West & North Yorkshire Business Q3 2022

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At a time of uncertainty, don’t face the future alone

Has there ever been a more challenging, turbulent time to be in business?

Following the unparalleled lockdowns during the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, supply chain issues, rising energy prices, inflation and interest rates have just exacerbated the fears of many business owners. Add to this the skills shortage we face post-Brexit and the weakness of the pound, it’s going to get more challenging through the winter.

One upside of a weaker pound, however, is for UK exporters that are seeing increasing demand for their products in the USA, such as Sound Leisure, a local jukebox manufacturer. Every cloud I suppose…

Whilst we could all be forgiven for feeling gloomy, UK businesses have repeatedly proven they are resilient and entrepreneurial enough to ride out such storms. Some won’t, of course, but many will because business owners are, by nature, problem solvers. Government intervention is needed, but it’s not always fiscally possible, and we are hearing many stories of businesses looking at new ways of working, coping and creating. New partnerships are being forged, sharing good practices and collaboration is commonplace, and new technologies are being adopted to future-proof against whatever the next crisis will be.

As a business representative organisation, we help our members by sharing up-to-date information on funding opportunities, the latest HR and legal advice, as well as providing a direct route and voice to both local and central government.

Finally, I am delighted to announce that we have been successful in two bids with the Department for Education to design two Local Skills Improvement Plans to address the employment challenges and shortages both West and North Yorkshire face. To do this, we need to hear and engage with all corners of the business community. To keep up to date with all the latest workshops and events, please visit our website or register your interest through skills@wnychamber.co.uk

Thanks as always for your support.

marketing@wnychamber.co.uk

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marketing@wnychamber.co.uk

WEBSITE yorkshire-business.com

TWITTER @WNYChamber

West & North Yorkshire Business is a quarterly business magazine produced by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The audience for this publication is comprised of a targeted audience of the major decision makers and senior executives across both the Yorkshire region and the wider UK business community.

2022 West & North Yorkshire Business - No Part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form of advertising or promotion without the express permission of the editorial team.

West & North Yorkshire Business has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate on the date of publication.

magazine is published by the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Printed by Hart & Clough www.hartandclough.co.uk

Chamber group includes Chamber International, Business Enterprise Fund and West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

cover features Professor David Glew from Leeds Beckett University

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

MEMBERS’

from Bradford, Leeds, York

North Yorkshire

across

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With you all the way

As we continue to face tough trading conditions and pressures both within and without, it is sometimes difficult to get the balance right when putting out messages to Chamber members and the wider communities of Bradford. We don’t wish to under-state the issues our members are up against and not note the concerns they are facing, but neither do we wish to not recognise the hard work being done to recover the economic progress we are making and the evident determination of our members to start moving forward as a community to create a more sustainable future, together. Rest assured, the Chamber is with you all the way to support and represent you, as well as celebrate success.

This issue of the Chamber magazine carries lots of positive news stories about what individual companies are up to, whether finding new markets, producing new products and services, or simply securing new clients; but it also includes articles on conversations that we’re having with politicians and other decision-makers on how things can be made better for our businesses – whether in Bradford, West & North Yorkshire, or across the North of England.

On a wider perspective, and looking further ahead, we also have the Bradford Live and City of Culture designation to look forward to, and I’m extremely excited about the ‘Bradford Skills Month’ in October helping connect businesses and young people. As always, I look forward to getting out and about to meet both business leaders and our other stakeholders as often as I can, and to helping to grow and develop our District for more opportunities in the future.

Victoria Wainwright President Bradford Chamber

BRADFORD NEWS

Bradford Garden Centre group acquires further centres

The directors at a Bradford Garden Centre group are purchasing two more garden centres.

YGC Group, the parent company of Tong Garden Centre, are taking over the two Stephen H Smith garden centres in Otley and Harden, near Bingley. All of the 100-strong Stephen H Smith’s team are transferring to YGC Group.

YGC Group MD, Mark Farnsworth is excited about the opportunity and said: “We are delighted to take on the Stephen H Smith sites. Their business was established in 1966 and has a proud history, we are very grateful to Christopher Smith for the opportunity to run these two great garden centres. We hope we can retain and enhance their reputation in the coming years.

“We plan to invest in both sites to help them thrive, which we hope will provide great opportunities for the existing team and for future employees.

“It has always been our ambition to create a group of family destination garden centres in Yorkshire and the addition of these sites sets us well on our way. We have been delighted with the progress we have made at Tong over the last seven years and, with Tingley set to open in the autumn and a planning application submitted for a third site at Thorp Arch, it’s going to be a busy second half to 2022.

Christopher Smith, partner in Stephen H Smith, said: “I’d like to thank our teams at Otley and Harden for all their hard work over the years, it has been very much appreciated. I am confident that we are leaving the business in very good hands and wish everyone every success for the future.”

YGC Group founders, Farnsworth and Tom Megginson acquired Tong Garden Centre in 2015 with 45 staff and a turnover of £3.3 million. Since the acquisition, turnover has grown to £15m and the team at Tong have raised over £50,000 for local charities.

Carpentry skills bring historic walled garden back to life

The historic building at Yorkshire Water’s Esholt Hall site is being renovated as a flagship Centre of Excellence for Yorkshire Water’s training academy.

Bradford College students on the City & Guilds Technical Certificate in Carpentry are enhancing their skills and gaining work experience at the site by producing raised planters for a new walled garden.

James Haigh, Technical Qualification Co-ordinator & Lecturer in Carpentry & Joinery at Bradford College, said: “There is no better experience for our students than working on a real project like this, fabricating onsite and working to real specifications. You often don’t see the real character of a student until you get them out of the workshop and expose them to real-life scenarios where they just flourish.”

Students have worked alongside community arts organisation, Sponge Tree, following drawing designs and even making some planters wheelchair accessible.

Paula Taylor from Sponge Tree said: “We are working towards the site and gardens to become a community wellbeing hub. Sponge Tree will deliver outdoor learning and rural courses from the gardens, from permaculture to basket weaving.

Peter Coddington, Partnership and Portfolio Manager at Yorkshire Water, added: “The students do a fantastic job for Yorkshire Water, and we hope in turn gain a great deal of satisfaction from working at such a beautiful location of the 300-year-old grade 2 listed Esholt Hall.”

Christeyns renews laundry sponsorship for Bantams

The laundry chemicals specialist has renewed its laundry sponsorship deal with Bradford City AFC., helping the club save thousands of pounds in laundry supplies.

At their University of Bradford Stadium home, Bradford City is home to over 150 players, incorporating the reserves, the development squad, the Academy and the first team. With several versions of the club strip, there are over 210 sets of kit to wash in a week, plus towels and physiotherapy blankets.

Michael Shackleton, Commercial Manager at Bradford City said: “We would like to thank Christeyns for their continued generosity and support. The laundry sponsorship has been a real benefit to the club, not only with superbly clean kit but helping us save on energy and water usage too.”

Guyson staff clock-up 180 years

At Guyson International’s Skipton headquarters, employees from the company’s blast and wash division gathered to congratulate seven employees for long service awards. Between them amassed a total of 180 years of service at Guyson,

The long service awards culminated with the presentation, in front of colleagues, of an etched glass vase and gratuities from the Guyson group’s Managing Director, James Thomson, to machine assembler Keith Miller who was achieving a magnificent 50 years of continuous service.

Keith has now remarkably worked alongside four generations of the Thomson family.

In a short speech, Keith said: “I have worked with some good people over the years but I think this will be my last long service award!”

A boost for community engagement

Sadar Uddin has joined Manningham Housing Association as Community Partnerships and Investment Manager.

He will work to deliver economic and social wellbeing improvement projects for customers and neighbourhoods.

Lee Bloomfield, Manningham Housing Association Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased that Sadar will lead on the Community Investment Strategy which has made a real difference to many people’s lives. It was devised to strengthen community resilience and, especially through our award-winning Building Bridges Bradford project, we have achieved remarkable levels of success across the district.

“With the onset of new challenges Sadar is an ideal fit to enable us to maintain the forward momentum our hard-earned reputation for excellence is built on.”

Keeping things positive

With such turbulence currently in the economy, and the ripples that is causing across the business community, it’s good to know that we still have lots of willing helpers that want to take on ‘extracurricular’ roles. It helps to bring in real expertise and deep knowledge into some of the Chamber’s activities and makes the organisation stronger, more professional and respected as a result.

The Leeds election meeting in the summer saw both new people come on board and seasoned campaigners re-commit to helping and supporting me and the wider business community. Thanks must also go to Quod’s Tim Waring, who has led our Property Forum for the last three years, while one of those seasoned campaigners – Gerald Jennings – steps back into that role for the time being, at least.

Next year is ‘Leeds 2023’, and I know that many businesses are looking forward to at least hearing all about the plans, if not getting directly involved in attending and supporting. It will help to keep the attention on the many positives of our great city at a time when the economic uncertainties are expected to be still present.

