TopicUK Local Business Magazine November 2019 by Yorkshire BusinessWoman & TopicUK

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No40

BI-MONTHLY

BUSINESS MAGAZINE

KAY MELLOR STRIKING GOLD

spotlight on bradford From BOARDROOM TO BAR

MAXWELL SCOTT LAUNCH NEW COLLECTION

The power of us We believe that when businesses work together, we can achieve amazing things. Together, we have that power; the power to change the status quo; the power to create a better future for your business, your employees and your customers. Change rarely happens in isolation, but when businesses work together, anything is possible.

Just imagine what we could do together.

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Vibrant Huddersfield business centre Independence House has been helping companies to grow since 2016, providing high quality serviced office space with superfast fibre broadband and state-of-the-art telecoms.

Space to Grow

Thanks to expansion and ongoing investment, this landmark Victorian property on Halifax Road has a variety of space available for local businesses. The centre was launched by the building’s owner, Gareth Henderson, who was inspired by his own experience as a young start-up in a serviced office. “I started my first business from premises run by Christians Against Poverty in Bradford, going in as a sole trader and coming out after three years with 12 members of staff and a thriving business,” recalls Gareth, who is chairman of Core Facility Services, based at Independence House. He was motivated to create a similar environment for local firms and opened Independence House up to both established companies looking for high quality space for growth and fledgling start-ups that he felt would benefit from working alongside experienced entrepreneurs and managers. Independence House can now offer everything from business incubator space and one person offices to larger suites for SMEs that value the ease and flexibility of serviced space with IT and telecoms laid on. “It has been hugely satisfying to watch our tenants evolve and expand – and often move on to set up in their own premises thanks to the stable start they have had with us,” said Gareth.

• Location, location There are very few offices in the Huddersfield area that can offer quick and easy access to junction 24 of the M62 along with free parking and fully serviced flexible terms. Within walking distance of Lindley village centre, Independence House is also part of a lively local community.

• Ready to move into High performance fibre broadband, office furniture and a direct dial phone number can be set up for tenants within minutes, which means the practical side of running a business is taken care of so that they can focus on the day to day.

• Business hub With services offices from 186 sq ft to full suites between 1624 sq ft to 8396 sq ft, Independence House is home to a variety of businesses from different sectors including marketing, accountancy, facilities management, recruitment, property, healthcare and creative enterprises.

• Clinic space Accommodation at Independence House includes CQC approved medical grade treatment rooms with examination couches and a dedicated reception.

Find out more Serviced accommodation is available from one person offices to full suites. Call Gareth on 07710 457516 for more information. FACILITY SERVICES

N E W S U P D AT E

This issue

Group Editor Gill Laidler

Design

Rob Blackwell

TopicUK editor speaks with Kay Mellor ahead of her iconic Band of Gold opening at Leeds Grand Theatre later this month. Check out the full story on page 24.

Business Executive Mandy Taylor

ASSOCIATE EDITORs

Ed Asquith Perry Austin-Clark

Distribution Manager James Longbottom

Illustration

Buttercrumble

Official Photographers

Duncan Lomax/Roth Read Photography

The Arts

Cover : Kay Mellor Image : Many thanks to Michael Wharley

Murray Edwards The Grand Theatre

Legal Matters

Ramsdens Solicitors Chadwick Lawrence

Ben Blackall 2017

Princess Royal Returns to Yorkshire

Huddersfield celebrates, first Business Week Striking Gold Kay Mellor’s glittering story Spotlight on Bradford & District Exclusive interview with Darren Litten

page

page page

12 19 24 49 70

Printed By: Charlesworth Press Wakefield

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Food & Drink

Kevin Trickett MBE

Recruitment Stafflex

Information technology

Paul Heigham, Bellingham IT

Banking

Barclays Bank

Health & wellbeing Natalie Anderson

Travel

Laura Bartlett

FASHION

John Lewis Partners

To Partner TopicUK

Tel: 07711 539047

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

by Group Editor Gill Laidler

OUR PARTNERS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dakota Hotel Leeds RJ Burgess Rogerthorpe Manor Community Foundation Calderdale The Piece Hall Applied Digital LS Live Ramsdens Solicitors Chadwick Lawrence Bellingham IT KC Communications Wakefield College / Wakefield Council Leeds Council (Ad:Venture) CityFibre Jordans Solicitors Eaton Smith Solicitors Hansons Bramleys Stafflex Fostering to Aspire Wakefield Theatre Pontefract Hospice Scriba PR Kirklees College Buttercrumble University of Law Avenuehq/Barclays Eagle Lab Yorkshire Payments Easy Fireplaces Welcome to Yorkshire Social Progress Contedia BeVic Town Hall Dental Associated waste management Fantastic Media

Welcome to the last TopicUK for 2019. I can’t quite believe as we go into 2020 that it will be seven years since we launched TopicUK just in the Wakefield area and we now we cover the whole of the Yorkshire region and on our new App that is launching in November, business news on there will also be national. I am delighted that our new TopicUK Businesswoman section was so well received at its launch last edition, so much so, we have had to increase pagination this time as we welcome new regular contributors. Actress, presenter and founder of The Capsule, Natalie Anderson (P84) has joined the team and will be bringing you all the news from the world of fashion and beauty. Also joining us is Laura Bartlett, editor in chief and founder of House of Coco magazine (P88) who will share with us her travels around the world and advise on the best places to visit for pleasure and for business, particularly for lady business travellers. Check out page 86, those lovely people at Maxwell Scott provided me with a Sorrento business bag from their new collection, for me to carry my laptop and papers when on the move and it’s gorgeous! The quality is exceptional, and I can fit all my essentials easily. Also joining the team this edition is Perry Austin-Clark, former editor of the Bradford Telegraph & Argus who has brought us all the news from Bradford and Aire Valley. Our cover story features the

talented actress, scriptwriter and director Kay Mellor, who I was delighted to meet. Kay shared with me her story from meeting her husband, bringing up her family to writing one of the most iconic television shows of the 90s that she brings to the stage this Autumn, opening at The Grand Theatre. I was also lucky enough to chat with former Emmerdale actress Gaynor Faye, Kay’s daughter who stars in the new production. We also welcome five new partners this month. Fantastic Media, Associated Waste Management, BeVic, Contedia and Town Hall Dental. We are looking forward to bringing you all their news over the next 12 months. If you are interested in joining our growing list of partners and showcasing your business across Yorkshire, do get in touch. editor@topicuk. co.uk or call 07711 539047. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. See you in January.

Gill

Contents & Comments

Editors notes

To Partner TopicUK

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N E W S U P D AT E

Care business expands with Barclays funding North Yorkshire business HCPH Limited has announced the completion of the purchase of two residential care homes in the Selby area.

Maintaining their privacy, dignity and ability to manage their own lives, the new care homes will enable us to support more families with the care of their loved ones and it’s fantastic that Barclays has been able to support us on our growth journey.” Adam and Helen now employ 200 people locally and plan to expand as their turnover grows. Operating an award winning care business, they have also been recognised for their dedication to staff training.

Husband and wife team Adam and Helen Thompson also coown domiciliary care business Riccall Care Limited and the group will be headquartered at Escrick Business Park. The new funding from Barclays has enabled the purchase of the Abbey Lea and Westwood residential care homes in the Selby area.

Limited will continue to offer private and local authority home care to clients across York, Selby and the surrounding villages.

HCPH Limited will pro vide residential care services to the two homes whilst Riccall Care

Adam Thompson, managing director, Holistic Care Provision Ltd said: “We are very excited

to be expanding our vision of providing an exceptional, holistic care that caters to all of our client’s needs. Our priority is improving the quality of life for those who choose to reside at home and now also in our residential care.

Paul Craske, Barclays business relationship director put together the funding package for the deal and said; “Adam and Helen really impressed me with their growth plans and we’re delighted to be able to support the completion of the two care homes. Holistic Care Provision is a well-run family business and we look forward to seeing the business develop and grow over the coming years.”

Clarion appoints partner Clarion is extending its services to businesses with the launch of a new regulatory practice that will be led by partner Sarah Taylor who joins the firm with extensive knowledge in this specialist field, advising UK businesses on regulatory investigations and enforcement. For the last 10 years, Sarah has worked as a legal director at Pinsent Masons. Sarah will be supported by Lucy Alderson who joins the team as an associate. Matthew Hattersley, partner and head of Clarion’s commercial practice, comments: “While this is a new service line for us, it is very much a natural extension of our commercial offering to businesses in the region by supporting them with any regulatory challenges they may face. “With her experience and knowledge in this specialist area of law, Sarah is the ideal person to lead our

new offering and we are very pleased that she has chosen to progress her career with Clarion. Sarah has particular strength advising on issues in the health and safety, food, retail and crisis management spheres, and a proven track record of working with leading UK businesses on criminal prosecutions and compliance.” “I’m excited by the opportunity to Sarah adds: “I really enjoy working head up a brand new practice area with clients to protect their for Clarion and to build on the interests in the face of enforcement firm’s strong reputation for client action. They work hard to build a service and commercial advice. compliance agenda and a strong brand, and I enjoy helping them to deal with I am looking forward to what we can achieve together.” challenges from regulators.

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Pictured (L to R): Sarah Taylor and Lucy Alderson with Matthew Hattersley. Sarah’s non-contentious practice includes training directors and senior managers on regulatory compliance and evaluating systems and procedures in terms of due diligence.

N E W S U P D AT E

Fantastic Media scores hat-trick of new clients Leeds integrated agency Fantastic Media is celebrating after scoring a hat-trick of client wins in the industrial sector. Huddersfield’s Woodcock and W i l s o n h a s b e e n d e s i g n i n g, manufacturing and se rvicing industrial sized fans since 1973. Fantastic Media will provide services including a re-brand, website refresh and digital marketing to strengthen Woodcock and Wilson’s global reputation and attract new clients. The agency’s second new client is Absolute Warehouse Services, a third-party warehouse, storage and ancillary service company that has sites in Leeds and Wakefield. It works with local, national and international businesses including Coca-Cola and Card Factory. Services being provided by Fantastic Media include a brand refresh, video production, email, direct marketing, social media and website update in-line with the new brand. Completing the hat-trick is Acumen, one of the leading providers of industrial site services and waste management solutions from its head office in Knottingley and sites across the UK. Brand refresh, video production, PR, website design

and digital marketing are being provided by Fantastic Media. Andy Hobson, Managing Director said: “All three new clients are established companies who wanted us to advise them on how to grow their businesses further using a strategic mix of marketing tactics. “As with all our clients, we carried out detailed insight sessions to understand their businesses, what they do and what they want to achieve before creating clear plans with measurable results.

range of marketing disciplines including planning and strategy, brand design and identity, web

design, packaging design, email marketing, digital advertising, PR, media planning and social media.

Leeds Building Society holds silent auctions Leeds Building Society hosted silent charity auctions at 11 of its branches to enable members to bid for unique Leeds Rhinos shirts.

“It marks an exciting time for us because the agency is growing rapidly as underlined by these three client wins along with us providing more services to existing clients.”

The one-off shirts, all worn during the Leeds Rhinos’ Betfred Super League clash with St Helens in August, have Samaritans’ logo on the front of the shirt. Leeds Building Society gifted its sponsorship of the shirts to Samaritans to help raise awareness of the charity’s work as part of a two-year partnership to raise £250,000.

Fantastic Media offers business consultancy services and a

Silent auctions were held in Society branches in Adel, Crossgates,

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Garforth, Harrogate, Leeds, Horsforth, Moortown, Morley, Ripon, Wetherby and Yeadon. Fundraising by Leeds Building Society members and colleagues surpassed the £250,000 target six months ahead of schedule. Richard Fearon, chief executive officer said: “By combining two of our key partnerships we have been able to raise awareness of mental wellbeing to a new audience.

N E W S U P D AT E

roft Residential has established Croft City to capitalise on a decade’s experience of selling city-centre properties, alongside its more traditional country house market. Some of York’s most exclusive properties, including £1m apartments at the Bonding Warehouse and Marlborough Wharf, have been sold by Croft Residential and founder Toby Cockcroft aims to bring his team’s high-end targeted approach to the mid-range residential market in York.

“There is a gap in the York market for an intelligent, experienced and targeted approach to selling city centre properties,” saidToby. “The Croft Residential team are known for our outstanding service and as an independent business, based in the city, we pride ourselves on our tremendous track record in finding the right buyer for a property and ensuring the sales process is completed quickly and smoothly.”

York property agency launches city centre division Croft Residential, a York-based estate agency that specialises in selling luxury properties across Yorkshire and the north of England, has launched a new division focused on the York city-centre market. Charlie Elliot, who heads the new division, said: “The launch

of Croft City brings our renowned professionalism and attention to detail to the mid-range city property market, and will solely focus on city-centre properties. “We are very much looking forward to reaching out to a new market of prospective property sellers in York and demonstrating how our expertise and personal approach is what makes us different to other agencies.” Croft City has already been awarded a number of significant contracts to market York city-centre properties. They include the recently approved, 32-unit Icona development in the Foss Islands area of the city. Due for completion in 2020, the scheme’s one and two-bedroom apartments are available to reserve off-plan. Founded by Toby in 2010, Croft

Residential currently has a £75m portfolio of properties across the north of England, from new-builds to country estates. This summer the agency was appointed to sell the Boston Spa home of cricket legend Sir Geoffrey Boycott.

To Partner TopicUK

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N E W S U P D AT E

Ex HOME execs launch pioneering AI brand Three senior figureheads from strategic marketing agency HOME have reunited to launch a new machine learning and AI brand, in the heart of Leeds city centre.

Council leader joins Welcome to Yorkshire Cllr Peter Box, leader of Wakefield Council for 21 years has announced he is stepping down on 1 November, as it was announced he is to become the new chairman of Welcome to Yorkshire. Peter was first elected as a councillor in 1983 and will remain as councillor in the Altofts and Whitwood ward, but plans to stand down ahead of next May’s local elections. Deputy leader Cllr Denise Jeffrey will take over from Peter as leader of Wakefield Council.

Third Foundation is the brainchild of HOME’s ex-tech director Phillip Midwinter, who has spent 15 years working with technology to drive the strategic use of data within business. Determined to increase the level of real-time information available to clients, he set out to establish a next generation organisation that could liberate organisations previously held back by a lack of true data insight.

Performance Now, the tech start-up has three core propositions – to collect more detailed data and streamline disorderly sources into a single secure space; implement cuttingedge machine learning to recognise performance patterns and generate predictions that ease uncertainty and precisely predict upcoming pain points; and to harness artificial intelligence to automate and improve dynamic decision making. Phillip is joined by HOME agency’s

former managing director (digital) Michael Ward, who takes on the role of Third Foundation’s CEO, and director of media performance and adtech Paul Roberts, who moves from the position of HOME’s head of media technology. Already, Third Foundation has secured Google Cloud partner status, making it the region’s only machine learning firm on the program and adding further weight to the trio’s 50 years of combined experience. This follows the completion of purposebuilt platform Prime Radiant – crafted by Phillip – which took four months of behind-the-scenes effort to perfect.

Opportunities Three other colleagues have also joined the team at The Leeming Building. “We want to quickly uncover

what clients don’t know, such as patterns in missed opportunities or lost revenue,” explained Phill. “And we can do this thanks to the rapid deployment of our machine learning algorithms which extract, build and interrogate data sets swiftly and compliantly.

“I always intended to step down in 2020,” Peter told TopicUK, “so when I was offered this role, I just brought my departure date forward.

“I am determined to make changes within the organisation as quickly as possible to restore public confidence “We’ll be able to help any large or and first is to be open and transparent, fast-growth organisation that holds making board meetings open to the lots of information, but brands with a public.” keen eye on marketing performance will specifically benefit from a new The organisation has struggled from the level of understanding from properly- fallout and departure of Sir Gary Verity in March and the subsequent enquiries engineered data.” regarding his alleged bullying of staff Michael added: “We’ve carefully and expense claims, but Peter is used assembled our team so that we’re not to handling public funds and as the just providing clients with future tech organisation has just been awarded a to spearhead business growth – we’re further £1m of public money, he intends also combining what I genuinely to run an audit to make sure Welcome to think are some of the smartest digital Yorkshire offers good value for money. marketing minds in the north, to give brands the time and space they “Having been in local Government for need to fix business problems with a so long, I am now looking forward to whole new world of information.” my new role,” Peter concluded.

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The North of England’s Premier Dental Practice Patient care and satisfaction is our passion. Hello from the Town Hall Dental Team. At Town Hall Dental, patients receive the highest quality dental treatment and patient care, within the elegant surroundings of our tastefully restored 19th century building.

and hygiene treatments to advanced cosmetic dentistry. We are pioneers in the North of England for cosmetic dentistry, with our Six-Month Smiles treatment being one of the most advanced on the market. Our Smile makeovers combine the best of current dental treatments to create a bespoke package that will leave you with a smile you can’t wait to show off. Our Dental implant Service provides the highest standard of care and expertise to leave you with a life changing smile, with affordable 0% finance options. Our level of expertise means we’re trusted by high profile clients, and we’re proud to be the official dental partners of Leeds United, ensuring the players receive the care and attention they need off the pitch.

We believe that the Town Hall Dental’s location, architecture and décor combined with the excellent service we provide, creates a unique dental experience unrivalled across other practices in West Yorkshire. The well being of our patients is our number one priority at Town Hall, thanks to our team of award-winning staff and patient care coordinators. We are proud to be winners of Best Patient Care in the Country at the 2017 Dentistry Awards and more recently this year Best Practice UK . Come for a visit and see for yourself our commitment to patient care, the patient journey and putting the needs of our customers first. Our highly skilled team of dentists are passionate about their work. They provide a comprehensive range of dental treatments and a relaxed, friendly and personal level of service. We can help with all your dental needs, from general care including check-up examinations

Our treatment range also extends to facial aesthetic treatments for those wanting to look younger, improve the condition of your skin and improve your self-confidence.

Charity has always been a big part of our mission at Town Hall Dental

As a practice, we are heavily involved in charity work both locally and internationally. The Town Hall Foundation is the charitable department of Town Hall Dental and is our way of giving back to the community who have supported us through our journey. We are delighted to be able to support great local causes, as well as run our own projects, through our foundation. Our work includes teaching proper dental hygiene to children and adults with learning disabilities, providing dental care for those in poverty and working with the homeless to help get them back on their feet and in to work.

To find out more about we can help you and your family enjoy the best in dental care, call your local dentist, conveniently located at Town Hall Dental in Brighouse near Halifax, West Yorkshire today on 01484 723788 and book a time for your first visit.

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Personal touches make a big difference It’s always difficult losing a loved one, but knowing that there is someone there to take care of everything for you, provides comfort. At R J Burgess, they understand that bereavements and funerals are intensely personal and that’s why they offer the ‘personal touch’ in everything they do. “There are lots of different ways to say goodbye to a loved one and we can arrange everything, but the most popular way is the traditional way,” explained director Ian Burgess. “We speak with the family about burial or cremation, what type of service they would like, in Church or

at a crematorium, what kind of transport they want, traditional or vintage hearse or a horse drawn carriage, a minister or whether, as is now more popular, a civil service, we really do look after everything. “When families come to see us they are surprised by our modern and bright surroundings, but you can be sure that your loved one is looked after in our Chapel of Rest, where you can visit if you choose to do so.”

R J Burgess also provide a range of funeral plans and are happy to speak with anyone who may wish to arrange their own funeral, no matter how far away that would be.

Princess Royal returns to Yorkshire The Princess Royal visited Leeds based Sound Leisure last month, the world’s only manufacturer of vinyl jukeboxes, to celebrate over 40 years of British manufacturing. The firm employs 90 staff and has a £5million turnover, exporting 75% of its products as far as Japan. Chris Black, managing director for Sound Leisure comments: “It has been a real highlight of 40 years of business and an absolute honour to welcome HRH Princess Anne to our factory, where she met with our dedicated team and international distributors. We were

able to demonstrate the methods used in the production of our handcrafted classic Jukeboxes. Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit and that will take pride of place in our reception. We couldn’t be prouder to be a family-run, British manufacturing business and want to express our thanks to The Princess Royal for the time she spent with us.”

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Visit https://www.rjburgess. co.uk/traditional-funeral/ for more information.

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On The Move New Appointments throughout our region waste, IT and estates on behalf of its clients, providing a full facilities management service to drive operational efficiency and sustainability.

He joined Andel in 2000 as the seventh employee and first install engineer. He rose through the ranks becoming operations director and now succeeds Julie Greenwood who retired last month.

Andel appoint a new MD Peter Double has been appointed managing director of Andel, Britain’s largest manufacturer of specialist in-building water, oil and gas leak detection systems. Peter was formerly operations director at the company.

PR firm appoints undergraduate Public relations consultancy Approach PR, is expanding its Ilkley-based team with the addition of business management undergraduate, Finley Howell.

14 14

He said: ‘I feel really fortunate to be taking on the role when the company is in an extremely good position. I will be building on the growth Julie started. She did an excellent job and I’m thankful to her for all the work she did.’ In June 1992, the late Ian Pogson started the business from his garden shed creating a leak detection system like n o o t h e r o n t h e m a r k e t. In the early days, Pogson employed just a handful of staff, including Julie then Peter, to support the development and manufacturing of his new Floodline system. Finley (20) has been appointed as junior account executive while on his placement year at Leeds Beckett University. Before joining Approach, he achieved upper second-class honours within his two years at university and has studied modules including financial management and entrepreneurial marketing. Focusing on social content and media relations Finley will work across business to business and business to consumer clients at the eight- strong agency.

New energy head sparks growth

Core managing director Colette Watts said: “Dru will be responsible for appointing four people into the new business team imminently, with further additional roles planned during 2020.

C o r e Fa c i l i t y S e r v i c e s i n Huddersfield has launched its new financial year with the appointment of Dru Widdowson as head of its energy division.

“We are delighted that our clients will benefit from Dru’s energy market knowledge and his considerable experience in helping local businesses secure significant cost and efficiency savings,” she added.

The move follows a recent merger with FM Energy to bolster the firm’s energy management division as part of its UK-wide expansion plans.

Dru said: “Core already has a strong energy team with a huge amount of expertise, the ambition is to take its successful formula to a wider audience. I will be making sure we recruit the right people to achieve those goals and as many organisations as possible benefit from reduced overheads and improved sustainability.”

Dru will be charged with developing the existing energy management team, effectively doubling its size in the next 12 months. As well as energy, Core manages He said: “Securing a placement at Approach presents an incredible opportunity for me to gain invaluable insight into the PR world and allows me to put two years of degree theory into practice. I’m experiencing so many different aspects of PR and business management with such a supportive team – every day is different and every day I’m learning an incredible amount. Taking a year out of university

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is definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made.” M a n a g i n g di rector S u z anne Wa t s o n a d d e d : “ I n v e s t i n g in the next generation of PR practitioners is a key focus for us and in Finley we recognised immediately, a hunger to learn, to develop and a real passion for our business. His academic acumen is second to none and we’re looking forward to working together and developing his PR and business skills over the next 12 months.”

N E W S U P D AT E

Leisure Business Expands with Barclays Funding

North Yorkshire e ntre pre ne urs Chris and Emma Harrison h av e a n n o u n c e d t h e completion of the purchase of Thornton Hall Country Park with funding support from Barclays.

The Park is located at Thornton in Craven and was previously owned by Chris’s parents John and Sandra Harrison. The estate offers hands on animal encounters on a traditional working farm together with 4 x 4 experiences, tea rooms and a play barn. Most recently, work has been completed on a high specification event and wedding venue, with far reaching views of the Yorkshire Dales. The funding from Barclays has enabled Chris and Emma to complete on the purchase of the estate where

able to support our growth ambitions one again.”

Chris and Emma e mplo y 35 locally and plan to expand as their turnover grows. Further plans for the play barn include making the area a warm and insulated space for inclement weather and expanding the café area for visitors.

Photo shows left to right Nicola Macgregor, Barclays with Emma and Chris Harrison, Thornton Hall Country Park on the new jumping pillow attraction.

they have both lived and worked for many years. Emma Harrison, said: “It’s great that we’ve been able to complete on the purchase and very exciting that we

are now the full owners of the estate and the business. We’ve also added some new attractions for our younger visitors, including our jumping pillow. We’ve banked with Barclays for many years so it was great that they were

Nicola Macgregor, Barclays business relationship director put together the funding package for the deal and said; “Chris and Emma have really impressed me with their growth plans and we’re delighted to be able to support the completion of the full purchase of the business. Thornton Hall Country Park is a fantastic visitor attraction for people of all ages and we look forward to seeing the business develop and grow over the coming years.”

It’s a dogs life!

To help combat stress in the workplace, more and more businesses are allowing staff to take their dogs to work and this is proving to be a huge success. TopicUK editor Gill Laidler was delighted earlier this month to be invited to Barclays Eagle Lab at Avenue HQ to meet Coco and Benson!

Coco is a beautiful five month old puppy belonging to head of SME’s at Barclays, Caroline Pullich (pictured right) and seven year old Benson belongs to Jodie Hill owner of Thrive Law.

“Both dogs are gorgeous and I can understand why they are seen to lower stress in the workplace, Coco even has her own AvenueHQ members badge as Caroline often works from Barclays Eagle Lab,” said Gill.

