West & North
Yorkshire
usiness PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
A force for business West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
CONNECTING, SUPPORTING & REPRESENTING BUSINESS IN THE REGION
Q4 2019
Up to 66% off † Business Breakdown Cover for Chamber members Service level
Roadside
Relay
Relay Plus
Home Start
Accident Management
Offer Price
Standard Price
Difference
Fleetwide 1
3
3
3
3
3
£87.49
£236.50
£149.01
Fleetwide 2
3
3
3
3
£78.69
£202.50
£123.81
Fleetwide 3
3
3
3
£64.74
£189.50
£124.76
Fleetwide 4
3
3
3
£55.94
£155.50
£99.56
Fleetwide 5
3
3
£47.27
£114.50
£67.23
Fleet Europe
£16.44
£44.50
£28.06
Minibus Rescue
£193.16
£316.50
£123.34
£174.32
£387.00
£212.68
3
Specialist 2
3
3
3
Specialist 4
3
3
3
£149.66
£306.50
£156.84
Specialist 5
3
3
£96.99
£202.50
£105.51
3
The table below gives you more details about the specific services which can be included within our Business Breakdown cover Roadside
Repair or recovery to the AA’s choice of appropriate local repairer.
Relay*
Transportation of vehicle, driver and up to 7 passengers to a UK mainland address if prompt local repair not possible.
Relay Plus*
Extended Relay service to include one of three alternative arrangements for driver and passengers; car hire, accommodation or public transport services.
Home Start
For breakdowns at or within ¼ mile of your home address.
Accident Management
Takes the hassle out of arranging repair, recovery and insurance claims after an accident or vandalism.
For more information, please contact your local Chamber of Commerce Direct Debit. To make life easier, you can now pay for your breakdown cover by Direct Debit. Based on Fleetwide 3 Standard rates for 3-6 vehicles. All the above prices are per vehicle per year, inclusive of IPT (Insurance Premium Tax). All prices are subject to change. Fleetwide cover does not apply to: specialist vehicles, ie: taxis, mini cabs, hire vehicles, ambulances, police vehicles, vehicles on tradeplates, minibuses, privately owned vehicles (unless used for business purposes), motorcycles and courier vehicles (all of which can be covered on Specialist rates as above), or any vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gvw. Terms and conditions apply. *Relay and Relay Plus services are not provided at or within ¼ mile of driver’s home address. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer prices are only available while your Chamber membership is current. We reserve the right to review pricing at any time. Full terms and conditions available on request by calling 0800 55 11 88. Business Breakdown cover is provided by Automobile Association Developments Limited (trading as AA Breakdown Services). Relay Plus is underwritten by Acromas Insurance Company Limited. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance, Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is a member of the Association of British Insurers. Head Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered Number 88716 (Gibraltar). UK brand address: Acromas Insurance Company Limited, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3SE. Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4EA. Registered in England and Wales number 2414212. †
BSF_BCC_0360 (0217)
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q4
WELCOME 3
A wealth of talent
In this issue you’ll find some great features on successful companies from a variety of sectors in West & North Yorkshire. We continue to hear comments on the difficulty of finding people with the right skills, but increasingly businesses are investing in apprentices to develop their own talent pool.
Sandy Needham DL Chief Executive West & North Yorkshire Chamber
Thank you to all the companies, schools, colleges and universities who were involved in the second year of Bradford Manufacturing Weeks and the Leeds Manufacturing Festival. The number of young people engaging in the world of work increased with apprentices telling their own stories and business leaders being asked how much they earn! The initiatives definitely raise awareness of good career opportunities. Uncertainties around Brexit remain, so the Chamber has concentrated on promoting the Brexit Toolkit online and offering briefings and training courses that will help companies and their import/export teams prepare. Sadly many questions remain un-answered, but we keep making your voice heard nationally. Climate change has moved up the agenda and a new Chamber group is being created looking at the issues from a business perspective.
08455 240 240 editor@yorkshire-business.co.uk www.yorkshire-business.co.uk @WNYorkshire_Biz
The first of the three Annual Dinners was held in Bradford last month – see the photos – with the Leeds Chamber’s in January and the York & North Yorkshire dinner in March to follow. Special thanks go to Susie Cawood, Head of the York & North Yorkshire Chamber and Head of Events for producing these, for the last time, as she leaves us in December.
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West & North Yorkshire Business
4 CONTACTS 6
MEMBERS’ NEWS
DESIGN design@yorkshire-business.co.uk
12
REGIONAL NEWS
ADVERTISING advertising@yorkshire-business.co.uk
14 MEMBERSHIP
SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@yorkshire-business.co.uk
16
GENERAL hello@yorkshire-business.co.uk
18 FEATURE
EDITORIAL editor@yorkshire-business.co.uk
WEBSITE yorkshire-business.co.uk TWITTER @WNYorkshire_Biz
News from Bradford, Leeds, York & North Yorkshire
News from across the region
Developing our people
MARKET TRENDS The Skills Service
TransPennine launch new trains
magazine produced by the West and North Yorkshire
makers and senior executives across both the Yorkshire
of the editorial team. West & North Yorkshire Business has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this
Accredited
WYG
49 MANUFACTURING
Leeds Manufacturing Festival and Bradford Manufacturing Weeks
28
54 TOURISM
GREEN TRANSPORT First Bus
University of York
SES Engineering Services
ASK THE EXPERT PwC
Castle Howard
30 EDUCATION
56 PROFILE
32
58
York St John University
COVER FEATURE RFCA
36 PROFILE
Garbutt + Elliott
37 INSIGHT
Box Architects
38 PROFILE
Castle Employment
39 PROFILE
Reed Smith
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce
48 INTERVIEW
53
QES & climate change
Business Enterprise Fund and West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
Gordons LLP
27 REPRESENTATION
www.hartandclough.co.uk The Chamber group includes Chamber International,
46 LEGAL
52 PROFILE
GB Expo
Chamber of Commerce. Printed by Hart & Clough
Punch Creative
24 INTERNATIONAL
magazine is accurate on the date of publication. This magazine is published by the West & North Yorkshire
45 PROFILE
50 APPRENTICESHIPS
publication may be reproduced or used in any form of advertising or promotion without the express permission
Rex Procter & Partners
23 IMMIGRATION
region and the wider UK business community. © 2019 West & North Yorkshire Business - No Part of this
44 PROFILE
Is your business ready?
Chamber of Commerce. The audience for this publication is comprised of a targeted audience of the major decision
Autohorn Fleet Services
22 BREXIT
Update on policy discussions
West & North Yorkshire Business is a quarterly business
43 PROFILE
40
FEMALE LEADERS
42
FAITH & FINANCE
Yorkshire Bank
Northern Gas Networks
RAISING THE BAR Awards review
60
BRADFORD CHAMBER CHARITY Dance United Yorkshire
61 INTERVIEW Esh Group
62 SOCIAL
What you missed online
64
ANNUAL DINNER Bradford Chamber
66 EVENTS
Upcoming events
York Minster
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q4
CONTENTS 5
High frequency, low emissions
30
14
28
Imagination and innovation
24
Membership promotions
18
Global Business Expo
A force for business
32
Star of the Northern network
Q4
West & North Yorkshire Business
6
BRADFORD NEWS
What a year for Bradford Since last writing, our city and district was broadcast to an international audience as we provided the start line for the Women’s Elite Road Race, part of the UCI 2019 Road World Championships in September. Later that month, Bradford was the centre of an unprecedented same-day north and south celebration of our economic growth alongside the formal announcement of our bid to be UK City of Culture 2025. I joined representatives from all sectors across our District at the local launch and then in London’s Southbank Centre to unite and collectively position Bradford as a place in which to live, invest, visit and work.
Flying high with new expansions Keighley Laboratories Limited is proving its wealth of expertise as the company seeks to expand on its already vast service portfolio of metallurgical testing, analysis and heat treatment. The latest addition of a Leco ONH836 Gas Analyser to Keighley Labs Chemical Laboratory allows for the robust analysis of materials using inert gas fusion, enabling oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen analysis. Using this technique, titanium based alloys are currently in the process of being added to the UKAS 17025 scope of laboratory accreditations. Once fully accredited, Keighley Labs can offer analysis of Titanium, in addition to Iron and Nickel based alloys, to the aerospace industry.
We’ve had our second incredible year of success for Bradford Manufacturing Weeks – a fortnight in which we worked with partners to deliver more than 6,000 manufacturing experiences to secondary school students. A huge thank you to all 65 manufacturers and the sponsors whose time and generosity helped to make this event, literally, twice the size and twice the success of 2018. The initiative received government recognition: Education Secretary Gavin Williamson praising the “excellent project that shows that, with the right help and support, young people can achieve anything they want”. Words that should resonate with us all as we look back on a transformational year for our district, recharge and get ready to achieve what we all want for 2020. Suzanne Watson President Bradford Chamber
Expanding legal teams Schofield Sweeney’s 21-strong Commercial Property team has welcomed Amraj Boparai as an Associate Solicitor. Despite some uncertainty in the market, Schofield Sweeney continue to have another strong year and their pipeline of quality high-value work remains encouraging and diverse. “We are delighted Amraj has joined us, and with the recent addition of Pam Matharu in Leeds, both complement our strong team of lawyers; which makes us one of the largest and proactive in the regions” said Manjit Virdee, Partner, Schofield Sweeney. Amraj’s recruitment will see the portfolio of expertise in a large range of property transactions and real estate projects increase, in one of the largest teams in West Yorkshire.
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7
Company’s caring contribution Leading manufacturer Acorn Stairlifts has raised a life-changing £20,000 for Marie Curie to support people living with terminal illness.
As part of a continued partnership between the Steeton-based stairlift manufacturer and the charity, Acorn pledged to donate £10 for every
stairlift installed during a six-week period between April and June 2019.
The £20,000 raised will help support people living with a terminal illness and their families in the Bradford district and across the UK who need access to specialist care.
The cheque presentation at the Marie Curie Hospice marked a double celebration as Acorn announced that in the last three years, it has donated the supply and installation of 151 stairlifts into the homes of patients to give them the freedom to be cared for at home.
New addition
Boxing coach goes international
Training another award-winner
Approach PR, a multi award winning public relations consultancy, is expanding its Ilkley-based team with the addition of business management undergraduate, Finley Howell.
Mally MacIver, Bradford College Boxing coach, has been selected as a coach to join the GB Boxing team at the ‘World Boxing Championships’ in Russia. The event runs along with the Olympic Games, and is the highest level of competition for the sport.
Verner Wheelock’s strapline states that they strive for ‘excellence in food industry training’, and this month saw proof of that commitment.
Finley has been appointed as Junior Account Executive while on his placement year at Leeds Beckett University. Before joining Approach, he achieved upper second-class honours within his two years at university and has studied modules including financial management and entrepreneurial marketing. Focusing on social content and media relations Finley will work across business to business and business to consumer clients. Managing director Suzanne Watson said: “Investing in the next generation of PR practitioners is a key focus for us and in Finley we recognised immediately, a hunger to learn, to develop and a real passion for our business.”
Mally has worked at Bradford College, supporting the Bradford Police Boxing Academy, the Colleges Boxing Club and coaching students and running a junior boxing club. This appointment provides further recognition of Mally’s coaching abilities and the level of skill that he offers to students who participate in Boxing at the Colleges Trinity Green Campus in BD5. Mally has previous experience working with England Boxing and regularly travels to various countries with College students who have boxing aspirations.
Verner Wheelock delegate, Craig Darby, of Samworth Brothers, achieved the highest marks in the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)’s Level 4 Food Safety & Hygiene examination and was awarded the RSPH Hygeia Award for Food Safety from broadcaster Natasha Kaplinsky at a recent ceremony in London. Craig joins a long line of Verner Wheelock delegates who have been RSPH prize winners. Last year LynnAnne Allinson of Symingtons picked up the Food Safety Award. The previous year Verner Wheelock delegates were awarded the RSPH prizes for both Food Safety and HACCP. In fact, in the past 5 years the company has trained 7 out of the 10 prize winners.
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West & North Yorkshire Business
8
LEEDS NEWS
Tackling the climate crisis Numerous national and local governments have recently declared a climate emergency and have set targets to achieve carbon neutrality. Leeds City Council has set a target to make the city carbon-neutral by 2030, twenty years earlier than the government target for the UK. Recent protests have seen the strength of public passion and consumers are increasingly making purchasing choices based on environmental impact. The voice of business is really important in this debate. It is the business community that will need to develop, finance, build and operate the solutions needed to create resilient low carbon growth whilst at the same time maintaining prosperity. Advanced technologies and innovation offer the best solutions to manage the effects of climate change. We will inevitably have to adapt and businesses will need to position themselves to benefit from the opportunities created, particularly in the energy, transport, construction and manufacturing sectors. Benefits will be greater in Leeds if we ensure that our voice is heard and the business community leads the way in finding solutions. Leeds Chamber is convening an Environment Group from among its membership to better understand how business can respond to the issue, to ensure our voice is heard in the debate, and to work with Leeds City Council and others to address the matter. I am looking forward to seeing how we can all rise to the challenge. Amanda Beresford President Leeds Chamber
Supporting Simon on the Streets The Leeds office of Gateley Legal has chosen Simon on the Streets as its charity partner for the next 12 months. Simon on the Streets offers emotional and practical support to those who are or at risk of rough sleeping. The independent charity receives no government funding and provides outreach services to people in West Yorkshire, Leeds, Bradford and Kirklees. Ruth Armstrong, head of CSR at Gateley and national head of the company’s Regulatory team, said: “Every year our staff nominate the charities they care about and everyone within the business is able to vote. Simon on the Streets was selected as our Leeds office charity of the year and it is a great feeling to know we are going to be able to help those who are in need of our support around the region.
Kicking off with a new contract A major contract to provide all the filter coffee to a range of outlets at Leeds United Football Club (LUFC) has been won by Yorkshire vending machine and refreshments systems company, Upton Group. Around 4,200 kgs of filter coffee – an estimated 270,000 cups - a year, driven by sales, and 15 coffee machines are being provided to LUFC, Elland Road, Leeds, in Upton Group’s first contact with a major league football club. The initial contract was secured on a five-year deal by Upton Group’s business development manager, Sam Britton, with help from York Emporium representative, Lauren Perkins and includes decaffeinated coffee and beans for the Elland Road complex.