I hope that you enjoy reading the latest issue of the magazine, in which there are still plenty of good news stories about the successes of our businesses.

Mike Briffett President Leeds Chamber

LEEDS NEWS

Construction apprenticeship bridges the skills gap

A new Level 3 Construction Apprenticeship Standard is filling a skills gap in the building sector and giving a boost to school-leavers, according to West Yorkshire construction employers.

The recently-approved Construction Support Technician (CST) Apprenticeship is the result of two and a half years of collaboration between Leeds College of Building, a network of employers, professional bodies (CABE & CICES), associations (TICA & CECA), and major contractors across the construction and built environment sector.

Some 27 companies from the construction sector – led by Phil Evans of Barratt Developments – collaborated with the education sector on the creation, design and development of the apprenticeship programme. This co-ordinated effort enabled the new Apprenticeship framework to be fully endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE). The training will launch in September and school leavers can apply now.

Barratt Developments has agreed to take on 25 new CST Apprentices, with similar interest expressed by energy and regeneration specialist EQUANS, Persimmon Homes, and several local thermal insulation and civil engineering contractors.

Brian Duffy, Faculty Director at Leeds College of Building, said: “Gaining formal approval for this new apprenticeship is such brilliant news as it fills a significant training gap in the industry.“

Phil Evans, Chair of the employer board, and Head of Grants and Funding at Barratt Developments, said: “This standard will provide an important development opportunity for new entrants to the industry in roles where we have a skills shortage at all levels.”

Jordan Grainger, Learning & Development Manager at EQUANS said: “At EQUANS, we have noticed a gap in the current apprenticeship offering which has had an impact on recruitment for Construction Technician roles. We are now excited to be seeking our first Level 3 CST apprentices this summer, allowing us to continue to build our early careers talent pool.”

Tap into the talent pool

Specialist building adhesives manufacturer, Sika Everbuild, has partnered with Leeds College of Building to support its tiling and plumbing students as they embark on the first stage of their career journeys.

As part of the partnership, each term the Sika Everbuild applications team will provide tailored training sessions to the students about products from its range, focussing on understanding technical areas of key products and demonstrating application techniques.

As well as sharing their industry knowledge and expertise, the team will deliver practical workshops to give the students a chance to try out its products for themselves. The company has also created several product displays for students to use as a referencing guide during their assignments in between events.

Steve Connell, Assistant Faculty Director in Construction Crafts at Leeds College of Building commented on the partnership:

“A core part of our ethos is ensuring students receive hands-on practical experience in the real world which will stand them in good stead for their careers. Working with industry experts and manufacturers is a really important part of this process.”

Andrew Scanlon, Applications Manager at Sika Everbuild, said: “As the skills gap continues to widen, we need to do all we can to engage with and inspire the next generation of skilled tradespeople. Leeds College of Building has been doing a fantastic job for decades and we’re proud to be playing our part and supporting its tiling and plumbing students through investing in this partnership.”

Taking growth up another level

Wates Construction appoints Dave Saville as Regional Managing Director (RMD) for the North, as the business continues to grow across the region in support of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

Reporting to Wates Construction MD Mark Tant, Dave will lead the business’ strategic plans across the North West, as well as Yorkshire and the North East, cementing its position as a leader in the provision of new schools, offices, leisure facilities and homes while expanding its offer in new sectors including healthcare.

Dave Saville said: “As an industry, we have an incredible opportunity to support the Government’s levelling up agenda and deliver on Wates Construction’s growth plans. With a number of major projects in progress, we are not only in a position to boost jobs, skills and training, but also to regenerate communities and services, creating a lasting legacy.”

Construction lawyer promoted to partner at Square One Law

Square One Law, the North of England entrepreneurial law firm, has announced the promotion of Bal Manak to Construction Partner. With a specialism in non-contentious construction and over 16 years’ experience of advising clients on a wide range of commercial developments, Bal has been involved in a variety of high-profile schemes.

Bal Manak said: “The North of England is experiencing some strong levels of regeneration and construction activity in both residential and commercial sectors, which is generating a variety of projects for our clients.”

Gill Hunter, Managing Partner, said:

“Our clients are involved in so many complex property and construction projects where Bal has provided key strategic and tactical advice. She has built great relationships with those she has worked with and I’m delighted that she is becoming a partner.”

Addleshaw Goddard LLP host event as part of Leeds Digital Festival

Founders of Yorkshire-based, digital businesses shared their stories of startup, scale and exit at a panel event.

Brendan Fatchett, co-founder of 365 Response, a technology company, supporting mission critical transport services across the NHS discussed how he identified and delivered two acquisitions and investment over a period of rapid growth during 2021/22.

Pete Mills, co-founder of Crysp Compliance, shared his core principle: “It is all about people. You can have the best idea in the world but you need the right team to make things happen.”

Carly Gulliver, Corporate Partner, Addleshaw Goddard has over ten years of experience as a corporate lawyer and has worked with many founders in the digital sector. With years of doing deals in her locker, Carly shared her insights on scale, exit and working with entrepreneurs.

Summit to be proud about!

Being in business is sometimes like riding a roller coaster – the trials and tribulations often counter the satisfaction and rewards in equal measure.

While York & North Yorkshire can claim – rightly so –to be a successful, appealing and often prosperous area, it’s not without challenges, many specific to our diverse geography, historical legacy and current industrial mix.

Just when we thought we were emerging from the worst economic conditions in living memory, national and global politics threw us right back in the mix with the effects of rising inflation and shortage of personnel that is hitting many sectors hard.

I’m pleased to say, though, that the strong relationship developed with many stakeholders (local authorities, LEPs, educational establishments, for example) during the pandemic will be just as important during the crisis businesses now face.

Our new(ish) Chief Executive, James Mason, has been out and about, talking to many members from Skipton to Scarborough, and everywhere in between getting to know as many of you as he can. James is tireless and more importantly, bringing some new and exciting ideas and experience to play.

Elsewhere York & North Yorkshire LEP is hosting a major Business Summit next month at which we are working to ensure an incoming mayor can hit the ground running in 2024. Then just around the corner, in November, we have York Business Festival and I know the Chamber and several members are due to participate in what is sure to be a successful programme of events.

Laurence Beardmore President York & North Yorkshire Chamber

YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Plans approved for National Railway Museum’s Central Hall

Plans have been approved for the National Railway Museum’s new building called Central Hall, which will transform this major attraction and herald the start of delivering the York Central development.

The new development will help the museum realise its potential as the cultural heart of York Central and unite the museum for the first time.

Central Hall will be a new welcome space and gallery located between the museum’s Great Hall and Station Hall. It will connect the existing museum buildings and is a cornerstone of Vision 2025 – the museum’s journey to transform its offer and become the world’s railway museum.

This exciting vision also includes Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery, an interactive gallery aimed at inspiring children to think like engineers through experience, interactivity and play. Central Hall itself will feature a Railway Futures Gallery showcasing the latest innovations in rail technology, a café overlooking the new museum square, a shop, flexible event space and new visitor facilities.

Sustainability is at the heart of the Central Hall design, with environmentally friendly design principles and materials which are in-keeping with York’s rich railway history and the surrounding area.

Judith McNicol, Director of the National Railway Museum said: “This approval will allow the museum to realise its potential as the ‘world’s railway museum’ by improving our offer, welcoming more visitors, and helping us to inspire the next generation of engineers and problem-solvers.”

“We remain on track for opening Central Hall in Autumn 2025, in time for the Museum’s 50-year anniversary.”

The Central Hall plans form an early stage of the delivery of York Central, the 45-hectare regeneration site which is a partnership with Network Rail, Homes England, City of York Council and the museum.

Pioneering plans approved

York Minster’s plans to establish world class campus facilities for research, education and training in ancient craft skills have been approved by City of York Council.

The Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management will be a first-of-its-kind project encouraging learning and knowledge sharing on an international scale.

Comprising a Heritage Quad and a Works and Technology Hub, the Centre of Excellence will allow current and prospective apprentices to learn cuttingedge digital techniques such as modern saw technology, data scanning and computer aided design. It will also enable the Minster to offer international exchange programmes with cathedrals and universities as far afield as Milan, Washington and Singapore.

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, said: “We are delighted that our pioneering plans for preserving the ancient craft skills necessary to secure the future of the Minster have received approval from City of York Council. These skills have long been the lifeblood to the fabric of York Minster and the creation of the Centre of Excellence will enable us to continue to develop and pass down these skills.

The £5m fully funded project is being co-ordinated by the York Minster Fund, and is expected to be delivered in early 2024. The plans form the next stage of the implementation of the York Minster Neighbourhood Plan, an ambitious masterplan to secure a sustainable future for York Minster, which was recently ratified by City of York Council.

New partner joins Andrew Jackson Solicitors’

The York office of Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP announces that Edward Allen has joined its private client practice as a partner, as the law firm continues to expand.

