshire Applied Digital is a Huddersfield Chamber of Commerce, based agency that specialise in added: “We are extremely website design, e-commerce, email proud to welcome The marketing, SEO, graphic design and Piece Hall Trust as a Patron apps to name just a few of their as we move towards our services. The team works with clients 2019 goals. to create an online offer that works for both them and their customers, “By enhancing our driving, visitors, interest and sales. relationship with the Trust, we hope to open The firm headed by Steve Sykes is up more opportunities for dedicated and honest, always putting businesses in the district.” its clients first.

40 flights per week to 13 destinations “We are thrilled to be working with across Europe from DSA by September. both these businesses and looking forward to promoting their services “We’re proud to be Wizz Air’s largest as well as bringing you their news,” operation in the UK outside of London said TopicUK group editor Gill and delighted to grow our choice of Laidler. “These forward thinking low-cost European destinations. Our companies see the advantages we first TUI long-haul flights to Sanford, can offer them of space within the Florida take off in May and tickets are Magazine, website, social media already on sale for flights to Cancun, and PR all under one roof, reaching Mexico setting off in Spring 2020, thousands of businesses across taking our total destinations to 55, with Yorkshire. new routes being added regularly.”

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Forward Ladies National finalists announced Daniel - Head of Diversity and Inclusion, HSBC UK; and 2017 Business Woman of the Year, Susanna Lawson of OneFile.

The UK’s top business women have been recognised at the prestigious grand final of the Forward Ladies National Awards & Summit 2018, sponsored by HSBC UK. Hosted by business journalist and broadcaster Penny Haslam, the awards took place at The Royal Armouries, in Leeds, where outstanding, entrepreneurial female business leaders from across the UK competed in a total of 11 categories. Lara Oyesanya, UK Counsel and Director, Legal at Klarna Bank AB, was crowned with the top award of Outstanding Business Woman of the Year 2018, after leaving the judges “amazed and highly inspired” by her “stunning career”.

The Forward Ladies National Awards & Summit, now in its ninth year, has become one of the most high profile and respected accolades for women, recognising

their enormous contribution to the economy and acknowledges start-ups to multi-million pound companies. This year’s high profile speakers included Fiona

THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS FROM THE NATIONAL FINALS IS AS FOLLOWS:

Jennifer Crawley, head of the j u d g i n g p a n e l a n d He a d o f Performance, Small Business Banking for HSBC UK, said: “Lara amazed judges with her drive, passion and determination. Lara has demonstrated an exce ptional work ethic and has made a significant impact in her sector. Alongside this, she has been instrumental to various community programmes advocating the rights of children, driven by her passion to motivate and inspire young women.

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Outstanding Business Woman of the Year 2018 Lara Oyesanya, Klarna BankAB.

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Emerging Leader of the Year Charlotte Horobin, EEF.

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“We’re proud to be working with Forward Ladies as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting women in business and this award highlights the exceptionally talented businesswomen we have across the UK.”

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Start Up of the Year Fran Glover and Carrie Weekes

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Young Entrepreneur of the Year Jordana Chin, Nutri2Go.

Corporate Leader of the Year Lara Oyesanya, Klarna BankAB. Highly commended Rebecca Bryant, Chief Fire Officer, Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service

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Female Entrepreneur of the Year Joanne Bass, XL Displays Limited. Highly commended Faye Jobbins, Tikiboo.

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STEM Rising Star of the Year Aimi Elias, Sky. Highly commended Faye Pressly, Vanti.

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Public Sector of the Year Cathy Connolly, Care Merseyside.

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STEM Leader of the Year Suzanne Oliver, Arm Ltd

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Diversity Champion of the Year Noor Ali, Morrisons.

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International Leader of the Year Amanda Peffer, Blade & Rose.

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Male Agent of Change of the Year Geoff Mackey, BASF.

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Social Entrepreneur of the Year Jacqueline Williamson, Kinship Care NI. Highly commended Sarah Crawley, iSE.

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Lifetime Achievement Award Dame Stephanie Shirley.

The keynote speaker was Gina M i l l e r, t h e b u s i n e s s w o m a n whose legal action forced a parliamentary vote on withdrawal from the EU. Ms Miller is a philanthropist who is best known for successfully challenging the Government over its authority to implement Brexit, winning in both the High Court and Supreme Court. Her expertise and areas of work co ve r investme nts, charities, democracy and political processes; as well as social justice. Griselda Togobo, M anaging Director at Forward Ladies said: “The programme to showcase role models and inspirational leadership and we are once again delighted to highlight the best women-led businesses and male agents of change, championing diversity in their respective regions. “Whilst we have clearly made progress over the years, little advancement has been made in bringing diversity to leadership roles. By working togethe r: employers, the government, support networks and the women ourselves, we can bridge the gap quicker – achieving diversity is not an option, it is necessary for our competitiveness as a nation. “Our regional shortlists are the everyday heroines, trailblazers a n d r o l e m o d e l s w h o h av e succeeded despite enormous challenges by breaking through barriers.”

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A search for the nation’s best business women brought together a host of inspirational women at an illustrious awards ceremony at Wembley Stadium for the finals of the National Business Women’s Awards 2018. The awards, which cover every aspect of business, from the sole trader to the corporate elite, recognise and celebrate the female innovators, trailblazers, disruptors and entrepreneurs setting the precedence for women in business. An array of titles was seized by Yorkshire’s leading business women. Gill Marchbank of ResQ Limited took the Corporate Leader of the Year Title; “I am so proud and delighted; first to be nominated by my team and secondly to be recognised for the hard work and strong emphasis that I place on leadership and developing ResQ’s people. “I am fortunate to have a strong team around me. Most of them have been with the business for several

Yorkshire wins big in London years or more and most started their careers as advisors on the phones, so I am enormously proud of what we have achieved.” Local Care Force LLP, lead by director Leanne Silverwood took

L-R Rory Campbell (MC), Ridwana Wallace (Employee Of The Year), Jules White (Live It Love It Sell It)

the Employer of the Year Title; “Our employee’s and workforce are at the centre of everything we do, we got to 21 in the times top 100 on our first attempt because of their feedback so we are definitely doing something very right. My team’s happiness, confidence and work life balance is paramount and this award gives some recognition to us as a business for doing the right thing, ethically and having a load of fun along the way!”

“My team’s happiness, confidence and work life balance is paramount to us. To Partner TopicUK

Tel: 07711 539047

Ridwana Wallace - Laher of TopicUK Partner Penny Appeal took the Employee of The Year title; “I am absolutely honoured to have won and to be invited and share the room with other influential women.”

On The Move New Appointments throughout

our region

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25 NEW STARTERS FOR LEEDS AGENCY Leeds based digital agency, Search Laboratory, has revealed impressive growth following the recruitment of 25 new starters to the integrated agency. As part of the recruitment drive, the company has invested in 19 UK based roles, and 6 positions in the US. The growth has been accredited to the company’s inno vative approach to integrated services, which is growing in popularity amongst leading businesses across the UK and US. Brands already adopting this new integrated approach with

the agency include clients such as Ann Summers. The recruits will work to service such clients across disciplines including PPC, SEO, and international digital marketing, alongside the agency’s already 130 strong team of employees across the Leeds and New York offices. The move sees Search Laboratory strengthen its vision to spearhead the integration of digital communications to support its client’s business growth. Lizzie Stevenson, who joins

the company as a Content and Online PR Project Manager, has moved from the US to Leeds to work on the development of content and online PR activity for Search Laboratory’s growing US client-base. Lizzie comments, “The marketing industry as a whole is constantly changing and adapting to new tech and digital updates, and so working for a company like Search Laboratory, which is renowned as being one of the best-integrated digital agencies in the country, is a great opportunity to make a real difference for clients and remain ahead of the curve.” Founder Ian Harris said: “The business has grown from strength to strength over the past 13 years in Leeds, and we are now in a position where we are on the cusp of a new growth cycle. We are in a position to continue growing at a rapid pace. “Thanks to The Sunday Times best employers list, we are able to attract the top talent in the area and really invest in our staff. This, in turn, ensures we

are providing an innovative, practical and effective suite of digital solutions for our clients. We are confident this growth is set to continue as more and more businesses become aware of the opportunities integrated digital marketing presents.” Search Laboratory has been named in The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies To Work For list six out of the last seven years, due to its investment in staff training, wellbeing and focus on making the company an enjoyable place to work. Priding their service offering on innovative, agile and holistic digital marketing, including analytics and data science, SEO, PPC, social media and programmatic display. The agency is widely recognised as the digital leader in the North, being one of only a handful of agencies to be Google Analytics 360 Sales Partners. This is due to the major household names across the UK and internationally the agency works with from its Leeds headquarters.

TEAM GROWS WITH THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS Joan Russell, Sarah Adamson and Lily Lynch are the latest members of Ward Hadaway’s team. Forme rly a trainee with Wa r d H a d a w a y , S a r a h qualified into the team last year and specialises in the administration of highvalue estates, high-net worth individuals and other private individuals across the North. Joan, who hails from Hamilton in Scotland, has a wealth of

experience which she has gained over the course of a career spanning more than three decades. She had been with the firm for two and a half years as part of the Personal Injury unit before joining the team. Lily, who works out of the Leeds office alongside partner Andrew Evans, added: “I was over the moon to find out I had secured my career with the firm and am extremely excited to be joining the

private client team who are really respected across the North.” Andrew Facer, who heads the Private Client team, added: “I am delighted to welcome

Joan, Sarah and Lily to the team. Together they will work closely with our clients and in-house Corporate, Banking and Real Estate teams to build bespoke solutions tailored to their individual needs.”

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Appointment for vehicle hire firm

Deputy General Manager for Dakota Deluxe

Capital B Media expands team further

Yorkshire-based vehicle-hire firm, Arrow Self Drive has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of regional sales development manager, Nick Buck.

Ross Tatham, 32, joins Dakota Deluxe Leeds as Deputy General Manager where he will enhance the hotel’s standards and guest expectations, as well as assume responsibility for over 130 staff.

PR and communications consultancy Capital B Media has expanded its team with the appointment of a new junior account executive.

Nick will assist the management team as it now embarks on a Yorkshire-focused expansion plan, which will include the opening of a new depot in Sheffield later this year.

Ross brings with him over 16 years’ experience within the industry, having held several prestigious positions at Rudding Park Hotel and Fortum & Mason in the UK, and at Atlantis, Marco Pierre White, and Burj Al Arab Hotel, the only 7* hotel in the world, in Dubai. In his previous roles, he was responsible for implementing policies and procedures required to run and enhance these high-end operators.

Chris Doyle, 22, has joined the Barnsleybased firm after completing a BA in broadcast journalism and a Masters in documentary journalism at Nottingham Trent University.

In his new role Nick will support each of Arrow Self Drive’s eight depots in maintaining and building customer relationships. Managing director of, James Hill said: “Nick joins us at an incredibly exciting time. We have built a solid reputation across the region and since becoming fully family-owned in 2018, we’re now moving towards our next stage of growth. Nick will play an integral part in supporting us to become Yorkshire’s rental company of choice.” Nick Buck added: “I am thrilled to have undertaken the role of regional sales development manager at Arrow Self Drive; the team here is fantastic and I’m looking forward to using my skills to support a business that delivers the best in quality and service to customers across Yorkshire.”

Andrew Creese, General Manager said: “Ross has a proven track record of success at a range of luxury hotels and restaurants worldwide and I am confident that his business acumen and creative flair will stand him in good stead to enhance and develop the standards and service we offer to our guests. He is a highly qualified and experienced professional and will be a great asset to the team.” Ross added: “Dakota Deluxe Leeds has a fantastic reputation for providing guests with an unrivalled luxury experience and I am delighted to be joining the hotel at such an exciting time. With the introduction of a new concept in its Salon Privé and the launch of a new menu in the main bar, I hope to create a vibrant cocktail destination for visitors to Leeds whilst improve the existing standards of excellence.”

He has also worked as the social media officer for the DeaflympicsGB team, which included covering the Deaflympics in Turkey and organising athlete’s celebrations at the House of Lords. Chris, who lives in Sheffield, said: “Having studied for four years I am thrilled that I have joined a growing company where I can utilise and develop my skills. There is a great team here in the beautiful South Yorkshire countryside. This is a brilliant place to make my first steps into the industry.” Capital B Media, which was set up by former BBC journalist Kate Betts in 2006, is based at Bullhouse Mill, near Penistone. Kate added: “Chris’s appointment comes at a period of growth for the organisation and we are all delighted to welcome him to the team. I’m sure his skills and creativity will be of great benefit to our clients.”

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News

Mr Fitz Aqua Spirtz introduces new Head of Brand

Yorkshire based liquid dispense specialist Brewfitt have appointed Mark Fenton to front their Mr Fitz Aqua Spritz brand. Launched last year, the Mr Fitz Aqua Spritz concept of combining over 20 botanically infused flavours with pure filtered still or sparking water dispensed from a unique bar font is proving a great success with Brian Whiting’s award winning Whiting & Hammond Chain, The Peoples Pub Company, Camerons and McManus Pubs already profiting from installations. Mark brings with him extensive knowledge and experience from his previous roles with The Craft Cocktail Company and London Cocktail Club Group where he was instrumental in bringing to market the first fully pasteurised ready to drink draught cocktails.

“Even the major brewers and spirit brands now recognise that the non-alcoholic drink category is growing rapidly but also with it the increasing pressure on the trade to fulfil the demands and needs of an ever increasingly educated consumer and try to still make a meaningful profit!” said Mark, “What I really love about Mr Fitz Aqua Spritz is that it delivers a solution for both by offering over 20 delicious and innovative drinks, bottled or table water, dessert and (dare I say it) spirit mixer and tonic solutions whilst delivering category leading profits and revenue opportunities for sites.”

TopicUK become Club 5 members supporting The Prince of Wales Hospice

TopicUK have become members of the Prince of Wales Hospice Club 5 networking group and this year will be working with the hospice as they celebrate their 30th anniversary.

25p each and support groups were set up across the district to fundraise for the appeal. News of the fundraising reached His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales who boosted the appeal by visiting one of the support groups in 1986.

At a local Rotary club get-together in 1981 the idea of a hospice was born and an appeal set up in the name of The Five Towns Plus Hospice Fund. To help pay building costs members of the community bought bricks for

In 1987 Wakefield Council donated the plot on Halfpenny Lane and finally, in November 1989, The Five Towns Plus Hospice opened one day a week. A year later the Hospice started opening three days a week and was able to admit

N E WS UPDATE Yorkshire-based O&H Vehicle Conversions – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of emergency vehicles – has appointed an experienced industry name as its ne w managing director to drive major company growth. Oliver North, founder and former managing director of firefighting vehicle specialist, Rosenbauer UK, has also taken a shareholding in O&H to solidify the long-term strategy of the company. Oliver has immediately set his sights on driving home-grown innovation and production. Oliver – well known in the emergency services vehicle production sector – has been drafted in by O&H owners, Endless LLP. The private equity organisation acquired the manufacturing firm in 2016 to drive the company forward and attract key contracts within the UK and across export markets. Matthew Jubb, investment director at Endless, commented: “We are delighted to have appointed Oliver as the new managing director of O&H. The depth of his experience and relationships within the patients for 24-hour care in a newly-furnished bedded area. Shortly after, Her Majesty The Queen gave permission for the Hospice to use its current name, The Prince of Wales Hospice. Thirty years on and the hospice has helped and supported so many people and their families across the district. They care for local people within the ‘Five Towns’ community offering round the clock care for those

Former Rosenbauer MD advises on growth emergency services sector are truly outstanding, and our ability to attract him to O&H reflects our ambitions for the business in the coming months and years.”. Oliver added: “After taking a long, hard look at the organisation, I’m thrilled to have joined O&H – particularly after falling in love with the quality, capability and further potential of the shop floor. “O&H has been a pillar of British emergency service vehicle manufacturing for over thirty years. Nevertheless, I still look at them very much as the sleeping who have life-limiting illnesses with the majority of patients returning home after their symptoms have been managed, Each year they reach nearly 1000 local people of all ages. T h e y h av e l o t s o f e v e n t s planned for this year, a key one being Birthday Party in the Park taking place this summer and the Anniversary Ball taking place in November. Details of these events and the many others planned

giant of the industry. Not only have they furnished the UK’s Ambulance Service with what I feel is unrivalled build quality, but the company has also established key accounts in the wider emergency services sector as well as the patient transport, mobility and welfare markets. “Coming into the firm as a shareholder also symbolises my long-term intention in leading the organisation towards a successful era. We will drive the company forwards effectively while safeguarding, and hopefully growing, employment in the region.”

Dacres Commercial makes two high profile promotions Matthew Brear has been promoted to senior associate and Andrew Sutherland is now a senior surveyor at commercial property firm, Dacres Commercial. Matthew joined Dacres eight years ago and is a qualified Chartered Surveyor who specialises in residential land and development. Matthew also heads up the commercial agency department of Dacres and is involved with selling, acquiring and letting all types of commercial property. Andrew originally joined the firm as a placement student in 2013, and after achieving a first-class honours degree in estate management from Northumbria University, he returned to the firm and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2016.

Why not become a member of the Club 5 Networking group and join the army of local businesses who support the hospice.

He now works with some of the UK’s leading property companies and institutional investors across Dacres Commercial’s agency and professional divisions. In addition, he is an integral member of the firm’s specialist healthcare department, which carries out medical centre and pharmacy rent reviews, valuations and investment sales, as well as managing an extensive portfolio of specialist primary healthcare buildings throughout the UK.

For details contact Tracey Mearns, partnership development coordinator on 01977 781474.

