West & North
Yorkshire
usiness PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Social impact is good business
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
CONNECTING, SUPPORTING & REPRESENTING BUSINESS IN THE REGION
Q1 2019
At Business Enterprise Fund, we believe in the power of small business. We believe in its power to transform communities. And we believe in you and your clients. If you support businesses requiring flexible finance, but many lenders often can’t fully assist, then we are here to help with tailored products available
GET IN TOUCH TODAY info@befund.org 0800 080 3145
from £5,000 to £150,000.
Business Enterprise Fund is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 726237) Representative example (Start Up Loans Company): £10,000 loan repayable over 5 years. 60 monthly payments of £193.33. Rate of interest 6% per annum fixed. Representative APR 6.18%. Total amount of credit £10,000. Total interest payable £1,599.80. Total amount payable is £11,599.80. This is an illustrative example based on loans up to £25,000 from the Start Up Loans Company (SULC), rates and terms will vary for similar products from other sources should you not be eligible for a SULC loan. Further information is available on enquiry.
FLEXIBLE FINANCE AND SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE NORTH
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
WELCOME 3
This is how lobbying works Does lobbying really work? It’s a question I’m asked regularly. My answer is a definitive “yes”, but sometimes it takes a long time to see the outcomes. In this issue you’ll see examples of where your voice has made a difference. In Leeds, thanks to the Waterfront report, with ideas from a range of members in a working group, match-funding has been provided by Leeds City Council for improvements including two pieces of art. In Bradford, the shortage of employment land was outlined in a report created thanks to input from members in the property sector. Bradford Council has now commissioned four enterprise zone reports and a land study to look at the issue. Sandy Needham Chief Executive West & North Yorkshire Chamber
We also feed views from our patch to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). One example that messages reach decision-makers was when government minister Richard Harrington spoke at the Leeds Chamber Annual Dinner. He praised BCC Director General, Adam Marshall, for the way he represents the network in weekly Wednesday morning meetings with Richard and his boss, Greg Clark. The number of transport-related meetings increased last quarter. We continue to push for increased investment in the North and better communication from the organisations involved in building infrastructure, e.g. HS2, Network Rail, Transport for the North and others. On each potential investment the call is for evidence of economic benefit and that’s where it is so important to have input from businesses based here. So fill in those surveys, contribute to meetings and special projects, it does make a difference.
08455 240 240 editor@yorkshire-business.co.uk www.yorkshire-business.co.uk @WNYorkshire_Biz
Improving the local community has become a cornerstone of good business, with success measured by social impact. The Chamber promotes social engagement with responsible lending, through the Business Enterprise Fund, and a social impact measurement tool in Raising the Bar. Make this a year to inspire your colleagues, change your community and celebrate your achievements.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
4 CONTACTS EDITORIAL editor@yorkshire-business.co.uk DESIGN design@yorkshire-business.co.uk ADVERTISING advertising@yorkshire-business.co.uk
6
MEMBERS’ NEWS
12
REGIONAL NEWS
News from Bradford, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire
News from across the region
14 PROFILE
35 PROFILE
Business Enterprise Fund
36 POLICY
Local and regional issues
42 PROFILE
Associated Waste Management Limited
Yorkshire Bank
SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@yorkshire-business.co.uk
16 PROFILE Christeyns
GENERAL hello@yorkshire-business.co.uk
17 PROFILE TL Dallas
WEBSITE yorkshire-business.co.uk TWITTER @WNYorkshire_Biz
18 PROFILE
Leeds Bradford:Yorkshire’s Airport
magazine produced by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The audience for this publication is comprised of a targeted audience of the major decision makers and senior executives across both the Yorkshire region and the wider UK business community. © 2019 West & North Yorkshire Business - No Part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form of advertising or promotion without the express permission of the editorial team.
care to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate on the date of publication. This magazine is published by the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Printed by Hart & Clough www.hartandclough.co.uk The Chamber group includes Chamber International, Business Enterprise Fund and West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
44 SOCIAL
What you missed online
45 PROFILE
Bradford City of Film
46 INTERNATIONAL
20 PROFILE
49 PROFILE
22 FEATURE
50 PROFILE
24
52 PROFILE
Leeds City Council
Business Enterprise Fund
SOCIAL IMPACT Raising the Bar
Chamber International
Leadership Awards
AD:VENTURE
Garbutt + Elliott
26 FEATURE
54 PROFILE
30 FEATURE
56
32 PROFILE
58 EVENTS
Pecan Deluxe
West & North Yorkshire Business has taken all reasonable
Enterprise Europe Network in Yorkshire and the Humber
19 PROFILE Thorite
West & North Yorkshire Business is a quarterly business
43 PROFILE
Chief Executive
Forge Waste & Recycling
33 PROFILE
Sovereign Health care
34 PROFILE
Lendlease and Evans Property Group
Womble Bond Dickinson
ANNUAL DINNER Leeds Chamber
Upcoming events and training
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
CONTENTS 5
New investment fund 41 45
22
New Chair of Bradford Property Forum
37
Bradford City of Film
New Chair of York & North Yorkshire Property Forum
56
30 Awards is merit for achievements
Leeds Chamber Annual Dinner
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
6
BRADFORD NEWS
Bradford in the news Recently, the BBC held a week-long project of broadcasting in Bradford. The project, described by the BBC as “an experiment…to work in a different way [and] give a fairer picture of a city”, included interviews and conversations with businesses as well as people from other walks of local life. I wrote this column only a couple of days into the project but we will be seeking feedback from our media contacts on how they feel this new ‘inclusive’ initiative went. We helped put forward several people for various programmes, including ‘Today’ on Radio 4 and 5 Live, with Danni Hewson. The city has so much to be proud of and I’m keen to find out how Bradford and its people came across – if you heard or saw any of the pieces broadcast, then please let me know your thoughts at nick.garthwaite@wnychamber.co.uk / 01274 230057. As the city continues to change and grow, recurring themes keep coming to the fore. On Bradford’s need to be fully connected on the rail network, it’s clear that the Council has got the bit between its teeth on this. While there is a significant cost to Northern Powerhouse Rail, the economic and social benefits will be clear, I’m convinced. In another important policy area, we have fed views into a draft skills delivery plan for Bradford, aimed at boosting local workforce skill levels and so giving employers a fillip. Nick Garthwaite President Bradford Chamber
Local director for national society Stephen Wright, the Managing Director of Bradford-based Thorite, has been elected to the board of the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS). BCAS is the UK’s only technical trade association that is dedicated to providing its membership with unbiased advice on legislation, standards, education, compliance, safety and environmental matters relating to compressed air and vacuum systems. There are five seats on the board that are elected by the membership, so election to the board is highly sought after. Directors serve a two-year term.
Supporting local tradesmen Yorkshire contractors have started work on the first phase of the £4 million project to develop the award winning Tong Garden Centre. Leeds-based Jennings have been contracted to do the demolition work and East Yorkshire-based Ashcourt has been appointed as the main ground workers on the project which includes a new plant canopy, an indoor play area and an events centre. Tong Garden Centre’s Managing Director, Mark Farnsworth, is pleased to have appointed Yorkshire contractors: “In our continued support of, and investment in, the Yorkshire economy, we have appointed Yorkshire tradesmen wherever possible.”
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
7
Pay what you decide Bradford’s inter-cultural arts centre Kala Sangam has introduced a Pay What You Decide scheme to coincide with the start of its new events programme.
knowing whether they will enjoy it.
at the heart of everything it does
Pay What You Decide not only allows audiences to pay what they can afford, but also removes the financial risk of buying a ticket for a show without
Tickets can be booked in advance as usual, but there is no obligation for audiences to pay afterwards. The company is continuing to invite old and new audiences into the arts centre; Kala Sangam integrates this scheme as part of its pledge to place Bradford and its diverse communities
Kala Sangam’s Creative Director Alex Croft commented: “We want as many people as possible to experience these fantastic performances. If you’ve ever been curious about what we do, there’s never been a better time to visit Kala Sangam.”
Brave the shave
Farewell Don
Helping job seekers
Five members of the City Training Services in Bradford put themselves forward to shave their heads in aid of a good cause.
The directors of Don Whitley Scientific Limited have announced that Dr Don Whitley, founder and chairman, died in February after a short illness.
The employability team at Incommunities have been reaching out to local job seekers to offer six-month paid placements.
Dominic Scott, Tom Hughes and John Valentine had their heads totally shaved while Andy Atkinson and Nic Cockroft had their legs waxed to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
In 1976, Don and his wife, Pam, started Don Whitley Scientific in the spare bedroom and basement of their home in Shipley. For over 15 years, Don drove innovative product development projects that resulted in the steady growth of the business.
These paid placements come as part of Incommunities involvement with the EU funded STEP programme which is part of the council’s Get Bradford Working campaign.
The shaving and waxing took place at CTS’ offices in Chapel Street, Little Germany, where staff from across the business cheered for the trio.
In accordance with Don’s wishes, there will not be a funeral. He requested that his body be left to medical research. A celebration of Don’s life will take place later in the year.
These placements include comprehensive training in areas such as job search skills, preparing for interviews and confidence building.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
8
LEEDS NEWS
Fulfilling potential Members tell us that access to the right skills is one of their biggest challenges. The Chamber constantly strives to support businesses on this agenda, and believes that employers have a significant role to play in ensuring the next generation are provided with skills needed to fulfil their potential. 2018 saw the first cohort of young people completing their education at Leeds UTC (university technical college). The Chamber was highly influential in its foundation and remains involved in running it with Mark Goldstone chairing the Board of Governors. I was pleased to hear that 37% of leavers went on to take up high-quality apprenticeships – that’s five times more than a standard secondary school. As importantly, every single person went on to do something positive, a great testament to the focus on employability skills that companies said were important.
Leeds tech for Saudi Arabia High-tech manufacturer Airedale International Air Conditioning has won a £1m export order to supply specialised air conditioning for the new Riyadh metro system in Saudi Arabia. Airedale specialises in producing innovative precision air conditioning units designed for use in data centres where computer servers need to be maintained at a controlled temperate. The ‘EasiCool’ units destined for Saudi Arabia are designed to cool the server rooms incorporated in the new metro stations. Riyadh’s new £18bn metro will consist of 6 lines covering 110 miles.
In a related vein, the Chamber and city partners are about to launch the follow-up to last autumn’s inaugural Leeds Manufacturing Festival. Chamber board member Graham Cooper is the driving force behind this initiative to connect industry with education and open the eyes of young people to opportunities in the city. Our annual Raising the Bar awards has shown the great amounts of employer support for education. Schools will benefit if more business leaders take up places on governing bodies, provide careers advice and mentoring, or simply let their younger staff mentor pupils. There is plenty of help available to companies to facilitate this – talk to the Chamber if you need introductions. Paula Dillon President Leeds Chamber
A united front Leeds-based waste management company, B&M Waste Services, continue to support and invest in their local community through their latest partnership with Leeds United Football Club (LUFC). Family-run and recycling-led, B&M Waste have agreed an advertising package with the Championship table leaders including digital board signage, corporate events and hospitality. The two Leeds organisations have a mutual interest in their social responsibility agenda with both parties supporting local charity, Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. B&M Waste and LUFC look forward to working together on projects that support the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
9
Disrupting criminal activity First Bus in Leeds is getting on board with a cutting-edge police project to disrupt criminal activity. Project Servator will feature specially designed artwork as part of continuing work by authorities to encourage residents to report suspicious behaviour and make it more difficult for criminals to operate.
rst Leeds services will feature the Project Servator posters inside buses, as well as on digital poster boards and on an employee app used by drivers to help raise awareness of the project. First Bus services in Leeds are beginning to feature specially designed artwork for Project Servator from January.
Accolade for the Million Makers
Pioneering recyclable coffee cups
Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson’s (WBD) Million Makers team won The Above and Beyond Award at The Prince’s Trust Million Makers North of England regional final, which was held at the Marriott Hotel, Leeds.
Trinity Leeds is at the forefront of a pioneering campaign to revolutionise the way disposable coffee cups are being recycled.
The teams competing in the North of England region raised more than £130,000 for The Prince’s Trust, which will go towards supporting young people in the UK. The WBD Million Makers Team was made up of a group of trainee solicitors and organised a number of innovative fundraising events to raise money for The Trust.
Specially-designed bins and signage have now been installed to ensure visitors’ used coffee cups are properly recycled instead of going to landfill. In a UK first, an industry-wide working group, established by Trinity Leeds owners and property company Landsec, has partnered with national coffee retailers for the initiative which aims to improve the suitability of the coffee industry.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
10
YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS
Spring + Summits + Support = Success With Spring now clearly in the air, there are, as always, both opportunities and challenges facing businesses in York & North Yorkshire. We have good levels of occupancy in the hospitality sector but the high street is facing challenging times. Summits in York to debate the future of the high street will include Chamber representation. I have held meetings with members, MPs, local authority representatives and the Bank of England. The Property Forum helps to put forward members’ views on York Central, the Local Plan and transport infrastructure improvements needed to support a successful economy. Many thanks to Eamonn Keogh as he steps down as the Forum Chair, and welcome to his successor Steve Secker.