With over a decade’s experience advising clients on a wide range of estate planning matters including inheritance tax, business succession, asset protection and wills, Edward regularly acts for high net worth individuals, with a particular focus on business owners including farming families.

Edward said: “I am really looking forward to playing a key role in ensuring that we continue to provide clients with an exceptional service and advice that is tailored to their needs, whilst adding my specialist knowledge and expertise of acting for clients in the agricultural sector.”

Ware Kay appoints new solicitor

Law firm Ware & Kay Solicitors has appointed solicitor Jessica Vettese to its Residential Property Team.

Jessica specialises in all aspects of residential property and expertly assists clients who wish to buy and sell both freehold and leasehold property for registered and unregistered land.

She also has extensive experience of buying and selling at auction, purchasing buy-to-lets, landlord and tenant work, transfers of equity, mortgage transactions and property registrations.

Jessica said: “Buying or selling a property, whether a home or an investment, can be a stressful time and my aim is to help ease the burden by securing the best possible outcomes. Ware & Kay has a strong client based with a real drive to provide outstanding legal services.”

360 Accountants expands

360 Chartered Accountants is delighted to announce the appointment of its second Senior Corporate Portfolio Manager, as part of the firm’s strategic growth.

Natalia Prasal has 10 years’ experience in all aspects of accounting and finance in both practice and industry, as well as specialising in automating accounting processes.

Managing Director, Adrian Hunter, said she is a great addition to the 360 team.

“I am delighted that Natalia has chosen 360 for her future career development. We are building an exceptionally talented team here and she will be a huge asset. She brings real energy and enthusiasm to the role, as we continue to grow our business across Hull, York and the surrounding areas.

Our clients deserve the best possible service and engagement.”

Striving to deliver the best service

As we approach the end of summer and the seasons change, there’s also lots of other change going on too – both in the Chamber and in business generally.

Our Chief Executive, James, is now getting to grips with running this multi-faceted organisation (yes, we’re a body focused on business support, but that takes many forms and is delivered in detailed and complex ways). Our new Head of Policy & Representation started in September, and we are rejigging and beefing up other teams to enhance the high-quality programme of events, for networking, learning and lobbying, that we deliver.

I’m sure that many readers are experiencing the difficulties associated with the current tight labour market. While not the answer for immediate and short-term concerns, I’m excited about the Chamber’s successful bids to deliver Local Skills Improvement Plans for both West & North Yorkshire. These new government-funded programmes at least put business at the heart of what is needed to deliver on skills and talent, and we’ll be revealing more details of this soon.

We know that these are busy, challenging and often frustrating times to be in business and we are constantly working to strengthen what we deliver, identify, engage and collaborate with others who can help and maximise what can be done to make our region’s business community among the best that there is.

Amanda Beresford Chair of the Board West & North Yorkshire Chamber

WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Brighter, better buses for new Great Northern Line

Named in honour of historic Yorkshire railway – a new upgraded bus route is now making tracks between Keighley and Halifax

Team Pennine’s signature pink buses are now bringing new standards of comfort and style to its popular 502 route linking the two towns, now named Great Northern Line in honour of the famous old railway which began making the same journey in October 1880 – only to carry and its final passengers before closure 67 years ago in May 1955.

The revitalised bus route launched this week runs alongside the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway between Ingrow and Keighley, making it an ideal way to discover the area’s rail heritage while enjoying amazing views across the Pennine countryside.

On the outside, the smart Great Northern Line buses feature an eye-catching two-tone pink livery with a steam engine in the centre – while inside, there’s comfortable seating in the bus firm’s own ‘All The Colours of Transdev’ design, fast and free Wi-Fi, and USB at-seat device charging points.

Team Pennine General Manager Joy Devine said: “We wanted to pay our own tribute to the great days of steam with our new Great Northern Line branded bus route, as we deliver an exciting upgrade to our buses which follow much of the old railway’s course.

“At a time when the cost of living is an issue, our Great Northern Line buses are a low-cost yet comfortable way to discover the beautiful countryside as well as two amazing towns, especially as a journey now costs no more than £2 one way or £4.50 all day on this and every other bus in West Yorkshire.

“We’re already getting a great reaction to our upgraded Great Northern Line – and we think it’s bright new image will attract more people to choo-choo-choose the bus!”

Ashtree is now a verified carbon neutral business

John Roper, Managing Director of Ashtree Vision & Safety, has always been focused to ensure Ashtree is an environmentally conscious business.

John said, “We recycle as much as we can and very little goes to landfill. It was a natural progression for us to become ISO 14001 approved, even though we did many of the things required, we had no formal system in place.

The indirect start of the journey towards PAS 2060 was when we had 100kwh solar panel system installed. We took advantage of lockdown to reorganise our manufacturing area to create one big work area, thereby removing the oldest/largest of our gas heaters. Since then, we have gone 100% gas free and heat the building with electricity, sourced from a ‘green’ supplier.

When we decided that PAS 2060 was the way we wanted to go, we contacted Auditel who shared my passion.

Auditel’s Carbon Specialist Huw Williams said: “When it comes to reducing their emissions, they are truly leading the way. I look forward to helping them refine their carbon reducing plans to find low carbon suppliers and solutions over the coming years. These plans will help further reduce their carbon footprint as they strive to become a Net Zero business.”

John Roper, Managing Director, Ashtree Vision & Safety said: “Ashtree has always been environmentally conscious as a business and to now be able to say that we are now a PAS 2060 Verified Carbon Neutral Business makes me very proud.”

Powering growth for craft beer bar

Founders of North Bar in Leeds, John Gyngell and Christian Townsley, decided it was time to add their own craft beers – opening North Brewing Co and a dedicated on-site tap room,

Other than brewing great beer, one of the biggest challenges of opening a brewery and tap room is the electrical installation to fit their warehouse, web shop and associated under-mezz rooms, as well as over-mezz staff areas. They also required intruder and fire alarms, CCTV, emergency and outdoor lighting, plus power to make the most of their external space.

As a proud Yorkshire business, they stayed local for their electrical installation. Leeds-based Volta Compliance went above and beyond to fulfil all of their electrical requirements – and then some.

EPIC solutions for reducing wastewater costs from Christeyns

Christeyns, manufacturer of detergents and disinfectants for industrial laundries launches EPIC, an innovative detergent system. EPIC, Enzymatic Process Innovation, is based on enzyme technology and will allow laundries to reduce their wastewater costs by 25%.

Alain Bostoen, CEO of Christeyns: “Industrial laundries are facing several water challenges: the cost and availability of water, the cost of discharging wastewater and everstricter environmental regulations. With EPIC, we can help laundries meet discharge standards and reduce wastewater costs.”

These EPIC mixtures are produced on site to be dosed precisely and safely, directly into the wash process.

600 deployments below the sea

C-Kore Systems is proud to announce the deployment of their 600th subsea testing tools. This milestone event occurred for an installation campaign in the Gulf of Mexico, one of C-Kore’s growing markets and included their new Subsea Optical TDR tool.

C-Kore’s subsea testing units have gained worldwide acceptance with both operators and contractors for the cost-savings the tools provide, the reduction in offshore personnel required for testing and the simplification they bring to subsea operations.

So far C-Kore tools have been responsible for the installation of 50 assets (umbilicals) and have been used to find more than 230 faults in existing subsea fields for a total of 10,000 days of tool hire.

Leeds Beckett University has been leading the way to a low carbon built environment for the last 30 years – through the Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI).

The LSI’s research expertise around how to build new low energy homesand how to measure the benefits of retrofitting the nation’s older homes – is making significant impact and has produced insights that have changed the way homes are now built in the UK.

LSI has now teamed up with the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) to develop a toolkit to evaluate the attempts to improve the energy efficiency of homes. This innovative project is being trialled in West Yorkshire – and will be accessible for all landlords to use.

The new toolkit is currently being used for the first time - in collaboration with Leeds City Council - to investigate the economic, social and environmental benefits that can be achieved through investing in improving the energy efficiency of homes.

Over the next three years, more than 1000 homes will be tested in multiple projects across West Yorkshire. As part of the trial, an LSI PhD student will work directly with Leeds City Council to refine the tool. Their research will establish the processes needed to embed the toolkit into the council’s future standard procurement practices.

The toolkit is part of the World Green Building Council’s BUILDUPON2 projectthe world’s largest collaborative project on building renovation. The team hope that it can be developed into a tool which is used all over the world.

Professor David Glew, Director of the Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI) and Head of Energy Efficiency and Policy at Leeds Beckett, explained: “The problem is that every retrofit project has its own way of reporting successes - which makes it tricky to know what worked and what didn’t. This toolkit should standardise the process, meaning that a project in Leeds can be compared against a project in Wakefield, or London, or even Paris.”