Head of Dacres Commercial, David Ogilvie, said: “Matthew and Andrew both joined us after graduating from university and have become highly respected and successful members of our team.”

throughout 2019 can be found on the website at www.pwh.org. uk. and in Topicuk.co.uk

SP ON T LE IWGSH U T PSDPAETCEI A L

From pizza shop to feeding the world

Twenty nineteen promises to be a special year for entrepreneur and philanthropist Adeem Younis, founder of multi award-winning international charity Penny Appeal, who are marking their tenth anniversary this year with a host of activities, events and celebrations.

Adeem speaking about his entrepreneurial journey

Top of the list for the charity this year is their highly anticipated move to Thornes Park, a site recently acquired from Wakefield College. They plan to transform the site, much of which has fallen into disrepair, into their new international HQ.

“Our campaign to reach out and help the homeless in the UK runs all year round...” CEO Aamer Naeem OBE

Sarah Ashraf distributing care packs on a UK street.

Breathing life back into Thornes Park, the college building he graduated from has been a dream come true for Adeem who started his first business on top of a pizza shop whilst still studying at the college. After graduating, he went onto study at the University of Leeds then created a world leading global Muslim matchmaking agency. Today, SingleMuslim.com has more than

In the Gambia with orphaned children supported by the Charity

2 million users worldwide with a dozen people getting married after meeting on the platform every single day! His entrepreneurial success, however, was a stepping stone for Adeem to explore a deeper calling he had to the world of philanthropy. Having lost his father at a young age, Adeem was moved to explore his roots and visit his ancestral home in rural Pakistan where he first saw extreme poverty. Considering all that he had been blessed with, Adeem was inspired to start Penny Appeal, whose vision has always been to transform the small change we take for granted into a

big difference for people who need it most. In the village, Adeem met a young teacher named Ali. He paid Ali a monthly salary of £30 for teaching his class, helping them to get out of poverty. This wage exceeded Ali’s requirements to provide for not only his immediate family but several members of his extended family too. On his return to the UK, Adeem recalls refilling his car at the petrol station to the cost of £90. The figure struck a deep nerve inside of him. What it cost to fill his car with petrol supported Ali and his family for three months. Adeem knew he could do something to help and thus Penny Appeal was born.

SP O TL I GH T Since its launch in 2009, Penny Appeal has transformed millions of lives and empowered communities around the world, helping to break the poverty cycle and build brighter futures. The work has grown considerably over the 10 years the charity has been established, allowing them to launch lifesaving campaigns and projects in over 35 crisis hit countries as well as right here in the UK. Today Penny Appeal has a £25m annual turnover with offices in the USA, Australia, South Africa, Dubai, Pakistan, The Gambia and Palestine. Penny Appeal provides poverty

S PEC I AL

relief across Asia, the Middle East and Africa by offering water solutions, supporting orphan care, organising mass food programmes and providing emergency food and medical aid to name just a few of their crucial campaigns. They do all this from donations of just a few pennies a day. Notably, for every campaign Penny Appeal does across the globe, a sister project is launched in the UK. Father of four, Adeem is very much a champion of the notion ‘charity begins at home’ and thus the charity has spent millions of pounds serving vulnerable individuals and communities at home in the UK. As British as a cup of tea campaign 2018

Renowned singer-songwriter Yusuf / Cat Stevens

Team Orange University Colllege London Hospitals May 2018 In addition to their cutting-edge campaigns and programmes, Penny Appeal have enlisted an army of over 5000 volunteers since the charity’s inception. The volunteer force, affectionately dubbed ‘Team Orange,’ after the charity’s brand colours, help run digital campaigns, organise TV

fundraisers achieving Guinness World Records, carry out street collections as well as getting involved with programmes such as visiting the elderly or giving gifts to poorly children in hospitals and hospices across the country. Twe nty eightee n has bee n a phenomenal year for Adeem and

his dream team at Penny Appeal. They started with their annual Winter Appeal which was led by a television advertising campaign, on ITV and Channel 5, highlighting the charity’s work in grassroots communities tackling loneliness amongst the elderly. The campaign, entitled ‘As British

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As A Cup of Tea’ was the number 2 trending topic on Twitter backed by renowned singer-songwriter Yusuf / Cat Stevens, and was bolstered by an extensive print and digital media campaign urging communities from all backgrounds to come together and help the elderly, even with something as simple as a cup of tea.

SP ON T LE IWGSH U T PSDPAETCEI A L “Penny Appeal is a confidently Muslim-led charity. Just like a cup of tea that comes from the East, but is regarded as quintessentially British, so too is our faith,” said charity CEO Aamer Naeem OBE. “Islam, just like Christianity, comes from the East, however, as Muslims we are proudly British. In the UK we provide aid to the hungry, homeless and needy, to help alleviate poverty and transform those lives who need our help most - regardless of who they are or what their background might be.” The ‘As British As’ Campaign trended across the UK on Twitter and went on to win an elusive Creative Media Excellence Award. The year has also seen the charity backing a diverse array of innovative projects and initiatives that bring together faith, culture, charity and entertainment.

Above: 34 brave souls trekking 18,000ft to Everest base camp

These include the romantic comedy feature film, Finding Fatimah, which opened in 45 cinemas across the country as well as the side-splitting annual ‘Super Muslim Comedy Tour’ and the world’s first Muslim Pantomime, which was extensively featured by the BBC. Business tycoon, James Caan CBE, visited Penny Appeal following an invitation from Adeem and the two are working closely on a new initiative that brings together the best of entrepreneurship and philanthropy. “It was a real honour to have James visit us,” explained Adeem, “he was extremely interested in the work that we do, and we were delighted when said the infamous words, ‘I’m in’!” The new project is called Penny Ventures and will help budding

entrepreneurs establish new businesses and assist existing business owners in expanding their companies through funding, mentoring and support. Twenty eighteen also saw 27 intrepid young people set off with Penny Appeal to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, to support water well projects around the world. A team of over 100 people also tackled Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain, and the year was rounded off with 34 brave

Above: Haroon Mota with Adeem at the start of the London Marathon.

souls trekking 18,000ft to Everest base camp, raising over 2 million pounds for charity. Additionally, raising funds for a variety of campaigns, a team of young men from Leicester called The Riders of Shaam undertook two gruelling bicycle rides in aid of Penny Appeal, one from Leicester to Luxembourg and the other from Leicester to Paris. Led by Adeem himself, the charity

also had a dozen people take on the London Marathon, all supporting Penny Appeal’s brilliant causes, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity. “This was my first attempt at a marathon and I was thrilled just to have made the finish line” said a delighted Adeem. “The crowds were amazing, and I have definitely caught the bug, I think this will be annual event for me!” TopicUK February/March 2019

S P O NT EL W I GS H UT P SD PA ET CE I A L On a personal level Adeem was recognised for his work by winning a number of awards. He was a regional winner of the Institute of Directors Young Director of the Year and highly commended in the national finals. He was a double winner in the NatWest 2018 awards Entrepreneur of the Year.

Above: Taksima from Penny Appea meets HRH The Queen in the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster.

Rounding off the year, Penny Appeal highlighted the crisis of homelessness in the UK by unveiling five life-sized ice sculptures of homeless people in London’s financial district of Canary Wharf. The frozen family of five represent the plight of the five families in the UK who become homeless

every day. Entitled ‘What would Jesus do?’ the campaign sought to ask people, in the Christmas season, just how Jesus would react to the stark levels of homelessness on our streets. “Our campaign to reach out and help the homeless in the UK runs all year round,” said CEO Aamer Naeem OBE, “but this season we felt more than ever that we needed to highlight the travesty of homelessness in our societies. Homeless people are usually hidden from view during the winter, often bus-surfing just to try and stay warm. By placing these ice sculptures outside the warm and comfortable offices of some of London’s largest companies, we hoped to move people to think about this invisible community, especially during this time of the year.” Listing all the charity has accomplished, with thousands of volunteers, hundreds of members of staff and dozens of offices, it’s hard to think all this impact was born out of Wakefield.

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He won Charity Chair in the Third Sector Awards and was honoured in his home town of Wakefield as Entrepreneur of the Year in the Wakefield Business Awards. He became an Ambassador for The Yorkshire Society and won the prestigious Gold Award in the International Stevie Awards, to name just a few that grace the trophy cabinets in the office.

Just two of the many Awards picked up by Penny Appeal this year

Just what is in store in 2019 for Penny Appeal remains under wraps for now, but one thing is for sure, it will be an amazing year, so keep your eyes peeled for events coming up...the team are about to paint the town orange!

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Twins proudly represent British design in Paris

An Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) has been awarded to Aamer Naeem, Chief Executive Officer of Yorkshire based Penny Appeal, in the Queen’s 2019 New Honours list. The award recognises Aamer’s services to the Muslim Community alongside his work within the charity sector as the Global Chief Executive of Penny Appeal, a multiaward-winning relief and development agency working in over 30 countries around the world and at home in the UK. In the five years that Aamer has been leading Penny Appeal, he has grown their annual income from £400k to in excess of a staggering £24m. His drive and leadership has accredited him with creating one of the fastest growing charities in the faith-led sector, Penny Appeal is also considered to be one of the most innovative and dynamic faith-led organisations in the country too, reconciling the timeless values and traditions of Islam with the contemporary challenges of modernday Britain and beyond. His initiatives in creating fundraising platforms such as the first British Mu s l i m Pa n to , T h e Great British Variety

Creative communications studio, Buttercrumble, were proud to represent British design in Paris recently, where the team unveiled a large‑scale i l l u s t r a te d i n s t a l l a t i o n centring around the theme of ‘family’.

Charity CEO receives OBE Show and the Super Muslim Comedy tours have broken barriers, not only as breaking the mould of mainstream stereo types but also by creating family environments that the Muslim community may otherwise never of been able to discover. It was Aamer’s 2018, Winter campaign drive that saw several life size ice sculptures being launched in the middle of Canary Wharfs business centre by leaders of various faiths to show greater awareness of the plight of homelessness in todays society, once

again affirming Aamer’s drive in interfaith work across Britain. “I am surprised and honoured to receive an OBE, I’ve been privileged to work on some great projects alongside some great people. I hope that I and many more Muslims can help create an even more caring Britain for all.

The theme couldn’t be better suited to Buttercrumble who are a twin team based in Yorkshire. They work together to seamlessly blend graphic design and illustration for engaging story‑telling which breathes life into organisations. This is something they’ve achieved for British brands including Chester Zoo, Seasalt Cornwall and John Lewis. The installation was created live at the premier trade show dedicated to children and maternity: Playtime Paris. The globally attended show took

place as we went to press at Parc Floral de Paris. This was the sister’s first escapade into exports and were honoured to have received support from The Department of International Trade. In an ever-changing, competitive marketplace, Buttercrumble feel it is more important than ever to nurture connections at home and abroad. In 2018, the UK’s creative industry was valued at over £ 1 0 0 b i l l i o n (G o v. U K ) . Buttercrumble are no strangers to this roaring trade and want to promote British design globally. The studio make proud ambassadors as 2018 finalists of The Great British Entrepreneur Awards by NatWest. The twins are also FSB’s Microbusiness of the Year for Yorkshire and The Humber.

Together, we can create greater integration and less segregation, a Britain that cares and a nation that loves thy neighbour in times of uncertainty. I’m confidently Muslim and comfortably British,” says Aamer.

TopicUK February/March 2019

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News Yorkshire based legalfirm, Chadwick Lawrence, experienced significant growth during 2018 which for one department meant the development of an especially interesting new human resources and employment law support offering: BoxHR. BoxHR is an external human resources support solution for businesses large or small looking for an efficient and expert service; with Box HR businesses have access to a virtual HR department that is on hand for both the day to day issues and those that go beyond the typical, such as tribunals and disputes. The access this offering gives to expert legal advice from Chadwick Lawrence’s p r e m i e r te a m o f l e g a l professionals is truly unique, handing business owners back the power to focus on the running of their business rather than their HR issues. Using the BoxHR service not only allows business to access support from experienced HR consultants, and a team of expert employment lawyers, but also to extras such as HR software, training programmes, bespoke support on projects such as GDPR, litigation experience and the option of bolting on legal expenses insurance. In

Chadwick Lawrence launch HR and employment law offering Box HR the spirit of the service being agile and flexible, there is also a flexible pricing system in place that allows clients to pay on a monthly or annual basis. Partner and Head of Employment Daniel Krigers commented “We’re already delivering a number of bespoke projects to clients covering both employment law advice and HR m a n a g e m e n t. B r i n g i n g the full service offering together into a flexible package gives our clients the freedom to decide what they want and how they want it to be delivered… We have confidence in offering flexibility to our clients which ultimately results in loyalty, retention and many fantastic long-

term relationships. Most i m p o r t a n t l y, w e o f f e r commercial, decisive, solicitor led advice to our clients so they can make the best decisions for their business.” The BoxHR launch also follows significant recruitment into the team as well as the upskilling of existing staff members to bolster the service provided to clients. The team now consists of 14 advisers across employment law and HR and is set to grow even further as the service progresses. Some of the new staff who have joined the team include Paralegals Harvey Blake and Leah Williams along with HR Assistants Charlotte Adey.

Kay Mellor brings to the stage world premier of Band of Gold Leeds Grand Theatre is proud to announce that Leeds’ own Kay Mellor will return to The Grand in 2019 with the world premiere stage production of the multi awardwinning ITV series Band of Gold.

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Following the unprecedented sell-out success of Fat Friends The Musical, which premiered at The Grand in November 2017, Band of Gold, directed by Mellor and produced by Joshua Andrews, will run from Thursday 28 November to Saturday 14 December 2019. The gritty thriller tells the story of a group of women - Carol, Rose, Anita and Gina - as they battle to survive whilst working in Bradford’s red-light district. First aired on ITV in March 1995, Band of Gold captivated over 15 million viewers each week and starred (amongst others) Geraldine James, Cathy Tyson, Barbara Dickson and Samantha Morton. The groundbreaking crime drama ran for two series after which Kay felt the series had run its course, but over 20 years on, Kay is thrilled to breathe life back into this iconic piece: “I get asked once a day if I’m going to bring Band of Gold back.” says award-winning writer and director Mellor: “My answer will now be yes, on stage at The Grand Theatre! I’m thrilled that it’s going to premiere in my home town.” General Manager, Ian Sime, comments: “We are so excited to welcome our good friend Kay Mellor back to The Grand Theatre & Opera House with another hugely successful stage adaptation of one of her many iconic TV classics. Kay knows Leeds and Yorkshire audiences like no other and is one of the great writers of our time; this is going to be pure gold.” Band of Gold is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Thursday 28 November to Saturday 14 December 2019. Priority Membership tickets are onsale now. General tickets went onsale 23 January.

There was a time when we simply popped into ‘Happy Snaps’ with our finished roll of film, pondered over the option of three sizes (usually in the shape of templates taped to the counter top) and selected a matt or gloss finish. The digital world has changed a l l t h a t : n o w w e n e e d to understand pixels, resolution, resizing to perfectly fit social media profiles, high-res, low-res … it can be exasperating! Get it wrong and your business looks unprofessional, inferior and consequently by-passed. O ne head scratcher is the difference between those pesky high-res and low-res images: If you have any resolution doubts, right-mouse click on the image and select ‘Properties’. Choose the third tab across ‘Details’ and scroll down to ‘Horizontal and Vertical Resolution’. Two figures will simply determine if it is highres (300dpi) or low-res (72dpi).

Does your business look professional High-Res is required for printing: it has more pixels and therefore more detail creating a sharper quality. Use wisely on the internet as they take up more space and load slower. Low-Res (or Web Sized) is perfect for online use: it has less pixels so it’s small in size taking up less space and loading faster. However, it can look pixilated or blurred if it’s not resized correctly. Other blurred/pixilated images are the outcome of badly taken mobile pictures. Often when the shutter button is depressed the phone moves causing blur; resolve this by setting the ‘Shutter Timer’. Read your mobile guide for camera settings and take some time out to practise. Photography can be a life-long quest for perfection, but good light is a great start.

Do not risk using random pictures from the web which are not licensed to you – we heard of a business which was fined £25,000. Take heed from Liam Neeson: “they will find you and they will fine you”. Of course, you can buy Stock Photos but many are outdated and overused; and consequently impersonal and uninviting. Do your competitors stand out with professionally taken images tailored to their brand? Invest in a professional photographer: have a gallery of exceptional images at your fingertips, specific to your brand and message, licensed to you, sized perfectly for your social media and printing needs. Lincoln & Perrin Roth Read Photography www.rothreadphotography.com

R E C RU IT ME N T

U P DAT E

So, you’re a Millennial and you’re looking for a job? By Andy Turner Managing Director First Choice Recruitment You’re looking for a fulfilling job, something that’s going to make you happy, pays well, and most of all, has some sort of clear and promising future. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the majority of the time, those things have more to do with you, your attitude and habits not what your employer promises. 1. You get paid what you agree to. Too many Millennials complain about not getting paid enough whilst they: - either do not ask for a raise or perhaps more importantly - do not take the time to understand what would warrant a raise and achieving that skill/attitude. 2. Your CV IS important but… Most jobs get filled by friends, network connections, great recruitment companies or personal recommendations. People would rather do business with and employ people they know. Go the extra mile and get introduced to the company you’d like to work for. 3. Your online presence is more important than you think. When you’re applying for a job, your social media forums will be ‘checked out’, make sure your social brand is as good as it can be. 4. If you want to progress, you have to be open. Be open and willing to learn - it’s not a onesided relationship, be a sponge and grow into your role and your new company. 5. Every company has its pros and cons. It’s what you make of them that matters. There is no “perfect” work environment. Even the best, most Millennial-friendly environments have their challenges. The

real value you extract depends on what you bring to the table. Obviously if a work environment is unhealthy, do not stay there. Move on and find something new. But in the process, don’t just chalk it all up as a failure and mentally check out completely. Continue to look for lessons you can take with you, no matter how small. 6. Long-term success is knowing what you don’t know. If you really want to be successful, then you have to start seeing job opportunities as ways to learn what it is you still don’t know. The people who “fail” tend have no self-awareness of what it is they know and don’t know. They are blissfully ignorant. Knowing what you don’t know is what gives you longevity and continues to present you with challenges to overcome and continues to hone your skills. 7. Your salary isn’t guaranteed. We are a nation of SME’s, one of the most humbling things is to work for a small business-so you can truly see the impact your work has on the company as a whole. To then assume that you can, at times, not care about your work and just collect your salary is wrong. The truth is, it is entitled. Why this happens is another discussion, but what you need to know is that your job should never be taken for granted. 8. Nobody owes you anything. Nobody owes you a job, nobody owes you client and nobody owes you your salary. Those are all things you have to go out and earn. Instead of talking the talk about how you want the best job ever, start walking the walk and working toward that sort of job yourself.

