Kirklees Business Week
24th-28th September 2012 PRINCIPAL B USINESS WEEK PARTNER:
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN THE YORKSHIRE CLUB
www.kirkleesbusinessweek.co.uk
Ramsdens Solicitors
A DDING TO B USINESS
www.kirkleesbusinessconference.co.uk
Week of events show we mean business! DANNY MATHARU, organiser of Kirklees Business Week incorporating Kirklees Business Conference, sets the scene for a bumper week of events aimed at benefiting businesses across the district and beyond ELCOME to Kirklees BusiW ness Week 2012 incorporating Kirklees Business
Conference Having lived in Kirklees practically all my life, up until 2008 I had always been based business wise in Leeds, Bradford and South Yorkshire. In 2008, I moved my business home to Kirklees and realised that although I knew masses of businesses around Yorkshire, one place I did not know so many was in Kirklees. After spending some time out and about in our district, I soon realised that it was and still is (in my opinion) one of the most friendly and open places in which to ‘do’ business. From here, I wanted to be able to assist the area in becoming financially stronger. I subscribe to the opinion that if more local businesses are working together, then there is more local capital swimming about our local economy, making it stronger and ultimately securing and creating more jobs. This is the whole purpose of KBC – to bring large numbers of businesses together to enable them learn more about each other and ultimately, forge closer trade links with each other. After every conference we look back and see how we can improve and ultimately how the conference can become even more inclusive. The answer was Kirklees Business
Week. Kirklees Business Week is an “Open Source” Business Event, meaning anyone can get involved and make it better for the whole community. It is a full week of sector specific events/seminars/round tables/gatherings all run by different businesses/people and all FREE. KBW is all about sharing knowledge, not selling services and thanks to the KBW partners, we’ve been able to assist in supplying event organisers with a venue for free as well as helping promote the events through the KBW website, through emails and PR and in this supplement. Jeremy Garside, of principle KBW partner Chadwick Lawrence, said: “Chadwick Lawrence is pleased to support the inaugural Kirklees Business Week which, building on the success of Kirklees Business Conference, will offer support and opportunity to local business promoting Kirklees as the place to do business. “It provides an excellent platform for business to discuss ideas showing that business can succeed in these difficult times.” We are overwhelmed by the support and interest in this inaugural Business Week, which has already seen more than 30 events submitted and up to press, hundreds of people registered as delegates to the seminars. KBW, like the conference will only grow year-on-year and we have already set up Business Weeks in all
the areas we run the conferences. What’s next? At KBC we will be launching The Bright99 – a brand new, all-inclusive company recognition system that will showcase the most influential and entrepreneurial companies in Kirklees. The Bright99 might be companies that you may not have heard too much about – until now! Bright99 exists to highlight those companies that are doing great things now and/or are the ones to watch for the future. For too long, the brightest companies have not had the light shined on them because they are simply too busy going about their business. Bright99 is split into three distinct categories of businesses: ● Sector 1 for micro business with one to five employees ● S e c t o r 2 fo r s m a l l t o medium-sized businesses with six to 20 employees ● Sector 3 for large businesses with 21 or more employees Bright99 are both established and start-ups, both large companies and micro businesses. True business leaders from K i rk l e e s w i l l d e t e r m i n e t h e Bright99, so you can be sure that only those who have walked the path of a successful business owner are making the decisions on who is the next batch. Are you one of The Bright99? Look out for Manufactured Yorkshire in April, 2013.
■ MAN IN CHARGE: Danny Matharu, organiser of Kirklees Business Week and Kirklees Business Conference
Monday, September 24 Kirklees Business Week Breakfast Launch: Monday, September 24, 8:00am – 10:00am 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, Firth Street, Huddersfield, HD1 3BD ample car parking is available in front of the centre. Join us on Monday for a KBW launch breakfast networking meeting. Limited to just 50 places! The 3M Buckley Innovation Centre will act as a catalyst to promote Business to Business and Business to Higher Education collaborations delivering commercial opportunities via flexible access to its technical and research facilities. The laboratories and workshops will house a range of specialist equipment and resources for use in short to medium term collaborative and applied research and development projects involving researchers and wider support from the University. The Centre will comprise open plan, shared desk and individual rentable units in a range of sizes, workshop and laboratory space. It will bring together and actively support all the key elements required to support successful business growth, including access to new markets, traditional and ■ MONEY MATTERS: Krishna Patel, of accountancy firm Revell Ward, and Ahmed Khan, of alternative funding support and access to Kirklees Grant Makers’ Alliance, who are involved in separate events during the week technology and skills partners. Contact: Danny Matharu Monday, September 24, Noon – charities who need to become more commercial in terms of generating future 2:00pm The Council buys millions worth of Pierce your way to successful income streams. Revell Ward LLP is a firm of goods and services each year from local innovation and change: Monday, Chartered Accountants with specialists in businesses and it's likely that your business September 24, 9:15am - 10:30am We Charities, VAT and TAX. Diane Flatt, our guest has something to offer. So, why not take that cannot solve our problems with the same speaker, is the Chair of the Institute of first step to open your new market? Join us at thinking we used when we created them” Fundraising in Yorkshire and is the The Media Centre for a free event where key (Albert Einstein)So how do we begin to officers from the Council's Procurement and consistently change our thinking, our products, Fundraising Director at Epilepsy Action. Contact: Krishna Patel Spending departments will present an services and processes?Designed for overview of the opportunities available to local managers and leaders across all sectors Getting your staff to perform like they businesses across all sectors.Kirklees Council involved in delivering innovation and change, own the company themselves: want to encourage a more diverse supplier this seminar explores a structured approach Monday, September 24, 11:00am – using the PIERCE model developed whilst 12:30pm Why is it so difficult to motivate the base and welcome your questions on how to build new relationships with them.There will be delivering strategic change programmes over people that work for you to deliver the the last ten years. Contact: David Broadhead sustained performance you need from them to a Q&A section and also shared experiences from those who have worked with the public drive profitability and growth forward? Using Auto enrolment – A guide to pension sector.Please book early! Contact: David real world examples from around the world compliance: Monday, September 24, Heathcote from leading companies, large and small, the 9:30am – 10:15am Clive Berry Limelight team will detail the real nature of Socially Responsible Business: Employment Benefit Consultant has worked in human motivation at work. You'll learn what Monday, September 24, 1:00pm – this sector for many years. This short seminar does work, and more importantly what does 1:45pm The Kirklees Grantmakers Alliance is designed to give an introduction to the rules not work (Carrot and Stick! for example) and is looking to encourage local senior of Auto Enrolment and pension compliance, then highlight the key approaches any business-people by offering a variety of ways and how we arrived at this position. This is business can use to harness the intrinsic to get involved with differing levels of something that will effect all businesses both motivation of staff teams to secure growth and commitment. Our event is about how to large and small over the next few years. The sustainability. Contact: John Hardstaff engage your business and its people with Chartered Institute of Insurers estimates that it community endeavours supported with Doing Business with Kirklees Council: takes a minimum of 18 months to prepare for the new changes. The seminar will inform delegates of their responsibilities as employers and how to implement the new rules. It will also cover NEST (National Employment Saving Trust) and the powers of the pension regulator. Come along and find out how your business can benefit now and the positive aspects of this legislation. Contact: Clive Berry Charities – A commercial perspective: Monday, September 24, 11:00am – 1:30pm Our seminar is aimed at Senior Finance Management in Charity / Not-For-Profit organisations. The seminar will cover: Fundraising – Maximising opportunities in a changing environment; Strategic issues – “Big Society”. What does it mean at a local level; Dealing with VAT and tax implications of service level agreements. Given the impact of the economic downturn, it is an opportune time to address some areas which might help
