Close Up Wakefield Edition_Nov2017 by Yorkshire BusinessWoman & TopicUK

NOVEMBER 2017

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

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOPICUK

FOR BUSINESS

CHAMBER WELCOMES

nEW pATRON

the other side

of peter box

nEW dIRECTOR FOR

LEEDS & BRADFORD AIRPORT

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

We are delighted to welcome Leeds Beckett University as a patron member of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce joining Eaton Smith, KSDL and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. This is an exciting time for Leeds Beckett University as they are launching their Business Centres in Calderdale and Wakefield which will drive growth for early-stage and growing businesses. We are keen to encourage this activity to help connect and support our members within the local areas. This month (21st November) we are hosting our first Manufacturing Showcase event in Calderdale. This half day event is dedicated to highlighting what support

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is available for local manufacturers and engineering companies. Attending this event is a great opportunity to share best practice, ﬁnd out what ﬁnancial support is accessible, and learn from sector experts.

fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate our business communities’ achievements over the past year, and I encourage others to apply next year when we launch the 2018 programme on the 1st March 2018.

We are also pleased that one of our members, Social Progress, has been announced as The Best Use of Social Media award winner in the regional heats for Yorkshire and Humber in the Chamber Business Awards 2017. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Janet Bebb and the Social Progress team all the best for the national ﬁnals on November 30th 2017 at The Brewery in London. The Chamber awards are a

We hope you enjoy reading this latest edition of Close Up. Martin Hathaway Managing Director Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

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Wakefield & District

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

Advanced Skills & innovation Centre Opens

The other side of Peter Box

Marketing Manager Rebecca Walker 01484 483678 Membership Coordinator Rachel McDerby 01924 311605 Event and Sponsorship Coordinator Sam Melton Cover: Sean Jarvis Image: John Early

Accolade for Social Progress

New Director at Leeds Bradford Airport

Contents TEL: 07711 539047 &Comments FOR ADVERTISING SALES

Printed By: Charlesworth Press Wakefield

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

September 2017

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Wakefield & District

Editor’s Notes

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

by Gill Laidler

For Advertising Sales

Tel: 07711 539047

Welcome to the November edition of TopicUK Wakefield. This issue I would like to welcome Sophie Hale to TopicUK. Sophie is an award winning journalist and professional blogger as well as coowner of video production company; Evoke Media. Sophie will be working on all TopicUK titles and will become editor of our Wakefield edition. In addition, alongside her husband Chris and partners from House of Koko, Sophie has also taken over the franchise for the Hepworth Cafe and we wish her luck in that new venture. This year, we were the proud media partners of Brand Yorkshire who held their 8th annual conference at The Pavilions in Harrogate on 5 October. We were just one of a hundred stands exhibiting and due to the high number of visitors, our extra print run of over 1200 magazines were quickly exhausted. Congratulations to Richard and Mona Norman (who incidentally were married just a few days after the conference and are on their honeymoon as I write this) on such a fantastic event, hope to see you again next year. Our charity of the year, award winning humanitarian charity Penny Appeal welcomed a very special guest recently, when businessman and former Dragon’s Den Entrepreneur James Caan visited their offices on Wood Street. I was lucky enough to be invited along and witnessed James declaring, ‘I’m in’ as he agreed to work

alongside the charity on future projects. Read the full story on page 10. There has been lots going on in Wakefield Council just recently, so we decided to catch up with council leader Peter Box who features on our cover. And with the departure of Joanne Roney to head up Manchester Council as CEO, I met with Merran McRae, the new CEO for Wakefield. Read about Merran’s plans for the district on page 13.

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

As a music fan of all kinds, I was delighted to catch up with up-coming Wakefield band Skinny Living. They have some fantastic music available on iTunes with a new release due as we publish. Read their journey on page 56. It still seems a long way off, but as our next issue is published the first week in January, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and prosperous and healthy New Year and hope to catch up with some of you at the WACCL in December.

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November2017

Wakefield & District NEWS

U P DATE

TopicUK brings you a full round-up of business news and events and what’s been happening in our region over the last couple of months.

Education partnership New owner sought for local pub restaurant Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has been instructed to sell a closed pub and restaurant with sixteen refurbished en-suite rooms, situated near Castleford in West Yorkshire. Formerly an independently owned business, The Bridge Inn sits on a generous plot on a commercial business park, surrounded by residential areas and countryside. Just a 20 minute drive from Leeds and a 30 minute drive from York; the property benefits from a 75 cover pub and a 50 cover beer garden with an outside heated terrace. It also has a license to perform civil ceremonies, with two function rooms that can accommodate between 50-100 guests, as well as a 20 space car park to the rear. With contemporary and stylish surroundings, the property also has a three bedroom apartment and a bedsit. Current owners, Geoff and Norma Wilkinson, have decided to sell after closing the business in January 2017 to focus their attentions on other business interests. Sam Ashton, Business Agent at Christie & Co’s Leeds office comments, “This sale presents a great opportunity for a licensed and leisure sector operator to invest, with huge development potential and optional business usage.” The asking price of £499,950

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The Anglo-Continental Teacher Training Centre is proud to announce its partnership with m2r Education. m2r Education is a leading education recruitment specialist that will be teaming up with Anglo-Continental to support its newly trained CELTA teachers to find roles worldwide! Students who complete their CELTA course with Anglo-Continental will be given the opportunity to contact the m2r Education team for advice and support with regards to where to go after obtaining their teaching qualification. Established in 2001, m2r Education is a multi-award winning UK based firm offering a quality and ethical recruitment service to overseas organisations within the education and training sectors. m2r Education has links worldwide and is therefore perfect for newly trained CELTA teachers looking for overseas roles. Munir Mamujee, Managing Director at m2r Education commented, “Having met Matthew on a recent Training Gateway Trade Mission to the Middle East, it was clear that we could offer significant assistance to their CELTA graduates and I am delighted that conversations between our companies have led to the creation of this business partnership.” Matthew Scott, Business Development

Coordinator at Anglo-Continental, has expressed his support for the partnership stating that: “m2r Education’s customer experience focus means that our newly qualified CELTA trainees will get the highest level of support in finding their first overseas job. We are always striving for quality and, by partnering up with m2r Education, we are adding value to our Teacher Training Programmes.” Anglo-Continental is an approved Training Centre for the University of Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) and has both full-time and part-time courses on offer throughout the year. The CELTA Qualification is the essential qualification for native English Teachers entering the English Language Teaching profession. The course does not assume any previous teaching experience. The scheme is administered by the University of Cambridge Examinations which ensures that the regulations and fundamental aims of the scheme are implemented.

Wakefield & District

Sainsbury’s Trinity walk hosts launch event for new local charity partner Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk has officially launched a partnership with its new Local Charity of the Year, Wakefield Trinity Community Trust. Wakefield Trinity Community Trust was chosen by Sainsbury’s customers through a public vote in store and online in June. The charity will now receive a year’s worth of support through fundraising and awareness raising from the store. Representatives from the charity joined Sainsbury’s colleagues over the weekend tokick start the partnership by packing bags, collecting money and raising awareness of the trust.

The Government and ACE have acknowledged the imbalance, but argue that it is because the major national institutions are based

Craig Shepherd, General Manager at Wakefield Trinity Community Trust, said: “Thank you to everyone who came to support us at Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk over the weekend. We’re really excited to have been chosen as the store’s new Local Charity of the Year as the partnership will help deliver valuable projects in the local community from grass roots through vulnerable adults. We take great pride in affecting lives positively

TopicUK proud to be working with...

through the work we do and we are grateful to have the support of Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk for the next year.” Dee O’Brien, Store Manager added: “We had a very successful launch andI’d like to thank all of our customers for their support on the day. “I can’t wait to see how the partnership develops over the next year.” The Local Charity of the Year scheme is now in its ninth year and has raised over £13 million to support local charities since 2009.

or who can afford it. The report also points out that had Londoners won a comparably disproportionate number of Lottery prizes compared to people in the rest of England, equival

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Wakefield & District

Further expansion for IT firm Wakefield based business IT specialists Bellingham IT are continuing to grow with the addition of Nathan Hutchinson as Operations Manager.

ventured into the world of IT five years ago driven by a love initially of hardware and then software. He has been working in the IT industry for more than three years, specializing in security, compliance, Cloud based services and general technical knowledge.

MD Paul Heigham said that Nathan was joining the firm at a good point in its development and he looks forward to Bellingham IT benefitting from his skills and experience. “Historically our focus has been on providing SMEs with high quality bespoke IT advice and implementation but it’s my vision to now extend this to larger businesses. Nathan brings additional expertise which will add value not only to our existing clients but will make us more attractive to the larger end of the market too,” he explained.

“Nathan is very knowledgeable and hands-on. He will be involved in the day to day running of the business, looking after clients and providing training and mentoring to staff. He has good management skills and some useful ideas for improving our internal procedures. This will help us improve the way we work with our clients and

become more customer centric,” said Paul. “This will free up some of my time to focus more on the strategic side of Bellingham IT and drive forward and develop services like iClaritate which will not only be of benefit to existing clients but of interest to new.” Nathan, from Ripon, started his career as a plant mechanic and

“I am pleased to be joining the team at Bellingham IT. I am looking forward to providing support for not just for current customers but new ones and staff members. I hope to bring an added layer of professionalism, new and complementary skills and a personable touch to the company,” he said. Outside of work as well as playing the guitar and drums Nathan enjoys skiing and travelling and has recently returned from five weeks traveling around Columbia.

SME'S suffering because of culture of slow payments Two thirds of UK SMEs are of the opinion that there is a culture of slow payments in the UK. The results were obtained from the Close Brothers Business Barometer, a quarterly survey that questions over 900 UK SME owners and senior management across a range of sectors and regions. “Late payments are a very real issue for SME business owners,” said Neil Davies, CEO, Close Brothers Asset Finance. “In some cases directors are having to defer their own salaries, increase their overdraft or pay their own suppliers late to ensure they remain liquid, causing the vicious circle to continue. “This is clearly a national issue that spans both regions and industries.