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Barclays UK family business reception Wednesday 6th March | 18:00 – 20.15 Avenue HQ, 10 – 12 East Parade, Leeds, LS1 2HB Barclays in partnership with Towergate Insurance invites you to hear from multiple generation Family Businesses. The ideal opportunity to hear inspiring stories from long running local businesses across Yorkshire along with their challenges and successes throughout various generations. There will also be an opportunity for networking with drinks and canapés. • 18.00 Arrival and welcome drink • 18.30 Introductions with Caroline Pullich and John Simpson • 18.40 Family Business update and panel discussion • 19.30 Networking and drinks • 20:15 Close To confirm attendance along with access or dietary requirements please email melanie.wood@barclays.com For further information please contact Melanie Wood +44 (0)7341 072 948

West Yorkshire’s largest independent recruitment specialists

Call us on

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Harrogate Spring Water awards contract to Yorkshire Payments A card payments firm based in Brighouse has started 2019 on a high after securing a new contract with international bottled water brand, Harrogate Spring Water.

director at Yorkshire Payments, added: “We are delighted to add such a well-recognised brand as Harrogate Spring Water to our portfolio of national clients and are equally pleased that they are a fellow Yorkshire business that looked to us for a solution.”

Yorkshire Payments has been selected to supply the company, based in Harrogate, with virtual merchant card terminals at its head office to help improve the efficient processing of customer orders over the telephone. D amie n Wilkinson, Finance Director at Harrogate Spring Water, explained: “The new virtual terminals will replace the existing payments collection system, allowing us to handle a wider

The firm’s growing national client base includes travel brand icelolly. com and workwear giant, Snickers Workwear – both of which are based in Yorkshire. scope of credit cards in addition to benefitting from a greater level of support from Yorkshire Payments Solutions with regards to maintaining the associated compliance arrangements. “This

will speed up both order processing and the associated accounting for each transaction and will allow the finance team to benefit from online visibility of cash receipts into the business.” James Howard, managing

The news follows a record year of growth for the company in 2018, in which it processed a milestone £470million worth of card transactions through its payment systems. TopicUK February/March 2019

N N EE W W SS U U PP D D AA TT EE

Firm appointed as EPC provider Smith Brothers has been given the go ahead on the first two projects, totalling 60MW, with construction currently underway. Arlington made waves in the UK energy industry recently, when the company announced it had been successful in securing an initial £200m (US$255 million) funding line for the portfolio – the largest financing of its kind in the UK. Having worked collaboratively with the clean energy investment group on the project development for the past 12 months, Elland-based electrical engineering firm Smith Brothers will lead the engineering, procurement

Smith Brothers said: “Firstly, we have to say congratulations to Arlington for securing such a significant investment – it’s a huge win for the sector. There is no doubt that storage, flexible gas assets and renewables are playing an ever-increasing role within the energy landscape.

and construction elements of the portfolio – with sites ranging from 5-50MW.

“The Smith Brothers team has worked closely with Arlington to move the portfolio forward over the past year, and we are delighted that our technical expertise enables us to support them during this exciting new phase of growth.”

David Ogden, commercial director at

Matt Clare, director of Arlington

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Infrastructure added: “Given the scale of our portfolio and our approach to the market generally, it was crucial that we worked with the most experienced partners throughout every stage to ensure our projects are built to the highest quality. Smith Brothers has played a vital role within the planning phases, and it made complete sense for the firm to oversee the electrical engineering deliverables once we hit shovel ready.” With work already in progress, the sites will be developed over the next three years, with the first aiming for completion by the end of quarter three of 2019.

N EFWI N S AUNP CD EA T E

Taking control: How debt consolidation could help your business

Finance

Andy Redman is joint Managing Director of commercial finance brokerage ABL Business Ltd, based in Cleckheaton, and has more than 20 years’ experience in the sector. Debt consolidation is an effective way for businesses to restructure existing, expensive forms of business debt from lenders, corporate credit cards, creditors, suppliers or collection agencies. It’s a process whereby a single, larger loan is taken out to pay off multiple smaller debts. This can either be through secured borrowing against an asset, such as a property, or through further unsecured borrowing. It’s easy to get into financial difficulty if you have too many credit commitments to keep track of each month, or because cashflow problems or sudden unexpected expenses mean you are unable to keep up repayments on short-term, high interest debts. The main benefit of debt consolidation is that it allows the borrower to improve the liquidity or cashflow of their business and it can also reduce administration costs, especially if the company has multiple creditors to service each month.

a longer period could also bring your monthly payments down. • Reduced admin: If you have several debts spread across different lenders, debt consolidation will reduce your administration. You’ll only have one creditor to work with, rather than juggling the repayments for multiple sources of business finance, like credit cards and invoice factoring. By bringing them into one place, you can free-up time you’d otherwise spend dealing with creditor calls and emails and may also be able to reduce your admin costs.

The benefits of debt consolidation

• Greater efficiency: Your debt will be in one place, so you can keep track of your finances more easily.

• Potential savings: If your new rate of borrowing is lower than your original rates, you can reduce the overall amount you have to pay back. Repaying over

• Clearer budget: Having one monthly repayment should make it easier for you to stick to a monthly budget. • Potential to boost your credit

score: Streamlining your bills should reduce your chances of missing a repayment and therefore have a positive effect on your credit score. • Flexibility: Fixed repayments, or flexible payments to allow for seasonal fluctuations. Getting the right advice One word of caution. Leading debt charity the Debt Advice Foundation warns that debt consolidation might not be the solution for everyone depending, for example, on your credit rating and other factors. So it’s imperative to get the right advice before proceeding along this route.

“don’t jump straight in with another loan until you are 100 per cent happy...”

A commercial finance broker will help you to compare all the options so that you don’t jump straight in with another loan until you are 100 per cent happy you’ve found the right one. Your broker will have access to a wide range of alternative finance providers so you don’t have to rely on the high street banks. Andy and the team at the ABL offices TopicUK February/March 2019

A D TP O DR AI A N EV W ES R U T LE

The difference practical support from professionals can make When people discuss business support programmes the topic of conversation is often dominated by the grant funding that can be accessed, but start-ups and young organisations should not dismiss the value and positive impact that the practical services, which are delivered by professionals, could have. needed to consider outside of my role. It wasn’t just about being the best at what I was offering my clients, it was about understanding how to register a company, knowing what paperwork needed filing and when!”

With an 18-year career and as a Chartered Fellow in HR, Helen Nothard had come to a crossroads in her professional journey. Having been offered a promotion that would see her travel the world, she realised that despite the benefits package, salary and status, she wanted to take the step and become her own boss and so launched Human Spirit Ltd.

That was when Helen met AD:VENTURE advisor, Alan Thompson, who was able to explain about the programme and all that it could offer a start-up business like hers. Helen adds: “I worked with Alan to look at my business plan and he was very good at getting me to hone my message. Suddenly it made sense to focus on one thing rather than trying so hard to be all things to all people, a trap that I now realise lots of start-ups fall into.”

Despite having such a successful career, launching a business “If I hadn’t had the was a daunting task support from and Hele n hadn’t AD:VENTURE I wouldn’t considered all of the have had the courage to additional processes, go for a tender” procedures and skills she would need to acquire. Helen comments: “I have worked for someone else for 20 years and just didn’t have a clue about the things I

As well as having a network around her that would give her the expert advice she needed, Helen also found that she could call upon her advisors to give her

the additional confidence she needed to look for larger contracts. Helen comments: “Although I had previously dismissed tenders, Alan had real confidence in me and made me look at these opportunities slightly differently. There was a voice in my head saying ‘I can’t do this’ but we worked together to change that mindset and decided that I would look at this as a live practice and so that’s what I did.” Not only did Helen submit the tender but was then invited to present and subsequently won the contract with a leading public sector organisation. She continues: “If I hadn’t had the support from AD:VENTURE I wouldn’t have had the courage to go for a tender. It’s not about my self-belief or knowing that I can deliver for my customers, it’s about taking steps that are very much outside of my comfort zone. “Having a business can be isolating, especially when you’re used to working for big corporations, but with the support from AD:VENTURE I’ve had access to professional training sessions, advisors and a network of trusted partners, I can’t recommend the programme enough!” For details about the AD:VENTURE programme and how it supports start-up and young enterprises throughout the Leeds City Region please visit: www.ad-venture.org. uk and for regular updates follow on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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L EG AL

M AT TER S

Legal Matters

5 REASONS TO CHOOSE LOCAL FOR YOUR CONVEYANCING NEEDS them together in detail will put your mind at rest and avoid any unnecessary delays.

Let’s start by saying instructing a local firm to act on your behalf when buying or selling your home is definitely not essential. In fact, at Ramsdens we assist clients in buying and selling property all over the country with the same level of service for both local and long distance clients. 1 .T h e r e ’ s n o t h i n g l i k e b e i n g a b l e to speak to someone face to face. Even if your solicitor is busy when you call in, our receptionists and support staff will be able to assist, copy documents, witness signatures and provide updates where needed.

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2.Inevitably, during some transactions unavoidable complications will arise. Whether it be an issue with rights of access over an intervening strip of land or an unforeseen boundary discrepancy, anyone who has experienced these problems and used a local conveyancer will be able to tell you that being able to sit down and look at the relevant plans or deeds and discuss

3.Often original or ‘certified copy’ identification documents are required. Using a local office means you can easily pop in with your original ID and have it copied and certified while you wait, meaning there is no need to visit your bank to get documents certified and avoiding the hassle and risk of sending originals through the post. 4.Beyond conveyancing, local firms like Ramsdens often offer many other services for individuals, for example, whilst buying a property, you may realise it’s time to make or update your will, or you may need advice around Landlord requirements when purchasing a buy-to-let. Your conveyancer will be able to put you in touch with the right solicitor in the right department who will be able to assist, all with the convenience of having your legal matters dealt with by the same firm. 5.“But online firms have the benefit of online software and case tracking systems”… so do we! With Ramsdens Solicitors you can keep track of your case 24/7 with our interactive e-conveyancing service. You can even download and upload documents to our client portal, saving even more time.

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L EN NGEE AW WLSS MU UAPPTD DTAAETTREES

Modern Ways of Life Mean it is More Important Than Ever to Get Your Affairs in Order

It has always been the case that it is a good idea to prepare a Will and get your testamentary wishes written down and made legally binding and arguably never has a truer word been spoken given our modern lifestyles are making the task of locating p o te n t i a l b e n e f i c i a r i e s increasingly difficult for Administrators of intestate estates.

One major problem A d m i n i s t r a to r s f a c e i s ensuring they have identified every individual who falls into a class of persons entitled to benefit from a deceased’s estate. The Telegraph article goes on to highlight some of the many ways Administrators can be caught out when attempting to do this. These include, name changes,

divorce, estranged family members from previous relationships and increasing numbers of people moving to live in other countries. Although lifestyles may change, one thing that hasn’t is that the liability to distribute the estate correctly to all the correct beneficiaries still rests firmly on the Administrator.

An estate is intestate if the deceased did not leave a Will and in such circumstances somebody has to fill the role of an Executor; namely to collect in the estate, pay any liabilities and distribute the estate to the correct beneficiaries. In the case of an intestate estate, this person is known as the Administrator and they are usually a close relative. In a recent article it has been revealed that over half of UK adults do not have a valid Will in place. One could be forgiven for thinking that this number is so high because young adults are perceived to hardly ever prepare Wills, but alarmingly, 34% of over 55’s do not have a Will in place, which amounts to over 7million people.

Workers entitled to carry over statutory holiday

The ECJ have recently ruled that workers must be paid for statutory holiday entitlement unless the employer has ensured “specifically and transparently” that the worker has been given the opportunity to take the holiday entitlement. Employers are required to encourage workers to take their entitlement and to inform them in good time that any entitlement will be lost if it has not been taken.

Loss of entitlement will only be lawful if the worker has deliberately declined to take the leave and is fully aware of the consequences of doing so.

that they have a clear holiday policy in place and encourages employers to issue specific reminders to all workers if they have any outstanding holiday entitlement.

Ordinarily, the provisions of the Working Time Regulations 1998 in relation to carrying over statutory h o l i d ay m e a n s t h a t h o l i d ay entitlement cannot be carried over. However, this will now be enforceable subject to the proviso that employers have encouraged workers to take leave and made them aware of any consequences for not doing so.

Consequences for not doing so may impact heavily on human resources and business needs as workers may be entitled to more annual leave in one year than originally anticipated.

This case highlights the onerous obligation on employers to ensure

TopicUK February/March 2019

L E GAL

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Legal Matters

UNFAIR DISMISSAL AND DRUG TESTING A recent case before the Employment Tribunal has highlighted the risk to employers of placing too much emphasis on the results of a drug test when dismissing employees to gross misconduct. In the instant case, a bus driver with 20 years of service consented to a random drug test by his employer. A saliva test which was undertaken detected cocaine and the driver was immediately suspended. The employee protested his innocence, suggesting the test may have been contaminated (for example by virtue of him handling customer money which may have contained traces of cocaine) and expressing concern that he was not even required to was his hands before handling the sample. The employee then submitted his own hair follicle test which was ignored; instead, the employer sent its own initial saliva test to

a second testing agency, which confirmed the prese nce of cocaine. The driver was ultimately dismissed and failed with two subsequent internal appeals. The bus company focused on its testing agencies observations that it would be unlikely that a test could be positive in circumstances where there was a transfer from a bank note to the hands, to the employee’s mouth and to the testing kit. The employee subsequently brought an unfair dismissal claim and succeeded. The Tribunal applied the objective test as to whether, when conducting the investigation and applying the sanction of dismissal, the employer had acted within the range of reasonable responses, concluding that it had failed to do so. Ultimately, given the weight of evidence provided by the employee in support of his defence, it would have been reasonable to re-test the employee or to accept his follicle test which was returned negative.

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The employer placed too much emphasis on its policy, stating that the policy did not allow for alternative tests to be provided (when, in fact, the policy was silent on the issue). There was also criticism of the employer’s ‘closemindedness’ when conducting the process, limiting itself to the saliva test and not taking into account other relevant circumstances. Importantly, the Tribunal also made mention of the employee’s many years of unblemished service which heightened the requirement to adopt a more reasonable approach to the matter. The case serves as a reminder to employers to consider all evidence presented during a disciplinary process, particularly that which is submitted by the employee in his defence. A policy which provides for dismissal in the event of a positive test does not give a business licence to ignore the weight of evidence in support of an employee and this must be communicated to those tasked with investigating and chairing disciplinary hearings.

L E GNAELW M S AUTPTDEARTS E

Divorce: What you need to know Whilst divorce is never an easy option, it can often seem a lot less daunting once you have the correct information. One of the most common matrimonial myths is that anyone can get divorced. In reality, you must have been married to your spouse for at least a year before you can instigate divorce proceedings. If you want to apply for a divorce, you need to be able to prove that your marriage has broken down irretrievably. In order to prove this, you will need to use one or more of the following reasons:Adultery The law defines the act of adultery as sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. It’s important to note that you cannot rely on adultery in your divorce petition if you lived together as a couple for six months after you discovered that it had happened. Unreasonable behaviour Unreasonable behaviour can be best described as one spouse behaving in such as way that the

other spouse cannot reasonably be expected to live with them. Whilst this is not prescriptive, this can include a range of behaviour such as physical violence, financial control, verbal abuse, alcohol/drug, not contributing to family life and refusing to socialise – these are only a few examples of unreasonable behaviour that we often come across. Desertion Desertion is where one spouse leaves without the other knowing where they have gone and in some instances why. Desertion petitions are quite rare and there must be a minimum period of 2 years which has passed before you can issue your petition on this basis. Separation for two years You can also base your petition on the fact that you have been separated for a minimum of two years. In this instance both parties must agree to go ahead on this basis. Many people are unsure as to whether you can use separation

as a valid reason if you have lived together whilst separated. The answer to this is yes; you can be separated while living in the same home as long as you’re not together as a couple. For example, sleeping or eating apart. Separation for five years Finally, you can re ply on a separation lasting five or more years. In these circumstances, a divorce can still be granted even if one spouse disagrees. The process Once a petition has been lodged with the Court, and the other party responds to it, the Court will then decide whether the petition meets the criteria for a divorce. If the grounds are met, the Court will provide both parties with a declaration that they are entitled to divorce, known as a “Decree Nisi”. Once this is granted, the next stage is for the petitioner to apply for the “Decree Absolute”, this is the document that officially ends the marriage. If you are considering divorce, it is always a good idea to seek initial legal advice from a specialist divorce lawyer to gather more information on your individual situation. They

are there to guide you through the process from the start to finish and can bring an element of objectivity in a time of great emotional difficulty and disruption. One of the most frequently asked questions regarding divorce is “How long will it take?” This is in fact one of the most difficult questions to answer because every single case is unique. Timescale is dependent on numerous factors including court processing times, communication between the parties and how contentious the matter is. Where the overall costs of a divorce are concerned, at Chadwick Lawrence we will generally offer a fixed fee option for the divorce process provided that this is not going to be defended by the other spouse. Finally, it is always important to consider other aspects of everyday life which will be affected by divorce. For example, divorce alters each party’s legal entitlement to certain matrimonial assets. These could be the former matrimonial home or other property, shares, investments and savings as well as money invested in pensions or in a business. It is also important to consider if you need to make a new will to account for the significant change in circumstances since your last one was created.