West & North Yorkshire Business
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9
Heating up Leeds Two Leeds based independent food shops have joined forces to launch the world’s hottest ‘Chilli Chip Shop Vinegar’. Located in Leeds Arena Quarter outside the Merrion Centre, award winning fish and chip shop, Hook and Line and chilli specialist The Chilli Shop, have developed the
product using ‘Caroline Reapers’ – the world’s hottest chilli’s - after recognising an increasing trend of people willing to try hotter foods with even more daring combinations. Hook and Line have been established at the Merrion Centre for 2 years, having recently been
shortlisted for the Best Fish and Chip Shop in the North at the National Fish and Chips Awards 2020. Alongside the specialist Chilli Shop, who have been at the centre for 5 years, both valued tenants have built up a considerable reputation at the Merrion Centre for their expert food knowledge and quality.
Apprenticeship double hire
100% retention rate for solicitors
Retaining carbon neutral status
Leeds-based jukebox manufacturer Sound Leisure has launched a new apprenticeship scheme with the appointment of its first two apprentices.
Leeds-based law firm Blacks Solicitors LLP has successfully retained all of its newly qualified solicitors.
B&M Waste Services have achieved Carbon Neutrality for the eighth year running. This year, the confidential waste arm of their business, B&M Secure Shredding, has also become Carbon Neutral, making them the first shredding business in the country to achieve such an accolade.
The 16-year-old recruits will help to ensure the continuity of the specialised craftsmanship and artisan skills that are essential to the business’ future. Working with the Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which is showcasing the wide range of careers and opportunities available to young people among the city’s 1,800 manufacturing firms, the first apprentices to join the 85-strong firm are Richard Lomas and Clayton Fletcher. The boys’ school, John Smeaton Academy in Leeds, has partnered with Sound Leisure as part of the manufacturing festival and, with the support of their resistant materials teacher Mr King, the pair were successful in securing places on the new apprenticeship scheme.
Alex Morris joined Blacks as a Trainee Solicitor in 2017 and will strengthen the Firm’s expanding Corporate and Commercial teams, dealing with a broad range of corporate and commercial matters for ownermanaged businesses. Sarah Scullion joined the Firm in 2015 as a Family Law Paralegal, before starting her Training Contract in 2017, and is now a Solicitor in the Family Law team, advising clients on all aspects of relationship breakdown including divorce, financial settlements, and child-related disputes. Elaine Flynn joined Blacks as a Paralegal in 2015, after completing her LPC at BPP University in Leeds. Elaine has qualified into the Property team where she will deal with sales and purchases, landlord and tenant matters, and refinances.
B&M Waste Services have continued and extended the scope of their sustainability programme. At the very heart of this was their carbon neutrality, first established in 2011, and B&M Waste Services was one of the first waste management businesses to successfully achieve carbon neutrality to the exacting standards. Achieving carbon neutrality to the British Standards Industry (BSI)’s Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2060 since 2011, B&M Waste Services has offset over twenty five thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide by supporting Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) certified clean energy projects around the world – including land-fill gas reclaim projects.
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West & North Yorkshire Business
10
YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS
More hot-spots During this time of uncertainty it remains crucial to support businesses – and to make sure that the business voice is heard by decision-makers. We don’t yet know if any of the projects that I had originally planned to reference here will be affected by the General Election’s outcome, but we will – now and in the future – reiterate in the relevant quarters the measures that will assist business and economic growth in our patch. York’s forthcoming strategic plan and the Housing Infrastructure Fund decision for York Central are two areas on which your Chamber has made strong representations. Partial dualling of the A64 and some of the city’s northern ring-road should not, we hope, be delayed by the national political situation. These upgrades will ease commuting, reduce journeys through the city centre, and ease connections between points east of York and places like Harrogate, Thirsk, Northallerton and Leeds Bradford Airport. As important is the need for the planned £1bn investment into the rural mobile network that will provide 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by 2025 (though delivery details are still unclear). There are still too many ‘not-spots’ beyond York itself, and this is compromising our opportunities. An agile, modern and flexible workforce needs strong and reliable connectivity as an economic driver. I’m looking forward to meeting more businesses in the months ahead to find out what makes them tick, and to listen to their issues and concerns. Or you can always let us know direct at policyrepresentation@wnychamber.co.uk Andrew Digwood President York & North Yorkshire Chamber
Partnership for York buses New Yorkshire-built buses and new jobs have arrived – that’s the good news for York as bus operator Transdev expands its presence in the city. A new long-term, multi-year partnership between the bus operator and City of York Council sees Transdev’s locally based subsidiary York and Country take over five routes within the city. To operate the new services, Transdev is investing nearly £700,000 in five brand new, low-emission Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 single deck buses for its York and Country fleet.
Celebrating success Castle Employment is excited to announce the promotion of Anna Wilson as Director. Anna started with Castle nearly 15 years ago. Anna’s early experience covered a variety of sectors, until more recently she moved to become specialised in managing the Education, Marketing, Customer Service and Office Support divisions. Anna has been instrumental in the growth of the business. Anna’s progression to Director is it at a key point in Castle’s growth, with an increased headcount she brings a wealth of recruitment experience and passion for success. She will be instrumental in building on the reputation to clients and candidates. Anna is still going to be very hands on in recruiting whilst overseeing the Castle team and the day to day running of a fast-paced growing recruitment business.
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11
Employees support Macmillan Bake sales and a fun run helped Drax Group employees to raise £6,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support. People working at Drax’s offices and power stations across the country baked cakes, or bought them to raise money for the charity,
whilst others took part in an annual fun run at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire. Drax Group Chairman Phil Cox, started the 5km and 10km fun run which 70 employees took part in at the Skylark Nature Reserve next to the power station, near Selby. Each
employee donated £1 per kilometre to take part in the event. Those who opted to run the 10km course faced a climb up local landmark, Barlow Mound, which has views back over the power station, near Selby in North Yorkshire.
Fibre optic reaches Shambles
Home-grown honey for hotel
Local talent growth
York’s oldest street goes live with newly installed fibre optic internet connection for its businesses and joins York’s digital revolution.
York’s only five-star hotel is buzzing after its newest residents presented staff with a very special gift.
Langleys Solicitors, which has offices in York, Lincoln and Manchester, has a focus on developing talent and helping staff to get to the next step of their careers as part of its strategic plan.
Businesses along the Shambles and King’s Court can now receive internet speeds of up to 1000Mbps as a result of newly installed fibre optic cabling, funded through the government’s Gigabit Voucher Scheme. The Shambles is regarded as one of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe, overhanging with timberframed buildings, some dating back as far as the 14th Century. As a key part of York’s outstanding World Heritage offer, implementation of the fibre in this historic area of the city had to take into account the protection of the collection of listed buildings.
The Grand, York, has been a hive of activity since taking the decision earlier this year to house thousands of bees on its spacious, flat rooftop. And now they have paid for their keep by producing their first yield of golden honey. The Grand occupies a prime position overlooking the city walls. But the honeybees – who might easily have numbered up to 90,000 at the height of the summer – will have scoured a three-mile radius for the tree and flower nectar they needed. The hives house three colonies which have been tended by bee-keeper Paul Appleton, who manages apiaries in Pocklington across the York area.
In the past month alone, the firm has promoted seven of their solicitors, Oliver King, Debra Jackson and Rachel Witherick who move from solicitor to associate, Victoria Reynolds and Hester Mills who both progress from associate to senior associate, Edward Allen from solicitor to senior associate and finally Amy Cowdell from senior associate to partner. The latest promotions come as new figures from Mercer, the world’s leading HR consultancy firm, show that just 51 per cent of global companies are actively developing a future-focused people strategy.
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West & North Yorkshire Business
12
WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS
Made it to the top In my first magazine column since succeeding Gerald Jennings as the Chair of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, I thank him for the excellent job he has done over the last two years. There are no prizes for guessing which policy topics are expected to dominate… at least, in the short-term: Brexit and transport continue to take the headlines. On the former, businesses have been rethinking their investment strategies for some time now. Many have been withholding decisions to spend, unless it is on how they can best prepare – the mantra ‘preparing for the worst and hoping for the best’ is very much in vogue. The transport agenda continues to concern us, in particular Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2. Will the northern part of HS2 be cancelled? Awaiting that decision is frustrating. There is light at the end of the tunnel but someone may still turn it off! Our two manufacturing initiatives – Leeds Manufacturing Festival and Bradford Manufacturing Weeks – again proved to be very popular and successful. Almost 10,000 young people had some form of interaction with the world of manufacturing during these two events. For some of them, that involvement is potentially life changing. West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce continues to deliver outstandingly varied programmes for members with great networking opportunities as well as learning more about how to keep up to date with the business world we live in. Nick Garthwaite Chair of the Board West & North Yorkshire Chamber
New premises with financial aid West Yorkshire based Advanced Diesel Engineering Limited has announced new premises with the financial support of the Barclays Northern Powerhouse Fund. Established in 1998, Advanced Diesel Engineering Limited is headquartered at Langthwaite Business Park, Pontefract. The business is a leading supplier of diesel generators, power generation solutions and bespoke acoustic enclosures for generators used across a wide variety of sectors. The company also designs and manufactures switchgear enclosures. The new funding from Barclays has enabled the business to purchase a second manufacturing site at Hellaby Industrial Estate, Rotherham. Advanced Diesel Engineering Limited employs over 120 staff locally in Pontefract with a further 80 roles to be created at the new Rotherham site. Turnover for the current year is expected to exceed £25 million.
Partnering with Northern Powerhouse Leeds College of Building is the latest organisation to become a member of the Northern Powerhouse Partner Programme. As the UK’s only specialist further education Construction College, the appointment is recognition of the contribution the institution has made to the scheme.
The Leeds-based college joins a network of more than 300 partners – made up of leading businesses, civic bodies and charities – across the North of England aiming to boost economic growth with better transport links and increase investment. In 2018 the College was awarded BTEC Apprenticeship Provider of the Year and, more recently, expanded their estates portfolio to officially open phase two of their South Bank Campus, a £13-million development.
West & North Yorkshire Business
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13
A royal appointment
Our very own Sandy Needham has been appointed Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire by the Lord-Lieutenant, Ed Anderson. Sandy will assist the Lord-Lieutenant in carrying out his role as The Queen’s representative.
Sandy Needham DL said: “I am honoured & delighted to be appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire. There are many great charities, communities and businesses contributing to this area and it’s important to give them recognition through events, awards and activities and I'm keen to do that.”
BT launches new products
Housing progress praised
£3 million development begins
BT is launching an unprecedented range of new products, services and skills programmes to help customers across the UK and beyond realise their potential. The announcements are part of BT’s ongoing transformation and will improve mobile and fixed connectivity, set a new standard for customer experience, and provide digital skills for 10 million people and businesses.
A stone laying ceremony was held at a Yorkshire Housing development in Halifax that is breathing new life into a former ironworks.
Following the delivery of the two successful industrial buildings at Cross Green Industrial Estate in Leeds on behalf of Towngate, a contract for a third industrial unit has been awarded to Caddick Construction.
BT is also changing the way people and businesses interact with its products and services on the high street, in communities, within the workplace and even in people’s homes. “We’re helping families across the UK, and companies in Britain to remove the barriers of today to realise the potential of tomorrow,” said Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT.
Councillors and representatives from Homes England took part in the event at Titan Works on Claremount Road. The £7.1m project of 46 new homes is taking shape and will be a 100 per cent affordable scheme providing both rent and shared ownership. Calderdale councillors Stephen Baines MBE and Peter Caffrey (both ward councillors for Northowram and Shelf) were joined by the authority’s housing enabling and projects manager Richard Armitage.
The Yorkshire-based construction company will deliver a 57,500 sq ft detached double portal framed building along with infrastructure works and services. Work has now started on the Pontefract Lane site and will complete in March 2020. Caddick Construction delivered the first two units as part of the Towngate Link project, with both being snapped up as pre-lets. Wine merchant, London City Bond, has expanded into the 55,000 sq ft detached warehouse and Beerhawk took the second warehouse.
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West & North Yorkshire Business
14
Developing
people, all part of your service
L-R: Anita Watson and Jessica Jordan
West & North Yorkshire Business
Q4
MEMBERSHIP 15 The Chamber is committed to investing in the development of young individuals and demonstrates this through its successful apprenticeship programme. Following an internal promotion of a past apprentice, the Membership Services team has appointed a new apprentice to assist the team. The team welcomed its first apprentice in 2015, and more than four years down the line their traineeship programme has become an essential part of their approach to recruiting a regular intake of loyal staff. The apprenticeship training programme in place at the Chamber has helped to upskill staff in continuous improvement processes and workplace organisation techniques. In 2016, the team welcomed apprentice Jessica Jordan, who worked towards a Level 3 Business Administration qualification. Jessica successfully completed her apprenticeship and became a valued member of the Customer Services Team, leading to her promotion this summer. As a newlyappointed Membership Services Executive, her role is crucial in retaining and recruiting new members. Jessica said: “Studying for A levels wasn’t really my cup of tea – I wanted to work and gain a qualification at the same time. While completing my apprenticeship I was responsible for processing new member registrations and maintaining the database. Three years later, I have more direct contact with members, where I follow up with customers and partners to ensure they are happy with our services. I attend networking events and work closely with the Membership Services Manager to make sure we are constantly meeting members’ expectations.” The Chamber relies heavily on its Customer Service Team to deliver a high-quality service to members, and after discussing the requirements of the team, it was identified that a Business Administration Apprenticeship would be the perfect blend of skills needed. It includes teaching an apprentice the basic principles of strong communication and customer service skills paired with the ability to identify how best to help businesses. Membership Services Apprentice, Anita Watson, is the latest addition to the team. Joining the Chamber as a recent school leaver, Anita is currently working towards a Level 3 Business Administration qualification. Membership Services Manager, Liz Wood, said: “I’m confident that we’re now offering our customers an even better level of service, which is really important. I know that the team is now working to a recognised, professional standard and that this has greatly contributed to the continuous improvement within the department, which is increasing our customer satisfaction all the time. We’ve recently promoted within the team and the training has really supported our internal restructuring.” In a recent Chamber survey over 85% of members said they were satisfied with their membership. This year’s business plan has ambitions to maintain and expand on this success with help from the six-strong Membership Services team.