Improving local well-being Coventry University, which has its site CU Scarborough in the town, is set to formalise its commitment to improving the economic, social and cultural well-being of Scarborough and the surrounding area. The university joins 30 other institutions in committing to produce a ‘Civic University Agreement’ in partnership with local government and other major institutions. Coventry University already has strong examples of its civic activity at its sites in Scarborough, including free short courses to local residents, the sponsorship of Scarborough Athletic FC and supporting community events such as Coastival.
The further education sector is facing challenging times, particularly as the current funding model for 16-19 year olds is considered unsustainable. The skills gap and recruitment issues facing many firms needs to be tackled at source – in schools, where all options, from apprenticeships and employment to further and higher education, should be given equal and impartial consideration. If your business has experienced recruitment difficulties in the last 12 months, make the Chamber aware as this supports our lobbying and representation activities; and finally, remember – whether you need support, networking, legal advice, lobbying, or an enhanced business profile, the Chamber can provide all the help your business needs. Bridget Meynell President York & North Yorkshire Chamber
Accommodation opens door for homeless Building 57 new flats as temporary accommodation for homeless households is well underway in York, which aims to set the standard for flats and training facilities. Families and couples experiencing homelessness will benefit from the 57 one, two and three bedroom self-contained apartments, plus offers and training spaces at James House which will be owned and managed by City of York Council. £12.4m investment has been financed by £2.451m from Homes England and £9.949m from the council’s Housing Revenue Account.
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
11
Developing Yorkshire’s bioeconomy The University of York has been awarded £1.5m to support the growth of Yorkshire businesses that deliver innovative products, processes or services related to renewable, biological resources. The funding has been awarded to the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC), a University of York subsidiary, from the European Regional Development Fund. The BDC is now able to offer 800 prefunded projects for eligible businesses in selected Yorkshire regions by 2020.
A top not-for-profit organisation
Recruitment firm continues growth
UK healthcare provider, Benenden Health, has gained a spot in the top 50 not-for-profit organisations to work for.
Scarborough recruitment business Castle Employment Group goes from strength to strength. It has won several awards, with the most recent being Best Employer of the Year at the 2018 Press Business Awards in York.
The Sunday Times Best Companies awards revealed a 17 place jump for Benenden Health in the top 100 Not-forProfit Companies to Work For. The York-based healthcare provider secured 45th place in the Not-for-Profit category. Their 17 place jump comes after the provider increased their focus on employee well-being, including new initiatives such as mental health first aiders scheme and a new leadership development programme.
Turning over £6.5m with more than 40 staff, Castle Employment has tripled in turnover and individuals in the past four years. It has two offices in Scarborough, one in York, one in Leeds and plans to grow further across the region. The newly-opened York office supports the progression of the business and was in response to a growing number of recruitment requirements for Yorkbased clients and candidates.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
12
WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS
Keep campaigning West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest accredited within the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) network. The Northern Chambers, acting together, with the support of the BCC are raising the flag for issues and opportunities that we need to present clearly and forcibly to central government. The BCC regularly meets with government ministers and civil servants. Brexit is, of course, the key national issue and the case for business is being made with vigour. In addition to Brexit, key issues continue to include transport and skills, which are connected, as they concern access to markets and talent. Allowing the transport debate to become a contest between north/south or east/west investment misses the point.
Charity working in tandem A Yorkshire healthcare charity will become the first ever fundraising partner of the UCI Road World Championships when it comes to Yorkshire later this year. Leeds Cares, the charity that works to improve healthcare services for people living in Yorkshire, will be the Official Fundraising Partner for the eight-day global sporting event which attracts some of the biggest names in cycling. This comes as part of Leeds Cares’ drive to raise much-needed extra funding which will go towards new projects with the NHS to help people from Yorkshire to lead healthier and more active lives.
The North needs and must continue to demand both. I believe that, as well as lobbying strongly on these points, we should also campaign for devolution and also transparent and unequivocal government support for the Northern Powerhouse. Businesses working with the public sector in the North are best placed to tackle our economic and social issues and seize the opportunities to create a more productive part of the UK in which everyone can benefit. The opportunities that would come from allowing the North, and especially West and North Yorkshire, to create and drive its own future should be self-evident but our national politicians (and indeed some of our regional politicians) don’t yet ‘get it’. We must continue to raise our voice, clearly and with confidence. Gerald Jennings, FRICS Chair of the Board West & North Yorkshire Chamber
Funding local projects The Sirius Minerals Foundation has announced another £215,000 for local community projects across the area. In its latest grant giving programme, seven charities from the Yorkshire and Teesside coast will benefit from funding to spend on education programmes designed to enhance local people’s skills, which is one of the core aims of the foundation. This is the second funding round for the charity, having distributed £300,000 to 80 projects throughout the area in December 2017.
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
13
Easy airport travel
People travelling to and from Leeds Bradford Airport can now take advantage of easier and more affordable journeys when travelling by rail, with a bus connection. Arriva Group operators, CrossCountry and Yorkshire Tiger, have come together to introduce a new range of Mobile Tickets (m-Tickets) to include as options for the airport. Offering simpler, cheaper journeys to and from the airport can only make Leeds Bradford Airport a more attractive place for people planning to fly to the domestic and European destinations offered.
Advising across borders
Boosting the region’s economy
Schofield Sweeney corporate team has advised Halifaxbased YES (Your Event Solutions) on their acquisition by one of the fastest-growing travel trail companies and service providers in North America, Travel Leaders Group.
BT Group is responsible for generating £1 in every £90 produced in the Yorkshire and The Humber economy, according to an independent report.
The addition of YES complements Travel Leaders Group’s growing presences in the Meetings & Incentive marketplace and will provide both firms with additional geographic reach. With an estimated $20bn in annual gross travel volume worldwide, Travel Leaders Group is one of the fastestgrowing travel retail companies in North America and the United Kingdom.
The report shows that the communications company generated a £1.3bn contribution during the 2017/2018 financial year. The report estimates that the equivalent of 16,300 full-time jobs in the local region are supported through BT’s direct employment, its spending with contractors and suppliers. Dr Trevor Higgins, CEO of Bradford Breakthrough, said: “BT Group’s investment in the area not only means a boost to the local economy, but also to skills and high quality jobs, including recruiting apprentices and graduates.”
Employee Financial Well-being
Helping to support your employees in your workplace
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
PROFILE 15
Yorkshire Bank Employee Financial Well-being Since March 2018 the Yorkshire Bank has been supporting the well-being of the employees of its SME customers & other large employers in the local community through financial education.
Why is Financial Well-being important?
Chapel Allerton Hospital, as part of the Well-being At Work Week.
Source: Salary Finance – The Employer’s Guide to Financial Wellbeing: 2018-19.
Megan Darnall the Organisational Learning Practitioner for the hospital said: “The presentation was clear and informative and delivered confidently in a relaxed atmosphere. Often people are nervous to discuss these things, but you made it easy and accessible. Thank you so much, can’t wait to have you back.”
As can be seen from the research undertaken by Salary Finance, money worries can have a detrimental impact on both the employee and the employer. Supporting financial wellbeing is therefore not just the right thing to do for the employee, it’s also the right thing to do for the business.
Feedback from the employees in attendance was also positive; “It was a great opportunity to look into how you can feel better about your finances. Also thank you to Leanne Powell who eased my mind and gave me valuable information about being a first-time buyer.”
We also offer support and information via our dedicated Financial Well-being site which can be found at YB Online.
We are pleased to support employers in improving and maintaining the financial well-being of their staff.
Yorkshire Bank Staff
To date we have held over 130 financial education sessions with employers located across the UK. We have also held over 60 sessions where we have made our Banking and Mortgage Advisors available at an employer’s premises so that employees can speak face to face with an expert about their financial needs without having to visit a branch.
Welcome Support
Our aim is to make employees feel more confident about their finances so that they are healthier, happier and more productive at work. We do this by providing face to face training on how they can better manage their finances, covering topics such as budgeting, saving and borrowing. We are also able to “bring the bank to them” so that they can do their banking and speak with an advisor without having to leave the office.
Paul Grace – Head of Customer Banking- Leeds recognises the positive impact that our support for employees can have: “I’m delighted that Yorkshire Bank can make a positive impact to our local business community by offering our Financial Well-being Service to employers. The service has been designed to support employees with financial education so that they can feel more confident about their finances. Research shows that employees who are less worried about money are happier and more productive at work, which is of great benefit to any employer.”
Research has shown that financial worries can have a detrimental effect on employee’s mental health, which can lead to lost productivity and increased costs for the employer.
Our support for employees has been welcomed by our SME customers and the NHS in the region.
Ten10 Our Financial Well-Being Team visited Leeds based software company Ten10 on two separate occasions in 2018 to discuss Financial Well-being with their graduates during their induction course. The feedback from employees was positive; “The talk was very informative and insightful. Many topics were covered, and a deep insight was given into each one. Lots of information was left in the form of leaflets and booklets. There was an interactive element that was useful.” NHS Leeds Teaching Hospitals Our support for employees extended beyond SME’s when in April 2018 our Financial Well-being Team were invited to attend both St James Hospital and
The opportunity to develop themselves and support people they may not have met in a branch has been welcomed by staff. Carole Burgess - Financial Well-being Champion said; “In a constantly changing and fast paced modern world, helping customers look after their finances is more important than ever. Meeting them at a time and place which suits their lifestyle is also key to developing our Brand. That’s why I am excited and privileged to be a Champion of the YB Financial Well-being Team.”
Contact Us If you are a Yorkshire Bank customer and would like to talk to us about Financial Well-being, please speak to your Relationship Manager or call 0800 032 2593. If you are not already a Yorkshire Bank customer but would like to speak to us about Employee Financial Well-being, please contact Lesley Dutton via her e-mail lesley.dutton@cybg.com.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
16 PROFILE
Research keeps Christeyns at cutting edge Christeyns UK is a leading supplier in the hygiene world, manufacturing detergents and supplying engineering equipment and expertise from its base in Rutland Street, Bradford. A renowned and respected partner in the commercial laundry sector across the UK and Ireland, Christeyns is also an expert in its other chosen markets, which include dry cleaning, food and drink hygiene, specialist construction chemicals and professional hygiene. With a staff of over 240 and a turnover in excess of £50million, Christeyns has seen a period of exceptional business growth over the past seven years. The firm continues its strong focus on acquisition and in October 2018 added Clover Chemicals, the Derbyshire based cleaning chemicals manufacturer, to its UK group portfolio. Christeyns is very progressive in its thinking, with a strong emphasis on process improvement activities that bring renewed benefits to the business but that also provide real commitment for employees. ‘The Christeyns Way” fosters a culture that focuses on employee development, well-being and engagement. Last year the Christeyns Talent Academy was introduced to secure, develop and manage talent across the UK group of companies, allowing employees to reach their potential as well as providing future leaders for the business.
In addition the firm runs an award-winning apprenticeship programme to nurture local talent and currently has 9 apprentices engaged in one or two year schemes that cover all aspects of the group’s business sectors. Christeyns has a Silver Investors in People Award and won the 2016 Business In Excellence Apprenticeship award. In the commercial laundry market the company has a UK market share of over 75% but is not complacent. Constant research into new chemistry and new technologies means Christeyns is always at the “cutting edge” of the business sectors in which it operates, setting new standards and forging new goals. Training and investment at customer sites has added to their success in this sector. Christeyns actively engages with the community in its support of local CSR initiatives where all employees are encouraged to get involved. Over the past two years staff donated over £11,000 to local charities as well as many hours of time. Staff members also compete in the annual Bradford Dragon Boat Race, in support of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, as well as taking part in other charity sporting events such as The Tour de Yorkshire. Built on the universal values of hard work, enterprise and compassion, Christeyns is very much a part of the industrial fabric of Bradford and a positive contributor to the region’s prosperity whilst actively seeking to engage in its further development.