TopicUK February/March 2019

Thinking of starting a new business? Charles Brook, Partner at Poppleton & Appleby, gives five top tips on what you need to think about up-front.

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Lessons In Business : Jonathan Ball Jonathan Ball of What Could Be explores the impact that design thinking has had on his career and the businesses around him… I’ve been using design thinking methodologies, to help solve b u s i n e s s p ro b l e m s , s i n c e I graduated in product design over 30 years ago. In fact, product designers have – to a great extent – led the design thinking movement, even if the discipline hasn’t always had the same name. A significant part of good design is about understanding people. We use a number of tools and techniques to get closer to their needs and cocreate solutions that make their lives better. This explains why many product designers have also gravitated towards service design. However, as time has passed, non-designers have – quite rightly – started to pay attention to this human-centred approach to problem solving too. Perhaps it’s because businesses increasingly need to innovate in such a fast-changing world with ever-more discerning customers. Or, their proposition may have started to lack any competitive advantage. It could even be unfit-for-purpose. In truth there are many reasons why we’re seeing other sectors and professionals seeking design thinking for their toolkit. But I want to see even more people harnessing this collaborative mindset. I want it to become more mainstream. Part of the problem is that, in the eyes of many busy businesspeople,

design thinking is still looked upon with a degree of cynicism – something that lacks any real substance or commercial validity even. But a growing number of case studies are evidencing the bottom line impact that this creative approach can have. Some of the world’s leading management consultancies are absorbing specialist design thinking agencies to strengthen their offering. Government departments have used design thinking techniques to improve the transparency of the public services they offer, so that they become more user-focused. And on a more local level, many manufacturers in the North of England have deployed design thinking to overhaul their approach to product development, branding,

communications and internal engagement. I know of one that experienced such a phenomenal pace of growth off the back of embracing these techniques, that they subsequently sold the company. If I was to offer a single piece of advice to kickstart this approach, I would urge businesses to test and prototype products and services sooner, and more frequently – one of the core principle of design thinking is to ‘make, test and learn’. We need to remember how it felt to draw, design, play and explore, when we were fearless children. It’s not about turning people into designers, or even tackling an overtly design-related challenge. It’s about triggering organisational change using a human-centred approach to innovation.

“businesses increasingly need to innovate in such a fast-changing world...”

The team at What Could Be have launched a new programme of design thinking workshops for 2019, with the first fully-funded event being held in February. TopicUK February/March 2019

Food & Drink

Town boss puts Bibis Italianissimo in the Premier League This edition Sean Jarvis, Commercial Director with Huddersfield Town Football Club visits Bibis in Leeds With thanks to Roth Read Photography

As Commercial Director of Huddersfield Town FC, ordinarily my visits or ventures to Leeds are often met with jeers, boos or banter from Leeds United fans and on some occasions (not recently I hasten to add) come away feeling miserable having seen my team beaten......... however on this occasion nothing could be further from those previous experiences. From the moment we stepped through the door to nearly three hours later when we, (myself, my wife and 13 year old son) left we were treated with nothing but respect, smiling faces and made to feel most welcome, you could almost go as far as saying part of the family. I am however not talking about Elland Road but the superb Bibis Restaurant located just a stones throw away from the City’s train station.

Image Author: Lincoln J Roth

Bibis Italianissimo Criterion Place, Sovereign Street, Leeds, LS1 4AG  0113 243 0905  Bookings/Enquiries: reservations@bibisrestaurant.com  www.bibisrestaurant.com

I had visited Bibis a number of years ago when it was located in one of its former homes on Greek Street and had a great experience back then so my memories were very positive and expectations were always going to be high. Combine this with me travelling the length and breadth of the country with our Club taking many a majestic meal in boardrooms ranging from Old Trafford to The Emirates Stadium to Anfield to St. James’s Park, I felt my pallet would be hard to please or I would be a tough customer to win over.

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My first impressions, apart from the great greeting we received, were of a buzzing and thriving restaurant, one that was clearly a place to be on a Sunday afternoon. The bar, which faces you as you walk past Fantastic the maitre’d, was full of people of all ages. What was really nice too was as I walked in I was recognised by a Town fan who came over and had a chat with me about our current plight in the Premier League. Having fellow Terriers around is always a welcome addition. We were then shown to our table by a stunning looking lady in a beautiful dress, which my wife commented on several occasions, I think hinting at a possible Christmas Present! We were made to feel at ease very quickly indeed. Our table was a great location. To our left you could see outside and observe as the world went about its business, however in front of us was the restaurant, which was full of over 200 people and a stage with musical equipment which would later add to the fantastic Sunday Lunch we were about to embark on... but more of that in a moment. Our table was great, everything clean and as it should be. We then looked around at the facilities including bar, floor, windows and those too was absolutely spotless. It were as if the restaurant had just been built, although I learnt later that it had been there some 14 years. There is no doubt the restaurant prides itself on cleanliness of its surroundings.

N EWS One nice little touch that I noticed was that our table had a small brass plate to it stating ‘Dedicated to Rick ‘Super’ Luper - RIP’. I would assume this was his table over the years and he spent many a time dining at Bibis... he must have been a lucky chap to have that table and I dare say he must have had numerous great meals. The decor at Bibis was the next thing that struck us. Based on the Roaring 20’s it was quite simply stunning and plays its part in creating an environment that you can’t help but like. The designer had done great job combining, black, white, silver in that art decor fashion. In fact, if you let your mind wander you could almost be sat in the Ritz in London or one of those hotels in New York that you often see in old American black and white films. Excellent The atmosphere by now was beginning to crank up and you could see so many happy faces in the restaurant. There were a spectrum of people in the room, ranging from families with young children, to groups of ladies out for lunch, to people celebrating Christmas or special occasions to couples just enjoying the food. Next to meet us were the lovely waiters and waitresses and the charming Giuseppe. They chatted through the menu options. First impressions were excellent and reasonably priced without thinking this could be an expensive lunch. Everything on the menu was tempting and the three of us struggled to decide what to go for. After a bit of deliberation we all plumped for a fish starter and a meat main.

UPDAT E can often find that this classical dish is ruined by overcooked prawns or a poor sauce with a tiny bit of Iceberg lettuce. Bibis dish was anything but this... delicious. Josh’s calamari didn’t touch the sides! I looked up and most of it had disappeared.

Image Author: Perrin Read

I would add here that we wanted some garlic and tomato bread which seems a bit of tradition when visiting any Italian restaurant. When it arrived I can honestly say it was probably the best tomato and garlic bread I have tasted. Warm, fresh and very moreish! I want the recipe. With regards to the starters Sarah (my wife) went for the prawn cocktail. For some reason it seemed appropriate to have that in the environment we were in. Josh (my 13 year old son - who is a big rugby playing growing lad, now approaching 6 foot tall, who likes his food) opted for the fried calamari. As for me I went for the scallops. As is usually the case in the Jarvis family, we all tried of bit of each other’s. We are not sure if it’s the right etiquette to do that in restaurants but the starters all looked great so we were tempted by each other’s. The prawn cocktail was excellent. very tasty. The prawns were fresh and of a decent size and the Marie Rose sauce was excellent. You

He really enjoyed it saying that the fish was perfect and the accompanying tartare sauce was brilliant and could his mum make some. Unprompted Josh did say that the calamari which was deep fried, that the batter was lovely and light. Maybe we need to do this with his greens at home to try and get them down him as a typical teenager he’s not a fan of the healthy stuff. Delicious For me, when my dish arrived, described as seared king scallops with breadcrumbs, parsley and garlic venetian style salsa verde, it was like I had just landed on the set of Masterchef. They (three scallops) were presented beautifully and looked a picture. Regrettably I only got to taste one, as my dining partners decided they wanted one each! The one I had was light, tasty and disappeared in a flash. The breadcrumbs were a great addition to this dish All of the starters were delicious. We couldn’t fault them. Much like a football match, the home team had got off to a flyer. We then had about a 15 minute break where we were regularly and politely “My first impressions, checked upon by the apart from the great greeting we staff at the restaurant, received, were of a buzzing and they were clearly keen thriving restaurant...” to make sure their customers (and not just us) were happy with everything. For me, apart from the food, this is what makes an average restaurant a great one. Watching the staff around Bibis there was a great balance of staff to customers ratio and they were all willing to help with polite smiles. TopicUK February/March 2019

NO F EO W DS So onto the mains. Sarah had gone for her favourite; Beef Wellington. Bibis needed to deliver here as Mrs Jarvis is a connoisseur of this dish having made it at home for many a Sunday lunch and if the opportunity arises she orders it of the menu. And deliver they did. Normally my better half likes to talk however for the next hour she was quite quiet enjoying her food. The dish had hit the mark. Once finished she said ‘that was delicious with a great paté around the meat’ and a ‘perfect portion size’. The beef had been cooked perfectly (which I understand can be difficult with this dish) and there wasn’t a soggy bottom in sight! For Josh he had gone for the Rib Eye steak with Diane sauce. As a growing lad, he currently loves his food particularly steak. He does however have a tendency to sometimes leave some on his plate. On this occasions the plate was clear when it returned to the kitchen. Via his mum he has been taught

Image Author: Lincoln J Roth

& U P DD RA ITNEK

to eat meat medium rare to get the full flavour. He had requested this to the waiter and he got what was asked for. Perfectly cooked. Smiles A lot of people say I have expensive tastes, so it only felt right I should go for the most expensive dish on the menu. The Angus Beef fillet. I requested it to be medium cooked with no blood. A very tasty, well cooked piece of meat came to my place. The sauce was exquisite; a stunning gloss to it that was complex and rich in its flavour (you can tell I have been watching Masterchef recently). This was a great dish that was really really edible. Delicious and rich in the taste with the meat being very tender.

Image Author: Perrin Read

afternoon entertainment. Not only did her smile and dress sparkle but so did the act. This is clearly a USP for Bibis and it works well, in fact very well. We sat there satisfied with our meal but then came this extra dimension, a band that played some swing from the 50’s including some of the Rat Pack greats. The act was equally as good as the meal, with the lead singer having a very silky smooth voice and as I understand it a saxophonist as part of the backing band that had played with Michael Bublé. Quality!

All three of us had got full bellies and content smiles on our faces. But the lunch wasn’t over. There was more to come that added an extra dimension. Mandy Taylor who had brilliantly looked after us from the start took to the stage to introduce the Sunday

Ingredients

Left: Oliver, Luciana and their daughter Elsa Rose

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This was great a restaurant that combined food, environment and entertainment. In some cases having bands playing in restaurants can sometimes be awkward but Bibis are clearly very selective on ensuring the blend is just right. Looking around at the customers they were enjoying it too, some of whom were taking to the side stages and dance floor to join in and be part of the atmosphere. As I say the balance was just right. A perfect cocktail of food and entertainment. What made it for me was that the band sang Elvis’ classic - falling in love with you - which of course is a song

associated to our team, sang by our fans on a Saturday afternoon. Whilst the band played, we all decided that unusually for us there wasn’t any room for desserts but a coffee was a nice way to round off the meal. Sarah went for a cappuccino and I went for espresso. Much like the food, Bibis have definitely chosen quality ingredients. You could tell this was a quality brand of coffee. We were treated to some Petit-Fours, which made a great accompaniment to the coffee. Once we completed, it was time for us to leave. We had had a great family Sunday afternoon that included a blend of excellent food, comfortable surroundings, attentive and pleasant staff and an atmosphere that would put a smile on even the biggest humbug in the festive period. This was true, honest, five star ‘Catertainment’. Whilst it has been some time since I returned to Bibis, the next time I visit will most definitely not be as long. In fact I am already flicking through the showtime brochure and planning my next away fixture to this restaurant! Well done Bibis. See you soon.

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 01484 644 464

 showroom@easyfireplace.co.uk

“EasyFireplace More Than Just A Showroom!” Next generation fires now!

Come and visit Chris & his team at Easy Fireplace #Milnsbridge

Celebrating Yorkshire’s finest food and drink With a strong client base from the food and drink sector, Garbutt + Elliott, the York based accountancy firm, wanted to celebrate the industry and encourage both small and large producers, manufacturers and retailers to showcase their successes. What better way than within a supportive and collaborative awards scheme. The search has been on to find the best food and drink entrepreneurs and businesses to enter in the following categories: • Best Innovation • ‘Deliciouslyyorkshire’ Taste Award • Growth Business of the Year • Best Partnership • Young Business of the Year

• • •

Best Yorkshire Exporter Best Yorkshire Brand Yorkshire Grit Resilience Award

TopicUK are delighted to sponsor the Growth Business of the Year. Last year, the winning companies beat 76 entrants to be crowned across the nine categories. The awards were the brainchild of Tony Farmer, partner at Garbutt + Elliott on the back of his enthusiasm for excellent regional produce. “Food and drink businesses in Yorkshire have a welldeserved reputation for being forward thinking, innovative and collaborative, and this was proved at our first awards last year,” he said.

This years awards were launched at Kirkgate in the Castle Museum York and over 100 entrants are expected, before the closing date of 31st January, just as we went to press. “The regional food and drink sector is growing both in size and recognition, with people on a national and even international level increasingly appreciating what the region has to offer,” Tony added. The awards evening will be held on Thursday 7 March and free to attend. It promises to be a fun evening and a great way to meet local businesses and network. Drinks and nibbles are provided on arrival, all regionally sourced from Yorkshire of course and where possible, caterers will source from entrants and past winners. To reserve a place visit: https://www.garbuttelliott.co.uk/events/ TopicUK February/March 2019

It’s official! Leeds has the best roast dinner in the country

When we received a press release in the TopicUK office informing us that Matt Healy x The Foundry had received the accolade of producing the best roast dinner in the country, we had to check it out for ourselves. TopicUK Group Editor Gill Laidler paid a visit.

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The earliest table we could book was 6pm, but this was understandable as the restaurant had just been awarded the accolade of best roast dinner in the country, which meant they had to extend their dining hours by three hours, taking 100 weekly bookings, double the usual 50.

Food & Drink

Not an area of Leeds I am too familiar with, the restaurant is situated off Water Lane in The Round Foundry, nestled amongst grade 11 listed buildings. I should have checked parking in advance, as there is plenty of it surrounding the restaurant if you know where to look! The main entrance is in a lovely private courtyard with plenty of seating, but the delightful smell of roasting meat and garlic, beckoned us inside. As we were a little early, we enjoyed a glass of Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec at the well stocked bar, which was delicious. Our server was very polite and friendly, taking us to the table and quickly brought us menus, explaining how it worked, as it is a little different to other restaurants, as lunch is a sharing and grazing platter that includes both chicken and beef. He took our order which included a bottle of the delicious Malbec we had sampled from the bar. Whilst waiting for our starter, we had the opportunity to look around the restaurant. Bright and modern, the atmosphere is young and vibrant with great music at just the right volume. I was delighted to see Matt himself working in the open kitchen, alongside his five chefs and kitchen porter. The starter of Sweet Potatos with Chorizo Hash and fried egg arrived after a short wait. It was spicy and tasted amazing and the portion size was just about right.

Our main course arrived on a wooden platter, the star of the show being the 12 hour roasted sirloin alongside roast chicken pieces and delicious duck fat roast potatoes. Vegetables were served separately, a generous serving of roasted carrots, greens, cauliflower cheese and homemade gravy, of which we requested more. There is also a vegetarian option of mushroom wellington. It wasn’t difficult to see why Matt had won the best Roast Dinner award and the best newcomer at the Yorkshire Life Awards. In 2016 Matt was a finalist on Masterchef The Professionals, giving him a golden ticket to open his own restaurant, and recently he played host when Masterchef presenter Marcus Wareing visited the restaurant. “It was

a real honour to have Marcus visit us,” said Matt, “and a little scary.” Time to choose dessert and they all sounded amazing making the choice difficult, so we decided to order three and share. First was panacotta, not always my first choice but this had the most amazing topping of toasted almonds, sweet and very moorish. Our second choice was sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. This was the best sticky toffee pudding we had ever tasted we all agreed. Finally the cheese board. This included a selection of artisan cheeses, with Brie voted the favourite although the orange Stilton was also a popular choice.

The verdict? A must if you are a roast dinner fan (a vegeterian option of mushroom wellington is available). Of course there are other dishes on the menu which is served between 12 noon and 7pm on Sundays. The restaurant is closed Monday, open 12 noon to 9.30pm Tuesday to Thursday and 12 noon to 10pm Friday and Saturday. To book, visit the website www. mhfoundry.co.uk or call 0113 245 0390

TopicUK February/March 2019

Weddings, Conference & Events venue

BUILT OVER 400 YEARS AGO, THE AWARD WINNING ROGERTHORPE MANOR HOTEL IS STEEPED IN HISTORY, CHARM AND CHARACTER.

01977 643839 www.bw-rogerthorpemanor.co.uk @RTMHotel rogerthorpemanorhotel Rogerthorpe.Manor.Hotel

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Food & Drink

Spiced Beef with Five Grain Salad

Happy New Year from the Create Café team! We hope that you have all had a great break. With it being the New Year some good, healthy detox food is order, and seeing as this edition is out over Valentines Day a nice cocktail to please the ladies (that the men secretly love as well!)