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West & North Yorkshire Business
16 MARKET ANALYSIS
Retail therapy
for Bradford
What trends have arisen in your industry or business? What opportunities are you looking forward to in 2020? Ian Ward, General Manager at The Broadway, Bradford, said: “The retail and leisure industry has boomed in the Bradford district in recent years and will continue to flourish into 2020. From Keighley and Ilkley to Bingley and Shipley our offering as a leisure destination is vast; initiatives and events planned by the Sparkling Bradford initiative are testament to this. It’s such an exciting time for the city with a real buzz around Bradford Live and of course, the City of Culture Bid. “My involvement with The Bradford Bid has given me insight to the multitude of things going on over the past year. We’ve welcomed a plethora of businesses to the district, including the prestigious PwC and NHS, proving that Bradford is being acknowledged as a growing, vibrant
city. Arts and culture is a key area of growth for Bradford, and Channel 4’s relocation to the region is set to present exciting opportunities for both existing businesses and the next generation of creative thinkers.
“We’ve seen work start on Bradford Live, the re-development project of the historic former Odeon building in the city centre. A venue of this size will attract national and international performers, sporting events and corporate exhibitions and conferences, which will in turn benefit the retailers and night-life in the district. “The Broadway’s performance in 2019 really showcases how the retail industry is excelling in the region. A host of new retailers have opened in the Centre including Pizza Express and River Island Kids, and 2019’s footfall figures are set to follow suit from 2017 and 2018, by increasing by an additional one million visitors. “In order for Bradford to move forward, we need to recognise the importance of our high street and the opportunities that lie in the retail
and leisure industry. The opening of the Darley Street Market in 2022, which will offer the best of local and regional fresh food, is hugely exciting as it will transform the historical market building into a shopper destination that is fit for purpose in the 21st Century. “Developments such as Darley Street Market and Bradford Live, events for visitors handled by Sparkling Bradford and multiple partner organisations and businesses across the city, coupled with The Broadway’s increasing leisure offering will help us to welcome even more visitors to the Bradford district and the city centre. “Retailers face a busy and very important trading period over the next few months and The Broadway will support retailers by providing visitors with a full leisure offering which will bring families into Bradford to stay longer and create memories together. In November and December alone, the Centre will host more than 16 event days kicking off with the spectacular Festive Launch with a number of famous faces.”
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TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES 17
Palace Capital is a listed property investment company which owns a diversified portfolio across England, focussing on opportunities outside London. As a leading property investment company operating in the regional market, we are looking to grow by continuing to buy private property companies and significant single assets. We consider ourselves entrepreneurial and opportunistic looking for properties where we can create sustainable income through refurbishment or redevelopment. Up until 29 March when we were due to leave the European Union, we found it increasingly difficult to let our vacant space, particularly in Manchester where 30% of our 75,000 sq ft city centre office building was unoccupied. When the UK did not leave, it became clear that many companies were tired of waiting and just decided in good old British fashion to “Get on with it”. In these few months nearly 60% of this space has been let. Thus, there is activity on the leasing front, but the property investment market is much reduced due to the continuing uncertainty. There is no doubt that confidence about our country’s future is far more prevalent in the North, so we are particularly pleased with our significant holdings in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York and
Newcastle now becoming known as the Northern Powerhouse. At our flagship development in York, we are well underway erecting 127 apartments, 35,000 sq ft Grade A offices, 5,000 sq ft of other commercial plus car parking. In June when our marketing suite was ready, we put 20 apartments on the market. We have now sold or have under offer 30 apartments with demand outstripping supply. There is strong interest in the offices and with graduate retention on the rise in the major cities, companies are contemplating relocating to the North. Channel 4 are moving a significant number of people to Leeds which Burberry did two years ago with Hiscox having moved to York from the South in 2015. Talk Talk have also announced a move North to Salford. As for trends, we have noticed that several companies operating outside of city centres are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit or retain highly skilled people particularly amongst the young. Fewer teenagers are learning to drive bearing in mind the cost of owning and maintaining a car and the availability of ready alternatives such as Uber. Thus, with many business parks lacking amenities such as coffee shops, gymnasiums, restaurants and pubs and often access to public transport, city centres will continue to increase in popularity from both an office and residence point of view. It was no surprise to us when
Sony announced that they will relocate 500 employees from the Wavertree Technology Park on the outskirts of Liverpool to 65,000 sq ft at the former Liverpool Echo Building in the centre of Liverpool where we recently acquired a 70,000 sq ft city centre retail and office building. Most of our acquisitions since 2010 when we took Board control and had a market capitalisation of only £108,000, have been of companies that own commercial portfolios and I feel that 2020 will bring us these kinds of opportunities particularly if there is continuing uncertainty. On a personal note, it has become clear to me that many of our Parliamentary representatives have not understood the damage that they have done by not acting on the will of the people. Not everybody was happy with the Referendum result, including me, but we must move on and take advantage of what our great nation has to offer, as uncertainty is the enemy of business. My company continues to be confident about our future and that of the UK and will continue to invest as we are doing significantly in York. Neil Sinclair Chief Executive PALACE CAPITAL plc
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West & North Yorkshire Business
18 FEATURE
TransPennine
supernova With much of the transport debate revolving around High Speed 2 from London, we are interested to hear how TransPennine is planning, investing and delivering new trains, journey improvements while connecting the cities of the North.
The Chamber marketing team caught up with Chris Nutton, Major Projects Director at TransPennine Express, in the First Class lounge at Huddersfield Station for a whistlestop interview to discuss a brighter future for customers and network expansion. What is your current priority? I’m responsible for the introduction of 44 new trains onto our network over the next few months, including our new Nova trains.
How will passengers benefit from your Nova trains? We know we have had some challenges with capacity on our existing trains. Our Nova trains are a shining example of investment in the North, a bright new future for the region and a fantastic space-age experience. Nova trains are some of the highest specification trains available on the UK rail network, travelling at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour. They offer twice the capacity of our existing trains on many of our routes, completely transforming the customer experience. When I’ve seen passengers react to them, people have stood in awe at how impressive and space like our trains are. Passengers will benefit from brand new amenities, Wi-Fi, and fantastic interiors which makes for a genuinely excellent travelling experience. TransPennine proudly offers a new onboard entertainment system which includes access to the latest news, current affairs and some brand new TV programming, films and box sets. Our state of the art seat reservation system will allow real-time, up-tominute reservations. We have included really clear displays with colour coding, attracting you to those empty seats as you board our trains.
We’ve also got plug sockets at all of our seats to keep that phone charged, just when you need it, so you can stay connected right across your journey.
When will your Nova trains be available for passengers? We have a few of our new trains in service already, but November is really important for us, as we ramp up the number of trains operating services through Leeds, going up to York and Newcastle.
What will this mean for the region? The Nova trains are a £500 million investment in the region, but it’s not just about the trains. We’ve had to do a lot of capital works to go and support those trains, including new places to put the trains to bed at night and extending station platforms to accommodate the longer trains.
How will businesses benefit from your new trains? Connectivity is essential for businesses, and transport is key to joining the fantastic economies of Yorkshire and the Humber, but also linking up to the Northeast, to Scotland and Manchester quickly and in comfort. On some parts of our network, there will be impressive reductions in journey time and improvements in frequency, enabling people to carry out business to business communication, to get to those meetings quicker, with earlier starts and later finishes. We are improving the ability to get work done on the move, increasing the productivity of both business owners and employees. We aim to double the capacity on our network, through new trains, the expansion of services and train lengthening on other routes, for example, between Hull and Leeds.
How are you further trying to improve rail transport? The improvements don’t stop there. At TransPennine we’re working very closely with Transport for the North, Department for Transport and Network Rail to develop some proposals for how we can develop the network further. We operate on a very congested stretch of infrastructure in the North of England, much of it Victorian, with some quite low speeds on the network and with quite a lot of congestion where trains catch each other up. We need to expand that network, increase the number of tracks and improve the signalling through the £3 billion transport route upgrade. We hope Network Rail and Department for Transport can work with us on a future strategy for growth and improvement, including perhaps, making our new trains even longer in the future.
How have you worked with the Chamber? At TransPennine, we’ve got a dedicated team who work with the business community to go and develop the products and services within our network to support their needs. We also have a dedicated Stakeholder Management Team that works with the Chambers in the North West, Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East and we get great value out of the relationships that we build up through the local Chambers. We use the support from the local Chambers for that push on investment in transport in the region. We value the feedback that comes in from Chamber members about how we can improve the products and services that we offer.
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FEATURE 21
“Our Nova trains are a shining example of a £500million investment in the North, a bright new future for the region and a fantastic space age experience.”
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West & North Yorkshire Business
22 BREXIT
Is your business
Brexit ready?
The UK’s impending departure from the European Union will bring change for businesses of every size and sector. While some companies are already planning for the challenges and opportunities ahead, the Chamber believes that all firms – not just those who trade with the continent – should be undertaking a Brexit 'health check', and a broader test of existing business plans. Time spent thinking through the changes that Brexit may bring to your firm could yield real dividends in future. There are steps that businesses of all sizes can take now to start planning ahead. The Brexit checklist has been prepared over three years through research conducted by the British Chambers network around business preparation, and in response to member queries and the information available from government. We hope you find it useful as a basis for business planning at both operational and Board level. The checklist looks at key areas in which business should consider possible changes, and resources which can help you plan. These include 1
Workforce
2 Cross-border trade 3 Taxation / Insurance 4 Currency / Intellectual Property / Contracts 5 Regulatory Compliance / Data 6 Sector specific information 7 EU Funding and Public Procurement
You can access the checklist along with guides for customs, tariffs and rules of origin in the event of no-deal at www.wnychamber.co.uk/business-readiness-for-brexit/ If your business has any questions in relation to Brexit then please do not hesitate to contact mark.goldstone@wnychamber.co.uk
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IMMIGRATION 23
Immigration policy update
Chamber members met with Home Office officials in Leeds to discuss the future immigration policy which is currently working its way through Whitehall. The Immigration White Paper was published in December 2018. The key changes being recommended are as follows: • There will be a single immigration system that is skills based. There will be no separate system for EU migrants. • The definition of skilled worker will be amended/ lowered to include people with the equivalent of A-level qualifications. • There will be a £30,000 minimum salary threshold for skilled workers. • The Immigration skills charge will be extended to EU workers. • There will be an all-skilled route under which low skilled workers will be able to come to the UK to work for a period of 12 months, followed by a 12-month cooling-off period when they would need to leave the country. There is no possibility of the worker changing to a skilled visa during this time. • The resident labour market test (RLMT) will be removed for skilled jobs, although there may be an RLMT requirement introduced for A-level equivalent roles. • The sponsorship process will be simplified to make it easier for SMEs. Proposals to make the immigration process simpler were welcomed by members, as the current system is considered to be highly bureaucratic and expensive. However, concerns were raised that a UK wide minimum salary threshold of £30k was too high. It was felt that many sectors would be affected by this threshold and that regional variances in salaries may harm their ability to bring in labour from overseas in the future. Further concerns were raised about the 12 month temporary visa and whether this was too short, and should it be longer with an equally longer cooling off period. Additionally should this route into UK employment be different for different sectors, for example in agriculture and food processing which is often very seasonal and may only require 6 months. Members questioned why a transfer to a skilled visa could not be allowed, as this would discourage investment in training in individuals. More information about the future immigration policy can be found here www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-future-skills-based-immigration-system Members are encouraged to contact the Chamber if they have any comments or wish to raise particular issues relating to the immigration policy.
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24 GB EXPO
It’s time to get serious about Brexit
Report from the Leeds World Trade Summit at GBEXPO19 On Thursday 12th September 2019, the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) brought their World Trade Summit programme to Leeds for the first time as part of Chamber International’s Global Business Expo 2019. This collaboration saw trade experts from across both organisations and the wider support landscape give a packed room of exporters advice on a broad range of key global trade topics and international markets. With Brexit very much dominating the headlines at the time, causing continued perplexity and uncertainty, British businesses have needed information about what the potential consequences of a ‘no-deal Brexit’ could be, and support on how to mitigate any negative impacts. The speakers at the World Trade Summit showed that exporting will be no less doable after Brexit (whatever its form) but warned that planning and skill would be essential to ensure it is done successfully, cost-effectively and compliantly.
A morning’s tour around the world The morning agenda comprised of presentations from market specialists from around the world, covering a number of the most potentially lucrative markets for UK exporters post-Brexit, including India, Thailand, China, Brazil, USA, Singapore, Egypt, UAE, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The scale of opportunity in many of these markets was the key message from the majority of speakers, who were also keen to show that emerging markets will continue to dominate future global economic growth. Chamber International then facilitated one-to-one meetings between delegates and speakers over lunch.
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INTERNATIONAL 25 Showing them how it’s done Following a morning that showcased the opportunities that are out there for Britain’s exporters, the IOE&IT’s afternoon summit showed them how to go about entering these markets. Lesley Batchelor OBE (then Director General, IOE&IT) discussed some of the significant changes that Brexit will likely bring, particularly concerning Customs clearance paperwork and ‘rules of origin’, but was also keen to point out that support is on hand for businesses. She talked about the government grant funding which businesses can access in order to learn key Customs processes, such as completing Customs declarations, as well as the related training courses provided by the IOE&IT. Jana Horvath-Pocciova, Export Finance Manager, UK Export Finance spoke about the ever-expanding support that UKEF are providing to UK businesses. The case study speaker, Keith Jackson, CEO, Brandon Medicals, was one such person to have benefited from UKEF assistance. Keith noted that exporting had taken him around the world, including trade missions to China with former Prime Minister, David Cameron.