WEB: www.christeyns.com TEL: 01274 393286. EMAIL headoffice@christeyns.co.uk TWITTER @ChristeynsUK
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
PROFILE 17
Centenary celebrations TL Dallas is one of the UK’s leading independent Insurance Broking and Risk Management companies with offices throughout the UK. We have a long and distinguished heritage and are delighted to be celebrating our centenary in 2019; providing insurance services and solutions for 100 years. The business was founded in Bradford by Thomas Lessels Dallas OBE, an enterprising Scotsman, following experience with Christian Salvesen and Scottish Life Assurance Company. At the time there were more than 300 textile mills operating in Bradford, many of our early clients were from the wool textile trade. From this base the business grew steadily by acquiring and retaining top quality commercial clients from all sectors of industry and commerce. We still retain a handful of our early clients including the Fattorini family; they made the FA Cup that Bradford City won in 1911 and continue to make medals, trophies and regalia in Birmingham. We have had an active involvement with Bradford City going back to the 1920’s and currently
sponsor the Bradford End Stand. Over the years the Dallas family and our Senior Directors have been actively involved in The Bradford Chamber of Commerce as well as The Bradford Club, The Bradford Textile Society and The Bradford Insurance Institute. As well as offering solutions in Commercial Insurance, we insure Private Clients, offer Trade Credit Insurance, Risk Management and Health & Safety services and have a Financial Services division too. Polly Staveley, Group Managing Director, said: ‘We are proud to represent many of our clients throughout their lifetimes and, indeed, over the family generations. I believe it is this reputation and stability that sets TL Dallas apart - something I intent to continue to develop as we enter our centenary year and beyond.’ We pride ourselves on creating insurance solutions fit for purpose. We listen to our client’s requirements, using our knowledge and wealth of experience to advise on the most
suitable cover solutions from a select range of insurers. We believe it is the relationships we have with our clients that allow us to fully understand their insurance requirements and our pursuit of continued service excellence is at the heart of all we do. Mike Martin, Group Director, also comments on the TL Dallas Charitable Trust and explains, ‘Five years ago we set ourselves the goal to raise £100,000 for a variety of charities both nationally and locally, selected by our various offices throughout the UK. We are pleased to say the target will be met next year, thanks to the fantastic efforts of our staff who have organised bake sales, dress down days and taken on serious fundraising challenges for these great causes.’ TL Dallas Independent Insurance Broking and Risk Management. 01274 465500 mike.martin@tldallas.com tldallas.com
Q4 Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
18 PROFILE
Plans revealed for new state of the art terminal extension Leeds Bradford Airport is delighted to announce the next phase of its redevelopment plan. The region’s biggest airport is planning a multi-million pound, threestorey extension to its terminal building, that once complete, will house a transformed international arrivals process, including immigration, baggage reclaim and customs. The extension will also accommodate new, larger departure gates, seating areas and new retail and food & beverage outlets. Once the new building is completed – scheduled for the end of 2019 works will then commence on remodelling the existing terminal building to provide a new security central search area, enhanced checkin facilities, and a simplification of the customer journey through the existing departure lounge, which will also include new retail and F&B offers. We expect these works to be complete for summer 2020. The final phase will include the construction of a new pier, replacing the current passenger walkway with a two- storey structure, housing arrivals and ground level, and departures being processed at additional new boarding gates on the first floor. As part of its redevelopment plans, the airport is inviting the people of Yorkshire to contribute to the future development of their airport. In addition to a three-week consultation period, airport officials will be hosting a drop-in event at the Britannia Hotel in Bramhope on Thursday 27th September and the proposals will now go through Leeds City Council’s planning process.
David Laws, Chief Executive at Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “These really are exciting times for this airport and we are delighted to be able to now share our plans for phase two of our terminal redevelopment. “This new extension will transform the experience for both departing and arriving passengers whilst also adding a ‘sense of place and pride’ throughout the terminal, as we want to play our part in creating a great first impression for inbound visitors. “A thriving region needs a thriving airport and we hope the people of our great county will see these latest plans as a real statement of intent as we continue to strive to create an airport Yorkshire can be proud of. “Work continues to improve our route offering for both business and leisure services and we hope to have more exciting announcements in the near future as we look to open up Yorkshire to new global opportunities.” Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “The airport is already a major contributor to the city region economy and we welcome this significant new investment. “It will enhance the experience for existing and new passengers as new routes are introduced. In turn, these will open up additional markets for local businesses.” Sir Gary Verity DL, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is fantastic news for Yorkshire, bringing great benefits to both leisure and business travellers as well as the wider economy. David Laws and his team are to be applauded for the positive changes they are bringing to Leeds
Bradford Airport. These latest plans are symptomatic of the scale of their vision and overall ambition to make the airport one the whole county can be proud of. Passengers will soon experience an airport truly fit for the 21st century.” Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake, said: “We very much welcome these plans for a terminal extension and improved facilities at Leeds Bradford Airport, and we look forward to seeing them come forward for full consideration by Leeds City Council’s plans panel. The airport is a key element of the Leeds and wider regional economy, and we are fully committed to supporting its growth.” Henri Murison, Director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “The Northern Powerhouse future relies on connectivity, whether it be in transport terms to key European export markets by flight to digital connectivity. This investment by Leeds Bradford Airport here in Yorkshire is a sign of their confidence and commitment to helping businesses here to grow and attracting inward investment. “At the same time, we see commitment from city leaders and the combined authority to improve the journey to the airport with a link planned on the Leeds to Harrogate rail line. This is why the airport will keep growing the number of destinations available to business and leisure travellers – transformed facilities and lounges already, more capacity and more choice on how to get here from across the region.”
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
PROFILE 19
Thorite. Supplying industry since 1850 With its head office and National Distribution Centre in Bradford, Thorite has been in family ownership since the company was formed in 1850. From small beginnings the company is now the UK’s largest distributor of pneumatic and compressed air products and process systems, providing constantly developing efficiency and reliability solutions to manufacturing industry. In addition to the head office in Bradford, which also houses the company’s National Distribution Centre and the Bradford Sales and Service Centre, are ten other strategically located Sales and Service Centres in prime industrial areas (visit www.thorite.co.uk for information) In parallel with the Sales & Service Centres is the Thorite website, possibly the largest ecommerce website devoted entirely to pneumatic and compressed air
products in Europe. This is the place to go for advice on the latest energy saving initiatives and industry news. The most important factor, when factory managers have looked at replacing old machinery, is energy efficiency. Compressor technology, for example, has moved a long way in the last few years and by data-logging an existing compressor over a set period, Thorite Key Account Managers regularly show how savings of £1,000’s is possible. Thorite is also a member of The Carbon Trust and, in certain circumstances, can advise on grants that may be available for new energy saving machinery. The introduction of new products, such as aluminium profile systems for complex bespoke work stations and for mounting lightweight collaborative robots is all part of what Thorite is about. This ties in with the work of the System Division which takes
responsibility for an entire project from the point where the budget is agreed with the customer, the system design and then the installation and final commissioning. There is more to Thorite though than a company simply focussed on sales. Around one hundred and thirty delegates each year attend courses at the Thorite Academy and some clients have chosen to host courses for their staff at their own premises. In 2018, Thorite won the prestigious UK Distributor of the Year category at the Motion Control Industry Awards for the second year in succession – the first time that any company had achieved this. Looking forward, more Sales and Service Centres will open in parts of the country not yet covered. To meet the needs of our customers’ future needs, we are now looking to relocate to significantly larger premises in the Bradford area.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
20 PROFILE
Supporting business, investing in growth The range of support available to small and medium sized businesses has probably never been greater. But for business owners, the number of organisations involved and business support programmes available – each with their own eligibility criteria and application processes – can be bewildering. Digital Enterprise, Adventure, Access Innovation, Manufacturing Growth Programme, Department for International Trade, RTC North are just some of the programmes and organisations out there and the list goes on. So, where do you start if you’re an SME business owners looking for advice and practical support? A first point of contact is the LEP Growth Service, delivered in partnership between the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and local authorities in the city region. It’s led by a team of growth managers whose job is to help businesses join the dots and find the short cuts to support and advice that can help solve a particular problem and, longer term,
accelerate growth. “Often it’s about grant funding. There’s a wide range of financial help available for businesses to support investment in capital equipment, machinery and premises,” says Phil Cole, head of Leeds City Council’s business support team. “But it isn’t about subsidising businesses or offering a hand out. We only offer grants where businesses can demonstrate there’s a clear need for support. “For example, where there’s an investment being made in new premises or equipment but there’s a funding gap that might delay a project or even stop it going ahead. “We look carefully at what the investment is going to achieve – whether it’s helping to create jobs, improve productivity, developing new markets and products or reducing environmental impact. “Ultimately, we’re looking to support business and investment that helps grow the economy.” Being able to point businesses in the right direction and save them time can be just as important. “For example, recruiting people with the right combination of skills and experience is a challenge many businesses face right now.
“Employers are responding by putting increasing emphasis on career paths for existing staff and introducing apprenticeships to ensure businesses have the skills it needs for the future.” Even so, businesses still find it difficult to get the right people. “That’s where growth managers can help, connecting businesses to the Council’s employment access team. They can advise on recruitment, identifying training providers and the relevant apprenticeship standards.” Support is also available through the West Yorkshire Skills Service for training and workforce development, including a contribution of up to 40% towards the cost associated with training. Links with the city’s universities and graduate recruitment might be another part of the cocktail of support employers are able to access. “Working with a growth manager can open so many doors for a business. Their job is to understand the opportunities and challenges a business faces and provide fast track access to the support they need to help them grow.” For more information, contact: businessgrowth@the-lep.com or businesssupport@leeds.gov.uk or follow @LCC_business
Global tech company expands Leeds operations centre Technology firm Xalient has significantly expanded its main UK operations centre in Leeds with a move to new 6,000 sq ft offices at No1 Park Lane to accommodate new hires and future growth. Set up in August 2015, Xalient provides cloud-based networking and IT solutions to major global companies. CEO Sherry Vaswani said: “Due to new contract wins and a growth in the number and type of projects we are working on, we needed to significantly increase our UK office space.
“It felt like a natural choice to expand our presence in Leeds as we’ve found the area to be a rich and diverse source of new IT skills for Xalient and have welcomed help from both the LEP and Leeds City Council in making us feel so welcome.” Xalient has taken advantage of the full range of business support to accelerate its growth. In addition to grants for equipment and premises fit out, the company has benefited from help with recruitment.
It is also working with the University of Bradford on an Access Innovation project to develop machine learning and artificial intelligence to monitor and manage client networks. Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Judith Blake, said: “Xalient is a great success story. It demonstrates how entrepreneurship, the tech skills available in Leeds and the support we can offer to growing businesses, can combine to attract the brightest and most innovative global companies. We wish them a long and successful presence in our city.”
Fair trade coffee roasters reaching for the stars North Star Coffee Roasters has its sights set on investment in new premises, warehousing and production facilities in 2019, with the support of a £25,000 grant from the LEP business growth programme towards new machinery and premises fit out. The family-owned business combines wholesale supply of single origin direct
trade coffees to customers nationwide, with a barrista academy that attracts professionals internationally and a coffee shop at Leeds Dock acting as a showcase for the business. “Moving into a dedicated production and storage facility, will create space at the Leeds Dock premises to expand our barrista academy,” said director
Holly Bowman. “It will also allow us to begin growing the retail side of the business while expanding production capacity, which forms the core of the business. Support from the LEP will be vital in helping fuel the next stage of our growth”
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
22 BUSINESS ENTERPRISE FUND
Head of Marketing at What is social impact Business Enterprise investment? Fund, Nicolas Unlike traditional forms of investment from mainstream banks that operate primarily for capital return, social impact lending is instead Kendall, shines the about using finance to support SMEs in a creative way and support the of communities. That’s why we exist at BEF. We were light on social impact regeneration established 15 years ago to offer an alternative yet sustainable means of investment to business owners in Bradford. This ethos remains but investment we are now serving more communities across the whole of the North.
How can you improve society and community through business finance? SMEs are the lifeblood of the UK economy, accounting for 99.9% of all private sector enterprises and employing over 16 million people. These businesses need financial support at all stages of growth yet their options are still often limited. Social impact lending aims to bridge this gap and support those businesses that often operate within, and serve, disadvantaged communities. By assisting the growth of these businesses, the impact is far-reaching – jobs are created, local supply chains sustained and products or services enhanced for an increased customer base. This principle is true for many businesses, across a range of sectors that we support; including manufacturers, retailers, technology start-ups and social enterprises. We helped launch a business last year that enabled the creation of over 40 jobs – this is real impact that contributes directly to the improvement of communities and the local economy.
Social impact investment is a ‘buzz phrase’ now, what does it mean to you/BEF? The awareness of social impact investment is growing and this can only be a positive thing. Lenders, investors and borrowers are beginning to think more in these terms and some of the principles are starting to become a small part of the banks’ lending criteria. There’s still a long way to go though. There are now more alternative lenders launching in the market than ever before, however, many are primarily focused on providing funds online within only a few minutes. This isn’t without its risks. For me, social impact investment means simply making a difference. A difference to the businesses that are invested in, and ultimately, a difference to the under served communities they operate in. At BEF, we tend to think of it as ‘finance for good’. Providing responsible finance in a way that is fully considered and where tangible impact can be evidenced.
How can working with a wider network of organisations create more impact? Collaboration and partnerships are hugely important to achieve maximum impact through investment. We’re proud to be a subsidiary of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Through this and other networks, we have supported hundreds of businesses across the region through sustainable finance. We work closely with many
partners including local authorities, LEPs, colleges and universities, accountants, solicitors and the banks. This eco-system is crucial and gives us the platform to assist many business owners who may have felt funding options were limited. The AD:VENTURE programme is also a fantastic resource for start-up businesses in the Leeds City Region looking for guidance and support, and we are proud to be a delivery partner.
A BIG question at the moment; how do you measure impact? Impact at BEF is not just about helping sustain or create jobs through our lending – it goes deeper than that. We are committed to making a difference in a variety of ways; demographically and geographically. We actively promote our products to under served groups including broad age ranges, ethnic minorities and female entrepreneurs, and 35% of all our lending is within the UK’s most deprived areas. We have also recently outlined plans to adopt a long-term commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These are a simple set of goals designed to tackle the root cause of global poverty and encourage positive change. For BEF, this is a natural fit and they serve as a practical ‘yardstick’ for measuring the real impact of our lending.