The key to the success of the toolkit will be to make evaluation of retrofits a common practice that organisations can do themselves - rather than landlords and councils having to pay out huge sums for consultants to undertake bespoke research projects each time they take on a new project. This means they can spend more on actually retrofitting homes and less on evaluating them.

This sort of activity is becoming increasingly important as much of the funding provided by the Government to improve the nation’s homes often requires the impact of projects to be reported. The new quality standard mark for domestic retrofits, PAS2035, also requires the performance and risks of homes to be assured.

Professor Glew said: “If we can get the toolkit right, it will tick all the boxes for retrofit evaluations needed by Government funding and under the new standards. This means if landlords and councils adopt the tool, they can simply get on with procuring more retrofits, safe in the knowledge they will be complying with the requirements. This will make things a lot simpler and may go some way to unlocking the potential for more neighbourhood-wide retrofit schemes, which the UK badly needs.”

Cllr Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for Infrastructure and Climate, said: “We’re very excited about trialling this new framework in Leeds. We know that making homes more energy efficient has a wide range of benefits, from reducing carbon, to improving the health, wellbeing and finances of residents. But until now we've not had a straightforward way to measure these benefits and see how different projects compare with each other. With the framework we can now do this and we're really looking forward to the insights it will give us around how our retrofit projects in Leeds are helping communities, residents and the environment."

The first projects to be included in the trial are already underway, with more in the pipeline for 2022 and 2023. The toolkit aims to be versatile so it can be applied to any type of retrofitwhether that is installing cavity wall insulation, cladding, or even fitting a heat pump into homes or blocks of flats.

Professor Glew added: “This is just one of many projects that the LSI is undertaking on low and zero carbon homes and communities. It is a great example of how research being undertaken at Leeds Beckett University - as an anchor institution in the region - is directly helping local organisations to develop their skills and knowledge to achieve their sustainability goals, and adapt to changing climate policy landscapes.”

To learn more about this and other projects within the LSI at Leeds Beckett, or to find out if you can be involved in this retrofit evaluation toolkit trial, please email d.w.glew@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Low highenergy,value

leads the way with pioneering new

to evaluate success of retrofitting Yorkshire homes

How to avoid the risk of Greenwashing claims?

Building on over 20 years of energy saving and supply chain experience, in 2020 Auditel’s Carbon Strategy Group released a guide to design and deliver a sustainable business. Our clients desire for recognition of the decarbonisation work Auditel had helped implement led to a quick realisation that a standard for demonstrating Carbon Neutrality was needed. Following extensive research, dating back to 2012, we adopted PAS2060, the only internationally recognised standard for carbon neutrality, which had been released with a relatively slow uptake by BSI in 2010.

PAS2060 was developed by BSI (and other organisations such as BP Target Neutral and Forestry Commission) to specify requirements to be met by an organisation seeking to demonstrate carbon neutrality through the quantification, reduction and offsetting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and came into effect in April 2010.

Auditel worked closely with BSI during the early part of 2021 to raise awareness of the benefits of using PAS2060 due to help support market demand and at the same time become one of the first members of their Associate Consultants programme to be able to offer support to the standard. The reason for our market positioning was clear; over a 32-year period from 1988 to 2020, the environmental movement had developed at pace through organisations passion to save our planet. However, this passion was in a totally unregulated market.

There has been development both in organisations trying to do the right thing themselves, together with independent companies offering their own set of guidelines and accreditations achieving their selfgenerated badge of honour for public display of commitment to the cause. There are three main areas of certification, accreditation and standards to consider.

Self-certification

SME or corporate, some companies will try to do it themselves, believing they may have both the knowledge and the resources internally after a degree of research. This can be a breeding ground for some of the worst types of claims for greenwashing being made whilst the organisation really is trying to do the right thing. There is an argument to say, why would you do this, you have an accountant and a solicitor, carbon emissions are now government compliance, with balance sheet liabilities and corporate taxation on their way for 2023. Carbon accounting is a professional service that probably should be left to the experts. The old saying is true ‘what gets measured gets managed’. When left to your

own devices, this in turn opens up the options of calculation methods. There are a plethora to choose from including free online calculators in exchange for your email address, all the way to bespoke software packages encompassing eye watering costs. As this market is also unregulated, the accuracy of these products also vary and go un-challenged.

If carbon neutrality is the ultimate goal, the plan will inevitably include the purchase of offsets. Robust examinations prove there is a vast disparity in the accuracy of the current calculation tools, which can lead to purchasing either too many or indeed too few offsets defeating the original objective, again leading to potential claims of greenwashing.

Independent accreditation

Outsourcing professional services has traditionally led to some very passionate organisations with a wealth of environmental knowledge, promoting their beliefs on sustainable business practices. There are a few who have been around for quite some time and with the lack of any recognised standards, historically creating their own, effectively you could say marking their own homework. This could arguably be better than self-certification, as certainly the passion and possibly the knowledge will be more robust, usually involving an annual subscription fee to be a member or partner of the organisation.

They will each have their preferred calculation software, again unregulated, but firm in the belief that it will provide the service needed by the client. The membership fee will also include the use of their own certification, together with the use of their logo for marketing purposes. Some of the organisations have been around for many years, which can in some cases allow them to drift off course in terms of the detail in claims being made due to the lack of regulation and guidelines. An example of this are spurious claims of working to a recognised standard, which when challenged prove not to be the case, together with certificates being issued, which again when challenged are swiftly reviewed and amended due to inaccurate statements being made. The difficulty in selecting partners in this sector are that they are well established, with a strong client portfolio to boast, which in most cases looks both impressive and credible. It has been acknowledged by certification bodies that this activity encourages a bit of a ‘wild west’ culture, which again can leave clients vulnerable to claims of greenwashing, albeit unintentionally.

ENVIRONMENT

Third party verification

PAS2060 was relaunched in the UK in June 2021, with both BSI (British Standards Institution) & NQA (National Quality Assurance) as verifiers of UKAS, as accredited certification bodies, together with a number of professional consultancies including Auditel, working with them as Associate Partners & Consultants to the only internationally recognised standard available. It could be argued that this was the game changer. Now that an official standard has been set, it does leave spurious claims and practices open to criticism and debate. A benchmark has now been established.

The UK government are currently regulating the industry with both legislation and taxation. In July 2021 PPN/0621 stipulated that public sector tenders in excess of £5M in value will no longer accept bids from companies without a credible carbon reduction plan. It is also rumoured that this figure is due to be reduced on a constantly reviewed basis to include more businesses at a lower value of work. The critical difference with third party verification is the robust process that has to be adhered to in compliance with PAS2060 to achieve carbon neutrality. Organisations can purchase the documentation themselves, follow the process, then go to a verification body to achieve the standard. There is also help available to assist organisations through this process if the knowledge and experience does not exist in house through professional services such as Auditel.

The benefits with PAS2060 are clarity, consistency and transparency, leaving no threat to claims of greenwashing. The cost to benefit analysis can be examined to establish the true value that is both required and can be afforded by the business. The cost of doing nothing just yet can also be quantified and calculated. The cost of either a self, independent, or third party process is quite straight forward, looking at the availability and cost of internal resources, versus a tendering process of outside help based on the quality and value of service. The cost of doing nothing will evolve over the short to medium term leading to investor concerns, staff disengagement, increased taxation, and non-compliance. We firmly believe that carbon neutrality does not have to cost the earth.

NQA – What is PAS 2060?

To minimise the effects of climate change, countries need to significantly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and their total greenhouse gas emissions. A large proportion of which comes from commercial and industrial activities, therefore businesses must bear the responsibility for minimising emissions and overall environmental protection. To show their commitment to protecting the environment, companies often claim to be carbon neutral, or that their emissions do not contribute to a net increase in global emission levels. PAS 2060 is an internationally recognised standard designed to verify the accuracy of these claims and help companies achieve true carbon neutrality through

earnest means. Developed by the British Standards Institution and implemented in 2010, PAS 2060 presents four key stages to carbon neutrality — measurement, reduction, offsetting and documentation. At the end of the process, businesses can pursue verification with an independent third party like NQA. Although the standard does allow companies to purchase carbon credits as part of the process, it’s important to note that offsets must meet certain criteria, and companies cannot receive PAS 2060 verification using offsetting alone.

The standard builds on existing environmental standards such as ISO 14001 and PAS 2050, which deal with the emissions of products throughout their lifespans. No matter what sector you operate in, your organisation can use the PAS 2060 standard to strengthen relationships with customers and contribute to the long-term stability of life on Earth.

BSI – What is carbon neutrality and PAS 2060?