Brexit - people, Customs, IP and currency Though Brexit has long dominated the agenda at IOE&IT’s regional summits, this event took place in September, a month when businesses were acutely aware of the need to engage seriously with the many practical issues it raises. Andy Dobson, Head of Sales, Northern, Moneycorp, pictured right) encourage businesses to take steps to mitigate potential swings in the value of sterling should Britain exit the EU without a deal, while Arta Heath, Managing Director, MyUKVisas, talked through the ramifications this might have on the human side of business, visas, and settlement status for current and future employees. Kirsten Toft, Vice Principal, Virtuoso Legal, gave an overview of a less-discussed issue relating to Brexit, namely, its impact on intellectual property rights. She recommended that businesses undertake a full IP audit, seeking proper legal advice on how Brexit may affect their intangible assets. Stephanie Holmes, Senior VAT Manager, Grant Thornton, then covered some important issues relating to Customs and VAT. She explained the need for companies to ensure they know their EORI number, understand how to complete Customs Declarations, and realise the potential benefits of AEO (Authorised Economic Operator status) and TSPs (Transitional Simplified Procedures). Together with Chamber International’s morning expo, the Summit provided delegates with plenty of information and encouragement for them to be positive about trade ‘post-Brexit’, but also knowing that there is much to be done to ensure their businesses are fully prepared. Event partner for the Global Business EXPO19: Moneycorp. Sponsors: Traveleads, MyUKVisas, Alexika Original article by the Institute of Export & International Trade, edited by Chamber International
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26 INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Getting the most out of trade expos More than 10,000 international trade expos and exhibitions now take place globally every year, and that number keeps growing. The challenge is finding the right one to fit your strategy, and ensuring you get the most of the opportunity. The right team Brooksbank Industries have been making “synthetic combing aprons” for industrial wool combing machines for over 30 years, and exports account for the majority of their turnover, with China their top market. They identified a key event in 2019 – ITMA in Barcelona, the international textile and garment technology expo which comes to Europe just once every four years. To capitalise on this opportunity, they asked Chamber International for in-market support at the event – support in the form of Michelle Wang. Michelle grew up in China, took an MA in textiles at Liverpool University, then worked for the Business Confucius Institute in Leeds, before working with Chamber International. She said, “It was amazing walking into ITMA again. It’s like the Olympics for textile manufacturers. With 8 big halls at the expo, it took 20 minutes to walk to our stand. There were nearly 1,700 exhibitors, with China the second most represented country, and about 200,000 visitors!”
Yuanfen, planning and results Michelle went further, “Expos are an unbeatable opportunity for face-to-face communication with agents and customers, both existing and new. Sometimes the feeling when you meet is like what we Chinese call yuánfèn (fate) – you connect, exchange WeChats, take photos, then keep in touch. One Chinese lady began talking with me because she liked the cute toy sheep at our stand; it turned out she was a former customer who was now glad to have found Brooksbank again. Yuánfèn! “Preparation is vital. Agree a way to work with your agents or distributors, so that, for instance, they get benefit from bringing leads to your stand. Ask key customers and suppliers if they will attend, and arrange to meet them. Review the exhibitors list beforehand, decide who you want to meet, and how you will do it. Don’t just wait at your own stand – go and visit the stands of potential partners and customers. Learn all you can about your competition! “For multi-day events, set daily goals so you don’t lose focus after the initial excitement has worn off. I keep notes as I go along, and write a report within a week of the event finishing, so all new knowledge and action points are captured.”
Don’t miss out Brooksbank Industries felt that ITMA was a great success for them. Whatever sector you’re in, don’t write off international expos and trade shows; with the right team, good preparation and record keeping, they can take your business to the next level! Contact Chamber International - we’ll help you get the most out of your next international expo.
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REPRESENTATION 27
Survey reaches 30 The Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) is 30 and over the last three decades has proven to be a remarkably accurate barometer of the regional and national economy. The QES is the UK’s largest independent business survey. It is monitored closely by the UK Government, Bank of England, and financial institutions globally. The Chamber briefs these institutions on the QES results, and the data is used to feed into monetary and fiscal policy decision-making. Regionally the QES results are shared with policy makers and influences local decision making. The third quarter findings, published in October said very loudly that just one theme was dominating the results which is the ongoing and relentless uncertainty caused by Brexit. Manufacturing activity slowed significantly in the three months to September, as companies report the lowest level of domestic sales activity in seven years. Industrial exports also slowed for the second consecutive quarter. Following the stockpiling we reported in the first quarter of 2019, companies may still not have unwound their positions, meaning that cash is tied up which in turn may hinder their ability to respond to threats and opportunities as we prepare to leave the EU. The service sector also reported slowing sales, driven by a fall in consumer spending. Speaking about the results, Nick Garthwaite newly appointed chair of West & North Yorkshire Chamber said, “Companies are holding off major decision making ahead of Brexit, the uncertainty is crippling. Manufacturing investment in the last quarter was at its lowest point since the EU referendum as companies await the outcome of negotiations between Brussels and Westminster. “We are encouraging all companies, irrespective of whether they trade with Europe or not to review our Brexit checklist and make sure they are prepared. This is available at www.wnychamber.co.uk/ business-readiness-for-brexit”
Responding to climate change In 2008 the government brought in the Climate Change Act setting out policy to move towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. More recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that we need to move at a faster pace in order to limit further warming by 2030. In response to growing public concern a number of local authorities across our region have declared climate emergencies. However, I do not believe that local authorities should have to deal with the challenge of climate change on their own. Indeed we know that businesses also share concerns, and given the record number of entries in the 2019 ‘Raising the Bar’ awards we saw what many of you are already doing to support the environment. In October we invited businesses to join a new policy group formed specifically to answer the question, “What role can business play in tackling climate change?” The group, formed under the oversight of the Leeds Chamber Property Forum (although businesses from across the region and across all sectors are welcome to take part in future activities), will look at how we can create more sustainable towns and cities and what tools and policy levers we might need in place. Matters under discussion include changes to planning policy, improvements to transport and highways infrastructure, increasing the number of electric vehicle charging points, retrofitting of housing to make it more energy efficient and mitigation measure for future extreme weather conditions. If companies are interested in getting involved then please contact mark.goldstone@wnychamber.co.uk
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West & North Yorkshire Business
28 TRANSPORT
First Bus leading the
green
revolution
Buses are a vital part of our region’s infrastructure. More journeys are taken by bus than all other forms of public transport combined (DfT National Travel Survey 2017). Buses have an important role to play in supporting economic growth and reducing social deprivation. They connect people to work, school, medical facilities and leisure activities. Buses are also helping tackle environmental issues and supporting national and local targets on improving air quality and reducing carbon as highlighted by the recent Climate Emergency declarations. A fully loaded double decker bus can take 75 cars off the road (Greener Journeys). Whilst a brand-new diesel car with a single occupant can emit more nitrogen oxides than a new bus carrying 50 or more passengers (Passenger Transport). As one of the major bus operators in the region, we understand the vital
role we play in working with local councils to find solutions to reduce air pollution. In Leeds, First Bus is working with the City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority to transform bus travel through ‘Connecting Leeds’. As part of its commitment, First is more than half way into an investment of £71m in 284 new, ultra-low emissions buses to be completed by the end of 2020. The investment is part of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme which will also see significant infrastructure improvements to help tackle congestion and speed up bus journey times. Already we are seeing the benefits of new bus investment. Since the introduction of the first batch of low emission vehicles in Headingley, air
quality readings are showing a reduction in recorded NO2 levels. In addition, the services, branded ‘LeedsCity’ offer enhanced passenger facilities including next stop audio announcements, USB charging points and free Wi-Fi and have helped increase passenger numbers on the Headingley corridor. We are also working alongside the local authorities and other operators to bid for government funding for retrofitting of vehicles to ensure we can not only meet Clean Air Zone requirements but improve the air quality across the York & West Yorkshire bus network. Already over 300 local buses have now been retrofitted with technology to reduce their emissions as part of the work being undertaken by the West
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29 “First Bus, are committed to providing reliable bus services and supporting local economies and we believe the air quality agenda allows buses to demonstrate their full potential.” Marc Bichtemann Managing Director First York
Yorkshire Bus Alliance following successful bids to the government’s Clean Bus Technology Fund. Leeds is also set to operate 9 electric vehicles through the City from Spring 2020 following a successful funding bid with the Department for Transport. Paul Matthews, Managing Director of First West Yorkshire, added that the announcement earlier this year will: “Complement the existing commitments to invest in ultra-low emission vehicles to aid with improving air quality in Leeds.” Investment in new ticket machines has also helped reduce boarding times with faster payment options through mobile & contactless so the bus spends less time idling at the bus stop and give customers quicker journey times. Encouraging modal shift and reducing congestion are significant factors in achieving cleaner air objectives. Successful Park&Ride schemes in York & Leeds, provided in partnership with the local authorities, help to reduce the numbers of cars travelling through our cities. In Leeds, 8 new ultra-low emission Hybrid Electric buses were
introduced in 2018 to serve the expanding Elland Road and Temple Green Park and Ride sites. Leeds will shortly benefit from a new 1200 space Park & Ride site due to open at Stourton in 2020. In York, First Bus are proud to work closely with City of York Council providing one of the UK’s leading Park & Ride networks. Electric vehicles have been running in York since the opening of the sixth Park & Ride site in 2014 and the following year electric vehicles were added to the Monks Cross P&R site. A further 21 new electric vehicles are being introduced into the York fleet from December providing a huge boost to the City’s air quality objectives. Marc Bichtemann, Managing Director of First York, said: ‘We’re proud to be the operator of one of the biggest fleets of double deck electric buses outside of London, as we continue to work with City of York Council to improve air quality in York.’ These are all parts of a virtuous circle; more passengers mean fewer cars on the road, less congestion and, in turn, improved air quality. As part of this
objective First Bus continue to work closely with business for example through the discounted employee travel scheme, ‘Commuter Travel Club’ with companies including Aviva in York and Direct Line in Leeds. Marc Bichtemann added, “First Bus, are committed to providing reliable bus services and supporting local economies and we believe the air quality agenda allows buses to demonstrate their full potential.”
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30 EDUCATION “My message and my ask would be: ‘let’s talk’. Where universities and the business community work together I’ve seen amazing things achieved. I want us to do that for Yorkshire and combine our expertise to achieve wider benefits.”
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EDUCATION 31
Education & business A force for the future Marc Fleetham, York St John University’s new Director of Business Development and Knowledge Exchange, has built his career on bringing educators and businesses together to spark regional and international success. Now, having moved from the Midlands to Yorkshire, Marc hopes his enthusiasm for new ideas and innovation can provide a catalyst for the next exciting phase in how the University contributes to research, knowledge and economic growth in the region. York St John has a strong record of working with the business community across both the city of York and North Yorkshire, as well as being a major provider of graduates for several of the key public services in the county and beyond. Marc’s ambition is to build on what’s going well and play an ever more proactive part in supporting the needs of the surrounding area. “The role the university plays in the community is one of the main things that attracted me to York St John. I want to ensure it remains a connected civic institution by increasing our involvement in groups and networks that bring business together to work collaboratively and strategically. I particularly want to understand the changing training needs of the workforce so we can continue to offer professional services that are fit-for-purpose in the 21st century and reflect and respond to local business needs.” It helps that Marc can draw on many years of working in business himself, having forged his early career across the petrochemical, construction and steel industries, specialising in business development and change management. After that, his move into Higher Education saw him work at the
University of Wolverhampton where he supported business start-ups, ran regional business centers in partnership with local authorities and local enterprise partnerships and successfully secured several major funding bids. Marc’s business development remit has also seen him work with partners in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Throughout this work, partnership and flexibility has been the key “One of the things I like about York St John is that it is a smaller university, but with big ambitions. That means we can demonstrate the agility to try new things and use partnerships and innovation to make them work on a wider scale. The development of our new sister Campus in London is a great example.” Marc also recognises that it is an exciting time to be in York, with a mix of opportunities and challenges. “On the one hand developments such as York Central, the growing role of the Business Improvement District and the renewed efforts to develop York’s brand can be really positive. York St John is contributing with initiatives like the build of our new Creative Centre on campus and the launch of the first Data Science degree apprenticeship in the country. On the other hand, we know Brexit and wider economic uncertainty create a difficult trading environment for many businesses.” “My message and my ask would be: ‘let’s talk’. Where universities and the business community work together I’ve seen amazing things achieved. I want us to do that for Yorkshire and combine our expertise to achieve wider benefits.” Marc Fleetham can be contacted at m.fleetham@yorksj.ac.uk
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West & North Yorkshire Business
Plenty in reserve
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FEATURE 33 L-R: Pauline King, Assistant Regional Employer Engagement Director, Richard Lenton, Regional Employer Engagement Director and Liz Kama, Employer Engagement Admin Officer.
Across Yorkshire, more than 240 employers have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant to pledge their support for the military. The Covenant was launched by the Government in 2014 and is run in this area by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Yorkshire and The Humber (RFCA) which has a team in place to support employers that want to do their bit for the military. Its regional employer engagement director Richard Lenton said: “Signing up to the Covenant is quick and easy. “But for many companies it is an important first step on the ladder towards getting a better understanding of the military and accessing a pool of fantastic potential employees in the form of service leavers and reservists. “My team is here to help every organisation that signs the Covenant and make sure they have all the information and support they need to get maximum benefit.” “We support companies big and small – ranging from one-man bands to large, international businesses employing hundreds of people,” said Richard. “What they have in common is that they want to do the right thing by Britain’s Armed Forces and at the same time recognise the business benefits that being forces-friendly can bring.” Once signed up to the Covenant, many firms choose to deepen their commitment by embedding forces-friendly policies and procedures into their working practices – enabling them to take part in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme
There are clear reasons why so many organisations have opted to sign up to the Covenant, says Richard. It enables them to: • show their support for Britain’s Armed Forces. • display the Armed Forces’ Covenant logo on their website and other marketing materials. • get access to free, military-run leadership and teambuilding training. • get help and guidance on advertising their vacancies on free, military-focussed jobs boards • make their organisation more attractive to high-quality service leavers and reservists. The Employer Recognition Scheme has three tiers - Bronze, Silver and Gold. To reach its highest, Gold Award level, employers need to go the extra mile for the military, for example, by offering guaranteed interviews and extra paid leave so reservists can attend annual training camps. In North and West Yorkshire, City of York Council, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and WYG in Leeds have so far achieved a Gold Award but Richard is working with many others to follow their lead.