cameos that demonstrate how this can benefit all involved. The KGA is a not-for-profit, independent membership organisation advising and working with businesses and community groups around being socially responsible since 2007. Our founder members and professional advisers are themselves now seasoned and well experienced in supporting local initiatives. Contact: Ahmed Khan Top tips to raise the profile of your business and get some PR: Monday, September 24, 2:00pm – 3:00pm This seminar is for people who can't spend as much on advertising as they would like but really want to raise the profile of their business and get some PR but are not sure where to start. This seminar gives you ideas so you can learn how to be in the media consistently and you will leave with the tools to be able to start working on getting some PR straight away. Suitable for professionals and trades people, everyone will get something from it to help their business. Rachel Gough who is delivering the seminar has a degree in Business and Marketing and a Post Graduate Diploma from the Institute of Direct Marketing. Rachel has worked in marketing and PR both client side and agency side for 14 years and has a wealth of experience of clients over different industries. She inspires businesses to actually implement marketing and PR activity and works with many local businesses giving them ideas that make them stand out from their competitors and get new customers. Rachel has big ideas that can be delivered on a small budget and is well known for her infectious enthusiasm. Contact: Rachel Gough Faced with change? Coach yourself through it in 7 steps: Monday, September 24, 3:00pm – 4:30pm More than ever we are all faced with change, whether in our personal or professional lives. From chief executives to the self-employed, irrespective of sector - we all experience it. As managers we have to lead ourselves and others through it. So how do we cope with the relentless pressures and dilemmas it presents? Do we just go with the flow or take control and begin to live the lives we want, both personally and professionally? The session will explain and demonstrate the 7 stage RIDFEAR® self-coaching model and how you can use it to guide yourself and your organisation through turbulent times. It will be delivered by David Broadhead, who has developed the model over the last 7 years, and can relate countless other experiences of it from both personal and organisational perspectives. Contact: David Broadhead
Tuesday, September 25 MY Mentoring Masterclass: Tuesday, September 25, 9:00am – 10:00am Brush up on your mentoring skills with this masterclass. Whether you're new to mentoring or an old hand at it, this is a great opportunity to go over some of the key issues that you face in your role as a mentor. In this 60 minute masterclass, we will cover some of the things that you've told us concern you most, including: Boundaries in mentoring; Effective listening and communication; The importance of meaningful goals; Motivation and engagement. John Sutherland from ActionCoach will deliver this session in conjunction with MYMentor. As well as being a professional business coach, John is also a volunteer mentor on the MYMentor scheme so he understands the pressures and constraints of his fellow mentors. Breakfast will be available from 8.30am, which is an ideal time to network with other mentors. Places are limited so please book early. Contact: Melissa Healy A pint out of a quart pot? Why your operations function under delivers! Tuesday, September 25, 9:30am – 10:30am Whether public, services or manufacturing sector, we all have an operational function that regularly fails to deliver its true potential and productivity. But why is that? Are there some very simple fundamental mistakes that we are making that are easily rectified? In an hour, David Broadhead will explain the obvious and set you the challenge of transforming your operational function at no additional cost - just by changing the way you think, view and organise things. He first used these principles over 20 years ago to turn loss-making organisations back to profitability and has been teaching the principles to converts from all sectors ever since. Contact: David Broadhead Video Marketing –- The Next Big Thing? Tuesday, September 25, 11:00am – 11:45am This seminar is for any small and medium sized business owners, marketing professionals that work with small and medium sized businesses and web designers.It is estimated that in the next three to five years, 90% of all businesses will have video on the web as part of their marketing strategy. This seminar will explain why having video on the web is an effective marketing strategy to adopt and give you some ideas of how you can use video to promote your business, product or service. Liquid Lens specialises in affordable video marketing and is run by husband and wife team, Darren and Jackie Cox. They have a unique insight in to using video for marketing, combining 25 years in the broadcast industry with 15 years experience in marketing communications. Contact: Jackie Cox Carrying Out a Successful Redundancy Package - A step by step guide: Tuesday, September 25, 12:00pm -– 2:00pm Redundancy is often regarded as the ‘unfairest of fair dismissals’ and therefore must be handled carefully. This seminar will touch upon how to carry out a successful redundancy process covering all the necessary components from ‘at risk’ meetings, consultation and searching for
performance, say what you know needs to be said professionally, then book out an hour of your time to attend this session and collect some simple and practical skills that will work for you. At gluetogether. we improve performance, by delivering practical and effective solutions that change business and individual behaviours; we work with lots of corporate clients, SMEs and Individuals. Chris Gilkes specialises in improving performance by understanding and adapting human behaviours. She has more than 20 years experience in learning and development and 15 years experience in management and leadership positions. As part of her approach to learning she has designed, and marketed a change management board game and Life Planning tool. Contact: Chris Gilkes Starting a Business: How Much Money You Need & Where to Find It: Tuesday, September, 25: 3:00pm – 4:00pm This seminar is for people who are intending to start their own business or expand an existing one. Attendees will learn how to determine what level of funding they require and what sources of finance are available. The session will also cover the information that should be presented when approaching organisations for finance. Contact: Meg Heath
■ TALKING POINT: Brent Woods leads topical debate at a PechaKucha Night as part of Kirklees Business Week alternative employment. Andy Howarth, the managing director at Howarths Employment Law, presents all of our seminars. With 30 years experience of law together with his unique presenting style, Andy is a firm favourite amongst delegates. This seminar is aimed at business owners, directors and HR staff. Contact: Lindsey Carr The 18 Things that Super-Successful Business Owners Know & Do: Tuesday, September 25, 12:30pm – 2:00pm What exactly is it that super successful business owners do that makes the difference? When we go into business just how much do we really understand what we need to know and do in order to be successful? In this upbeat session Andy Lee the local Business Growth Advisor for the Entrepreneurs Circle will share with you the 18 secrets of Super Successful Business owners. It’s all dead practical stuff all of us can implement straight away and it works! Theory Free Zone! Contact: Andy Lee Tips for Delivering Difficult Messages with Confidence: Tuesday, September 25, 2:00pm – 3:00pm All Business Leaders and Managers will pick up some useful tips. We’re all human and most of us find difficult messages difficult to say. Of course you can go on avoiding it, blurting it out, making it humorous or even rendering it as everyone’s problem. Alternatively if you’d like to deliver your messages with confidence, deal quickly with poor or inappropriate