How can SMEs develop their business model to make impact their primary aim? There are lots of things SMEs can do to achieve improved social, economic or environmental impact. Culture plays a key part though and businesses and their staff need to live and breathe it. Many SMEs are agile enough to make small changes that will add up to great impact through things like responsible production, apprenticeships, promotion of good health and well-being. The key is to understand what specific impact you want to achieve and decide how best to measure it. Essentially, how much of a difference do you want to make. Raising The Bar is a fantastic initiative from the WNY Chamber and a great place to start for any SMEs in the region looking to benchmark and track their improved impact.
Find out more about the Business Enterprise Fund at www.befund.org
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
24 RAISING THE BAR
“Raise awareness of your social responsibility campaign.�
Raising the Bar
Raising the Bar is an Benchmarking Tool initiative from the West & As part of our commitment to help companies further their social responsibility aims, Raising the Bar offers North Yorkshire Chamber Chamber members a free to use benchmarking tool on its website. This tool allows companies to assess the impact of Commerce that helps of their current social responsibility scheme and identify room for improvement. companies with their Access the tool here: social responsibility aims. www.raising-the-bar.org.uk/social-impact Opportunities The scheme enables companies to demonstrate the good they do for the local community and raise their profile through posting articles and opportunities online, as well as through our yearly awards ceremony, which is free to enter for Chamber members. Social media @RtBYorkshire raising-the-bar-yorkshire
All Chamber members are encouraged to share any upcoming opportunities relating to their social responsibility initiative online. This could be an invitation to an upcoming event or asking businesses to get involved with a particular campaign. All opportunities are shared on our Twitter page. You can view our current opportunities online or post your opportunity here: www.raising-the-bar.org.uk/post-an-opportunity
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
RAISING THE BAR 25
Take part in a global Local business leaders sought to cycling charity event advise Project SEARCH A Yorkshire healthcare charity will become the first ever fundraising partner of the UCI Road World Championships when it comes to Yorkshire next year. Leeds Cares – the charity that works to improve healthcare services for people living in Yorkshire – will be the Official Fundraising Partner for the eight-day global sporting event which attracts some of the biggest names in cycling. Leeds General Infirmary-born cycling star, Lizzie Deignan, is backing the charity and will become an ambassador for Leeds Cares. 300 places in the official sportive of the Championships – including 70 reserved for NHS staff – have also been guaranteed for people raising money for Leeds Cares, with every penny going directly to the charity. The eight-day event will see some of the world’s best cyclists travel to Yorkshire for a series of men’s and women’s races, across age groups from Junior to Elite. Every day will see a start in different towns and cities throughout Yorkshire, with each finishing in the main competition town of Harrogate. The sportive offers amateur and club riders the chance to ride parts of the same course as the Elite cyclists. Leeds Cares is also offering corporate teams the chance to get involved in the sportive, with a further 100 places (ten teams) available for Yorkshire firms. Applying through Leeds Cares is the only way to guarantee a place in the cycling sportive as all other places for this anticipated sell-out event will be allocated through a ballot process which is due to open in March. To find out more and sign up to the sportive see www.leeds-cares.org/UCI
Bradford Project SEARCH, which is now in its sixth year, is an award-winning partnership between Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford’s Southfield Special School, Hft – a national charity which supports people with learning disabilities, and Bradford Council. The scheme aims to bridge the gap between school and employment for these young people and equip them with reallife skills that can help them secure permanent employment after they have graduated. It increases the employment potential for people with learning disabilities from a national average of less than 6%. Since Bradford Project SEARCH started, 42 of our interns have graduated and of these, 33 have got jobs - a success rate of 79%. A Business Advisory Committee (BAC), made up of local business leaders, plays a key role in supporting the scheme. Chaired by the Trust’s chief executive, it meets for two hours, five times a year, to: • advise Project SEARCH on skill shortages and hard to fill entry level jobs • advise Project SEARCH team on programme development • be an outside business link for an intern on the programme
• provide interview experience for interns • provide outside business mentors for interns. Some employers may also offer rotations for an intern. The BAC membership is currently being refreshed and interested local businesses are invited to join the Project SEARCH team at its next meeting on Friday 22 March, Conference Room, Field House, Bradford Royal Infirmary, from 8am to 10am. There you can meet current members of the BAC and other people who want to help improve the employment opportunities for young people with learning disabilities, who find it harder than most to secure a job. You will have a chance to meet other businesses, find out more about this work and hear from a successful young person and their employer. The Project SEARCH team will also have an opportunity to explain a bit more about the aims of the network and what it is collectively trying to achieve. For further information please contact Lorraine Cameron, Bradford Project SEARCH Business Liaison on telephone: 01274 272428 or via email at: Lorraine.cameron@bthft.nhs.uk West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
Pecan hit the sweet spot We spoke with Graham Kingston, Managing Director of Pecan Deluxe Candy Europe, to find out about business, Brexit and winning a business award. What business does Pecan Deluxe do and what is your role in it? My name’s Graham Kingston, I am the Managing Director of Pecan Deluxe Candy Europe. We are a bakery & confectionery manufacturer which has been operating since 1950. Our origins are in Dallas Texas where our founder Mr J.C Brigham set out making ice cream and the inclusions that went into it. The inclusions business was so successful that in 1980 our second generation owner Bennie Brigham decided to concentrate solely on making the inclusions and subsequently invested in additional European production capacity here in Leeds. West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
Our 3rd generation owner Jay Brigham has since invested in our 3rd manufacturing site in Bangkok to service our growing Asia Pacific business and facilitated the ambitious expansion of the European business. Today we make inclusions for some of the biggest global brands covering all sectors of the market, Dairy, Ice Cream, Desserts, Beverage, Quick Service Restaurants, Bakeries and Cereal companies. Cookie Dough, Brownies, Sauces, chocolate shapes, fudges, nuts and seeds are all supplied across the globe from our sites in Dallas, Leeds and Bangkok. My role is to create an environment which allows our employees to be
the best that they can be and for our customers to work in partnership with us creating bespoke tailored ingredients solutions. We are growing rapidly. We are still very much a family business which operates on family values. Every one of our employees buys into that as do our suppliers and customers by offering a personal touch. We are bespoke manufacturers, so we accept that we need to be flexible and supportive on MOQ’s and ingredients to allow our customers to tailor make their own unique finished products. We recognise the individuality of our customer base and our consumers and we try and create a feeling that you would get walking into a bespoke tailors shop but making ingredients rather than a tailored suit. Treated with absolute respect, everything tailored to perfection and you leave very happy with something that’s just for you. That so far seems to be a good philosophy and it seems to be one of the reasons why we’re growing and outperforming the market.
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
FEATURE 27
How has Pecan Deluxe committed to social responsibility in the past year?
Does Pecan Deluxe have plans for further expansion and growth?
Our employees and their families have all been touched by illness or cancer, one way or another so we have chosen to give something back to a support charity that is local to our employees and their families. We took the decision to support a lady called Jacqui Drake who is a terminal cancer patient and she has been at the receiving end of some very amazing care through the Leeds Cancer Centre Charity. Jacqui has given so much to children all around the Bradford and Leeds area, helping them to become more confident through dance and theatre. Jacqui is now putting all her efforts into raising a million pounds for the Leeds Cancer Centre Charity and we decided to help support her to do that.
In terms of our growth, we are not trying purposefully to break records every year although we have and are doing so.
We’ve actively supported a number of fundraising events such as running marathons and sponsorship in addition to offering a magical Pecan Deluxe Candy factory tour which includes a seven course Yorkshire taster meal and an afternoon designing your own ice cream. Our most recent support includes sponsoring The Greatest Showman Ball at the Aspire Ballroom in Leeds at the end of March.
It’s important that we make sure we can provide the customer service that means we retain customers, sustain growth and win new customers. On that basis we will only commit to what we can deliver. We innovate and deliver innovation in a way which is needed for consumers. When people have confidence in your ability to deliver that innovation, it drives your growth. Having said that, the more business we generate the more we can give back to the employees, our shareholders the community and ultimately drive investment in the future needs of the business. We have so many plans for further expansion and our owner Jay Brigham has given us his fullest support to make sure we stay very much at the leading edge of what we do.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
28
How did it feel to receive a Chamber Business award for Customer Commitment? We were obviously delighted to be awarded the Chamber Business award for Customer Commitment. It helped to mandate our customer strategy. The feedback from our customers and getting recommendations and getting an e-mail that just says you’ve done a great job here means an immense amount to us as a business, but to win an award and get the team together and enjoy themselves at an evening awards ceremony gives us all a boost. About three years ago we made the decision to move out of what were very fragmented offices in the main body of the factory, into a specifically designed office complex. It has brought the team together and everybody works in hand with everybody else and has banter and it’s great fun. We’re only as strong as our weakest link and I’m very pleased to say there are very few weak links here. We all look after each other. We’ve got a great team here, they work their socks off for the customers and for the business because we look after the employees. It has to start there because if you look after them they look after you. That’s how really we’ve created a mentality and a culture within the business that has been quite progressive and the more you are like that, the more it encourages that kind of behaviour. That’s something that I’m very proud has happened in the last three or four years and resulted in some good success as a business. West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
What are your thoughts on Brexit and its impact on the manufacturing industry? How is Pecan Deluxe preparing for it? I see Brexit as the biggest challenge to manufacturing and export that this country has ever seen. Our business is 80 percent export into Europe, so we are particularly vulnerable to the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. It’s challenging now because of the uncertainty, but all we can do is our best. We have to control the things that we can control and excel in the things we can excel in, so innovation and customer service are a huge part of that. We need to take precautions with our incoming raw materials and our products from a stock-holding perspective. Ultimately we have to take a juggernaut to the Brexit environment, because there is no point just waiting for things to happen. We need to make sure our manufacturing is cost effective and we need to make sure that our customers feel confident in what we’re doing. Pecan Deluxe has contingency in our raw materials. We know that Brexit will have an impact, but as long as we are doing everything that’s within our power to do, then we will ride the storm. Pecan Deluxe sales@pecandeluxe.co.uk https://pecandeluxe.com/uk/ twitter.com/PecandeluxeEMEA Pecan Deluxe Candy Company
You want your staff healthy, happy and here
Take out a business healthcare plan with AXA PPP healthcare and you’ll benefit from 50% off your Chambers membership for 3 years*.
Plus when you take out a plan with us you’ll receive a free Employee Assistance Programme – there to support you and your employees when you need it. Also, by being a Chambers member you can access our Health at Hand service free of charge.
Find out more at wnychamber.co.uk/healthcare-axa-ppp or call today on 08455
240 240
Lines are open 8:30am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday. We may record and/or monitor calls for quality assurance, training and as a record of our conversation. *This offer is available to direct new customers of AXA PPP healthcare only. 50% off Chamber membership is up to the value of £125 per employee you cover, each year for up to three years as long as a current business healthcare plan remains in force on a direct basis. See our website for more details.
Hats off to Chief Executive For her outstanding contribution to business and commerce, and her continuing support for the University and the wider community, Mrs Sandy Needham was presented with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University. Sandy graduated with a Degree in German and later become an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and a Chartered Secretary. With her continuous professional development, drive and recognition of her business and managerial skills, she soon become the Regional Manager NCH Action for Children; then the Regional Manager of TV-am and then in 1992 the Regional Manager of Yorkshire Television. In 1993, Sandy developed and managed Common Purpose leadership programmes on behalf of the national charity‌ working with senior individuals from the public, private and voluntary sectors in her capacity of Regional Director of Common Purpose Yorkshire & Humber.