It takes just five minutes to sign up at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporate-covenant-pledge For more information about the Armed Forces Covenant, contact the Employer Engagement Team at the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Yorkshire and The Humber at yh-areed@rfca.mod.uk or call (01904) 637929.
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34 FEATURE
Case Study: An inspirational force Whether it’s a student campus in the centre of Leeds or a military installation in the Middle East, consulting and engineering firm, WYG, depends on its teams of experts to develop, design and deliver major projects worldwide. And that means attracting and retaining skilled staff. “We don’t keep count, but we recruit a higher than usual proportion of our people from the military,” said director Andrew Fotherby. “For us, it’s not only about technical knowledge. It’s about broader-based skills – leadership, discipline, the ability to problemsolve and to generate great working relationships both internally and with our clients, and create high performing teams.” WYG has its UK headquarters in Leeds, and has recently become part of the global consulting and engineering firm, Tetra Tech, that has 20,000 people in more than 450 locations around the world. As well as being one of the companies behind Leeds City College’s new city-centre campus and the re-development of the world-famous Headingley Stadium, its recent portfolio includes a new base for the Royal Navy in Bahrain and UK Government aid programmes across sub-Saharan Africa. It is also the only commercial company in the whole of North and West Yorkshire to win a Gold Award in the Government’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
To be a Gold Award winner, organisations must sign the Government’s Armed Forces Covenant in which they pledge to treat the military fairly. As well as supporting reservists when they are deployed on active service, they must also give them at least 10 days’ fully-paid additional leave to enable them to do annual training. At WYG, support for the military also includes fund-raising for veterans’ and other military charities and a mentoring programme to help service leavers get a foothold in the construction industry. “Gold Award winners set the standard that the best employers aspire to,” said Phil Walton, head of engagement at the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Yorkshire and The Humber, which operates the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in North and West Yorkshire. “Many employers start off by simply signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant which they can do quickly and easily online. From there, they have the option to develop the degree of commitment they show the military, progressing to Bronze and, then, Silver Award level, before aiming for Gold. “Employers sign up to ‘do their bit’ for the military. But they also recognise the benefits too—making themselves more attractive to a loyal and motivated pool of potential recruits that will help their organisations grow and thrive.”
The award recognises the firm’s strong, forces-friendly credentials which cover not only its recruitment and selection processes but also the HR policies it has in place to support reservists – employees who also serve in the military. “Securing the award was a major validation of the support we provide to the Armed Forces, including our reservists,” said WYG president, Douglas McCormick. “We recognise the value that service leavers and reservists bring to the company and are committed to supporting them. More importantly, the ERS Gold Award doesn’t mark the end of that commitment, but the beginning.”
Award-winning Yorkshire Dales Distillery is one of the 240 employers across Yorkshire that has signed the Armed Forces’ Covenant – pledging to be a forces-friendly company. Launched by husband and wife team Tony and Sarah Brotherton, the firm is based in Catterick.
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35 Leadership and management Reservist Helen Haigh, aged 37, of Bradford, has worked for WYG as a project manager for two years. She combines her civilian role with serving as a captain with the Royal Engineers.
Why did you join the reserves? After university, I spent 10 years in the regular Army serving in various roles, including in Afghanistan. When I left to get a civilian job, it seemed natural to be part of the reserves.
How much time do you spend as a reservist? The amount of time you devote to the reserves is up to you. Training is flexible and you can fit it round your life. I tend to do my training in weekend blocks.
What is your role with the reserves? Currently, I spend quite a bit of time in the Yorkshire area supporting the 4th Infantry Brigade in community engagement.
What support do you get from your employer? WYG has comprehensive policies in place and we get a standard 10 days paid leave a year for training as well as the possibility of sabbaticals if we choose to go on deployment.
How does being a reserve impact on your job? Being a reserve gives you the opportunity to build a much wider skills base. I encourage colleagues to think about it because of the opportunities it provides. Also it’s a great way of making new friends.
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36 PROFILE
Food for thought The Yorkshire food and drink sector is growing extremely fast and with a large number of clients covering all areas within the sector Garbutt + Elliott are often asked about how SMEs and emerging businesses can develop within such a competitive field. Three years ago we inaugurated the Garbutt + Elliott Yorkshire Food + Drink Business Awards to celebrate and reflect the movement of the food and drink industry in Yorkshire. The awards highlight the county’s growing position within the national and international marketplace and have been set up in recognition of entrepreneurs and businesses from across Yorkshire who have been part of creating the county’s great food industry. The regional food and drink sector is growing both in size and recognition and we are committed to being part of the movement
positioning Yorkshire’s plethora of businesses at the front of the game. When it comes to smaller businesses, a great way to gain momentum and gather informed advice is to network. Whist fiercely competitive the regional food and drink sector is also, by nature, closely knit and supportive. Networking with other like-minded businesspeople and entrepreneurs is a great way to build contacts, gather information, learn from the experience of others and increase your own confidence within the marketplace. Of course, networking is not solely for new or young businesses – businesses with a national or international brand awareness must continue to network to make sure they don’t miss out on opportunities and partnerships. More and more joint ventures between large conglomerates and small artisan producers are popping up across the UK, highlighting the consumers desire to “do good” and keep “local” whilst also having a genuine need to be able to afford this at a cost only larger businesses can allow for. But as smaller, localised businesses band together in
their efforts, more and more it is necessary for the corporate brands to maintain relationships and look for new areas of expansion and development. It is essential to network to remain visible and relevant and to keep up with trends from a grass roots level up. As part of our new look business awards we are creating a networking group specifically for the sector, in order to create a platform to support the Yorkshire food and drink industry and to encourage the leading and rising pioneers of the sector. Our awards are open until the end of January 2020 and with 15 categories, five of which are new for 2020, there is something for all to enter, whether large or small or food, drink or indirectly related business. There are even categories to champion employees and charities. To find out more about our food and drink business network group and to enter our awards visit www.garbutt-elliott/food-awards or call 01904 464100. You can also email awards@garbutt-elliott.co.uk.
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To boldly go…
Where is architecture heading in 2020? Box Architects CEO, Graham Place, discusses the emerging trends in the sector, and identifies the opportunities for his firm in the year ahead. “Space… those of a certain generation might guess (wrongly) what’s coming next. Except it’s not the final frontier; it’s the biggest challenge facing developers, planners, clients and architects right now. Right on our own doorsteps. Every day, my colleagues and I at Box Architects are faced with challenges of space. Space to develop in crowded and expensive inner-city areas, or space to actually get the work done on sites where noise, dust, traffic and general upheaval can have a detrimental effect on people’s health and wellbeing. Nowhere is this more of a challenge than at hospitals or healthcare facilities. These are typically tight, overdeveloped sites at the best of times but try to cram in contractors, site buildings, machinery and materials, and the result is a far from healthy environment. The aim, therefore, is to
get offsite as quickly as possible, but that can have huge impacts on cost, quality and safety. Here at Box Architects, we’ve been investigating ways to reduce disruption and cut time on site. By embracing modern methods of construction (MMC), we’re transforming the way hospitals and healthcare trusts create and extend their facilities – designing modern facilities that can be manufactured offsite and installed quickly onsite to minimise disruption for patients and staff. A CT imaging suite, GP’s surgery and acute hospital ward are among the first to be created by our specialist team, and put social sustainability within the healthcare environment right at the top of our design priorities. Space is also at a premium in our cities and often the only way is up. Here, I believe that sustainable rooftop extensions, combined with MMC, could be the answer to the UK’s housing crisis. So-called ‘airspace development’ can provide additional housing, rejuvenate under-utilised existing buildings and improve the public realm. It’s
sustainable, doesn’t further choke ground-level sites, and is an effective way of creating additional accommodation in previously untouched or discounted locations. Of course, when developing ‘up there’, construction can be an equally lofty challenge. By embracing MMC, we can address the cost, sustainably and logistical issues of rooftop construction. For example, steel frame systems provide a complete loadbearing superstructure that can be assembled in situ, and have many advantages over traditional methods of construction. They are lightweight, quick to install, durable and suitable for confined sites (therefore ideal for city centre construction). Along with modular healthcare facilities, it’s where we see big opportunities in 2020 – as we boldly go…”
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38 PROFILE
Expansion and growth across Yorkshire Kerry Hope Managing Director Castle Employment
Castle was founded in 1966 and has been built on one solid foundation: creating long-term relationships with all our employees, clients and candidates. Their head office is in Scarborough – where the business was established over 50 years ago. Now operating from 4 offices across Yorkshire, their newest being the York Office established in October 2018. They recruit across specialist sectors with dedicated, industry specialist recruiters in every division. All the recruitment team at Castle are fully qualified Recruitment and Employment professionals. Their willingness to invest, and determination to help everyone at Castle grow and their commitment to making Castle the very best place to work are all reflected in staff retention. The average length of employment in the recruitment industry is 26 months - at Castle it is 7 years. Within the research findings that Castle have produced – both analytical and anecdotal – it indicates increasingly that employees are looking to work for companies that provide them with more than just a fair salary plus the usual benefits and perks. They want to be part of a diverse company inundated with easy to use solutions that increase their engagement, promote their wellness, and improve their work-life experience. The increase of innovative technology for the workplace mirrors the shift towards a more holistic employee experience. As research shows time and time again, companies suffer when employee engagement is low. When employees feel valued their dedication and enthusiasm for their jobs and companies grow, which, in turn, increase employee retention, performance and productivity. 85% of the HR employees we spoke to about this found that using HR technology improved employee attitude toward the company. 78% strongly argued that employee engagement initiatives will help their company retain the most productive staff.
Castle Employment Leeds: 0113 457 4595 Scarborough: 01723 365432 York: 01904 405251 info@castle-employment.co.uk www.castle-employment.co.uk @castleEmploy @CastleEmploymentGroup
Kerry Hope, managing director of Castle Employment Group, said: “The strategic growth into York has been on our radar for the last 24 months. Often attracting the talent is the hardest part of any growth strategy and so having an office in York will help us to attract and support our candidates and grow our client base.” Castle continues to focus on increasing diversity to improve company-wide performance and workplace culture. Castle Employment are delighted to be working with some wonderful clients in York and are excited to be working on plans to continue to grow further across the region.
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PROFILE 39
Over the past 20 years, the legal profession has changed drastically, from the type of work involved, to the technology used, and the level of service expected by clients. In order to survive this evolution, the most savvy of law firms are beginning to do things differently – not only embracing change but becoming innovators in legal services delivery - to quite simply ‘offer more for less’. Dynamic international law firm Reed Smith was among the first of its kind to invest in a forwardthinking legal model when it opened the Global Customer Centre, in Pittsburgh in 2009, with a view to offer around-the-clock support to fee earners across its 29 offices. In August 2018, the firm opened a second hub right here in Yorkshire, named Reed Smith Global Solutions Leeds, with ambitious growth plans of building a team of over 100 staff, primarily supporting clients and partners in Europe and the Middle East. With its open-plan layout and intra-department structure, the hub in Leeds is far from the typical image of an overly formal and hierarchical law firm. The centre has been designed to allow individuals with different skillsets and experiences to work alongside each other to find new approaches to problem solving, while also being trained in Lean Six Sigma to adopt a mindset of continuous improvement.
The start-up environment already boasts 80 employees, almost all employed from the local area. The mix of legal services and business services professionals work collaboratively to develop new customised approaches to the delivery of client-centric legal services. Centre director Barry Spenceley said: “Our qualified Sigma professionals from both legal and analytical backgrounds embed Sigma principles to allow us to deliver consistent high quality for Reed Smith and our clients.” Tamara Box, Reed Smith’s Europe and Middle East managing partner, said: “It was heard loud and clear that in order to stand out in this competitive industry, the firm had to develop more innovative ways to deliver efficient, costeffective services without sacrificing quality, and that was the vision behind Reed Smith Global Solutions. “Having embraced the culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and shared innovation in Leeds and Pittsburgh, we are already seeing the results of highly trained and diverse teams working collectively to increase efficiencies. Our clients are delighted and we are already looking at growing the Leeds team.” Leeds has benefitted from the widespread trend of London firms relocating or opening new offices in the city. Tamara added that Reed Smith was drawn to the area by its strong talent pool, high quality real estate, growing technology offering and the two-hour connection with London.
Reed Smith Platform, New Station Street , Leeds LS1 4JB +44 20 3116 3000 www.reedsmith.com
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40 FEATURE
Reasons for high praise The recommendation of the city was based on a range of factors female business leaders were questioned on, including their view on the strength of the city’s business community, the availability of partners and suppliers, and its talent pool. Each of these measures ranked highly among the small business cohort. The sentiments were echoed by Joanna Robinson (pictured), Managing Director of Mansfield Pollard, a Yorkshire Bank-supported business with over 150 years of heritage in the manufacturing sector and an established presence in West Yorkshire. Speaking about her experience as a female business leader in manufacturing in the region, Joanna commented: “West Yorkshire has long maintained its position as the UK’s leading location for manufacturing pioneers, with an extremely strong local supply chain and wealth of experienced talent. It’s central geographical location and excellent transport links makes it extremely attractive to not only business’ covering the UK, but also multi-nationals. “The diverse talent pool, as highlighted by the Bank’s survey, is crucial to encouraging different perspectives and ideas to drive innovation and success.” Given the findings of the latest SME Health Check Index for Virgin Money UK, owner of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, it’s little wonder that the city, alongside the wider Yorkshire and the Humber region, is an increasingly popular home for female business founders. The quarterly report from the Group found Leeds had the most diverse mix of businesses (sector-wise) out of any of the 25 cities included. The diversity of the economy is a major asset for the region, allowing it to achieve growth in a more sustainable manner with less exposure to sector-specific shocks.