Carbon neutrality means not adding new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. Where emissions continue, they must be offset by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere, for example through carbon capture and reforestation that is supported by carbon credit schemes. Governments are increasingly insisting on carbon neutrality. The UK government, for example, has set a target for all businesses to become carbon neutral – or achieve ‘net zero’ GHG emissions – by 2050. In addition, carbon neutrality is a key objective for organisations wishing to:

• Help combat climate change

• Enhance their sustainability credentials and increase their resilience

• Align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)

• Gain a competitive edge by offering customers greener products and services

• Improve business efficiency by cutting energy costs

BSI can provide verification to PAS 2060, the internationally applicable specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality. Verification to this standard will substantiate claims you make that your business is carbon neutral. Claims by organisations that they are ‘carbon neutral’ are not always valid and may be met with scepticism. BSI verification to PAS 2060 provides a recognised method of substantiating claims that are genuine. BSI verification to PAS 2060 applies to organisations of all sizes and sectors. You can use it to demonstrate the carbon neutrality of your entire business or to any uniquely identified subject, such as specific activities, products, services, buildings, projects, or events.

Logistics company drives sustainability with new low-emission trucks

Bradford-headquartered international logistics

firm Advanced Supply Chain Group (ASCG) has invested in a fleet of new low-emission HGVs, as it pursues sustainable growth.

The company moves over 139 million products around the world each year for leading retailers and brands. This includes goods of all shapes and sizes, from the latest fashion to health and beauty products and homewares.

Growing demand for its services has seen ASCG double the size of its fleet of trucks. 35 new Renault T Evolution trucks were added to the firm’s existing vehicle fleet, with this new model selected by ASCG after an extensive review of different trucks.

ASCG’s Group Head of Fleet & Compliance, Trevor Fallas, explains: “There’s a number of very good HGVs on the market and we wanted to ensure we chose exactly the right make and model for us as a business, our drivers and our customers. This involved comprehensive analysis of a wide range of trucks, followed by shortlisting of three different options and the eventual on-the-road testing of a Renault T Evolution demo model.

“Our reviews and tests determined that the Renault truck most closely aligns with our company’s values and expansion strategy. It ticks the boxes when it comes to people, innovation and excellence. Feedback from our drivers showed how it met their needs for comfort and safety, whilst the vehicle’s low emission, eco performance fits well with our efforts to improve sustainability.”

Sustainability was a key consideration for ASCG when it opened its largest UK site in Sheffield last year. The 346,000 square foot warehouse and fulfilment centre generates more than 20% of its energy from low and zero carbon technologies.

“Reducing carbon emissions is an important part of our growth, especially as economies and customers strive for net zero.”

ENVIRONMENT

Sustainable food procurementthrough hyper-localisation

The future of our food is under pressure. Factors including Brexit, global unrest and price inflation are increasing the level of scrutiny on our food systems and increasingly demanding changes to the way we produce our food.

A cross-disciplinary group of staff, part of the FixOurFood project, are working on understanding UK and global food systems to develop a fairer model of food production and distribution, including a new model of food procurement in York and North Yorkshire.

The model aims to re-localise food procurement by anchor institutions (e.g. schools, large local employers, NHS, MOD, Universities and the public sector), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local farmer livelihoods and find new markets for hospitality businesses that have been lost due to Covid-19 and create new jobs.

Working with the Local Enterprise Partnership, the Grow Yorkshire Board, Defra and Crown Commercial Services, the team created a new public food procurement pilot model for the region. A new public food sector agreement that prioritises social and environmental outcomes has been developed. The team mapped the capability of Yorkshire food suppliers to meet these criteria and build a more localised food system in public food procurement.

The new external stakeholder board set up to help develop the new ‘buying better food’ agreement will be launched in 2022 to develop a portal where information and capability data of Yorkshire suppliers can be shared with public food procurement buyers.

In a practical test of whether hyper-local food procurement policies can be made to work the team are also researching how hybrid businesses that prioritise social and environmental benefit (not just profit) can be

encouraged in the food system. As part of this research a novel urban indoor farm has been created called ‘Grow It York’ in the centre of York, in collaboration with community-interest company Spark*York and SME LettUs Grow. The hyper-local supply chain removes the need for plastic packaging of produce for the businesses and means produce goes direct to businesses from harvest - with fantastic feedback on quality! The reliability and speed of production in the vertical farm enables prompt adaptation to business needs without waste.

The farm is supplying fresh produce to the restaurant businesses housed within Spark*York and to a community venture “General Store” which provides produce to the local community.

The joint university-business community farm is the first of its kind. A key aim is to demonstrate how an urban vertical farm could generate environmental and social benefit, helping increase consumption of healthy food, and where such farms would be best located - linking back into policy-making nationwide.

Information about the project is available at

Electric vehicle export boost

ENVIRONMENT

Chamber International provides money-saving export solution for electric vehicle distributor

Five electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs) have been temporarily exported to Ireland for an exhibition to showcase a leading range of eLCVs, to boost EV sales and help combat climate change with support from Chamber International.

Leeds office of global freight forwarding company, Uniexpress, worked with Chamber International to transport the vehicles, worth almost £190,000 from the Warrington HQ of commercial vehicle importer and distributor, Harris Group.

The vehicles were used for Harris Group’s inaugural Experience Electric with MAXUS at Mondello Park, Co Kildare organised for industry and commercial buyers, local authorities, government agencies and regulatory bodies.

To bypass the introduction of full customs controls following Brexit, Uniexpress, were advised by Chamber International to use an ATA Carnet, a duty and tax-free way to temporarily export goods, replacing the usual commercial and customs declarations and saving award-winning Harris Group almost £19,000 in import duties.

Harris MAXUS general manager, Mark Barrett, said: “We brought future variant models worked up for some UK customers to demonstrate our range of eLCVs to suit all sectors in the Irish market.

“MAXUS, which launched in the UK and Ireland in 2016, is enjoying significant success in the electric vehicle (EV) market. Between March 2021 and April 2022 more than 17,000 eLCVs were UK registered with MAXUS capturing an 11 per cent market share. The growing interest in eLCVs to help combat climate change, particularly from the grocery, delivery and pharmaceutical sectors, is phenomenal.

Dublin-based Harris Group, founded more than 50 years ago, imports its MAXUS range from SAIC MAXUS, China’s leading automotive and EV manufacturer. MAXUS recently won best manufacturer award at the Business Van Awards 2022 where MAXUS eDELIVER 9 also won the Best Large E-Van category.

Sally Whitely, branch manager at the Leeds office of Uniexpress, which has more than 100 staff at six UK offices and exports by sea, air and road, says: “We have supported Harris MAXUS since Brexit as they now need help clearing goods to, and from, Ireland. Chamber International’s expertise in issuing an ATA Carnet is fantastic in this tough economic climate and we look forward to building a longterm relationship with the team dealing with them from now on.”

Chamber International is the only body in Yorkshire and Humberside able to issue ATA Carnets, which allow fast, easy export into more than 70 participating countries. Valid for one-year, and multiple trips, they cover commercial samples, professional equipment and goods for fairs and exhibitions.

Chamber International director, Tim Bailey said: “Carnets are governed by international convention which means customs border posts in the EU are all working to the same rules. Since Brexit they’ve played a critical role by replacing the need to commercially clear goods through customs without the need to pay duty and tax. I’m pleased our Carnet specialists were able to help Harris Maxus with getting vehicles to Ireland for this exhibition.”

Chamber International helps hundreds of new and experienced exporters throughout the UK with a wide range of specialist services to make exporting easier and more cost effective.

“We couldn’t be happier with Chamber International’s advice and support which, together with Uniexpress, has been an essential link in our supply chain.”

From grey to green

Electric vehicle transition: How to manage a staggered grey fleet take-up

Business grey fleets are likely to be experiencing something of a lag when it comes to EV transitioning, thanks in part to the levels of driver hesitancy we are seeing emerge.

The phenomenon known as grey fleet refers to fleets comprising employee-owned vehicles, rather than company cars. The pandemic has seen grey fleets surge in popularity, as businesses strive to cut costs. There are now around 14 million grey fleet vehicles on UK roads.

However, grey fleets present an environmental headache for managers striving to reach sustainability goals, thanks to the lack of control over the type of vehicles purchased and owned by employees. Indeed, a recent policy paper from the Urban Mobility Partnership found that a grey fleet reduction is critical to de-carbonisation plans for both public and private sectors (May 2022).

New AA research shows that one in ten used vehicle drivers are putting off updating their vehicle. Indeed, 9% of drivers with models aged more than four years old are holding off swapping their car for an EV until the ‘right time’. The most common reason drivers are choosing not to upgrade is that they don’t feel the need for a new one (63%). Meanwhile, younger drivers were significantly more likely to be waiting for finance or a loan to end before they upgrade their car (11% of 25-34-year olds) than older drivers.

Stuart Thomas, Director of Fleet and Accident Management Services at the AA.

Electric charging doesn’t cost the earth

The Chamber has recently provided EV charging points at Bradford Chamber Business Park for use by tenants and visitors with smart back office function to manage use.

The provision of on-site EV charging facilities meets a growing demand for charging points from business owners and employees with plug-in hybrid and pure EV vehicles.