Getting Started with a Social Media Strategy: Tuesday, September 25, 3:30pm – 5:00pm at the Heritage Centre, Lindley HD3 3HR From helping you identify the relevant Social Media platforms and to show you what they can offer your business. Advice will then be given on how to get the most from them, the actions you should be taking so you can start to build your own strategy.This seminar is for businesses looking to start a formal Social Media Strategy to engage with their customers.Contact: Keith Farnell ACCESS TO FINANCE: Tuesday, September 25, September 5pm – 7pm This event is for businesses wishing to learn more about accessing funding for innovative projects. 5.00 – 5.10pm Welcome by Patrick Allen, MD of 3M Buckley Innovation Centre. 5.10 – 5.40pm How to access funding from the Technology Strategy Board. Dr Andrew Kenney, KTP adviser from the TSB will give a brief overview of the different options for businesses wishing to apply for funding, from £10,000 feasibility studies, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with the University of Huddersfield and Smart grants worth up to £500,000. How to Maximise Your Tax Allowances. 5.40 – 6pm How to maximise your tax allowances. Come along and hear whether your business could benefit from the Patent box, R & D tax credits or Enterprise Allowances. The session will give a general overview and offer the opportunity to ask questions on these key mechanisms for maximising your profits. 6.00 – 6.20pm What the new 3M Buckley Innovation Centre has to offer high growth, high tech companies with Giles Carr, Operations Manager 3MBIC, including tours of the facilities in small groups. Networking and refreshments PechaKucha x MYnetwork: Tuesday, September 25, 7:00pm PechaKucha Night returns to Huddersfield and gets down to business for a special evening of thinking and
drinking. In this special Kirklees Business Week edition, MYnetwork take over Pecha Kucha Huddersfield to create an eclectic night of presentations from passionate local business people. A celebration of the hidden (and not so hidden) talents of Huddersfield. Behind every business there are real people with real interests and passions. PechaKucha Night invites these people to share their stories in short talks using 20 PowerPoint slides that automatically advance every 20 seconds. The presenters have to keep their talk moving along to the slides and every talk is over in six minutes and forty seconds. Topics can be about anything -- some are incredibly personal, some are incredibly funny, but all are very different making each PechaKucha Night like 'a box of chocolates''. We invite you to come along, order a drink and enjoy an evening of inspiring talks. Presenters will be announced soon. PechaKucha Night was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 and has since turned into a massive celebration, with events happening in hundreds of cities around the world, inspiring people worldwide. Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of "chit chat", it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It's a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace. MYnetwork is a collaboration between Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, SMileS, The Media Centre and the Mid-Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Together they help to bring businesses together online and offline in Huddersfield and Wakefield. PechaKucha Night #7 promises to be like no other. Contact: Brent Woods Council Support for Business: Tuesday, September 25, 7:30pm – 9:30pm at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top, Huddersfield HD3 3RH A talk by John Hodgson - Team Leader, Business and Economy, Calderdale Council. You are invited to the Calderdale & Kirklees Branch Joint Speaker Meeting. 7.30pm 8.00pm Registration and Informal Networking. You will be made welcome and introduced to other members. This is a great opportunity to discuss current issues with like-minded people or engage in some informal networking. Any guest or visitor who would benefit from FSB membership is very welcome. 8.00pm 9.00pm Speaker Session followed by questions. Practical help and support for business including a vast array of initiatives. Business start-up support; Enterprise Clubs; Silver Entrepreneur and Mentoring; Business Growth Calderdale, Innovation Grant scheme, General business advice and guidance including premises search support; Inward Investment activity with Leeds City Region; Apprenticeship scheme; Other support such as the RISE flood grant scheme. 9.00pm 9.30pm Refreshments and Informal Networking. There will be food served as a hot buffet after the meeting. Staying for the food gives you an excellent opportunity to market your company to and through the other members, whilst enjoying refreshments. There is a charge to cover the buffet cost of £5.00 per person. Contact: David Holdsworth
Wednesday, September 26 People – our greatest asset with the least investment? Wednesday, September 26, 9:00am – 10:00am “The most valuable assets of a 20th-century company were its production equipment. The most valuable asset of a 21st-century institution, whether business or non-business, will be its knowledge workers and their productivity" – Peter Drucker. In modern organisations, people are the greatest asset so why do they then spend so little on developing them and improving their performance? Our national productivity continues to decline and the managerial skills and mindsets that delivered growth in the last century are not those that guarantee success in this. Designed for leaders and managers from all sectors, this seminar is designed to be a thought provoking challenge to existing organisational practices and behaviours with the objective of participants learning how to cost-effectively improve the 'productivity' of technologists and knowledge workers. Delivered by Chartered Management Institute Ambassadors David Broadhead and Chris Sheader, of Partners in Management, the seminar will also be supported by the CMI, who from recent published research can clearly demonstrate a distinct link between organisational performance and investment in management and leadership development. Contact: David Broadhead STEPteam Event: Wednesday, September 26, 10:00am – 11:30am STEPteam. The answer to your CSR - in a box. WHAT DOES STEPteam DO...for a child? It teaches them that EVERYONE has a place in business and encourages them to appreciate the skills and input of others, and to work as a team. It gives them a fantastic learning experience that links to the requirements of the National Curriculum for English, Mathematics, Design and ICT, where they can gain a real understanding of running a business. It leaves them with an “I can do that” approach, raising their future aspirations. For schools? They receive an easy to run, meticulously planned course with stacks of colourful engaging course material that culminates in their running a real business with real profit that they get to invest as they choose. For your business? It creates a fantastic opportunity for you to engage with a local school. Schools both want and need to engage with the business community for mentorship and other activities. You could be involved in the delivery of the programme adding the benefit of your business experience to the programme content (subject to school agreement); be a “Dragon” at the “Dragons Pitch” event in the programme; continue that interaction with the school in the future, helping them to develop real life skills in our children. The programme provides a fantastic platform to promote your business through press releases, blog articles and social media, and potentially generate column inches and PR opportunities with a value way beyond your initial outlay, not to mention ticking the CSR box. Everybody wins. We want to change the fortunes of the UK one small person at a time. You can join us and help to create a better future for us all. The Kirklees Business Week. STEPteam are proud to be participating in the Kirklees Business Week. We will be
Marketing specialists and take advantage of Google Places, no website required! Contact: Andrew Firth
■ LEADING LIGHTS: Rebessa Legg (left), of Choi Theatre, and Michelle Hodgson, of Key Words, are among the speakers at a seminar focusing on links between the arts and business staged by The Huddersfield Arts Creative Network explaining the programme in more detail to allow businesses and schools alike to better understand just how much they can both get from this. A very brave group of children from St Saviour’s Junior School, Batley will also be joining us to pitch their business plans to the Dragons. Our Dragons are: Jeremy Garside, managing partner, Chadwick Lawrence; Sean Jarvis, commercial director, Huddersfield Town Football Club; Paul Smith, procurement and supply chain director, YPO; with special guest Terry the Terrier! AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED! Contact: Kathryn Rushfirth Are you and your business sociable? Wednesday, September 26, 10:00am – 10:45am The objective of this seminar is to look at why human interaction is as important today as it has ever been. Showing how relevant and effective the available technology is, when building relationships with the connected communities and target audiences of a business. The skills and experiences I use are those I have developed and used successfully since 1982. Always focusing on
interaction and participation, whilst building long term relationships based on loyalty and trust. Contact: Mark Longbottom Going Local: Getting ahead on Google Places: Wednesday, September 26, 10:30am – 11:00am Going Local: Getting Ahead on Google Places is aimed at business owners who would like to learn tips and techniques for optimising your Google Places page and increase enquiries into your business. More and more searches on Google are now localised and with the increasing use of mobile, having a strong Google Places page is one of the best ways to get found easily on the search engine, yet is still very much an untapped resource. Going Local is an essential seminar that will help business owners get to grips with Google Places page creation and optimisation, demonstrating many things that you can do to get on the first page of Google, get ahead of your competition and really put your business on the map and it will only cost you your time. Learn from Ascensor, one of Yorkshire's leading Digital