Survey reveals
optimism amongst Leeds-based
female business leaders
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FEATURE 41
Challenges remain for female leaders
Regional versus international perspectives
Though the data revealed strong optimism in some areas, it also indicated there are significant challenges for female entrepreneurs at a national level.
The data also showed women generally remain more focussed on local, rather than national or international growth, compared to their male counterparts, with 60% of female entrepreneurs operating purely on a regional or national scale, vs 54% for men.
Female business leaders in all cities included in the survey reported facing hurdles in obtaining finance for their enterprises, with only 24% surveyed saying they found it ‘easy’ to access funding for growth, compared to around a third (32%) for men.
As the UK’s capital, with larger inflows of investment than the rest of the country, London might seem like the leading city for nurturing entrepreneurial ambition, yet our research shows that for female entrepreneurs, Leeds is more highly regarded. A survey we conducted this year revealed 77% of Leeds-based female business owners would recommend the city to their peers, putting it in second place just behind Leicester (78%), ahead of eight other UK cities, while their perspectives on future business success were also markedly more upbeat than elsewhere, with 43% saying they felt optimistic about their firms’ growth prospects over the coming year, ahead of London in second place (40%). The findings come from a study into the attitudes and opinions of 2,000 small business owners from a range of sectors across 10 of the UK’s largest cities, which compared insights into work-life balance, growth ambitions, innovation, dynamism and diversity.
“The overall results of the survey are encouraging, particularly as female business leaders reported similar levels of tangible growth to their male counterparts nationwide,” said Sue Douthwaite, Small and Medium sized Business Director at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank (pictured). “As a Bank with a long history of supporting Leeds-based SMEs, it was also encouraging to see Leeds rank so highly in different facets of the research results. We recognise the importance of the city to the economic growth of the wider Yorkshire area and much of this comes from its smaller firms. We will continue to support their growth plans. “However, clearly a larger proportion of females are finding it difficult to receive the funding they need. This is an area for us all to work on – remedying this issue can lead to greater growth across the UK and encourage a wider variety of perspectives in the business community.”
Speaking about this finding, Joanna Robinson said: “I would encourage women-led businesses of this size to consider all routes to market, looking further afield than their local and regional markets, paying particular attention to the international and national market opportunities. “I would also point out the number of SMEs in this region and to look to each other for support and advice when needed. We have some great companies in the local area, and we should all take advantage of each other’s experience and knowledge for mutual benefit.”
Our support for female entrepreneurship At Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, we work with a wide range of female business leaders to help them start and scale their companies. We’re proud to be a lead sponsor of the Woman Who awards and Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards in 2019, both of which recognise womens’ crucial contributions across the UK.
Find out more about the research at secure.ybonline.co.uk/business
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42 PROFILE
Faith and finance
As Chapter Steward of the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York – better known as York Minster – Kathryn Blacker is responsible for a 900 year-old building renowned for its stunning gothic architecture and the largest collection of medieval stained glass in the UK. The Minster is a magnet for tourists attracting almost 700,000 visitors each year, and making an important contribution to York’s economy. This is in addition to its primary purpose as a working church delivering four daily services 365 days of the year. It is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second highest officer holder in the Church of England and is the Mother Church for the Northern Province. Kathryn said: “Running the Minster requires a level of business, strategic and operational planning that some people might not readily associate with a place of worship. The Minster Precinct is a complex, multifaceted site, including the Stoneyard, the Minster School, the Old Palace Library, a learning centre, gift shops, St William’s College and tranquil Dean’s Park.” Kathryn continued: “The scale and diversity of the operation here comes as a surprise to many. We are a major employer in York with more than 260 staff and a 400-strong army of volunteers It costs £23,000 a day to run the Minster. With no direct funding from the Church of England or from government, prudent financial management, income generation and fundraising are high priorities. The publication in May 2019 of a draft York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan is vital for the cathedral’s future. The result of feedback from a public consultation in 2018, the draft Neighbourhood Plan includes proposals for a new café, ticket office and visitor welcome centre, a sensory garden and as part of a wider city initiative, a new public square – the first in the city of York for nearly 200 years. “We took time to explain the proposals and the potential benefits not only for the Minster but also for the local community and for the city of York,” Kathryn said. “We have been very careful to take on board everything that has been said particularly where concerns have been raised. We’ll publish the final plans in 2020.” “The level of public engagement and support has been hugely pleasing. There is an extended global community of people who are passionate about York Minster and who want to be involved in shaping the cathedral’s future.”
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PROFILE 43
Passion & drive Voted by Insider Media, we are Yorkshire’s fastest-growing independent fleet management company that offers bespoke and innovate vehicle solutions for both personal and business markets.
We mainly provide Daily Car and Van Rental, Vehicle Leasing and finally Flexible Leasing, sometimes dubbed as a ‘Car Subscription’ service. In 1995 just within reach of York’s historic Bar Walls, we started with five employees and a small fleet of nine vehicles. Today, we proudly stand together with an eclectic team of 75+ professionals and an arsenal of over 2,000+ vehicles at our disposal. 2020 will also see the launch of our new 24-acre £7m head office which will be located at Clifton Moor, York.
Scott Jenkins Autohorn
Our passion to drive forward new technologies as well as introducing innovative ways to rent or lease your new car means we’re always at the forefront of our industry and can react quickly to the changing market. Furthermore, we continually collaborate with key organisations to ensure that our customers are provided with seamless end-to-end journeys. The rapid expansion of our ‘Flexible Leasing’ or ‘Car Subscription’ as it's sometimes called, has seen thousands of new contracts signing up each year. In a nutshell, Car Subscription is leasing on demand. Drivers have access to a huge library of different models, which they can swap into as often as every 28 days. However, if they’ve decided they’d like to cancel or pause the service, they can return the vehicle within a week’s worth of notice with no additional charges. Setting up and creating your contract is effortless. Our team guides you through each step of the journey, and you can be driving away in less than 48-hours from the initial call. What’s more is that road tax servicing, breakdown cover, as well as roadside assistance, is covered as standard with all contracts. Our Daily Rental arm will get you on your way, very quickly. With access to a UK network of 450,000+ vehicles (including specialist models), we can have your booking delivered to you within 2 hours. Our sleek online booking system also means you can book the car wherever, anytime. Looking for a permanent solution? Then Vehicle leasing is the perfect option. We’ll provide quotes based on any make, model, mileage or contract length to fit you and your budget. The choice is yours.
FLEET SERVICES Autohorn Fleet Services Independent fleet management company for personal and business. 01904 557 536 talk@autohorn.co.uk www.autohorn.co.uk
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44 PROFILE
Construction restructured Rex Procter and Partners are looking to the future with renewed enthusiasm after restructuring their offer to the construction industry earlier this year.
Rex Procter started in Park Square, Leeds in 1937 as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, providing construction cost consultancy services to public and private sector clients. Over the years the business has grown and in 2012 the RPP Group was formed, providing services nationally from bases in Leeds, Bradford, Marlow and London. RPP’s core cost consultancy skills continue to be a key part of their offer, but they have employed professionals with a broader skill base to offer Project Management, Employers Agent and Dispute Resolution services to their clients. These are now major parts of the business and operate within the north from the Leeds office.
Rex Procter and Partners Construction consultants. www.rpp.co.uk @RPPNews rex-procter-&-partners
In recent months, Alex Blenard, Executive Director, has brought his team over from Bradford to offer a wider skill base to clients across Yorkshire and beyond. Alex commented ‘‘We have always undertaken projects throughout Yorkshire (and for specific Leeds based clients) and it seemed a natural progression for us to consolidate our talents and skills in one office. We are already seeing the benefits of providing an improved service to our clients and we look forward to
continuing and developing this in the new year with greater certainty within the economy.’’ The last few years has seen the business complete several high-profile projects ranging from the development of Premier Farnell at Logic Leeds for Muse Developments, to the Dakota Hotel for Evans, Nexus for University of Leeds, the redevelopment of West Yorkshire Playhouse and industrial units in Wakefield for Wilton Developments. Current projects on site include a new Distribution Centre at Logic Leeds, the new Sports Centre at Low Moor Bradford, the redevelopment of Leeds Opera House, Savoy Cinema and Retail Hub at Doncaster, The Refinery student accommodation project and Wyvern Park in Skipton. RPP also retain a strong presence at all levels of the Education and Housing sectors. RPP Management Limited, which is based in Bradford, offers Principal Designer services, Building Surveying, Asbestos Management and Asbestos Consultancy. They very proudly maintain a long-standing relationship with Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc. RPP undertake projects of all types and sizes and are genuinely grateful to all their clients for the patronage they have shown in the past, present and hopefully the future.
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PROFILE 45
Why storytelling is king in marketing Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways you can bring your brand to life.
A great story evokes emotion, grips us and most importantly, will be remembered; everything a brand wants to achieve. Nothing connects a brand with its audience quite like storytelling, it’s one of the greatest tools a marketer has at their disposal. Louise Wright, Commercial Director at Leeds creative agency, Punch Creative discusses the rising trend in-depth and why brands should harness the power of storytelling when marketing their products and services. We’ve been telling stories since the dawn of time. Cavemen used the art of storytelling to communicate and connect. Today, we are surrounded by more stories than ever before. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the art of storytelling has become a top priority for marketers, as they look for ways to cut through the noise in an extremely crowded world. Stories enable marketers to form a deeper connection with their audience. It gives brands the power to portray their core values and drive stronger relationships with customers. But, like anything, great stories aren’t born overnight. If brands want to tell stories right, they need a fully integrated strategy, which conveys core messages, values and most importantly connects with the target audience. As humans, our attention spans are short, therefore, attracting and retaining this is easier said than done. Whether it be digital, creative or written, any content produced needs to be engaging, otherwise, your campaign is destined to fail…a brand’s worst nightmare! Once the initial planning is complete, you need to consider the channels, or in other words how you’re going to tell your story to people. Aside from the story itself, how you tell it is one of the most important considerations. Who is your audience? And how do you reach them? At Punch, we’ve found the best approach is with a multi-channel campaign. From creative and website design to social media and PR, a fully integrated strategy will ensure your story is consistently told across different platforms – maximising potential reach and exposure. As the storytelling trend only continues to grow, our marketing strategies need to evolve. Consumers strive to invest in a brand’s narrative, and research has shown they feel more driven to spend money when they feel connected to a brand. Every company has a story to tell and with the right strategy, your business can begin to reap the benefits, like brand loyalty, increased awareness and sales. Punch Creative is an award-winning marketing agency based in Leeds. Operating as a full-service agency, the company specialises in content marketing, social media, PR, creative design and website design.
Punch Creative 0113 255 7285 info@punch-creative.co.uk www.punch-creative.co.uk punchcreative punchcreativeleeds punchcreative
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Digital Yorkshire By Ryan Gracey, Head of Digital and Technology Gordons LLP www.gordonsllp.com
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The rise and rise of Yorkshire’s tech ecosystem Yorkshire has a thriving technology sector, with the region’s digital technology companies boasting a combined turnover of £3.7bn and employing 53,000 people, according to Tech Nation. With further growth expected following some big new arrivals, Ryan Gracey, head of digital and technology at Yorkshire law firm Gordons, predicts a bright future for the county’s tech start-ups. When Channel 4 confirmed back in October 2018 that Leeds would be the new location for its national HQ, it was another shot in the arm for a booming digital technology industry in Yorkshire. While Leeds in particular has a long history as a centre of creative and digital expertise, continued investment in the region is now making Yorkshire one of the true powerhouses when it comes to tech start-ups. A recent survey by Tech Nation shows that Yorkshire is the third fastest growing region in the UK in terms of capital invested across all tech industries – with the UK as a whole attracting more investment than anywhere else in Europe. This trend shows no sign of easing, particularly with the expected halo effect of new arrivals in Leeds including Channel 4 and US tech unicorn Credit Karma, and the continued work of tech investment platforms like NorthInvest to support early stage start-ups. So how can our digital tech founders capitalise?
A collaborative approach One solution is to take advantage of the plethora of advice and support available. If we – as a region – are to spearhead further growth in the sector, angel investors need advice and personal support on where and how to invest, and start-ups need exposure to potential sources of funding. At Gordons we are now more than 12 months into a threeyear strategic partnership with Northern Powerhouse-centric investment platform NorthInvest, which is seeing our two organisations work closely to identify, connect and develop early stage tech start-ups throughout the North of England. Within the partnership, Gordons has advised early stage startups on securing funding, including online cycling marketplace BikeZaar and medical technology company Renephra in the past year. Yorkshire’s technology start-ups continue to be on a journey, but the future is bright for their ecosystem if they take the right advice and find the right support networks in place.
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48 INTERVIEW Closer to home, the North of England is a region with a bright future, enhanced by investment in transport systems which I believe must be delivered for the potential to be truly reached. Some other opportunities come from provision of health and education facilities and, the science of batteries and renewable power as we move towards a carbon neutral environment.
Opportunities, Trends and Brexit Introduce yourself, your role and an outline of the business. I’m Douglas McCormick, President of WYG. We undertake a wide range of projects and programmes of work through our planning and environment, design and engineering and, management and surveying businesses. In July we became a part of American head-quartered Tetra Tech group, a leading provider of consulting, engineering, and programme management services.
What is important / unique / driving force behind the business? Making a difference in the world we live in is the driving force for our business. Whether it’s advising on planning for a major residential development, undertaking an environmental impact assessment, or decommissioning a nuclear power station what these projects do is to help address key issues such as meeting the need for housing, providing a long-term sustainable energy mix and, supporting economic growth.
What opportunities do you see in WYG’s future? Globally there are three strategic issues that present opportunity: water, energy and people movement. The provision of these is critical globally and how to ensure their continued provision is part of the difference we can make in the world.