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For example, 78% of Transport firms are affected by this issue, along with of 74% Manufacturing

businesses and 73% of Printers.” The effects of late payments are multiple, ranging from damage to the supply chain and business reputation to impacting credit ratings and consequently the ability to access further funding. “We should also not forget the very real human impact because, in many cases, the ability to pay staff in full and on time is a consequence of late payments,” continued Neil. One in four firms in the UK have been forced to seek legal advice because of slow payments, while in the Republic of Ireland the figure is significantly higher at 41%. “In the sectors we serve the figures are, in most instances, higher than

the national average,” said Neil. “Construction (30%), Engineering (38%), Manufacturing (37%) and Transport (33%) all track higher than the rest of the UK.” Not only are many SMEs seeking legal advice, but 74% don’t feel that suitable legislation exists in support of SMEs to counteract slow payment by debtors, with firms in the East (85%) and West (84%) Midlands feeling particularly strongly about this issue. “What these results confirm is that late payments are not merely a regional or sector issue, but one that is felt across the SME community,” concluded Neil.

Wakefield & District IT rooms and business incubation spaces where local entrepreneurs can bring their business ideas to life. Wakefield College Principal, Sam Wright added: “The official opening of our new ASIC is another huge milestone for the College. The new facility is already proving popular with our professional and university-level students who are making the most of the modern teaching and learning environment.

Advanced Skills and Innovation Centre formally opens Wakefield College’s new £7M Advanced Skills and Innovation Centre (ASIC) was officially opened by Wakefield MP Mary Creagh and the Leader of Wakefield Council, Cllr Peter Box CBE. Mary and Peter were joined by senior College staff, students and other partners as they unveild a plaque to mark the occasion.

“We are now in a much stronger position to help bridge the region’s skills gap and give young people and employers higher level educational and employment opportunities right on their doorstep.”

Mary said: “I was delighted to be involved with the opening of this new centre. It will provide higher education for students as well as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Wakefield. It will allow students to access exciting new opportunities without having to move away from home.” Cllr Peter Box CBE, Leader of Wakefield Council said: “2017

The new centre, based at the College’s City Campus, has already welcomed its first cohort of students and promises to transform high-levels skills delivery in the district.

marks a new era where higher level education and innovation can be delivered from within the City. “It has been a personal priority to see this delivered for our younger and older people, who now have the opportunity to access, close to home, the learning and training they need to reach their full potential.

The centre includes general teaching facilities, specialist engineering labs, a 90 seat lecture theatre, a modern Apple Mac suite,

“I want to see this new facility at the heart of rethinking high-level skills in the district and for it to become a hub for innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship to help drive economic growth and help transform lives through learning.” Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “By investing more than £3.3m into tis project and the LEP is helping to tackle skills shortages in priority areas so that the City Region economy can grow and flourish in the long term. “The business incubation space will also create a centre for local firms to advance and progress, harnessing new technologies and ways of working that will ensure Wakefield and the City Region remains at the forefront of the innovation age.” The ASIC project has received £3.3M investment through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

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Wakefield & District

NGC Networks hits £5m turnover The Wakefield-based business telecommunications specialist NGC Networks has achieved £5.2m turnover in its latest financial year, an increase of 13.5 per cent year-on-year. The company’s workforce has grown to 32 people. NGC Networks provides business telecommunications and internet connectivity solutions to companies across the North of England. The impressive performance has resulted from organic growth, with several new companies added to NGC’s client roster. Customers include Moores Furniture, The Funding Corporation and law firm Lupton Fawcett along with academies, schools and medical centres. NGC, which is run by directors Nikki Guest and Dean Harrop, is also seeing the benefit of ongoing investment in business development, CRM and marketing.

Nikki said: “We have put time and effort into growing our customer base and that is reflected in our increased turnover figure. Effective and reliable communications are fundamental to businesses and organisations of all sizes and we are proud of our track record in providing competitive solutions married with fantastic customer service.” This year, NGC Networks announced a partnership with alternative infrastructure provider City-Fibre to deliver ultrafast, full-fibre internet connectivity to businesses in Wakefield, Bradford, Leeds and Huddersfield. NGC is also seeing growth through its hosted telephony

proposition, which provides businesses with cost savings and full resilience in the event of failure via cloud-based technology. Dean said: “Our cloud-based solution provides customers with a wide range of communications facilities without the need to purchase an actual on-site telephony server, providing efficiency gains, cost savings and business continuity. “Flexible finance enables capex and opex models where customers can rent the service

Hitting the market for £1.1m Walker Singleton, the West Yorkshire property consultant, has been instructed to market a Knottingley industrial estate with a guide price of £1.1m. Fernley Green Industrial Estate, which has a rich boat-building heritage, is being sold on behalf of property company Hansteen Holdings Plc. The estate comprises of 22 industrial units totalling nearly 28,000 sq ft, plus a compound and slipway. The estate is part-let and has a potential for an estimated rent of approximately £122k per annum.

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from us and still have the option to the title of the software and any associated hardware upon completion of the term.” NGC clients also include mail order business Freeman Grattan Holdings, The Family Fund, Timpson, Manning Stainton Estate Agents, Puma UK, Lowell Group, The Car People and Sharp Business Systems. NGC Networks has been shortlisted for the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards 2017 (companies up to £10m turnover).

This site, by the Knottingley and Goole Canal, was formerly the home of Harkers Boat Builders which constructed more than 300 boats there from 1929 to 1979. Various units on the estate continue to be used for boat-building and repair. Jonathan O’Connor, Director at Walker Singleton, commented: “We expect strong and swift levels of interest in the site. “There is a good deal of demand for investments of this nature in the current market and we anticipate interest from throughout the Yorkshire region.”

Wakefield & District

Business tycoon visits award winning charity Serial Business Entrepreneur, Government advisor and Investor in People with Passion James Caan CBE, has visited Wakefield, following a personal invitation from businessman and award winning charity Chairman Adeem Younis. James spent time at the Wood Street and Cross Street offices, learning more about the work of Penny Appeal and SingleMuslim.com, meeting some of the staff and volunteers. “It was a real honour to have James visit us in Wakefield,” explained Adeem. “When we last met, he was extremely interested in the work that we do and had no hesitation in accepting our invitation.” Adeem first met James at a dinner in London, when he found himself sitting next to the business tycoon who was keynote speaker. The pair had lots to talk about and Adeem found himself a couple of months later on James’ yacht for a catch-up, discussing their love of business and passion for charity. “I couldn’t wait to return an invitation to Wakefield, home to some of the largest Muslim brands in the UK,” Adeem continued. James, a former Dragon from the popular BBC TV show Dragons’ Den founded private

equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw (HB) in 2004, but cites his main focus as his charity work, current investments, growing HB and his appointment as Chairman of The Start Up Loans Company and mentoring entrepreneurs.

As a result of his visit, James couldn’t resist declaring: ‘I’m in!’ a phrase used from his Dragon days, when he announced he will be working with Penny Appeal going forward with a goal of helping to double the charity turnover within the next 12 months.

Beam archive research project -30 years of Beam Beam holds a 30-year project archive documenting the organisations significant public art and place-making activity, both nationally and in the Yorkshire region. As part of Beam’s current Arts Council Grants for the Arts supported programme ‘Arts in Place Legacy, New Practice and Partnerships’ they will be conducting an

initial scoping of the archive material they hold and extracting a number of key projects to explore. If you have worked with Beam as a client, artist, community or participant over their 30 year history, Beam would love to hear from you as part of this project. Contact@ beam.uk.net or call 07718 564 376.

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Wakefield & District

Wakefield Bar takes on the big players

One of Wakefield’s leading leisure brands has been shortlisted for a prestigious award that sees it take on major players from other top UK locations and raises the profile of the city as an aspirational night time destination. The Establishment in both Wakefield and Doncaster have been shortlisted for the best late night brand award in the ALMR Awards. They face competition from

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Establishment The

brands who run bars in London, Manchester and overseas and have been running late night quality bars for many years. The Establishment prides itself in offering quality service and drinks to a more mature audience. Recognising that they are the outsiders in the competition, Billy Muirhead, said he was delighted that Unity Bars and Clubs, owners of The Establishment, had been

shortlisted and the recognition it brings to our home city. “The Establishment opened in December last year but has already become a firm favourite with discerning customers looking to spend quality time in a well kept and run entertainment location. “All our bars and clubs are managed placing service, customer care and safety as a

priority with close attention to staff training so that customers feel they are knowledgeable about our products,” said Billy. “Being included in this short list highlights the work that we have put in to our venues and our brand and the added value it brings to the locations we operate in. It is also good for the city of Wakefield which has long been known in Yorkshire for its choice and range of evening entertainment destinations,” he concluded.