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
CHIEF EXECUTIVE 31 In 1997, Sandy was appointed Deputy Chief Executive of Chamber Management Services Ltd, and in 1999 the Chief Executive of Chamber Management Services Ltd (CMS). In this capacity she managed a staff of 60 providing business support services on behalf of three Chambers of Commerce in Bradford, Leeds, and York and North Yorkshire. In 2001, Sandy became the Chief Executive of the Bradford Chamber and in 2014 the Chief Executive of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber. By managing the cultural and operational changes needed following the merger of three Chambers for Bradford, Leeds, and York & North Yorkshire in 2014, the new Chamber has delivered contracts funded by local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the European Union and the UK Government. This was indeed one of Sandy’s most important achievements, but this is not the only one… here is a list of a few more that demonstrate her exceptional skills: innovation, enterprise, collaboration, a pioneering attitude, and a desire to succeed. Some of these achievements are: • Created manufacturing alliances to facilitate peer group and specialist support for the sector in the Bradford District in 2012 and in Leeds in 2016 • Introduced effective representative and consultative groups to engage companies of different sizes, sectors and geographical locations • Managed the John Speak Trust, providing bursaries to language students planning to work in international trade • Achieved and retained Investors in People standard and ISO 9001 • Won British Chamber of Commerce best campaign award 2016
• Created the “Raising the Bar” award and measurement system for businesses investing in education, environment, community and the economy. • This is not all. During her career, Sandy has held a number of Nonexecutive Roles including: • Director and Chair of the Yorkshire & Humber Chambers of Commerce • Director of the Leeds Business Improvement District Ltd • Joint Vice Chair of the Bradford Business Improvement District interim Board • Member of the Business Innovation & Growth Panel, Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, and • Non-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce Sandy was also the Chair of the Network East Pennines Women’s Network and member of the national 2% Women’s Network. A champion for business, Sandy has been extensively involved with the Business Enterprise Fund. The fund lends money to enterprises that cannot obtain bank finance and has helped some great business ideas become a reality. Sandy has a strong affinity with the local area. This is reflected in her roles as a member of the Bradford Economic Partnership, nonexecutive director of Bradford City of Film, and interim director of the Bradford Business Improvement District (BID). The Bid plans to raise £2.5million, over the next five years, to spend on projects to boost the city centre. Her first involvement with the University was through Common Purpose in 1993 when she was the Regional Director for the organisation. Senior members of the University’s staff took part in a development programme which
brought together the public, private and voluntary sectors. University staff also gave presentations, took part in panels and hosted visits, raising the profile of the University and building relationships externally. In 2011, chairing the Children’s University that involved the University of Bradford for 3 years, both organisations helped to raise the aspirations and ambition of children in Bradford by giving them experiences outside the normal school activities. Children were presented with a certificate at the University by the Vice-Chancellor. Sandy contributed since 2010 as a member of the University Council for 5 years and chaired the Audit Committee from 2012 to 2014. She was also involved with the selection committee for the University Council and with employee appeals. She is currently a member of the University Court. In 2013, for 3 years Sandy chaired the Yorkshire Innovation Fund, an EU Fund involving all universities in the region and managed by the University of Bradford team. This enabled university staff to work with businesses, helping them to create new products and aided knowledge transfer and innovation. In October this year, the Chamber led a new initiative called Bradford Manufacturing Week, in which our University was involved. This enabled young people to have work experience in manufacturing companies and take part in tours of the manufacturing companies. Sandy has facilitated the involvement of University staff with the business community via representation on the Bradford Chamber’s committees e.g. Chamber Leadership Group, Bradford Manufacturing Week and the Bradford & Airedale Manufacturing Alliance.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
32 PROFILE
Leeds city centre commercial waste and recycling service makes an impact
Businesses in Leeds are benefiting from the city centre’s only seven day commercial waste and recycling service. The contracted service, brought to the city by LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District) working in partnership with Leeds-based Forge Recycling, is delivering on its aims to help save businesses money while enhancing city centre street aesthetics. Businesses, ranging from hotels, shops and restaurants to legal firms and serviced offices, are seeing an average cost savings of 20%, with prices held for a second year. Recycling rates are up overall, with 45% of waste segregated before collection, and an average 97% for first time collections means less waste is visible on the city’s streets. Collections are timed to ensure trade sacks and loose waste are not left out overnight, and as a local provider, there’s the added benefit of a low carbon footprint. The annual waste contract, introduced in January 2018 to increase and improve recycling while helping keep costs down, is available to businesses who pay a BID levy (mandatory or voluntary). It has been designed so that the more businesses who opt into the service, the more money they all save, ensuring that prices stay low over the lifetime of the contract. There is a steady growth of businesses coming on board with close to 100 signed up including the Merrion Centre, Northern Ballet and the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Businesses are choosing a wider range of recycling services from Forge, which offers the full range from mixed recyclables, cardboard, food waste and glass bottles, and
sends zero to landfill. They can now also opt in for Forge’s paper cup recycling service, only one of two facilities in the UK. Paper tea, coffee and hot chocolate cups and paper cold drink cups of all sizes and shapes can be recycled in pink ‘cup collection bags’ provided, which can be filled with empty paper cups only (no lids, sleeves, liquids, or other general waste) and are collected from premises on a scheduled service when they are full. Since the introduction of the cup recycling service in October, Forge have collected over 200,000 cups – with the equivalent of 159,000 cups having already been sent for recycling. LeedsBID Chief Executive Andrew Cooper said: “LeedsBID is a valuable resource in leading efficient and effective solutions to business challenges and our trade waste contract demonstrates how businesses can work together to achieve economies of scale, saving money, improving recycling and improving the look of the city centre.” Do you want to save your business money on your waste collections? Do you need a bespoke service that is more frequent and/or offers more options on waste streams? Would you like to send less waste to landfill? More for information, please contact Forge Waste & Recycling on t: 0345 5050 905 or e:leedsbid@forgerecycling.co.uk
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
PROFILE 33 Sovereign Health care marks NHS’s 70th birthday with £70,000 donation Bradford-based health care cash plan provider Sovereign Health Care has marked the NHS’s 70th birthday by donating £10,000 each to seven of Yorkshire’s vital NHS Trusts in December. Sovereign Health Care has supported the trusts for the last ten years, with its annual hospital grants and nurse training grants, as well as support for staff recognition initiatives and other projects totalling more than £650,000 over the decade. Last year’s gift is the largest annual donation to-date, taking the overall total donated by the company to wellbeing good causes in Yorkshire to more than £5.8m over the past decade. The beneficiaries of the £10,000 donations were Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. David Melia, director of nursing and quality at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The trust is so grateful for the donation from Sovereign Health Care again this year. We are always so humbled by the generosity of the organisation and how it thinks of us.” Sovereign Health Care has no shareholders, so any surplus is available to reinvest into the business or donate to good causes, placing emphasis on supporting organisations that help improve health and wellbeing and encourage people to live healthy lifestyles.
Sovereign has supported local causes for over 60 years in areas such as Leeds, Bradford, Keighley, Shipley, Wetherby, Wakefield and Haworth, as well as national organisations such as Barnardo’s, The Salvation Army, NSPCC, Royal British Legion and Heart Research UK. Some of the Yorkshire-based organisations to benefit more recently are Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes, which provides an out of hours transportation service for the NHS and hospices throughout the region; Leeds-based Clowns in the Sky, a charity which supports children with brain tumours; and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, who provide a life-saving, rapid-response emergency service to 5 million people across Yorkshire. Sovereign Health Care also supports small organisations and events, such as Bradford Winter School Games and the Keighley Association for Women and Children’s Centre. During the past ten years, Sovereign Health Care has also made a number of significant donations to local good causes. The largest was £300,000 to Bradford’s Marie Curie Hospice in 2014. This enabled the charity to build a brand-new wing, complete with ensuite rooms and state-of-the-art breathing equipment to support people living with a terminal illness. Sovereign Health Care chief executive,
Russ Piper, said: “Supporting the NHS Trusts and other organisations in the region is a key part of our Community Programme which aims to make a positive difference to people’s lives. We have a long history of charitable giving – over 60 years – and it’s something we have become well known for within the highly competitive health insurance industry. “We’re particularly proud of our long relationship with the NHS, not only in supporting local hospitals and nurse training, but also through our actual commercial business of providing cash plans. “Not all treatment provided through the NHS is free, with dental treatment being the obvious example. Our cash plans help individuals meet the cost of everyday health care regardless of how it is accessed, ensuring quality outcomes for all concerned.” Sovereign Health Care is one of the UK’s longest established providers of health care cash plans to individuals and businesses, with nearly 75,000 customers. Its cash plans enable customers to claim money back towards the cost of prescriptions, dental check-ups and treatment, visits to the optician and much more. For more information about Sovereign Health Care and its Community Programme, visit www.sovereignhealthcare.co.uk
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
34 PROFILE
Working together Lendlease and Evans Property Group is committed to working with the community in order to respond to its needs and address the issues that are affecting the local area. Far from limiting its support to financial contributions, we pride ourselves on our active involvement in the community for the long-term – helping to make a difference to the area and the lives of the people that live in it. At Hungate, my role as local Community Liaison Manager ensures responsibility for devising a programme of initiatives and hosting regular activities that involve residents and gathering their feedback. This includes numerous community days, volunteer days and fundraising campaigns. For example, last year Hungate celebrated its annual Community Day at Greenfields School Community Gardens by helping the pupils grow and plant a new garden. In association with independent employee-volunteering charity York Cares, our Hungate team helped the local primary school to promote its commitment to sustainability through a series of gardening activities with the children. Support on the day included building raised flower beds for disabled access, weeding and getting stuck in with general gardening maintenance. We were delighted to be able to support the community in a way that will have a lasting effect and help support a healthy lifestyle for the children of Haxby Road Primary School. The annual Community Day is a good way to give back to the local area and the Hungate
team are focused on continuing its ongoing work and support with organisations in need. Initiatives like this are part of our wider commitment in ensuring Hungate has the greatest positive impact for York. Our programme of initiatives add real value to the community, focusing on important areas of jobs and skills training, mental health and wellbeing, and economic growth development. Our responsibilities range from keeping people updated on how the new neighbourhood is growing, and activities taking place in the area and how to get involved, to supporting local businesses and action groups. Other projects include: Funding initiatives: managing Hungate’s contributions to major community funding initiatives, with £25,000 dedicated to Yorkbased charities and projects Raising literacy and numeracy levels: working with local schools to provide literacy and numeracy workshops, including through York Care’s ‘Right to Read’ training programme This year, we will be implementing a host of further initiatives and activities as part of our social responsibility in York, and we are looking forward to continuing our work with the local community, building a long-term legacy that will leave its mark long after Hungate is complete. Steven Graham, Community Liaison Manager, Hungate
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
PROFILE 35
Business Enterprise Fund laid the foundation for community support provider Scarborough-based Futureworks NY was established six years ago with the vision of working within the community to offer free mentoring and support services to young people and unemployed adults. Services include educational qualifications, practical skills such as plumbing, confidence training and volunteering. In September 2018 a property renovation project which enhances practical skills and confidence for people within the local community was given the go-ahead thanks to an £80,000 loan from BEF.
Sarah Thornton, director at the social enterprise Futureworks NY, said: “In the past, we have really struggled to secure funding. Speaking to BEF has been a breath of fresh air – they were incredibly proactive and shared our enthusiasm for the project and supporting our local community. The support from Andy and his colleagues at BEF has enabled us to bring this project to life.” The BEF loan was used to purchase a disused Scarborough property which was renovated by members of the community who wanted to improve their lives and career prospects. This included them attaining the skills and training to they needed to complete the project.
Having completed their first renovation project, Futureworks NY are now ready for project number two (please see before and after images). Sarah Thornton continued: “The renovation project has created opportunities for our learners to get involved in ‘real’ hands-on experiences. Volunteers from the local community have shared their skills and come together to create a fantastic experience for all those involved. We have had generous donations from B+Q, Crown decorators, Jewson’s and our local Boyes store.”
“From our cohort of learners, we have taken on an apprentice called Andy Brown who has become a valuable member of our team. 75% of our last cohort have gone onto further training and the feedback we have received is that they have all grown in confidence and social skills which is great news.” If you are a social enterprise looking for investment in a community project, please contact our investment team on 0800 080 3145. To find out more about Futureworks NY visit: https://futureworksny.co.uk/
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
36 POLICY
New plans to improve access to Leeds Bradford Airport Leeds City Council working with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and partners on Connecting Leeds, including Leeds Bradford Airport have revealed plans to improve access to Leeds Bradford Airport. These include new details of three options being considered to improve airport road access and information on the proposed new airport parkway rail station on the Leeds to Harrogate line. They provide an idea of what the exciting new railway parkway station and roads could look like. The information can be viewed at www.leeds.gov.uk/ connectinglba including an online survey for views and feedback.
Supporting local growth Leeds Bradford Airport is a key economic asset for Leeds and the wider region. It supports over 5,000 jobs and each year contributes £336million to the city region economy. It’s one of the UK’s fastest-growing airports, with passenger numbers predicted by the Department for Transport to rise from four million in 2018 to 7.1million by 2030. To support this expected growth and up to 5,500 new jobs in the employment area next to the airport by 2030, the proposals aim to improve road and rail access as well as addressing current congestion issues in North West Leeds. Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council said: “Leeds Bradford Airport is a key element of our local and regional economy. These plans to improve road and rail access together with local network upgrades will bring significant benefits. As well as helping the airport to grow, it will support the new jobs we expect to see in the area in the years to come.”
Unleashing regional economic impact David Laws, chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “These latest plans are a major step towards improving the surface access to the airport. I am delighted we now have images, an animation and fly-through videos of what the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
road options and parkway station could look like. “To unleash the economic potential of our region requires major investment in our transport infrastructure. This is to ensure our train stations, airports and cities are properly connected. I would urge as many people as possible to take part and engage in the consultation which will lead to greater connectivity with our region’s main gateways.”
Have your say You can have your say along with other businesses, employees, airport users and the public. If you think they could benefit the Leeds area, please give your feedback on www.leeds.gov.uk/connectinglba by 12 April 2019.
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
POLICY 37
Property group gets new chair
Eamonn Keogh, former chair welcomes new chair Steve Secker to the York & North Yorkshire Chamber’s Property Forum Steve Secker shares his delight in becoming the new chair “my background in the retirement housing sector I’m keen to see the City develop a joined up strategy for housing, health and well-being for those in later life as York has like everywhere an ageing population with a massive shortage of options to choose from. Transport is a key issue for everyone associated with York and vital progress is needed if we are to see the development of housing and commercial space that we really need, so a key desire would be see work start on the dualling of the northern ring road. The York Central site is important to the long term success of the city although we need to be careful that it doesn’t become the sole focus of attention when discussion turns to where people are going to live and work in the City! It would be great if the planning and viability and other issues have moved on enough for development to have started on site within my 3 year tenure. I’m not planning on replicating Eamonn’s stint in the role though just to see things happen on the Local Plan!