Do you take your dog to work? Email us your pictures and we’ll show as many as we can on our website. PR@topicuk.co.uk

TopicUK November 2019

ADVERTORIAL

Delivering a sustainable future By Kim Johnston,

City Manager for Leeds at CityFibre

Climate change is a topic that’s never far from the headlines, and whatever your views, most agree that with conscious change and new ways of thinking, living and working, we can help to address many of the environmental challenges heading our way. Many of us are already reducing our use of plastic, minimising t r av e l a n d s c r u t i n i s i n g t h e products we consume. But there’s much more work to be done. At CityFibre, we believe that harnessing the power of technology can drive a more sustainable shift in habits and behaviours, unifying disparate forms of technology together into truly effective solutions. Smart and sustainable communities Some of you may have a device in your home that you talk to, and almost all of you will have a mobile device that you now rarely ever use as an actual phone. However, these smart, connected devices are only as good as the networks they run on. For example, from a sustainability perspective, various sensors can now be deployed to monitor air pollution near dense traffic areas. On its own that information is useful, but largely, it cannot be used to do anything about the

What role can full fibre play? pollution. Now imagine those sensors are linked directly to road traffic system which can alter the flow of traffic depending on what the sensors are telling it. By marrying two disparate pieces of technology we can create a seamless union that tackles a very real problem like pollution. If you take this to the nth degree, you could have an entire city, and the devices within it, working in unison to make the environment better. That is the basic premise of Smart Cities. This is something that has been around for many years now, but it’s only recently started to take off. This is because having such a symphony of devices speaking to each other takes up a lot of data. Why infrastructure matters If you think of traditional copper networks as single track roads, these roads have been struggling with the constant stream of motorway traffic (data) being put through them. It is because of this,

the UK is now committed to using full fibre networks. These networks, built from fibre optic cables carry data on rays light – a bit like turning the single track roads into a multilane highway, ready to take on a tsunami of traffic. At CityFibre we are working to create that network capable of handling the huge amount of data we are expecting to come from smart city initiatives, finally unleashing the digital age. This is already happening here in Leeds and Huddersfield, where we are investing a combined £150m in bringing next generation, gigabit-capable full fibre networks within reach of almost every home, business and public service. Yorkshire alone is currently home to nine of CityFibre’s full fibre networks. With plans to also bring Batley, Bradford, Dewsbury, Doncaster and Rotherham into fibre to the home fold in the near future, it’s a hugely exciting time for Yorkshire’s smart city potential. Full fibre networks also have a host

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of practical environmental benefits. Firstly, they are passive. They don’t require constant power to operate, unlike electrified copper networks, so the energy consumption is dramatically lower. Secondly, optical fibres are only slightly thicker than a human hair - a fraction of the size and weight of copper wiring. This makes it possible to deploy using a technique known as ‘micro-trenching’, which is cheaper, quicker and less environmentally destructive. Finally, the passive, robust nature of fibre and its track record for fewer faults means it needs significantly less maintenance over time and less re-excavation. Technology as a solution We are at a very early stage of what technology can do. But, with full fibre, we can guarantee the network bandwidth, speeds and reliability required to deliver connected environmental solutions, now and in the future.

This is a topic we explored recently with Carbon Smart in a study that found that ubiquitous high speed, high capacity full fibre broadband could help drive a reduction in global carbon emissions by up to a fifth. For instance, it reported that increased teleworking in the UK could deliver the equivalent of taking 2.5 million cars off the road long term, and if large businesses were to support this shift by switching to reliable, high-capacity shared data networks, they could reduce their overall emissions by 50 per cent. These impressive stats can be put down to lower fuel consumption and a reduced office footprint, which will also save businesses hard earned cash. The study also highlighted that the adoption of smart solutions in buildings, such as temperature and motion sensors that automate lighting and climate controls, could potentially reduce global emissions by 16.5 per cent per annum by 2020. These are just a few examples that demonstrate the role technology can play in making communities more sustainable. And, with a whole raft of innovation taking place in the smart city space, who knows how far away we could be from a game changing innovation which really helps to turn the tide. What is for sure is that in order to harness the potential this technology has, it will need the solid foundations of a full fibre network in order to flourish. The good news is Yorkshire is already ahead of the game. To find out more about the Gigabit City infrastructure in Yorkshire visit: https://www. cityfibre.com/gigabit-cities/ yorkshire/ or follow @CityFibre

OUT OF OFFICE

Diane Rowatt Client Services Director at Force24 You arrive home on Friday night after a busy week. What’s the first thing you do? I always get ready to take my dog, Marv, for a long walk. When I arrive back, I pour myself a well-deserved G&T – after a long week, it’s great to put my feet up and relax. If it’s winter, I’ll also light the fire and some candles to create a nice, chilled environment. I usually write a list of what I want to achieve in the weekend too. It’s time for the weekend. What are we most likely to find you doing, and where Saturdays always start with either a gym visit or run – or both if I’m feeling super energetic! I will always try and get any chores completed the same morning too, so I can enjoy the rest of my day. Then, I’ll usually catch up with a group of

out my schedule, so I feel prepared for another jam-packed five days of work.

friends over a late lunch, and a few glasses of wine. I love a trip out to a spa, so if you can’t find me in a restaurant, I’ll be there!

Work again tomorrow. Do you get the Sunday blues or look forward to getting back – and why?

Sundays are about adventures – either in the Yorkshire Dales with Marv, on my bike or spending time with my godchildren. Whatever I get up to, it’s always followed by – yes you guess it, more food – a Sunday roast and a Guinness!

I like to get an early night – and be in bed by 9pm on a Sunday – as I’m back to the 5.30am alarm for the weekday morning gym sessions!

Saturday night arrives. What’s your idea of the perfect way to spend it? In my pyjamas! I prefer socialising in the afternoon and getting home at a reasonable time, for a bit of TV and then getting a decent night’s sleep.

I don’t generally get ‘Sunday blues’ – I live on my own, so I look forward to seeing my Force family in the week. Each day is different and brings its own challenges – along with lots of excitement. I love what I do, so I don’t dread Mondays like I know other people sometimes do.

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

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

Hopefully none as I’ve done them the day before. I always check my diary for the coming week and sort

Get my gym kit ready, have a bath and listen to some meditation to wind down. TopicUK November 2019

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Huddersfield’s first business week hailed a success

N E W S U P D AT E

Organised by Lindley-based P R a n d M a r k e t i n g a g e n c y, KC Communications, the aim of the week was to bring together the Huddersfield business community to showcase the diverse range of businesses and expertise in the town. The week launched with a panel session at Magic Rock Brewery, which consisted of leading members of the business community including Claire Paxman of Paxman Scalp Cooling, Simon Bodsworth of Daval Furniture, Ray Woolhead of Divine Gin and Katrina Cliffe of KC Communications and founder of Huddersfield Business Week

©MarkFlynn

Hudde rsfield’s f i r s t business week has been hailed a success as hundreds of delegates across the Yorkshire region attended to take part in the 40 events hosted throughout the week.

Katrina commented: “Huddersfield has many thriving businesses but we often overlook what is on our doorstep. Huddersfield B u s i n e s s We e k w a s a n opportunity to showcase the great organisations and expertise we have and encourage more local trade.

Leading members of the business community at Magic Rock Brewery.

The panel shared stories of their business journeys, challenges faced and their ambitions for Huddersfield during the event which attracted over 100 attendees Other events taking place during the week covered a variety of business topics including; culture, HR, student and graduate recruitment, marketing, legal advice, finance, factory tours, workplace wellbeing and many more. A fundraising quiz night was also held at Revolution in the town centre with the aim of raising

Along with the Huddersfield business community actively engaged, the week attracted delegates from Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Sheffield and Wakefield with event hosts sharing feedback that they have already received leads and new clients off the back of the week”. money to put four young people through a video game development academy. The workshops are provided by Ocean Spark Studios who are

based in The Media Centre. The four-day programme will see young people learn new skills and the opportunities available to them in the town.

Huddersfield Business Week returns 5th – 9th October 2 0 2 0 . C o n ta c t i n f o @ huddersfieldbusinessweek. co.uk for more information

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Luxury holiday park group taps into smart tech to transform its digital marketing People looking to book their next UK getaway or holiday home ownership should have the chance to receive more relevant, engaging comms from luxury holiday home and lodge park operator, Leisure Resorts. The family-run holiday park group has upgraded its online capabilities by plugging in marketing automation platform, Force24. The duo’s partnership aims to reinvigorate marketing campaigns, gather indepth sales information and analyse online traffic, in order to shape future customer correspondence. Additional support includes the building of ultra-personalised

Lee Senior, head of client operations, added: “We’re enjoying helping Leisure Resorts to truly understand each individual customer journey and develop the ways in which they can communicate with holidaymakers both during and after their stays."

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as the brand gears up for further growth. Commenting on the partnership, Izzy Rudman, digital marketing

Leeds-based Force24 – first established in 2011 and home to the fastest-growing, UK built and managed, GDPR-compliant marketing automation platform – works alongside a range of travel and tourism brands such as Zip World, Park Holidays and Riviera Travel.

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N E W S U P D AT E

SD acquires H2O Sealants business SD Sealants, the UK’s leading sealant and cosmetic repairs company is putting down roots in Yorkshire with the acquisition of Leeds-based company H2O Sealants. SD Sealants, the UK’s leading sealant and cosmetic repairs company is putting down roots in Yorkshire with the acquisition of Leeds-based company H2O Sealants. Over the coming months, the business plans to expand its offering in the North of England and its latest acquisition is set to be the first of many developments in the area. On acquiring its first business in the North, SD Sealants Managing Director Nick Jones said; “We’re thrilled to be growing our team in Yorkshire. After setting up our first offices in Leeds two years ago, the demand for work has increased exponentially and we’ve loved being involved in so many historic and new builds in the region. “SD has just celebrated a record sales quarter from July to September this year, and on top of that we’re looking forward to marking an amazing third consecutive year of growth for the business with a new foothold in the north.

With increasing onus on employers to consider the wellbeing and mental health of their workforce, providing the right office environment is more important than ever. With that in mind, Huddersfield recruitment firm Stafflex, has recently undergone a £130,000 refurbishment, part financed by Funding Circle and the Leeds Enterprise Partnership (LEP), to facilitate its rapid growth. Brian Stahelin, managing director and founder, says that while expansion was the catalyst for the refurbishment, employee wellbeing was a major consideration in the design. “It’s early days, but as everyone settles into the new space, we fully expect to see improved results and better staff wellbeing,” said Brian. “Employee welfare is important to us; all our staff have gone through mental health training and we now have five mental health first aiders in place. This was a consideration during the

Recruitment firm unveils office refurbishment redesign of the office. We also have enough space for more employees as we expand.” Stafflex’s 22 staff have much more space and enjoy a number of breakout areas in which to relax away from their desks. They have access to private meeting booths and there is a meeting room seating 10-12 people. The creation of the new reception floor has provided a flexible space which can be

“It’s early days, but as everyone settles into the new space, we fully expect to see improved...” converted into a training area to accommodate 15-20 people. “Anothe r big drive of the refurb was to improve the experience for our candidates, providing them with a more

enjoyable experience then what is currently on offer elsewhere. Visitors will have more space in the reception area instead of sitting around one small table, as well as private meeting booths for carrying out registrations instead of completing them at consultants’ desks.” Stafflex held an e ve nt to launch the new office space w i t h H u d d e r s f i e l d To w n commercial director, Sean Jarvis and Huddersfield Giants club ambassador, Eorl Crabtree cutting the ribbon, alongside Brian Stahelin. Stafflex supply staff into the education, industrial, engineering and commercial sectors across Huddersfield and the wider West Yorkshire region. more information click here or call on 01484 351010. TopicUK November 2019

A V ES RUTPODRAI T A EL ND EW

Should you start a business in Leeds? Recently named the best place to start a business in the UK, the city of Leeds continues to make a name for itself. From the timeless gothic architecture that lines many of the city’s streets, to the constant flow of contemporary new builds, the appeal of this modern powerhouse extends far beyond the city-comber experience and into the world of business. At Avenue HQ, we’re firmly behind the belief that Leeds has a lot to offer the UK business scene, and here’s why... The Thriving Economy Leeds City Council proudly highlights the city’s £64.6 b i l l i o n e c o n o m y, w i t h a predicted growth of 21% over the next decade. Of all of the UK’s major cities, Leeds has the most diverse economy and has seen unparalleled growth in private sector jobs. With the move of Channel 4 this year to the city, this follows the trend of global businesses such as Burberry, ASDA and Sky Betting

business development, is priceless.

& Gaming; the weight of the city as an internationally relevant base is clear. The Cost of Living It is no secret that the cost of living in the North of England is less than that in most of the South, particularly when compared to London. For business start-up costs, this theme continues. An extensive analysis of price data concluded last month that Leeds is the best place to start a business in the UK. Alongside only Liverpool and Cardiff in the £15,000 average annual business launch cost, the perks are undeniable.

sector, through to a dynamic range of creative industries dotted around the city, the opportunity to collaborate directly with such a variety of companies within a relatively compact city centre is significant.

In particular, platforms like Barclays Eagle Lab have invested in growing cities Eagle Labs across the UK, including at Avenue HQ’s East Parade The Diversity site, seeking to identify and For details on T h e l e v e l o f d i v e r s i t y i n anything Avenue nurture high-growth small businesses that call Leeds their HQ, check out our to medium businesses. home acts as a noteworthy website: The access to funding, www.avenue-hq. advantage for start-ups. From support and expertise that com or email: the thriving financial district, s.bensley@avenue- this offers, within the UK’s to the developing technology hq.com most exciting city for speedy

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The Talent Home to five universities, the output of graduates within the Leeds area is rather unique. Whether a business is looking for keen interns, or to maximize on the benefits of recruiting new graduates, the availability of eager young talent is impressive. The low rent prices and high quality of living that Leeds maintains has a hugely positive impact on the tendency for graduates to remain in the city postuniversity. And the list doesn’t end there - there’s so much more to Leeds then we can put into one article. What we do know, is that with the burgeoning influence of the city, starting a business here is definitely a smart move, so don’t miss out on any opportunities that come your way.

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GOLD R e t ur n o f i c on i c s e r i e s s e t to st r i ke

Back Row L-R Kieron Richardson, Laurie Brett, Emma Osman, Gaynor Faye, Shayne Ward. Front Row Sacha Parkinson

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

Band of Gold, one of the most watched and iconic shows in British TV history, is heading to the stage this Autumn for the first time and when TopicUK editor Gill Laidler caught up with writer / director Kay Mellor she said fans are in for a real treat.

approached our car, I was shocked,” Kay recalls, “mainly because she was so young, only 14 or 15 and my daughters weren’t much older than that.” Haunted by the encounter, Kay left the party early to track down the girl but couldn’t find her. “I never saw her again, but it started me thinking ‘what drives a woman to sell her body on the streets?’

Kay was born in Leeds and is proud of her Yorkshire roots. She met her husband Anthony on a blind date. “One of my friends asked me if I wanted to go on a date with her brother Anthony and I thought, why not. I went along to a party to meet him but got chatting to another guy called Tony who was really handsome. Anthony hadn’t shown, but I didn’t mind, it meant I could stay with Tony. When my friend arrived, she said ‘oh I see you’ve already met my brother’ it turned out Anthony was Tony!” The couple married not long later when

“It took me eight years to write band of Gold and get it onto the screen. I literally begged people to read the script, after all it was about sex workers in the North of England written by a relatively unknown writer!”

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Kay Mellor ©KytePhotography

A young woman approached our car, I was shocked, mainly because she was so young, only 14 or 15 and my daughters weren’t much older than that.... Kay was just 16 and Anthony 17. Their first daughter Yvonne was born in 1967, followed four years later by a second daughter Gaynor. “As I was still quite young when Yvonne was born, I made a promise to my mother that I would go back to education, so when my girls went to school, I headed to Bretton Hall College passing O-levels, A-levels and graduated with a BA Hons degree.” Kay’s writing career started when she landed a job working for Granada Television in the 1980s. “I suppose I was lucky, working on television scripts for some great TV shows, including Coronation Street,

the most watched programme on built an amazing cast which led the the ITV network.” In 1989, Kay also show to become a huge success. wrote seven episodes of the Channel 4 soap Brookside and created the “This was the first time that James long running children’s drama and Ruth had met, they became Children’s Ward before writing a good friends and during breaks in host of highly acclaimed and popular filming actually worked on an idea drama series. for a show of their own. That show went on to become the very popular Gavin and Stacey.” Popular One television series Kay will be fondly remembered for is the very successful Fat Friends starring James Cordon and Ruth Jones. “I wanted genuinely big people to play the parts. I had seen James in a Tango advert, so I asked my casting director to find him. It worked; we

However, it was Band of Gold that went on to become one of Kay’s Iconic shows. She was inspired to write the hard-hitting drama when, on the way to a party, she and her husband drove through Lumb Lane in Bradford, a notorious hangout for sex workers. “A young woman

The perseverance paid off. The gripping crime drama was a phenomenon and commanded an audience of up to 15 million each week. The show made Kay one of the UK’s most successful and revered dramatists, leading to many other successful projects. Band of Gold remains a firm favourite. “People still yell when they see me in the street ‘What happened to Carol?’ in reference to Cathy Tyson’s feisty character who took Gina under her wing,” added Kay. “Or I loved Band of Gold, why don’t you write more of it?’ So, twenty-two years on from the series finale, Kay has done just that, opting for a stage version of the classic story with a brand-new cast, rather than bringing back the original stars of Cathy Tyson, Geraldine James, Barbara Dickson and Samantha Morton. “I have revised the plot and added a few twists to keep it fresh and surprising, the killer of young mother turned sex worker Gina won’t be the same for example she teased. “It’s funny and it’s sad and audiences are FF TopicUK November 2019

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E and felt the time was right to leave Megan behind. I had been in the show for seven years and was ready for a fresh challenge.

going to be told a big story not over six weeks but in just two hours. However, it is live theatre, so it has that excitement to it because it unfolds in front of the audience’s eyes.

“It wasn’t really planned. Kay asked me to help out at the workshops which all seemed to be scheduled for when I wasn’t working, so I was delighted to get involved. I took the role of Rose, the grand dame of the lane and really enjoyed it, so when Kay said I was perfect for the role, I jumped at it.

“Having adapted Fat Friends for the stage, I know there’s nothing like sitting in an auditorium listening to your play and hearing people laughing and applauding. It’s magical, like a drug.”

Brilliant After reworking the series as a play, workshops followed, and big changes were made. “I decided to set it in its original time period because to be honest, not much has changed since then. There are more sex workers than there were 20 years ago, people are on the streets basically to feed their kids and make ends meet,” she added. “We have assembled a brilliant new cast, using some well-known faces and allowed me to reinvent the show for both long term fans and those seeing it for the first time.”

“It was a wrench leaving behind my friends at Emmerdale, seven years is a long time and I had a blast playing Megan.”

Gaynor Faye

Another Coronation Street favourite Shayne Ward joins the cast in the role of DCI Newall, the detective tasked with finding Gina’s killer. After three years in Corrie, Shayne is looking forward to going out on his first ever tour in a play.

Laurie Brett is cast in the role of Anita, a working-class survivor. She rents out a room to the girls for a cut of their earnings. Laurie is best known for her roles in EastEnders and Waterloo Road.

Emma O sman (D octors and Snatch) plays Carol, who constantly talks about not wanting to be controlled, to be independent and her own woman, but she’s so scared of being abandoned.

Another familiar face is Andrew Dunn (Coronation Street and Dinner ladies). He plays the role of Ian a counsellor and client with all sorts of flaws. This isn’t the first time Andrew and Kay have worked together. They starred as husband and wife in another of Kay’s play called A Passionate Woman at Hull Truck Theatre in 2010. “Kay was fantastic to work with, so I am really looking forward to working with her again,” Andrew told us.

Sacha Parkinson is thrilled to be cast as Gina. Gina is driven to prostitution after splitting from her abusive husband. Sacha was only three when Band of Gold was aired on TV so will be able to bring a fresh take on it, as she never saw the show. Hollyoaks regular and Dancing on Ice finalist Kieron Richardson makes his professional stage debut as bad-boy Steve who becomes the prime suspect in Gina’s murder.

Finally, the cast couldn’t be complete without Gaynor Faye, Kay’s ‘real life’ daughter. Gaynor will take over from Geraldine James as Rose for the stage version. Rose is like a mother hen, ruling the lane where the younger girls work, noting “she is very territorial and nobody is stepping on her patch, but she is a good friend and the kind of person everyone would want to have their back because she is tough.

Challenge We were also lucky to catch up with Gaynor ahead of the opening in their hometown of Leeds at The Grand Theatre.

Gaynor is no stranger to soaps and drama, first hitting our screens as Judy Mallett in Coronation Street, a role she played from 1995 to 1999. She has played a number of other roles, Playing the Field, Between the Sheets, The Chase, a television series she co-wrote with Kay and Lauren in Fat Friends, another she helped to co-write, penning two of the episodes. In 2006 Gaynor, who lives in Leeds with her long-term partner with whom she has two children, appeared on ITV’s Dancing on Ice alongside professional skater Daniel Whiston and was crowned inaugural Dancing on Ice Champion.

“I love what I do,” Gaynor told us, “I am working on a number of new projects at the moment, one is a short film called The Dark Mountain, Fresh from her role as the feisty currently filming on Snowdonia, Megan in Emmerdale, a role she before serious rehearsals get has played for seven years, Gaynor underway for Band of Gold. is looking forward to this new Band of Gold opens at The Leeds challenge. “I remember the television series Grand Theatre on Thursday well, but at the time I was too 28 November and runs until young to be part of it. I didn’t Saturday 14 December. Box want to miss out a second time office: 0844 848 2700.

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ADVERTORIAL MTD for sole traders and landlords While not compulsory yet, there is a pilot for the self-employed and landlords who want to submit their information electronically. You can sign up to keep your records digitally and send income information to HMRC quarterly instead of filling in a Self-Assessment Tax Return, with any calculations about reliefs or allowances done at the end of the year.

What you need to know about making tax digital Pitched as the Government’s answer to making filing tax information easier for businesses, after a series of highly-publicised delays, Making Tax Digital (MTD) came into force in April 2019. But due to the way the changes that eventually all businesses will are phased, many businesses are have to file their tax paperwork still unsure about exactly what – corporation, VAT and director they should be doing differently, self-assessment – online. But as it so here are the four key things you has been phased in, only certain businesses have to comply at the need to know. moment. The basics Making Tax Digital is intended MTD if your business is under as a cost-saving measure which the £85k VAT threshold will ensure that the Treasury The Government has promised gets its hands on the tax that it won’t ask small businesses businesses need to pay sooner. turning over less than £85,000 The Government also says that it’s to submit their records digitally about ensuring the right amount until at least Spring 2021, even if of tax is paid. The intention is you are voluntarily VAT-registered.

You can volunteer to submit your records electronically but won’t be obliged to just yet. However, if you still keep your receipts in a carrier bag and note your mileage in your diary, it is worth talking with your accountant about moving to an online accounts package sooner rather than later due to the time savings they create.

There are lots of things which are uncertain about Making Tax Digital, but what we do know is that keeping business records electronically saves time and money in the long-run, while also giving you more instant access to critical business information such as cashflow and pipeline details. Regardless of how and when MTD will impact your business, signing up to use an online accounts package is a very smart move. FOR ADVICE ABOUT MAKING TAX DIGITAL IN RELATION TO YOUR BUSINESS GIVE ONE OF THE FRIENDLY PARSONS TEAM A CALL ON 01924 669500. Ian Parsons is managing partner of Parsons Accountants in Wakefield.

If you turn over >£85k… If your business turns over more than the VAT threshold (currently £85,000), from April 2019 you needed to submit your VAT return digitally using approved software – something like Xero or Quickbooks. The Government’s intention is to extend MTD to include corporation tax and income tax, but we don’t yet know when that will be.

Food & Drink

Bringing a taste of Thailand to Leeds Each edition, we are invited to sample the delights of a Yorkshire restaurant and share our findings of these local gems with our readers. T h i s t i m e , To p i c U K e d i t o r Gill Laidler visited Sukhothai in Chapel Allerton, with our new columnist Laura Bartlett, founding editor of House of Coco Magazine.

By Gill Laidler, Group Editor TopicUK

Sukhothai 8, Regent Street, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4PE Restaurant Opening Times: Monday - Saturday 5–11pm Sunday - 12 - 3pm - 5-10pm  Email chapela@sukhothai.co.uk  https://sukhothai.co.uk  0113 237 0141

now branches in Headingley, Harrogate and on South Parade in Leeds city centre

Welcoming

There is plenty of free parking outside and once inside, we were greeted warmly and shown to our table. Dressed in authentic Thai attire, our server took our coats, commenting on how amazing Laura’s fur coat was and offered us both the food and drink menus. It wasn’t long before she returned to take our drinks order of a glass of crisp white house wine and a glass of Prosecco, leaving us to browse the extensive menu and take in the beautiful traditional surroundings.