Wakefield & District Following a nationwide search, Merran McRae has joined Wakefield Council as the new Chief Executive, following the departure earlier this year of Joanne Roney OBE. Terran, who’s family are originally from Hull, Middlesborough and Scotland, started her career in Hull in housing management. moving into economic development with Hull Council. From there, Merran moved to Leeds, taking up the position of Chief Executive for Aire Valley Homes, a position she held for six years. Another move saw Merran head to Kirklees where she worked as Director of Wellbeing and Communities and Director of Housing at Kirklees Council. Her final role before joining Wakefield Council was Chief Executive of Calderdale Council, a role she had held since 2012. Merran said: “I am delighted to have been selected for this position. Wakefield has a great reputation and big ambitions and I am looking forward to building on the success to date, helping to drive growth across the district making Wakefield a popular destination for both business and leisure. “We have to find our niche and I think one area where Wakefield is particularly strong is arts and culture, this is an area we can build on, adding strength to the city. Retail has declined in recent years, not just in Wakefield but in many

TopicUK meets the new Chief Executive other cities across the UK, partly due to online shopping, but we should be attracting small independent retailers to Wakefield, which would make us a unique shopping destination. We have a fabulous rail network, with two excellent stations on our doorstep and excellent motorway links and both these I am confident, will attract inward investment into the city. Leader of Wakefield Council, Councillor Peter Box CBE said:

“We were looking for someone with strategic vision and leadership qualities to build on our success and play a pivotal role in the Leeds City Region and this is exactly what Merran brings to the table. “As an experienced Chief Executive, Merran has already hit the ground running. Like us, she is passionate about making a difference and helping us to realise our ambitions for the district, so everyone benefits.”

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Wakefield & District

Bus travel for city centre workers

Wakefield BID are adding extra value to the benefits they are providing city centre businesses through access to unlimited bus travel across Yorkshire.

The Wakefield Business Improvement District (BID) has signed up to Arriva’s Employer Travel Club acting as the employer so city centre businesses and their employees can take advantage of the perks of the scheme. These include offering unlimited bus travel in specified zones plus free

travel for up to two children at weekends and public holidays. BID manager, Elizabeth Murphy, said that the Travel Club helps take some of the strain out of the daily commute for many and adds value to smaller independent businesses who could not normally afford to

join the Travel Club. “Wakefield BID is all about improving businesses opportunity for everyone. Joining the Arriva Travel Club gives smaller independent business access to reduced monthly bus travel for their employees adding value both

to the levy that many companies pay and the benefits the BID provides,” she explained. “Bus travel is a convenient option for travelling to and from work for many, taking the strain out of navigating the rush hour traffic and finding a parking space. The benefits offered through the Employer Travel Club make it more affordable for employees to travel by bus which helps financially too.” Gemma Lockwood, Business to Business manager for Arriva welcomed the BID’s Employer Travel Club membership,said “The aim of the club is to enable members to offer employees reduced bus travel to and from work as well as the added benefit of using their bus pass on weekends and evenings to see the many great places we have available to visit in Yorkshire. The employees sign up to the scheme via monthly direct debit and their bus passes are sent directly to them either electronically to their phones or by post,” she said. “We are delighted that Wakefield BID has taken the lead on this and has signed up on behalf of businesses in WF1 enabling them to offer tangible benefits to their staff.”

Nominate a Power Woman now The third Northern Power Women Awards will take place on 6 March 2018 at the Hilton Hotel, Deansgate Manchester. The Northern Power Women Awards showcase role models and celebrate the many different ways women contribute to a thriving Northern Powerhouse. The inaugural awards were held

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in March 2016, attracting 440 organisation leaders, change agents, and inspiring male and female role models and earlier this year 520 celebrated success across the North. The awards celebrate the women and men working towards creating gender balance in organisations across the entire Northern Powerhouse. Winners are profiled

and their stories shared to encourage other individuals and organisations to step up and take action. The awards also feature a Power list and a Future list, which showcase future leaders and influencers. Nominate now at www. northernpowerwomen.com/ awards/

Wakefield & District

Northern Powerhouse vision must reflect the region’s digital ambitions

It’s been three years since former chancellor George Osborne first coined the phrase, and almost a year since the first strategy was unveiled in the autumn statement, but many people across the north are still asking the question “will the Northern Powerhouse movement work or is it all just smoke and mirrors?” Throwing Brexit into the mix has certainly not helped, but perhaps more would have been achieved by now if the focus was placed on the needs and demands of the future, rather than what might have benefited the region in the past. Connectivity is rightly a central theme of the Northern Powerhouse strategy. However, much of the rhetoric to date has laboured on transport. While it’s undisputable that we will always need a fit-for-purpose cross country transport network, we must also consider the other forms of infrastructure that keep us connected and mobile. Put simply, the region’s digital highways are busting at the seams just as much, if not more than, its motorways and trains. This isn’t just about better internet speeds, mobile phone signal and 4 and 5G connectivity – this is about building the foundation required to deliver success for each of the Northern Powerhouse’s objectives. And given the well documented

link between connectivity and prosperity as well as increased efficiency, productivity and competitiveness, this foundation has to be full-fibre. Alternative infrastructure provider, CityFibre has been leading the charge on transforming the UK’s digital infra-structure and has been the driving force behind the creation of 42 Gigabit Cities in the UK, including Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Hull, Huddersfield, Wakefield and York. For the uninitiated, Gigabit Cities are geographical communities that have active full-fibre digital networks underneath their streets, providing ultrafast internet speeds (50 to 100 times the national average) and near unlimited

bandwidth, unlocking business growth and skills, underpinning public services and smart infrastructure and driving inward investment. And when compared with the objectives of the Northern Powerhouse, the benefits of Gigabit City connectivity provide a perfect match and a much more affordable solution than new railway lines and roads. For example, full-fibre infrastructure can help raise education and skills levels across the north by supporting new e-learning initiatives and the adoption of digital tools while helping young people gain the digital skills required by the modern work place. Similarly, it makes cities more attractive to new business start-ups, especially in the tech sector. The Northern Powerhouse region is in fact home to four of the UK’s 27 tech clusters (including the largest outside London), illustrating perfectly the changing face of the region as the fourth industrial revolution

redefines traditional sectors such as manufacturing, engineering and business services. Finally, it also sets the stage for a post-Brexit Northern Powerhouse that can compete with Europe where full-fibre has long been the standard. Inward investment from major industries and international firms will always be a coveted prize, so we must have the infrastructure, skills and ambition they need and expect. In the words of Councillor Graham Turner of Kirklees Council, speaking at a recent event: “a new technically advanced digital infrastructure is just as, if not more, important than a physical transport infrastructure when it comes to accelerating the growth of a business community.” Ultimately, the Northern Powerhouse is about accel-erating growth – so let’s keep the vision alive and alight with full-fibre. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CITYFIBRE, OR TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN CONNECTING TO A GIGABIT CITY NETWORK NEAR YOU, VISIT: WWW.CITYFIBRE.COM

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Wakefield & District B A NKI N G

UP DATE

Barclays has revolutionised its Business Banking Online offering and is pioneering the use of open data to benefit SMEs, in a banking industry first. Barclays has collaborated with leading app providers to enable businesses to import their everyday business data and information provided by these apps into one dashboard within its online banking site. Thanks to the mechanism of Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) - the ‘pipes’ through which organisations can securely share data - SmartBusiness Dashboard, enables businesses to import their existing apps or download new apps, from a range of providers across bookkeeping, sales and inventory, marketing and analytics and workforce management. For the first time, businesses can view their real-time banking data and information about their business side by side, brought to life in easy-to-access charts. For example, rather than accessing each app individually, a shop owner can now securely log in to their online banking and view not only their financial information, but bring in their product sales data, website analytics and staffing rotas, all alongside their cash flow. Barclays believes this will boost business productivity and save owners valuable time. Available to half a million of the bank’s business customers*, the SmartBusiness Dashboard can be accessed by just one click in online banking and there is no charge to use the platform.

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BARCLAYS LAUNCHES NEW TOOL TNew app is a major first for the sector and will enable SMEs to

easily manage their own data to help them to run and grow their business. TopicUK is an early adopter of the scheme Ian Rand, CEO for Barclays Business Banking said: “This is a significant step in transforming day to day banking- meaning SMEs can see everything about their finance and data about their business in the one place through Barclays online banking. Busy business owners shouldn’t have to spend time sorting through different spreadsheets, reports or switching between apps - we’ve created a tool to give businesses time back and this is an efficient way to run and grow their business. “In giving businesses the choice to import their data and working closely with partners through the platform, we believe this is a game-changer and will boost competition. No other bank is offering this to businesses.

Crucially, if you are a business owner this is a safe and easy way to access a range of data about your business, putting control firmly in the hands of businesses.” Gill Laidler, Editor and Director of TopicUK, said: “Through Barclays SmartBusiness Dashboard we’re able to see all our business data in one place, including accounting and website traffic alongside our bank information. Not only does this give us a better picture of our business performance and help us to manage our cashflow more efficiently, but it also frees up time to focus on running the business. I used to spend 20 minutes reviewing my business data and finances each morning – it now takes 5 seconds.”

In addition to the bank’s large network of business managers across the UK, SmartBusiness Dashboard is designed to be the place where businesses can view and analyse all their information in a simple and convenient way. It will help SMEs to manage their cashflow, compare data and make improvements to help sales growth and add in marketing insight, and by removing the burden of admin, it aims to save businesses valuable time. The introduction of SmartBusiness Dashboard is part of the bank’s investment in digital solutions, to support the needs of business owners in managing their finances and their business.

Wakefield & District

Specsavers acquires space in Wakefield Specsavers has taken office space at 2 Burgage Square, Merchant Gate with Knight Frank’s Leeds office brokering an office deal in the mixed-use development of Wakefield.

for leisure as well as working. “We are delighted to have advised on this prestigious letting on behalf of the English Cities Fund, who have invested in the remarkable renaissance of Wakefield.”

Merchant Gate comprises Grade A office buildings, retail and leisure facilities as well as 66 residential flats and a public square.

The offices at Merchant Gate have been designed by Leedsbased architects Carey Jones, and comprise of 1 Burgage Square, 2 Burgage Square and Emerald House, which is fully let to HM Court Service.