Eamonn Keogh said: “It has been a pleasure to have served as Chairman of the York Property Forum over the past few years. I took over as the property industry was still emerging from the ashes of the 2008 crash. Many of the projects put on hold at that time have now progressed a long way. There have been significant completions on a number of housing sites across the city. On the commercial front the completion of the Vanguard shopping complex has improved the City’s retail offer and we will shortly have a new sports stadium and leisure complex alongside. Across the city there has been a boom in hotel and student accommodation development. All of this contributes greatly to the economic and social life of the City. But there is no room for complacency. The continued absence of a Local Plan poses a real threat to the continued economic prosperity of the City. I am hearing directly from employers that the pressure on the housing market is having real impacts on staff recruitment and retention. Permitted development rights may have removed some unviable office stock from the city, but I have seen increasing demands for new high quality office space and, from small local businesses, a need for flexible industrial and workshop space – needs that are not being met. The continued strong performance of the tourist sector has insulated the City from some of the worse effects of the rapid change in retail and the decline seen in other centres, but the challenge to reinvigorate the city with something more than just bars and restaurants remains. These are great challenges that provide great opportunities. I have no doubt that your New Chairman, Steve Secker, will ensure that the property industry and the Chamber will lead the way in meeting those challenges.”
York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Part of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
38 POLICY
Art for art’s sake? No, there’s more to this than meets the eye Waterfront bids successful Two new works of art will appear on Leeds Waterfront later this year after successfully making bids to a new fund.
Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said:
The Canal & River Trust and Canal Connections CIC were successful following support from the Waterfront Enhancement Fund (set up by the city’s Council and Chamber of Commerce).
“We are pleased to be supporting these new artworks; they are ideal examples of what the Enhancement Fund can do make the riverside a more welcoming place through attractive art and culture. We look forward to seeing them installed.”
The ‘Heroes of Leeds’ installation will feature themes linked to some of the city’s most famous names, while the waterlevel ‘Grey Heron’ photo-real mural will see its appearance change when submerged. The Waterfront Enhancement Fund supports the broader Waterfront Charter put forward by Leeds Chamber of Commerce and partners last year. It encourages landowners and stakeholders to work together to maximise the waterfront’s potential by re-thinking public spaces into attractive and welcoming places where art and culture thrive. Tim Waring, Director at planning consultants Quod and Chair of the Chamber’s Waterfront Group, said: “We are delighted to see the first waterfront projects going ahead. The potential here was demonstrated in our 2017 report and the creation of this fund by Leeds City Council is testament to the great collaboration now taking place.” Leeds Chamber of Commerce Part of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
For more information visit www.leeds.gov.uk/wef or email wef@leeds.gov.uk
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
POLICY 39
Protocol to help planning process Over the last 12 months the Leeds Chamber Property Forum Housing and Planning Groups have been working with Leeds City Council to develop a new protocol which sets out what developers can expect from the statutory planning process in Leeds. The protocol also sets out what is expected of developers in return. The protocol has been put together through extensive collaboration between planning officers, plans panel members and the development community including some of the region’s largest and smallest companies. The launch of the Leeds Planning Protocol, on March 19th 2019, is aimed to ease the uncertainty and help developers bring new schemes to market as efficiently and pain free as possible. It has been a time of significant change for Leeds in recent years: Leeds has the largest centre outside London for financial and business services, digital, creative, publishing and broadcasting; the second highest concentration of knowledge intensive jobs. The Council’s ambitious Core Strategy sees a commitment to delivering thousands of new houses whilst retaining the focus on building strong and vibrant communities with the emphasis on good place making and high quality homes. This sustainable growth can only happen if the right development comes forward in the right place at the right time and works successfully if there is collaboration between the Council, local communities and developers to secure that growth. This planning protocol therefore is the result of a joint venture between Leeds City Council and the Leeds Chamber of Commerce and sets a commitment to working together. It builds on the existing good practices of engaging with communities and front loading the planning process and aims to provide a more proactive approach in delivering the good growth needed in Leeds. The protocol sets out three areas of focus in order to guarantee as smooth a journey through the planning process. These areas are: • Commitment to service improvement • Effective communication and engagement • Certainty and consistency The initiative has been led by David Rolinson, chair of the Chamber Housing Group and Chair of regional planning consultancy, Spawforths working with Tim Hill, Chief Planning Officer at Leeds City Council. This protocol sets out a shared approach to development by the Chamber of Commerce and Leeds City Council and will review annually the implementation and effectiveness of the Protocol and share best practice that emerges from such reviews. To find out more about this please contact representation@wnychamber.co.uk Leeds Chamber of Commerce Part of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
40 POLICY
Businesses comment on workforce development
Bradford transport issues addressed
Business views have been fed into a delivery plan to meet employers’ skills needs in the future.
Feedback into a recent consultation on how to improve the two main roads between Bradford and Shipley has been given to the Council.
A ‘Development Plan’ has been produced to both improve local workforce levels and meet the aspirations in relation to skills in the District’s Economic Strategy. A draft of the plan was presented to a group of businesses at the Chamber’s Bradford office earlier this year, to allow a sense-checking of the contents. Presentations were followed by break-out sessions to allow different issues to be explored. Topics raised included better careers guidance, more quality work experiences, concern over the ICE (Industrial Centres of Excellence) expansion programme, and apprenticeship promotion. The session included calls for more pro-active engagement between schools and employers, including business presentations to pupils, and also a more transparent and wide-ranging approach within schools to a pupil’s best options when they are 16 – not simply keeping them within the fold and then sending them to university. Among the businesses attending the event were the various Bradford policy groups as well as others with known recruitment issues and skills shortages. The event was chaired by TL Dallas’ Mike Martin, while Bradford Council’s Matt Findull led on the details of the plan. The Chamber’s feedback to the local authority welcomes the aspirations of the plan, while noting that it needs to be realistic and manageable. Chamber Head of Policy, Mark Goldstone, said: “Workforce development and skills shortages will no doubt continue to be an issue for many firms in the District in both the short and long-term. We need to try and answer that as best we can, and we’ve worked closely with Bradford Council on this plan. However, it’s not always necessary to re-invent the wheel or try to deliver something beyond your control. So, our response points that out: if there are tools, measures and resources already in existence that can help, it may be un-necessary to look at creating new ones.” Thank you to those businesses and other organisations who attended the skills workshop on 13 February. It is expected that the final plan will be launched in the Spring. Bradford Chamber of Commerce Part of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
The consultation was not to look at too much level at detail at this point, but to seek out general principles on what people want to see. This included road safety, more green space and bus infrastructure, and potentially more new homes. A presentation was made to Bradford Chamber Leadership Group who, largely, said that they wanted to see congestion reduced, air quality improved, and measures that could lead to new job creation. Specific suggestions were also made on junction improvements. The Chamber response highlighted that business performance and potential investment in the area is affected by congestion. While the recent consultation focused only on the two main roads between Bradford and Shipley (A650 Bradford Road-Keighley Road and A6037 Canal Road), the work in this area will feed into a wider body of activity including the Canal Road Corridor action plan and the West Yorkshire Transport Plan. The Bradford-Shipley Route Improvement Scheme is backed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). It is hoped that improvements will be completed by 2024. Keep up-to-date with WYCA developments online at https://www. westyorks-ca.gov.uk/news/
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
POLICY 41
Marianne moves up
Bradford Chamber of Commerce Property Forum has a new chair. Marianne McCallum has taken over from Allan Booth, the chair of the last two years. Marianne, Planning Director with WYG Group, will now lead the property network up to 2021. The Property Forum has regular networking meetings, but also contributes to the Chamber’s lobbying and representation activities with the support of its specialist businesses. Marianne previously contributed to a recent success for the Forum following work it started in 2018: businesses had been telling agents and the Chamber direct that they were struggling to find alternative premises to relocate to or were in unsuitable buildings to expand in. The Chamber’s 2018 report, ‘Creating Space for Future Success’, saw Bradford Council appoint consultants to update the District’s Employment Land Review, last published in 2011. Marianne contributed significantly to the writing of that report, its subsequent promotion, and reference to it in lobbying activities. “I’m pleased to be heading up BPF for the next two years,” said Marianne. “The Forum does a lot of good work, spear-headed by the Steering Group, and I thank them for their contributions. Allan Booth also needs to be mentioned, as he’s done a great job and I’m pleased that he’s staying with us on the group. Bradford is making good strides but I’m confident that we can push that progress further and faster, so I’m up for the challenge.”
Chamber and Council liaise on land review The challenge to ‘unearth’ more employment sites for development in Bradford is continuing. Bradford Council has recently commissioned two consultants to follow up on the Chamber’s report in 2018 about a shortage of employment land in the District. The District’s Employment Land Review was last updated in 2011, and this new move is a direct result of the Chamber’s report, ‘Creating Space for Future Success’. Peter Brett Associates and Aspinall Verdi will now look at issues around market supply, occupier profile and stock quality and other associated challenges and opportunities for land assembly and development. Policy Executive Mike Cartwright said: “This is a step in the right direction for the businesses of Bradford. We’re working closely with Bradford Council and their consultants on this, and we’re thankful to them for being so responsive about it. The BPF leadership team have met with Ben Aspinall and will liaise with him further as the study progresses.”
Marianne only joined WYG in 2018; she had previously been with Turley for 11 years. She is a school governor and has visited Freetown in Sierra Leone, twice, to work with local charities supporting the disadvantaged in the community. She helped with building projects at a school and hospital and visited orphanages and other charities.
Several businesses in the Bradford District have told the Chamber that they are struggling to relocate to new premises or to expand where they are, while similar reports are received on a regular basis by property agents the Chamber works with. Other issues noted include employment land being ‘lost’ to housing, listed and other protected buildings on which changes are restricted, and the often high costs of developing on brownfield sites.
Allan Booth is a founding Director of Rance Booth Smith Architects. Marianne will be supported by incoming vice-chair Jonathan O’Connor of Walker Singleton Chartered Surveyors.
The report can be found online at www.wnychamber.co.uk/infrastructure-inwest-north-yorkshire/
Bradford Chamber of Commerce Part of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
42 PROFILE L-R: John Brooksbank (former Founder & Chairman), Brian McCabe (MD) & Eamonn Hanley (Ops & Logistics Director)
Turning waste into energy AWM, Yorkshire’s leading waste management business and producer of engineered fuels has been a feature on the cityscape of Bradford, Leeds and Calderdale since 2000. The product range covers – bag collections, commercial wheelie bins, skips, roll-on roll-off’s and contracted waste services. The company, which employs 360 staff, operates 6 facilities in the Yorkshire region, processing and treating commercial and municipal waste. The production of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) was pioneered by the business in 2011 with exports reaching 180,000 tpa. RDF is incinerated at combined heat and power plants for the production of heat, steam and electricity worldwide. New markets include an industrial grade fuel product, solid recovered fuel (SRF) which is used to power industrial applications such as cement kilns etc. The flagship waste centre in Stourton, Leeds, opened in 2016 at a cost of more than £15 million and processes the waste for the 12-year, 150,000 tpa residual waste management contract for Bradford Metropolitan District Council. AWM also has long standing commercial contracts with Leeds City Council and Calderdale Council for the processing and treatment of multiple waste streams over PFI-term arrangements. In November 2018, Irish-owned business Beauparc Utility Group developed its expansion into the UK market, with the acquisition of the AWM business from John Brooksbank, founder and Chairman of AWM. Known in Ireland for its Panda and Greenstar waste management brands, Beauparc has been steadily building a foothold in the UK market in recent years, with a series of
major acquisitions, including Scotwaste in Livingstone, WSR Recycling in Widnes and New Earth Solutions in Kent, Bristol, Leicester and Southampton. The company also has reach into mainland Europe following the acquisition of Rotterdam- based waste management firm Renes, which was also finalised last year. Commenting on the acquisition, Brian McCabe, managing director at Beauparc said: “We are very pleased to conclude the acquisition of AWM as this adds to our growth strategy in the UK and brings a level of scale and processing capabilities to Beauparc. “It is our intention to continue with what is already in place throughout AWM, and to build or develop this business even further, ensuring AWM continues to grow whilst still providing the quality of service that customers have been used to. This acquisition is part of our strategic growth plans for the UK.” AWM will continue to be known and trade as AWM and the Leeds office will become the UK head office for Beauparc’s UK division. AWM are keen to offer free, no obligation waste audits to fellow Chamber members, helping them to improve recycling credentials and save costs. Associated Waste Management Limited St Bernards Mill Gelderd Road Leeds, LS27 7NA. 0113 2382530 www.awm.uk.com @AWMwaste @AWMwastemanagement
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
PROFILE 43
Yorkshire and Humber businesses fishing for international success The Enterprise Europe Network helps SMEs in the European Union access unparalleled business opportunities across the globe. It is the largest network in the world dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses with international ambitions. Maritime cluster scales up
Signage given the green light
Seafood Grimsby and Humber is a cluster that represents 80 businesses active in the seafood sector that thrives around Grimsby.