Sukhothai, named after the old capital of Thailand and translates into English as ‘The dawn of happiness’, opened its doors in Chapel Allerton in 2002 and with its super attentive service, delicious food and amazing fresh Thai ingredients, has established itself firmly on the map of one of Leeds finest. Other branches quickly followed and there are

Although the restaurant is large, it still feels warm and welcoming and I do like the open kitchen running full length of the restaurant, so you can watch your food being cooked and they are watched over by huge Thai Bhudda’s visible around the restaurant. Once we had placed our orders, we didn’t have to wait long for

“Thai food is one of my favourites, and food cooked by head chef and owner Ban Kaewkraikhot is some of the best in the area. Ban ran her own successful restaurant in Bangkok for eight years before relocating to the UK, to run a well known Yorkshire Restaurant for four years, before once again setting up on her own.

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FOOD & DRINK starters, arriving piping hot, Laura opted for Poh Piah Hed Horm at £4.95. These Thai spring rolls were delicious and filled with Shiitake mushrooms, vegetables and glass noodles, served with a sweet chilli sauce. I chose the very popular traditional Satay Gai at £6.25. Grilled chicken breast skewers, marinated in Thai herbs and served with a delicious peanut sauce. D uring the short break between starter and main course, I was able to chat with Laura about her magazine House of Coco. Firmly established, the magazine sells in Harrods and Harvey Nichols in London and concentrates o n t rav e l , f a s h i o n , a r t and beauty. Laura amd Te a m C o c o t r av e l t h e world staying in the most wonderful locations and hotels and dine in the finest restaurants. We are delighted that Laura i s j o i n i n g t h e te a m a t TopicUK from this edition, to bring us information on the best places to stay for business, not just in the UK but all over the world, particularly for our lady business travellers, travelling alone.

Traditional Time for main course and for Laura it was Gang Massaman at £10.50. A c re a m y c o c o n u t c u r r y with turmeric, star anise, cinnamon with peanut, potato, onion and carrot. To a c c o m p a n y, L a u r a

and cracked black pepper, topped with crispy garlic. I chose chicken but beef, pork and prawn are also available. To accompany, I chose egg fried rice, served in an individual bowl with just the right amount.

Favourite

chose Steamed Thai Rice with coconut milk served on a banana leaf at £3.50. “Delicious, I have eaten in many Thai restaurants around the world and in Thailand itself and this is up there with the best,” she said. Laura is no stranger to Sukhothai however, as it is local to where she lives and she dines there quite often. It is also a firm favourite with her parents. Fo r m e , I c h o s e P a d Gratiem Prik Tai at £10.50. This is a traditional stir fry, with plenty of garlic

Plates cleared away and we were shown the dessert menu. Although there was some very tempting offers such as Chocolate Fudge Cake, Caramelised Banana with Vanilla Ice Cream and exotic Mango and Sweet Sticky Rice all reasonably priced at £5.95, we both declined as there was just no room for more after such large portions. There are plenty of after dinner coffees and teas to choose from or for the none drivers, after dinner cocktails, with my favourite, Salted Caramel Espresso Martini. With coats returned we headed out with farewells from the very frie ndly staff. We promised to return and we certainly will and can highly recommend this beautiful restaurant. I have visited the central Leeds branch before and received the same warm welcome. TopicUK November 2019

THE ARTS

programme, young people reported an increase in, amongst other things, their creativity, emotional literacy and motivation. “These findings have enabled us to better understand the impact of our work and, in turn, evidence this impact with our partners and funders.”

Music education in decline

By Murray Edwards - Art and business consultant

Music scheme improved deprived children’s creativity & wellbeing!

I found this of particular interest given the extraordinary results found in a Bradford school recently when the arts were reintroduced into the curriculum, details of which I outlined in the last issue of this magazine. Children gained more than just musical skills from the ArtsTrain programme A music programme working with a large proportion of deprived children and young people has increased their confidence, resilience and teamwork, an evaluation of the scheme has concluded. ArtsTrain works with young people Author: J Roth agedImage 5 to 23 in theLincoln London boroughs of Bromley, Bexley and Lewisham,

the average age being 15. Nearly half were recipients of Free School Meals, 44% had a disability, and 22% had Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during the survey period. Participants gained an increased ability to work together in a team, a greater propensity to persevere and complete tasks, and more confidence around trying out new things. Nine out of 10 participants surveyed said they planned to continue their music learning over the following six months. ArtsTrain Programme Manager Keith Sykes said that the report had been commissioned in order to “better understand the impact that our music-making activity has had on young people’s wellbeing”. He added: “The research demonstrated that following participation in our

ArtsTrain Academy. “This project laid the foundation,” he said. “It gave me more confidence in my abilities whilst having a supportive space to develop my crafts inspired me to pursue my passions in music, poetry and entertainment.”

Positive impacts The year-long evaluation of 371 young people involved in 24 ArtsTrain creative music projects found that, as well as learning specific music skills, the programme had a broader, more far-reaching impact on participants. The report’s key findings included: • 9 0 % s a y i n g t h e y c o u l d communicate with other people through music following the • programme (from 56% at the beginning) • 84% (up from 55%) saying they could work well in a team • 74% (up from 61%) saying they were able to use their imagination to solve problems • 86% (up from 57%) reporting that they like to finish something once they’ve started • 86% (up from 56%) reporting that they can push themselves to do the best they can Additionally, there was a 30% increase in those who felt enthusiastic about getting involved in different things, and 19% increase in those who felt enthusiastic about creating something new. Abigail, 16, said that being involved in the ArtsTrain London Jazz Festival Collective had developed her communication and creative skills: “I’ve learnt not to be scared to share ideas, how to communicate with others and share opinions. All useful skills to have not just for music but in general.” Troy, 18, worked on his song-writing and production as part of the

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The report comes at a time of continued decline in music education in schools in England, with the number of students sitting Music GCSE dropping by 2.2% in one year, according to the most recent figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), recently stated that the number of schoolchildren sitting GCSE Music has dropped by 18.6% since 2016. Keith Sykes said that the current decline in mainstream music education made the report’s findings all the more important. “For all of us working with schools, we have seen first-hand the cuts to the provision of creative subjects, including the cutting back on lesson time, staffing and in some cases facilities. “Having this independent research that evidences positive impact on young people’s personal, social and emotional development has allowed us to secure new commissions from statutory services, schools and colleges.” As I said last time, more and more information is becoming available about the value of teaching creative subjects in schools and this report is yet another example. Let’s hope that this will ultimately result in major changes to the national curriculum with the addition of at least one creative subject. The final report is available http:// bop.co.uk/assets/others/190614_ ArtsTrain_-_final_report.pdf and is well worth reading.

Keep up to date with the latest business news for the district www.wakefieldfirst.com Wakefield First is the business facing side of Wakefield Council, It’s been a busy period for business so far in Wakefield with lots of events news that we are extremely proud of. Here are a few highlights that we are celebrating…

0 SPORTSWEAR GIANT PUMA INVESTS IN WAKEFIELD! Global sportswear giant PUMA has agreed a deal for a 261,000 sq ft warehouse in West Yorkshire. Alongside the letting, the building has also been sold for £30.7m. PUMA has taken the newly-built 261,000 sq ft industrial warehouse for its national distribution centre on a 15-year lease at a rent of £5.75 per sq ft. The company has commenced a fit out of the building and taken occupation from 1 August 2019.

0 AMAZING NEW DIGITAL GROWTH PROGRAM LAUNCHES…#GROW! The #Grow scheme is a new grant fund from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership established to build on the momentum of Channel 4’s investment in the City Region, and the wider growth potential of the creative and digital sector. As part of the scheme Wakefield Council assist the LEP in providing grant support to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to unlock growth projects and develop greater capacity in the sector. Although there are a number of existing

F o r m o re i n f o o n a l l t h i n g s b u s i n e s s i n W a k e f i e l d v i s i t : w w w. w a k e f i e l d f i r s t . c o m

WORKPLACE

I N N O VAT I O N S

Successful businesses are making things personal.

For decades, there’s been a ‘secret’ to business success, but it has passed many by until more recent times, and the custom application (or ‘custom app’) development industry remains relatively unknown of. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know, right? So, let’s introduce custom applications in this new ‘Workplace Innovation’ section of TopicUK and in future issues we’ll learn more about the power of their adoption and the why, when and how. We’ll start by confirming that if we use the term ‘app’ in this context, we’re not specifically talking about mobile phone or tablet apps. Custom app is a term that’s gained some traction to make the description of a custom software application sound trendier, perhaps. But what are they and why are businesses adopting them in droves? Back in the day, bespoke software was developed by IT titans for banks, insurance companies and international enterprises and many of those core systems still underpin them. The breadth of off“ Spreadsheets the-shelf solutions are being (mis-)used like available simply didn’t exist as they databases and by being so very do today. In recent easy to create... ” years, however, businesses in the know have flocked to the premise of using custom business process applications, designed around the unique needs of their own businesses with the aim of making them more efficient,

better informed, more responsive, automated and ultimately, more profitable.

Powerful Walk in to almost any workplace today and you’ll find IT at the very heart of its missioncritical operations, it’s literally fundamental to day-to-day processes and business continuity. As a result, there are now more ‘off-the-shelf’ line of business (e.g. accounting, CRM and ERP etc.) and industry-vertical software applications available than ever before, all trying to provide a broad range of features and tools. There comes a point, though, where these systems simply don’t align to the unique needs of a business well enough. They can be too focused, rigid, or, even when customisation is somewhat possible, dictate that the businesses using them must heavily adapt their own business processes to manage them. Solutions created for the masses are usually feature-rich, but can be complex to use, expensive to license, let alone customise, and often they are simply a poor fit. As

a result, staff look for alternative ways to manage their individual tasks and become reliant on spreadsheets, but despite being powerful and ubiquitous, they are two-dimensional and stifle workflows and collaboration. Spreadsheets are being (mis-) used like databases and by being so very easy to create, they quickly and continuously spawn within a business, creating ‘silos’ of information, each potentially a near duplicate of the last, only to serve a slightly different purpose. Yet, spreadsheets are prone to inconsistent data and actually increase the lack of visibility across the business since they can’t be used practically in collaboration.

Custom Enter the custom application, which is often a product of the company’s own imagination and aspirations for how the repetitive operational tasks should be managed. It’s not uncommon for the role of an app to be created to do something quite humble in the first instance. In a larger business its introduction might be to resolve a single business process

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challenge in just one department, but if in doing so it can consolidate a number of silos of information, remove some of the reliance on the specialist knowledge of key staff, or automate a manual and time-consuming task, suddenly the business is free to take a deep breath and seize opportunities to turn these benefits in to positive growth. A custom application can be created to be whatever your business needs it to be, but if the idea attracts you, you should adopt the approach of seizing the ‘low hanging fruit’ first, then you can introduce more complex workflows once your ROI has been realised. So, if your business is hitting glass ceilings and has become reliant on a combination of mission-critical spreadsheets, perhaps you should consider custom applications as a possible answer to innovation in your workplace.

ADVERTORIAL

Kirklees College lead the way with new Augmented Reality Prospectus In a world of advancing technology and an ever changing digital presence, the way companies market their services and grab the attention of their audience is critical, and never has it been so important than in the education sector. Choosing the right college is a key decision and with so many options out there, attracting that student and connecting with them has never been harder.

“Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging trend that allows brands to give their customers unique experiences with the convenience of tapping into their mobile devices. With people wanting more from their everyday experiences, we are excited to be trialling AR, and are the

first college within the Kirklees area to bring this new way of marketing to the forefront.” Lydia Butterworth, Head of Sales and Marketing. AR has enabled Kirklees College to take their new prospectus to the next level by adding this virtual component. Users are able to scan the printed pages of the prospectus with their mobile devices to access a range of new features and information. Enrolling and starting college can often be a scary time, but with the addition of AR technology, prospective students are able to become more confident about starting college.

We’ve created some exclusive AR content just for Topic readers, which can be accessed by: • • • •

Downloading the genARate app from your app store Signing up to the app Opening up the scanner on the app and scanning this image Enjoy your AR experience

FREE Introduction to

Considering moving or recently moved to the Microsoft Cloud with Office 365, but want to know more? Eitex are a local Microsoft Partner that works closely with local businesses to help them understand the components of Office 365. We can help explain how the different applications in Office 365 can enhance your systems (such as email, file sharing, communication, and working from anywhere). Our events aim to provide you with a greater understanding of the platform so you can make an educated decision on if this is the right fit for your organisation.

Includes breakfast! For more information or to book a session please go to https://www.eitex.co.uk/events Alternatively scan the QR code below:

Unit 3, Flemming Court Whistler Drive t: +44(0)1924 488612 Glasshoughton e: hello@eitex.co.uk West Yorkshire www.eitex.co.uk WF10 5HW

ADVERTORIAL

Extraordinary impact of the Community Foundation

Understanding the needs of the grassroots organisations they invest in and helping their supporters increase their philanthropic impact is important to the Community Foundation for Calderdale...

o, over the last four years, “research I conducted revealed worrying levels of homelessness they have undertaken annual and increasing levels of poverty, research, including Vital in particular child poverty in Signs, an initiative spearheaded by Calderdale. We knew we needed Community Foundations of Canada to bring together funding data, to act, so in November 2016, we committed a proportion of the statistics and first-hand interviews funding we have available to with charities and their beneficiaries support organisations who are to get a detailed picture of crucial tackling these issues, we wanted issues affecting Calderdale. to work directly with charities Steve Duncan DL, CEO at the and community groups working Community Foundation said, the on the frontline”. Steve continued “Since then we have invested over £375,000 in projects which have helped thousands of people to access support and advice services, winter shelters, holiday hunger clubs, food banks and practical support such as providing b l a n ke t s , s l e e p i n g b a g s , school uniforms etc”. As a charity, the Community Foundation for Calderdale is unique, in that they connect donors with local causes that matter to them, help them review the most effective and efficient ways of meeting their charitable goals, and help them see and experience the positive impact their charitable giving achieves.

Steve Duncan DL, CEO ©Chris lord Photography



Steve commented “To do the work we are passionate about, we partner with a range of corporate,

The Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Ed Anderson seen here trying out an adapted bike at Ravenscliffe School Sixth Form at SpringHall, Halifax ©Chris Lord Photography

individual and public sector donors, and it is the financial support they offer us that enables us to identify local issues and be part of the solution. In turn we can share with them the life-changing effects their donations are having”. Here are some of the real stories of people who have been supported. Cara became homeless after a family breakdown, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation for Calderdale Cara was able to access help at the Halifax Homeless Winter Shelter. She was sleeping rough and sofa surfing for around four weeks before she came to the Shelter. Cara says “I stayed for five weeks, the Shelter gave me a place to stay, a warm bed and three square meals a day. I found a property by myself, but the Shelter paid the deposit and also helped me to put a CV together so that I can get back on track with a job and a proper life”. Ben had suffered mental health problems, partial sight loss and a relationship breakdown, he had already been homeless for over a year when he was supported by a

Community Foundation project. The project has been able to help him access appropriate housing and enabling him to live independently. He has attended various practical short courses offered by the charity, including healthy eating, living on a budget, managing a tenancy, and Job Club. He has recently enrolled in a counselling skills level 2 course and is training to become a volunteer listening Samaritan. Ben says: “The charity dramatically changed my life. I have gone from feeling worthless and depressed to being much more positive and intent on achieving life goals. The property I now live in enables me to live an independent life, something I could not do without their help. It is also wonderful to know that there’s a great support network just a phone call away at any time”. If you would like to support the work of the Community Foundation please contact them on 01422 349700, or email Enquiries@cffc.co.uk

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When is effort rewarded? By Mark Hanson BSc FRICS Hanson Chartered Surveyors. (A Walker SingletonGroup Company)

At the point of writing, Japan are dealing with Typhoon Hagibis, Scotland’s rugby team are on their way back from the rugby world cup, England’s football team are homeward bound following their 6 : 0 defeat of Bulgaria under difficult circumstances and it has been a relief to find that the political journalists have been frustrated by little material news of progress coming out of what has to be the last round of negotiations on the withdrawal agreement element of Brexit. Journalists belie ve that the public’s right to know trumps (no pun intended) the sensitivities around any subject they deem fit for a story. And, of course, the more problems yet to overcome, the more sensational the gaff or confidence broken, the better it is for the journalist. But not necessarily for the subject of the

article. At last, little information is coming out of both HMG and the EU at this point which gives a measure of confidence hitherto missing from the process. By the time this column is published we will know the fruits of their efforts. Despite the Brexit shenanigans life goes on and will despite the

destructive influences of our politicians. We have had a busy summer with more industrial deals going through the system than might have been expected and very good interest has been expressed in the forthcoming Walker Singleton auction. Here again, by the time this column is published we will know the fruits of our efforts. But trying hard or one’s best isn’t necessarily going to get the desired result. Scotland tried hard but were over-run on Sunday by fifteen men wearing cherry and white better focussed and with more to lose. England stayed focussed and played

well against Bulgaria in spite of playing conditions even if they had not been successful against a Czech Republic playing the full 90 minutes. So, despite our best efforts, the influence of others can and does have a direct bearing on success or failure. The recipe for success at any level is sometimes not known until the dish emerges from the oven. Or as we know, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. What we don’t know is how others are going to react to our efforts or the efforts of others. What we do know is that Yorkshire Puddings fail to rise if the oven door is opened too soon. Let’s hope that the HMG/EU door has stayed firmly shut until we can swallow what emerges. Their efforts deserve success.

Land & Property Auction Thursday 24 October 2019 7pm Cedar Court Hotel, Lindley Moor Road, Ainley Top, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD3 3RH

A variety of lots, including: 1 Residential Properties

1 Building Plots

1 Development Sites

1 Renovation Projects

1 Agricultural Land

walkersingleton.co.uk

01484 477600 TopicUK November 2019

ADVERTORIAL

Legal technology, ULAW & Leeds ULaw Leeds has launched a Legal Innovation Hub, as part of ambitious plans to train future lawyers in Legal Tech and Innovation. The goal is to welcome experts, local business, and students to grow and develop new ideas, and to learn more about each other and how they work. In many ways West Yorkshire has often been at the cutting edge of technology and innovation for the last 250 years. The industrial revolution transformed Leeds from a small market town to a bustling metropolis within a very short time. There is plenty of evidence of this left too, the mills which once churned out textiles destined for all over the new world are now home to growing tech companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs. Indeed as a new revolution of tech and innovation sweeps the country, Leeds has welcomed it with open arms. Huge names in the digital world now call it home. Sky Betting and Gaming, the UK’s biggest online bookmaker. NHS Digital, and Grow MedTech, a program offering specialist support for innovation in medical technologies. Fintech leaders, Hitachi Capital and many more. Around the giants, and in some cases nipping at their heels, there are more than 150 start-ups. Many of whom work in the £2 million start up incubator, Platform, set above the central station. For ULaw, like Leeds, things have changed significantly since 1962, when it first opened its doors in York. The Beatles had just signed their first record contract, Britain saw its first ever live broadcast from

the United States and a team at Manchester University launched the Atlas 1, the world’s first real supercomputer. The Atlas took up a huge space in the University science department, and boasted around 96 kilobytes of Memory, significantly less than most modern iPhones.

Ground-breaking The knock on effect of this new wave of tech and innovation is the need for professional services to respond, as the way we do business is changing. “There is a clear message here” says Patrick Grant, ULaw’s Project Director for Legal Tech in the north. “This is the marketplace that tomorrow’s lawyers will find themselves in. These companies will need lawyers who don’t just understand the law, but who also understand their business and the tech that is driving it.” ULaw’s response to the changes are ground-breaking. A new law

degree with Innovation and Legal Technology, the first of its kind in the UK, took its first student’s this September. At the Leeds campus they have launched a Legal Innovation Hub, and formed a student led legal tech society. To celebrate the launch of the Hub, ULaw hosted an interactive panel as part of the Leeds Digital Festival 2019. The event began with a keynote speech from Paul Smith, the former Global Chairman of “ This is the Eversheds marketplace that tomorrow’s Sutherland. lawyers will find The themselves in... ” discussion focused on how technology is changing the face of both legal education and practice. Audience questions focused on the changes that will affect the legal profession both in terms of demand and supply. The take away message was the

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need for modern lawyers to be able to adapt, and the need for their education to provide them with the tools to do so ULaw Leeds is taking this message seriously. This autumn will see a new series of talks on The Future of Legal Practice, and workshops on 21st Century Legal Skills. It will also see the first students on the new LLB with Legal Tech and Innovation, a unique course which offers students opportunities to get hands on with tech and learn about innovation and disruption within the legal marketplace alongside the University’s first rate traditional legal training. For any businesses that are keen on finding out how to get involved with future events please contact Stephanie. Amor@law.ac.uk

E ATO N S M I T H B U S I N E S S O F T H E M O N T H

Business of the Month TopicUK have teamed up with Eaton Smith Solicitors as media partners, to celebrate their Business of the Month Awards, that recognise the hard work, brilliance and innovation of businesses in the Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield areas.

P&E Systems L-R: Nicky Chance -Thompson, The Piece Hall - Steven Leigh, MYCCI - Annie Bradley, DIT - Phil Clarke, Eaton Smith - Steven Jones, P&E Systems - Gareth Coates, P&E Systems - Chris Jowett Jowett Chartered Surveyors

Pneumatic & Electrical Systems Ltd P & E Systems Ltd was originally founded as Pneumatic & Electrical Controls in 1970 at premises in Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield. In 1980 the company continued trading under the name of Pneumatic & Electrical Systems and was joined by the current Managing Director, Nigel Kitchen in August 1989. T h e C o m p a n y g re w f ro m a small staff of 6 in the late 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to the current level of over 20, by diversifying and adding new long term clients. The company is a specialist designer and manufacturer of process control instrumentation, motor control and PLC systems, with of their clients specialising in niche markets, meaning requirements of these clients can often be demanding and require specialist working codes of practice and manufacturing techniques. Crowther Chartered Accountants Established in 1995, this

Huddersfield company employs 20 local professionals. As well as offering accountancy, taxation, audit and bookkeeping services to clients, they are also active in supporting charities and the local community. The judging panel were impressed with their commitment to consiste ntly impro ving the services they provide for their clients and the managementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to rewarding the hard work of their staff. Sheards Accountants Ltd Sheards was established in 1903 and there had always been one member of the Sheard family within the ownership of the business until 2003 when current owners, Carolyn Atkinson & Kevin Winterburn, took over leadership of the firm. Recently the team at Sheards has been working hard to bring their clients into the digital age through cloud accounting while maintaining a high level

Crowther Accountants L-R: Lee Pearson, MYCCI - Samantha Torbett, Wilby - Alison Palmer, Eaton Smith - Deborah Stott, Crowther - David Busfield,Crowther

of client service. The judging panel commented on the clear investment made by the company in people and systems. All of the monthly winners will go forward to the judging panel for Business of the Year which will be held in July 2020.

Eaton Smith is an award winning multi-disciplinary law firm. Their teams of solicitors and other legal advisors have a wide range of expertise and specialist knowledge, ensuring that they provide the best support for their clients in all areas of their business and private lives.

These awards are open to anyone across these areas and all enquiries for entry should be sent to Eleanor Cummings, marketing manager eleanorcummings@eatonsmith.co.uk

Sheards Accountants Ltd L-R: Annie Bradley,DIT - David Abel, Vision IFA - Adrian Bottom, NatWest - Chris Taylor, Eaton Smith - Carolyn Atkinson, Sheards - Kevin Sanders, Sheards Kevin Winterburn,Sheards - Lucy Smith, Sheards

TopicUK November 2019

N E W S U P D AT E

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Business Structures & Reorganisations

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Accident Claims

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Commercial Debt Collection

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Ramsdens Solicitors

Implications of Gifting Property The Ramsdens Conveyancing team often get approached by clients that are wanting to gift property to their children or other relatives. It is important to understand the effects of gifting property, especially if the property is your main residence. Karen James, Head of Conveyancing, has set out some points to consider before giving property away.

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Unforeseen costs may arise in the future and you will not be able to sell your property to raise the required money.

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Your relationship with the recipient may change and they may not hold up their side of any agreement that may have been made in respect of the gift.

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house then the gift will not usually be effective in avoiding the payment of Inheritance Tax. When you die the value of the house would be added back on to your estate to calculate whether or not any such tax is payable. There should not be any inheritance tax implications if your total estate including your house does not exceed the current threshold of £325,000.

Once the property has been gifted then the recipient can deal with the property in any way that they wish. If the recipient dies then the property will pass under their Will or through the intestacy rules if a Will does not exist.

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The property may become subject to a matrimonial dispute between the recipient and their spouse. You risk losing your home if the recipient becomes bankrupt and the property becomes subject to bankruptcy proceedings. If you give away your home and continue to live in the

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If you subsequently require private or Local Authority residential accommodation then the gifted property may be excluded from the assessment. However, the value of the gifted property can be taken into account if the Local Authority finds that deliberate deprivation of the asset has taken place.

will be successful. The law surrounding care home funding is complex and specialist advice should be sought before giving away property. •

If residential care is required then the Local Authority may only pay for a basic level of care.

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The recipient may attempt to move you into residential care prematurely in order to occupy or sell the house.

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T h e r e c i p i e n t m ay b e required to pay Capital G a i n s Ta x a n d a d v i c e should be sought from a tax specialist.