Introduction to Coaching Skills – Developing your 'coaching compass': Wednesday, September 26, 12:00pm – 1:30pm New research shows that coaching can address the top people-management issues faced by organisations today improving performance and reducing costs. 9 out of 10 of the survey’s respondents believed that coaching was more effective than traditional learning and development methods. ('Coaching in Context Survey', 2012. For a copy of the results please email info@beecld.co.uk) However, many organisations are not clear about what coaching is or what it can do for them and their performance. In this workshop we aim to: clarify what coaching is, give participants an opportunity to practise the skills associated with coaching, and take away Beehive's basic coaching tool - the coaching compass. The workshop will be fun, interactive and practical, and we encourage participants to come with an issue or problem to work with so they can see the real benefits of coaching in action. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how coaching can contribute to their organisation's performance as well as a practical coaching tool. Contact: Sara Lodge Even Artists Need Accountants: How creatives and business can work together: Wednesday, September 26, 12:30pm – 1:30pm How can people working in creative industries work together and also with the wider business community to the benefit of all? The Huddersfield Arts Creative Network (HCAN) team presents a seminar on: How the creative sector can reach a wider audience; How business can benefit from engaging with the creative community, from staff training and development to corporate responsibility; How the creative sector can forge links with business from funding and sponsorship to reciprocal services; • The cultural differences between business and the creative sector; How HCAN can promote the creative arts through the innovative Ideas Incubator and networking opportunities. HCAN is a not-for-profit, community-led organisation; the speakers are: Carole Pattison, chair of HCAN and local councillor; Richard Bates, Bates Mill; Rebecca Legg, Somewhere To & Chol Theatre; Michelle Hodgson, Key Words. Contact: Michelle Hodgson
Wednesday, September 26 KNOWLEDGE SANDWICH presents: Let's Get Some New Business In! Wednesday, September 26: 12:30pm – 1:30pm For freelancers, fledgling businesses and even established agencies in the design sector, getting out and developing new business can feel like a daunting task. In this interactive session, Trevor Flannery shares 20 years of experience formulating and implementing new business development strategies. Trevor will explore the key components of new business development and how best to use them, the New Business Development Journey and how to take control of it, how you identify your six key audiences and the importance of marketing yourself correctly to them. A light lunch will be served during the event. Contact: Brent Woods Grow your business faster using other people's resources: Wednesday, September 26, 12:30pm – 1:30pm This seminar shows how you can grow your business faster using other people's resources to overcome your constraints on growth. It covers the key issues in developing a franchise or licensed programme or a business partner network and shows examples. The presenters offer follow up free 1-2-1 sessions to discuss how these issues can be applied to your business. It is jointly presented by Brian Allmey, MD, Next Level Business Solutions Ltd and James Sarjantson, Commercial & IP Partner, Last Cawthra Feather Solicitors. Contact: Brian Allmey Growing your Business through your workforce: Wednesday, 26th: 2:30pm 3:30pm INNOVATING BUSINESS GROWTH – harnessing the power of your workforce. “Business and organisations function best when they make their employees’ commitment, potential, creativity and capability central to their operation.” Most businesses are busy doing what they do best – making and selling a product, or providing a service but in an increasingly competitive world where money is tight and growth is restricted, it is important, now more than ever, for businesses to explore new ways and means of sustaining and growing their business, improving performance and increasing competitiveness. Otherwise, when the time comes for growth, they will wake up and realise that they’re not ready to expand or take advantage of the upturn. Innovating Business Growth will prepare your organisation to meet the challenges ahead. Challenges that include keeping up with advancing technology, diversifying to meet changes in demand, outgrowing premises. One of the most overlooked yet simple ways to maximise your business’s potential for growth is through that most valuable asset – our people. Harnessing the power of our people is essential to the success and growth of business. If our businesses are to innovate and grow, our people must go on that journey with us. To do that, they not only need to be equipped with the right skills, but most importantly be willing to go that extra mile. Innovating Business Growth is an introduction to this essential and frequently overlooked aspect of business. You will leave with an overview of the tools available to improve performance, increase innovation, improve your organisation’s standing and reputation in the community, improve workforce retention, reduce absences
Twitter. It's not just about being online, it's about optimisation and setting up platforms to make them work for you not the other way around. Find out how to "Create Opportunities Through Online Networks”. Contact: Janet Bebb
■ TWITTER YE NOT?: Janet Bebb says social media is definitely good for business through sickness, and improve customer service. Innovating Business Growth is aimed at SMEs who want to grow their business. It is particularly suitable for organisations who feel they are not reaching their full potential and who are committed to harnessing the power of their workforce to improve performance as a way forward. Contact: Claire Anderson Healthy Eating in Work: Wednesday, September 26, 2:30pm – 3.15pm Aimed at anyone who eats whilst at work.Attend for simple tips on how to: eat healthily at work, on the run and around meetings; boost your energy levels; improve your daily performance; increase your concentration and focus; maintain a healthy weight. I am a nutritional advisor and trainer, working with individuals & groups to change eating habits and encourage a healthier lifestyle. Contact: Gina Battye Business Surgeries: Wednesday, September 26, 3:00pm – 6:00pm KGA offers micro to small businesses an opportunity to discuss any matter that is affecting them with local professionals drawn from the KGA business membership. People with a business problem or who require some guidance, both private and community sectors, can attend. Our professional Expert Panels are made up of qualified people, including: solicitors, accountants, insolvency practitioners, marketing specialists, business angels, and entrepreneurs. KGA is a
■ GOOD HEALTH: Gina Battye, managing director of Quartz Services, puts healthy food on the menu at a seminar today not-for-profit organisation that brings business and community together by facilitating socially responsible endeavours across Kirklees. The KGA holds these business surgeries free-of-charge and without any obligation. Contact: Ahmed Khan Twitter – Has your business flown the nest? Wednesday, September 26, 4pm – 4:45pm Aimed at small businesses who haven't taken the leap of faith and dived into online social media - YET! If you're looking for evidence that online social media is good for business then this seminar is for you. Filled with real life examples of businesses that have gained from engaging online. Janet Bebb from Social Progress Ltd is an online social media specialist who delivers impactful workshops and works with individuals & businesses to help them make the most of their online social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook &
3M Buckley Innovation Centre CKMA Launch: Wednesday, September 26, 5.30pm-8.00pm 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, Firth Street, Huddersfield, HD1 3BD ample car parking is available in front of the centre. CKMA members have the unique opportunity to be the first manufacturers to visit the newly completed, multi-million pound 3M Buckley Enterprise and Innovation Centre. The centre is designed to help and support local manufacturers by offering state-of-the-art equipment and technicians to build prototypes and carry out research in order to improve existing products or bring life to new ideas and concepts. The centre can provide the very latest equipment which is available for use eliminating the need for a large capital investment. Manufacturers can try it, and if they like it, rent it or buy it, and if they don't, they can just walk away! Arriving from 5:30pm for networking and greetings. 6pm for the Chairman of CKMA Gary Jones to welcome members. 6:10pm Isobel Mills, Director of BIS Yorkshire/Humberside & North East. 6:15pm Leading figures from the Centre will explain what the centre can do for local manufacturers. Highlighting, help with testing out an idea and working it up, using some of the latest equipment in the world, tapping into all the academic knowledge and facilities of the University. Allowing local companies to do short term rents on the machines, for testing or modelling; have training on the machines or let the centres technicians do the work for you. Work that idea up and even help getting grants to fund this, advice and support on patenting, selling and exporting abroad in key markets. This is all achieved by the centres leading experts and technicians as well as its partners – The University of Huddersfield, Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and (UKTI). Both MAS and UKTI will explain how they work with the centre and can support manufacturers to get the best sales possible out of new or improved products. You will be taken round in small groups and have a preview of the world leading facilities available to you. Followed by networking while enjoying some light refreshments. Close of event approx 8pm. This is a Calderdale and Kirklees Manufacturing Alliance event. We welcome members and also any manufacturing businesses interested in coming along and finding out more. Contact: Janet Sparkes
Friday, September 28 Working Smarter With Your Workforce: Friday, September 28, 8:45am – 11:30am DO YOU NEED HIGHER LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE FROM YOUR STAFF? Do you need more effective levels of communication within your business? Do you need to improve the working relationships between your teams? Do your staff need to get more done, better, and faster, with fewer resources? Do you want to create a culture that welcomes new ideas and thinking? If you do, then attend this informative and interactive session introducing Kirklees’ Working Smarter Framework. At the session industry experts, Dale Carnegie Training, Improvement Development Group (IDG) and Pera Training, will explain why investing in your workforce can transform your bottom line. Hear about how inspirational leadership builds your organisation's knowledge and talent pool by developing, engaging, and retaining a motivated, satisfied staff. Explore a number of good case studies which demonstrate the impact and outcomes of investing in your workforce and start to consider the challenges/issues of your business and how working smarter with your workforce can help resolve them. Learn about some tools for creating innovation and creativity in your workforce. What is “Working Smarter”? It’s the practice of improving your business by investing in your workforce. Who developed the framework? Kirklees Council drawing on the experiences of Local businesses and using national research. Who is Dale Carnegie? A global performance based training company whose best seller “How to Win Friends and Influence People” has sold 15m copies worldwide. Who are IDG? Organisational development specialists, IDG is passionate about making a difference. We are also the official Investors in People Partner for the North of England. Who are Pera Training? A national technical and leadership training company who are
■ THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: David Broadhead is urging business bosses to immerse themselves in The Think Tank
responsible for the delivery of the UK’s Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and Growth Accelerator Service. TIMETABLE: 8.45am to 9.00am – Registration; 9.00am to 9.15am – Introduction; 9.15am to 10.00am – Employee engagement through inspirational/ motivational leadership - Dale Carnegie; 10.00am to 10.15am - Break; 10.15am to 11.00am – Business Improvement through Investing in People – IDG; 11.00am to 11.30am – The Innovation Route to Working Smarter – Pera Training. Contact: Sue Weston The Forum – Think Tank: Friday, September 28, 9:00am – 1:30pm The Forum is a small, independent, politically neutral think-tank, facilitated by David Broadhead and formed from participants on previous Partners in Management CMI Strategic Leadership programmes plus other SME owners and managers. Through discussion and debate we try to understand the present and attempt to anticipate the future! Often we have been criticised for being pessimistic. Check out our findings http://pimforum.wordpress.com/ and I think you’ll find we were generally right. Pessimistic – maybe, realistic – definitely! Although based in West Yorkshire, we have members in the Midlands and North East as well so don’t just present a very localised and insular viewpoint. Attendees are finding it an invaluable source of business advice and insight without an expensive invoice from a consultant, and we have already seen members changing their business strategy in response to our discussions and deliberations. Contact: David Broadhead Am I Ready for Growth? Friday: 9:30am – 10:30am Are you serious about growing your business? If you want to grow your SME consider the following questions: Are all aspects of your business running at an optimum level? Are you keeping all the plates spinning and never dropping any? Do you measure your performance against robust industry benchmarks? Do you know where your growth is going to come from and how to get it? Are you aware of your competitors and what they are doing? Do you know which segment of your clients is most profitable? Are you spending your money wisely? Do you have the expertise in your business now to take you to the next level of growth? Do you have the depth of skills needed for tomorrow? Can you rate your top team 8 or more out of 10? If you confidently answered yes to all of these questions …. Congratulations! If like 95% of SME owners you hesitated or answered no to any or all of them ….. Congratulations you have probably reached a tipping point in your business. Do nothing and you risk no growth or even shrinking. Alternatively, analyse all aspects of your business, make informed changes and be ready for growth. This interactive and practical 60 minute session demonstrates what and how to do a rigorous assessment of your business in under 3 hours and how to identify the strengths and areas of weakness that enable you to make your informed choices for growth. Contact: Martin Miles Engaging for Success – Maximising employee contribution for business growth: Friday, September 28,
■ GETTING TECHNICAL: Patrick Allen, managing director of the 3M Buckley innovation Centre, will welcome delegates to Huddersfield University’s new facility 10:00am – 12:00pm Aimed at: Employers in general, hiring managers, heads of department, SMT, Board Members, MD, FD, HRDWhy attend:Insightful and practical approach to understanding key elements of Employer-Employee relations, focusing on those that improve top and bottom line performance.Qualifications:Company experience of over 30 years in employee centric solutions and service delivery. A strong and deep understanding of all the key principles of the Employer-Employee connections and capabilities. A leading authority and creator of the 'Employee Lifecycle' concept. Contact: Chris Selby How to improve your operating profits by 100%, Friday, September 28, 11:00am – 12:00pm This seminar is for business leaders with management teams of more than three people. If your business would feel comfortable being associated with the phrase "we're no worse than anyone else" you may be sliding toward the abyss. It is no longer good enough to "shrink your way to greatness" and there is a limit to making savings by cutting costs and taking short cuts. This seminar will show that investing in strategic thinking, cultural development and acting differently, will deliver a 100% increase in operating profits. With 150 years experience of delivering successful change at senior
levels. across multiple business sectors, both public and private, the change4success team has the tools, techniques and skills to deliver. Contact: Robin Tones Access to technology and markets: Friday, September 28, 12pm – 2pm This event is for businesses developing products and services for global markets interested in hearing about the facilities available at the University of Huddersfield. 12.0– 12.10pm Welcome by Patrick Allen, MD of 3M Buckley Innovation Centre. 12.10 – 12.20pm Overview of Innovation Avenue at 3MBIC (the latest specialist equipment that’s just arrived to help promote Business to Business and Business/University collaborations) with Michael Wilson Technical Manager 3MBIC. 12.20 – 12.30pm Summary of facilities for businesses on campus and funding routes with Susan Lipthorpe, Business Development Manager, University of Huddersfield/ or others. 12.30 – 12.45pm What can UK Trade & Investment offer your business? with Annie Bradley, International Trade Advisor. 12.45 – 1pm Opening up global markets and how this has been successfully achieved in Yorkshire with Peter Wheeler of Medilink and Richard Paxman from Paxman Coolers Ltd. 1pm onwards Lunch and networking