Leeds-based Futurama Signs is a world leader in delivering branded environments. There’s not a single high street in Britain that doesn’t feature signage produced by them. But in 2018, when signage produced for a major car manufacturer was inexplicably held at the HungaryUkraine border, they turned to the Network for support.
The seafood from Grimsby’s trawlers finds its way on to plates on the other side of the world, but these trawlers only catch a fraction of the cod that we eat in the UK. As part of an Enterprise Europe Network brokerage event in Iceland, Simon Dwyer – a representative from Seafood Grimsby and Humber – was introduced to a representative of Iceland’s largest maritime cluster, the Iceland Ocean Cluster. The two clusters were supported in bilateral negotiations to form a partnership in which they will share and strengthen knowledge, transfer technology, and chilled cod will be imported to the UK from Iceland. Productivity of the clusters’ members will increase through the knowledge sharing and technology transfer, and British fish and chip shops will continue to receive the same high quality cod that we love in Britain.
The Network liaised with the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) to quickly identify and solve the problem to ensure that the products could be released without further delay. Jo Evans, director at Futurama said, “The Network used their expertise and knowledge of EU and Hungarian legislation, as well as their understanding of the Hungarian language and culture, to turn what seemed like a major problem into a small hurdle.” Additional customs identifiers from Hungary were obtained and a thorough debrief of the issue was presented to Futurama to prevent the issue reoccurring, but – most importantly – Futurama had another satisfied customer in Ukraine.
Enterprise Europe Network in Yorkshire and the Humber The Network provides a range of advisory and partnering services to help local companies trade internationally. The West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce delivers this fully-funded service across Yorkshire and the Humber. T: 0113 203 1383 E: een@wnychamber.co.uk W: www.enterprise-europe.co.uk
New range of hair products stands head & shoulders above the competition Startup company Midie Services identified a novel range of Brazilian antidandruff shampoos and conditioners for dry and frizzy hair. They managed to secure an exclusive agreement with the manufacturer to distribute the products in the UK, but they didn’t anticipate how difficult it would be to import cosmetics from a third country into the EU due to regulations that ensure consumer safety. The Network made Midie Services aware of the relevant legislation and guided them through the process of compliance. This entailed finding a laboratory in Portugal to perform chemical analysis, register the products on the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal and to act as nominated responsible person. Further to this, the Network helped them produce English-language labels for the products in line with EU labelling regulations. In the next year Midie Services’ turnover will increase and new jobs will be created as a result of this support, and British consumers will have access to a new range of products.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
44 SOCIAL
What you missed online The Chamber has seen great activity across all social media platforms in the past several months. The selected posts below are examples of some of the valuable information and discussions shared by the Chamber and our members on a daily basis. We would love to know your thoughts on this quarter’s magazine and your local Chamber. What would you like to know more about or see more of in the future? Did any articles stand out to you? Get involved with the regional business discussion on Twitter by tagging us @WNYChamber and mentioning #YorkshireBusiness.
Our profiles Twitter @WNYChamber
Leeds Chamber @LeedsChamber
Mark Goldstone @Mark_Goldstone
Pre dinner drinks are underway @TheQueensQ @WNYChamber #annualdinner with @LBIAirport @BE_Fund looking forward to our main speaker @Richard4Watford
Great to join @WNYChamber member @4B_Braime yesterday as they received recognition for 130 years of #Engineering excellence from @YorksSociety
Emma Murgatroyd @EMurgs26
WNYChamber @WNYChamber
Packed room for the #futurenetworking lunch with @LeedsBID and @WNYChamber
Making the business voice heard at @Transport4North’s strategic plan launch. #onenorth
Laura Harper @Thelauraharper It’s a full house at the @LeedsChamber Annual Dinner - hearing about the Industrial Strategy Sector Deals from Richard Harrington MP #chamberevents
LinkedIn West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Facebook West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
Next Strop Bradford @NxtStopBradford “Improving connectivity to and from Bradford is a huge skills opportunity.” Cllr @SHinchcliffe speaking on the #LeedsCityRegion stand Connecting Cities event. Skills is a leading theme in the Bradford NPR Growth Strategy launched today. #nextstopbradford
Transport for the North @Transport4North “This Plan is a huge statement - we have to be loud and clear about the benefits of the North coming together” #OneNorth @cllrjudithblake
BEF @BE_Fund We’re honoured to have won this prestigious award which recognises the impact of our responsible lending. @SparkYorkCIC @resp_finance #BEF #socialenterprise #responsiblefinance #wetakeadifferentview
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
BRADFORD CITY OF FILM 45
Ten years of UNESCO City of Film Bradford is currently enjoying a year-long programme of events and activities as it celebrates ten years UNESCO City of Film designation. Driven by the city’s rich film heritage, Bradford is the world’s first UNESCO City of Film. A programme of events includes workshops, festivals, showings and Screen Talks from those who have worked on productions such as Top Gear and Peaky Blinders.
Chamber Chief Executive Sandy Needham attended an anniversary event at the National Science and Media Museum and is a member of the City of Film Board. The Chamber has worked closely with City of Film Director David Wilson and the rest of the board for the past 10 years and is looking forward to doing so in the future. Sandy Needham said afterwards: “David and the Board do a great job for the city and the wider district. Having Bradford as part of the UNESCO network is fantastic recognition for the city and helps to promote the opportunities on offer. We look forward to another 10 years.” The 10th anniversary celebrations are designed to shine a spotlight on the creativity of some of the local projects in the area and will take place for the rest of the year. An online booklet with event details is available at www.bradford-city-of-film.com/10-anniversary/ Bradford Chamber of Commerce Part of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
46 INTERNATIONAL
New partnership will help Chamber International target Brazil A major new international business partnership, the third in eight months, has been launched by Chamber International, to help UK businesses trade with Brazil. The new partnership is with the Warwickshire-based Brazil Business Hub Ltd, a joint venture launched in 2015 between the GTMA trade association and Commercial Doctor Ltd, supported and seed-funded by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), now the Department for International Trade (DIT). The Brazil Business Hub supports UK companies wanting to trade with Brazil, now and after Britain leaves the EU, to help achieve UK government aspirations of becoming global trading nation. The new alliance follows similar strategic partnerships announced by Chamber International with British Centres For Business (BCB), Dubai, and Resolve, based in North Yorkshire and Charlotte, North Carolina, to support growing UK interest in North America in preparation for any US trade deal. Brazil Business Hub, which provides services including identifying and researching market sectors; identifying and engaging with distributors and other potential partners; organising market visits and advising on local manufacture, recruitment, import tariffs, taxation and contracts, has supported substantial UK companies including Jaguar Land Rover early in its project to build a factory in Brazil; Homeserve Plc, and companies in oil and gas, manufacturing process equipment, agro-tech, medical devices and glass manufacturing. Brazil Business Hub director, Philip Gray, says: “Brazil, like much of South America has not been fully exploited by UK companies, perhaps because of a fear of the unknown, plus an appreciation of the cost and timescales involved in doing business there, but the country is no more challenging than other ‘long haul’ markets such as China, India or Russia, where distance, language and bureaucracy are factors. “There is also strong interest among Brazilian companies for trading with UK counterparts and good opportunities there. There has recently been a lot of merger and acquisition activity with international investors, particularly from China, investing in Brazilian assets. Brazil also has a fast growing new-tech and venture capital sector, driven by young, welleducated and internationally experienced entrepreneurs.
“We are excited about our new relationship with Chamber International which will provide clients with a more dynamic source of information and advice on Brazilian and Latin American business, and will also enable us to introduce exciting new business propositions from UK companies into these valuable markets.” Brazil’s São Paulo State, which has a 45m population and provides around 34 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is its main economic centre and is usually regarded as the best place for companies wishing to trade with Brazil to visit first because of its strong business culture, wide range of professional support services and supply chain and logistics companies with international experience. Chamber International director, Tim Bailey, says: “This exciting new partnership brings significant additional expertise to our existing networks and contacts, including a Brazilian member of staff, and between us we can now offer a formidable range of support to companies wishing to trade there.”
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
INTERNATIONAL 47
L-R: Mykola Popovych and Peter Gasch
Chamber International helps new owners of engineering business get Russian export over the border A silo discharge machine (SDM) denied entry to Russia after being exported from Middlesbrough has been now successfully delivered, thanks to last-minute help from Chamber International. German businessman, Peter Gasch, who recently acquired Louise Engineering with a colleague, flew from Germany to meet export advisers at Chamber International for help in
reducing heavy costs imposed by the delivery company after Russian customs stopped them entering the country due to insufficient paperwork relating to the SDM’s origin. Louise Engineering had specified the SDM and sub-contracted construction and delivery to a Polish manufacturer for the customer, a privately-owned cement plant in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region, but Russian customs officials wanted documentary confirmation that it was an EU product before allowing it across the border. After meeting with Louise
Engineering’s joint managing partner, Peter Gasch, to discuss the order, specification and the different stages of the SDM’s manufacture, Chamber International advisers applied EU origin tests to determine that the SDM was an EU product and issued a Certificate of Origin which was accepted by Russian customs officials who released the consignment for delivery. Peter Gasch says: “Confirmation of the origin was insisted upon at the last minute during packaging and, as the forwarder had already been instructed and paid, we had not had time to look at this.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
48 INTERNATIONAL
Hi Mark International managing director, Kevin Dunk and sales executive, Lina Anjum, at the company’s headquarters in Bradford.
Growing sports nutrition business launches major export drive A major export drive is underway by a £40m turnover fitness and well-being business for its new range of sports nutrition supplements following their successful UK launch last year. Hi Mark International, has appointed Chamber International to help export its new Body Sculpture sports nutrition range which has gained a significant percent of the company’s UK turnover since being launched at the start of 2018. The new Body Sculpture range, manufactured in the UK and EU to rigorous quality standards, including Halal and US Federal Drug Administration (FDA), was devised by Hi Mark International managing director, Kevin Dunk, and is being sold through e-commerce by the company online and through major retailers and health and fitness centres. Hi Mark International, which can trace its Bradford roots back to the 1960s, also manufactures a wide range of fitness and sports goods, including exercise bikes, treadmills and rowing machines, in China, which are imported for sale in the UK and exported to 65 countries worldwide through a sales office in Taipei, Taiwan. Leading sellers in new branded sports nutrition range are Body Sculpture Lean Burn, designed to help users focus on burning fat and sculpt their body as part of an active lifestyle; Body Sculpture Glucomannan 6+ Weight Loss, which the company says is scientifically proven to contribute to reducing weight; protein powders in perfect portion individual supplement sachets.
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
LEADERSHIP AWARDS 49
The Leadership Awards Yorkshire Supporting business leadership is something the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce are passionate about. Towards the back end of 2018 the chamber were proud sponsors of the Transformational Leader Award at the Yorkshire Leadership Awards. In addition to sponsoring the award, Leeds Chamber of Commerce President Paula Dillon sat on the judging panel.
In front of an audience of more than 230 business leaders at The Queens Hotel in Leeds, the achievements of the region’s leaders were celebrated by their peers. These awards highlighted the people and organisations across the region, who are role models for their teams and raise the bar for their competitors.
The winning shortlist showcased the best qualities of modern leadership – of inspiration, collaboration and empowerment.
The winner of the Transformation Leader Award – Sponsored by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Winner: Paul Teasdale, Premier Technical Services Group (PTSG) West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
50 AD:VENTURE
AD:VENTURE Case Study About the company
Project objectives
Set out the background of the business, how it started, and what products or services it offers and which markets it sells into both by sector and geography. etc. Include some information on company structure, ownership, turnover and number of employees, and where it is located in the Region.
What did the company set out to achieve? Investment, Product Development, Premises, Refurb, Recruitment. What did this mean to the company? Was it a key factor in business development?
As a Chartered Fellow in HR and with an 18-year career working with major multinational corporations and Fortune 500 businesses, Helen had come to a crossroads in her professional journey. Having been offered a promotion that would see her travel the world, she realised that despite the benefits package, salary and status, Helen wanted to do more of what she loved, coaching. Since 2005 Helen had been delivering leadership and development training to senior executives as part of her role and recognised that this was where she was able to make a difference and to take what she is really passionate about and put it into practice. After several clients asked why Helen wasn’t running her own consultancy, it made her stop and think. Like many, she questioned if having her own practice was right for her and what it would mean to start again and build a business from scratch. Realising it was too good an opportunity to miss and niggled by the thought of looking back and never having taken the risk, Helen launched Human Spirit Ltd, offering professional coaching and training to businesses.