What Happens to My Digital Estate? With 321 million active Twitter users, over 1 billion Instagram accounts and 2.41 billion Facebook profiles worldwide, it is easy to see why people are asking the question; “What happens to my online presence after I die?” For what appears to be a simple question there are few who have an answer and certainly not a universal answer as it appears to vary depending on the type of online account you hold.

There are no time limits on the Local Authority’s power to pursue for such costs, however, the longer period b e t w e e n t h e g i f t a n d One question you can answer is; assessment then the less “What do I want to happen to my likely the Local Authority online presence after I die?”

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Do you want it to die with you, transfer to someone else or even remain active? There are some calls to say that the actual platforms could take ownership of all of the data held on their respective sites, but this it would seem is unlikely to be a popular position. Surveys show that

L E G A L M AT T E R S

Domestic Abuse for over 60’s a growing problem The charity Age UK have recently reported that one in four victims who make a report of domestic abuse are over 60. In one year alone it was reported that 200,000 victims of domestic abuse were between 60 and 74 years old. The National Crime Survey (NAC) does not record crimes such as these for persons over 74 years old so there may be many more that are

not included in reporting abuse by loved ones or carers. In 2018-2019 Age UK reported that they received 655 enquiries relating to domestic abuse through their advice line. Caroline Abrahams, Age UK Charity Director says that “There is a widespread misconception that domestic abuse only happens to younger people but sadly hundreds of thousands of older people are affected, too.” The report says older victims of domestic abuse often face significant

difficulties when asking for help or when trying to leave an abusive relationship, these difficulties can create significant barriers for people who are isolated in their communities through language and culture or reliant on their abuser for money or care. It is unfortunate that many victims who are over 60 do not realise they are a victim of domestic abuse, they do not recognise the perpetrators behaviour is abuse or they do not feel they can ask for help. Some

There are other, more immediate steps that you can take to tidy up your digital estate, as some social media channels, have the option of appointing a person to look after your account.

AgeUK welcomes recommendations on the Domestic Abuse Bill to include collating data on all ages as prior to 2017 only people up to the age of 59 years old were approached and even now people over the age of 75 years are not asked to provide data. It is vital older victims needs are considered in any new legislation. A Home Office spokesperson said: “This government is committed to tackling abuse against older people. Like other forms of abuse, attacks on older people are all too often hidden behind closed doors and so tackling these issues requires a collective effort.

fewer than one in ten people would want their social media accounts to remain online following their death, however, very few people actually have their digital affairs in order. Arranging online affairs is a growing industry and there are now a number of companies offering services and tools for individuals to make their wishes known or in some cases, download digital Will templates designed to accommodate the terms of service for all social media platforms.

victims are too reliant on their abuser and they can see no way out and fear the unknown.

If you require any advice or assistance in relation to domestic abuse, please contact our dedicated Family team here at Ramsdens.

It doesn’t end at social media. With online banking, email, domain names, gambling logins, crypto currency accounts, Paypal etc. the list is seemingly endless and many people are unprepared for how this should be handled after death.

Much of your digital estate can be dealt with by your personal representatives, but as with most things, it helps to have a plan in place and if you’re getting your affairs in order, it certainly helps to have a Will in place.

T h e te a m w i l l p ro v i d e t h e reassurance and help you may need including applying to court for non-molestation injunction orders and occupation orders and also connecting an abused person with a number of different support agencies in the local area. TopicUK November 2019

LNEEGWASL UMPADTATTEER S

Do I have a right to see my grandchildren? The relationship between a child and their grandparents is unique and special

ften when parents separate in acrimonious circumstances the grandparents can be overlooked when future arrangements are being made for the children’s care meaning that their contact with grandchildren becomes restricted or stopped altogether. Many people are also unsure about what if any legal rights they have as a grandparent.

As things currently stand, grandparents don’t legally have an automatic right to have contact with their grandchildren in the same way that a parent, stepparent or guardian has as a result of their parental responsibility. Having said that, the family court is very much alive to the contribution that many grandparents make to their

grandchildren’s upbringing. In order to start their own application for a Child Arrangements Order to secure time with their grandchild, grandparents must first ask for permission from a court to make that application. The court will consider the grandparents connection with the child, the nature of the contact applied for and if the child would be at risk of harm through granting the application. We are increasingly dealing with cases where the courts are taking applications from grandparents very seriously and in many cases allowing them to ultimately bring their application.

Potential In making Child Arrangement Orders the court must always have

regard to what is in the child’s best interests and can dictate how much time a child should spend with either a parent or grandparent, how often this contact should take place and whether this contact should be supervised or unsupervised. Contact can be direct which means meeting in person or indirect, through Facetime, phone calls or letters. The type of contact requested needs to be considered carefully prior to making an application based on factors such as the child’s age, and how much time they have previously spent with

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grandparents in the past. It’s often important in such cases to try and avoid any conflict with the arrangements that are being made with the non-resident parent. There are other situations where grandparents need advice, particularly where the local authority has become involved and where a child may be accommodated with foster carers or be subject to a care order due to an unsatisfactory situation at home. In these circumstances grandparents may wish to put themselves

L E G A L M AT T E R S

There are no doubt family lawyers across the land who smile quietly to themselves when the tabloids talk of another celebrity ‘quickie divorce’ The fact is, just as there is no such thing as a ‘common law wife’, there is no such thing as a ‘quickie divorce’. What we have in this country is either a process for divorces that are undefended by a spouse, and, although much less common, a process for divorces that are defended. For the vast majority of divorces that are undefended, the process is the same. A divorce petition has to be filed at the Court and served on the other spouse. An application for the ‘Decree Nisi’ has to then be made and if the Court is satisfied that all legal requirements are met, a date will be set for the Decree Nisi to be formally pronounced. 6 weeks after the Decree Nisi, the final Decree, known as the Absolute, can be applied for. forward as a potential carer through either a Child Arrangements Order or a Special Guardianship Order. It is also possible for grandparents to be assessed as potential carers and become joined as a party to any existing proceedings that have been brought by the local authority.

There is no possibility, even for celebrities, of bypassing this formal Court process. Even divorces that are heralded as being ‘online’ still need to follow the same procedure. Bringing a marriage to an end is, at the end of the day, a legal process.

Alternative Marriages end for all sorts of reasons of course and it can be difficult explaining to someone whose marriage breakdown perhaps represents more of a mutual ‘parting of the ways’, that they will still need to follow the usual process. As our law currently stands, there is no option of both

The quickie divorce myth spouses simply attending at Court together to declare that they are facing ‘irreconcilable differences’ and want their marriage legally ending. In fact, if one party wants to issue a divorce immediately upon their separation then they are forced to rely on either their spouse’s alleged adultery or their unreasonable behaviour meaning that one spouse must blame the other for the breakdown of the marriage and must do so in such as way as to create conflict at the very outset of the case. The only other alternative is to wait until the couple have been separated for at least two years which in reality is quite a long time to wait. That said, if both spouses want a divorce and deal with the necessary paperwork promptly, it is possible for the process to be concluded in the space of a few months.

Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill to introduce a system of nofault divorce, this has now suffered a set-back due to the prorogation of Parliament. Without a carryover motion allowing the Bill to be carried into the next parliamentary session the process will need to be started from scratch which is enormously disappointing given the hard work that has gone into this already.

Unfortunately, despite a massive effort from the profession to bring about the TopicUK November 2019

L E G A L M AT T E R S

Whistleblowers

a quick guide

We all see things at work that we think, “Maybe that’s not the best way to do things.” However, it’s quite a leap from that point to becoming a full-on whistleblower. When things go past the ‘that’s not right’ stage and verge on the illegal, immoral, or just downright inept, then who steps up to draw attention to the situation? Lewis Holroyd, Solicitor at Eaton Smith LLP The term ‘whistle-blower’ has always had, rightly or wrongly, somewhat negative connotations. A whistle-blower might have a personal agenda or an axe to grind. They may be deliberately trying to sabotage a company or individual. Or they may just revel in causing trouble. That was for many years, the public opinion of a whistle-blower, primarily because those who felt compelled to speak out often did so behind a cloak of anonymity. This was mainly because they feared for their future, their job, or even in some extreme cases, their own personal wellbeing. Today, we have a much more positive view of whistle-blowers. They’re seen as people who are brave enough to speak out against corruption, wrong-doing, or unacceptable working conditions and practices. They’ve become heroes, rather than pariahs. So, if you’ve reached your limit and need to speak out, who do you talk to?

Is my job at risk? Whistle-blowers are protected by an Act known as The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA), which means it’s against the law for anyone to be treated unfairly or dismissed because they have raised concerns about workplace practices. The law gives protection to those who expose serious issues within the workplace, whether that’s financial impropriety or working conditions that are dangerous. So no, you should certainly not be concerned about losing your job because you’ve chosen to speak out. If you’re a worker – for example an employee in the NHS, a police officer or office worker – then your job security is protected by law, even if you do decide to go public with your concerns. Trainees and interns are also protected, as are agency workers.

What is a whistle-blower?

What is a ‘gagging clause’?

If you see something at work that could be affecting others (including the general public) and decide to speak out, then you’re technically a whistle-blower. It could be signs of malpractice, financial discrepancies, or e ve n dange rous working conditions that could potentially put peoples’ lives at risk.

A ‘gagging clause’ or confidentiality clause as it’s more commonly referred to, is an agreement either within a contract of employment or drawn up separately between an employer and an employee, that pre ve nts the e mplo yee from disclosing information about the company or people

that they may work with. When they are part of a compromise/ settlement agreement they may be accompanied by an offer of payment that is separate from the usual reimbursement for services (a wage or fee). These separate payments are often suspiciously close to being regarded as a ‘pay off ’ for staying silent. Don’t confuse these with perfectly reasonable NDAs or NonDisclosure Agreements, which are generally included from the outset within a contract, and cover such things as not disclosing to other potential rival companies the details of customers or clients. Gagging clauses are unenforceable if they prevent a worker making a protected disclosure, so even if one has been signed a whistleblower can still go on to expose any wrongdoing as long as it’s in the public interest. Personal grievances If your issue could be regarded as a personal grievance, rather than

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something that could affect others, then you may not be covered by any legislation that gives protection to whistle-blowers. If you do feel that the issue is more of a personal grievance, then you’ll need to report it using your employer’s existing grievance policies. Who do I tell? You can go directly to your employer either personally or anonymously, but this may not have any real effect. There may, however, be times when you cannot go to your employer, and feel so strongly that the perceived wrongdoing needs to be exposed quickly that you take it to an external source such as a journalist or media outlet. If you decide to go straight to the media without going to your employer first, then you may lose any legal protection you might otherwise have under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. Alternatively, you can go to a ‘prescribed person’. Bear in mind that once you pass on the information to your employer or your prescribed person, you won’t have any further influence on proceedings. You can find a full list of prescribed persons as defined by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy on their website, but in brief, they include Ofcom, the Accounts Commission for Scotland, The Bank of England, HMRC, The Comptroller and Auditor General, the SFO, the FCA, and other bodies. If you don’t get the response you think your situation merits, then talk to a legal expert who will be able to help you. Alternatively, the whistle-blowing charity Protect will be able to support you with more advice and guidance.

SPOTLIGH N TE W B SR AUDP FDOART D E

BRADFORD is a city on the cusp of a resurgence that is destined to see it once again punch its weight as the UK’s fifth largest metropolitan district outside London.

Edited by Perry Austin-Clark

It’s population of almost 540,000 is one of the fastest growing as well as the youngest in the country, making it a prime location for an exciting era of growth. In recent times, it has been named, through Barclays bank research, as the best city in the country to in which to start a new business. The bank said Bradford took first place for offering the best business rate relief, road infrastructure, number of job vacancies and commercial rents.

SPOTLIGHT ON

BRADFORD &DISTRICT

In this month’s issue TopicUK picks up on the the vibrant and dynamic business attitude that is transforming the City of Bradford into a driving force in the region

Bradford was also named as ‘Emerging Destination of the Year 2018’ for Europe by tourist bible The Luxury Travel Guide. It identified the district’s “literally hundreds of historically significant sites” as among its great strengths, describing Bradford as a “modern cosmopolitan city with a thousand stories to tell.” It highlighted that the district is home to the National Science & Media Museum; was selected as the first ever UNESCO City of Film; that, in Saltaire, it has its own UNESCO World Heritage Site; that in Haworth, it has the home of the Brontes; the Keighley Worth Valley Railway; the multi-award

winning City Park and the historic merchants’ quarter of Little Germany, among many others. The judges were also impressed with the way the district has integrated its local communities into its tourist offerings, embracing both its modern multicultural status and its impressive heritage “delivered with a sense of welcoming hospitality which is quintessentially British.” All of which helps to explain why Bradford has launched a bid to become UK City of Culture 2025 and established a new Cultural Place Partnership to carry it through. What’s more, the district’s Economic Partnership has an ambitious strategy aimed at unlocking its potential and growing the economy by £4 billion by 2030. It shows the entrepreneurial spirit that drove Bradford to prominence in the 19th century as an international centre of textile manufacture, becoming the “wool capital of the world” and leading to the building of a huge range of impressive, Listed Victorian buildings, is still very much alive! TopicUK November 2019

SPOTLIGHT ON BRADFORD & DISTRICT

Siblings are ‘smashing’ it with their new burger business

Bradford brother and sister have launched a new burger bar with a “unique” concept A BROTHER and sister team from Bradford are so confident in their new fast food concept that they’re already talking about setting up in high streets across the country.

Their new burger joint specialises only in beef burgers. Apart from a couple of non-beef options, there are no chicken wings, no hotdogs, or fish fillets – just beef. “When I first discovered a really good burger – actually when I visited Dubai a couple of years ago – it was the first time I’d tasted anything like it,” said Asif. “I love burgers but, growing up in Yorkshire, I was used to the kind of burgers you can find anywhere, made from frozen beef or ready-made patties supplied by meat wholesalers. “They’re OK if that’s what you want but they’re nothing like the ones I had tasted, which just take it to a whole new level. “It’s based on an American diner concept called a ‘smashed’ burger. You take a fresh beef patty and literally smash it down on a hot grill

Supporting The new venture, based in the former Rakkaposhi Coffee and Desserts café in Ebenezer Street, close to the Leisure Exchange, has created jobs with six new staff. They are also seeking to take on two apprentices, through local training providers. Although the business is a social enterprise set up with support from the Bradford-based QED Foundation, whose work supporting disadvantaged people to become economically active will benefit from any profits, the BITE team are thinking big.

And customers flocking to Asif Haider and Nazia Ali’s new venture – called simply BITE – are not only enjoying a very special burger experience but the profits from every one they buy will be going to charity. Asif, 26 (pictured), and Nazia, 34, have spent almost a year not just devising the concept but experimenting to create a style and quality of burger unique to Bradford and the Yorkshire region.

a lot of experimenting to get that right – which quantity of which cut to which ratio of fat and so on.”

Asif Haider outside his new burger business

to get a crust on one side and a really nice caramelised flavour.

Perfect “But it can only be done with the right quality of beef and certain cuts from the cow that are blended to create the perfect flavour.” Asif recognised the demand for a smashed burger restaurant in Bradford so moved his focus away from working as a Bradford-trained fully qualified pharmacist to work on creating the perfect package for the new business.

Asif added: “Instead of going to a butcher and asking him to supply his own beef, we did it all ourselves; we researched and tested all the different cuts of beef and made our own unique blend. “You can’t buy this ready-made: we get them made to our exact specifications. It’s our own secret blend, delivered only to us.

Nazia said: “Although the burger seems a really simple thing, it’s actually a very complicated recipe.

“We use fresh beef – never frozen. It’s Aberdeen Black Angus, which is a breed which tends to have the best flavour. It’s known as prime beef so it’s really good cuts. It’s dry aged for at least 21 days; the cows are free range, grass fed, so those things all combine to create the flavour that we get.

“And it’s taken us about a year to get it exactly right, going to specialist beef providers. Even when we got it right, we spent a couple of months perfecting it along with the correct cooking techniques.”

“Our burgers are made with different cuts of the cow and for ours we’ve chosen three specific cuts for what we think gives us the best flavour and we decided exactly what ratio of f at to lean meat we required. It took

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“The first thing we want to do is get the name out there and then build a brand,” said Asif. “We think BITE is a nice, concise name and we have a nice logo. We want to keep it simple for potential future franchising as well. “We’d like to open another branch within a couple of years and the dream is to be on every high street.” Nazia added: “We want to be known as the place people think of first for a burger – a really good burger joint, with consistent high quality and service. “We’re not about gourmet food – we serve really delicious and highquality fast food. Nothing too fancy and very reasonably priced. “We want our burger to speak it for itself. The tastiest, most memorable burger our customers have ever had. Our strapline is ‘Burgers you can taste with every BITE!’”

SPOTLIGHT ON BRADFORD & DISTRICT

IN JUST three short years, Bingley Business Expo has established itself as the premier enterprise event in the Aire Valley.

“We want to encourage businesses to work together, make the most of the services available on their doorstep and attract attention from further afield.”

This year’s event, staged at Bingley Arts Centre, featured 36 exhibitors and four business seminars –and it has already surpassed the expectations of its organisers.

Exhibitors at the event were impressively wide-ranging: from solicitors to property consultants, from psychotherapists to accountants, from photographers to video animation services, from accountants to health and safety experts, from business centres to recruitment specialists, from the federation of Small Businesses to Bingley Town Council. And more.

It was the brainchild of two local businesswomen, Rachel Barratt, of digital marketing age nc y Aire Media, and Emma Evans (nee Steele), who runs contentwriting service ES Editorial, who met through the Bingley Hour community networking event. It was clearly a meeting of minds: “We just felt there was nothing in Bingley to promote a positive message about businesses in the town,” says Rachel. “We both run businesses here and we knew there was a gap in the market for promoting everything Bingley is about. “We’re so proud of the town’s entrepreneurial spirit that we want to shout if from the rooftops - and Bingley Business Expo is our rooftop!” The level of interest in the event caught them by surprise. “We’ve been blown away by the

Delegates flocking to Bingley Business Expo

Expo proves that business is booming in Bingley Town’s first ever business Expo is proving hugely successful after just three years support we’ve received,” said Rachel. “The response to the first event was great but we had no idea it would strike such a chord with local companies and we’d reach a point in three years where we’ve now run out of space!” Some indication of how word has got around can be seen from the fact the businesses involved are based in all corners of the Aire Valley and beyond.

Founders and organisers Emma Evans (left) and Rachel Barratt

The subjects of this year’s inaugural seminars ranged from 10 Top Tips for Running a Business to Social and Environmental Responsibility for Smaller Firms. The icing on the cake for Emma and Rachel is that the Expo also raises money for charity, the last two years for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, at Oxenhope, near Keighley.

“It was important to us that each business was the sole representative of its particular sector so it had the best possible “Our mission has always been chance to get its message across,” - and will continue to be - to says Rachel. “Obviously, that showcase the skills, expertise means we can encourage in some and services of those businesses businesses from a wider area, serving Bingley, Keighley, Shipley, which will help build the appeal Saltaire, and across the Aire Valley, said Emma. “Our aim is of the event for delegates.” to encourage local businesses So how has a town the size to collaborate and forge valuable of Bingley managed to punch working relationships. above its weight in a field more traditionally associated with cities If their aim was to put Bingley on the business map, there’s little and bigger towns? doubt they’ve succeeded! “I don’t think people realise what a diverse and creative place Bingley is,” says Emma. “Many think of business in terms of just high street shops but there are lots of areas of the town where some thriving and inspiring firms and industries are tucked away. TopicUK November 2019

SPOTLIGHT ON BRADFORD & DISTRICT

BRADFORD CLEAN UP FIRM’S SUCCESS

The firm behind highly-praised efforts to smarten up central Bradford is a success story in its own right… When it was launched in January, the city’s Business Improvement District set out –as a top priority – to remove decades of grime and dirt in key, high-footfall areas, under the “Clean” pillar of its five-year Business Plan.

And its decision to award the contract locally has turned out to be one of its best so far. The BID turned to Oakworth, Keighley-based AB Jetting to carry out the deep clean, hotwashing the streets and removing ground-in chewing gum. The work so far has been so successful that it has led to outpourings of support and gratitude on social media – a rare event in the world of public realm and infrastructure!

For Tony Beddoes, the man behind the team bringing a new shine to Bradford’s city centre streets, it’s just the latest in a long line of interesting jobs that have led him and his team to locations across the country cleaning just about any type of building, drive, pavement or walkway you might care to mention. But little did he think, when he launched his own business six years ago, it would land him in prison – even though he was actually quite happy to end up behind bars!

Grateful “I lo ve working on unusual buildings and in unusual places – so when I got the contract for a big clean up at HMP New Hall Prison, I was thrilled,” said Tony. “Although I have to be a bit careful on the phone when I tell clients I’m currently in the nick!” The work at the closed category Wakefield prison, which houses

mainly women and young offenders, is all behind its imposing entrance and Tony is not allowed to talk about anything he sees there. But he can say that his contract involves cleaning up prison yards, exercise areas, pathways and the main entrance. No doubt the inmates are grateful but he’s unlikely to receive the kind of praise that’s come his way during the first year of the five-year clean-up in Bradford. Thousands of people have taken to social media to watch his videos of long-neglected pavements and stone setts being transformed by his unique method of hot steam washing and high-pressure chewing gum removal. “It’s been really gratifying to see so much positive reaction to the work we’ve done,” says Tony. “It’s almost as satisfying as the work itself. I never tire of seeing an area brought back to life, with the years of grime and dirt, as well as algae and mould, being washed away and the colour and beauty of old stone and modern slabs re-emerging. “And people really seem to love the difference it makes.”

AB Jetting Managing Director Tony Beddoes outside New Hall Prison, Wakefield

The praise is well deserved after the years of graft former Oakbank School pupil Tony put into setting up his company, AB Jetting, in 2013.

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“ I love working on unusual buildings and in unusual places – so when I got the contract for a big clean up at HMP New Hall Prison, I was thrilled... ” “I spent six years learning the ropes and researching everything there is to know about environmental cleaning,” he says. “I know all about methods of cleaning, what types of chemical to use, how trees, moss, algae, mould and the environment generally can affect buildings and walkways and how to remove them

SPOTLIGHT ON BRADFORD & DISTRICT to undertake is phenomenal, from domestic services such as driveway, patio and roof cleaning, render washing and drain clearance to industrial and commercial tasks such as cladding cleaning, chewing gum and graffiti removal, window frame restoration, sandblasting and much more.

Satisfaction His team can work at any height, from tower blocks even to underwater. As a qualified diver – soon to become a Master Rescue Diver – Tony is also willing to undertake projects such as cleaning the hulls of ships. They have cleaned playgrounds, petrol stations, football grounds, railway concourses, machinery, road signs, churchyards, housing estates, supermarkets, nursing homes, canal boats, country mansions… the list is almost endless. Tony is always there to start jobs off and see them finished to his personal satisfaction. And, amazingly, he’s never bored! Late night steam cleaning in Bradford city centre

Tony’s thirst for knowledge stemmed from a desire to ensure that he would become known and trusted to do a good job, whatever the task.

Master Diver Tony Beddoes enjoying one of his favourite pastimes

safely without damage to structures, people, plants or animals. “I know how to handle everything from modern render to ancient stone and everything in between.”

“I’m not in this to build a huge cleaning empire and set up franchises across the country: I want to keep the business small enough for me to take a personal interest in every job and to be known as the guy whose team will do a highquality, reliable job,” he says. His determination and persistence seem to be paying off, with some clients refusing to use any other firm and being willing to wait months in some cases for him to be available to do the work.

The former soldier’s attention to detail and passion for quality has led to him devising his own safe cleaning solutions and even designing and specifying his own equipment. “There are expensive cleaning machines on the market but none of them are as flexible as mine,” he says. “I worked with our engineering guy to build a machine that can do everything we need it to do and allows us to clean with everything from really hot steam to very gentle pressure to ensure we get the best results without causing any damage to fragile materials.”

“I won’t hand over any job until it has been completed to my standards,” he says. “I want people to know that AB Jetting will never let them down. I love to see places being transformed and I love to see people’s faces when they witness the change. “The thing I can’t get enough of is hearing people say ‘I can’t believe the difference it’s made!’ That just makes it all worthwhile.”

The range of work he is now able TopicUK November 2019

SPOTLIGHT ON BRADFORD & DISTRICT

Businesses back street-drinking crackdown with 12-month extension Business are funding a unique scheme to curb anti-social street drinking for a further 12 months after successful three-month pilot A GROUND-BREAKING initiative to tackle street-drinking in parts of Bradford city centre has been extended follo wing a successful three-month trial. Earlier this year, West Yorkshire Police teamed up with Bradford’s Business Improvement District (BID) and City Centre Beat (CCB), the business crime reduction partnership, to launch the scheme, which uses legal powers in a new and innovative way, combined with advanced forensic technology, to prevent the supply of “superstrength” alcohol to street drinkers.

Representatives of Bradford BID and City Centre Beat (the business crime reduction partnership)with the Bradford City Centre NPT at the launch.

SmartWater and these new powers is working. Apparently even the Council’s cleansing team say they have noticed less mess being left in these areas.

The project, dubbed Operation Straitpark, has worked so well that Bradford BID and CCB have now agreed to fund it for a further 12 months.