How is your business engaged with the regional business community? Our team works collaboratively with fellow consultants, contractors and Local Authority bodies and use this Network to forge alliances and share opportunities whilst supporting growth initiatives across the region. We are active in the Chamber of Commerce - our Environment Director, Marc Davies, being chair of the Climate Change group whilst our Planning Director, Marianne McCallum, is chair of Bradford Property Forum. We are also founding members of Business North, a group focussed on engaging with government on key regional issues.
Why did you move your office/HQ to Leeds City Centre? We want to be at the heart of the city among our clients. We wanted to move to a flexible working environment in a BREEAM rated building. We wanted to change the commuting habits of our people and encourage travel by public transport, cycling or walking. Sovereign Square has been well received by clients and staff.
What projects in the region are you particularly proud of? We are very proud of our involvement in some high-profile education projects in Leeds including Leeds Arts University’s new teaching block where we helped excavate a total of 8,035m3 of existing material on-site, recycling 99.9% (winning Brownfield Briefing award) and Leeds City College where we helped to transform a derelict area in to a state of the art campus. We’re also proud to be providing services to both Headingley stadium (which was recently shortlisted for a Yorkshire
RTPI Award) and the Kirkstall Forge development.
How has Brexit impacted your business so far, what plans have you made, and what do you think may happen? There will probably be uncertainty surrounding Brexit for quite a while. Because most of our services focus on the front-end of the project life cycle we have not seen much of an impact to our business. Becoming part of Tetra Tech allows us to collaborate with our colleagues for clients who come from beyond the UK borders as well as at home. What will happen? I think the better question is what will stay the same? The global supply and demand for goods and services is unlikely to change as the things people need remains unchanged. The political and regulatory environment may well change whether we remain or leave but we will adapt. I also think that the UK Government, of whatever persuasion going forward, will invest in the infrastructure across all sectors. That investment will be very welcome.
What did you do in early career, and does any of that influence you now? I started my career as an apprentice QS, attending the local college for 6 years part-time for my first degree. Starting as the junior apprentice through to becoming the senior apprentice six years later, I learned to work with people in the office, on construction sites, with clients and at college and the understanding that it is always people who make things happen has influenced me all through my career.
What would you say now, to your younger self or those starting a career in your industry? Two things: first, never stop learning! Get your degree, get Chartered, do a Masters, keep learning; second never be afraid of change or challenges. You’ll never know what you are capable of unless you take on challenges and change is increasingly a constant.
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MANUFACTURING 49
Students + business = success Bradford Manufacturing Weeks and Leeds Manufacturing Festival hit record numbers this year. Both initiatives are run by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and bring manufacturers from around the region and young people together. These events are developed to encourage and educate young people about the opportunities and rewarding career
paths available to them within the manufacturing industry. This year has seen the most successful manufacturing events to date, these included factory tours, apprenticeship and manufactures panels.
Here is what students, schools and busineses had to say: Manufacturing needs young people, fresh ideas and enthusiasm…
“Young people need to know that there are great opportunities within the manufacturing sector to start their career pathway.” Work experience
“Thanks for offering such an exciting placement, our learner, who has an EHCP, got a lot from it. The company have even offered to support her in the future with a further placement.”
Site tours
“Our students absolutely loved the site tour and came back ‘buzzing’. They enjoyed having ‘hands on’ experience” Employer led talks
“All employers that delivered gave clear and concise information that targeted the target audience at the time”
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West & North Yorkshire Business
50 APPRENTICESHIPS Brian Culleton Head of Apprenticeships University of York
Apprenticeships The rapid embracing of degree apprenticeships by the university sector is exceptional, with over 8,000 degree apprentices starting a Level 6 or Level 7 apprenticeship since they were introduced and over 100 universities on the Register of Approved Training Providers. From December 2019, the University of York is also embracing this opportunity by developing and offering degree apprenticeships across a range of specialisms. Our first programmes include the Nursing Associate (NMC 2018) Level 5 and the Advanced Clinical Practice Level 7 with swathes of other programmes proposed to launch from 2021.
Developing with employers Since the levy was introduced, employers have been investing increasing amounts of time understanding how the new apprenticeships regime works and how this can be used to recruit, develop and retain talent that they need now and in the future. All of our programmes actively encourage programme codevelopment with our employer partners as no-one understands their own skills needs better! Furthermore, we provide our employer partners with support on their own internal processes surrounding apprenticeships, for example ensuring line managers are fully equipped to provide appropriate support and mentoring.
Innovations in teaching and learning By working with and learning from our employer partners, we are constantly developing innovative approaches to our teaching and learning including the design of programme-specific workplace mentoring models; and the introduction of our ePortfolio - an agile, reflective and evidence-based tool to assess occupational competencies and to demonstrate achievement of the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) within an apprenticeship standard.
Business perspective
Workforce development & higher education
– an unmissable opportunity? The creation of new programmes, new funding streams and greater employerinstitutional partnerships means that, more than ever, businesses can look to the university sector for competitive advantage.
Before joining the University, Brian was responsible for apprenticeships schemes with Asda, BPP and Kaplan, and has, by his own estimates, overseen over 10,000 apprentices across more than 60 programmes. This gives him a strong position from which to advise businesses on maximising the value from their apprenticeship schemes and levy. He strongly advocates apprenticeships as a means of business futureproofing, saying “Its important to consider your current business skills needs when creating a programme, but also to consider how they are likely to have changed in, for example, 5 years�. To find out more about becoming an apprenticeship partner, please contact Brian Culleton on 01904 328946 or via apprenticeships@york.ac.uk.
Agile project management training course
West & North Yorkshire Business
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APPRENTICESHIPS 51 Anna Hastie Head of CPD University of York
Developing all-round leaders “In times of great change and uncertainty, effective leadership becomes even more vital to ensure that everyone in the organisation is driven by a common goal” Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD) “Leadership in the workplace” Viewpoint The University of York works in collaboration with businesses to develop the skills of their workforce through innovative and impactful training. Our consultative approach ensures we really understand the challenges facing a business and the individuals who will attend the training.
Establishing business needs The CPD Unit worked with senior leaders at a private education provider to help them identify the learning needs of 20 heads of departments. A training needs analysis was undertaken through questionnaires and meetings with leaders and potential delegates. Our immersive approach informed not just the content but how it is delivered; blending teaching with coaching and action-learning has proven to be the right method of training for this organisation. The consultative approach suited the individuals, and can be delivered flexibly around a busy teaching timetable. Most importantly, by building a trusted advisor relationship with the organisation, we are able to help embed the theory into practice and habit, ensure the training sticks, and delivers a significant observable impact.
Retention and progression The CPD Unit worked with a leading professional services organisation for 6 years to deliver a leadership development programme for over 120 senior managers resulting in an increase in retention and progression through the business, directly attributable to the University of York courses.
Regional focus As well as working with a number of global organisations, the University of York has a strong track record of working in partnership with regional businesses to help them grow and develop their workforce. Since 2017 we have delivered courses to over 800 staff from over 170 businesses, with 2/3rds of those based in the region. For more information on training, and current funding options, contact Anna Hastie on 01904 325143 or via cpd@york.ac.uk
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West & North Yorkshire Business
52 PROFILE
Constructing Yorkshire Since its formation 50+ years ago, SES Engineering Services (SES), has made a positive contribution to the construction landscape of Yorkshire and beyond, benefitting the local economy with decades of sustainable employment and training opportunities. As the UK’s leading engineering specialist, the company has a reputation for delivering innovative technical solutions through the design, manufacture and installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) solutions across a broad range of sectors, including commercial property, higher education, renewable energy and community facilities where the use of offsite manufacturing is prevalent. Steve Joyce Business Director North and Scotland SES
Such transformative solutions create advanced energy-conscious spaces for people to live and work.
Investing in technology As the digital age continues at a pace, to ensure that we are fully versed in this new era, SES has made a serious commitment and invested majorly in technology particularly in Building Information Modelling (BIM), reaping the rewards to become the first and only contractor in our industry to achieve BRE BIM Level 2, one month ahead of the government’s public sector project compliance deadline. More recently, we have invested in virtual technology as we continue to focus on our ‘build before we build’ approach. This not only adds value to us as a business, it also adds immense value to our clients by bringing a project to life, often before it has commenced on site.
Making our mark in the region and beyond Across Yorkshire, SES is currently working on multi-million-pound projects in the higher education sector for both the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University, making significant improvements to their estates, greatly enhancing teaching and learning facilities for the growing number of students wishing to study in Leeds. In the sports, community and leisure sector, our team is heading towards completion of our role on the new 8,000 seat York Community Stadium, which is only a stone’s throw from our Huntington offices. Outside the region, SES is making a major contribution on projects for global healthcare manufacturer GSK on Q-Block, a new high-tech Aseptic Manufacturing Facility at its plant in the North East. In the North West, we have recently commenced an enabling works contract on the construction of a new sustainable energy power station which will supply power to around 125,000 homes. SES Moorside, Monks Cross Drive, York, YO32 9GZ 01904 437340 @Engineering_SES
Of course, the leading-edge work we deliver wouldn’t be possible were it not for the depth of skilled resources we have to call upon. To ensure that we retain that edge, each year SES invests heavily in recruiting and retaining apprentices and graduate trainees, and this means that we will continue to make our mark on Yorkshire’s built environment landscape.
West & North Yorkshire Business
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ASK THE EXPERT 53
Could digitalisation help increase productivity in the UK? The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics confirmed that productivity in the UK fell at its fastest annual pace in five years in the April to June quarter - the figure - measured by output per hour – actually fell by 0.5%, after two previous quarters of zero growth, with both service and manufacturing seeing a fall across the period. In its summary the ONS stated that productivity, since the economic downturn in 2008, was ‘growing more slowly than during the long period prior to the downturn.” But why is this and why does it continue to create somewhat of a ‘puzzle’ as to what the answer might be?
Kevin Strauther Director PwC
What is clear is that the continuing economic uncertainty is definitely a contributing factor underpinned by the impact of Brexit. Many businesses, particularly within manufacturing, are wary of what the future might hold and are to some extent deferring any decisions on investment, whether that be in equipment or technology. But this in itself can impact productivity. A country's ability to improve its standard of living over time depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker. Those businesses who have continued to invest (and there are a good number in this region), particularly in digitalisation, may well have created and answer to some of the problem. By harnessing digital capabilities, which can help improve efficiencies – from supply chain, manufacturing and production processes and through to distribution – can better utilise its workforce to expand that much needed resource elsewhere within the business, more skilled people being used in more skilled jobs. This in turn can create a happier more engaged workforce combined with improved efficiencies raises productivity which in turn has a direct correlation in the ability to increase salaries and therefore the standard of living for each worker. The UK jobs market remains fairly resilient. The number of people employed continues to increase compared to last year, largely driven by the increase in women in work. And while unemployment has increased slightly over the last quarter, at 3.9%, the unemployment rate remains low by historical standards. Nominal average weekly earnings have also continued to grow at 3.8% year-on-year, a shade lower to the highest nominal pay growth since 2008 of 4% which was seen in September. Although the UK has had a good run of strong employment and wage growth, more recent data suggest that uncertainty is starting to bite. Hopefully this impact will be short lived and once the uncertainty around Brexit diminishes and will dilute ‘business uncertainty’ and provide some boost to business investment, where businesses can better determine the benefits of digitalisation which would be good news for productivity prospects.
PwC kevin.strauther@pwc.com www.pwc.com
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West & North Yorkshire Business
54 TOURISM
Castle Howard
revisited As one of the Country’s beloved historic houses and country estates Castle Howard has remained a family home since it was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1699, and has been open as a visitor attraction since 1952. Surely, this must make Castle Howard one of the ultimate sustainable businesses.