As a senior executive within a multi-national organisation, Helen was able to access the professional skills and services of her colleagues. Launching her own business, she became aware very quickly that the challenges to do everything alone can be overwhelming. Helen comments: “I have worked for someone else for 20 years and just didn’t have a clue about the things I needed to consider outside of my role. It wasn’t just about being the best at what I was offering my clients, it was about understanding how to register a company, knowing what paperwork needed filing and when, thinking about a website, looking into marketing materials, the list was endless!” That was when Helen met AD:VENTURE advisor, Alan Thompson, at the Chamber of Commerce in Leeds. Bumping into him by chance, while looking for help with registration and tax, Alan explained about the programme and all that it could offer to start-up businesses. Accessing the practical support that AD:VENTURE offers was a turning point for Helen. Not only was she able to ask questions and to get the professional advice and guidance that she needed but also to put theory into practice. She adds: “I worked with Alan to look at my business plan and he was very good at getting me to hone my message. Suddenly it made sense to focus on one thing rather than trying so hard to be all things to all people, a trap that I now realise lots of start-ups fall into. “While I could do a lot of what was needed to run a company, I had to think about how I would write a business plan, market myself and most importantly price the services that I was offering. It was hard, and it was uncomfortable, but with the support from a critical friend I was able to see why I needed to put some actions into place and change my focus.” Helen realised that it was about learning how to do things that left her feeling daunted that would allow her to go out there and do the job that she loves. Referring to Alan as a mentor, Helen found it really helpful to have someone to turn to and to feel accountable to. It meant that things had to get done and that steps were taken that would take her business forward and help her to reach her goals quicker than if she was struggling alone.
Results
Feedback
We want to achieve 3 things with a case study.
Ultimately we want to be able to show that the assistance helped the company’s growth – Quotes from CEO/Director regarding the support, and how they felt about it / how it has impacted business.
• Promote AD:VENTURE to suitable clients, with real life benefit focussed case studies. • Offer further support to raise the profile of the Client, and the AD:VENTURE programme. Both adding value to the region’s economic growth • Generate a call to action for “similar” businesses who can relate, and see the benefits realised through the support Helen had come across government portals but found them intimidating and felt that it would be wise to wait a year before submitting her first tender. It was around this time that Alan sent through a link to ContractsFinder.gov. uk and suggested that she take a look. Helen comments: “Although I had previously dismissed tenders, knowing that Alan had the confidence in me made me look at this opportunity slightly differently. There was a voice in my head saying ‘I can’t do this’ but we worked together to change that mindset and decided that I would look at this as a live practice and so that’s what I did.” Not only did Helen submit the tender but was then invited to present and subsequently won the contract with a leading public sector organisation. She continues: “It I hadn’t had the support from AD:VENTURE I wouldn’t have had the courage to go for a tender at such an early stage of my business. It’s not about my self-belief or knowing that I can deliver for my customers, it’s about taking steps that are very much outside of my comfort zone. “Having a business can be isolating, especially when you’re used to working for big corporations, but with the support from AD:VENTURE I’ve had access to professional training sessions, advisors and a network of trusted partners – never mind business leads! “It’s been invaluable for me.”
In less than a year, Helen has started a business, secured contracts and become the preferred provider for a major public sector contract. She is working on her website, updating her branding and putting some of theory she has learnt about social media and search engine optimisation into practice, topics that she didn’t even know the meaning of just eighteen months ago. Helens concludes: “I was speaking to a friend the other day and she said she wished that AD:VENTURE was around when she launched her business ten years ago. I can’t speak highly enough of the programme and everything that it has done for me. “It’s not just the advice, it’s the seminars, sessions and workshops that are all delivered by professionals. Also, being part of the Leeds City Region means that they take place in different towns and cities, which gives you the chance to meet with new people wherever you go and it’s all funded, so startups don’t have to worry about the costs. “My advice to all start-up and young businesses irrelevant of the sector, product or service they are offering would be to get onto the AD:VENTURE programme and go to all of the free seminars that you can. Don’t presume you can do everything, it’s been a real eye opener for me. They have taken the fear away and given me the tools and techniques I need to think about my business differently. “I’ve gone from being overwhelmed and out of my comfort zone to excited and energised. I love what I do, and I have to pinch myself every day and remind myself that this is a job and I do it to make a living. I’m hoping one day to earn enough money to offer my services to third sector organisations for free. That way I can pay it forward and give something back.”
Garbutt + Elliott relocate Leeds and York offices After carefully planning the next phase of growth, Garbutt + Elliott have moved both their York and Leeds offices to beautiful new spaces to reflect their forward thinking culture, aspirations for growth, and a vibrant environment for both clients and staff to experience and enjoy. The moves have come at the perfect time to round off a record year, which has seen 45 new starters, including one new Partner, join the now 152-strong practice. The firm has built on its reputation as Yorkshire’s go to accountants and continued to provide a client orientated approach and an excellent choice of services across the board, which has seen them secure 597 new business wins this financial year. The relocation allows Garbutt + Elliott to continue their headcount growth across the tax, accounting, audit, wealth management, payroll and corporate finance teams, whilst providing its staff and clients with the best possible surroundings from where to work and meet. During its last financial year, Garbutt + Elliott saw its turnover increase by 17 per cent to £7.8m and this trend has continued in the new financial year. This was driven by a series of significant new business wins including Tates Fuel Oils, Age UK Leeds, TEV, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Network Medical and food manufacturer, Heck Food.
Commenting on the relocation, Garbutt + Elliott Managing Partner, Russell Turner, said, “We have enjoyed significant growth in the past year and with so many new people joining our team, we’ve outgrown our current homes. The redevelopment work carried out in the new office spaces has transformed them into an impressive, exciting and functional working environment. The moves mark a huge milestone for the company, our employees and customers who will all benefit from the opportunities that this expansion presents.” Garbutt + Elliott have worked hard to ensure that the new offices are a strong representation of their company values. The spaces created are open and collaborative, allowing for a more efficient and friendly work environment, whilst reflecting Garbutt + Elliott’s focus on delivering excellent service. The breadth of their services, supported by technical expertise and the engaging culture with which they work, enables Garbutt + Elliott to support any business to thrive and achieve its goals. But, as Turner points out, “more to the point, we are friendly, hard working and love what we do. We are continuously building upon our expertise and translating our increased knowledge into exceptional support for our clients. Our vibrant new offices reflect this side of our company personality perfectly.”
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
PROFILE 53
The transatlantic law firm close to home
With international reach and local knowledge, combined with over 200 years of history and heritage, we are uniquely positioned to support Yorkshire businesses to succeed. Our ‘excellent’ practice is praised for its combination of ‘big-firm advice and small-firm friendliness’ by the Legal 500.
To find out more visit womblebonddickinson.com © Copyright 2019 Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP. All rights reserved. Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Introducing some of the team in Leeds Located in the city centre, our Leeds office is committed to bringing richer prospects to Yorkshire, advising local businesses on domestic and global legal matters. As a member of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, we are proud to play our part in supporting Yorkshire succeed on a national and international level.
Claire Brook Partner Board member Claire is a specialist planning and environmental lawyer and Head of the Real Estate Business Group and advises on a wide range of both contentious and non-contentious planning and environmental projects.
Simon Pilling Partner Leading our corporate team, Simon is a highly experienced corporate transactional lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in private mergers and acquisitions and private equity.
Patrick Cantrill Partner Head of our IP team, which recently won the Intellectual Property award at the Yorkshire Legal Awards, Patrick has practised both in the UK and overseas in intellectual property law for 30 years. He is recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers as an expert and leading individual.
Andy Stirk Partner Andy specialises in advising banks, other financial institutions and companies on restructuring and turnaround of business and property investments. Andy is an accredited member of the Institute for Turnaround.
To find out more visit womblebonddickinson.com
Mark Owen Partner Mark heads the Leeds office as well as one of our national real estate teams, ranking in the UK’s top 20 law firms and by Chambers as a Band 1 firm for National Leaders (Outside London).
Claire Wilkinson Partner Claire is a commercial real estate specialist with extensive experience in all aspects of transactions, advising investors, occupiers, and developers from site assembly/ development through to letting and on-going asset management.
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
56 LEEDS CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER
Leeds Chamber Annual Dinner
The Leeds Chamber Annual dinner took place on Thursday 31 January 2019 at the Queens Hotel, Leeds. Chamber members interacted with fellow members before sitting down to a three course dinner, followed by guest speaker Richard Harrington MP and entertainment from Dr Phil Hammond.
Speaking at the event Leeds Chamber President, Paula Dillon, expressed her immense pride at being able to lead one of the country’s best business communities. The president put out a plea to regional politicians to “break the impasse” over devolution. “Having reviewed my speech from last year, I note that I said, ‘I understand we are now closer to some kind of deal with Whitehall…’ Twelve months later, it is clear to business leaders that we appear poles apart from views in Whitehall. We implore our politicians to be pragmatic and break the impasse in 2019.”
Guest Speaker The audience heard from industry minister and former Leeds Grammar School boy Richard Harrington MP. He articulated concerns about the impact a ‘no-deal Brexit’ would have on business and suggested there was a parliamentary majority for some kind of customs union. He added: “I cannot stand idly by and see a system which destroys business, which the prosperity of this country is based on. If you work in the automotive industry you are now ordering stock for delivery in April, May and June as part of the normal course of business. Surely, business should know under what rules they will come into the country, how long it is going to take and are they actually able to export products back into the EU.” The evening closed with broadcaster and comedian Dr Phil Hammond entertaining the audience with his humour. The Leeds Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner was sponsored by Business Enterprise Fund and Leeds Bradford: Yorkshire’s Airport. Leeds Chamber of Commerce Part of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
SPONSORS
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q1
HEADING 57
Q1
West & North Yorkshire Business
58 EVENTS April 4 York & North Yorkshire Chamber Annual Dinner 6.45pm - 11pm £98 / £125 National Railway Museum, York 10 Business Lunch 12noon - 2pm £30 / £42 Novotel, York 11 Pure Networking 7.30am - 9.30am £20 / £30 Leeds United Football Club 16 Learning Lunch: PR & Communication 12noon - 2pm £20 / £30 Clarion Solicitors, Leeds 24 Learning Lunch: Advanced Bid Writing 12noon - 2pm £20 / £30 Devere House, Bradford 25 Pure Networking 7.30am - 9am £20 / £30 Dean Court Hotel, York 30 HR Forum 8am - 10am £20 / £30 Langleys Solicitors, York
May 1 Business Lunch 12noon - 2pm £30 / £42 Park Inn By Radisson, York 8 Property Lunch 12noon - 2pm £36 / £48 Venue TBC - Leeds 9 Business Lunch 12noon - 2pm £30 / £42 Downe Arms, Scarborough 10 Learning Lunch: Networking Skills 12noon - 2pm £20 / £30 Barnett Waddingham, Leeds 14 Bradford City of Film Lunch 12noon - 2pm £30 / £42 Great Victoria Hotel, Bradford 15 Learning Lunch 12noon - 2pm £20 / £30 Clarion Solicitors, Leeds 16 Pure Networking Lunch 12noon - 2pm £36 / £48 Fazenda, Leeds 17 Bank of England Breakfast 8am - 9.30am £20 / £30 NCEM, York 23 Property Lunch 12noon - 2pm £30 / £42 Hospitium, York 29 Pure Networking 7.30am - 9am £20 / £30 Middletons Hotel, York 30 Learning Lunch: Telephone Sales Skills 12noon - 2pm £20 / £30 Devere House, Bradford
June 3 York Property Forum 5pm - 7pm £15 / £30 The Grand, York 5 Business Lunch 12noon - 2pm £30 / £42 Doubletree by Hilton, York 6 Pure Networking 7.30am - 9.30am £20 / £30 Leeds United Football Club 7 Women’s Business Lunch 12noon - 2pm £36 / £48 Bibis Restaurants Ltd, Leeds 12 Business Lunch 12noon - 2pm £30 / £42 Hotel Du Vin, Harrogate 14 Learning Lunch: Time Management 12noon - 2pm £20 / £30 Clarion Solicitors, Leeds 18 Leeds Property Forum 5pm - 7pm £15 / £30 DLA Piper, Leeds 19 Learning Lunch: Linkedin 12noon - 2pm £20 / £30 Devere House, Bradford 20 Pure Networking 7.30am - 9am £20 / £30 Kings Manor, York 25 GDPR Learning Lunch 12noon - 2pm £20 / £30 Gordons LLP, Leeds 26 York & North Yorkshire Chamber President’s Lunch 12noon - 2.30pm £42 / £65 York Racecourse
July
2 Bradford Chamber President’s Lunch 12noon - 2.30pm £42 / £65 The Midland Hotel, Bradford
Don’t miss out! Book now at http://chmbr.co/2p West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
Members’ price / Full price Prices include VAT
Afordable health cover that puts my staf frst and works harder to keep them healthy... Works for me. westfeldhealth.com
Your membership of The British Chambers of Commerce gives you access to innovative, afordable health cover with an exclusive range of benefts. Together, we’ve developed the Chamber Primary Health Plan that will work harder to make your staf feel more valued and motivated, and encourage them to be more proactive about their health.
The plan helps policyholders to access essential healthcare, diagnosis and treatment, provides money back towards selected medical expenses, and can be combined with our hospital treatment insurance to provide truly continuous cover. As a leading provider of corporate health insurance, nobody works harder to keep your employees at their ft and healthy best than Westfeld Health.
To discover the full benefts of harder working health cover, contact us now.
08455 240 240 wnychamber.co.uk/healthcare-chamber-primaryhealth-plan
Award winning business management software for small & mid-size companies
SAP BUSINESS ONE • Affordable ERP for small and mid-sized companies • Used by more than 60,000 organisations • Winner of the 2017 Software Excellence Award To find our more: www.lake.co.uk/sap 0113 273 7788
LAKE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS • Chamber of Commerce member • Based in Leeds • 27 years’ experience