“There has been a good deal of praise for both the project and the way the city centre’s neighbourhood policing team have stuck to the task. But we know there is work still to do and, on behalf of the BID’s levy-paying members, we are keen to ensure it continues to make progress on one of the key SAFE pillar objectives in our Business Plan.”

BID chairman Ian Ward said: “The operation is clearly having an impact and with street drinking and the anti-social behaviour it feeds being of such concern to the public and businesses, we felt it was essential to help the Police continue their good work.” Inspector Pete Hall, who leads the city centre Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) said: “Since the launch of the scheme, officers have noted a significant reduction in drinking, shop thefts and antisocial behaviour and some known drinkers themselves commented on how difficult it is to get served from certain establishments.

PC Toni Ramsden demonstrating the UV-light pen which detects the forensic liquid on high-strength alcohol containers.

“We’re extremely grateful for the support of the BID and CCB in helping us to continue the operation for another 12 months.

that by extending the scheme we can continue to work together with retailers to ensure it has a lasting effect.”

“ We k n o w t h i s i s c h a n g i n g behaviour and we are confident

BID manager Jonny Noble said: “There’s no doubt that the use of

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Catherine Riley, chairman of City Centre Beat, said: “Several businesses in the area have reported that the number of people hanging around and the amount of drinking and bad behaviour have reduced, so it’s clear that Operation Straitpark is becoming the positive force we hoped it would.

SPOTLIGHT ON BRADFORD & DISTRICT “Problem drinkers create both a nuisance and a negative impression which can have a damaging effect on the city centre economy, so well done to the NPT for making this work and long may their success continue. The scheme utilises “SmartWater” forensic liquid to trace where disorderly drinkers are buying their “super-strength” alcohol – beer and lagers which are more than 6.5 per cent alcohol by volume (abv) – to help them educate retailers and work with them to cut off the supply.

BID funds new Christmas lighting schemes

Bradford’s unique scheme uses legal powers, that exist under anti-social behaviour legislation, to tackle the problem. Alcohol retailers in the ‘top-oftown’, around North Parade and the Oastler Centre area, have agreed to mark their stock with the SmartWater liquid which creates a unique forensic colour code for each business and a direct link back to the alcohol sold from its premises. The liquid is virtually invisible in normal light but each colour glows distinctly under ultraviolet light. City centre officers have been equipped with UV detection lights so when street drinkers are found with the cans, they can trace where they were bought. The police then offer advice and support to the retailer concerned to e n c o u r a g e t h e m to h e l p prevent crime and disorder and public nuisance. For the first time in the UK, police in Bradford issue Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) to retailers followed by Community Protection Notices (CPNs) which, if breached, lead to prosecution and severe penalties.

BRADFORD’S Christmas lights will be better than ever this year thanks to new initiatives launched by the Business Improvement District (BID).

BID has worked with the University of Bradford and Bradford College to create a new festive lighting scheme from the entrance to the University campus down to the area between the Odeon and the Alhambra.

One project will see a “ceiling of light” installed for the first time on Ivegate, following the success of a similar, smaller scheme in Charles Street, which was paid for by The Broadway Shopping Centre in 2018.

It will include festoon lighting between some lampposts, with sails on others, and new ice white lighting on the trees outside the old Bradford College building.

The lights, which will span the street for most of its length, will stay on throughout the winter months. Jonny Noble, manager of Bradford BID said: “Ivegate is a growing evening and night-time destination, with several new hospitality venues having opened this year and a couple more almost completed, and the new ceiling of light will really add to the atmosphere on the street. “The scheme has been designed after consultation with local businesses who wanted to work with us to make the area brighter and more attractive while helping it feel lighter and safer for visitors who will be able to enjoy the attractions of this historic street

throughout the darker months.”

The ceiling of light will be illuminated as part of the city’s big Christmas “These lights will also stay up Lights switch-on at The Broadway, throughout the winter months to on November 9. help improve the perception of The BID, which is funded by a levy safety for students and better light on 630 city centre businesses and their way into the heart of the city organisations, has also paid for centre for leisure activities and the new cross-street lighting displays like,” said Mr Noble. in Godwin Street, Darley Street “Overall, I think residents, visitors, and along North Parade, as well as shoppers and businesses alike will replacing the old blue tree lights be very pleasantly surprised by the in Rawson Square, Oastler Square new illuminations, which build on and North Parade with new “icethe popular improvements delivered white” lighting to fit the city centre’s last Christmas.” overall theme. New “sail” lighting will also be installed in parts of Little Germany for the first time to light the way up Vicar Lane and Currer Street. In another innovative project, the TopicUK November 2019

SPOTLIGHT ON BRADFORD & DISTRICT

Bradford City of Film anniversary

As the world’s first UNESCO City of Film celebrates its 10th anniversary we look at the huge impact the title has had on Bradford… and several other mini film festivals, all capped off with a Civic Reception to mark the occasion. Under the leadership of David Wilson, Bradford City of Film has established links across the globe within the film and television industry – including most recently with China, which now has the second biggest film market in the world behind America.

Hollywood veteran John Malkovich Starring as Hercule Poirot, filmed in the city’s magnificent Victorian City Hall building

Bradford is an unlikely name to throw in alongside Hollywood and Cannes as a place at the heart of the film industry. But thanks to the efforts of the small team at the Bradford City of Film organisation over the last ten years, it has gained a reputation as a global player in the sector. And with an estimated world-wide worth of £136 billion, that work sees local businesses ideally placed to tap into a share of that market. The city has been celebrating the 10th anniversary with a host of events, such as the open-air Family Film Festival using the Big Screen in City Park, where children were handed free reusable water bottles. The year of events has also included special screenings in community and unusual venues, vintage film showings, talks, lectures

Founded ten years ago, when Bradford was given UNESCO City of Film status, it has seen many millions of pounds worth of investment come into the area on the back of numerous film and television programmes. These have ranged from Bollywood b l o c k b u s te r s l i ke G o l d to f l y on the wall shows such as GPs Behind Closed Doors.

Netflix And David is keen to see local businesses benefit from the opportunities this presents. The city’s profile has been raised dramatically by having major television shows like Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders, and the film Official Secrets with Keira Knightley, being shot on location here, the latter pair making extensive use of the city’s magnificent Victorian City Hall building. “For businesses, it’s all there for the taking. They can exploit the fact that we have these big-name brands filming in Bradford. A platform like Netflix, which has done quite a bit of filming

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“ The challenge now though over the next five or ten years is to get some of those productions to root themselves here... ” in the district, is viewed all over the world,” said David. That filming can bring a lot of money into the district. Figures from Creative England estimate a feature film or big budget film brings in around a daily spend of around £34,000.

SPOTLIGHT ON BRADFORD & DISTRICT “They can exploit the brand in a positive way,” said David. “Exploit the fact that we’ve got some of these really well-known productions coming to use the city to film in. Exploit the fact that we are very well regarded within that network – a trail blazer when it comes to being a creative city.” Bradford City of Film’s pioneering relationship with Chinese city Qingdao could also prove highly significant for the whole district from a business point of view.

Lucrative City of Film now has an office in Qingdao, which is also a UNESCO City of Film (Bradford supported it in its application for the status), and is developing very strong links with China, with David recently being made guest professor at Beijing Film Academy. “China is second only to America in terms of film production and film distribution. The numbers out there are overwhelming,” he said. Building links with that lucrative market could prove beneficial for any business that wants to work with them.

The Bollywood blockbuster Gold, which was shot in Bradford over three months in 2017, brought in a huge amount of direct revenue for the town.

a crew of between 12 and 15 people based in Bradford for something like 100 days. They’ve all got to stay somewhere, all got to eat and all got to shop here.”

“They based themselves in Bradford. There was just short of 4,000 bed nights in that three-month period, and that’s just from one production,” said David.

As UNESCO City of Film, Bradford has access to an exclusive network of 180 creative cities across 72 countries, including cities of astronomy, design, and literature, as well as film, and this also represents a unique opportunity for businesses in the district to talk to them about using this incredible network in a creative way.

“Even looking at something on a much smaller scale, like GPs Behind Closed Doors for Channel 5, there’s

can really benefit is supporting the rise of the independents. Channel 4 don’t make any of their own content; they commission it. And the call at this conference was we need more diverse voices. “I’m sensing that there is a seismic shift happening at the moment. The district can only benefit from that. Independents who want to set up in Bradford have these links - and they can take advantage of the fact that it’s probably more economical than other areas.” He said he was very proud of the work City of Film has done in Bradford over the last ten years, bringing in countless productions and making the city film friendly, adding that Bradford Council had played a key role in this. “The challenge now though over the next five or ten years is to get some of those productions to root themselves here, or to encourage new production companies to set up here,” said David. “At the moment much of it comes through the district and they use our fantastic locations, staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, but they are not rooted in Bradford district, and that’s the challenge for us now.”

David cited the decision by Channel to move to Leeds as a game-changer. The station recently held its annual DIVERSE Festival in Bradford, which gave a prime example of how the move to Leeds will encourage independent production companies to develop across the wider Leeds Economic Partnership area, which includes Bradford. “As well as Channel 4 themselves, programme commissioners were here from BBC, ITV, Netflix and many others,” said David. “Where Bradford TopicUK November 2019

C H A R I T Y U P D AT E

Night of emotion and joy at Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards Images: Robling Photography

The region’s finest young people were recognised and honoured at a star-studded and emotional ceremony held at New Dock Hall in Leeds in October and TopicUK were delighted to be there as media partners. The 9th annual St. James’s Place Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards Dinner is the culmination of a year of planning and is dedicated not only to celebrating the achievements of courageous and determined young individuals, but also to raising funds for t h e S t. Ja m e s ’ s P l a c e Charitable Foundation. This year’s Awards were presented by Christine Talbot of ITV’s Calendar, who is also an Event Ambassador. A star-studded line up of personalities from the worlds of Entertainment, Business and Sport in Yorkshire all lent their support to a fast moving, fun filled evening, which compèred by Jon Hammond. Other Event Ambassadors attending included Hannah Cockroft MBE, Paul Elliot - one half of the Chuckle Brothers and Eorl Crabtree. Special thanks go to the ‘Frie nds’ of th e e v e n t

which this year included Ka te H a rd ca s t l e M BE ; A n to n y C o t te r i l l , B o b Bowman, Chris Chester, Paul Sculthorpe MBE and Ollie Roberts representing sport in Yorkshire; Mandy Taylor of Charity Angels, with Jack D o wnham and Natalie Anderson representing TV and the DJ Jo Jo. Entertainment for the 750 guests was provided by the very popular Yorkshire swing and jazz band, the Mini Big Band, with contributions from The Rhinestone Dancers and Callum Butterworth, a finalist on the Voice. A magnificent Indian banquet was provided by the award winning Aagrah Group of Restaurants.

This truly unique Awards Dinner has attracted a large number of nominations for some truly inspirational children and young adults this year whose lives have often been affected by illness or extreme adversity. They were honoured in two age categories - up to 12 years old and 13 to 18 years old, for their Courage, Caring, Sporting Achievements, Fundraising activities and Outstanding Bravery. In addition, the Group Award for the most deserving charitable organisation dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people, was decided online by the public with the winning charity announced during the evening. The 2019 nominees were Leeds Children’s Charity, Getaway Girls and Sunshine & Smile, the latter being the winner. There were tears, laughter and joy as well as raw emotion as videos were shown to showcase the winners stories. A posthumous award for Outstanding Bravery went to Laura Powell who lost her fight for life recently due to a brain tumour. Her family attended to accept this award. The audience watched a video which celebrated her life and was shot just 4 days before she lost her fight.

Fund raising during the evening is paramount as every pound raised is matched by St. James’s Place Wealth Management with funds dedicated locally to make significant differences to the lives of children and young people in the Yorkshire region. The totals are still being counted. Ewan Dowes , Foundation representative for the Leeds Location of St. James’s Place commented on behalf of the organisers: “We were once again extremely proud to host

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an amazing evening recognising the courage and achie ve me nts of some of Yorkshire’s finest young people, whilst at the same time raising funds for our Charitable Foundation. We are, as ever, thankful to our commercial sponsors and the SJP Leeds Partners without whom we could not continue to evolve this amazing event. We are already starting on plans for next year which is our 10th Anniversary event and we are intending to make it something very special indeed.”

For a Christmas experience like no-other The Piece Hall is a must-visit destination this festive season. Head to The Piece Hall for a spectacular programme of festive events for all the family as the courtyard transforms into a winter wonderland set against the beautiful backdrop of this stunning Georgian building. You can also find a treasure trove of independent shops offering locally made gifts and enjoy a range of special festive menus at the many cafés, bars and restaurants. outside brass bands and choirs Let the festivities begin! From the 22 November until 31 D ecember, The Piece Hall’s stunning courtyard will be home to a twinkling Victorian carousel and cosy Deluxe Bar, set around our towering Christmas tree, where you can enjoy warming drinks with friends and family. A Christmas Fair showcasing some of the region’s favourite independent craft stalls, artisan makers and pop-up food and drink traders takes place from Friday 29 November – Sunday 1 December. The season continues from Friday 6 December with the magnificent circus-style Salon Perdu, showcasing a fantastic programme of family shows, live music, standup comedy and cabaret. An array of creative Christmas workshops offers you the chance to get crafty and learn a new skill throughout November and December, while

bring the place to life with festive cheer. Musical highlights include Badly Drawn Boy on Wednesday 18 December; much-loved Yorkshire band, Hope & Social, bringing their annual Christmas concert to The Piece Hall on Thursday 12 December, and you can enjoy classic carols at The Big Sing on Christmas Eve. The season will come to a close on New Year’s Eve, with an outdoor Courtyard Party featuring live music, DJs and entertainment. Independent Christmas gifts You’ll find a host of unique homewares at The Piece Hall, from retro and vintage furniture and collectables at Al’s Emporium, to elegant fabrics at Gingerbread. The Rug and Table Shop is THE place to pick up beautiful bespoke rugs and hand-crafted tables, and the familyrun Harvey’s of Halifax is filled with well-known brands including

Molton Brown, Cath Kidson and Neom Organics. Don’t forget to pick up some delicious edible gifts including traditional sweets at Spogs & Spice and indulgent handmade chocolates at The Chocolate Box. For the fashionistas in your life, head to Joseph Chance, House of 925 or Jitterbug Jean, and you’ll find both high street and designer kid’s clothes at Shop 4 Little Horrors. Totally Awesome offers classic board games and retro stocking fillers and Replica stocks a range of collectable die-cast vehicles, the perfect present for car-loving youngsters (and big kids!). Culture vultures are catered for by independent book shop, Book Corner or you can choose original artwork from The Yorkshire Gallery and limited-edition art, jewellery and textiles at The Handmade Gift Shop. Pick up a personalised piece of art at Custard Create or an unusual caricature or cartoon from Off The Wall. Loafers offers new and used vinyl and limited-edition artwork, ideal for any music aficionado, and those looking for something a bit alternative can head to Creative

Crystals or pick up artisan treasures at Mystical and Magical. Winter warming food & festive drinks All that shopping and festive fun can be hard work, so don’t forget to refuel at one of our many independent cafés and restaurants. The Piece Hall’s resident restaurant, The Trading Rooms, offers a fabulous Christmas menu, featuring dishes made with locally sourced produce. Enjoy a special two or three course festive menu at Elder, which offers a quirky take on classic British flavours. For lighter bites visit The Deli café or enjoy a freshly baked cake and coffee at the familyrun G’s Cakes. Those looking to celebrate with a festive tipple or two can enjoy wines from around the world at The Wine Barrell, expertly paired with artisan chocolates, or choose from more than 100 quality gins at Gin Lane.

For more information on The Piece Hall’s festive programme of events, or to find out more about the shops, bars and restaurants, visit www.thepiecehall.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL service providers cannot.” The company’s new head office features a relaxation area for staff with games consoles and flat-screen televisions, and a fully functioning ten-foot bar area with beer pumps serving real ale as part of a dedicated space that doubles as the company’s board room.

Pay-tech company reveals plans to double turnover following head office relocation The managing director of a Yorkshire payment technology company has revealed plans to grow the firm’s turnover by 50% to £4million by the end of 2020, following a sixfigure investment to relocate the company’s head office to a town centre location. James Howard announced the plans at the official opening of the company’s new 5,850 square foot head office in Brighouse town centre in September.

a strategic plan to accommodate further growth for Yorkshire Payments over the next 12 months, including doubling our turnover to £4million.

Nearly 200 guests attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the former Bethel Street Chapel, which has undergone a period of extensive renovation to house the company’s growing 32 strong customer care, tech support, applications and relationship management teams.

“We are fiercely proud to be based in Brighouse, and our new head office provides the platform we need to chase our next stage of growth, which will include creating up to 80 new jobs over the next 36 months.”

James said:“The move back to Brighouse town centre is part of

He continued: “Over the last year, we have added a further 500 clients to our books, taking our client roster to in excess

of 3,500 businesses across Yorkshire. “The key to this success has been the fact that all our team - from sales, to technicians, to customer care – is still based in Brighouse, meaning we can deliver a local, knowledgeable and speedy approach to customer care that the high street merchant

Top: James Howard, founder and managing director at Yorkshire Payments - ©MarkFlynn

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James added:“We like to bring lots of personality to what we do, and unique additions such as our new bar area reflect that. Installing our own bar in the office is a fun, creative way for us to differentiate ourselves from the competition while also allowing us to showcase our card payment solutions in an operational hospitality environment.”

Is your business looking to introduce card payments or trying to find a better deal? Contact the Yorkshire Payments team by emailing info@yorkshirepayments.com or call 01422 323785.

ATE IN STYLE CELEBR

CHRIS TMAS & NEW YEAR 2019

NEW YEAR’S EVE & MASQUERADE BALL 4 courses £69.95 Table magic, disco and dancing until late

• • • •

Senior citizens Christmas lunch 3 course £19.75 Includes bingo and dancing Christmas party nights 3 courses £32.85, Includes disco and late bar Christmas Day carvery 3 courses £79.95, £30 per child, under 3 free Boxing Day lunch 3 course carvery £34.95, £14.95 per child, under 3 free

Quote RTM1 to receive a complimentary bottle of wine for the organiser of any party. FREE photos from the photo booth on the Party Nights & New Years Eve.

Why not make your stay extra special and take advantage of one of our overnight accommodation packages? Gift someone a special gift this Christmas. Vouchers are available for dining events and accommodation.

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A high number of businesses throughout the UK are undergoing a digital transformation in many of their critical business applications, and as this transition is ongoing at a rapid rate the risk from cyber attacks has never been higher. B u t d e s p i te t h e n u m b e r o f organisations upgrading their infrastructure to be more digitally focused, there still seems to be a severe lack of understanding and attention given towards protecting themselves against these security threats. Cybercrime cannot simply be prevented alone through the use of technology, companies can be targeted by cybercriminals through a variety of methods, whether its sending phishing emails, stealing sensitive data or even hacking social media platforms, to name a few.

Protect Despite a large number of businesses seemingly not taking cyber security seriously, the damages can be extremely debilitating and longlasting, especially from a financial point of view. According to a report by the independent internet service provider Beaming Ltd, UK businesses were hit with £17bn worth of cyber-attacks in 2018, with SMEs bearing the brunt of the attacks at an estimated £13.6bn. As a huge advocate of cyber security prevention, Bellingham IT believes that businesses must prepare to make significant investments to protect their operation, but also

Photo by Jorge Jesus from Pexels

I N F O R M AT I O N T EC H N O LO GY

Businesses urged to bulk up defence against cyber threats By Paul Heigham - Director of Bellingham IT

ensure that policies and procedures are in place, so every staff member is able to detect and report any potential cyber threat. Paul Heigham, from Bellingham IT, explains: “Businesses and their teams need to be fully aware of cyber security and staff training in this area is a ‘must have’ not a ‘nice to have’. To achieve this, clear policies and procedures must be enforced so every team member is accountable and aware when a cyber-attack takes place. “Although companies must invest in cyber prevention solutions and put as much safeguarding as possible in place, human involvement is ultimately the weakest link in any chain. This is why companies of all sizes must make cyber security everybody’s responsibility, no matter

what position they may hold.”

far more severe.”

Paul also highlights other critical elements a business must consider when protecting itself from cyberattacks, namely registering with the ICO to make sure the effectiveness of any measures put in place are tested, assessed and evaluated on a regular basis.

Digital and technological innovations are changing the way businesses operate, therefore the potential for a company to leave themselves exposed to cybercriminals remains high and is constantly changing.

Potential Paul comments: “The collateral damage following a cyber attack can also be just as cataclysmic, therefore it is equally important that businesses have the correct measures in place to deal with the fallout. For instance, if a company is attacked but there were no appropriate policies and procedures, and it is not reported to the ICO then the fines incurred would be

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Paul comments: “As a company evolves and explores new opportunities, new threats will also be emerging. It is imperative that cyber security solutions become a critical part of any business’ infrastructure, and this can be achieved by investing in new technology but even more importantly investing in people.”

LESSONS IN BUSINESS

Tim Mercer - CEO of Vapour Cloud This issue Tim shares how he perhaps doesn’t have a conventional source of leadership inspiration…

I believe that mentors and role models come in all shapes and sizes, and from every walk of life. So, when it comes to leadership inspiration, I wouldn’t typically reach for a self-help book or turn to someone simply because they’re in a position of seniority. I like to look ‘beyond the obvious’, particularly to people who have overcome some form of adversity. I’ve worked with ex-Special Forces Officer Wayne Hoyle for instance, who has taught me lots about remaining calm, even in the face of the most extreme and/ or unexpected challenges, to keep people safe. In fact, so many learnings from the front line can be applied in business too, and I think I will always be especially impacted by stories from the military. It’s probably unsurprising – having spent seven years in the Forces myself, I’m certainly not your ordinary tech entrepreneur! I spent my 18th birthday serving as a solider in Northern Ireland, and my 21st in the Gulf War. This life-changing experience has stayed with me and reminded me now, as a leader, that no matter how hard it gets, it will never be as bad as that.

It’s this mentality – that things may be difficult but together, the team can manage it – which I work hard to cascade down to others. I hope, within our business, we’ve fostered a brilliant sense of camaraderie as a result. When you visit the office, it’s infectious. I think this sense of ‘in it togetherness’ really matters. Colleagues look to leaders to walk the walk and they are most engaged when there is a clear sense of purpose too. As a brand, we set out to do something different and offer ground-breaking te c h to c o m p a n i e s t h a t either couldn’t previously

afford it or had been left bamboozled by the smoke and mirrors that typically exists within the cloud pace. I started Vapour with nothing and no w our 28-strong team works towards the same mission. I think a personal sense of purpose is important for leaders too, as it reminds everyone of the interconnectivity between work and home. As an individual I want a better life, and hope that the time will come when I can step aside even more to travel the world with my family. I can only do this if we create a consistent brand

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experience however big we grow. I’m trying to build a legacy not a quick buck! I don’t think anyone has leadership 100% nailed – so much relates to the situation at hand, the people involved, the extraneous challe nges beyond our control and the direction you’re helping to drive something in. But, in my opinion, truly inspirational leaders make time for their colleagues, plus their own personal and professional development. Who you turn to, to aid that development, depends very much on what inspires you.

Edâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notes By Ed Asquith associate and award-winning editor.

Thank you again for all the positive feedback. In this spotlight on the coastal section, we present exclusive interviews with the new chief executive of Scarborough borough council and with Derren Litten, the creator of the new Scarborough BBC One prime-time TV series. There is also a great article by Patrick Argent on the new coastal seaweed farm, the resin from which could reduce our reliance on plastic among other products. Thank you also to the great many businesses which have taken in TopicUK â&#x20AC;Ś

the yORKSHIRE COAST SPONSORED BY

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

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THE YORKSHIRE COAST

Supercrop from the farm under the sea It’s the farm with no land, no power, no fresh water and no chemicals ... just sun and sea.

by Patrick Argent

The UK’s first industrial-scale seaweed plantation in offshore waters has been created four miles out from Scarborough.

The exotically named list of crops to be cultivated - Atlantic wakame, oarweed, sugar kelp, dulse, sea greens and sea spaghetti are all native varieties of the form of algae. They are raw materials destined for use in the food and emerging biotechnology industries. In its raw state, this new marine industry offers a sustainable crop which will have numerous manufacturing uses in biodegradable plastics, cosmetics, textiles, pharmaceuticals and biochemicals.

previous backgrounds in both science and sub-sea has been an ideal mix to form a business really.” A specialist area of aquaculture (or farming in water), the cultivation and harvesting of seaweed at sea encompasses the initial installation of a network of buoys and ropes fixed to a mooring system on the seabed. A solution of spores is grown in the lab with the developed seedlings transferred onto the ropes to then subsequently mature at sea. Wave added: “The Yorkshire coast is an ideal place for growing seaweed. The water conditions, tidal movements and position of the site are perfect. Rather than solely taking from the sea we are also adding to the natural marine environment. We only harvest what we seeded in the first place. The business is part of the lifecycle of the sea.