Graham’s journey to success ■ HIGH ACHIEVER: Graham Leslie left the dole queue to embark on a highly successful career in business as founder of Galpharm International
All Types Of Signage Designed, Manufactured & Fitted
Internal & External Signs Vehicle Lettering Graphics
T-Shirts, Polo Shirts & Shirts Sweatshirts & Hooded Sweatshirts Aprons, Tabards, Smocks, Chefwear Hi Visibility Workwear
RAHAM Leslie knows all about the GInproblems of worklessness. 1971, he spent four months on the dole
and attended 30 job interviews in a bid to get into work. At the 31st interview, he was offered a position with Winthorp Pharmaceuticals – which provided the first rung on the ladder of success. For once he was armed with experience in the industry, Graham went on to found Galpharm International. And the business which started in 1982 operating from a shed in Firth Street, Huddersfield, went on to become the largest privately-owned store brand pharmaceutical company in Europe. Graham was responsible for control changes in the Medicine Control Agency’s rules and regulations during the mid 1990s by switching molecules from prescription to pharmacy and from pharmacy to the grocery market. To date, this has saved the NHS approximately £4bn. Galpharm International was successfully sold in January, 2008, to Perrigo US for $88m. Graham was chairman of Huddersfield Town when the club and Kirklees Council embarked on an ambitious scheme to build what became the Alfred McAlpine Stadium – now the John Smith’s Stadium. The award-winning stadium became home to both Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants and a showcase venue for events, including the forthcoming Kirklees Business Conference. Graham has met and dined with two American presidents and current Prime Minister David Cameron. He has advised the UK’s All Party Health
Select Committee on issues relating to pharmaceuticals. But it is as a “serial” entrepreneur that Graham is now enjoying success. During one of the worst recessions ever experienced in the UK economy, has taken seven companies in various forms of difficulty and turned them into exceedingly profitable businesses with the total annualised turnover of £33m within two years. One company’s initial contract was for £8.9m on its first week of operation. During 2006, Graham was honoured by Huddersfield University with a Doctorate of Business. And in January, 2010, Graham was appointed as the first Regional Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust for Yorkshire & The Humber in recognition of his philanthropic approach to the local community and those less fortunate than himself. Last year. he was further acknowledged by the university by being appointed its first-ever non-academic Resident Professor of Enterprise & Entrepreneurship – breaking with 156 years of tradition. In his new role, Graham will be involved in the work of the university’s Enterprise and Innovation Centre. And it’s particularly appropriate that the £12m flagship centre has been built in Firth Street – where Graham’s first business success took shape. Welcoming Graham’s inclusion among the notable seminar speakers at the Kirklees Business Conference, event organiser Danny Matharu said: “Graham Leslie is a true Kirklees champion and returns to his home town to share his remarkable story in this seminar.”
How firms can thrive online YORKSHIRE-based businesses that have turned to the internet are growing fast, thanks to e-commerce web development specialist Ascensor. Birstall-based Ascensor develops bespoke e-commerce websites and provides online marketing to generate an average return on investment inside nine months. Even if you don’t sell online, Ascensor
websites are helping Yorkshire businesses generate more enquiries, whatever the market sector. Ascensor is exhibiting at this year’s Kirklees Business Conference. Why not visit them to find out how they help businesses of all kinds generate more visitors, more enquiries and more sales through online marketing and website design?
Conference clinic offers the right prescription Thursday, September 27, 09:45am – 10:30am: Finance Yorkshire: Access to Finance Finance Yorkshire provides seed corn finance, business loans and equity linked finance ranging from £15k to £2m for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Businesses must be located in or planning to relocate to Yorkshire, Humber, North or North East Lincolnshire (the Yorkshire and Humber region). Our finance packages help businesses fill the gaps in funding they need for development or acquisition, where conventional sources of finance are insufficient or unavailable. Our aim is to finance ambitious entrepreneurs and businesses who can demonstrate their ability to successfully grow their businesses. Thursday, September 27, 10:45am – 11:30am: Huddersfield, The Place To Make It Huddersfield is an enterprising, innovative and forward thinking town of many
exceptional stories. In fact, it's the place to make it. We’ve made footballing history, the world's largest nodding dog, the world's most expensive suit, the replacement glass for the London eye, and much, much more. And it's time to spread the word locally, nationally and beyond. Your business is one of our success stories. It's one of the many stories that make Huddersfield the place to make it, and it's a story worth sharing. Thursday, September 27, Noon – 1:00pm: Interactive Software Demo: Chris Dawes, PowerRetrieve (InfoCAP Technologies Limited) PowerRetrieve in partnership with Copymark are running an interactive software demonstration. This will include a FREE buffet lunch and refreshments and the opportunity to win an iPod. PowerRetrieve is an Intelligent Information Retrieval system that automatically indexes information held in scanned images and most
Salute to our partners Chadwick Lawrence – Principal Partner: Chadwick Lawrence has offered professional and supportive legal advice to both private and commercial clients for over 160 years. The prime objective of the firm has always been to provide an exceptionally high level of service combined with first-rate legal advice. www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk John Smith's Stadium The John Smith’s Stadium is Huddersfield’s premier conference venue, featuring a wide range of function rooms suitable for corporate and private hire. www.johnsmithsstadium.com Place to Make It Huddersfield is an enterprising, innovative and forward thinking town of many exceptional stories. In fact, it’s the place to make it. www.placetomakeit.co.uk University of Huddersfield The University of Huddersfield offers a range of ways in which you, your company or organisation can work with us. From collaborative research projects to tailored consultancy solutions, the “Business Gateway Team" will work with you to define your interests, find the appropriate academic experts and identify opportunities for collaboration. Huddersfield Town Formed in 1908, Huddersfield Town has one of the proudest histories of any club in English football. Simply, our history serves as an inspiration for our future as we build a Club that our supporters can be proud of. www.htafc.com Kirklees Council Kirklees Council is committed to supporting the growth and expansions of local businesses and ensuring that they are sustainable in today’s competitive economy. www.kirklees.gov.uk/business
marketing Fantastic Media is a full service marketing agency that works in partnership with you to create winning marketing strategies which exceed your business objectives. www.fantasticmedia.co.uk
electronic office files. Its unique pattern matching search technology produces unparalleled results in terms of its ability to find near matches, and in overcoming both typographical and OCR errors; as well as exact matches; thus enabling you to find all relevant information in a matter of seconds. PowerRetrieve introduces the ability to include your paper documents in your back up procedures, thus providing total disaster recovery to give you piece of mind about ALL of your information; not just your electronic documents.Due to this level of automation, retrieval capabilities, error tolerance, and ease of use, the customers are varied but their requirements are not; the Information they manage is critical to their organisation. Thursday, September 27: 1:00pm – 2:00pm: Social Media: BOOM There's no dark art to using social media and as a business you probably recognise by now that
you need to be involved and active on the various channels. It can be tricky to decide which platforms you should be on and what you really want to know is how you can use Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin etc to make a positive impact on your bottom line. This Clinic will show you how to put a workable social media strategy in place, and how you can make it work for you. Did you know? 77% of consumers interact with brands on Facebook and are more likely to buy if brands have a Facebook presence? 48% are more likely to buy if they see the brand on Twitter. Delivered by Cat Yaffe of Cat Creative Media, this invaluable Clinic will reveal the SECRET behind attracting the right audience, engaging in the right conversations and how you can influence the purchasing decision of YOUR prospect - making a positive impact on your BOTTOM LINE. The social media conversation has started, it's time you joined in.