Eamon Fox, partner at Knight Frank in Leeds, specialising in office agency, commented: “Specsavers have taken the opportunity to move to the best new office buildings in Wakefield. “Rents are very competitive,

Specsavers were advised by Barker Proudlove, while the Leeds office of property consultants JLL are the joint marketing agents for Merchant Gate with Knight Frank.

while the facilities are first class. The offices are close to Wakefield Westgate Station, on the main

Leeds-London line, whilst prime retail facilities at Merchant Gate will make the development ideal

Hairdresser heads to Mumbai to change lives Hairdresser Lauren Tudor from En Route Hair & Beauty in Wakefield is amongst five UK volunteers embarking on a life-changing journey to India to teach young disadvantaged young students the art of hairdressing.

haping Futures is a social initiative launched by Schwarzkopf Professional, now in its 7th year. As a Schwarzkopf Professional customer, Lauren auditioned to be chosen to provide a two-week intense training course supporting disadvantaged young people to learn hairdressing skills in order to get a job and earn a living. 25 students will be taught how to cut, colour and blow dry hair. At the end of the course,

each student will be placed as an apprentice within a large salon in India to embark on a life-long career. Since 2010, Shaping Futures has touched the lives of over 40 big hearted British hairdressers. These salon owners and stylists leave their own businesses for between two and four weeks at a time to give what has amounted to over 800 days of time and

expertise that really does shape futures! 28 year old Lauren has been raising money for the initiative along with the En Route Hair & Beauty staff in the salon by offering raffle tickets to clients, to be in with a change of winning prices such as £300 and £100 worth of hairdressing services and hair products. Lauren says, “Shaping Futures is such a great cause. Education is so important and to give these young students a chance to earn a living is phenomenal. I feel privileged to work on this project and can’t wait for Mumbai!”

November2017

Wakefield & District

Chadwick Lawrence invest in probate team growth Chadwick Lawrence solicitors, also known as Yorkshire’s Legal People, have developed their probate team by investing in the training and promotion of existing staff members. The Wills and Probate department recently promoted three of its existing staff members following internal training.

these positions, and are familiar with the clients and cases that the department experiences on a daily basis.

obtained her membership approval with the Institute of Paralegals, making her a Fellow of the Institute.

Rachel Bedford, Emma Markham and Justine Joyce had all previously worked in secretarial roles prior to their promotions. Both Rachel and Emma have been with the Probate team for 3 years and Justine has been a secretary with the department for 5 years.

The promotions expand the Wills and Probate team to a total of 7 fee earners, 4 assistants, and 2 consultants being Martin Vesely and Stephen Oakes. In total, the 6 individuals who have been promoted internally are Rachel Bedford, Emma Markham, Justine Joyce, Susan Preece, and Suzanne Powell.

“I am delighted with the progress the team have made internally, and how they have worked together to develop each other’s skills,” commented Neil Wilson, Managing Partner of the firm, “Their existing experience with the department and our existing clients means that their promotions bring an extra strength to the service we provide and fully embraces the Chadwick Lawrence Way.”

All three have trained with existing fee earners at the firm during their time in

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Additionally, Susan Preece has recently

Wakefield & District

Ringing in the changes for the future Bradford born Nikki Guest attended Bingley Grammar School and because of her love of children and yearning to travel, she dreamt of becoming a nanny. However, she quickly realised that this wasn’t the exciting career she was after and decided to give sales a go.

“I loved it there, it was a really exciting time and worked there four years before the telecoms market became overcrowded and they got into financial difficulty.” Nikki was then approached by

As you would expect, my role has changed significantly as the company has grown and I now have an amazing team working with me to ensure we remain on top of our game. The recruitment wheel is never ending and we are always on the look-out for new talent to help with our continued growth.” So what does Nikki, who is married with two children do, when she has a little downtime from her busy schedule? “Away from work I still enjoy travelling, catching up with friends and family and taking long walks in the countryside.”

“Both my parents were in sales, so it seemed logical that I would follow in their footsteps. I tried door to door selling for a while, an arduous role that made me resilient and thick skinned and it turned out I was quite good at it,” she laughed. But pounding the streets wasn’t for Nikki long-term and she soon secured a role in telesales with Canon UK, making appointments for photocopier sales people. After a couple of years, Nikki moved to Vodafone selling pagers, but when these went into decline with the increase in mobile phones, the Leeds offices closed and Nikki managed to secure a role as a trainee sales consultant on a graduate scheme for ACC Telecom. “I was recommended by an ex-colleague from Vodafone who also went to work there, they accepted me despite the fact that I wasn’t a graduate,” she added.

changing and as such, we review our suppliers and their associated offerings and commercials constantly.

FACT FILE

Alternative Networks. “This was a young company with massive ambitious,” she explained. “I was taken on to help them build up their customer base in the North of England, by setting up an office in Leeds and creating my a team of my own.” Soon the urge to travel returned and Nikki decided to take a career break from Alternative Networks and go travelling for six months with her now husband. “When I returned home, I had nothing to lose, so I set up my own consultancy. I quickly secured some good customers and never looked back.” Three years later, Nikki had an opportunity to start from scratch again, this time with NGC. “I jumped at the chance and ten years on, my division has grown

from zero to £3.5m turnover, which I am very proud of.” So what’s a typical day for Nikki? “There’s no such thing as a typical day. Most days, it’s a combination of customer or prospect meetings, internal team briefings, conference calls, meetings with suppliers or external contractors. I’m normally rushing from one meeting to the next and regularly catching up on emails over a glass of wine at 10pm!” Nikki’s division is responsible for supplying and managing a large portfolio of products and services from external suppliers, such as lines, VoIP services, internet connectivity and mobile phones. “We choose best of breed network suppliers in order to fulfil our customers’ requirements. This industry is fast paced and ever

What is your favourite food and drink? Fillet steak and red wine. Favourite Restaurant? Gaucho. Well basically any Argentinian steak house, preferably in Argentina! Favourite holiday destination? Absolutely impossible to pick just one, but my favourite ones involve an element of adventure, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand are way up there. Favourite gadget? My iPhone, sad but true. What car do you drive? A Mercedes GLC. It’s a robust family car that fits the dog in the boot. My cabriolet habit is a distant memory!

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Wakefield & District COMMU N IT Y

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L E A D E R S

Wakefield & District

The other side

of Peter Box Leader of Wakefield Council, Peter Box is very well known. Even those who have yet to meet him, will know who he is, after all, he has been Council leader for almost 20 years. TopicUK Group Editor Gill Laidler went along to meet him to learn about the private man behind the public figure. I caught up with Peter in his home town of Castleford, a place he is proud to call home and a place that helped shape him and his politics. We met at the Queens Mill Tea Rooms quite near to the locally well-known Millennium Bridge, a structure Peter was instrumental in bringing to the town. This was the first time we had met and I was struck by Peter’s friendly manner, he does in his own words describe himself as an optimist with the look of a pessimist, a quote that becomes clear the more time spent with him. I wanted to get behind the politics immediately so my first question was, what does Peter do outside of work? Instantly that pessimistic face disappeared and Peter told me about his love of gardening. “I can’t get through a day without

pottering in my garden,” he said. In fact he states his last meal on earth would be potatoes, runner beans, peas and carrots all grown in his own garden, followed by rhubarb and gooseberries for dessert and that his favourite restaurant, is indeed his own kitchen. “I also keep chickens,” he told me, “I really am a country boy at heart.” So who would join Peter as dinner guests in his favourite home restaurant? “That’s easy, my dinner party guests would be Barrack Obama, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Crazy Horse, Katy Perry and my wife Judy of course.” Crazy Horse? “Yes, Crazy Horse was a Native American war leader of the Oglala Lakota in the 19th century. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by white American settlers,” he told us. This would of course explain Peter’s love of the United States. His favourite holiday destination is Moab in Utah for its breathtaking scenery and hot weather, but he has a adventurous side and loves the thought of travelling freely across the United States. It also explains the reason behind his favourite film, The Ballad of Cable Hogue, “I love the history of the

American west and Jason Robards gave a brilliant performance.” Peter is also a music fan. “I like bands such as Old Crow Medicine Show. I was lucky enough to see them whilst in America and again more recently in Manchester, I would defy anyone to watch them and stay still,” he said. In fact, if he could choose to be anyone person for the day, he told us this would be Bruce Springsteen, playing live at Wembley Stadium of course! One of his greatest accomplishments, which he is quietly pleased about, was bringing the Hepworth Gallery to Wakefield. Not only was this a coup for Wakefield, it satisfied Peter’s love for art and creativity. “I love modern art in particular,” he told me, “and I’ve always wanted to paint and take up pottery, the latter of which I have just achieved, joining a pottery class very recently and I am not only loving it, I think I’m actually quite good at it! I never really had a second career choice but if

I had, I think I would have liked to have been involved in modern dance of some kind. I love the fusion between music and dance.” So going back to a statement Peter often quotes: “I’m an optimist, with the look of a pessimist, what is his worse quality? “Oh that’s easy, impatience. I want to change things overnight, I hate having to wait for things to happen. This is one of the reasons that I don’t drive to my office, preferring to take the bus, but it does infuriate me that drivers use bus lanes! Another reason I take the bus is because I enjoy the walk into Castleford each morning. I could walk to the bus stop a couple of hundred metres from my house, but instead I walk past it and on to the bus station, as I like to take in my surroundings and meet people along the way, I think that’s important.” We could have spoken about politics and the future of Wakefield but we’ll leave that for another time!

November2017

Wakefield & District

Left is Jim Farmery, AD:VENTURE Sector Development Manager for Wakefield Council and right, Steven Binnion Founder and director of Remind 2Find.