Ingredients for the beef: • • • • •

300g diced beef 1tspn cumin 1tspn coriander 1tspn chilli flakes Beef stock

For the salad: • • • •

150g cauliflower cous cous 50g cous cous cooked 50g rice - cooked 50g quinoa - cooked

• • • • • • • •

Method: 50g red lentils Toss beef in spices until coated. In a large saucepan heat 2 tbsp of oil on cooked 50g giant cous cous -a medium heat and brown the beef on all sides. Add enough beef stock cooked to cover and simmer until the beef is 1 carrot grated 1 red onion thinly tender. The stock will have reduced and thickened. Add the cauliflower sliced 200g red cabbage cous cous and cook for 3 minutes For the salad mix all of the ingredients thinly sliced 100g Cavalo Nero together in a bowl. This can be eaten raw or tossed in a hot wok to cook. thinly sliced To serve, put the salad into a bowl 2 tspn chia seeds and lay the beef on top. 2 tspn golden linseeds

French Martini Great as an after dinner wake up drink, or a pre dinner wake up drink. Or a mid-afternoon wake up drink….! Either way if you need a quick boost go for an espresso martini - a great way to liven up if you’re feeling a little sluggish!

Ingredients • • • •

Ingredients 35ml Vodka 15ml Chambord 50ml Pineapple juice

Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, add ice then shake as fast and as hard as you can to make the delicious froth that is so synonymous with this drink! Strain into a chilled martini or coupette glass. Garnish a wedge of pineapple or a couple of cocktail cherries on a stick if you are feeling adventurous!

TopicUK February/March 2019

N E FWES A T UU PD ATE R E

The region celebrates our Children of Courage to be held at New Dock Hall in Leeds.

Yorkshire power contractor Smith Brothers has been appointed by Arlington Infrastructure Ltd to act as the preferred EPC provider for its forthcoming 1GW UK portfolio of energy storage and gas peaker projects. On Friday 11th October the region’s finest young people will be recognised and honoured at a star-studded and emotional Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards

The 9th annual Awards Dinner will be the culmination of a year of planning which is dedicated not only to celebrating the achievements of courageous and determined young individuals, but also to raising funds for the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation who match all funds raised. This year’s Awards will be presented by Christine Ta l b o t , I T V C a l e n d a r Presenter and Ambassador for Yorkshire Children of Courage along with Paul ‘Chuckle’ Elliott, Jack Carroll and Hannah Cockroft MBE. The fun filled evening will be compered by Jon Hammond, back by popular demand. An impressive line up of personalities from the world of Entertainment, Business

Bailey Mathews with Louise Minchin

and Sport in Yorkshire will be in attendance to lend their support to a fast moving, fun filled evening. Entertainment for 700 guests will be provided by the very popular Yorkshire swing and jazz band, the Mini Big Band, with contributions throughout the evening from a variety of surprise entertainers. This truly unique Awards Dinner has grown in stature and popularity and attracts a large number of nominations for some truly inspirational children and young adults whose lives have ofte n bee n affected b y illness or extreme adversity. They are honoured in two age categories - up to 12 years old and 13 to 18 years old, for their Courage, Caring, Sporting Achievement,

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Hannah Cockroft

Fundraising activities and Outstanding Bravery. There is also a Group Award for the most

deserving charitable organisation, decided online by the public.

Tables for 10 people at the event can be purchased by media partner TopicUK readers for £795 with an Early Bird Offer valid until the end of February. For more information call the ticket hotline on 07703 271238 or visit www.yorkshirechildren.co.uk. We also have a number of sponsorship packages available, for information contact Rosemary Hepburn on 07710 990081.

T RS A UV PE D LAT E N EW

With the new year comes a rise in people joining the gym, cutting down on their intake of foods perceived as ‘unhealthy’, and as many as 4 million of us embarked on dry January, in a bid to get healthier!

whethe r you really want that pre-dinner drink. Although it can be hard breaking the norm, actively reminding yourself of your goals can be a great way to engage your will-power and will help you to politely decline.

While it can be easy to stock fridges full of health-rich foods, ditch all the alcohol from the house and pencil time in for a gym date, a third of our lives are spent at work, and this can add complications when trying to stick with a health kick.

De-stress – Business travel can be stressful, especially if compounded with minimal sleep. Ta k e t h e t i m e t o look after yourself; stress manage me nt and mindfulness applications are a great way to look after your mental wellbeing and help dial back the stress after a long, hard days’ work.

•

Business travel doesn’t have to get in the way of your 2019 health kick; with a little willpower and a couple of proactive measures, you’ll soon start reaching your goals while also improving your longerterm health outlook.

Is travelling with work set to sabotage ‘new year, healthy you’ resolutions?

It has been reported that business travellers are picking up unhealthy habits, counterintuitive to achieving a ‘healthy you’; in many cases, this is understandable. For sales people, travelling up and down the country on prospect visits can make finding time to eat regular planned meals tough. While frequent business travellers might find themselves frustrated with overnight stays away from home disrupting their gym schedules; it was reported last year that 54% of business travellers are less likely to exercise on a work trip, and to make matters worse, are also more likely to eat unhealthily on such trips! It doesn’t have to be this way. Good intention, will-power and following the below advice, are a recipe for success and will help you to stick to your ‘new year, healthy you’ resolution, even when travelling with work: • Avoid flights early in the morning or late at night This will eliminate fast food dashes, as healthy dining destinations are more likely to be open during the day.

•

New Year’s resolutions are easy to make but even easier to break. •

The Grand Hotel York conference, facilities

Look for a hotel equipped with a gym – Many hotels, such as authors of this article The Grand Hotel in York, offer gym facilities, making it harder to come up with an excuse for not sticking to your plan!

•

Pack healthy snacks – It can be just as unhealthy to eat nothing as it is to eat junk. If you find yourself on the road for a long period of time, or in back-to-back meetings, pack healthy snacks to tide you over until your next meal time.

•

Have a sneak peak at the menu – If you’re wining and dining

clients, or sitting down for a meal for one, look at the menu before making a reservation to ensure there are suitable choices. •

Limit alcohol – Switch off auto-pilot and think

TopicUK February/March 2019

FEAT UR E

Celebrating 150 years of shirtmaking The 60’s were a tough time for the company, but the Sugden brothers formed a partnership with friend Richard Donner of Wakefield based shirt manufacturer, Double Two Shirts.

This year, expert career and workwear specialists, Sugdens celebrate 150 years in business. It was in 1869, 10 years before the electric light bulb was invented, that William Sugden first opened a tailors shop in his home town of Cleckheaton. Few could have expected back then that this simple family business would grow into the company it is today. By the e n d of Q u e e n Victoria’s reign, William Sugden’s two eldest sons had begun to produce their o wn shirts on a sewing machine in the back of their father’s shop. From there the business gradually evolved enough to move to a factory at Water Lane Mills in Cleckheaton and from there further

The two companies’ joint expertise forged an unbeatable combination, with the Sugden brothers continuing to focus on the workwear business right up until their retirement in 1998 and 2001. factories were opened across Yorkshire. By the time of King Edward VII’s death in 1910, the business had gone from a shop front in a small Yorkshire town to a vast manufacturing company. In addition to factories, Sugdens acquired its own weaving mills to enable them to produce the cloth needed for garments. They

were then able to proudly state that the garments they sold were completely produced in-house.

Re c e n t a c h i e v e m e n t s include the presentation of the Queen’s Award for International Trade.

During the course of the first and second world wars, Sugdens produced close to six million shirts and work suits for the armed forces. The company was now fast becoming one of the biggest uniform and workwear providers in the country.

There are many events and celebrations planned throughout the year to mark the landmark achievement of 150 years in business. Also, after extensive research, a company archive and timeline has been compiled documenting the many interesting events in the company’s lifetime. This will be on show throughout the year on the Sugdens website at www.wmsugdens. co.uk.

Top: Sugdens - Northgate Cleckheaton Left: Sugdens oldBarnsley factory

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The company is still moving forward with the times, sticking close to the mantra of its Chairman, Richard Donner, “I don’t aspire for us to be the biggest company in the world, but I want us to be the best.”

AN D N EE V W T O R AIA ATT LEE WESSR U UP PD D HOWARTHS MD UPDATE

CLIENT CASE STUDY:

Delivering management training for the world’s leading sports consultancy At Howarths, we’re passionate about helping businesses achieve the best results through effective people management.

Starting off by exploring what good management looks like, the course then covered how effective management can be used to avoid issues at work, grievances and tribunals.

So, when the UK division of the world’s leading sports consultancy wanted to upskill their managers to make them more effective in their roles, we were delighted that they asked us to help them out.

Team work also took centre-stage, and the course explored: • What is a team? • The personalities within a team • The characteristics of a cohesive team • The role of managers in a team

New initiatives for 2019 The team at Howarths is really excited about what 2019 has in store. A New Year always gives us fresh impetus to push on and challenge ourselves to do even better than the year before. We have lots planned, starting with our bi-monthly Howarths Hub events. These events are a fantastic forum for HR professionals to learn and share knowledge. One of our Senior Employment Law Advisors, Sarah, ran the last Hub event, focussing on the challenging subject of agency workers. If you are a HR professional within a business, do get in touch about signing up. Places are limited, but you’re sure to gain useful insight and knowledge from peers in the industry. We’re also launching our new workshop schedule which kicks-off in April. The first workshop will cover how to stay out of an Employment Tribunal and will be presented by myself and our Finance Director (MCIPD qualified), Tracey Hopkins (no Gavin and Stacey jokes please!). This is an ideal event for business owners, Directors, and decision makers who don’t have any internal HR resource. With 18 staff currently employed by Howarths, we know what it takes to run a business, so this workshop will be commercially focused. Visit howarths-uk.com/events for further details and to book your place. Finally, if you require more bespoke training for your business, keep us in mind. We are scheduled to run many training courses in 2019 for businesses across Yorkshire – and with a combination of our theoretical employment law knowledge and hands on HR experience, we’re well placed to upskill your management teams. Gavin Howarth, Managing Director

The client STRI Group is the world’s leading sports consultancy. Its UK operation produces world-class surfaces where athletes of all abilities can perform to their very best, and the company has installed pitches used for the FIFA World Cup and even the Olympic Games.

Coaching was also on the agenda, and STRI’s managers covered coaching in management, coaching styles and how to have difficult conversations – all concluded with an action plan to keep on track when back at work.

The brief

The feedback

Howarths was contacted by Dr Christian Spring, Research Operations Manager at STRI Group UK.

Following the event, Dr Spring said: “The course was excellent. The content covered exactly the areas I was keen to help our managers learn more about, and I have received some very positive feedback from the team who found the day very beneficial to their ongoing development. “I know feel our managers have a clearer understanding of how they can adapt their styles to get the best out of their teams, ultimately leading to improved staff performance and better business results.”

He wanted to upskill the company’s managers to help them become more effective in their roles, in line with the growth ambition of this forward-thinking company. • • • • •

Areas Dr Spring wanted to cover included: How to get the best out of the STRI team How to manage different personalities within the STRI team How STRI’s managers could better understand their teams What to ‘watch out for’ when managing people

The solution Our HR team created a bespoke training course for 18 of STRI UK’s managers, delivered over a full day.

TopicUK February/March 2019

CS R

S H OWC A S E

CSR showcase

Kirklees College Pooja Furniss, head of human resources and payroll at Kirklees College, speaks to TopicUK about the college’s CSR initiatives.

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H PODWA CT AE S E NCESWR S S U Why is CSR important to the way you run the college? Colleagues working together to accomplish a shared goal can have a positive effect on company culture. Embracing corporate social responsibility can benefit the bottom line as well. Kirklees College is fully committed to giving something back to the local community and this is best exemplified through our mission statement ‘Creating Opportunity, Changing Lives’, which is at the heart of everything that we do. How do you decide what charities to support? We work with staff to determine the different causes we choose to support and we really love to back things our colleagues and students are passionate about. We don’t put restrictions on the charities we raise money for and give staff full reign to promote their events, which everyone supports and rallies round. Staff wellbeing is a key focus of the college and some events and charity days naturally fit into this bracket. In 2019, we will really focus on things such as mental health, discrimination and health conscious activities such as dry January and stop smoking initiatives, as well as things that benefit charitable causes such as Jeans for Genes and Red Nose Day. What is the latest CSR project/fundraiser you are working on and what do you hope to achieve? Christmas time was a great example of all the good causes we supported; we donated toys to Yorkshire Children’s Trust, filled shoeboxes with goodies for the Welcome Centre and supported the local homeless charity The Mission by offering free haircuts. One cause that was particularly close to our hearts was for Kirkwood Hospice who was caring for one of our colleagues and this event really showcased the bond between students and staff and the drive the students had to find a way to help the hospice that had been such a support to the family.

How do you gain the buy in of your team and get them involved in CSR activities? We want staff to fully engage with the charitable work we do, so we really get them involved when planning. When people are passionate about the causes we are supporting, it’s relatively easy to get people involved. I think when staff know the background to the charity and where their support and money is going it really helps. We often invite charities into the college so that they are not a faceless organisation and it gives staff the opportunity to engage and find out more in a warm and welcoming environment. As an example we are supporting World Cancer Day in February where we will be inviting MacMillan Cancer Support into the college to train staff on how they can support colleagues who may be going through a difficult time with cancer as well as inviting other organisations in to offer support and advice. I think initiatives like this really create a strong foothold on how everyone can get involved and help build strong relationships between the staff and the charitable organisations. If another company asked you how to go about starting or increasing their CSR activity, what would you say? I would say getting involved with communities and charities on a bigger level is a positive thing for any company. A great policy really

uplifts staff and makes them more engaged with their job. They feel proud of the company they are working for and this helps us attract and retain the most valuable, hardworking and engaged employees and I feel Kirklees College really does have a fantastic staff base. Colleagues working together to accomplish a shared goal can have a positive effect on company culture. How do you decide how much time per week/month/year your business dedicates to CSR activity? As a company we are not governed by time when it comes to our charitable activities and how much time we spend is greatly influenced by the nature of the event. We have a very relaxed atmosphere and embrace staff ideas and needs in terms of the charities we support. We try and accommodate all requests and ensure that we have a great work life balance and that we give colleagues the time within their working day to both support and organise these fantastic charitable events. To date, how has your CSR activity helped your company to expand its business networks? We’ve reached out to communities and businesses within the region and invited them into our campuses to host informative events. It might be a charity information day, a lecture from one of our business contacts to students and staff or a networking event. TopicUK February/March 2019

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Resident Rewards’ app launches in Leeds our new app to the Wellington Place community. With so much going on in the development, we were keen for people to have access to everything in one place, ensuring they never miss out on the fantastic deals and events offered by our retailers. After many months of planning, it’s great to see our vision come to life and we can’t wait to see our customers taking advantage of all the fantastic perks on offer!”

Developer and Asset Manager, MEPC, has announced the launch of its new community app. The app will provide a hub for the Wellington Place residents as well as the wider community, helping people come together over discounted dinners, drinks deals and community events. A group of Leeds’ favourite independent drinking and dining establishments including Sociable Folk, Veeno and The Place, have signed up to offer rewards to the surrounding community, some of which are exclusive to Wellington Place occupiers. MEPC will also be offering other surprise resident rewards like free coffee, ice-cream and keep your eye out for Easter eggs!

Utilising the best local talent and bolstering the area’s digital industries, the app has been designed by “place making”, marketing and branding agency DS.Emotion with support from app developers Tyrell, both of which are

proud to form part of the growing tech sector in the Leeds City Region. The app is available on the App Store and for Android as a free download. D ominique Simcox, Head of Customer Experience at MEPC said: “We’re thrilled to be able to launch

Lawrence Alexander, Strategy & Innovation Director at DS.Emotion, added: “It’s great to work on this project with MEPC. We’re confident the app will make a positive difference to the Wellington Place residents and it’s exciting to see a commercial developer applying forward thinking technology to their community.” 35

Come and join us for Theatre Royal Wakefield’s Gala Dinner and Performance on Friday 15 March 2019. Enjoy the Dinner at Wakefield Cathedral and Gala Performance at Theatre Royal Wakefield. For more information or to book a table please contact sarah.shooter@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk, call 01924 334 116 or visit www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/whats-on/gala-2019 £30,000 w as raised last year to support the Theatre’s work with young people, help us beat that in 2019!

Photo: Ro bling Phot ography

Join us for our Gala Dinner Sparkle on our Wall of Fame

The new Centre for Creativity features a striking Wall of Fame and you can be a part of it too! Take your place on our Wall of Fame by buying a star.

HH Star £100

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Rising Star £250

Shooting Star £1,000

To buy a star or for more information please contact sarah.shooter@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk, call 01924 334 116 or visit www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/buy-a-star

Member Spotlight

AN DE VWESR TU O PR D IA AT LE

C h a m p i o n i n g Yo r k s h i r e To u r i s m e From Brexit to succession planning; infrastructure to land and property; it’s an uncertain time for rural landowners in the UK. A new report out from Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth aims to tackle some of the challenges facing rural businesses and estates both now and in the near future. The report contains 22 separate action and advice points which rural business owners can review to help put them on the front foot throughout this period of financial and legal uncertainty. James Pavey, Partner and Head of Rural Business and Estates at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth, said: “As scrutiny of the likely settlement for UK Farming plc intensifies, our specialist rural team is looking beyond Brexit to identify strategic opportunities for landowners. The phasing out of direct subsidy from 2021 to 2028 will have a profound effect on the economics of running many landbased businesses.

Rural Business Advice : Seizing the initiative post-Brexit

“The key is to look now at finance, business structures, potential diversification and collaboration to set the estate or business up for a more successful future.”