The SeaGrown farm venture created by partners Wave Crookes, a former seaman and Laura Robinson, a Bristol University professor in marine science, will be a combination of large-scale open water cultivation combined with smaller and sustainable specialist hand-harvested collection onshore. Wave sees his new role as a marine farmer, a natural extension of his “Seaweed is a crop, a supercrop in many ways, it is so useful and so expansive maritime experience. versatile.” A former Royal Navy officer, Although small-scale seaweed farms fisherman, deep sea diver, RNLI exist in other parts of Britain and official and latterly a Chief Officer Ireland, SeaGrown’s facility is the on a British Antarctic Survey ship, first in the country to be operating he said: “Laura has worked all over on a large-scale commercial basis. the world as a marine scientist. “The combination of our substantial Having received a government

Coastal Communities Fund grant of £472,150, in April for capital expenditure, the company has licensed a 25-hectare open water site and envisage the potential creation of new marine-based employment opportunities in the future. Additionally, the company is developing a range of bespoke in-house products such as food seasonings and bath salts. After significant research, planning and expenditure, the initial expectant crop of SeaGrown seaweed is scheduled to be ready for harvest in the spring of 2020.

TopicUK November 2019

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

The new CEO on his role, strategy and personal approach ... TopicUK presents an exclusive Q&A with Mike Greene, the new chief executive of Scarborough Borough Council who is visiting many individuals and organisations and discussing basics as well as strategy and engagement ... What at tracted you to the role at Scarborough? It is such a fabulous opportunity. The borough has so much going for it. It has so many brilliant places and attractions, a great history and a reputation for ambitious and enterprising people. On a professional level there is also so much variation to my work. Scarborough, Whitby and Filey are all very different and have different strengths and unique opportunities. We h a v e f a b u l o u s c o a s t a l communities, countryside and rural areas together with world class industry. There is just so much going on. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the job for me. I felt I had the skills and experience to help really drive things even further forward. And finally what a place to be every day! I often challenge my colleagues in local government to find a better view from their office … However I don’t plan to just see it from my office. I want to take as much advantage as I can to get out and about around the borough. You are bringing words such as ‘dialogue’ and ‘public engagement’ to the role. How do you see this developing? I think this is really important. In order for our area to grow and prosper we need to harness the ideas, passions, experiences and energy of all those who have a core interest in our borough and its success. For me this is about working hand in

hand with our community from the beginning, which includes sharing information on the strengths we have but also the challenges we face in an open and honest way. It is also about providing the opportunities for people to be able to shape and play an active role in our plans for the future. This might be listening and understanding what people think about the services we provide and how we can improve them (my early briefings to staff have focused on the importance of seeing our services through the eyes of our residents, businesses and the people who use council services) or rolling our sleeves up and sitting around the table with local residents, businesses and other key organisations to design a plan of action for our key priorities. This could include the council supporting the enterprising and creative ideas people want to deliver for themselves or in some cases simply getting out of the way so that we are not a barrier to progress. What do you see as the borough’s main assets and positives? We have so many positives, which is why we have seven million visitors a year, world class businesses are investing here and people speak so warmly about the place whenever I meet them outside of the borough on a regional or national level. However the thing I really think is our biggest asset, and my opinion of this is increasing every day I am here, is our people. I have been taken aback by the passion, energy and ingenuity that exists here. Communities,

business and public institutions have such a strong and dedicated passion for the success of the area. Examples such as the exceptional work of the business ambassadors who do a sterling job championing economic growth and development in the borough, creative start up busi n esses o r t he co un t l ess community groups and volunteers who are out there every day making the area a better place and of course our own workforce. There are countless examples of where people are creatively working together to drive the area forward. ... and what do you think are the priorities for action? We undoubtedly face challenges and I have a number of broad priorities for action. I think the first priority is making sure we get our core offer and services right. To put it simply, getting the “the basics” right. This is about aiming for excellent customer satisfaction in the day to day services our residents use and strengthening our reputation, whilst also tackling some of the financial challenges the

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sector faces as a whole. The other priority is working in partnership across the borough to work on our vision and plan of action to deliver good and inclusive economic growth for the borough and the wider region. This is about making sure we build on our economy and ensure that all our residents are equipped, ready and have the ability to benefit from all the opportunities available. We know we have issues of stubborn deprivation in our borough. Some of the problems facing coastal communities are well documented; issues such as poor communication links, changing the balance of low-wage, seasonal and part-time opportunities and addressing issues such as health inequalities. A key priority for me is to work hand in hand with the community, along with working at a regional and national level, to look out how we can work innovatively and creatively to tackle some of these issues. Underpinning all of this will be developing our brilliant workforce to have the skills and attributes to deliver for the future.

Can you name your best moment since your arrival? One thing that stands out is my visit to see the team operating at Scarborough Open Air Theatre. It really sums up the spirit of the area. We host international acts such as Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and Biffy Clyro, put on a great well organised event, but for me the remarkable thing about it is that staff from all over the council volunteer, in their own time, to do things such as sell merchandise and give out wristbands at the entrance. We a r e c o m p e t i n g o n a n international level and doing it well, but doing it with a friendly Scarborough family ethos. In the short time I have been here I have countless examples of such experiences, which is why I really think the best asset of the borough is its people. In five years’ time, what do you hope you will have achieved? I would like to see: • T h e b o r o u g h p u n c h i n g above its weight regionally and nationally • The resident at the heart of our services with excellent customer satisfaction • Our close work with businesses strengthened; the community and partners driving forward shared creative outcomes • The borough viewed as the national benchmark for good inclusive economic growth • The borough financially secure and our investments having a highly positive impact on our communities • A borough where everyone has equal life chances and we have significantly tackled poverty • To have unleashed more capacity in the council having developed the abilities and talents of our people including by working differently • T h e c o u n c i l h av i n g t h e

reputation of a wellrun organisation How do you cope with the pressures of the role? The first thing is making sure I get out and see things actually happening on the ground. I love seeing projects being delivered, meeting people who have benefited from the things we do and staff that are working hard every day. This gives me a renewed energy and helps me remember why I do what I do. Spending time with my family is also really important. In my spare time I try to keep fit and train as part of a club in the martial art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which really helps me to de-stress and re-energise. What kind of feedback have you received in your talks with the public? An unbelievable amount of passion for the area and the desire to work together to see the borough grow. I find this very exciting as we have so much to work with. However there has also been some frustration. Persistent issues which we want to tackle – areas such as transport connectivity, stubborn deprivation and making sure we have the opportunities for our young people so they can stay and continue to contribute to our borough. There has also been some honest feedback about the way in which we engage and communicate with residents and how we can help our services grow. I think our role in local government will need to be very different. We need to be more entrepreneurial, more enabling, more collaborative and more connected – communicating and listening better. What do you regard as your proudest achievement to date? On a personal level, my son. He was born just under two years ago and was born 8 weeks early and spent the first two and a half weeks of his life

in the Special Care Baby Unit but to see him now you would never know. He is absolutely flying and keeps me on my toes every day. On a professional level there are so many things I am proud of throughout my career (I have always been driven by making a real difference on the ground to the areas I work) but my biggest achievement to date has to be the honour of becoming the chief executive of such a great borough How do you see town centres developing? Our town centres will see a big change. There are some really big challenges but I feel we have a once in a generation opportunity to really shape their future. In the past few weeks we have had some really exciting opportunities presented to us including the Future High Street Fund, Heritage Action Zones, Towns Fund and developments such as the new Town Centre team in Scarborough. For the future, in order to be successful, we need to maximise each town’s character, history and heritage. For each town in the borough it needs to be different and authentic. Undoubtedly with consumers’ changing patterns of behaviour the offer needs to change. Retail will be important but not as dominant. The mix will be wider and the make-up of our town centres will change. For example more businesses, more residential properties (developments such as university accommodation in Scarborough town centre) and more leisure uses. Better public and community facilities will draw people in as will a wide range of events. Our town centres will become central community spaces for people to spend and enjoy their leisure time. Underpinning this will be better infrastructure whether that be

THE YORKSHIRE COAST transport connectivity or better technology integrated in to the offer. Apart from the borough of Scarborough, where would you take a holiday? My mum is Italian so I have always had a strong connection with Italy and would always pick to holiday there (if not in our borough) but a place I would love to visit, where I have never been, is Japan. It has such a fascinating history and culture What is your favourite film and why? It has to be the Shawshank Redemption - such an amazing film What is your favourite book and why? My favourite book of recent times is Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano, who actually had to be allocated a police guard after its publication. It is a brave and fascinating insight in to the terrible issues connected to organised crime in the south of Italy and how it works its way in to every level of the economic, social and political system. ... and favourite music or band? Music is one of my real passions and I have a very varied taste but I am a bit of a cliché when it comes to my favourite, and my Manchester roots show through, my favourite band of all time would have to be Oasis. That being said, my favourite band who are currently still making music would be the Courteeners who hail not too far from the area I grew up in. (The Courteeners are a guitar band from northern Manchester). With such a great world class venue in Scarborough, I hope they decide to visit! What are your hobbies or leisure interests? I love to travel, love scuba diving and as a member of a Brazilian Jui Jitsu club I try to train two or three times a week.

TopicUK November 2019

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

Exclusive:

Scarborough TV creator on the show’s reaction

DERREN LITTEN CREATES STAGE SET FROM HISTORIC HARBOURSIDE

Strictly Come Dancing and was for seven years in Coronation Street. Filming started in Scarborough in April, with final scenes being filmed just six weeks later. Scenes have included Luna Park, Peasholm Park and the Newcastle Packet is shown as The Good Ship where the characters meet up. It has also included other harbourside locations such as the Sandside Penny Arcade and Antons. The hairdressing salon (Geraldine’s) was filmed in Stockport. Derren has made many friends in Scarborough thanks to the programme and agreed to answer a few questions for us ...

The creator of the new Scarborough TV sitcom has spoken to TopicUK about the BBC One show which he has written, directed and starred in. Derren Litten, who wrote the award-winning ITV series Benidorm, revealed that the Scarborough show was also a big hit in ... Benidorm.

Derren Litten and Stephanie Cole

“I was in a cabaret bar seeing a friend of mine sing and during the show he told the audience, ‘the writer of Scarborough is in

tonight’. I was astonished to hear the crowd give a very loud cheer.” To the opening bars of Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) by the Beautiful South, the new series centres on a group of friends who meet up in a pub for karaoke - with Mike (Jason Manford) and Karen (Catherine Tyldesley) giving their romance another go after a break, with intermittent help from Karen’s mother played by Stephanie Cole. Catherine is also in the latest

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Can you tell us what public reaction you have received? The public reaction has been t re m e n do us. It ’s bee n ve ry different to Benidorm as I am featured in this show as an actor from episode one so I’m much more of a point of contact for the general public. Even though I made several appearances in Benidorm over the decade it was on TV, I rarely had people coming up to me in the street telling me what they thought of the show (probably a good thing!). I was in a cabaret bar in Benidorm the other night seeing a friend of mine sing, during the show he told the audience “the writer of Scarborough is in tonight”, I was astonished to hear the crowd give a very loud cheer. The reason I was surprised was because the show had only been on two weeks and usually it takes a lot longer for an audience to get to know a new series. What did you most like about doing the production? Although I directed the two episodes of Benidorm in the last series I had never directed a whole

THE YORKSHIRE COAST but Antony Absolute didn’t sound right. I started with the name Tony (clearly the best of all gangster names!) then just thought of something which rhymed; it wasn’t the most difficult part of writing the show! Catherine Tyldesley and Jason Manford ... obvious choices or did was it a long process to get the right mix? I had Jason in mind from the start. He had been a guest actor in an episode of Benidorm playing a circus owner, I knew he could sing very well and he seemed to fit the bill; luckily he liked the script and was the first actor on board.

show from the start to the end. It’s an incredible amount of work with pre-production (finding locations etc) and postproduction (editing etc) each side of six weeks of filming but I loved it. Of course before all of that I had to write all six episodes too; needless to say enjoyed a

few weeks off somewhere sunny since then. Why did you choose Scarborough as the setting? I was born in Hull and as a child I visited Bridlington probably more times than I visited Scarborough but no other northern town can rival Scarborough for its cinematic beauty. I’m really happy we

managed to show that in the series; the drone shots in particular have shown even residents Scarborough from a perspective they’d never seen before. H o w d i d t h e n a m e To n y Peroni (played by Benidorm’s Jake Canuso) come about ... over a Peroni? Haha, no. Vodka is my drink

Catherine came a little further down the line, we had what the industry calls ‘chemistry castings’ which last a fair bit longer than usual castings (sometimes several hours) and it became pretty clear they worked together well. In fact Catherine and Jason came into the room together chatting away talking about how Jason had just got Catherine’s parking ticket overturned!

Seafront views on the programme’s impact and its opportunity apart from Derren, is Scarborough itself - it looks tremendous because it is. JAMES CORRIGAN

Seafront Trader

“There has definitely been a spike in holiday accommodation and in dining because of the programme. It’s great for trade and for South Bay and Old Town.

Scarborough is the true star.” He added: “The harbourside shines as the nation’s heart in each TV episode. What other resort or town in Britain can claim that?” But he strongly believes that the tourism strategy regionally is lagging behind the opportunity.

“There needs to be a much more “It has given Scarborough a brilliant, creative, pro-active marketing amazing and unique showcase. My and tourism strategy to make the favourite character in the show, most of this golden chance for

Scarborough; not the ‘Yorkshire coast’. The generic ‘Yorkshire coast’ branding is meaningless to the visitors and to viewers.”

JANET JEFFERSON

Council Cabinet Member:

“The queues eagerly waiting to see the premiere at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, just said ‘We love Scarborough’ and, as one of those people fortunate to be there, I

was certainly not disappointed with what I saw within the two episodes shown. I left with a feelgood factor and looking forward to the forthcoming episodes. The series, which captures our spectacular coastline, castle, harbour and old town, emphasises not only what a wonderful resort we live in but has attracted an increased number of visitors from far and wide who in turn want to be part of this developing drama and the hope of a second series, which can only be good for Scarborough and its economy.” TopicUK November 2019

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

The career-based college that’s flying the flag for quality skills and results

‘We mean business ... our aim is to provide students with an experience like no other, and our employer relationships and projects set them up for brilliant, rewarding futures’ Scarborough UTC principal Lee Kilgour. One of the country’s 50 University Technical Colleges has achieved its best-ever academic results - with a 100% A-levels pass rate and impressive leaps in GCSE results of up to 44%.

The successes have come at Scarborough UTC, the employer-led college that has a crucial mission - to help meet the local, regional and national shortage of engineers,

Scarborough UTC has a new Career Development Programme for year 12. Principal Lee Kilgour said: “At Scarborough UTC, we don’t stop at academia. Students learn the practical skills to nail an interview, write a killer CV and stand up against your peers in an increasingly competitive job market. “Throughout their studies, they will become familiar with top names from some of the largest and most important employers in Scarborough, working with students on projects, on hand to offer advice and judge final pieces of work. “As well as this, students will be exposed to industry experts, get the opportunity to explore They will become confident in presenting ideas and be pushed to work outside of their comfort zones. They will get a real feel for the workplace and once graduated, be ready to slot right in.”

computer scientists, technicians, scientists and mathematicians. The college in Scarborough with its shimmeringsilver frontage is a mainstream, state-funded senior school that was initiated by the business community, offering the usual school subjects for 14 to 18-year-olds but with extra importance ... high level technical skills in engineering, science, computer science and cybersecurity. It provides technical skills that are in demand and treats its students like adults, a culture encouraged by the principal Lee Kilgour who joined last year and has also promoted high levels of community engagement. He has much to acclaim ... the UTC has won through to the F1 in Schools World Finals taking place in Dubai in November and is linked to key partners such as the international engineering company Unison, the dynamic McCain Foods empire and also GCHQ’s Scarborough base. Lee gave himself a mission - to consolidate the college’s employer-led learning approach with improved academic results, taking head-on any criticism that exam results from the UTC intake was below par. In spectacular fashion, the students and staff have risen to the challenge, including 74% grades 9-4 in English, which represents a 44.6% improvement

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THE YORKSHIRE COAST “We prepare students for the world of work – or for university if that is a student’s choice, with slightly longer days that are more aligned to industry and ‘business dress’ replacing school uniform.

on last year; plus 58.9% grades 9-4 in maths - and 59% 9-4 in the subject of engineering manufacture. At A-level, the UTC achieved a 100% success rate and average grades of Distinction were achieved in the A-level equivalent engineering courses. These results have been lauded by all its supporters, including the Scarborough Business Ambassadors who started the UTC with the support of the Baker Dearing Trust and who knew at the outset the college was vital for the area’s career offerings. “The results are the best yet,” said Mr Kilgour. “At our locally-unique and very special college, the students and staff have soared above GCSE and A level result targets, with improvements on all measures. “Not only will the students finish with great results but after working on employer-focussed projects, they have both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills they need for successful careers within the STEM sectors. We are so proud of them.” Ambitious young people who want

In fact school isn’t a word we use to describe ourselves; students here are attending college, whether they are in our sixth form or in our Key Stage four classes.”

UTC principal Lee Kilgour with staff and students

a solid career are taught with stateof-the-art facilities and industrystandard equipment, enabling teachers and employer partners to give students unparalleled experience which mirrors workplace learning. Mr Kilgour added: “Students work on projects designed and developed by some of the biggest regional names. Industry partners sponsor the UTC and give students the chance to engage.” The college goes beyond the norm of any other school or college provision

in the region and is open to a wide geographical radius of prospective students. It has hosted a Michelinstar dinner attended by the then Education Secretary Justine Greening at the official opening, science events for primary schoolchildren and a McLaren business gathering. “Most importantly we have opened up entirely new secondary school educational horizons,” added Mr Kilgour. “We are about ambition, innovation and aspiration, and going beyond the traditional curriculum.

UTC F1 students zooming to Abu Dhabi Six students from the Scarborough UTC have won through to the F1 in Schools World Finals 2019, a spectacular achievement

The event will take place in Abu Dhabi, alongside a round of the Formula 1 World Championship car races.

The UTC team called Avidity Racing are UK champions and had to deploy software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature compressed air powered cars made from F1 model block. The challenge inspires students to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship,

Students study the normal secondary school GCSE and A-level subjects but receive extra education in robotics, engineering, technology and the college has its own 600C blacksmith’s forge and welding equipment. Scarborough UTC opened its doors in September 2016, arising from the site of a former coach park with a burned-out car wreck. The college’s main education sponsor is the University of Hull. The full list of UTC sponsors can be found on its website. “Our staff create a pathway to a career with skills that local business and the entire nation is desperate for,” Mr Kilgour said. fundraising target by providing £15,000 from its sponsorship fund, and appealed for funds from other sources to enable the teenagers to cover the full costs to cover research, travel and accommodation. The total has been reached, with big thanks to Lloyd’s Bank.

UTC principal Lee Kilgour said: “With only 42% of girls in the UK considering a career in engineering, and only 26% of females involved in UTC F1 students Reanne, Hana, Matthew, Missy, Jess and Conor the motor racing population when marketing, leadership/teamwork, creator and graphics designer. compared with males, our team’s media skills and financial strategy, The finals will bring together 60 and apply them in practical, teams from 25 countries, held on participation will have a hugely i m a g i n a t i v e , c o m p e t i t i v e Yas Island starting on 24 November positive influence on not just the and exciting ways. with an opening ceremony and three students’ lives and careers, but also for future students.” Avidity comprises six students. Five days of competition. of the six are aged 14 to 16, with three girls and three boys, each with roles such as head of design, marketing

Scarborough Business Ambassaadors, which created the UTC, kickstarted a £25,000

https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/://www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/utcf1 TopicUK November 2019

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

nd U u o p

Call for urgent attention on skills shortages

The CLAAS business seminar held at UNISON in Scarborough

Hotel praised for securing heritage link The Filey years of Victorian stage star Dame Madge Kendal have been celebrated with a blue plaque.

Historic hall stages fund-raiser for Hinge The 18th century Thorpe Hall and its gardens were the setting of a murder mystery to help raise funds for Bridlington charity the Hinge Centre. The drama near Rudston raised £2,787 as guests in 1 9 2 0 s c o s t u m e a c te d a s detectives.

and is a working estate, with farming, forestry, property to let, holiday lets, caravan site, fishing and annual events.

Second Sons Theatre Company gave their time free of charge for the production. All the cast we re acting graduates of Italia Conti Drama School in London.

Chris West, of West Building Supplies and Hinge pastchairman, said: “The Hinge Centre is exceedingly grateful to the kindness and support given by Somerled and Charlotte Macdonald in allowing their home to be exclusively used for this fundraising event.”

Thorpe Hall has been in the ownership of the Macdonald family for more than 200 years

The highly-regarded Shakespearean actress also performed in the Edwardian era. M adge and husband William owned what is now the White Lodge Hotel overlooking Filey bay.

and Kim were praised for the project and they thanked supporters and announced that a conference room at the hotel will be named in honour of Dame Madge. Dame Madge died at 87 in 1935 owned the Filey property for 24 years

It became a hotel in 1938, and is now run by James and Kim Hodgson. The Scarborough & District Civic Society plaque was unveiled by town mayor Cllr Jacqui Houlden-Banks, whose father was a previous owner of the hotel. At the ceremony, James

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from 1896 while they were managing the St James Theatre in London.

The UK boss of a prestigious international company has called for urgent government action on skills shortages at an event in Scarborough. Trevor Tyrrell, chief executive of the quality agricultural machinery manufacturer CLAAS UK, told an audience of business leaders, farmers and students: “Our industry and agricultural machinery is facing a crisis. We need eager students who can learn and understand the systems.” He called on the government to more urgently listen to the concerns expressed by all sectors and to take more effective action on training, educations and skills

which he said were not keeping pace with technology and the needs of industry.

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

The event at award-winning engineers Unison was organised in conjunction with the Scarborough Business Ambassadors. Also attending was MP Robert Goodwill who said: “Every industry is looking to attract young people, it’s a tough fight and all of us have to work together to get a combined voice across.” CLAAS brought two pioneering super tractors, including a £350,000 seed green 435 horsepower AXION Terra Trac 960 with 29in wide tracks packed with digital technology.

Construction skills village team is called ‘superheroes’ The founders and their team behind the Construction Skills Village in Scarborough have been called “superheroes” at their first apprentice awards.

The 10th engineering week reaches 35,000-plus students The 10th year of Scarborough Science and Engineering Week at the Spa took the overall number of students attending the event to more than 35,000.

Sponsors include Sirius Minerals the headline sponsor, North Yorkshire County Council, the Scarborough Spa managers SIV, Scarborough Borough Council and Osprey.

It began at Plaxton coachbuilders and has become the biggest showcase of hi-tech businesses and manufacturers in the area.

Among the exhibitors were McCain, Sirius Minerals, Bosch, the University of Hull, Derwent Training, Scarborough TEC, the Scarborough Construction Skills Village, Balfour Beatty, Plaxton, Flamingo Land, the Army and the RAF and Scarborough UTC, the Imagineering Foundation, Wilfred Scruton, Castle Group, AMRC, Kingspan and James Fisher Ltd.

The hi-tech hands-on event with 35 exhibitors was created by Scarborough Business Ambassadors and engineers Unison, international exporters. The North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership plays a leading role in organising the event, and the anniversary year received extra backing from the influential York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership.

HSBC sponsored the event dinner and the keynote speakers were McLaren. A number of awards were presented, including a memorial in honour of Vaughn Bulmer, head of coach engineering at Plaxton.

The event celebrated the successes that have led to: • 147 jobs or apprenticeships since Sept 2016 • 288 learners • 370 construction industry qualifications from entry level up to level 1 in trade specific areas including plant training. The young award winners were Lewis Watherston (Top of the Ladder), Josh Walker (Breaking through the Wall), Jack Townsend (Corner Return), Finley Ward (Nailed It) and Tyler McMahon (Ground-breaking). The skills village operators were ‘superheroes’ said the Scarborough council chief executive Mike Greene who joined MP Robert Goodwill and Bev Trees of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership. They spoke in glowing terms about the importance of the skills village - which is also for adults and where the range of trades includes bricklaying, groundworks, property maintenance and joinery. The Construction Skills Village model is part Northern Regeneration, of which Graham Ratcliffe is MD, and wife Fiona runs CSV Training Ltd, a plant and machinery training company, as well as health and safety courses. But Graham has called for urgent, better balance between the needs of industry training and that of traditional education provision - to help funding that can take on more learners and fill significant local, regional and nationwide skills gaps. TopicUK November 2019

N E W S U P D AT E

Work place backcare Back pain is something many of us will have experienced at some point in our lives. With 80% of the UK population having experienced a back complaint, it is one of Britain’s most common health problems and sees around 5.6 million working days in the UK lost each year, second only to stress. As chiropractors they see many patients with back complaints that have been amplified due to their workplace environment such as sedentary working from sitting at the computer for hours on end. So, what can you do to help avoid back complaints? The importance of Posture Slouching, hunching over your desk and general poor posture can increase stress onto your spine which will lead to back pain. Sit back in your chair to where your buttocks are against the backrest and place your feet in front of you on the ground with your legs forming a 90-degree angle, with relaxed shoulders.

The chiropractors at Broadgate Chiropractic Clinic of Horsforth, Leeds share with us their top workplace tips for a better back. Back pain can range from mild and short term, to having debilitating long term consequences and can affect anyone, at any age. Last month Back Care Awareness week took place to highlight the need for us all to take better care of our spine and core muscles to help avoid injury.