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Online gift platform that keeps on giving! with family and friends, users receive convenient reminders before an occasion along with inspiration on what to buy. Profiles can be fully personalised to include favourite brands and retailers, links to wish lists or, for those who don’t want anything, alternatives such as going for a drink or charitable donations. Steven Binnion, co-founder, says “91% of people shop in a rush at the last minute and only 23% have received a great gift in the last year, so there is significant room for improvement. As fast paced as the world is now, consumers really value

services that actually save them time and stress! After a period of slow progress setting up the business, I looked for a workspace that offered informal mentoring. Futurelabs became an obvious choice, having a genuine interest in real grassroots start-ups and an understanding of what they need. Whilst working from the space at Futurelabs helped us to recover some momentum, the opportunity to receive structured mentoring and support through the FutureStart workshop programme tipped the balance.

We quickly validated and spotted some gaps in work we had done. Most importantly, we left with a clear plan about what to do next and knowledge of people who could help us. Without this I fear we could still be refining our service rather than trialling it and getting customer feedback” Steven, and his co-founder, Marc Mills are now working hard on the launch of the live platform and will continue working with the AD:VENTURE programme and the Futurelabs team as the business launches and begins its exciting growth journey with ambitions to take the platform to a worldwide audience. Funded by the European Regional Development fund, AD:VENTURE enables businesses to grow through support such as expert mentoring, grants, professional workshops, finance brokerage, incubator office space and peer to peer learning. Roger Marsh OBE, chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “We are delighted to see businesses already benefitting from the opportunities and connections a regional programme like AD:VENTURE can offer. The programme was developed to help businesses just like Remind2Find to get off to the best and most informed start, and this is a fantastic example of how this type of programme works to boost the growth of SMEs in our region” You can find out more about Remind2Find at www. Remind2Find.com To find out if AD:VENTURE can help your business, visit www. adventure.org.uk For more about Futurelabs visit www.futurelabs.co.uk

Wakefield & District

November2017

Wakefield & District T HE

ARTS

Celebrate the festive season at

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Barbara Hepworth, Squares with Two Circles, 1963. Courtesy Tate and YSP. © Bowness, Hepworth Estate. Photo © Jonty Wilde

November2017

Wakefield & District

Ed Kluz, The Dunmore Pineapple, 2013. Courtesy the artist

Anthony Caro, Dream City, 1996. Courtesy Annely Juda Fine Art and YSP. Photo © Jonty Wilde

This winter, celebrate the Christmas season at Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) with refreshing winter walks, exhibitions by world-renowned artists, enticing events, delicious food and drink, and unique shopping for all your gift buying needs.

Jaar often uses constructed spaces and light to direct what the viewer does and doesn’t see. Choose unique Christmas gifts by artist, illustrator and printmaker Ed Kluz. For his YSP exhibition, Sheer Folly – Fanciful Buildings of Britain (11 November 2017–25 February 2018), Kluz takes

inspiration from the eccentric, uncanny and overlooked follies, temples and towers that dot the British landscape, to create a range of original paper collages, scraper boards and prints, all of which are available to buy. A special range of merchandise designed by the artist also accompanies the show and is available to buy exclusively from YSP Shop. Enjoy festive-themed events Celebrate the season with a packed programme of festive events. Be creative in a Festive Wreath

Making workshop (3 and 10 December 2017 / £36 per person, including lunch); book a table at Brass Christmas for an evening of food and live music (16 and 22 December 2017 / £30 per person); and immerse yourself in the completely unique Sunrise in the Skyspace experience (2 and 9 December 2017 / £25, including breakfast and 10% discount in YSP Shop). Find out more and book online Admission to the Park is free. YSP is open every day over the festive period, from 10am to 5pm, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Situated in the beautiful grounds of the 18th-century Bretton Estate, YSP, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is one of the world’s leading open-air galleries. With over 500 acres of stunning Yorkshire countryside, more than 80 sculptures on display in the open air and five indoor galleries, YSP is the perfect place to visit this winter. Discover world-class exhibitions Explore visually and emotionally stunning installations by pioneering Chilean artist Alfredo Jaar, in the Underground Gallery and open air (14 October 2017–8 April 2018). Trained as a magician and subsequently as an architect,

Alfredo Jaar, The Sound of Silence, 2006. Courtesy the artist, New York. Photo Charles Duprat

November2017

Wakefield & District

Achieving good governance a challenge of our time By Murray Edwards - Art and business consultant Wakefield

Cultural Trustees must show stronger leadership and become more adaptive and far-sighted, according to an independent, strategic review of arts organisations and museums. The Review, commissioned by the Clore Leadership Programme (CLP), concludes that it is no longer sufficient for Boards to simply fulfil the fiduciary aspects of their role. Synopsis The aim of the review was to consider ways of strengthening the governance of arts and museums by identifying the resources that are currently available, and the gaps in provision that could be addressed through a governance development programme, tailored to the needs of arts organisations and museums. Context Governance is particularly important at the moment, with arts organisations and museums operating in a climate of volatility and uncertainty, compounded by public sector funding cuts and significant competition for corporate sponsorship and individual philanthropy. Innovative approaches to increasing income generation are necessary and the demand for ‘resilience’ is gathering momentum. At this point leadership from the board is crucial. Governance The report takes its definition of governance as ‘the systems and processes concerned with ensuring the overall direction, effectiveness, supervision and accountability’ of

November2017

an arts organisation or museum. For cultural organisations accountability is complex, but cannot be restricted only to legal and financial responsibilities. The board should align its work within the best interests of its communities and stakeholders, reflecting the organisation’s broader social and cultural responsibilities. Shifting the Mindset The report suggests that boards need ‘greater agility and fresh thinking’ to support organisations to achieve their ambitions. It concludes that effective governance will only be achieved with a concerted strategy to shift both mindsets and behaviours. This will require boards to recognise that the current volatility is the new norm and adapt their response accordingly. ‘Closed friendship circles’ with unfocused shill-sets are no longer appropriate for board membership. Trustees should adopt a ‘multilayered approach to leadership’ that prioritises advocacy, strategic thinking, collective endeavour and emotional intelligence, and draws on members’ technical expertise and experience. Areas where boards could usefully develop their practice include: • Developing a healthier attitude to risk

• Being more positive in questioning creative policies and programming • Taking an active part in the fundraising role • Becoming more aware of, and learning from, the wider voluntary sector • Adopting a more proactive approach to inclusion and diversity

To encourage this step-change in the performance of Boards, the report’s authors have recommended that a new Governance Alliance be established to help them develop the skills they need to become bolder in tackling the challenges of a turbulent environment. Resources Although advice, training and publications aimed at governance in the not-for-profit sector are widely available, boards are not routinely using them. The report stresses that opportunities for professional development at relevant events must be more compelling and be seen as “must attend”. The cultural sector has much to learn from other charities. There is a need to capitalise on, and share, the good work already being carried out, whilst supporting boards to effectively respond to the strategic and operational challenges they face. Collaboration – a Governance Alliance A number of commissioning trusts and foundations as well as CLP have already started the process of developing a strategic alliance of organisations concerned with

resilience and innovation in governance. The report recommends that this collaboration should be extended by joining forces with strategic agencies that support not-for-profit organisations to form a Governance Alliance that can “build on the appetite for collaboration and closer partnerships, to harness and promote the tools for effective governance”. Such an alliance should, the report suggests, provide a voice for advocacy across the sector, promote culture change in the delivery of governance and create an online Governance Resource that would be a first port-of-call for advice, information and development for arts organisations and museums. Recommendations This report makes 4 key recommendations: • Establish the Governance Alliance • Develop a Governance Resource – a dynamic and contemporary online hub • Promote culture change in the delivery of governance • Arts Council England and Arts Council Wales should raise the profile of, and focus on governance as part of their roles as development agencies Boards play a vital in ensuring the vibrancy and sustainability of the arts and museums and this report is a welcome contribution to addressing the issues that the sector currently faces. I hope it will be read in detail and its recommendations acted on  THE FULL REPORT IS AVAILABLE AT: HTTPS://WWW.CLORELEADERSHIP.ORG/ USERFILES/DOCUMENTS/ACHIEVING_ GOOD_GOVERNANCE-FULL_REPORT. PDF

Wakefield & District R EC RU I T MEN T

U P DAT E

Is your company ready for the aging workforce revolution? By Andy Turner Managing Director - First Choice Recruitment

My friend was jokingly ribbing me over lunch about my age, sadly being the ‘wrong side’ of 50, I started looking more into this. Did you know that over 50s will dominate the workforce for the first time in less than a decade, analysis of official data shows, as older workers put their careers before early retirement? Figures published recently by the Office for National Statistics, show that nearly 10 million workers aged 50 and over are now in employment, the largest number since records began in 1992. Over the period the proportion of over fifties in the

workforce has risen from a fifth (21%) to almost a third (31%). Currently forty-somethings are the biggest cohort in British workplaces, but analysis by Aviva, a pension firm, projects the trend will continue with the population of over fifties becoming the biggest cohort in May 2024, representing more than 1-in-3 workers. Recently the Daily Telegraph reported that growing numbers

are taking up “dream” jobs such as gardening and becoming an author, with around half a million over 65s choosing to carry on working because they enjoy it. The population of “early retirees”, those who retired earlier than originally planned, peaked at 1.6m in August 2011, but has since witnessed a continual decline, hitting less than 1.2m in today’s figures. Alistair McQueen, savings and retirement manager at Aviva, said: “When it comes to funding our longer lives in retirement, we have two options – save more or work longer. For many, the

best response will be a mix of the two. “We are also working longer. Over 50s will become the leading group of workers within the decade, and the idea of ‘early retirement’ would be relegated to the dustbin of history if recent trends continued.” Age should never be an issue especially when seeking new employment and officially it never is, but in the real world – is this really the case and if so are we missing out on an ever growing sector of the workforce? I suspect so…..

Children’s TV star brings dino-mite to Wakefield National children’s TV presenter Andy Day will bring his famous dino raps to Wakefield when he illuminates Trinity Walk this November.

pantomime will also take to the stage to entertain crowds as well as the centre’s popular Santa (aka Pete Toon) – who has often also visited the royal family’s youngsters in recent years.