There appears to be an obvious and narrow window to secure such finance before any market turbulence in March 2019 or before interest rates rise substantially.

The Irwin Mitchell Rural Business & Estates team offers specialist advice for all the needs of farm and estate owners, whether they are business or personal and includes property, will dispute, family and commercial lawyers.

“Medium-term, the Agriculture Bill provides for “delinking” direct payments from the requirement to farm land from 2021 to 2027. Phasing out direct payments will likely bring more land to the market, in particular the open market. That may depress prices for all but prime arable land, but it will provide opportunities for the acquisition of land, whether

Among the key issues facing rural businesses is access to capital. Long-term mortgage finance,

to expand landholdings for farming or diversification, or to take a strategic view as to development potential.”

secured on agricultural land, is still available at historically low rates. James said: “The value of security is holding: there is still a market demand for good agricultural land.

There is also opportunity for more diversification across the country. Much of UK Farming plc is culturally conservative and built up in typical legal structures (sole traders, unincorporated partnerships) and typical business models. “We see real opportunities and economies in collaboration between neighbouring landowners sharing plant, labour, capital and land. A larger and more diverse landholding will support more businesses and in some rural areas is an untapped resource,” added James.

“The value of security is holding: there is still a market demand for good agricultural land.” James Pavey, Partner and Head of Rural Business and Estates at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth

TopicUK February/March 2019

with the news of UKTV establishing a city base quickly following – the potential for more on and off-screen representation from across the region, including involvement from Yorkshire businesses, is a brilliant opportunity.

Media Matters by Charlotte Armitage

Welcome to Media Matters, a regular feature on our exciting, every growing media scene here in Yorkshire. As Managing Director of both the Yorkshire Academy of Film and Television Acting (YAFTA) and YAFTA Talent Agency, I’ve seen an amazing expansion of film and TV productions taking place across the region. Additionally, there’s been an increase in leading roles assigned to Yorkshire talent and more and more production houses moving or expanding to the area, especially so in the last 12 months. Key highlights for me include Bradford being named the first UNESCO City of Film, Yorkshire being declared the UK’s most popular filming location and the latest RAJAR listening figures showing many Yorkshire based radio stations celebrating their best results yet, including the ARIA winning, Mylo and Rosie Pulse 1 Breakfast show. The Channel 4 move to Leeds has created a brilliant buzz not just in Leeds but across the region and

It’s not to say the industry isn’t without its challenges. Ensuring local communities continue to have a voice and outlet across a range of media channels is something we all need to take responsibility for and show support to our fellow media partners. If you have any media specific news, updates or comments I’d love to know so please send them to editor@topicuk.co.uk

I’d done my training, I started picking up bits of acting work on shows like Happy Valley and Coronation Street and also did a lot of presenting work including for the local television networks. Given the lack of training options in the North and my background in business, I decided to merge my two interests together to create a business that would help people in the North follow their film and TV dream, so they didn’t have to go to London.

all of our acting students was a brilliant moment. Seeing how far they had come and celebrating such fantastic achievements from personal growth to audition successes, along with realising how much the business has developed over the last 5 years was a real pinch me moment. I remember looking at the room with all our students of all ages alongside our fantastic tutor team and thinking how proud I was of them.

What has been your career highlight to date?

What do you love most about Yorkshire? The people. Nowhere else can you find such an honest, funny, hardworking, straight talking, diverse mix of folk.

Our end of year award ceremony we held in Leeds last July which acknowledges the achievements of

Head to www.yafta.co.uk for details on their classes, courses and workshops.

Growth of maintenance division signals positive year for Dortech

glazing specialist based in Huddersfield.

The column will feature everything from profile pieces and media updates, to topics affecting the media industry in Yorkshire. In the next edition of TopicUK, we’ll also be announcing an exciting new event for all those involved and passionate about the Yorkshire media industry. Dates for the diary: • Leeds Young Film Festival 08/04/19 – 22/04/19 • Get Smart Film Festival, Bradford 19-21 September 2019 (www. getsmartfilmfest.com) • Leeds International Film Festival 06/11/19 – 21/11/19 Q&A WITH CHARLOTTE How did you get into the media industry? I’d always fancied learning to act and thought, now is the right time! I headed down to London to do an acting course because I couldn’t find anything in the North that would teach me the craft of acting other than full time degree courses. Once

“A brave decision made during the toughest economic conditions of the past decade”, has “proven a game-changer” for a commercial

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James Sutherland, managing director of Yorkshire-headquartered Dortech Group, has made the bold statement as the business prepares for a big year of trading. The company’s glazing maintenance division is forecast to almost double its turnover to £1m in 2019, which will take Dortech to a £10m organisation overall. The

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Development Manager Jon Sheard and Product Manager Katie Barwood who joined the business in March. Together with DealTrak’s longstanding Head of Consumer Credit Neil Watkiss, Compliance Manager Sam Marsden and Head of Business Support Lisa McNaught, they will help to ensure product, service and culture consistency during this period of significant expansion.

New faces join automotive tech giant to fuel growth Leeds-headquartered DealTrak – the automotive F&I technology specialist – has appointed a number of new faces and restructured its senior teams, as the business gears up for significant growth over the next 12 months. At the helm of the business is a fresh Executive Committee (ExCo) led by Managing Director Martin Hill. Ian Tinker joins as Commercial Director following almost 20 years working in the automotive industry, and Joanna Burton has come on board as Financial Controller. Head of Insurance Christian Ingrey has assumed additional responsibility as Head of Data Strategy, Ben Moore is

now IT Director and the sixth ExCo member is Operations Director Steve Lees, who has been with the business since July 2016.

expansion – which comes as a result of a growing reputation and complex market conditions – has also kickstarted a recruitment drive and a £200,000 investment in the team’s Huddersfield factory.

“The recession had led to a contraction of the construction industry and new build projects had slowed,” explains James. “But as a direct consequence of such market forces, the desire to maintain, repair or even refurbish commercial windows and doors soon emerged, with businesses recognising this as a far more economical alternative to replacing with new.”

Dortech Architectural Systems was established a quarter of a century ago, with Dortech Maintenance forming in 2015 to help clients prolong the lifespan of their existing glazing installations.

As part of this organisational restructure, DealTrak has also formed a new six-strong management team comprising of the company’s new Head of Marketing Simon Banoub, recently-appointed Business

The firm’s maintenance division

Based at the iconic Leeds Dock on the fringe of the city, DealTrak is one of the UK’s leading automotive finance and insurance specialists. The £3.6m turnover business has consistently recorded significant, double-digit growth per annum since 2013, as a result of the technology now being used by 1,100 dealerships the length and breadth of the country. Integrated with 200 partners and counting, DealTrak passed more than 3.6 million proposals through the platform in 2018 alone – representing potential transactions totalling £9.6bn. But the company has bold plans for the future, with a 130% client uplift

is now the fastest growing part of the business, growing from a team of four to eight aluminium glazing specialists. The hunt is also on for a further four maintenance engineers over the next twelve to 24 months. “There are now 62 people throughout the entire business, and we’re investing across the board,” James continues. “We’re currently reconfiguring our 24,000sqft site, for instance, to break down

target by 2021, a 40% increase in the value of automotive lending through the platform, as well as a 200% rise in the number of insurance policy registrations. Commenting on what has been a pivotal 12 months for the business, Managing Director Martin Hill said: “So many businesses comment on their culture, but in truth it is often an aside. At DealTrak, we’re all clear on our purpose as a company and this shines through in the colleagues we recruit – we have a team of 40 and our retention rate is fundamental to our growth. “The formation of a new ExCo and management team may seem like major change for DealTrak, but it’s all part of our new swathe of people-led direction. We’re now clearer on who is responsible for what, we’ve appointed some of the most experienced talent in the industry to take on our newlycreated roles, and we have a much stronger representation of the entire company’s voice at a senior level, as we work towards our ambitious 2021 targets.”

departmental barriers, promote company-wide knowledge transfer and strengthen our company culture. We’ve also procured new CNC machinery and increased the storage capacity for our third division – Dortech Direct – which is similarly performing well. “But the maintenance proposition has never been more important, and we predict this division will account for 20% of revenue by 2022.

TopicUK February/March 2019

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Join the country’s search for successful women in business Twenty-nineteen sees the return of the prestigious Forward Ladies National Awards and Summit, that TopicUK are proud to partner, who recognise the achievements of business women in the UK. Forward Ladies are dedicated to encouraging the growth of women with the awards, a national showcase and celebration of these achievements.

£4m redevelopment for garden centre

It’s an inspirational programme showcasing diversity in business, recognising the trailblazers and inclusive leaders across the UK.

Work on the new plant canopy is expected to be completed by April and the indoor play and events centre is scheduled to open in July.

Nominations for this year are now open. If you would like to nominate a colleague or even put yourself forward visit: www. forwardladies.com/national-awards/ Regional events will be held in Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Leeds ahead of the national finals on 29 November.

with Yorkshire firms, including the mechanical and electrical systems contractors and businesses like Total Flooring that will be involved in the fit out. This can only be good for the regional economy.”

Yorkshire contractors have started work on the first phase of a £4 million project to develop an award winning Bradford garden centre. Leeds based Jennings has been contracted to do the demolition work and East Yorkshire based family business, Ashcourt has been appointed as the main ground workers on the project at Tong Garden Centre that includes a new

plant canopy, an indoor play area and an events centre. Tong’s Managing Director, Mark Farnsworth said: “In our continued support of, and investment in, the Yorkshire economy, we have appointed Yorkshire tradesmen wherever possible. “We estimate that £2.5 million of the £4 million investment will be spent

Mark concluded: “We’re looking forward to the completion of the first phase of our two year development plan. The new plant canopy will create a fabulous covered outdoor plant area and the indoor soft play will complement the popular Grass Hoppers adventure playground by providing an all-weather play area.” Subsequent developments include a new two storey building and restaurant in May 2020 and the development of the lakeside space to build log cabins for educational and horticultural use in 2021.

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Chadwick Lawrence has recently launched an exciting new staff development programme under the title of the ‘Conveyancing Centre of Learning’. This incredible initiative was created with the admirable intention to grow and develop the existing skills and strengths within the firms already well-strung bow. The centre will be managed internally by Sarah Haller (Partner and Head of Conveyancing), Kayleigh Needham and Heather Mackins (both Conveyancers). The concept for the Conveyancing Centre of Learning was born out of a period of growth within Chadwick Lawrence’s conveyancing department, during which the team spied an opportunity to harness this trajectory for the good of the team. Reinvesting their resources into internal growth and skill development between peers; for both current staff and new. This latest move from Chadwick Lawrence sets them strategically apart from other firms in the industry. It is common to have a disjointed spread of knowledge and expertise amongst conveyancing legal departments, and so by taking steps to tackle this issue head-on Chadwick Lawrence has set in motion an incredibly well-considered play, through which staff will continuously strive and seek to improve and obtain new knowledge. This will be not only to their advantage, but also to the great benefit of their clients. Excitement to get the new initiative in place is palpable within the team, Kayleigh Needham commented “I like helping people to believe in and better themselves, and to progress and move on to their next level.” She noted, “While we are still in the process of getting things up and running, we have received a very positive response and

Conveyancing Department Launch Centre of Learning everyone is excited to about the programme.” The creation of the programme has been especially encouraged by employees at Chadwick Lawrence who wish to bridge gaps in their knowledge. This would create a more fluid workspace in which individuals can acquire the professional knowledge needed to take on diffe re nt cases and conveyancing projects they were previously incapable of, making an already highlyskilled workforce truly flexible and reactive to cases landing on their desk – whatever they may be. He a d o f C o n v e y a n c i n g and Partner, Sarah Haller, commented “It is a very exciting time in our department, and we now have a solid progression plan in place for individuals to quickly develop their skills.”

“Allowing peer learning not only gives those learning the opportunity to improve their knowledge, but allows those training to build confidence in their own skills and also their ability to manage and develop others within the team. We are looking forward to reaping the rewards of this and building a stronger, well-oiled team.” In order to tailor the programme a department wide survey was distributed where members of the team were asked to rate their own skills in certain areas to identify areas of knowledge where they felt their confidence was lacking. It also helped to identify the individuals who were interested in teaching other members of staff and helping to grow their own skills at the same time. As a reflection of this mindset, one of the senior leaders

and trainers of the initiative Heather Mackins commented “I am very passionate about conveyancing and enjoy helping people to learn and grow within the department. Training individuals constitutes the next step in my career; by managing the training academy alongside Kayleigh Needham I will be taking steps in my own personal growth as well as supporting the growth of others internally.” Chadwick Lawrence’s constant evolution of internal opportunities and resources is testament to their belief that a company’s value is only as good as that of its people, Head of HR Lisa Bailey commented “The launch of the Conveyancing Department Centre of Learning is an e x a m p l e o f t h e Fi r m ’ s continued commitment to the upskilling of our work colleagues as part of our talent management strategy.” Through recognising the power of diversifying and strengthening their internal skillset and current offering, Chadwick Lawrence position themselves strongly as an industry leader for both staff and clients alike.

N S PE EWCS I AU LP DE AV TE EN T

Star women’s business awards (Scarborough) The biggest single gathering of inspiring female achievers in the Scarborough business community will take place in April. Scarborough, ActionCoach, Adverset, Fitzpatrick Design, SIV Scarborough Spa, the Crown Spa Hotel, Crofts Artisan Chocolates, West Building Supplies, Blue Sky Media video company and Bright & Sons Jewellers. The awards are open to women throughout Scarborough, Filey, Whitby and surrounding district.

The new and pioneering Star Women in Business Awards with guest speaker Jenny Eclair will applaud and celebrate the range of

achievements, efforts and creativity of women in the Scarborough district. The event - with an allfemale top table - is being held on Friday April 12 at Scarborough Spa. Former TV presenter Carolyn Hodgson will present the awards and there will be 10 free places for teenage school students as part of the aspiration agenda. TopicUK magazine is a media partner of this prestigious new event. The principal partner is CU Scarborough, part of the Coventry University Group, and offers a unique, flexible style of university education. Sponsors and supporters also include Asquith & Co accountants, North Yorkshire Law, CPH estate agents, Digital Advantage, Gi Recruitment

Kay Fraser, Head of Academic Studies and Acting Associate ProVice-Chancellor at CU Scarborough, said: “We are thrilled to be the principal sponsors of the Awards which will highlight the women in this area who deserve recognition f o r t h e i r a c h i e v e m e n t s. C U Scarborough is working hard to build and contribute to the fantastic talent we have along the Yorkshire Coast. Our students will be inspired by the winners and aspire to be future leaders who are highlighted by this brand new award.” The university’s range of careerfocused qualifications are designed to supply the local demand for graduates in key industry sectors such as nursing, policing, teaching and cyber security. Names of famous women in business and history will be allocated to each table at the event, in a project by business students of the university. Jenny Eclair will present the trophies. The comedian, writer, author and actress was the first

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woman to win the Edinburgh Perrier Award. Her TV credits include Loose Women, Holby City, Room 101, The BBC New Comedy Awards and the Eurovision Song Contest. Willows Lull, based in Scarborough and offering overnight and day respite for children with lifelimiting, disabilities and complex needs, is the charity beneficiary. It has qualified nursing and support staff to assist in the caring of children from birth to 18 years,

See fourtigersmedia.co.uk for criteria and rules. The categories are: 1. New Star 2. Brightest Micro Star 3. S t e l l a r A p p r e n t i c e (office/hospitality) 4. S t e l l a r A p p r e n t i c e (engineering/ construction/industry) 5. The Shooting Star 6. The Art Star 7. Star of Digital 8. Star of Retail 9. Hospitality Star 10. Inspirational Supernova

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and currently helps 20 to 40 children or families. Bright & Sons Jewellers, established in Scarborough in 1857, are donating jewellery created from Welsh gold as an auction item for the charity. The Star Women in Business Awards are free to enter and you can nominate colleagues, yourself or women from any business or organisation. The categories include individual awards for the most outstanding business woman,

rising female stars, best female artist, new women in business and for retail, hospitality and micro-businesses. There will be specific categories for young women in business, both office-based and in practical work.

Bloomin’ brilliant as comic is announced as Bling Fling compere

The Scarborough-based event organisers Four Tigers Media, the area’s most experienced media achievers, said: “We are very pleased to have CU Scarborough as the leading partner for this great new showcase. They will help to enhance these new, significant and very important awards and we are delighted that they are supporting the event, and thank to all the sponsors and supporters who have made this event a huge talking point in the area and given it such remarkable backing.”

The charity event is back for the second year on Friday, May 3, at The Arches in Dean Clough, Halifax. It is again, expected to raise thousands of pounds for Forget Me Not Children Hospice.

If you would like to be a sponsor partner of this sparkling new awards event, or like to book tickets or make a nomination, contact fourtigersmedia@ gmail.com

There’ll be fun among the flowers, with comedian and radio presenter Steve Royle announced to compere this year’s colourful Floral Bling Fling business ladies’ lunch.