Any employer with employees who spend time using digital display screens, should ensure they undertake a workstation risk assessment, however sole traders and freelancers who use a computer should also look at the position of their computer, the chair they use, keyboard and lighting to help create efficient working posture. Keep on moving During the day, it’s important to take regular breaks. Get up and move about at least every hour.

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Taking time out over lunch to go for a walk, take an exercise class or even working standing up for a time encourages blood flow, elongating the spine and strengthen your back muscles. Selfcare Keeping hydrated and having regular quality sleep are fundamentals for our self-care. Stress at work can affect your back as you hold stress in your body. Tensing your back muscles can trigger low back pain or make it worse, so it’s important to monitor and manage your stress levels, including learning breathing techniques. Regular chiropractic maintenance appointments are a great way to get you back in alignment and check everything is in place as it should be. Similar to a regular dental appointment, chiropractic care should form part of your regular self-care routine.

TopicUK readers can take advantage of a special offer at Broadgate Chiropractic Clinic for an initial 60 minute a p p o i n t m e n t, i n c l u d i n g assessment and treatment for only £19.99, saving a massive 80%. Call 01132 588999 or email reception@ broadgatechiropractic. com to book quoting TOPIC. Please see full T&Cs at www. broadgatechiropractic.com.

Hebden Bridge Town Hall teams up with FSB for Business Breakfasts

N E W S U P D AT E

As well as the various networks established, or supported by Upper Calder Valley Renaissance (UCVR) since the 2015 floods, the Hebden Bridge Community Association (HBCA) has been teaming up with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) since 2013 to put on a business breakfast every month in the HBCA owned Town Hall Graham Mynott, Director of HBCA, said “the relationship has been a strong one for the last six years with a wide variety of speakers from disaster recovery, to branding, to the dreaded ‘Prepare for Brexit’ sagas. We often have more than one speaker at a breakfast and have managed to offer something of interest to most businesses each month. We average about 20-30 people at these events. Whilst we see part of our role to support the town’s businesses and their network forum, we also welcome businesses from along the valley too”. FSB lead for Calderdale, Paul Walters said “we have reached out to our members in the valley since the flooding to offer support and advice for their recovery, so funding the business breakfasts in partnership with the HBCA was just one of the way we can connect with members and prospective members in the upper valley. We are pleased to continue this partnership and like the HBCA we are happy for businesses from further afield to come and join the meetings.

The breakfasts are usually on the last Tuesday of the month. Details of the monthly events can be found on the Town Hall website: http:// hebdenbridgetownhall.org.uk

UCVR Director Stephen Curry said “I often attend these breakfasts myself and I always come away with a new or renewed contact for either the UCVR or my own business. I highly recommend the trip from anywhere in the valley to join these events”.

If you think you have something to offer as a speaker get in touch with Graham at the Town Hall. Tel. 01422 417300 Fo r i n f o r m a t i o n i n F S B membership contact Barney Mynott : Barney. Mynott@fsb.org.uk

“ We have reached out to our members in the valley since the flooding to offer support and advice for their recovery..., ”

TopicUK November 2019

Are you an SME in the Leeds City Region? Thinking of investing in your staff by offering some training? The Skills Service could fund 40% of the cost of training your staff!

in partnership with

‘‘

Established in 1989 Swift Joinery Manufacturers Limited is a leading softwood window and door manufacturer based in Castleford, West Yorkshire but supplying throughout the United Kingdom. We have always been keen on investing in our staff to ensure they have the right skills and knowledge to thrive in their roles. We accessed the Skills Service in June 2019 and it’s had a great impact on Swift’s by giving us the chance to enhance our employee’s education. We would definitely recommend the Skills Service to other businesses.

‘‘

Steve Greenwood General Manager

Launched by the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges in June 2018, The Skills Service offers a unique package of training and support for businesses in the Leeds City Region. · You can search the Skills Catalogue for courses currently available and eligible for up to 40% European Social Fund funding · You can make a Skills Enquiry and meet with a WYCC Skills Advisor, or contact Wakefield College’s Course Information team by emailing: courseinfo@wakefield.ac.uk to enquire about the courses on offer at Wakefield College.

Find out more about The Skills Service on the website www.skillsservice.co.uk

B u s i n e s s W o m a n Welcome to TopicUK Businesswoman, a new regular section. Launched last edition this section will bring to you stories of inspirational women business leaders, tips on how to stay ahead of the game, how to look good with little effort and how to juggle everything in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busy world. If you would like to feature or have an idea for an article, do get in touch PR@topicuk.co.uk

TopicUK November 2019

TOPICUK BUSINESSWOMEN

It’s time to stand out with a powerful personal brand! Jeff Bezos of Amazon sums it up best; ‘your personal brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room’.

What do people say about you? How do colleagues or people in your network describe you? It’s often the throw away comment: ‘Do you know Mary?’ ‘Oh yes, Mary’s great, always good fun and enthusiastic – I love working with her’, no problems there. But what if the response is more, ‘oh yes, Mary. She’s great, but she’s let me down a few times - I know she’s busy, but it’s beginning to annoy me’. Such comments are part of everyday conversation, and may be just one person’s opinion, but if similar comments are consistently made when your name comes up, these quickly become part of your reputation and personal brand. In the digital world we live in, personal branding can be dismissed as superficial; as a curated, idealised image that is used by ‘influencers’ to raise profile and In the words of attract Oscar Wilde: followers and l i ke s. Yo u r ‘Be yourself; online profile everyone else is important, is taken...’ but it is only a part of your brand. Your personal brand encompasses every interaction: the way you show up and people’s experience of being around you. To have true impact, you should be

authentic, (because we can all spot a fake), and it would be exhausting to keep up the pretence of being someone you’re not. Your brand identity should be the real you, the best you. In the words of Oscar Wilde: ‘Be yourself; everyone else is taken.’

Fabulous Consider how you show up:in person, on the phone, on a good day and on a bad day or when you are under pressure. It is who you are (your personality), what you do (on a functional level) and how you do it (your behaviours). The great news is, this is a powerful tool available to everyone. You don’t have to be the smartest, the most creative or have impressive qualifications. If you have ever felt overlooked, struggled to have your voice heard in a meeting, believe you lack presence and gravitas, or dread pitching and presenting, this is for you. By developing your brand, you will build your confidence, know what you stand for, and differentiate yourself from the ‘competition’, be it as a business owner or standing out within your organisation.

One of my greatest frustrations is when a client arrives at my door having missed out on a fabulous promotion or a dream client. It takes time to establish and build your brand but with clarity of your message and consistent communication, you will start to build profile and reputation as an expert in your field. Actively build and manage your brand and opportunities will come your way. You will become the ‘front of mind

person’ when a dream role becomes available or a customer is buying your service. A client of mine has recently been promoted into her dream role. Always a champion of diversity within her organisation, she is a tireless supporter of young women within her profession and actively seeks opportunities to speak up on her passion for inclusion. When the organisation she works for recognised their need for a Diversity Manager, she was the first person that came

FL regional winners announced Forward Ladies has announced the winners of the 3 regional finals of the National Awards and Summit for 2019. The National Awards Series, which acknowledge and promote the fact that women are an integral and invaluable part of every business, are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. Forward Ladies continues to recognise and honour the most respected businesswomen, across a wide range of business categories. CEO Griselda Togobo said: “It is 100 years since women first got the right to vote in the UK, but gender equality remains elusive. Whilst we have clearly

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made progress over the years, our mission to achieve equality and bring diversity to leadership roles is not yet complete. That said, this has been another fantastic year for women and that should be celebrated, and through our National Awards we are once again delighted to showcase the very best women in business. “The calibre of entries has been increasing year on year, and our

TOPICUK BUSINESSWOMEN

A little pickQui mecorecabores up

to mind, and the role was hers. Her clarity of message, and consistency in communicating it ensure her personal Review by Gill Laidler brand has impact and she continues to capitalise on it. A positive brand benefits both individual and organisation.

You may believe in letting your work speak for itself, but you run the risk of being overlooked. You may be a business owner with an incredible service or product but have a sneaky suspicion you are the world’s best kept secret. You may want to communicate who you are as a leader. Whatever your Katie Portman role, developing your personal brand will give you the confidence to stand It’s not very often that I get out, own your identity and step up. the chance to read books,

que voloritem excerum ere con

despite reading being one of my passions, but during a recent short break to Majorca, I took with me a little book sent to me by award winning blogger, ‘Deborah is based in Huddersfield and journalist and freelance works with individuals and businesses writer Katie Portman and in Yorkshire’ which provided up and down the country speaking, spent a whole afternoon inspiration for her blog, ‘Pouting coaching and delivering workshops. engrossed in this little book. in Heels’ that went on and scooped There is an ancient Chinese proverb ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.’ The same goes for your personal brand.

If you would want to make an impact Katie lives in Yorkshire with her with your personal brand please husband and two children, was get in touch, at deborahogden.com once awarded the title of ‘Best Pout

Katie two awards in the last seven years. “I created the blog to inspire women to be happier and do better and to reach higher in life. I hope

regional shortlists are the everyday heroines, trailblazers and role models who have succeeded despite enormous challenges.” “Each year we are inspired by the number of high-calibre entries, and this year has highlighted the exceptionally talented businesswomen we have in the UK. These entrants are the future entrepreneurs of our country and play a critical role in our economy.” The nine category winners will now take part in a judging day in Sheffield in November, at the Grant Thornton offices, before a distinguished panel of business leaders, where they will join finalists from regional events. The overall national winner will be announced at the Grand Final to be

held in Leeds on the 29th November. The Awards are supported by National Sponsors LNER and Tastecard. Regional sponsors include Grant Thornton, Envirovent, Durham University Business School, Institute of Directors, LCF Law, Real World

Group, BASF, Cohorted. Supporting partners are: PNE Group, Topic UK, Yorkshire Life, City & Financial Global, Ilkley Literature Festival and Yorkshire Post. This is the second year that Forward Ladies is also supporting an incredible charity Young Women’s Trust.

that my book will do the same,” she told us. In the book, Katie talks about emotions and challenges that she has faced as a woman going back to her teen years and shares with her readers how she overcame them. It is essentially Katie’s story but it is inspirational in lots of ways, funny and sometimes sad and did leave me thinking about my own life at the end and what I could do to improve my life and myself, which is of course is what Katie hopes the book will achieve. Essentially Katie explains that she learned that ‘she is good enough’ and encourages the reader to believe that they are good enough too. Split into seven sections, Katie cleverley ends each one with ‘PickUp’s’ to take away, little tips that are easy to digest and memorable. If you read one book this year I would recommend it should be A Little Pick Me up. Available from Katie’s website www. poutinginheels.com or Amazon. TopicUK November 2019

TOPICUK BUSINESSWOMEN

F a u x F u r S t o l e . To add a touch of glamour to any outfit, the faux fur stole is the perfect accessory. A two-tone colour palette partnered with a beautifully soft texture, the stole adds a sleek finish over any outfit, whether you just need a pop of colour or a practical yet chic addition for an evening out.

“The wow factor.” Whether you have a Christmas ball or simply want an outfit that wow, the Fenn Wright Manson Amanda Holden Collection is the perfect solution. In an easyto-wear soft style, this dress flatters the figure with a cinched tie waist that accentuates the silhouette. An elegant touch is created with a high neckline, cut-out detailing a side slit to enhance the soft flow of the fabric.

S t a t e m e n t e a r r i n g . To inject flair into any outfit, accessorisation is key. The simple addition of a statement earring can switch an outfit from day to night or add a finishing touch that creates a stunning party look. These sculpture-esque gold drop earrings are a beautiful addition to any outfit- try pairing with tones of green for a sophisticated christmas ensemble.

R i c h t o n e s . To achieve a party look without the Christmas fuss, a focus on colour is the answer. Create a bold look by choosing rich tones of purple, amber and green for an outfit that requires little effort but says a lot. The lavish shade of purple coupled with delicate pleats, a cinched waist and voluminous sleeve details work effortlessly together to create an evening look that needs nothing extra.

Elevate your look with party heels, sparkling jewellery and a cosy faux-fur jacket, also from Fenn Wright Manson. Ideal for layering and cut to a short length,it fastens at the front and is lined for comfort. It offers a relaxed fit thanks to the long sleeves and rounded neckline.

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T OTPOI CPUI CK BB U U SS II N N EE SS SS W WO OM M EE N N T h e s e q u i n n e d d r e s s . The party go

to- the little black dress. A style classic and staple in every wardrobe. This sequinned spin would speak for itself at any event, paired with over the knee boots to create texture and edge. Or, for a toned-down alternative add a bright roll neck jumper- a smart casual look perfect for after work drinks.

S a t i n . A recent icon of day to night dressingthe satin slip skirt is the quick-change garment that works with every part of your schedule. An easy day look can be achieved by layering chunky knitwear and boots to balance out the delicate finish. For evening, style with a cami top for a touch of elegance- for those colder nights be sure to have a slouchy cardigan on hand to layer up.

AUTUMN FA S H I O N For more style advice, tips and tricks on this party season and how to take your look from day to night, head instore to the John Lewis & Partners Style Studio and receive on the day advice or book an appointment with the Personal Stylists. All items available instore and online from October.

With Autumn in full swing and Christmas imminent, party season is fast approaching. In collaboration with John Lewis & Partners Leedsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; personal stylists Chris and Linda, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bringing you the best of Autumn Winter 2019. Whether you are looking for simply stylish workwear or the perfect party dress, John Lewis and Partners are here to see you through the season in style.

TopicUK November 2019

TOPICUK WELCOME OUR NEW COLUMNIST ACTRESS, PRESENTER AND FOUNDER OF THE CAPSULE

Natalie Anderson Natalie will be bringing her expertise on fashion, health and beauty to To p i c U K B u s i n e s s w o m e n r e a d e r s e a c h e d i t i o n . I f y o u h av e a n y q u e s t i o n s f o r Natalie, do email PR@topicuk.co.uk and we’ll pass them on.

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“Winser London”

Hello Everyone, I’m so thrilled to be joining the TopicUK team and to be bringing you the latest news from the worlds of Fashion, Beauty, Wellbeing & Lifestyle.

“With Gillian Anderson in the role of brand ambassador you know you’re getting something, sophisticated and elegant but with a splash drama when your purchase a piece from Winser London.

Running my own lifestyle company The Capsule allows me to be at the forefront of new product launches, fashion trends and wellbeing therapies and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to share all of that with you. I’ll also be giving you my personal opinion on things that are trending in the media alongside tips and recommendations for keeping your stress levels to a minimum....this will most likely act as a reminder to myself to practice what i preach as Iam as guilty as the rest of us for burning the candle at both ends! Nevertheless I hope that through sharing my experiences of seeking out the holy grail of the perfect work/life balance I’ll be able to give you a little bit of inspiration along the way.”

“Kyushi Skincare”

of essential oils to reach every cell of the body, I knew I wanted to create skincare that would benefit both the skin and mind in a simple accessible collection.”

with essential oils and plant based properties to keep the skin hydrated, soft and soothed. Famed for her credentials as a green make up artist, health coach and facialist, Kyushi Founder Alice Moore aims to give its users permission to pause. On developing the range Alice says.

“Influenced by the Japanese belief of being in the moment, Kyushi Skincare is leading the way in encouraging its consumers to practice a green, mindful beauty routine. “When I discovered there Created to bring a sense of was research showing that calm during the skincare ritual, it only takes approximately the Kyushi range is also packed 21 minutes for the properties

I love their collections and the latest AW19 doesn’t disappoint. I first saw this collection back in April at an exclusive showing and couldn’t wait to have the opportunity to write a b o u t i t. E v e r y p i e c e is beautifully designed with expert tailoring and luxurious fabrics making it the perfect collection to invest in for your capsule wardrobe this season. Stand out pieces for me are the Printed Midi Dress (£199) with its beautiful muted giraﬀe print, the British Tweed Skirt (£299) and the Cashmere Blend Lips Crew Neck Jumper (£195).

The Capsule Fashion & Body Event - Feb 2020 Lastly i’m very excited to be planning our very first The Capsule Fashion & Body Event to be held in Leeds during the fashion month of February next year. Focusing on emerging fashion brands, sustainable fashion, fashion for all ages and women’s body confidence, we are currently looking for fashion & beauty brands who would like to be involved in this fun and insightful event. If you would like to know more please visit us at www.thecapsule.co.uk/ events.”

Natalie x

Kyushi’s beauty oil collection does just that. The Power of Ten oil (10ml £21/ 30ml/£39) could be considered a green smoothie for the face as it Fe a t u r i n g a d e s i g n o f contains 10 powerful plant Gillian Anderson’s lips based ingredients designed by artist Julia Cain, 20 to strengthen and regenerate per cent of all sales from the skin. Combine with that this jumper go to Gillians the directions to apply first chosen charity” to your hands and allow yourself to deeply breath in “ Wo m e n Fo r Wo m e n the natural aromas and you International. I for one am have a spa like experience in full support of this and in the comfort of your own having seen the jumpers home! It’s an absolute must myself can tell you they are for those needing a dose of self sumptuous and soft with care with limited time. an edgy, fun twist! For more information about the Kyushi range please visit www.kyushi. co.uk”

To v i e w t h e f u l l Winser London AW/19 collection please visit www.winserlondon.com TopicUK November 2019

TOPICUK BUSINESSWOMEN

From Boardroom to the Bar With a recent Drapers nomination under their belt and the successful launch of their women’s AW19 collection, Yorkbased brand Maxwell - Scott are flying high, crafting fine leather goods for the high flyers of the world. It all began with a Yorkshireman working in London’s business district and memories of adventures to Italy with his mother, Jacqueline. William Scott Forshaw, Maxwell - Scott’s founder & CEO, still vividly remembers walking around Florence’s markets as a young boy. “The sweet aroma of chestnut-tanned leather that lingers around Florence’s market square during their hot summers is still, to this day, my favourite smell on earth. I believe it’s these early experiences with Italy’s leather industry that have brought me to where I am today.” Maxwell - Scott currently has eight websites globally and they’re constantly expanding. Their goods are stocked online at Harvey Nichols and they are proud to be official suppliers for European rugby union champions, Saracens, based in North London. Their ethos is simple; to advocate Italy’s prestigious and age-old craftsmanship and create timeless bags that exude the finest quality. William wants his designs to become your evergreen pieces - the ones you reach for every day. Boasting a timeless British aesthetic, a Maxwell - Scott bag has that instinctive ability to slot into your wardrobe with little effort. As the industry becomes more cognisant to sustainability, Maxwell - Scott’s manifesto is becoming

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TOPICUK BUSINESSWOMEN

“ If y ou feel p o w e r fu l, y o u ’ l l b e po w e rf u l i n yo ur w o rk...”

increasingly prevalent. Unlike artificial vegan leather, no chemicals are used to dye their leather. They source all their hides from Italy and only craft with the top layers, known as full grain. Their leather is naturally vegetable-tanned - a process where organic extracts, such as chestnut and mimosa are soaked into the hides. Additionally, Maxwell - Scott’s main factory, situated on the west coast of Italy, is powered by solar energy. In a world where fast-fashion is still unfortunately desired by the mass es, Maxwell - Scott provide a stylish and refined antidote. All their pieces come with a 25 year warranty a testament to the strong belief that they will stay by your side for decades. Ultimately, Maxwell - Scott provide the answer for those seeking to further align themselves with the slow consumerism movement. For their women’s AW19 collection, William commissioned highprofile handbag designer, Catriona

Forsyth, for the first time. “I saw it as an opportunity to breathe some fresh air into our women’s range. Catriona is an incredibly experienced designer within the luxury sector, having previously worked for Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen and Pringle of Scotland.” Honouring the elegant Maxwell - Scott businesswoman residing in the city, this fourteen-piece collection caters for all aspects of her lifestyle, from the boardroom in the morning to the bar in the evening. The range aims to fuse functionality with elegance to provide busy working women with pieces that can tackle city life in the most refined way. “If you feel powerful, you’ll be powerful in your work”, William tells us. “This collection allows a businesswoman to carry a beautifully-crafted piece that also caters to her practical needs with her all day, putting her in the best position to shine in her career.”

Here at the TopicUK office, our handbag loving editor wanted to test the quality and style for herself. Gill received the Sorrento Business bag from the new AW19 collection and it has been firmly by her side ever since.

beautifully crafted bag to any business lady or indeed man, as they do have a fabulous collection for men too!”

The AW19 collection is available to order at maxwellscottbags.com.

“I was lucky enough to choose from the range and selected the Sorrento as it easily fits my 15” laptop. There is plenty of room to include files, purse and other personal items and of course one or two copies of TopicUK that I always have with me. “The bag arrived beautifully packaged in it’s own box and includes a dustbag to keep it safe in storage (not that it will be doing much of that!). “The quality of the leather is exceptional and I love the fact that the dye is natural with no chemicals. I can highly recommend this TopicUK November 2019

TOPICUK BUSINESSWOMEN

World Travel with

House of Coco Whether you’re wanting to take a long weekend away from the world of business or you’re on a self discovery mission to realise your true purpose, here are my top 3 destinations that are perfect for solo adventures.

By Laura Bartlett MD House of Coco As the founding editor of House of Coco, a luxury print travel magazine sold on the newsstands in London, travel is part of my job on a daily basis. Whether it’s packing my bags to fly to Marrakech to check out a new Riad, floating across the Caribbean on a new cruise liner or seeing the sights from above in a helicopter over Niagra Falls, I am always on the go. I’ve been for tunate enough to create a lot of amazing memories all over the world and a lot of the places I’ve experienced them solo.

London With the rise of the staycation, why not head to our Capital for that quintessential British experience. Get your fix of red buses, black taxi cabs and stop by and say hi to Queen Liz with a trip to Buckingham Palace. If you’re feeling boujie then a visit to The Ritz for cocktails is a must so that you can while away the hours listening to the live pianist who plays each day. Prestigious and exclusive, a little dabble in the casino there is also a must, you might even win back the excessive price you paid for those cocktails. London is full of solo travellers so you will never feel out of place sipping drinks in a bar or working from a coffee shop on your own.

Barcelona are as little as £35, so, what are you waiting for?

New York This city steals my heart every time I visit and I have made it my mission to visit solo annually for the past five years. Wear comfortable shoes as New York is the best place to explore on foot, the streets and outer boroughs of Manhattan alone are filled with famous museums, cutting edge art galleries and iconic landmarks. If you aren’t as brave as Carrie

Spain I recently found myself in Sitges, next to Barcelona, on a last minute road trip. It’s an area of Spain I knew nothing about until arriving and instantly fell in love with it for its café-lined boulevards which are perfect for people watching. Looking for a beach? Check. Craving amazing food? Check. Hunting for culture? Check. Whilst I was in town it was the annual festival in Sitges so it was nothing but good vibes. Return flights from the north of England to

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Bradshaw and don’t want to face a restaurant alone, then there are plenty of gourmet food markets to eat on the hop. You could also browse a Brooklyn flea market, people watch in Times Square, go rollerblading in Central Park or take a sightseeing cruise on the Hudson. I found myself on a horse and carriage around Central Park on my own and it was one of my favourites memories ever. If you’re thinking about taking a trip solo, I can guarantee that you won’t regret it. @laurabartlett0

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Town Hall Aesthetics

When our partners “Town Hall Dental” mentioned their plans to launch a premier aesthetic treatment centre, I jumped at the chance to return to their beautifully renovated building in Brighouse. By Mandy Taylor - TopicUK Business Development Executive

As always, I received a very warm welcome on both visits, the first being for detailed consultation and the second for my personalised facial with skin care nurse consultant Kayla Noble. When it comes to skincare I can be swept up by snazzy advertising and manufacturers proclamations that I don’t necessarily consider the actual ingredients in the lotions and potions I purchase and apply to my skin. This contradicts how much thought I put into what I put into my body via a healthy and balanced diet, I can cite how many calories there is in a lasagne yet I have glossed over the ingredients and merely hoped for the best in my beauty regime. Kayla had clearly gleaned this during our initial consultation and had planned out my bespoke treatment, a “refining clay mask facial” using an array of products from AlumierMD. Whilst cleansing my face she

explained that the medical skincare range offers over 70 active ingredients, formulated by biochemists and physicians, to restore skin care health. Over the course of the facial, Kayla explained each step clearly, ensuring I was comfortable and answering any questions with confidence (I’m not one for laying silent during a treatment, although I have to say the background music was very soothing). A balancing solution, pore refining clay mask, oil free aqua hydratant mask and brightening serum were all part of this treatment, followed by a recovery balm and the most important of all, a factor 40 sunscreen. Kayla stressed that caring for your skin starts with daily UV protection, which is the biggest contributor to ageing and cancer and this is something that cannot be ignored. By the end of the treatment, I was really impressed with how my skin felt much firmer and the new “glow”.

Kayla Noble

With my complimentary take home kit comprising of 3 miniature products in my hand and an appointment to return for a follow up appointment HALL DENTAL in a couple of weeks, I walked back TOWN BRIGHOUSE onto the high street make-up free and keen to learn more about the other services available.