The star of stage and children’s TV shows will perform a 30 minute live show, before switching on the Christmas lights at the free event. His show will feature his now famous dinosaurs raps – entertaining and educating kids of all ages – at the event on Thursday November 16.

Families can visit the grotto for free every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday until Christmas after the switch-on with donations going to Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice. There will also be free face painting and free balloon modelling from 3.30pm until late. Plus there’s free parking after 3pm on that Thursday and every Thursday until Christmas.

Stars of Theatre Royal Wakefield’s

Andy Day said: “Being a

children’s TV presenter means Christmas is an extra special time of year and I love helping get kids into the festive spirit. It’s my first time in Wakefield for a switch-on and I know Trinity Walk draws a large crowd for the event, so it’s going to be fun. My advice would be for kids to get practising their dino raps because I’ll be asking them to join in – and parents too.”

and will be the perfect person to flick the switch this year.” Fun starts at 4pm on the main stage near PureGym and Cafe Nero with Andy Day on stage from 4.45pm and the switch-on at 5.15pm.

Lucy Grice, Trinity Walk’s marketing manager, said: “If you’ve watched kids’ TV, you’ll know Andy and he’s a national favourite among families. He brings a huge amount of energy to his shows, gets people involved

November2017

Wakefield & District

Small businesses can benefit from video too, and it doesn’t have to be pricey! By Danny Lacey CEO & Founder Stada Video

TDespite the rising popularity of digital video, less than 25% of small businesses are currently us-ing it as part of their marketing strategies. TMany assume that creating video content is too expensive and complicated, and better suited to big brands and corporations. In actual fact, video can benefit all kinds of businesses — no matter the size or industry! On aver-age, video content can increase purchase intent by 97% and brand recognition by up to 139%. Imagine the impact that could have on your small business.

And the good news is, you don’t have to invest your entire marketing budget for video to have a positive impact! Here are three simple tips to get you started Make the most of the tools available Camera phone technology has improved drastically over the last few years, meaning you can film a decent quality video without any fancy equipment or technical know-how. Simply purchase a cheap smartphone tripod online and you’ll be good to go!

tackling some frequently asked questions? Spread the word Believe it or not, strategic distribution affects view count far more than production value. Take full advantage of as many online platforms as possible. Post your video on social media, share it with your mailing list, and add it to your website. You might be surprised by the results! If you’re looking for more free video marketing advice, please feel free to get in touch with me directly.

 DANNYLACEY@STADAVIDEO.CO.UK 0113 403 2037

Keep it simple There’s no need to be overly ambitious with your video concept. To begin with, aim to streamline the purchase process and minimise your customers’ research time. How about filming a series of product demos or

Meeting rooms, conference rooms, event and office space Whether you’re looking for a large meeting room to seat 30, a smaller informal meeting space for two or simply an office to work from - head to West Yorkshire Business Hive. Situated in Morley, Leeds we are close to all major motorways with free on-site parking. Free Wi-Fi

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Wakefield & District

YORKSHIRE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

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LINES & CALLS

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Wakefield & District I NFORM ATIO N

TECHN O LO GY

Making the ‘Industrial Revolution 4.0’ work for you By Paul Heigham - Director of Bellingham IT

Much is being made about the ‘Industrial Revolution 4.0’ and the ‘Digital Transformation’ but what is it and how can it help our businesses thrive? Topic IT expert Paul Heigham explains more… Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are terms that we hear a lot today in IT and business management but what are they about and how can they work for you? IoT is essentially a network of connected devices, sensors in these devices monitor and collect data. These networks are everywhere – at work, at home and the environment – sometimes even without us realising it and certainly without us harnessing their full capabilities.

Businesses which combine the three can access unprecedented levels of insight and make evidence based decisions to give them the competitive edge. Manufacturing is leading the way on this Tech Trinity approach. Sensors embedded in machines are collecting data on their behaviour which is fed into advance machine learning software to analyse the patterns of behaviour detecting and helping to flag up breakdowns before they occur. This is revolutionising manufacturers’ planned maintenance strategies, boosting asset utilisation and cutting production losses by reducing unplanned downtime and their associated costs.

Big Data is the information collected by the IoT and AI, also known as deep machine learning, is the analysis of data to identify trends and patterns of behaviour.

The combined approach can also add value to companies outside the manufacturing sector helping to drive business objectives such as innovation, customer service, productivity and reduce bottom line costs.

Together the IoT, Big Data and AI form a ‘Tech Trinity’ that is being used to drive the next Industrial Revolution, 4.0. The process is known as Digital Transformation.

Bellingham IT’s sister company, iclaritate, can point you in the right direction by analysing what your business needs, auditing what you currently have and

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providing a clear vision for the future which fits with your business plan. Of course, any technology is only as effective as the people making use of it and ensuring the end user experience is a good one is essential to digital transformation. Consider how the technology changes will impact on the end user and then follow these simple steps to ensure a smooth transition: 1. Measure how end users feel about the systems they are already using before any change is made. 2.Involve them in the change journey by keeping them informed. 3.Provide adequate training to ensure adapting to and using the new technology is as easy and positive as possible. 4.Re-measure their level of satisfaction and confidence once the changes are in place.

Changing or upgrading any technology hardware or software will only increase efficiency, growth and save time and money if you are clear on what you want to achieve and take your people with you by allowing time for implementation and training. Bellingham IT has over 15 years plus experience in operational software implementation, from scoping out the initial requirements to support after ‘Go Live’. We can help identify skills gaps, provide training and ensure that the correct technology is selected to meet your business needs. Choosing software can make or break your organisation and we want to help you get the best option for your business. Give us a call on 01924 253205 or email: paul@ bellinghamit.co.uk.

Wakefield & District

November2017

Wakefield & District SPECI AL

FE ATU RE

Designer fashions support vital care Historically the general feeling has been that charity shops were for the less affluent within our communities, but these days, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Charity shops are packed with quality homewares, antiques and high street and designer fashions. In Wakefield we are lucky to have many different charity shops, six of which across the district belong to Wakefield Hospice, all of which carry a diverse range of quality goods that arrive daily; from designer goods to the latest high street leading fashion brands.

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The shops receive a varied supply of donations which enables them to cater for everyone’s taste, so if you like something a little bit different and you have your own unique style, our shops are simply made for you. However, there is a lot of hard work and preparation that takes place behind the scenes, with staff and a team of over 250 volunteers working hard to offer a customer experience that rivals the very best on the high street. Before everything appears in the shops, items are sorted at the hospice warehouse on Tadman Street. “This facility has been open 10 years,” explained Matt Berry, who is responsible for the day to day running of the shops, “and acts as our main drop off point for donations. Its main role is to facilitate the storage and

distribution of donated stock. For the convenience of our donors, we also offer a collection service for larger more bulky items. “People donate items for many reasons, clothing may no longer fit or shopaholics run out of space for their new items. Many items donated are new and unused and can go straight into the shops, but others might need a little repair work, a fallen hem perhaps, so our team of volunteers will undertake this work making sure all items going into the shops are to a high

standard. We have had some unusual items donated too, a gun, bullets and even an LP signed by Keith Richards from The Who!” All the warm and friendly shops offer attentive service and are creatively designed to excite and inspire the shopper. Shopping in one of Wakefield Hospice shops is a win win situation. Customers get great quality items, our environment is protected by re-using, recycling and upcycling, while the hospice receives vital funds of up to £870k per annum,

Wakefield & District

along with a smaller range of home, gifts and toys. For the customer wanting to stay ahead with the latest fashions and trends, this is the shop to visit. The shop in the city centre on Teall Street specialises in items that are a little differentand unique, antique and vintage style, retro, art deco, silverware and much much more. There is also a fabulous range of homeware, furniture, books, toys, womenswear and accessories.

helping to continue providing top quality personalised patient care. The spacious Ridings Centre

shop is situated on the Upper Mall and carries a huge selection of womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and accessories,

Over on the High Street in Horbury, again there is a great selection of womenswear, menswear and accessories. From designer labels to leading High Street fashion brands, you will be pleasantly surprised by the treasure in this shop. Also out of town is the shop in the Wellgate Centre in Ossett, this is the oldest of the shops, established in 1991. Again, there is a huge choice of fashionwear, furniture, toys and books, something for all the family.

are grateful to the people who donate,” added Fundraising and Retail Director Helen Knowles. “Every item makes a difference to our patients and their families because every £20 sale helps us to provide one hour of personalised patient care.” November 24th to 26th is Black Friday weekend and everything in the shops will be half price (excluding new goods). This is one of the Hospice shops biggest events of the year and their peak week for sales, so make sure you get their early to pick up a bargain!

“Every item sold though the shops is valuable to us and we

November2017

Wakefield & District carry on looking intently at the details. Maybe she had three smooth, tanned legs instead of the standard two, or that trim-fit swim suit was somehow not as it should be. But alas - no ‘Should’ve gone...’ joke. With one last, long check, I continued my drive.

The real reason I nearly lost my no-claims bonus By Ed Fairfield - Wakefield-based marketing professional.

MOBILE: 07752 586949 EMAIL: hello@edfairfield.online @Mi5terEd

November2017

t was a busy drive home on the Leeds ring road, stopstart traffic, that annoying sports guy on Radio 2 and not a lot else to write home about. But all of a sudden something caught my eye. It snapped me out of my auto-pilot and grabbed my attention by the throat - I was compelled to stare at intently for a good few seconds. And I was only brought back to reality when a pair of brake lights appeared right in front of me - like, way too close for my insurance premium to handle. It was a Specsavers advert.