This year’s event will have a floral theme, with beautiful single stem flowers on every table for guests to buy to enter a special prize draw, plus more chances to win throughout the event. Steve Royle, a comedian, radio presenter, actor, and writer, will be injecting a whole bunch of mirth into the proceedings. He is co-founder of the Slaughterhouse-Live character comedy nights, with the group regularly performing at The Comedy Store. They were nominated as “Best touring show” at the Manchester Comedy Awards, just losing out to Peter Kay! He’s supported both Peter Kay and Dave Spikey on tour and was voted “Entertainer of the Year” at the recent Red Rose Awards, so there’s no doubt he’ll be able to dazzle the Bling Fling ladies. The first, “Diamond” Bling Fling, with its glittering jewellery theme, raised an impressive £17,750 for the Hospice, which supports families of children with life-shortening illnesses. It needs to raise £4 million a year to continue to help more than 500 families under its care. Bling Fling organisers are seeking sponsors to help make this year’s event a huge success and top the previous fund-raising total. There are many ways to back the event, from donating raffle prizes, to taking out an advert in the event brochure. There’s even a chance for businesses to create

their own Bling Fling sponsorship pack and to support the event in a way that works for them. Vicki Davenport, Joint Managing Director of The Pink Link distribution company in Huddersfield said: “We’re thrilled that Steve has agreed to compere this year’s event. As well as raising money for a wonderful charity and giving businesswomen a promotional opportunity, the Bling Fling ladies’ lunch is also a chance for guests to let their hair down and have a good time. We know that Steve will inject a huge amount of fun into the afternoon. Along with the new floral theme, it all helps to keep the 2019 event fresh and exciting so we can raise even more money for a very deserving cause.” If you want to get involved, donate, or sponsor you can get in touch via the website www.theblingfling.co.uk TopicUK February/March 2019

ND A EV W ES R U TP O DR AI AT LE

Kirklees College blazes into National Apprenticeship Week

As National Apprenticeship Week ‘blazes’ into 2019, Kirklees College wanted to dispel some of the myths behind Apprenticeships and really highlight the benefits.

1)Apprenticeships are for people who don’t do well at school. Apprenticeships simply offer an alternative route into skilled employment. A classroom learning environment is not for everyone and an apprenticeship is a great way to earn while you learn, gain vital work experience and set yourself on a fast-track to a successful career.

2) Apprenticeships are only available in manual areas We train approximately 2,000 apprentices over 30 occupational a r e a s. O u r a p p r e n t i c e s a r e employed at over 1,000 companies throughout West Yorkshire. We provide apprenticeships in Art and Design, Business and Professional Development, Childhood Studies, Hair and Beauty and so much more, the opportunities are endless.

3) Apprenticeships are mainly for men In 2016/17, 54% of apprenticeships starts were by women and 46% by men. The number of women starting apprenticeship in England has been higher than men for every year since 2010/11.

4) Apprenticeships aren’t beneficial for my business

9 out of 10 employers taking an apprentice from Kirklees College said they delivered significant b u s i n e s s b e n e f i t s a n d 70 % surveyed by the government said apprenticeships improved product quality and service. The cost of apprenticeship training pays for itself within a couple of years of completion through increased productivity. Hiring an apprentice allows you to fill the skills gap and grow the person within your business with 77% of apprentices staying with the same employer after completing the apprenticeship.

5) Apprenticeships are only for school leavers Apprenticeships are available to people of all ages making them a great option for anyone looking to change career, improve their skills, or re-enter the labour market. Rethinking about hiring an apprentice? Find out more by giving out Business Development Team a call today on 0800 781 3020 and we could find you the perfect fit for your business, we’re the 10th in England and the 1st in West Yorkshire for Apprenticeships, so you know you’re in good hands.

Leeds Playhouse and Leeds Libraries Speak Volumes Leeds Playhouse and Leeds Libraries have announced Speak Volumes, a new creative residency programme which will be delivered in partnership by the two organisations. The programme will offer two artists or theatre companies the opportunity to embed themselves in Leeds Central Library and libraries across Leeds, with a view to creating a new piece of theatre in response to an element of library life. Speak Volumes builds on the success of The Things We Wouldn’t Otherwise Find by Emma Adams, co-presented in a collaboration between the Playhouse, The Leeds Library and Leeds Libraries in November 2018. The play ran for two weeks at The Leeds Library before embarking on a tour to Leeds Libraries across the city. A call out is now open for artists

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and companies to submit a proposal outlining the area of library life they’re most interested to explore. The submissions will be read and considered by representatives from Leeds Playhouse and Leeds Libraries. The Speak Volumes resident artists will both receive a fee to undertake a four-week residency at Leeds Libraries, where they will gain exclusive access to all areas of the Grade II listed Leeds Central Library building. Leeds Playhouse Ne w Work Producer Gilly Roche said “Like the Playhouse, Leeds Central Library is

FN IEEVW N N WE SS I U U PP FD DIAAVTTEEE investors. An overdraft is often the best and most usual way of funding working capital. Interest and bank charges accrue on a daily basis.

Thinking of starting a new business? Charles Brook, Partner at Poppleton & Appleby, gives five top tips on what you need to think about up-front.

1)Business Idea While it may sound obvious, a successful entrepreneur will have spent time researching the line of business they intend to start, ensuring that it is based on sound financial footings. 2)Business Plan

Thinking of starting a new business?

To be taken seriously by any financial institution, a business plan Charles Brook, Partner at Poppleton & Appleby, gives five top is essential. It should incorporate: tips on what you need to think about up-front. • E v i d e n c e - b a s e d m a r ke t that demonstrate what will get the feeling that your chosen research to demonstrate the happen if sales turn out to accountant is approachable and on viability of the business. be lower or if payments are board with the venture. You need • A forecast for both sales and received later than envisaged. to be confident that they will work expenditure and the cash • How much finance is required. with you and are as enthusiastic position at the end of each about the growth of your business month. 3)Business Accountant as you are. • A breakdown of start-up costs Meet at least three different such as the purchase of plant 4)Investment Finance accountants to discover what and equipment, stocks and services they can provide and more Potential sources of finance include office furniture importantly, to find out if you get the director or business owner, • A forecast of several scenarios on with them. It’s essential you family and friends as well as other an accessible, democratic space for and by the people of Leeds. Both buildings encourage people from all backgrounds to come together, share stories, build a community and embark on new creative adventures. We’re delighted to be expanding on our partnership with Leeds Libraries and can’t wait to see what stories the inaugural Speak Volumes resident artists uncover.” Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Communities, Cllr Debra Coupar, said “We are delighted to be working with Leeds Playhouse on the new and exciting Speak Volumes creative residency

Loans and other forms of borrowing are usually the most appropriate way to finance the purchase of vans, plant and machinery, etc. Loans are generally for a fixed period of 1 to 10 years. The government can also provide start-up small business loans and the Federation of Small Businesses and a good accountant should be able to assist in advising what is currently available. 5)Marketing Marketing your product or service will ensure a quicker return on your investment, and the associated costs should be built into any business plan. Getting creative with your marketing and finding ways to reach your audience will deliver real ROI and maximise your budgets, no matter how small. You need to make your customers aware of who you are, what you do and where to find you.

programme to be delivered at our libraries. “Our libraries play a pivotal role in the day-to-day lives of so many people of all ages through our wide ranging offer and we can’t wait to see how the Speak Volumes resident artists will bring this to life.” More information is available on Leeds Playhouse’s website. The deadline for proposals is 5pm on Friday 22 February. For details contact Tracey Mearns, partnership development coordinator on 01977 781474.

David Judge (The Man With Too Much Time) and Sinead Parker (The Girl In A Hurry) in The Things We Wouldn’t Otherwise Find.Photography by Anthony Robling.jpg TopicUK February/March 2019

T H E AR TS

UK City of Culture : where do we go from here? By Murray Edwards - Art and business consultant I was interested to see a recent piece in The Guardian by Phil Redmond, chair of UK City of Culture and TV screen-writer who created Brookside and Hollyoaks. “Some people call for a town of culture award, but smaller communities should be able to benefit too.” Last year was a significant one for him, as it was not just the 40th anniversary of Grange Hill but also the 10th anniversary of what will probably soon be known as England’s one and only European Capital of Culture! This year marks a decade since, having seen the impact on Liverpool, he suggested the idea of the UK City of Culture project. It is doubly interesting, therefore, that one of our own MP’s - Yvette Cooper - has suggested there should be a Town of Culture award to sit alongside it. She was right, of course, to identify culture’s catalytic effect as such titles encourage people and organisations to come together collaboratively, using culture to explore common interests and opportunities for change. Redmond points out that the economy in Liverpool has doubled to £4bn, dwarfing the annual EU grant of £100m. However, it should be pointed out that these awards do not come with any direct funding, only what every city is looking for – a year of unprecedented media exposure which attracts visitors, alters perceptions and by this means builds confidence and aspiration, especially

in the young. The designation alone cannot be seen as the solution, but rather as the start of a new phase in a city’s life and an opportunity to think afresh about a practical and achievable development strategy. It is up to each recipient to decide what, when, where and how to use funding from supporters such as the BBC, Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, while at the same time recognising the responsibility to maximise the potential for participation. Liverpool focused on its future civic, political and corporate ambitions. In that one year it attracted 3 million extra visitors, and numbers have remained high – the visitor economy has doubled to about £4bn, dwarfing the annual EU grant of £100m, and allowing the mayor to claim culture as the “rocket fuel of regeneration”. Redmond suggests that a town of culture accolade would be a positive, re-energising tool, but the proposal only takes us back to 2009, when the project wrestled with the entry criteria. How big a city or town? Could a county enter? What about joint bids? Eventually a consensus emerged that to achieve the “Liverpool effect” it had to be a recognisable conurbation, but it could be any town or city that could demonstrate local identity and need. In other words, a place has to have a cultural story everyone can understand. The only city excluded, for once, would be London. The primary reason that Derry-

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Londonderry, Hull and Coventry have succeeded is that their stories were, if not better, then more fully developed than those of others. It is also worth bearing in mind that to date there have only been three rounds, each one providing a better understanding and opportunity to improve the process. Size and geographical scope are actively under review, as is frequency. Why wait so long between awards? Initially the idea was for an annual award, but that was felt too onerous for the national supporting organisations, as well as, perhaps, diminishing the impact. Would enough cities enter to make it worthwhile? Ten years on, it is clear that the demand is there, and that the cultural landscape has changed. People and places are, like Liverpool, realising that creativity and culture go hand in hand. There is a clear demand to use culture’s catalytic power, just as there is a growing understanding of the role our national organisations, such as Tate and the V&A, can play outside the capital. Another idea to deal with the city-v-town issue might be to alternate the award cycle. As with the European Championship and the World Cup, different-sized competitions could leapfrog every two years. That might help resolve the urban situation, but it is too narrow a focus. Before Coventry was awarded the city title for 2021, it had become demonstrably clear that there was also a need to support rural, semirural and seasonal economies. Such places and areas are home to about 50% of taxpayers, the ultimate funders of our public arts bodies. This was articulated well by Perth, St David’s, Wells and Hereford as the “quiet crisis”: smaller places struggling with the same challenges as bigger ones but drowned out by “urban chatter”. Losing the local pub, shop, bank or bus service in a big city or town is an inconvenience; elsewhere it can sound a death knell.

the “rocket fuel of regeneration”...

Nothing is set in stone. The discussion around greater cultural intervention is already live, but we need a broader debate about cultural intervention being used for the many, not the few. Yvette Cooper, MP for Pontefract & Castleford is a clear ambassador for the broadening of this concept and I hope as many people as possible will support her and start a wider debate.

ANDEVWE SR TU OP RD IAATLE Wakefield-based accountancy firm Parsons has warned that small businesses might be missing out on vital tax breaks. Managing director Ian Parsons cautioned: “HMRC don’t make it easy for small businesses to figure out what tax breaks they might be entitled to. “And with so many different options and the very serious business of making sure your business is compliant, it’s easy for a small business owner and their accountant to focus on what is necessary – tax returns, VAT returns, filing accounts – while not spending enough time thinking a bit more creatively.” Ian points to research which showed that only 1 in 10 small business owners knew about the Trivial Benefits scheme, something which means employees and directors of small businesses can benefit from small rewards throughout the year. So don’t miss out on what you might be able to claim in 2019. Here are Parsons Accountant’s top three tax breaks that small businesses should discuss with their accountants. 1.

Concerns that small businesses are missing out on tax breaks prompt warning contract win, or performance, for example) and the benefit doesn’t amount to more than £50 each time. 2.

Trivial benefits as mentioned above, there’s very little awareness among small businesses of this relatively new scheme which allows d i r e c t o r s o f “HMRC don’t make small businesses it easy for small to receive up businesses to figure out to £300 a year what tax breaks they i n b e n e f i t s , might be entitled to.” including vouchers (as long as they can’t be redeemed for cash) without 3. incurring any personal tax. There’s no limit on the amount that can be given to employees as long as it’s not a reward for anything work-related (a new

R&D tax credits The Government wants to encourage innovation so there’s a raft of ways to claim back the tax on any investment your company makes in what HMRC calls work “to resolve scientific or technological uncertainties”. R&D tax credits are notoriously involved, so it’s best to have a conversation with your accountant or a specialist about what might work for you business. Companies operating in the creative industries, developing games or apps, or running theatre companies should definitely look into the scheme further. Christmas (or other occasion!) parties Known as an “annual function”, you can hold a Christmas party for your staff and spend up to £150 per employee or director without this being classed as

a taxable benefit to them. And there’s tax relief for the business too, so the cost of throwing the party will come off your annual profits as an expense, saving you limited companies 20% (the current corporation tax rate). There are a few rules though – the event must be held every year, it must be primarily for entertaining staff, be open to everyone and must not cost more than £150 per employee. Even though we’re already well into 2019 if you didn’t have a Christmas do it’s not too late to organise something and get the tax benefits. Fo r d e t a i l e d a d v i c e o n y o u r situation, contact one of the friendly Parsons team on 01924 669500.

S P ENCE IW A SL U FE PD AT AU T E R E N E WS UPDATE

Q&A

The Force is withUmar in a glittering career

Little did he know when as a fiveyear-old boy and a huge fan of Star Wars, even getting to joust with Darth Vadar himself at a convention in the USA, that Umar Hussain would go on to work as Visual Effects Associate Production Manager on the latest Star Wars blockbuster, The Last Jedi!

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Twenty-six year old Umar grew up in Calverley near Leeds and attended Bradford Grammar School. After leaving, Umar studied politics, philosophy and economics at the University of Manchester. However, this wasn’t the career path he would finally take as a glittering career in the movies was waiting.

S P ENC EI W A LS FU EP AD TA UT RE E N EWS UPDAT E

Umar’s progression into the movie industry came from his early love of watching Disney films. As a small boy growing up, his favourite film was The Lion King, so much so that when Umar and his sister were both presented with kittens, he called his Simba. “I was only two when the movie came out, but loved it from the minute I saw it,” he told us. It would be many years later that he would become the Visual Effects Production Manager on the eagerly awaited 2019 second film.

resources in one of those companies, Framestore. From there, I worked my way across Marketing and eventually into production. “I have to admit that to get to where I am in the industry has taken a lot of hard work and dedication,” he added. “I showed up for events, asked questions, and was very proative, always polite and courteous.”

“I never dreamt I would ever work in the movies,” he explained. “However, I had the opportunity to work with a friend on a short film project and soon after, a Production intern role on a television show called Made in Chelsea was advertised that I intervewed for and landed. Once I had the exposure to seeing both a small scale and a large scale project, I was hooked and made the decision I wanted to work in film, particularly in feature animated movies. “The closest kind of work in the UK is in visual effects so I headed over to Germany where at a conference I got my lucky break. I met and had a coffee with a film production Manager and he gave me some valuable tips of how I might get into the industry. His advice was to try and get to work in any role, with one of the big visual effect companies and of course never take no for an answer. A few weeks later I was lucky enough to land an interview and the role in human

Umar with Sir David Attenborough

and the latest The Last Jedi, he has worked on Gravity; Guardians of the Galaxy; Dracula Untold; Pan; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Doctor Strange; Life; Jurassic World, Fallen Kingdom and of course Lion King that comes out this year.

Umar is in charge of planning and managing the artistic and production crew. “We need to deliver a project working closely with the creatives and senior management to make sure we set up the project

“I have to admit that to get to where I am in the industry has taken a lot of hard work and dedication,”

Umar works as a visual effects Production Manager at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the visual effects branch of Lucasfilm, now with adequate resources in owned by Disney. “My job terms of people and match is to make sure we deliver the right groups of creative the visual effects work on a people together. given film on time and on budget, whilst making sure “Once the project is well my production team are underway, my job is to work happy and that the artists on with the production team the film, which on any given to make sure we have a project can range from 10 to clear schedule of when the 400 people, are satisfied with work will be complete and plan when we can show the their role.” final work to the director and His daily work differs as producer.” each film progresses. At the start of a project when the So, which movies has Umar filming has finished and worked on? As well as Star visual effects are due to start, Wars The force Awakens

“I have been very fortunate to work on some of the biggest and highest grossing films of the past years,” he added “not to mention films that have been nominated for the BAFTA and OSCAR for best VFX, so I have been very lucky. For anyone who wants to get into the industry, you need to be prepared to be the first in the office in a morning and last out in the evening, as in the early years you have to make an impression and soak up as much knowledge as you can.” So what does the future hold for Umar? “At the moment I am in the best company in the best city, but I would love to eventually work abroad. Recent visits to Los Angeles have definitely inspired me to want to expand my horizons and continue to develop my film production skillset abroad.”

TopicUK February/March 2019

Simba

P R O NP EE WRS T U Y P UD PA DT AE T E

Property Values; Up or down?

As the new Laurel and Hardy film was released recently it seems particularly apposite to quote Oliver Hardy; “Well here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into”.

Mark Hanson BSc FRICS

Actually, this is a misquote. The correct quote is: “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into”. Either will do right now seeing the chaos being displayed in the House of Commons of late. The uncertainty is arguably the biggest conce rn. Re ports of property values falling or about to fall are a touch misleading, however. Today the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors report that a net balance of 28% of RICS members expect a fall in house prices some as much as 20% over the coming months but, that the market should stabalise in around

12 months “as the fog lifts”. This is on the back of speculation in the press recently that a 30% fall may be experienced. Such speculation is not helpful and, of course, “net balance” means that some members are reporting no real change, and in some instances, a continuing rise. As with residential values so it is with other sectors including industrial, commercial and retail property. You can be forgiven to think that all property values are falling but that is just not the case. It has never been more important, therefore, to receive good local and professionally qualified advice in whichever sector of the market you expect to

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participate in. Whilst the country remains pre-occupied with Brexit, changes in local conditions can have more effect than national or international factors and knowing how those apply are critical if good decisions are to be made by companies and individuals. In the meantime, in the words of the chairman of a significant building company with interests throughout the UK when asked by me the other day how he was, his response was “sick”. Not poorly but just sick; sick and tired with so many decisions being put on hold pending the return of some certainty; any certainty so deferred plans can be put back into play.