TopicUK November 2019

TOPICUK BUSINESSWOMEN

Why the fashion industry is the world’s second largest polluter The fast-paced world of fashion often has a here today, gone tomorrow mentality … and with that a huge environmental impact. All images by Codie Scott

A young fashion designer fed up of the impact this has on the planet wanted to work for an ethically-minded fashion company but couldn’t find one to match her expectations. So 22-year-old Eleanor Bradley set up her own fashion house in her home town of Huddersfield. one but we’re all a sucker for a bargain so people buy a garment because it’s there and because it’s cheap without considering the impact their purchase will have on the earth.” According to the environmental website Sustain Your Style: “In most of the countries in which garments are produced, untreated toxic waste waters from textiles factories are dumped directly into the rivers.

Mikumi dungarees - Eleanor Bradley

“If I asked people to name the second largest polluter in the world after the oil industry I think few would correctly guess it’s the fashion industry, but it is and the environmental damage is increasing as the industry grows.

“Waste water contains toxic substances such as lead, mercury and arsenic, among others. These are extremely harmful for the aquatic life and the health of the millions of people living by those river banks. The contamination also reaches the sea and eventually spreads around the globe,” said Eleanor Eleanor, who graduated from the

University of Central Lancashire with a first class degree in fashion design, continues: “People can do something about this simply by making conscious, informed choices. So only buy clothes made in countries with stricter environmental regulations for factories such as the European Union, the USA and Canada and always choose organic fibres and natural fibres that don’t require chemicals to be produced.”

by using them within its garments – off-cuts that would usually be just thrown away.

The fashion industry produces 10% of all global carbon emissions and 190,000 tons of textile micro-plastic fibres that end up in our oceans every year. Eleanor is leading the way by example. Her company, Wild Strings, is committed to reusing as much of its fabric off-cuts as possible

“With 5.2% of landfill waste made up of textiles, fabric off-cuts can be used to make contrast linings and panels to reduce the amount of waste textiles we contribute to the environment,” she said. “Any fabric remnants not used are saved for use in the future.”

Natural organic beauty as nature intended

We love to try new products here in the TopicUK office, so we were delighted to receive some skincare products from Clockface Beauty following a chance conversation with them when we met at The Capsule event hosted by Actress and TV presenter Natalie Anderson.

“So often we are faced with a ‘buy, buy, buy’ fashion mantra to buy clothes at unbelievably low prices and that’s what’s wrong with the fast fashion industry with brands competing with each other to make the cheapest, fastest-selling garment to increase purchases and drive sales.

Fo u n d e d b y a m o t h e r a n d daughter, Clockface Beauty is a multiaward winning, 100% natural, organic, waterless, vegan and cruelty free skincare range created in the heart of the Yorkshire countryside.

“But who needs that cheap fashion item that’s here today and gone tomorrow? The short answer is no-

The entire range is waterless. Traditional skincare contains around 70% water which can dehydrate the

Arusha jeans - Eleanor Bradley

Ruaha shirt - Eleanor Bradley

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skin. The Clockface range has replaced water with targeted plant botanicals to actively promote great skin. There is a great range of products available but the two that were sent to the TopicUK office were their Facial Serum (£44 for 30ml) and Charcoal and Himalayan pink salt face mask (£20 for 60ml).

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Employers reluctant to hire women who may have children One in eight employers say they would be reluctant to hire a woman who they thought may go on to have children, a new YouGov survey for Young Women’s Trust has found. In the survey of 800 HR decisionmakers, a significant minority (12 per cent) were unsure about hiring women who may have children in the future – despite it being illegal to make recruitment decisions on this basis. 14 per cent of male HR decision-makers and ten per cent of female decision-makers expressed this view. Despite the scale of the problem, fewer male HR decision-makers than previously expressed reluctance to hire women who may go on to have children (14 per cent in 2019, compared with 16 per cent in 2018 and 18 per

So how did we get on?

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

cent in 2017); during this period reluctance amongst female HR decision-makers has remained constant at around ten per cent. O ne in seven HR decisionmakers (14 per cent) said that the

and with the myrhh and bergamot, the smell is divine. I am going to continue using and will provide updates on my blog.

With a dry skin, TopicUK editor Gill Laidler started with the facial serum. “This is a small 30ml bottle but as it is essentially an oil, a “The second product was little goes a very long way. It the face mask, a powerful claims it can help reverse the combination of white signs of ageing down to it’s clay, himalayan pink salt, unique balance of vitamins, bamboo charcoal power antioxidants and essential and calendula oil. Used only fatty acids which helps to once for 10 minutes, my skin felt tighter and fresh tone, lift and lighten. but as with the serum, I I have been using this for will continue to use and just over a week and I can report on my blog.” honestly say that there is a small improvement with T0 try for yourself visit the condition of my skin www.clockfacebeauty.com

organisation they work in takes account of whether a woman is pregnant or has children during decisions about career progression or promotion – which is against the law. Again, this represents progress, compared with 22 per

cent who reported this in 2018 and 25 per cent in 2017. Young Women’s Trust’s Director of Communications and Campaigns Joe Levenson said: “It is encouraging that fewer bosses than previously say they would be reluctant to employ women who may go on to have children. However, there can be no room for complacency as ‘dinosaur bosses’ are still found in many workplaces, unfairly overlooking women when it comes to recruitment and promotion and breaking the law in the process.” Young Women’s Trust commissioned YouGov to conduct a survey of HR decision-makers. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 802 senior HR professionals / people managers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th - 23rd February 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of the UK business population by size and sector. TopicUK November 2019

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Strive for the HIGHEST

What does it take to become a highly respected professional lawyer? TopicUK spoke with Helen Thewlis, head of family law and partner at Ramsdens Solicitors.

in Hendon, rather than joining the force and spending years on the beat. I informed Mr Atha that I would like to study law at Leeds and within five minutes, he had made a call to the Law Department and I had a place!”

“I spent the next three years at Leeds University where I was taught to a very high standard and made lifelong friends. After graduating, I wasn’t ready to Helen explained. “I thought I start work so my options were would be more inclined to enjoy to go to Bar school which would topics such as those, as opposed have meant going to London, to three straight A’levels and or to law school. I chose the therefore achieve better results.” latter and headed to York, to do my LPC.” “D uring college, I gre w up considerably as all of a sudden Enjoyed I was in a class of mature students, predominantly male At the end of her LPC, Helen and the teachers position was completed the applications if you attended great, if you n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e p o l i c e didn’t it was your problem! I graduation programme, but she also started working in the local had overlooked one thing, the Italian Restaurant in Holmfirth police wouldn’t take people with which was long hard hours but poor eyesight at that time. “As I so much fun and was my first wore glasses and contact lenses real interaction with the general it seemed my dream of joining public (which at times could the police was overbefore it had be quite challenging) I went even started!” onto spend 10 years working in the same restaurant.” “At this stage most of my friends had training contracts, so I had It was whilst studying that Helen no choice but to ask my father Helen Thewlis was met with Bernard Atha CBE who who had his own legal practice born in Holmfirth, became her law lecturer. “We in Holmfirth, if he could take on attended local primary immediately struck up a good a trainee. The practice was very and secondary schools relationship,” continued Helen, small and we dealt with all the before enrolling “ he could see I was keen to learn. legal requirements of the local at Huddersfield Mr Atha introduced me to law community such as buying and Technical College, to as an academic subject which selling properties, wills, probate, study for a BTEC. I thoroughly enjoyed.” some crime and family. I enjoyed my training contract, interacting “I couldn’t decide on the three “It was around this time that I with clients, however in 1999, my A-Levels I wanted to study for, decided I wanted to join the father decided to wind down and but on a visit to the college, a police force as apart from law, as there was only he and I, we BTEC course in Business and I had a keen interest in crime, entered into talks to merge with Finance caught my eye as it so after obtaining top grades Ramsdens Solicitors. covered most of the subjects I in my BTEC, I decided I would was interested in including law, go to university, as this meant I In May 1999, Kidd Meller & Co marketing, HR and accountancy” could go on a graduated course merged with Ramsdens and

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Helen went to work in the John Williams Street office of Ramsdens who specialised in crime and family law. “There was only one partner and myself in the family team and a team of solicitors dealing with crime. It was a steep learning curve for me as I was suddenly dealing with criminal clients, attending the police station at all times of the day and night and representing clients in the Magistrates Court which was all new to me but a challenge that I thrived on as each day would always bring up a new legal issue that I hadn’t experienced before.

so I ended up working very long hours and weekends to ensure that my clients requirements where met and I slowly started to recruit more solicitors as the workload intensified with the result now being that I have grown the team to 12 fee earners and numerous support staff. In my earlier days I undertook a lot of domestic abuse work, and public law proceedings which is a great way to enhance your advocacy skills whilst having a real satisfaction that you are helping a client remove themselves from a violent partner or have a child returned to their parents care. I now mainly deal with the financial aspects of divorces.

In 2001 the partner Helen was working with left and suddenly at a very young age, she became head of the family department, progressing to becoming a partner “The team I have around me are very talented and extremely in 2002. hardworking and I am proud of “In those days, there was only each and every one of them. I have myself in the family department always believed that hard work

TOPICUK BUSINESSWOMEN pays off from a career perspective phones and meeting the clients!” and often just keeping your head “ R a m s d e n s h a v e g r o w n down and working hard will get considerably since I joined. I you noticed more than being a can remember my first partners member of a team who is always meeting informing them I was wanting to be the ce ntre of pregnant and there were just six attention. of us around the board table at Ramsden Street. Now we have 30 partners and 15 offices across West Crucial and North Yorkshire employing My motto at school was strive for 300 people. We have also just won the highest and I genuinely believe Medium Law Firm of the Year that you can achieve whatever you at the Yorkshire Lawyer awards want in life if you put in the hard which is a huge testimony to work and respect those around all the hard work of the entire you and always ensure that you workforce as everybody plays a never ask anybody to undertake a crucial role in the Firms success” task that you wouldn’t do yourself. So what’s next for Helen? “Moving Having worked in a very small forward, I am keen to ensure that Firm I have done pretty much those around me, the younger e ve rything within an office generation of solicitors progress environment and only recently their own careers to the best of when a lot of staff couldn’t get into their abilities and ultimately the office due to the snow I was become leaders to move the firm sat on reception answering the further forward.”

Sparkle on the Wall of Fame at Theatre Royal Wakefield! WINTER OFFER! OUR £250 STARS ARE NOW £200! THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE THEATRE LOVER IN YOUR LIFE

To buy a star, or for more information, please contact Poppy Wille at poppy.wille@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk call 01924 334 115, visit www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/stars, or pick up a form from the Box Office. TopicUK November 2019

N E W S U P D AT E

Wakefield MD wins Forward Ladies Regional Award Poonam Kaur, Managing Director of fds Director Services, has been presented with the prestigious award by Forward Ladies for Mentor of the Year for the Yorkshire, North East and Scotland region The Forward Ladies Mentor of the Year Award identifies women who have a track record in mentoring and developing future leaders of industry. Forward Ladies CEO Griselda Togobo said “Each year we are inspired by the number of high-calibre entries, and this year has highlighted the exceptionally talented businesswomen we have in the UK. These entrants are the future entrepreneurs of our country and

play a critical role in our economy.” Poonam commented “I am proud and grateful to have been presented with the Mentor of the Year award. To have been recognised alongside such influential business women in my category was an honour. I hope these awards continue to motivate business women across the country to keep achieving and striving for great things.” Poonam will later take part in a judging day in November alongside her fellow category winners, before a distinguished panel of business leaders, where they will join finalists from regional events. The overall national winner will be announced at the Grand Final to be held in Leeds on the 29 November.

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R E C R U I T M E N T U P D AT E

The impact of a bad hire for your business By Stafflex Office team manager, Anna Wright

Stafflex Office team manager, Anna Wright shares some examples on how a bad hire can affect your business.

A bad hire means selecting an unfit or unsuitable candidate for the job and it can have far-reaching consequences for any business so making the right hire is essential.

Time, money and resources The whole recruitment process of hiring and replacing staff costs money. A bad hire essentially means that all of your hard work has been wasted – this includes the time spent posting the advert, sifting through CV’s, selecting the shortlist, interviewing candidates and even all of the induction and training programmes they may have undertaken when they started working According to a report from the

Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), a bad hire can cost your business a fortune – up to 3 times their annual salary and in this time of economic uncertainty it is even more important to make sure we are not wasting money.

Lower staff morale An underperforming employee will most likely have a negative impact on the rest of the team affecting staff morale and bringing general productivity down. This can lead to other employees forced to pick up the slack, which in turn could see them become disgruntled and leaving the company. Your most talented staff will be at risk of moving

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Damaged reputation and loss of business It is common knowledge that “word of mouth” is one of the most effective ways to build a company’s reputation however, this is a doubleedged sword, as a bad experience for a customer will have the complete opposite effect – damaging your reputation by telling their friends about the experience. A bad hire will not demonstrate the high levels of customer service normally associated with your product or service, which can result in negative publicity.

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WE HAVENT BEEN AROUND SINCE 2000 BY CHANCE. We’ve forged long-term relationships with our customers in the Education, Office Industrial and Engineering sectors, filling temporary and permanent roles quickly and easily to take the strain out of recruiting.

to a more stable environment if the disruption carries on for a long period.

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Shipley College enhances the renowned Yorkshire welcome A positive customer experience is vital to both business and brand success, and Shipley College is working with local businesses, public sector organisations and charities to provide bespoke training packages. The Saltaire based college was awarded WorldHost recognised Business status in 2018 and has since expanded its offer to businesses and organisations in the area, including brand-new Grade II listed 5-star luxury country house hotel, Grantley Hall, near Ripon. Shipley College was commissioned to deliver the two-day customer service training course for 80 members of staff ahead of it’s opening in July 2019. Joanna Nobile, Director of Learning and Development at Grantley Hall said “It was very beneficial as it allowed us to learn new key concepts and approaches which can be used in our everyday role when dealing with our customers. The delivery of the course was exceptional as the trainer made the course more enjoyable through the use of different activities as well as how she taught the information.” The Tour de Yorkshire has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most welcoming, engaging and visitor friendly sporting events over the past five years, and ahead of this year’s race, 100 Tour Makers - who attended training at locations in Bedale, Bridlington, Sheffield and Saltaire - praised the course for

Grantley Hall staff and Shipley College tutors at Shipley College

being fun and inspirational. The College has also just completed the Customer Service Training for over 100 of the UCI Road World Championships volunteers, who achieved a 100% pass rate!

Peter, one of the volunteer Tour Makers said “ After all my years of working and training I never thought I would retire and attend a “ It was very beneficial as it training course! allowed us to learn new key I really enjoyed concepts and approaches ...” the interaction and am proud todisplay my pin. If only I needed a CV, I would be happy to add my WorldHost and City & Guilds Customer Service qualifications! Both of the tutors were entertaining and knowledgeable and I’m now also volunteering for the UCI World Championships and the Tour of Britain.”

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Members of the Welcome to Yorkshire team also successfully road tested the WorldHost Customer Service training at the Leeds-based office. The WorldHost ‘Principles of Customer Service’ programme aims to give staff the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver excellent customer service, giving local businesses a chance to enhance their reputation. The training package has been used to train over one million people worldwide, including the staff and volunteers at the London 2012 Olympics. If you would like to join the organisations and staff members who have been trained by Shipley College, please contact Linda O’Donnell, Head of Business Development on lodonnell@shipley.ac.uk or 02174 327239.

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C S R U P D AT E

CSR Showcase

When our crew members get involved, there’s a definite ‘feel-good’ factor which runs throughout the team from start to finish.

Full name: Doug Main Company Name: The Bigger Boat Job title/position: Creative director

What is the latest CSR project/ fundraiser you are working on and what do you hope to achieve? We’ve done a couple of interesting projects recently. The team has revamped a local charity called Safe Anchor, creating marketing material to promote their boat trips to a wide range of people. We’ve also been helping the University of Huddersfield – particularly The Enterprise Team. The work has included advising students on brand and corporate identity. How do you decide what causes to support? We like to back worthy causes where we can offer value around design, or digital expertise, to enhance their provision of being a ‘force for good’. We’re also passionate about keeping talent in Yorkshire and creating jobs locally, which is why we have been keen to assist The Enterprise Team. How do you gain the buy in of your team and get them involved in CSR activities?

The Bigger Boat is a creative digital marketing agency, first established in 2010. Based in Mirfield, the 15-strong team produce resultsdriven campaigns and designs for international and domestic clients such as Little Tikes, Baby BORN and Deuren. Doug Main, creative director, is one of the three founders.

Why is CSR important to the way you run your company? I’m a firm believer that if you’re in a position where you can truly help, you should – especially if it can assist the local community. Additionally, it boosts our company culture because we have a group of employees who like helping others.

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Everyone at The Bigger Boat sees CSR as part of their ongoing roles because they all enjoy doing something worthwhile and giving back. It’s also an ‘open door’ in terms of encouraging anyone in the team to suggest a cause that we should be supporting next, and getting staff involved in the final decision-making. If another company asked you how to go about starting or increasing their CSR activity, what would you say? It’s important to be careful about not

C S R U P D AT E

taking on more than you can manage. I’d also advise to pick one or two causes a year – and make them different, in order to provide a variety of expertise.

Finally, ensure you take the project seriously, like you would for a paying client, and don’t forget about it.

How do you decide how much time per week/month/year your business dedicates to CSR activity? We weigh up each one on a case-bycase basis and make sure that it’s good value for money and worth their time and ours. To date, how has your CSR activity helped your company to expand its business networks? The work we’ve done with The Enterprise Team has helped to expand our network, and all our CSR partnerships have particularly provided great content for social media. However, it’s more about helping others – anything in return is a bonus. Although we do believe that positive things happen when you do good deeds! TopicUK November 2019

A V ES RUTPODRAI T A EL ND EW

HARIBO has been an integral part of the care we provide to patients and their families “It was a pleasure to be able to give something back and to show our appreciation for all that the team at HARIBO has done for us and our patients over the years.” Following the presentation of the artwork, HARIBO was also gifted a celebratory cake which was kindly commissioned by the Hospice. Entering a new era of support, HARIBO is already putting the wheels in motion to make the 25th year of fundraising its best yet.

25 year partnership with HARIBO To celebrate its 25th year of supporting The Prince of Wales Hospice, HARIBO hosted the most recent ‘Club 5’ get-together at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Castleford. To date, HARIBO have raised over £225,000 to support patient care. As a thank you for the brand’s support, Jon Hughes, Managing Director of HARIBO UK and Ireland, was presented with a bespoke piece of memorabilia; a duo of stunning, star-shaped pieces of artwork.

Jon Hughes comments: “It has been an absolute honour working alongside the Hospice for all these years. They are a fantastic team who work tirelessly to deliver support to people in their time of need.

Made up of words and phrases which recap the fundraising activities that the team has undertaken during its collaboration with the Hospice, the stars will take pride of place at HARIBO’s Pontefract and Castleford sites.

“We were incredibly touched by the gifts that we were given. The stars will be a treasured addition to our offices and a daily reminder of the positive impact that can be achieved when we pull together as a team.”

Trace y Mearns, Partne rship Development Coordinator at The Prince of Wales Hospice said: “We simply couldn’t continue to provide care to local people with a life-limiting illness, without the support that we receive from businesses.

November 2019 sees The Prince of Wales Hospice Business Club “Club 5” celebrate its 2nd Birthday with over 50 companies as members creating a valuable business network which could really benefit your company in developing new business. Membership of Club 5 is just £250 & VAT per year and includes: • An exclusive appreciation plaque for your own premises • Authorisation to use The Prince of Wales Hospice logo on your website and publications • A feature on the Hospice website, with a logo and a link to your website • Priority access to the calendar of corporate volunteering days

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Providing palliative care for those with life-limiting illnesses, while also extending its support to the families of patients in it its care, The Prince of Wales Hospice provides a vital service to people, at a time when they are at their most vulnerable.

and Hospice events • An invitation to our exclusive quarterly networking meeting • The opportunity to make valuable connections with other Club 5 members • The Haven Conference Room hire fee waived for Club 5 members • A monthly e-newsletter, to share your successes and inspire ideas. By joining Club 5, not only will you become a member of a network of other like-minded businesses, you’ll also be supporting our 24hour specialist care for people from our local communities in the Five Towns Area who have a progressive and life-limiting illness. Want to know more? Visit www. pwh.org.uk/club5 or contact the Corporate Partnerships Team on 01977 781474/470

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

My night at the Midland Being a fan of Art Deco, I’ve long wanted to stay at the Midland Hotel in Morecambe and a recent holiday on the Isle of Man afforded me the perfect opportunity to book myself a night there as a stopover en route to my Manx adventure. The building today is the second ‘Midland Hotel’ on this site as it replaces an earlier hotel which opened in 1848. That first hotel was called the North Western after the North Western Railway company that built it to provide accommodation and facilities for people arriving in Morecambe by train, either for a seaside holiday or to catch one of the ferries that sailed from the newly opened harbour there. As the harbour was tidal and boats could only enter and leave at high tide, passengers waited at the hotel for their sailing, taking rooms or just relaxing and possibly having some refreshment.

Glamour

By: Kevin Trickett, MBE, President of Wakefield Civic Society, explores an art deco masterpiece

Need to know: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe LA4 4BU. Tel: 01524 424 000 (direct) or 0330 4042 677 (for reservations via English Lakes). Website: https://englishlakes.co.uk/the-midland/ If you’d like to read more about the hotel’s history and redevelopment, there’s an excellent book that I can recommend: The Midland Hotel: Morecambe’s White Hope by Barry Guise and Pam Brook published by Palatine Books. You can follow Kevin on Twitter @MrTrickett

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The name of the hotel was changed to the Midland Hotel sometime after the North Western Railway Company amalgamated with the Midland Railway Company in 1871. When, in 1904, the Midland Railway transferred first its freight and then its passenger operations to a new deep-water port at Heysham, not subject to the vagaries of the tide, it could have been the end of the hotel but in fact, the hotel continued to attract business. However, structural repairs became necessary and it was eventually decided to demolish and re-build but the new hotel, which opened

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in 1933, was very much in the ‘modern style’. The hotel’s distinctive modernist design, sometimes referred to as ‘International’ or ‘Liner’ style, but more commonly grouped under the ‘Art Deco’ label, speaks the language of glamour and elegance. The architect was Oliver Hill who commissioned sculptor Eric Gill to create the distinctive seahorse sculptures that stand high up on either side of the entrance tower as well as friezes and a ceiling medallion while Marion Dorn created a mosaic image of a seahorse for the floor of the lounger area as well as designing rugs for the lounge and lobby areas. (The seahorse was adopted as the emblem for the hotel and is to be found throughout the building.)

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E Later that evening, having freshened up, we descended the grand spiral staircase which cantilevers out from the wall (it is impossible not to feel like a film star as you make your way down to the lobby!) and entered the Sun Terrace Restaurant where we were shown to our table. It was dazzlingly bright in there as the full-height windows allowed light from the setting sun to stream in. Many of the diners were in fact wearing sunglasses as they sipped their wine, giving a certain ‘Riviera feel’ to the occasion.

Impressive We had a delicious and leisurely three-course meal with wine as we looked out at the scenery. The tide was slowly coming in as the sun gradually lowered itself in the sky, turning from bright yellow to amber and then deep red before setting behind the distant mountains of the Lake District across the far side of the bay.

The hotel was an instant sensation but its fate was sealed with the outbreak of World War II when it was requisitioned b y the government to provide offices for the RAF while also serving as a military hospital. After the war, it needed extensive repairs before re-opening in July 1948.

Hollywood The hotel continued to trade but was sold off by then owner British Railways in 1952 and gradually lost its way due to the rise of the package holiday. By the end of the 20th century, and after a number of changes of ownership, the building was looking very rundown. A failed restoration proposal led to it standing empty and the prospect of demolition hung in the air. Urban Splash saved the day when they acquired it in 2003 and embarked on a five-year project to restore it to use.

Walking up the steps the hotel, my excitement mounted: entering through the double glass doors into the spacious foyer and lounge area is like simultaneously stepping back in time while also walking onto the stage set of a Hollywood movie. The refurbishment has retained the look and feel of the hotel as it was in its heyday even though some of the components have been re-arranged.

But back to the present. As we walked out of the station that afternoon, the hotel was glistening white in the sunshine against a clear blue sky – an ocean liner awaiting its passengers.

Art deco-style furniture, fittings and artwork are complimented by more contemporary pieces, but the overall effect is definitely classy and welcoming.

Having checked in and dropped off our luggage in our room, we headed to the Ravilious Rotunda Bar for something to eat. The bar takes its name from artist Eric Ravilious whose talents were employed to create murals on the walls of the original café. Sadly, they were lost only a few years after they were completed having been painted onto walls whose plaster had not fully dried out and problems with damp caused the murals to deteriorate. Although repaired by Ravilious himself, they were eventually painted over. Today, modern interpretations take their place.

After dinner, I went for a stroll around the outside of the building in the still warm air, looking in at people drinking in the bar and the last diners lingering over their postprandial brandies in the dining room. By night, the building is every bit as impressive as in the daylight: the whiteness of the walls tinged slightly yellow in the streetlamps but still bright and unmistakable. It had been a perfect evening: I almost needed to pinch myself to confirm that while I might well have been living the dream, I was by no means dreaming! The following morning, after breakfast served in the Sun Terrace Restaurant, it was time to check out, an ambition fulfilled, and to make our way back to the station to catch the train to Heysham and our awaiting ferry to the Isle of Man. TopicUK November 2019

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