Now, clearly I wasn’t looking at Kylie in a swimsuit, perched on a sun bed there with an inviting smile and a pair of probably over-priced sunglasses. No - why would I do that? I was looking for the joke. The ‘Should’ve gone to Specsavers’ joke. Was it actually NOT Kylie? Was there a big spelling error? What else could be wrong - it’s only a photo and a few words. Hmmm. Once those brake lights were out of my danger zone, thankfully traffic was still slow so I could

I had the advert in my mind’s eye for several minutes, and being a marketing man, it made me realise Specsavers had created themselves as a brand as jokers, albeit professional ones. Vision Express are the clean, smooth, high spec pros, Boots are the Mumsy/baby/familyfriendly ones and Specsavers are the witty ones - qualified, experienced and professional, but nonetheless all adverts in my living memory are jokes. But with the Kylie advert, there was no joke. It was just a slick photo of Kylie. Full stop. A company’s branding and visual tone of voice are sticky, and it’s conspicuous when they’re broken. It would be like CocaCola moving away from uber-hot care-free Yanks frolicking on the beach to showing inner-city unemployed folk drinking Coke in front of the TV. Not quite that extreme, but you get the idea. So, next time I’m planning a marketing campaign, I concluded, I’d be more aware of consistency of tone of voice. For reinforcing this to me, I was grateful to Specsavers for showing me a 5 metre wide, hotto-trot Kylie on my commute home last week. I was also grateful my brakes were in good working order.

CHAMBER

Close Up

News

Accolade for Social Progress at 2017 Chamber Business Awards Social Progress, a Social Media & Digital Marketing Agency from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, has been crowned one of the winners in the Yorkshire and Humber heats of the Chamber Business Awards 2017. Now in their 14th year, the Awards are a highlight of the business calendar, recognising the key role that local businesses play in driving the UK economy. The Best Use of Social Media award winner, Social Progress will now go forward to represent the Yorkshire and the Humber region in the national finals, which take place in London in November. Janet Bebb, Owner & MD of Social Progress said: “The announcement took us completely by surprise. We entered

delegates, sponsors and exhibitors to post throughout the day or evening using the event’s specific hashtag. This gives added media exposure to the event. “Big Screen Social is going down a storm at conferences, award evenings, etc. Mid Yorkshire Chamber have used the software at two of their events this year, the Kirklees Business Conference and the Wakefield Business Conference. but never thought we’d be selected as Regional Winners. “The entry showcased the interactive social media software we’ve developed called Big Screen Social that can be used at events. It’s a highly visual Twitter & Instagram Wall which, because of the unique visual presentation, is designed to encourage

Francis Martin, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said: “Businesses are the backbone and driving force of the UK economy. Even in the face of uncertain times, they continue to show their resilience and strength – creating opportunities for employment, investment and growth.

Mid Yorkshire Chamber welcomes Leeds Beckett University as a Patron

Beckett University are shortly to open new University Business Centres in Wakefield and Halifax and our Chamber patronage means that we can work in synergy with the Chamber so that Chamber members can access our university expertise, and also to enable businesses based within our centres to access the networks and benefits that Chamber membership offers.”

Leeds Beckett University has become a patron member of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce joining Eaton Smith, KSDL and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The patronage acknowledges the shared goal of both organisations in supporting business growth within the Mid Yorkshire region.

Simon Baldwin, Head of Enterprise at Leeds Beckett University said: “Leeds Beckett University are

delighted to become a patron of Mid Yorkshire Chamber. As a regional University, we are strongly committed to supporting the growth of businesses across Yorkshire, providing access to university expertise and helping them to develop the skills that they require to flourish. Leeds

exciting time to welcome Leeds Beckett University as they are launching their Business Centres within Calderdale and Wakefield to drive growth amongst early-stage and growing businesses. This is exactly the kind of activity we are keen to encourage to help connect and support our members within the local areas. We also welcome Leeds Beckett University to our new local business councils within Calderdale and Wakefield District.”

Martin Hathaway, Managing Director of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said: “This is an

Close Up for Business I

Policy

Latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) reports improved results In the last edition of Close Up I highlighted the importance of completing our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) to help assess the health of the UK economy. Our latest survey results for the third Quarter of 2017 have been processed, and they have produced mainly encouraging results. Home Sales and Orders remained fairly static, reflecting present constrained UK economic conditions. Encouragingly, Export Sales and Orders continued to improve and hopefully these recovering results will prove sustainable.

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

It is also encouraging to report that Capital Investments and Investments in Training continued to increase in line with the improved trends which began at the start of the year. Unfortunately, the survey discloses that Cashflow balances remain in the doldrums. However, Turnover and Profitability Expectations in this third Quarter continued to regain ground in accord with basic trends which began earlier in the year. Furthermore, it is good to report Employment at record levels, together with rising levels of Employment Expectations being reported during the quarter. Overall, these results point to slightly enhanced levels of Business Confidence, and it is important that these

improving trends should continue in the months ahead. Conversely, it is now a matter of great concern that our manufacturers are reporting that Raw Material Prices have become their major price pressure. Equally, our exporting manufacturers report escalating concerns about Exchange Rates. Clearly, present business sentiment is that sterling weakness is translating into rising prices in our supply-chains which are outweighing the competitive advantages which we currently enjoy when selling into export markets. Earlier this year we expressed the view that the weak pound could potentially give rise to new domestic supply-chains as British companies take the opportunity to undercut prices of expensive imported goods. However, the quarter three survey does not provide evidence that such trends have yet begun to gather momentum. As we now enter the fourth quarter of the year, it is becoming clear that 2017 has already given rise to a number of tricky business challenges which have made it very difficult for the UK to make economic progress. But this quarter three survey does provide one or two reasons for cautious optimism that economic conditions could improve during the months ahead.

Recruitment specialist Stafflex bolsters its team with new staff hires Four new starters have been appointed at Huddersfield based recruitment specialists Stafflex, as it looks to push into new sectors continuing to expand its growing team.

Member Member News News

Bellingham helps to move IT!

Graham Black has joined as a project manager in the skilled trades division bringing over A Wakefield IT firm ensured disruption was 30 years’ experience in the manufacturing, kept to a minimum when a leading office construction and engineering sectors. furniture business relocated. David Hill, a former deputy head teacher has joined as a business development executive in the education team. He has over 20 years’ teaching experience which includes secondments to schools with special measures. Robbie Peto has been appointed as a business development executive in the commercial team, joining from his previous role as associate consultant at Hays Recruitment. Nemi Alexis has also joined as a marketing executive. Prior to this, he was part of the marketing team at Yorkshire law firm, Gordons LLP.

Bellingham IT, of Unity Works, won a five way pitch for the IT contract with south Leeds based Re:Work Office Furniture, a social enterprise that revamps pre-used furniture and Desk Office Interiors. The Wakefield firm impressed Caroline Wherritt CEO of Re:Work Office Furniture who wanted a seamless move from their former, smaller premises to a new complex and showroom at New Craven Gate, Hunslet. Bellingham IT’s MD, Paul Heigham carefully planned the move so that externally there was no sign that Re:Work Office Furniture was on the move and the company was able to remain fully operational throughout.

Brian Stahelin, managing director at Stafflex, said: “We are very pleased to welcome all of our new people to Stafflex in what is a very exciting time for us. Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we look to Once the relocation was complete Paul strengthen our existing sectors as well as push and his team then tested all the new IT into new sectors in the near future.” equipment to ensure there had been no changes and that new systems incorporated to support the expanding office furniture firm worked. Caroline Wherritt explained: “We started the moving process a week before our staff moved in and carefully planned when the IT was going across. On moving day we

kept one PC going so we could respond to any sales calls or emails and moved the rest to the new premises where Bellingham IT were waiting to install and configure the computers. “Paul at Bellingham IT explained that it would take them a day to carry out the work and they kept to their word. The following day our staff moved in and we were up and running as normal.” “I’d met Paul through Wakefield Hospice’s Business Buddies Network and we seemed to be on the same page. He talked a lot of sense, understood what we need now in the way of IT support and also got what we want to do strategically in the future with regards to remote working,” she explained. “I was really pleased with the service Paul and the team provided during the move. They were friendly, approachable, didn’t talk in jargon and didn’t try to sell us something we don’t need. I look forward to working with them more in future.” Paul Heigham said: “IT and telecoms are usually afterthoughts for businesses when moving. Caroline’s planning ensured that there was no disruption to Re:Work Office Furntire’s business and things operated seamlessly for her and her customers. We were proud to be part of the process.”

Close Up for Business III

Member News

Inaugural Hunter Safety Golf Day Tees Off to Success!

boasting the longest drive, and Ken Dobson securing the prize for nearest the pin. Katie Hunter and fellow directors Bernie Lanaghan and Kirsty Carroll, who all took part in the competition themselves, presented each of the 30 players with a prize, many of which had been donated by generous suppliers and guests, which Katie expressed her gratitude for. The directors also thanked the Oaks for providing the perfect environment for the event and the exceptional upkeep of their grounds, which all added to a fantastic playing experience.

Birdies, eagles and albatrosses filled the air at the first ever Hunter Safety Annual Golf Championship at the Oaks Golf Club and Spa in Bubwith, near Selby. Golfing guests joined the Hunter Safety team for a game of 18 holes, whilst enjoying refreshments along the way and an evening meal, followed by a presentation to close proceedings. Managing Director of Hunter Safety, Katie Hunter, said: “The

event was a total success! I’ve been a keen golfer since I was young so to be able to share one of my passions with our clients and the Hunter team was a wonderful opportunity. I’m so proud that after just 5 years, Hunter Safety is able to hold events like this for our clients.

I’m hoping this will now become an annual fixture in our client’s calendars and we’re already looking forward to the next one!” The winner of the stableford competition was Steve Mills of Gamma Telecom, with Neil Scutt of Professional First Aid Service

One guest said: “I had a great day and really enjoyed meeting contacts from other companies as we played. Everything was really well organised, with the Hunter team even providing gift boxes which were a lovely touch. The Oaks staff and facilities were top notch too.”