We know business
in Yorkshire
Huddersfield Examiner Examiner – the number one source for the latest, local business news.From our prestigious annual Examiner Business Awards, to the latest commercial news stories published in print and online with the Examiner and Kirklees Business News, we bring you the best and most comprehensive view of the local commercial community and celebrate their successes. www.examiner.co.uk/business Revell Ward LLP Revell Ward LLP was formed in 2008 via an owner-managed buy-out. The name dates back 125 years and has a strong reputation for its quality and integrity. www.revellward.co.uk Ramsdens Ramsdens is an award winning, Legal 500 recommended, full practice legal firm with 150 team members and eight offices across Kirklees and Calderdale. Offering the full spectrum of legal services to organisations and to the individual, Ramsdens adhere to the highest standards of legal excellence and the highest standards of service. www.ramsdens.co.uk CopyMark CopyMark are one of the leading office equipment suppliers in Yorkshire, with products ranging from facsimile to full colour printers. www.copymark.co.uk Finance Yorkshire Business Funding from Finance Yorkshire. Finance Yorkshire provides seedcorn finance, business loans and equity linked finance ranging from £15k to £2m for SMEs. Businesses must be located in or planning to relocate to Yorkshire, Humber, North or North East Lincolnshire (the Yorkshire and Humber region).
We support businesses in Kirklees Sponsors of
The Kirklees Business Conference 2012 13 Railway Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1JS
01484 519 999 www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk
Huddersfield
|
Leeds
|
Wakefield
|
Halifax
Heartfelt aim to help firms make a mark HE’S highly regarded as one of the UK’s leadSHuddersfield-born ing commercial and marketing experts. Kate Hardcastle has been a key-
■ CUSTOMER CARE: Kate Hardcastle ,of Insight With Passion, champions the importance of customer service
Helping Kirklees businesses work smarter through complete managed IT support solutions.
01484 779 020 www.p2tech.co.uk Contact us today for a smarter working solution.
note speaker at many high-profile industry events and has worked extensively across the UK and internationally, including Australia, Dubai, China and the USA. Now she is sharing her knowledge and opinions with delegates at the Kirklees Business Conference. Danny Matharu, conference organiser, said: “Quite simply, Kate is a one-woman business phenomenon, regularly sharing her expertise on SKY, ITV and BBC TV and radio – and winning more than 20 national business awards in the process. “We are proud to bring her back to her home town for KBC '12.” He said: “Kate has a proven track record in helping businesses to achieve their potential and engage with their customers. “Her message is simple: You need to be switched on to your customers' needs through the five key areas of a business – the vision, the commercials, the brand, the people and the proposition.” Kate recognises that not all businesses achieve these aims and the customer experience often leaves a lot to be desired.
Only by understanding the impact customer service is having on your customer and how it’s potentially switching them off, will businesses realise how vital it is to get it right. Kate, who is co-founder of business transformation specialist Insight with Passion, is recognising businesses that win customers’ hearts and minds with her Customer at the Hearts Awards. The awards celebrate small businesses that put the interests of the customer first. A number of Huddersfield area businesses have been recognised for their outstanding customer service – along with others across the UK. And on October 1, the organisers will be unveiling the place in the UK boasting the best customer service – as the Champion of Champions. Meanwhile, Kate will be bringing her message to attendees at the conference at The John SMith’s Stadium. Said Danny: “This is a superb opportunity to learn from one of the UK's best on how no matter what sector you operate in, retaining your customers is paramount in the success of your business.”
Brad isn’t pulling his punches at KBC12!
OU can’t call your book THAT! YBut he did. Now the UK’s number one motivational
speaker is delivering his hard-hitting message to delegates at the Kirklees Business Conference. Brad Burton, managing director of the revolutionary 4Networking, penned a no-nonsense guide to succeeding in business – called Get Off Your Arse! It’s now the highest rated business book on Amazon, selling over 10,000 copies. Six years ago, Brad was delivering pizza to keep his start-up business afloat. Now he delivers hilarious, inspiring, laugh-out-loud talks on life, business and motivation. Never one to follow the conventional line, Brad used the motivation of £25,000 of personal debt and many people telling him “It’ll never work” to build the world's fastest growing business breakfast network – now a multi-million pound international business. Please don't underestimate Brad. The jeans, t-shirt and Mancunian accent conceal an energy and incredible ability to
make things happen that is truly infectious and will hugely inspire you. In Boxroom to Boardroom, he explains how to go from £25,000 in debt to building a multi-million pound business. To Sell More, Sell Less looks at the way to create conditions where people buy. And in Everything Happens for a Reason, there’s even more to learn. Says Brad: “Sometimes you have to ignore the so-called experts and swim against the tide of the establishment. “Sometimes you have to risk it all to make it right” As managing director of more than 300 linked business breakfast groups, 4Networking, Brad did both. He says: “In political terms, so that a layman can get their head around it, 4Networking is the mainstream of business networking. “You'll never be the market leader copying the market leader – so it’s a network that is different, not for the sake of it, but because different works.”
■ HE CALLED IT WHAT?: Brad Burton doesn’t mince his words when it comes to business advice – as delegates will find out at the 2012 Kirklees Business Conference
Print/Copy Solutions from • Facsimile Printers • Full Colour Printers • Black and White Printers • Wide Format Printers • Production Machines Digital, Colour and Black and White
Six reasons why you should choose Copymark 1.Value for money whilst improving quality and productivity
3.We offer a wide range of printers and photocopiers to suit all your needs
5.Reduce your carbon footprint and improve your environmental credentials
2.We can help you find out the TRUE cost of your current expenditure
4.We provide technical support and training
6.Help you develop a clear understanding of your prints and optimize your output
Contact us today for your no obligation FREE PRINT AUDIT:
01924 520199 Visit us on stands 1,2 and 3 at the conference
Top tycoons with all the answers at Q&A session
Dean Hoyle Together with wife Janet, Dean set up greetings card retailer Card Factory in 1997 and built a business empire consisting of over 500 shops nationwide – an achievement that saw him named Ernst & Young North and Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year in June 2009. Dean became chairman of Huddersfield Town in June, 2009, having joined the board of directors as chairman-elect in April, 2008. In March, 2010, Dean became sole owner of Huddersfield Town and on April 8, 2010, Card Factory was sold to private equity group Charterhouse. Under Dean’s chairmanship, Town have gone from strength-to-strength on and off the pitch. Last season, this culminated in a breathtaking play-off final win over Sheffield Utd at Wembley, meaning when Dean sits down at this year's conference, Town will be a month or so into their first season in the npower Championship. Dean will offer delegates a forthright insight into how starting selling greetings cards from the back of an old van led to the mind-boggling sale of Card Factory and then owning the football club he has supported man and boy.