The project has provided six charging ports with dedicated parking bays, conveniently situated close to the main office building. Works included a new landlord’s supply DB and 3 phase cabling to enable faster charging times utilising 22kw chargers.

The chargers were installed by Chamber member Coretech Electrical Services.

“We have been members for over 10 years and were privileged to have been asked to install their EV charge points at their Laisterdyke business park. The charge points are an invaluable asset for the Chamber, allowing them to be more sustainable and adding to the UK’s EV infrastructure. The charge points provide an attractive and essential provision for tenants and visitors who can attend and charge their vehicles on site, easily making payment using the contactless facility.”

Craig Brooker

MD, Coretech Electrical Services

“The EV charger installation is a wonderful idea for encouraging sustainable transportation and supporting the electric car market. The app was easy to download and practical to use on your smartphone.

I am pleased with the installation and the positioning of the EV charging points close to reception as I park and charge while I am working. There are other benefits too, such as: cleaner environment; lower running costs; reduced noise pollution. I hope other businesses and organisations implement this model to make our environment greener and more sustainable.”

Narinder Kumar

Director,

Leeds delivers net zero workplace

A new office in Leeds is leading the way for green development, having been named as one of the most sustainable projects in the UK.

The first outside London, and only the fourth in the country, to achieve an excellent five-star NABERS design-reviewed target rating for energy and operational efficiency, 11 & 12 Wellington Place’s intelligent design, fabric-first approach and extensive use of solar power means it will be net zero carbon in use and has achieved a design stage BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating.

“11 & 12 Wellington Place is setting the benchmark for futureproofed, sustainable development in the UK,” says Paul Pavia, commercial director at MEPC, the developers behind the scheme. “Securing NABERS has required a collaborative approach and a real team effort.”

Completion is set for January 2023, with the city centre development offering 254,879 sq ft of office, leisure, and retail space across two buildings connected by a feature link bridge. The two buildings form part of Wellington Place, one of the most prestigious city centre business quarters in Europe.

The 7,500 sq ft of PV solar panels on the roofs will generate the equivalent of more than 42 homes worth of electricity.

Dan Miller, project director at Wates Construction, who are building the scheme, said: “Through close collaboration with the whole project team we’ve carefully approached every aspect of 11 & 12 Wellington Place looking to meet NABERS and maximise efficiency. It’s been a test of our expertise and design ingenuity and we’re incredibly proud to have received the five-star rating, allowing Wellington Place to act as a flagship for others to follow.”

Purpose over profit

Why Harrogate Spring Water joined the B Corp movement

Companies are increasingly under pressure from customers and investors to account for their social and environmental impact on the world.

One way of demonstrating corporate commitment to the cause is to gain B Corp status. This is an independent accreditation which certifies that companies have met high standards of accountability, performance and transparency across areas including the environment, community, workers and governance.

Established in 2006 by non-profit organisation B Lab, over 5,000 companies have now gained BCorp accreditation in almost 80 countries.

Chamber member, Harrogate Spring Water, was the first company in North Yorkshire to gain B Corp certification in February 2020. We spoke to them to find out more.

What does B Corp mean for your business?

B Corp certification is a rigorous independent process which looks at every part of a business. It’s a way of showing that we don’t just talk the talk: being a responsible business is part of our DNA. We were the first UK Natural Source Water producer to adopt over 50% post-consumer recycled content (rPET) across our entire range with all rPET sourced within the UK, minimising our carbon footprint as well as supporting the UK circular economy. Our Harrogate site has been zero to landfill for 12 years and all our packaging is 100% recyclable.

What was the process of gaining B Corp?

The application process took us over 18 months with every area of the business put under scrutiny. The accreditation must be re-certified every 3 years with continuous improvement required to keep your B Corp status. This means we must continue to adapt, learn and grow to ensure we’re at the forefront of positive change.

What progress have you made since you gaining B Corp Certification?

We have made positive steps in areas from enhancements to employee benefits, increasing our charitable donations to the community to environmental improvements. Our site is now powered by 100% renewable energy, we are transitioning our company car fleet to hybrid or fully electric alternatives and in 2021 alone we’ve saved 20 tonnes of material by removing unnecessary packaging from our supply chain, reducing our carbon footprint by 55 tonnes of CO2.

We have also implemented a ‘closed loop’ recycling system with partners including Ascot racecourse. The system ensures every bottle consumed within the racecourse is collected and sent to a reprocessing centre to make into another bottle. The scheme has recycled over 31,000 bottles so far.

What advice would you give to other members considering B Corp applications?

Having the validation to show you’re a force for good inspires not only your customers, it also attracts great talent, engages your staff and strengthens the ethos of your brand. There’s a growing community of like-minded B Corp companies within the region and through networks such as Yorkshire B Local, we continue to collaborate and learn. Come and join us!

Change and challenge is driving innovation to a new level across Leeds City Region – and creating a new openness for collaboration and partnership.

Businesses have seen so much change - from Brexit and COVID, to Government instability, the cost of living and climate crisis – but as well as presenting challenges, these changes are also providing a stimulus to new ideas.

And it’s not only about new ideas, it’s about increased adoption of those ideas. Just looking at the digital health space, there has been more adoption in the last six months than in an entire decade.

Of the over 110 companies now in the Nexus community, half are in the healthtech sector, reflecting not only the strengths of the University of

Leeds, but also the extensive assets across the city region, which is seen as a healthcare innovation cluster, particularly in digital health.

Many of the entrepreneurs and businesses in our community are harnessing innovation to address health inequalities and to deliver better diagnoses and targeted treatments. We’re also an integral part of the newly-launched Leeds Innovation Arc – the innovation neighbourhood formed around our universities, the proposed new adult and children’s hospitals in the city and major private sector partners.

As our city’s reputation continues to grow internationally, fintech and environmental businesses are also delivering significant growth opportunities. This is particularly apparent amongst businesses

involved in green financing and smart cities technology.

Nexus is attracting global companies looking for a UK base to accelerate their growth. Businesses based in New Zealand, Estonia, the US, Canada, Norway, Italy and France have now joined our community, with a strong pipeline of interest and approaches from across the world.

Leeds’ participation in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP), has been instrumental in getting the city and region to think in a different way, increasing the understanding of innovation as a catalyst for growth.

Change and challenge is driving innovation to a new level in Leeds City Region says Dr Martin Stow, Chair and Director of University of Leeds’ innovation hub Nexus.

Change and challenge

The current BUILD accelerator which came out of that programme, is now supporting a diverse range of entrepreneurs, many of whom had previously struggled to get the support they needed – over 50% are female-led businesses and over 40% led by entrepreneurs from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Designed by local entrepreneurs who wanted to give something back, the programme provides expert mentoring as well as practical advice and support. Focusing on ideas related to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, it is helping some inspiring people turn their ideas into reality.

A great example is Caterpillar Health, one of the first businesses to go through the programme, who recently gained £450,000 worth of funding as a result. I’m incredibly proud of the Nexus team’s role in the programme and in driving the importance of ESG as key to the continued growth of Leeds and our wider city region.

My past experience at multi-national healthcare company J&J (Johnson and Johnson) showed me the true value of ethical business. Robert Wood Johnson, a former Chairman of the company, established the Credo 80 years ago. It’s a statement that lays out how the business is run with integrity and based on ethical principles. The Credo talks about the first responsibility of the company being the well-being of the users of its products and services: the patients, doctors nurses and others. It also sets

out the need to operate in a way that allows business partners to make a fair profit and underlines J&J’s responsibility for its employees and the communities in which it functions. In the Credo the final responsibility is to shareholders. Doing what’s right was fundamental and our business decisions were governed by it.

Tackling real world issues and challenges and making a positive impact on society and the environment is also hugely important from a skills and talent perspective.

Recent research from University of Leeds students Union showed that a large proportion of students wanted jobs which had a societal impact and addressed key issues for the country and the world.

Yorkshire has more science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) student graduates than any region in the UK. For many of them, their choice of career will be informed by the opportunity to work with organisations and businesses that make a real impact on things that matter to people and the planet.

Collaboration across science and social disciplines will be vital in attracting that talent and driving a major acceleration in innovation over the next few years.

More and more companies are waking up to that and recognising that if you design, produce and test products which only cater for one specific group, you’re creating sub-optimal products. We have to be inclusive in the way we develop new concepts. Diversity of thought gives you a different perspective and breadth of ideas and working collaboratively is fundamental to facilitating the development of ground-breaking products and services.

The theme of collaboration and partnership runs throughout every aspect of our community and remains the cornerstone of the Nexus-effect for innovation-led business growth. We’re specifically designed to cultivate innovation, both as a community of like-minded businesses and as a much wider network of entrepreneurs, world-class academics, partners and advisers.

In the face of change and challenge, the role of innovation as a tool for growth is more critical than ever and it’s only by working together that we will drive impact and value for business, the environment and society.

“The theme of collaboration runs throughout our community and remains the cornerstone of the Nexus-effect for innovation-led business growth.”