Major investment in apprentices Local accounting firm Wheawill & Sudworth has recently expanded its apprentice development programme with three new recruits. Bethany Firth, Laura Stocks and Charlotte Bray have joined the firm’s Business Services and Assurance Teams. Managing Director David Butterworth commented “We are delighted to have offered roles to Bethany, Laura and Charlotte to help fulfil increasing client demand for our services. Our investment in forging partnerships with local colleges, in this case Greenhead and Shelley, is a great way to develop talented young people.” IV

Member News

New appointment for Calder IT

Due to continual growth since the business was launched in March 2017, Halifax based Calder IT Ltd is delighted to announce the appointment of Rickie Flack. Rickie has a background of providing Enterprise scale IT support into Blue Chip companies. Rickie will be responsible for the day to day running of the Technical Support Desk at Calder IT.

KC Communications scores hat-trick of new clients

Huddersfield-based marketing communications agency, KC Communications, has announced that they have added three new accounts to their growing roster of clients.

The accounts include North Yorkshire based electrical wholesaler, Oldfield Group, insolvency specialist, Poppleton & Appleby and Huddersfield based tailors, Owen Scott. These latest contract wins continue the momentum of business growth for KC Communications who are set to increase turnover by 50% by the end of this financial year. In addition, they have recently recruited two new members of staff; an Account Manager and an Operations Manager have joined the team. Charles Brook, Partner of Poppleton & Appleby commented: “We are delighted to be

working with KC Communications. After my firm Brooke Business Recovery merged with Manchester based Poppleton & Appleby, we are looking to broaden our customer base across the Pennines and expand our service offering. We feel that with the help of the team at KC Communications we will see some great results in raising our profile for our newly expanded practice over the coming months.” Katrina Cliffe, Managing Director at KC Communications added: “We’re extremely proud of our recent client wins and are hoping to continue our growth into the next financial year. We’re very excited to be working with such a broad range of businesses, from an electrical wholesaler to a bespoke tailor, and we’re looking forward to delivering some fantastic results for all three businesses.”

Rickie will be looking at ways to build upon the existing support systems already in place, ensuring that Calder IT can continue exceed customers’ expectations around their IT services. Outside of the office Rickie enjoys DIY, cooking, electronics design and development. Calder IT Ltd’s Managing Director, James Bulley explains what the new appointment means to the business. “Bringing Rickie into the company at this stage is key for the development of Calder IT moving forward. Rickie has an excellent set of skills across a wide range of IT areas, such as Microsoft Windows Server and VMware virtualisation products, which are highly desirable for a business that provides Support into small to medium sized organisations. Calder IT Ltd’s ethos is to provide Enterprise levels of service and support into the small and medium sizes businesses, ensuring they have the right technology available to help them grow. Appointing Rickie into the business now allows me to concentrate on growing the existing customer base, which will enable Calder IT to propel its growth plans for the future.”

Close Up for Business V

Member News

Businesses raise thousands for charity by sleeping rough Winning Partnership Bluestone Leasing appoints Five Talents as their creative agency to help support the launch of Bluestone Leasing’s exciting, new Vehicle Division. In July 2017, Five Talents provided a bespoke eshot Process System solution that integrates with Bluestone Leasing existing backend systems and customer databases. Survey system solutions were set-up in August to help Bluestone experts, in the Vehicles team, better understand their customer’s needs and what is important to them.

A West Yorkshire-based print management business has raised £4,000 for homeless charity Simon on the Streets, after organising a ‘sleep out’ at The Hepworth Gallery Wakefield on Friday 4th August. Debbie Melton, founder and managing director of Wakefield-based Red Media, planned the town’s first rough sleeping event to raise funds for the independent charity, which has been providing support to the homeless since 1991. Thirty volunteers attended on the night, bringing with them a cardboard box and sleeping bag. Starting at 7pm until 6am, the ‘sleep-out’ also offered volunteers the opportunity to speak with Simon on the Streets’ outreach workers who were able to talk about the challenges faced by the homeless. VI

Commenting on the success of the event, organiser Debbie Melton said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the turnout at the Wakefield sleep-out and astounded by the level of support from volunteers. The event was incredibly successful and all involved are extremely proud of the funds we were able to raise for such a worthy cause. Simon on the Streets’ general manager Gordon Laing commented: ‘We’re delighted by the amazing support we’ve received from Red Media and from all those that attended the sleep-out in Wakefield. The final total is outstanding and we cannot express our gratitude enough. Homelessness is a real problem in city centres in West Yorkshire and the kind support we receive from individuals and organisations is key in tackling this.”

Five Talents are appointed to deliver a series of eshot campaigns for Bluestone Vehicles over the next 12 months that help communicate the Bluestone Vehicles offer and ultimately drive enquiries. Bluestone Vehicles offer not just the finance, but vehicle sourcing, maintenance and disposal services all under one roof. “Bluestone Vehicles is an important addition to the Bluestone portfolio. We needed a creative team that could not only get the message out there well but also explain the uniqueness of the proposition and our ability to provide services for the full lifecycle of a vehicle be it for business or personal use. The team at Five Talents came highly recommended and it was clear from the very first meeting that they understood exactly what we wanted to achieve and had a vision as to how to deliver it. Quick to respond, proactive and easy to work with, I have no doubt they will help us make Bluestone Vehicles the success it deserves to be.” commented Bluestone Sales Director, Steve Russell.

Member News

The Old Golf House Hotel awarded TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence The Old Golf House Hotel in Huddersfield has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor, in recognition of its consistently high customer reviews on their website. John Kay, general manager of The Old Golf House said: “We are all very proud to have achieved this prestigious award. The hotel has recently seen significant investment and many of our bedrooms, bathrooms, meeting rooms, and the bar and restaurant, have been transformed, all finished to a high standard with hints of Laura Ashley style. On behalf of the team, I would like to thank all our guests for helping us to be recognised as one of the most popular hotels in Yorkshire.”

Lattitude7 continues to thrive As Lattitude7 enters its eighth year, this learning and development organisation continues to win business with high-profile clients.

Lattitude7 has recently secured delivering a further eight leadership programmes for BVAA and four additional contracts for York Council. Lattitude7 Founder, Dr. Martin Haigh said: “I’m delighted to have won the contracts at York, two of which will be delivered by trusted associates.” Martin has also ran ‘train-thetrainer’ sessions for Calrec Audio and customer training for a major charity. He gave an afterdinner speech to 750 guests at a conference in Dresden and will do similar in Den Haag next year. Martin also provides Six Sigma and facilitation training for Jaguar Land Rover.

Throughout 2017, Martin continues to provide probono support. He delivered a seminar at the Kirklees Business Conference and he’s supporting ‘HomeRun’; providing copies of his running book and coaching the homeless runners. Martin compèred ‘Simon on the Streets’ ball and, on behalf of Overgate, facilitated

a conference for ACE group. Martin is co-creating resources, alongside C&K Careers, helping students understand Advanced Manufacturing. Looking forward, Lattitude7 will train managers in London and deliver team building in Menorca. Martin said: “I am thrilled to have won such

contracts showing that clients trust our quality, customer service and sustainability. Valued associates help us continue to deliver high quality and varied training solutions and I look forward to making a significant difference to local, regional and international clients.”

Close Up for Business VII

Member News

Chris Sanders appointed new Aviation Development Director at Leeds Bradford Airport Leeds Bradford Airport has appointed Chris Sanders as its new Aviation Development Director. Chris will begin the role with immediate effect and brings with him a wealth of experience in the airport sector, having previously spent eighteen years at Newcastle Airport with his most recent role being Aviation Development Director. Before moving to Newcastle Airport, Chris began his career at British Airways working in their network planning, revenue management and information management departments. He then worked in the UK rail industry for long distance operator InterCity. At the time of rail privatisation, Chris moved to York to work on the East Coast route, his final position being Commercial Manager for GNER. Chris Sanders, Aviation Development Director VIII

at Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “I am delighted to join the team at LBA as the airport continues to celebrate record passenger numbers. This is down to the dedication shown by the staff working here. Of course there is room for improvement, but that is the exciting phase this business is embarking upon under the leadership of recently appointed CEO David Laws.

The airport now operates to over 70 destinations in 25 countries and has grown passenger numbers by 6% over the last 12 months to 3.7 million passengers.

“Having spent a number of years previously living and working in Yorkshire, I am aware of how important the airport should be to the people and businesses of the region. I look forward to making sure that we continue to improve for business and leisure communities in and around Yorkshire. The more this airport is used then the easier it becomes to grow existing routes and attract new services which will help increase this region’s connectivity. I want LBA to be an airport we can all be proud of for its contribution to the regional economy.”

David Laws, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “I am delighted to welcome Chris Sanders to the airport as we continue our development.

LBA is a major contributor to the economic development of the region and new investment is underway to improve and expand the operations.

“I have worked with Chris for a number of years and know he shares my passion for aviation development. We now have the widest choice of flights available from LBA and our aim is to ensure we offer the very best choice of destinations for both business and leisure passengers.”

Events

The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be hosting their first Manufacturing Showcase event which will take place on Tuesday 21st November, 8.30am – 12.15pm at K.I.T.S, Brighouse. This half day event is dedicated to helping manufacturing and engineering businesses to meet, learn and grow. With keynote speakers and various networking breaks, attending Manufacturing Showcase is a great opportunity to share best practice, find out what support is available, learn from sector experts and

form new partnerships. Martin Hathaway, managing director of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said: “We often hear from members that there is little support out there for manufacturers, but actually

there is probably more than you think. By bringing together sector experts and key organisations, this event aims to showcase what support manufacturers and engineering businesses can tap into.”

Event Programme 11:40