All companies live with uncertainty, it is a part of business being able to adapt to change and survive. Commercial surveyors like ourselves and builders are at the sharp end of uncertainty. We see the decisions being deferred. Transactions which record the growth of companies and how well an area is doing are generally down but, hopefully the headlines will report differently once some of the Brexit uncertainty is resolved.

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N N EE W W SS U U PP D D AA TT EE

Masterminding our way through 2019 By Natalie Sykes, Regional Director, Institute of Directors The next few months are likely to prove unsettling to say the least for business as the UK plots a path that will see it leave the European Union. The Institute of Directors (IoD) has been helping its members across Yorkshire prepare for Brexit as effectively as possible given the uncertain conditions which continue to take centre stage. This activity has focussed on collaboration which will become even more important as we move through 2019 and deal with the outcomes of our exit from the EU, whenever that may be. If you run your own business it’s likely that you don’t have nonexecutive directors, an advisory panel or a formal group of trusted and experienced business people who you can bounce ideas off and who can help you with the challenges and opportunities in your organisation. Yorkshire-based brand engagement agency, Woven, are continuing their ambitious growth plans by relocating their headquarters from Halifax to Leeds.

That’s why we have created our IoD Mastermind Group in the region – a monthly ‘board’ meeting for you to learn, share and collaborate in a small group built on the solid foundations of experience and integrity. It is also an excellent network for IoD members and the ‘go-to’ place for inspiration and support. Our next Mastermind events are on 4 February and 4 March at Iberica Leeds and take the form of a working dinner. Find out more at www.iod.com/events-community/ regions/yorkshire Staying with the spirit of collaboration, we are also looking forward to the Director of the Year Awards for Yorkshire and the North East partnered by TopicUK our annual showcase of the best and brightest business minds in the region. New categories have been added for 2019 to recognise the Young

Director of the Year and the leading director of a business with a £50 million-plus turnover.

The categories are: Director of the Year Non-Executive Director of the Year Innovation Director of the Year Young Director of the Year Public/Third Sector Director of the Year Family Business Director of the Year Inclusivity Director of the Year Corporate Social Responsibility Director of the Year Start-Up Director of the Year Small-Medium Business (up to £50 million turnover) Director of the Year Large Business (more than £50 million turnover) Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Director and Board

To enter the awards, go to www.iodawards.com/yorksnortheast.The deadline for entries is 12 April 2019 Don’t forget our Meet up Mondays at Iberica Leeds, 5pm- 6.30pm which Topic readers are invited to attend. We also have two free tickets for Topic readers for our Harrogate business breakfast on 14 February. Another date for your diary is our IoD Annual Lecture with Charlotte Valeur, chair of the IoD, at Leeds Beckett University Business School on 5 March. More details at www. iod.com/events-community/regions/ yorkshire

Agency relocates it’s headquarters to Leeds Daniel Swepson, Woven’s Head of Marketing. “But with Leeds being amongst the UK’s fastest-growing cities, both economically and in terms of population, we feel it’s time to jump in with both feet.

Woven have been Halifax-based since they were founded in 2002, as INK Digital. But with a growing team and client list, as well the increasing importance of Leeds as a marketing, digital and creative powerhouse, Woven feel the time is right to make the move. Helen Darlington, Woven CEO, said: “Halifax has played a strong part in our past and Leeds will play a strong part in our future. We’ve been fortunate to find an amazing space in which we can grow, strengthen and

The winners will be celebrated at a black-tie dinner held in the prestigious Principal York hotel on 4 July 2019.

“2018 has also been a record year for turnover, and we believe that a move to Leeds will mean an even better 2019.”

prosper. During the past year we’ve focussed on enhancing the processes upon which the agency runs; 2019 is the year in which Woven will grow. The move is an exciting step forward

in our grand plans for the future.” “We’ve had a big toe dipped in Leeds for some time, with our sister studio based here,” explains

Woven have moved their main studio to 1 East Parade, just two hundred yards away from where Channel 4 are suspected to be setting up their new headquarters, The Majestic.

Nurturing culture to challenge and change By Paul Heigham - Director of Bellingham IT

IT The success of a business can often be defined by its culture but, beyond the start-up phase, many companies forget to review the founding principles, ways of working and values that were so carefully considered and put into place to support this from the outset. It’s fair to suggest that, for many, the day job gets in the way, and that meeting with deadlines and handling clients to secure sales becomes more of a priority than anything else. With this shifted focus, nurturing talent and reinforcing the infrastructure that supports the culture of an organisation and in turn its ability to change, often becomes a ‘nice to have’ that ends up at the bottom of a very long to-do list. Director of Bellingham IT, Paul Heigham, explains how organisations that put culture first can still achieve commercial success without having to take the focus from sales. He comments: “There are so many businesses that will tell you that they couldn’t deliver without their team, but in the most part that simply means that people are given a job to do and they get on with it. “The real value of an employee lies below the surface, and to access that relies on organisations changing the way that they think in order to embrace the skills and knowledge that an individual may have. “First and foremost, the culture of any business needs to nurture ideas, encourage feedback, and that includes challenging norms and accepting constructive criticism.” On occasion organisations can struggle to create an environment which caters for everyone, but with a strong and consistent approach to ways of working Paul explains that it is easier to implement than may be expected. He adds: “Culture isn’t just about a thought or a feeling, it’s not a philosophy that sits on paper

or is printed on walls, it resonates throughout everything that a company does. Here at Bellingham we have a young workforce and one of the first things I realised was that in order to deliver the very best for my clients, I needed to access the knowledge we collectively had in the business. “It wasn’t about me stepping away or suggesting I couldn’t do my job effectively – which is a common misconception of many company owners – it was about giving my clients access to the best talent and learning from that. “It was also fundamentally about ensuring that my team were comfortable and confident enough to come to me with ideas and thoughts on decisions, a piece of software or hardware. Only then could we discuss better ways of working so that we could change processes and procedures that would benefit our clients, our business and each and every one of us that works within our organisation.”

•

Be honest. You will never change for the better if you won’t accept the truth, however uncomfortable that may be.

•

Don’t expect change to result in immediate success. Having a plan and taking small steps will deliver the best results and is likely to be less disruptive in the short-term.

•

Involve your team. Don’t work in isolation or all you are doing is reinforcing bad practice from the outset.

•

If you commit to change then put it into practice. Saying one thing and doing another will do more harm than good.

For technology advice and help cybersecuring your business, contact Paul at cybersecurity@bellinghamit.co.uk or call 01924 253 205.

As a business that has focused on culture first, Paul provides his top tips for companies that would like to nurture culture to challenge and change for the better:

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Upper Calder Valley Renaissance - Networking in the Calder Valley

Brighouse does No Nonsense Networking

often meet new clients. Our informal style and relaxed atmosphere provides a unique place for long lasting relationships to form.”

Kate adds: “Events are usually held on the last Friday of every month at 2pm at Brighouse Town Hall. You Established over a year ago the Brighouse business event group “No Nonsense Networking” can subscribe to the mailing list by visiting the website. (NNN) has grown in popularity following a number of excellent and well attended events. If the event is held on an alternative date, you will be notified by email. You can also find our events on Eventbrite”. Director of the UCVR Stephen Curry says: “We were impressed from the start with the quality of NNN’s events and Kate’s ability to create an attractive brand has made all the difference to the success of those events. It’s fantastic that they have now been awarded funding to help their growth and support for the Brighouse business community”. With regard to the wider networking project, Stephen added: “We have made significant progress with networking in the lower valley in late 2018 with a new group in Sowerby Bridge and a retail group in Elland. By the time our economic recovery project for the council comes to fruition this year we are confident we will have achieved our aim of a network in each town flooded in 2015. And a valley wide network of group leaders”.

The most recent of which were a joint Digital Workshop event in November with UCVR* and a Google digital partner and a Christmas buffet lunch hosted by Town Hall Dental. As part of a UCVR initiative to build networks along the Calder valley, NNN will now receive funding from the Calderdale Business and Skills team to enable them to become sustainable until fully self-sufficient. Ka t e A d a m s o n o f G r i n n i n g Graphics, a branding and web design business based in Brighouse, is the Founder of No Nonsense Networking and leads the network events. NNN is now in it’s second year and has big plans for 2019.

Kate says: “The plan is to create more interactive workshops, build a strong online community and establish regular events of interest to local business and community groups. There will also be a focus on redesigning the website to allow for a member directory as well as a forum for visitors to make suggestions for future events.

For more information on NNN events in 2019 contact Kate Adamson on nononsensenet@gmail. com, visit www.nononsensenetworking.co.uk or follow @no_nonsense_net on Twitter. For details of networking in the wider Calder valley area get in touch with UCVR on info@ucvr.org.uk, visit www.ucvr.org.uk or call 01422 417286.

We have regular guest speakers to offer training and advice on topics that are beneficial to individuals as “The plan is to create more interactive well as businesses. workshops, build Our presentations are varied and a strong online engaging as well as community...” providing a space and opportunity for people to interact with new people, gain contacts and

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Yorkshire distillery wins bronze in world Gin awards

Beth Ward

In a competition which attracted over 4000 gin entries, Cooper King Distillery, based in North Yorkshire, has been awarded bronze in the World Gin Awards for the UK Contemporary Style Gin.

TopicUK talks to Beth Ward, Head of Marketing & PR at Dean Clough, to find out how she switches off at the weekend. You arrive home on Friday night after a busy week. What’s the first thing you do? Put the radio on & sing along to the music whilst making tea! I have a very eclectic choice of music from 80s songs, to 90s classics such as Oasis and then big band music. I find singing relaxing and have just recently joined a community choir! It’s time for the weekend. What are we most likely to find you doing, and where? Getting out & about with my family. I have two boys aged 10 & 11 and find it best to get outside. Whether it is going for a walk or visiting a tourist attraction, it is a great way to spend valuable family time. I guess having worked for the national tourist board, VisitBritain, I still like to support Britain’s fantastic tourist industry. Saturday night arrives. What’s your idea of the perfect way to spend it?

The accolade puts the start-up in a prestigious list amongst just 17 other UK gins. Obviously, there are the usual tasks such as washing and ironing that need doing. However, I am not someone who likes to follow routine. I am more someone who goes with the flow and does tasks as and when! Work again tomorrow. Do you get the Sunday blues or look forward to getting back – and why? I love my job working at Dean Clough in Halifax. With approximately 150 businesses and 4,000 employees.Every day throws up a new exciting challenge. One day I may be promoting the restaurants and retail businesses such as Jack Wills, and the next I could be working with artists to promote their exhibitions. Even though I have travelled across the world promoting Britain as a destination, there is no better feeling than promoting my home town of Halifax and the fabulous destinations within it!

My perfect night is to collapse in front of the TV with a glass of wine or G&T. I don’t get a chance to watch TV during the week, so it is my chance to unwind.

The weekend’s almost over. What’s the last thing you do before you hit the hay ahead of another week?

It’s Sunday already. What tasks are usually on your ‘to-do’ list?

Check on my kids! My family mean the world to me!

The World Gin Awards is part of the global World Drinks Awards; that select the very best in all internationally recognised styles of drinks and promote the to consumers and trade across the globe. Each gin must go through a rigorous three-step process of judging. First each gin is tasted in its relevant style to identify and select the style winners. Judges making up the panel include international, leading journalists, specialist drinks retailers and industry experts. Style winners are then tasted against each other to identify the best gin in each category and finally, the best gins in each category are then tasted against each other one last time to select the world’s best gin. The Dry Gin is the distillery’s first product which launched in May 2018. The gin now has two international awards to its name, the first being a Gold award at the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s DMA awards in October 2018

Commenting on the win co-founder and distiller Abbie said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded bronze in the Worlds Gin Awards. We’re passionate about flavour and are committed to producing great tasting spirits which are considerate to the environment and embrace our Yorkshire heritage. We use locally-grown Yorkshire lavender and honey from our own beehives and support local charities and international environmental initiatives by planting Yorkshire woodland for every bottle of Dry Gin sold. “Our gin only launched eight months ago so to be recognised in such a prestigious industry award so soon is an extremely proud moment for the small Cooper King team”

TopicUK February/March 2019

ND A EV W ES R U TP O DR AI AT LE

Inspiration for women at new business event

Potential businesswomen were given tips on how to set up in business at a new breakfast seminar launched in Leeds. Alex, who juggles the pressures of running a fast-growing business with being a single mum, told the meeting how she studied and set up her own business while she was pregnant and how she manages to achieve an effective work-life balance.

The first speaker at the inaugural “Women with Vision” event was Alex Beardsley, Joint Managing Director of commercial finance brokers ABL Business in Cleckheaton.

She said: “Everyone that sets up a business is an inspiration because they have decided to take a leap into the unknown and that is a big risk, particularly if you have a family that relies on you. The inspirational element comes from getting up every day and carrying on, even when the going gets tough. If I can do it, anyone can!” The events have been launched in January by Bohoruns Business Solutions Ltd at their offices in Howley Park Business Village, Morley. They are spearheaded by Director Mrs Alka Bohorun who first set up her own business while raising two young children and wants to reassure other women that is it possible to successfully balance the two roles. The aim is to encourage women with business ideas to take the first steps

and get them off the ground and for those already in business to expand and develop their circle. Alka said: “I’ve been working with women since 2004 and my aim is to help women utilise whatever skills/gifts/ talents they feel they’re born with, but don’t know how to find an outlet to exploit them. My aim is to provide an adequate level of support, both personally and professionally – which wasn’t really available when I set up my business back in October 2004. I just had to find my own way, with no direction, no resources and no real help. “Having got through it all myself I now want to change things for other women in the same position, so with that in mind, the speakers will be everyday women, mums and wives alongside launching their own successful business. By sharing their experiences they will hopefully inspire others with the confidence to make that first leap of faith or to move forward and achieve their goals. “It will all be done in the Yorkshire way – an informal affair where women can sit down together for a chat and a cuppa to build lasting relationships.

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The feedback from the first event was extremely positive and everyone said they felt really inspired. “I’m venturing out into something that’s never been done before – launching a commercially viable platform to truly make a significant difference in lives, in my own small way, for the ordinary woman – just like myself. I was born in Yorkshire and have been here all my life and through church have learnt the importance of community, so for me – it seems the best way. It’s exciting and challenging and I hope to inspire a lot of women that it can be done! You don’t need any professor’s hat or expertise in anything – just come along, relax and see.” Experts will be on hand at the events to advise on issues like tax and VAT, accountancy, commercial funding, shares, dividends, directors’ loans, marketing, online shops and a range of other general guidance. The next meeting, on Friday, February 8, will have a charity theme with speakers and information for women working or wanting to work, in the sector – or even thinking of setting up their own charity. To book a place please phone Chloe Cooper on 0113 242800 email: info@bohoruns.co.uk or Whatsapp: 07917 030229 stating your full name.

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UPDATE

Leeds based Marketing automation platform Force24 has announced its acquisition of the social media innovation SoAmpli for an undisclosed sum, in what marks the company’s latest move to become the UK’s leading martech provider. SoAmpli is the brainchild of Maz Nadjm, who also founded one of the UK’s first social networks 2BMates and social agency Rareface, before joining renowned communications firm Ogilvy where he became head of social media. The product – which aims to turn all company employees into savvy social sellers – has won awards for its multichannel influence, listening and sharing capabilities, and is used by brands including Rentokil Initial, British Heart Foundation and DAZN.

Force24 acquires tech pioneered by former Ogilvy social head

As both a client and supplier to SoAmpli, the Force24 team has long been familiar with what it can do. So when discussions unfolded as to how to take the brand to the next level, an acquisition was soon on the cards. Commenting on the outcome, Maz Nadjm – who Forbes named in the world’s top 50 social media power influencers in 2012 – said: “We wanted to do something different with SoAmpli when this journey started four years ago. We harnessed the power of human and artificial intelligence to generate next level conversations between sales and marketing teams, and their prospects. And the beauty of it, is that it’s all automated, which means the fit with Force24 is perfect. “I have long admired Force24’s desire to craft value-added,

customer focused solutions, whilst also building a great team and culture. SoAmpli will slot beautifully into their suite of marketing automation products.” Nick Washbourne, comme rcial director at Force24 added: “Maz wants S o A m p l i to c h a n g e t h e way brands create social media dialogue and we are wholeheartedly behind that same mission. Nick Wasbourne and Micha Nielsen

“Having invested £5m in our product to date, we’re constantly evolving our

marketing automation portfolio, and a social media tool was next on our roadmap. But we didn’t just want a scheduling tool. We wanted something that could seamlessly integrate into our stack and enhance our vision of supercharging a marketer’s world.” SoAmpli will maintain its London base, as Force24 looks ahead to its o wn geographical expansion in 2019, but the team will work more collaboratively to onboard and support customers moving forwards.

There are plans in the pipeline for further investment in the social tool too, Nick has eluded. “ Wa t c h t h i s s p a c e f o r added attribution reporting functionality, for example, so that clients can better understand the ROI they generate from their comms. But our tech roadmap is extremely customer driven, so things won’t end there.” Nick also confirmed that Force24 will continue its acquisition trail over the next 12-18 months.

TopicUK February/March 2019

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