Intelligent acquisitionOffice

Global skilled business support services firm Williams Lea announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire UK-based outsourced support solutions provider Intelligent Office. The deal is expected to complete in October 2022.

As part of the acquisition, Intelligent Office brings a strong client base and over 800 talented employees into the Williams Lea organization. The clients, including a number of UK top 200 law firms, will benefit from Williams Lea’s best-in-class corporate infrastructure, global reach and focus on leading-edge technology.

“This acquisition perfectly aligns to Williams Lea’s business growth strategy and strengthens our offerings in the UK legal market,” said Clare Hart, CEO Williams Lea. “Intelligent Office’s regional expertise and presence, added to our expanding global product and operational capabilities, solidifies our commitment to serving the global business services needs of our clients,” she added.

Rachel McCorry, CEO Intelligent Office commented on the acquisition: “Williams Lea’s values and their commitment to clients aligns perfectly with Intelligent Office’s vision. Over the last 20 years, Intelligent Office has built an attractive portfolio of office, administrative and secretarial support services to the legal sector, and joining the Williams Lea family combines complementary talent, expertise and culture from our two businesses which further strengthens the services we deliver to our collective clients and expands opportunities for all our employees. I am very much looking forward to integrating our operations and supporting clients in our EMEA region to revolutionize their support services.”

James Savage, Partner at YFM, Intelligent Office’s Private Equity investor added: “When we backed Intelligent Office in 2014, we knew that Rachel and her team were well placed to capitalize on a growing legal market. Since then, the business has broadened its product offering, supporting its clients through the pandemic and in the evolution of working practices and more than doubling revenue and profits. We’re pleased to realize this strong return for our investors and think that Williams Lea is a great home for the business.”

“Over the last 20 years, Intelligent Office has built an attractive portfolio of office, administrative and secretarial support services to the legal sector.”

Rachel McCorry CEO Intelligent Office

Achieve more in retirement

The

of

For many of us, a comfortable retirement will also mean holidaying abroad, having days out with family and friends and, perhaps, making those long-awaited home or garden improvements. And, of course, we all want to have the security of knowing there will be a little bit of extra cash available to cover emergencies or the unexpected, whether that’s having to replace a home appliance, maintain a car, or pay for care in later life.

To forecast what size your pension pot might be at retirement age, you should first factor in the regular payments you’ll get from the government – the state pension – which currently stands at £185.15 a week or just under £9,650 a year for the tax year 2022/23.

There are, of course, many other factors that will determine the size of your retirement savings pot, including at what age you start setting money aside, the age at which you intend to retire, and your life expectancy.

Alongside tax legislation, pension rules and changing personal

the journey to a comfortable retirement needs

planning.

York Business Festival 2022

This November a month-long festival of business will be coming to York, providing free in-person and virtual events to support the business community across the city and surrounding areas. Built around the five themes of York’s new 10-year Economic Strategy, the programme will offer something for every business.

The festival is organised by the Economic Growth Team at the City of York Council and is hosted in conjunction with the Institute of Directors, York & North Yorkshire LEP, University of York, York St John University, Department for International Trade , York BID, York and North Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce, York Science Park, SeeGreen and the Supply Chain Network.

The programme kicks off on the theme of York’s economy being driven by good businesses. Across three days in the first week of November, the Institute of Directors (IoD) will be leading events talking through the benefits of ethical business, both to businesses themselves and to wider society. This includes talks on the links between good governance and innovation, the value of the Good Business Charter and a discussion from the IoD’s lead economist Kitty Ussher, talking through how small businesses can manage during a time of potential stagflation.

The second week of November is themed around York’s businesses thriving, both now and for years to come. Curated by the Y&NY LEP, this week of events includes several short sharp sessions that businesses can effectively take something from and build on to better themselves. Sessions will be around access to finance, sales, social media, recruitment and people management. Reducing carbon and developing a greener economy is the theme for the third week of November. With energy bills soaring, York businesses can access advice on what actions they can take to reduce costs in a virtual event hosted by the Council. A pilot ‘Green Business Forum’ has also been laid on for York’s micro and SME businesses to understand how they can help cut carbon and help York become net-zero by 2030. Other events across the week include a discussion on the business opportunities available in the green economy, the need for green skills across the city, actions the hospitality industry can take to be sustainable and a talk with the broadcaster Liz Barclay on the pressures facing businesses this winter.

Heading into the fourth week of November, the University of York will be leading on theme of developing York’s people and creating a thriving workforce. The events will focus on ensuring York’s workforce has the skills

that businesses need, the role of the businesses when it comes to health and wellbeing both as employers and providers, and how we can strengthen the link between education and business to help young people thrive. Lastly, the Festival will conclude with the theme of making York a global city. The DIT has planned a morning workshop framed around how business can move from a few international clients to an export strategy. There will be an overview of DIT’s services, talks from Export Champions, followed by a drop-in session where businesses can chat to support providers around exporting. Then the last day of the festival kicks off with a networking breakfast for young entrepreneurs in which James Mason, CEO of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce will give a talk on the lessons learned from his career. Following this, the DIT have organised round-tables for the creative, bioeconomy and food and drink sectors. Drawing the festival to a close will be an in-person networking event providing an opportunity for delegates to make new business contacts and round off a month of activities.

SKILLS

Join the plan to improve skills

With skill shortages having continually topped the priority list for businesses and public organisations large and small across the region, a new network is being formed to bring together businesses, the public sector, universities, colleges and training providers to deliver a skills agenda that meets the needs of the economies of West and North Yorkshire.

Figures from the Learning and Work Institute (L&W) show that the UK skills shortage will cost the country £120 billion by 2030 and statistics published by the British Chamber of Commerce this year showed that the majority of service sector (65 per cent) and manufacturing firms (79 per cent) experienced difficulties in identifying and acquiring the right candidates.

The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), funded by the Department for Education, aims to address this by putting the voice of local employers at the centre of the learning and skills system to build a stronger partnership between employers and further education providers.

In making skills provision and education more attuned to the needs of the region’s economy, LSIPs can deliver a demand-led agenda that will help transform the region’s workforce.

The aim is to make provision more responsive to employers’ needs and help address issues with staffing and productivity across the region.

With the skill requirements of a SME in Wakefield or Leeds likely to be far different from a market town in North Yorkshire, the new system will help tailor training in accordance with these individual needs.

The LSIPs are being administered jointly by both the West & North Yorkshire and Mid-Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce who are now calling for both the private and educational sectors to step forward and join the programme so that both young people entering the workforce, and those currently in employment, have the tools they need to play a full role in the region’s economy.

James Mason, chief executive of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Now is your chance to be part of this journey and we look forward to working with you to deliver this vision.”

Justin Kerslake, operations director for Bradford-based manufacturer Christeyns UK,said:

"As a longstanding manufacturing business in Bradford, Christeyns understands the need for quality, local training to upskill its workforce. We are committed to providing training opportunities for all our staff and recognise that our employees are our main asset and the future of the business.

“Government has approved our two bids to administer the programmes in both West and North Yorkshire. We now want to become the convening point that brings together both the educational and employment sector to discuss how we can deliver a skills agenda that is both designed and delivered here in Yorkshire to meet our own needs.

“The company sees the industrial landscape being transformed daily by digitalisation and the reinvention of processes to meet the essential sustainability agenda. In order to remain competitive, we need a workforce that is ahead of the game and future ready.

“We are encouraged that the Chamber has been awarded this contract which will help young people gain the skills they need to make choices and further their own careers, whilst supporting the growth of our local businesses and the prosperity of the region.”

Get involved

Martin Hathaway, managing director of Mid-Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “For years businesses have been lamenting the paucity of skill levels in our workforce.

To get involved in the LSIPs programme in West and North Yorkshire email:

skills@wnychamber.co.uk

For further information contact Mark Casci on mark.casci@wnychamber.co.uk

“Businesses have been struggling to find the best talent to drive their firms forward. This has kept productivity low and hampered growth. With LSIPs, we can change all of this.”

“We want to hear from as many voices as possible so do not miss out on your chance to be part of this new era for the region’s economy.”

“Now we have an historic opportunity to empower our workforces and employers with the tools they need to thrive in a modern economy.”

Making plans

Employers and educators can get involved in a game-changing initiative to transform Yorkshire’s economy by addressing its skill shortages.

Making manufacturing inclusive, interactive and inspiring

Pupils from 40 schools and more than 30 local employers came together to share experiences of a career in Bradford’s manufacturing sector, including pupils of Oastlers School in Bradford and Keighley who are working with Cleckheaton-based cosmetic and personal care manufacturer Orean.

Based on West 26 Industrial Estate in Cleckheaton and employer of a 238-strong local workforce, Orean creates skin and hair products for national and international beauty brands, specialising in first-to-market innovation, manufacture, filling, distribution and export.