The House has experienced moments of drama and jeopardy in its long and colourful history. From the devastating fire of 1940 that saw the iconic dome crashing down into the Great Hall floor below to the filming of Granada TV’s ‘Brideshead Revisited’ at the House in the early 80’s, putting Castle Howard in front of thousands of viewers across the globe. Fast forward a few decades and Castle Howard continues to evolve to meet the needs of a changing visitor landscape. In 2020 we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Evelyn Waugh novel by holding a ‘Brideshead Festival’, where the stars of literature, TV and Film will gather for a weekend of exciting events. There are current growing trends within our sector towards visitors
wanting to buy experiences and make memories. As predictions for 2020 show a rise in ‘staycations’ it’s vital that Castle Howard remains top of mind when people are thinking of a great day out and we have invested heavily this year in developing a brand new Adventure Playground. ‘Skelf Island’ is now a destination in its own right for families and we have seen a huge uplift in the take up of our annual membership. It’s not just about remaining relevant in 2020 but promoting innovation and developing in the areas that we care greatly about as a business. We do lots to promote the landscape within which the House sits, encouraging our visitors to get outdoors, connect with the wildlife and ecology that can be found on our doorstep. Events like
BBC Countryfile Live, which returns 6 – 9 August 2020, help inspire our community in enjoying nature. Inside the House, we’ll soon launch a new Mandarin and English digital guide, narrated by Mr Howard himself, that will ensure visitors leave having heard the amazing stories of our collections, architecture and social history. This has been prompted by the need of our visitors from China, which is a continually growing segment of our audience demographic. Working with partners from the corporate and business sectors can provide really unique and inspiring outcomes, so if you’d like to find about the opportunities we have here at Castle Howard then please do get in touch. Visit www.castlehoward.co.uk
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West & North Yorkshire Business
56 PROFILE The North of England’s gas distributor, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), considers engagement with stakeholders to be a two-way process: striving for meaningful communication and ample opportunities for stakeholders to influence business priorities; helping to shape all services delivered to customers, communities now and into the future. Melanie Taylor, Head of Stakeholder Relations at Northern Gas Networks (NGN), gives her expert opinion on the importance of engagement as the company concludes its most far-reaching engagement exercise in its history. NGN’s upcoming plan for 2021 – 2026, has been co-created by more than 189,000 individuals across the region, with 92 percent of customers confirming that they support the proposals. It is their most ambitious plan yet and will set out the key promises that are designed to deliver what matters most to its customers. “Here at NGN, we are always looking for unique and interactive ways to implement customer and stakeholder feedback into the work that we do. As well as the 189,000 voices helping to shape the business plan, we’ve held more than 80 business plan engagement meetings and workshops, with the creation of our plan guided by three key principles: meaningful, inclusive and iterative. “Throughout each step of developing a business plan, it is crucial that ideas are challenged by an independent voice in a creative and proactive way. We are supported by the NGN Customer Engagement Group (CEG). Its role is to ensure that we have truly understood the concerns of our customers and stakeholders, which we believe is crucial to making future improvements to services. “This year also saw the launch of the NGN Public Panel and the ‘Footpath Feedback’ programme; a survey used to improve our understanding of how customers view our presence in communities. By keeping the focus on our people, we are shaping our future. “While expectations of our service may differ for each customer, our dialogue with the public has helped us identify five core priorities, which in turn underpin NGN’s business plan. With an emphasis on; safety, reliability, value for money, protecting the environment and preparing for the future. “We are acting on feedback from our customers. For example, providing a safe and reliable gas supply proved to be customers’ top priority, so in response we have promised to continue attending 99.9 percent of gas escapes within a one to two-hour target. “Stakeholders also expect us to deliver on the UK’s commitment to a low-carbon future, so we are ensuring that 100 percent of our fleet cars will be ultra-low emission or hybrid by the end of 2026. “We are now looking towards 2020, when our Annual Report and Independent Assessment will be launched at our own Annual Stakeholder Conference, providing further opportunity for challenge and feedback from stakeholders. With an increase of 27 percent in stakeholder satisfaction in 2018/2019, we are extremely excited to see how their thoughts will help to share activities in the coming year.” To find out more about NGN’s engagement work around its Business Plan development, please visit together.northerngasnetworks.co.uk
West & North Yorkshire Business
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ADVERTISEMENTS 57
CHAMBER HUB
Office space FOR AMBITIOUS BUSINESSES To express your interest in office space at Chamber Hub, call 01274 667266 or email andrew.robertson@wnychamber.co.uk West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
Set your business up to thrive with our newly refurbished, contemporary serviced office space situated in the centrallylocated and historic area of Little Germany. There are 12 office spaces available, ranging in size from 161 ft2 to 484 ft2. TENANTS WILL BENEFIT FROM: ● ‘Easy in, easy out’ terms ● High quality BREEAM accredited workspace ● Kitchens and breakout areas ● Meeting rooms ● Membership with the Chamber ● Member services and support staff onsite ● A DDA compliant, accessible building ● Secretarial services
ECONOMY SMALL
ECONOMY MEDIUM
ECONOMY LARGE
KC Communications
Exa Networks
Jacobs UK
ENVIRONMENT SMALL
ENVIRONMENT MEDIUM
ENVIRONMENT LARGE
Rance Booth Smith Architects
Associated Waste Management
Alfred Bagnall & Sons
EDUCATION SMALL
EDUCATION MEDIUM
EDUCATION LARGE
Approach PR
Robertson
Esh Group
COMMUNITY SMALL
COMMUNITY MEDIUM
COMMUNITY LARGE
ROSSO MATTO Architecture
Naylor Wintersgill
Benenden Health
West & North Yorkshire Business
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RAISING THE BAR 59
You said...
Rewarding positive social impact Over 140 attendees gathered for our Raising the Bar Awards, which recognises businesses with exceptional commitment to making a positive social impact on their local community. Twelve businesses were recognised as the Raising the Bar winners, across the categories of Economy, Education, Environment and Community. The atmospheric event was opened by host BBC Radio Leeds presenter Andrew Edwards at Leeds Civic Hall and included an opening dance performance delivered by two students from Bradford Chamber charity of the year, Dance United Yorkshire. Keynote speakers Lucinda Yeadon, Community Liaison Manager, and David Hodgson, Regional Head of Strategic Development, both from CEG, shared how they work with local people, support communities and educate young people. The Raising the Bar Awards were kindly sponsored by Provident Financial, Esh Group, Solenis and Drax Group, with Leeds City Council also supporting the initiative.
“Such a fantastic evening at the Raising the Bar awards last night. Amazing to see so many businesses doing great things in the community, education, economy and environment. Congratulations to all finalists!” @Approach_pr
“The team are enjoying the Raising the Bar awards evening tonight – fantastic to hear about so many businesses acting responsibly.” @Naylorwintersg
“What a fantastic evening at the Raising the Bar awards. We are proud winners of the Environmental Large category.” @BagnallsGroup
“Had an amazing time at Raising the Bar tonight at Leeds Civic Hall. Great event showcasing the excellent social impact of Yorkshire Businesses! Well done to all the team for their hard work!” @HopeParkBusines
“Excellent evening celebrating the efforts of so many who go above and beyond with their CSR.” @NW_victoriaw
“We’re delighted to have been shortlisted and having a fantastic evening at the #RTBAwards amongst many inspiring businesses.” @P_A_etc
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West & North Yorkshire Business
60 BRADFORD CHAMBER CHARITY
Transforming lives through dance DANCE UNITED YORKSHIRE IS A CHARITY DELIVERING RADICAL DANCE INTERVENTIONS WITH SOCIALLY EXCLUDED AND MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES “Dance United Yorkshire’s a motivational force, it opens the door to permanent changes in lifestyle.” Bradford Magistrate
W: www.duy.org.uk
T: 01274 649404
E: helen@duy.org.uk
M: 07775 334098
“Dance made me open up and accept myself for who I am. My work with DUY has been one of the best experiences of my life.” Participant
West & North Yorkshire Business
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INTERVIEW 61
Building skills
We spoke with Beth Ruddy, Social Value Coordinator at Esh Construction, to find out more about their pledge to the local community and how this links to the Chamber initiative, Raising the Bar. Why is social value important to Esh Construction?
Social value is important to Esh as we aim to employ, educate, engage and buy ‘local’ to make a real difference to the communities in which we work. We work with clients, project teams and external businesses from all different sectors to deliver our awardwinning programmes across West & North Yorkshire. Esh Group (Esh Construction’s holding company) was recognised for its outstanding work in the field by being awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity & Social Mobility.
How do you engage with the local community? Esh provides an array of employment opportunities to local people, including vulnerable groups and those furthest from the job market. We also offer work experience and apprenticeships
to students aged 16 and over in trade and office-based environments, giving individuals an insight and understanding of the construction industry. We aim to employ locally, either direct or via our supply chains, including people who have been out of work for longer than six months. Esh also engage with local colleges, universities and employment agencies close to our sites.
How do you further engage with young people in education? Building My Skills is an employability programme which provides students in Year 9-12 with a rounded introduction to the world of work. Throughout an academic year, each year group receives 4 presentations from different Yorkshire-based businesses. Each business guest provides an insight into their sector and the career opportunities within their organisation. After each session, students complete a ‘Checkpoint’ task, leading to completion of their own employability portfolio. The programme culminates with a Mock Interview Day, with all schools and businesses involved in the programme being invited to attend. Throughout the 2019/20 academic year we are working with 16 schools across Yorkshire and the Humber, engaging with over 2,500 students.
‘Get into STEM’ is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) themed Primary School programme which Esh run to engage Early Years Foundation Studies and Key Stage 1 students in construction, through an interactive workshop and a construction-themed resource kit. Esh also deliver Stay Safe presentations in primary schools located close to our schemes, to raise awareness of how to stay safe around building sites.
Why should businesses get involved with Raising the Bar? We are really proud to be involved with Raising the Bar. We think it’s a fantastic initiative for businesses to showcase their work within the local community, so many businesses are doing their bit and should be proud of what they are achieving. Through Raising the Bar, Esh have evidenced their work with local education establishments, residents and charitable organisations, allowing us to share best practice across the industry and learn from other local businesses.
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West & North Yorkshire Business
62 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.
Helen Clarke @Clarke2Helen Listening to @HarrogateSpring CEO James Cain with clients @WNYChamber lunch talking about importance of Building Brand & finding out what’s important to customers with @PullichC
Leeds Key To The North @leedskeytonorth ‘This isn’t about building a new train set for tomorrow. This is about building vital infrastructure for the next 100 plus years’ Mike Briffett from @LeedsChamber emphasises that we need #HS2alltheway in order to unlock opportunities for generations to come
Andrew Digwood @AndrewDigwood1
Fulneck Science @FulneckScience
Fantastic visit to @LBIAirport today with @WNYChamber. Great (especially for me - being an #aviation geek) to see “behind the scenes” (including the fire station and control tower) and to hear about the airport’s ambitious plans for the future. #YorkshiresAirport
An inspirational visit @CarnaudMetalbox for @FulneckSchool students within the framework of @BradfordMfg @bradfordChamber #bradfordmw2019. Thanks for opening doors to the real world of work and engineering
Our profiles Twitter @WNYChamber
LinkedIn West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
Facebook West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited
Christeyns UK @ChristeynsUK We’re looking forward to @RtBYorkshire awards in November! A fantastic @WNYChamber initiative that celebrates businesses social impact. Good luck to all those who entered #RtB2019
Caroline Chapman @CarolineChappy Great to be at the @BradfordChamber event today on behalf of @IncommunitiesHA. Hearing from Nigel Burton of the @Bradford_TandA about the changing face of newspapers
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West & North Yorkshire Business
64 BRADFORD CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER
Passion, pride and positivity
The Bradford Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner was an evening of celebration attended by over three hundred business professionals, local dignitaries and MPs. Bradford Chamber President, Suzanne Watson, who became President in July this year, spoke of her pride in being only the second female figurehead of Bradford Chamber. She shared with the audience benefits of being in business in Bradford and what she endeavours to achieve over her two-year term, Suzanne explained about how she has grew her micro business Approach PR over the last 18 years and shared her motto ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’. Suzanne also presented Low Moor-based TL Dallas with a certificate to celebrate their 100 years in business. The highlight of the evening was hearing from TV presenter and journalist Dan Walker as he entertained the audience with his own experiences on what it’s like to work for one of the world’s best and best-known broadcasters – the BBC. Dan explained how tough it really can be covering live news, he also described the challenges that faced him during his Kilimanjaro climb and that sometimes ‘you just need to listen’ to make big changes to peoples lives.
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West & North Yorkshire Business
66 EVENTS December 2 York Property Forum 5pm – 7pm £15 / £30 The Grand, York 3 Leeds Property Forum 5pm – 7pm £15 / £30 Pinsent Masons, Leeds 3 Business Lunch 12noon – 2pm £30 / £42 The Downe Arms, Wykeham 5 Pure Networking 7.30am – 9.30am £21 / £36 Leeds United Football Club 6 Chamber Christmas Lunch 12noon – 2.30pm £42 / £66 The Principal, York 10 Pure Networking 7.30am – 9am £21 / £36 Fulford Golf Club, York 12 Leeds Executive Network Lunch 12noon - 2pm INVITATION ONLY Harewood House, Leeds 16 Chamber Carol Service 6.30pm – 8pm NO CHARGE All Saints Church, Pavement, York 16 Learning Lunch: LinkedIn 12noon – 2pm £24 / £36 Devere House, Bradford
January 9 Pure Networking 7.30am – 9.30am £21 / £36 Leeds United Football Club 10 Business Lunch 12noon – 2pm £33 / £45 DoubleTree by Hilton, Monkbar, York 15 Learning Lunch: Strategic Marketing 12noon - 2pm £24 / £36 Devere House, Bradford 17 Networking Lunch 12noon – 2pm £33 / £45 Crown Spa Hotel, Scarborough 21 Pure Networking 7.30am – 9am £21 / £36 Middlethorpe Hotel & Spa, York 22 Learning Lunch 12noon – 2pm £24 / £36 Irwin Mitchell, Leeds 23 Bradford Executive Network Lunch 12noon - 2pm INVITATION ONLY The Great Victoria Hotel, Bradford 24 Property Lunch 12noon – 2pm £33 / £45 York Racecourse 30 Leeds Chamber Annual Dinner 6.45pm – 11pm £120 / £144 The Queens Hotel, Leeds
International Training Understanding Exporting
Wednesday 4 December 2019 – Leeds Chamber, Leeds
Export Documentation
Tuesday 14 January 2020 – RSM UK, Leeds
Export Documentation & Import Procedures Tuesday 28 January 2020 – RSM UK, Leeds
Incoterms® 2020 course
Tuesday 11 February 2020 – Irwin Mitchell, Leeds
The Export Sales Guide
Tuesday 3 March 2020 – Leeds Chamber, Leeds
Incoterms® 2020 course
Thursday 5 March 2020 – Irwin Mitchell, Leeds
Understanding Exporting
Tuesday 10 March 2020 – RSM UK, Leeds
Understanding Exporting & Incoterms Tuesday 24 March 2020 – TBC
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
End of an era
We are very sorry to say that after 17 years working as the Head of York & North Yorkshire Chamber Susie Cawood will be leaving the organisation in December. Susie has seen the Chamber grow from being a relatively small Chamber covering York & North Yorkshire to the much larger operation it is now representing businesses in Bradford & Leeds as well as York & North Yorkshire in which she has also led on events for the whole patch. There have been quite a few changes and Susie has played a key part in the Chamber’s growth and success. Susie said after 17 happy and busy years, she will be looking for some project work as she can’t imagine stopping work completely but also is looking forward to having some time to herself, travelling more as well as doing all the things she hasn’t had time for in the past 17 years. On behalf of colleagues, Directors and members we would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Susie for her great contribution. She will be greatly missed.
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CHAMBER HUB
Office space FOR AMBITIOUS BUSINESSES Set your business up to thrive with our newly refurbished, contemporary serviced office space situated in the centrally located and historic area of Little Germany. There are 12 office spaces available, ranging in size from 161 ft2 to 484 ft2. TENANTS WILL BENEFIT FROM: ● ‘Easy in, easy out’ terms ● High quality BREEAM accredited workspace ● Kitchens and breakout areas ● Meeting rooms ● Membership with the Chamber ● Member services and support staff onsite ● A DDA compliant, accessible building ● Secretarial services
OPENING JANUARY 2020
To express your interest in office space at Chamber Hub, call 01274 667266 or email andrew.robertson@wnychamber.co.uk
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce British Chambers of Commerce Accredited