Ajaz Ahmed Ajaz Ahmed is best known for being the founder of Freeserve, which was once the UK’s largest Internet Service Provider. His eureka moment came when he bought a computer at PC World in Leeds and nobody in the store could tell him how to get onto the Internet. After much persuasion, Dixons launched Freeserve in September, 1998, and it became the UK’s largest ISP in just three short months. It floated just nine months later at a market cap of £1.5bn and entered the FT 100 soon after, in March, 2000, with a market cap of £9bn. Freeserve was later sold by Dixons to Wanadoo (a France Telecom company) for £1.6bn in 2001. Ajaz held the position of business development director until April, 2001, when following the sale he left the company to pursue a variety of business interests. He now has a number
■ TOWN TALK: Dean Hoyle is chairman of Huddersfield Town and founded retailer The Card Factory
■ LEADING LIGHT: Graham Leslie, founder of pharmaceutical firm Galpharm International, now supports a string of businesses of investments that he is actively involved in and his latest venture is Legal365.com. He also sits on the board of the Business School at the University of Huddersfield. Graham Leslie In 1971, Graham Leslie spent four months on the dole and attended 30 job interviews. At the 31st interview he was offered a position with Winthorp Pharmaceuticals which introduced him to the opportunity of founding Galpharm International in 1982 in a shed on Firth Street in Huddersfield. From here, Graham steered Galpharm International to become the largest privately owned store brand Pharmaceutical Company in Europe. He was responsible for control changes in the Medicine Control Agency's rules and regulations during the mid 1990's by switching molecules from Prescription to Pharmacy and from Pharmacy to the Grocery
market. This has to date, saved the NHS approximately £4bn. Galpharm International was successfully sold in January, 2008, to Perrigo US for $88m. Graham has met and dined with two American Presidents and current Prime Minister David Cameron. He has advised the UK’s All Party Health Select Committee and during one of the worst recessions ever experienced in the UK economy, has taken seven companies in various forms of difficulty and turned them into exceedingly profitable businesses with the total annualised turnover of already £33m within two years. One company’s initial contract was for £8.9m on its first week of operation. Graham Leslie is a true Kirklees champion and returns to his home town to share his remarkable story in this seminar.
■ FREESERVE FOUNDER: Businessman Ajaz Ahmed has a string of entrepreneurial successes to his name
Conference timetable Seminar Programme 0800 – 1000 4Networking Breakfast Meeting 0930 – 1015 Kate Hardcastle 1045 – 1130 Brad Burton 1200 – 1245 Graham Leslie 1315 – 1400 Kirklees Business Titans Panel Q&A 1430 – 1515 Bulletman Business Clinic 09:45 - 10:30 Finance Yorkshire - Access to Finance 10:45 - 11:30 Huddersfield - The Place to Make It 12:00 - 13:00 CopyMark - Interactive Software Demo: Chris Dawes, PowerRetrieve 13:15 - 14:00 Cat Creative - Social Media BOOM
■ CAPED CRUSADER: Bulletman – alias graphic design chief Paul Kerfoot – will bring his talents to bear at the Kirklees Business Conference
Bulletman helps companies give it their best shot!
E’S a different kind of super hero! H Bulletman brings a refreshing slant to the search for business success at the Kirklees
Business Conference. To unmask our hero, Bulletman is Batley-born Paul Kerfoot, graphic design director at Bulletpoint. His presentation, This Way Up, explores how to apply creative thinking to problem solving in these challenging times. As he says: “Backwards is forwards. Downwards is upwards. Slower is faster. Why not do the right thing and take a left turn? Confusion is good.” Paul, a creative thinker and inspirational speaker, has run his successful design and brand agency since 1989. He believes life, work and everything is best experienced the wrong way round – upside
down, inside out and back to front. “When we laugh we learn,” he says. Danny Matharu, event organiser for the Kirklees Business Conference, says: “Humorous, creative and highly thought provoking, This Way Up is an action-packed programme designed to challenge the way that you think, look at work from a different perspective and help you to locate reverse gear along life's little journey. “Paul helps businesses survive, stand out and fly in challenging times. He also helps young people be more creative and successful. “In this thought provoking session – This Way Up – our flying designer shares some of his many passions; branding and creativity, education, taking risks (and talking bananas) in the search for success and happiness.”
Conference catch-up! HE sun shone for more than 700 T delegates who attended the 2011 Kirklees Business Conference.
A free full-day programme included seminars led by expert speakers, a business “clinic”, an exhibition featuring 60 organisations – and lots of networking opportunities. The third annual conference got under way with a breakfast meeting before a series of seminars featuring Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle, Dragons’ Den victor and health food company boss Kirsty Henshaw, treble paralympic and world judo champion Simon Jackson and business guru Nicky Pattinson. Exhibitors – ranging from accountancy and law firms to specialists in technology, training and business supplies – reported a good turnout of delegates throughout the day. Among the highlights, more than 50 businesses pledged their support for the £3.8m Creative and Media Studio School, based at Rawthorpe’s Netherhall Learning Campus. The studio school takes a new approach to helping students get into employment by engaging creative, media and digital businesses. Attractions included a clinic to help company bosses cure their business ills and a chill out room – for when it all became just too much!
■ PIECE OF CAKE: Kate Leadbeater (centre), of Kirkwood Hospice at Dalton, with Yorkshire Bank business development manager David Wright and bank adviser Maria Pilkington, with the hospice cake baked by Maria
■ SIGN HERE: Bill Macbeth, of Huddersfield Textile Centre of Excellence, and Joan Young, principal at Netherhall Learning Campus, with the pledge board signed by employers attending the Kirklees Business Conference
■ SITTING COMFORTABLY: Delegates get ready for the start of one of the day’s seminars at the 2011 conference
■ SWEET IDEA: Handing out candy snacks – and business cards – at the Ramsdens Solicitors stand are (from left) Jodie Hindle, Paul Joyce and Sinead Sopala
Who’s who at the conference exhibition
1 CopyMark 2 CopyMark 3 CopyMark 4 Ascensor Limited 5 Ascensor Limited 6 Cedar Court Hotels 7 Creative AV 8 Balance Accountants 9 Cat Creative Media 10 Business Enterprise Fund 11 Titan Business Centres 12 P2 Technologies Ltd 13 Costco Wholesale 14 Growth Accelerator 15 The Design Mechanics 16 BNI Terriers 17 Finance Yorkshire 18 Sovereign Healthcare 19 Hi Tech Business Machines 20 Hi Tech Business Machines 21 Kirklees College 22 nanofactory 23 IID 23 Kirklees Active Leisure 24 Worldpay 25 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Businesses Programme 26 Hays Specialist Recruitment 27 Ramsdens 28 Huddersfield Town FC
29 Kirklees Council 30 National Coal Mining Museum 31 Forward Ladies 32 Leeds City Region 33 Design Council 34 Examiner 35 Armitage Sykes Solicitors 36 Creative & Media Studio School 37 Nochex 38 Eagle Safety Associates Ltd 39 TaxAssist Accountants 40 University of Huddersfield 41 Revell Ward LLP 42 Howarth HR & Employment Law 43 CodeBlue Communications 43 CodeBlue Recruitment 44 Kings Security Ltd 45 The Lindley Group 46 Huddersfield Audi 47 Eaton Smith Solicitors 48 EEW 49 Hipperholme Grammar School 50 MYCCI 51 Sheards Floor Space Outside The Exhibition Hall – 4Networking; Floor Space Outside Seminar Hall 1 – WPA Healthcare. : Floor Space Outside Seminar Hall 1 – The Business Mirror
SPONSORING the Kirklees Business Conference 2012 are: Kirklees Council, Fantastic Media, The
Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Ramsdens Solicitors, Huddersfield The Place to Make It, The University of
Huddersfield, Revell Ward, Finance Yorkshire, Huddersfield Town and Copymark
2009
Less than 1% of all UK web traffic originated from a mobile phone.
2012
20% of people are finding and viewing your business via mobile devices.
Apps Mobile Websites M-Commerce
2013
More people will use mobiles than computers to browse the internet.
Your customers and clients are mobile, is your business? If you don’t have a mobile strategy, you don’t have a strategy. EricSchmidt,CEO,Google
For a free mobile marketing consultation speak to us
Call Tom Kemp on
08450 176 090 fantastic-mobile.co.uk