“Roles here include marketing, accounting, logistics, chemistry and of course hands on manufacturing,” explains Orean’s Company Social and Responsibility Officer Katy

Trewartha. “Our success has been built on the rich history of manufacturing in Yorkshire and a huge part of that is due to our local workforce, a growing number of which are school leavers and apprentices.

“Bradford Manufacturing Weeks is a fantastic way for us to meet the next generation of business leaders and ensure today’s students understand the range of fulfilling careers right here on their doorstep.”

Led by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Bradford Manufacturing Weeks (3-14 October) introduces students to a career in manufacturing through work placements, manufacturer tours, work experience and skills events to support students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Getting hands on with Orean’s chemistry and manufacturing processes are Oastlers School learners, alongside Orean Departmental Manufacturing Manager Paul Michael (back left), teacher Chris Davis and Orean Social Responsibility Officer Katy Trewartha

Robert Fairbairn, Head of Centre at Oastlers’ Keighley site, said: “Thanks to Bradford Manufacturing Weeks we now have connections with a range of manufacturers across the district.”

The West and North Yorkshire Chamber’s Bradford Manufacturing Weeks initiative is delivered in partnership with Bradford-based school and career specialists The Opportunity Centre and is sponsored by Bradford Council, E3 Recruitment, the University of Bradford, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, Naylor Wintersgill and LCF Law.

New for 2022 are specialist manufacturing site visits and events for pupils with special educational needs, alongside University of Bradford faculty tours and the popular

“Women in Manufacturing” Q&A event and a mix of virtual and in person “Meet the Manufacturer” and “Meet the Apprentice” panel events. A Dragon’s Den-style competition themed “Tech for Good” is also aimed at encouraging students to solve a problem based around the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Orean’s Katy Trewartha added: “Manufacturing in Yorkshire has a bright future and the talented students in our local schools add a real spark to our business. We are so grateful to Bradford Manufacturing Weeks for providing additional opportunities to introduce students to our business and helping us secure our future pipeline of talent.”

For information www.bradfordmanufacturingweek.co.uk

Skills month

Connecting business and young people moves up a notch

The Policy & Representation team of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is working with partners in Bradford to highlight careers opportunities across the District.

When Skills Month comes to Bradford in October, it will focus on supporting, nurturing and inspiring future talent, and sees the coming together of Bradford Manufacturing Weeks and Tech Week. In addition, organisations from the health and social care, and culture sectors will also be involved.

Across the month, businesses will open their doors for young people to learn about new career options and the skills needed. Bradford Manufacturing Weeks brings manufacturers, schools and young people together through tours, work experience and events held at manufacturer premises and other key locations.

Tim Rogers, of Future Transformation, said: “Tech Week evolves into its third year with events happening across the district and covering gaming, coding, AI, space, satellites, tech for good, careers and challenges with a range of activities for people to discover the incredible opportunities that exist in the district.”

Skills Month will include events highlighting careers in the creative industries, including Fright Week from October 22 to 31, presented by Artworks. Alongside a programme of scary films children and grown-ups will also be able to experience a week of workshops including scary make up and sound effects

Partners involved in the month-long series of events include Bradford Council, SkillsHouse, LOCALiQ and Future Transformation. Find out more at bradfordmeansbusiness.com/bradford-skills-month-news

Tim & Jonathan thanked for supporting Property Forums

The Chamber would like to place on record its gratitude to two senior people that have played important roles in lobbying and representation activities in recent years.

Tim Waring has completed three years as Chair of Leeds Chamber Property Forum, continuing the good work done by his predecessors for the local property sector. Tim was also kind enough to host Steering Group meetings at his Quod offices in the city. Jonathan O’Connor stood down from his post as Chair of Bradford Chamber Property Forum when moving on from Walker Singleton. Both Chairs had to navigate difficult paths (as we all did since March 2020) as most activities were curtailed due to Covid restrictions for much of their tenures.

Matt Rudman of Vectos has now picked up the Bradford brief, with Barratt Homes’ Jennifer Winyard and David Coe stepping up as joint vice-chairs. Gerald Jennings has re-assumed the Leeds position, having first held the post several years ago.

In York & North Yorkshire, Steve Secker of Secker Taylor Associates, continues in the head role there.

Leadership Group elections

All three of the Chamber’s Leadership Groups have had an infusion of new people.

The new recruits were elected during the summer, when each of the groups met for updates and reviews. The Leadership Groups sit at the head of each area’s committee structure, and meetings are chaired by the local area Presidents.

For York & North Yorkshire, the group is boosted by Philip Bolson, Sarah Czarnecki and Judith McNicol; Bradford gets Sharon Jandu, Saleem Kader, Matt Rudman and Graham Sweeney; and Leeds sees Aqila Choudry and Mike Rayyan join.

Among their roles, Leadership Group members are expected to be Chamber ambassadors for their respective areas, act as conduits for receiving and feeding information between their sector and the Chamber policy team, and help develop policy positions according to contemporary business conditions and requirements.

Full details for the changes:

• Philip Bolson, Your Small Business Board

• Sarah Czarnecki, Grays Court Hotel

• Judith McNicol, National Railway Museum

• Aqila Choudry, Love in Care

• Mike Rayyan, Zest Eco

• Sharon Jandu, Yorkshire Asian Business Association

• Saleem Kader, Fabric Wholesalers

• Matt Rudman, Vectos

• Graham Sweeney, Schofield Sweeney

Find out more about the Leadership Groups and the wider work of the Policy & Representation team at wnychamber.co.uk/representation/

Tim Waring

Gerald Jennings

Jonathan O’Connor

Matt Rudman

Digital review for York & North Yorkshire

A group of Chamber members from the York & North Yorkshire area have met to discuss issues relating to the local digital sector.

Following on from Leeds-based members gathering earlier in the year, opportunities and challenges for the technology and digital sector were discussed in mid-September. Chaired by the President, Laurence Beardmore, the group received presentations from key personnel involved in the York Incubator/Accelerator and other city technology initiatives, before discussing how the sub-region might connect with regional and national schemes.

A scoping of the current tech sector was assessed, before a ‘next steps’ discussion on what could subsequently be developed that would assist the sector and the city.

Laurence said afterwards: “We need to constantly explore how best to deliver for our members and the local and regional economy, and that includes keeping abreast of developments in particular sectors. This discussion is just the latest in that assessment. We’re now going to liaise further with partners such as the local authorities and experts in this field before drawing up our plans and actions.”

Rail schemes may yet emerge fromthe sidings

More lobbying and representation by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is to take place on transport.

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee recently produced a report, urging the Government to re-think some of the details of the Integrated Rail Plan, produced last November. That plan included the side-lining of both the HS2 line to Leeds and the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) station for Bradford. The committee’s report questions and challenges some of the assumptions made by the Government in reaching its conclusions on HS2 and NPR, and wants more accurate and up-to-date analyses done.

This was followed by then leadership candidate Liz Truss, pledging to build NPR if elected to lead the Tory party.

Subsequent to emerging victorious in the leadership campaign, Ms Truss has confirmed her backing to NPR, including a new station in Bradford, a development which promises to be a game changer for the whole of the north. The Chamber has welcomed this development with open arms but still intends to make the case, strongly, for HS2 to come to Yorkshire in full.

Chair of the Chamber’s Transport Group, Alastair Gordon, of Arup, said: “The Select Committee report breathes new life into this region’s ambitions for greater connectivity and capacity on our railways. We always felt that the Government’s decisions on the Integrated Rail Plan from a West Yorkshire perspective were flawed, but you’d expect us to say that. It’s good that this committee has been able to draw its own conclusions that hopefully puts HS2 and NPR back on the table. It’s now time to convince the new cabinet of the benefits that these schemes will bring to the national economy and transport network.”

More help needed to stop dramatic post-Brexit fall in UK exports

More help must be given to British exporting companies now that the UK’s latest trade figures confirm a lasting significant decline, says Chamber International director, Tim Bailey.

“Many British exporters are stuck in a ‘poor performance’ rut with many still struggling with practical aspects of EU trade, following Brexit, and some withdrawing entirely.

Some EU countries, including Germany, are faring far better and have already recovered Covid-19 pandemic losses, adds Bailey, a member of the Local Regional Trade Partners Committee and former member of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Trade Forum”

While a British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) survey this spring showed a dramatic 4.4 per cent fall in exports, latest quarterly figures confirm they are in a rut with the proportion of exporters reporting increased overseas sales unchanged for the fifth successive month at 29%, while those reporting a decrease stuck at 25%, confirming a continuing decline since 2021, when the UK left the EU single market and replaced it with a new

tariff-free Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

In the latest survey, BCC expresses particular concern for exporting manufacturers with only 39% expecting their profitability to increase in the next year due to increased raw materials, utilities and labour costs. Only 48% of exporters of services are expecting better profits.

Bailey, who has chaired the European Regional Impartiality Committee for FTSE 100 multinational assurance, inspection, product testing and certification company, Intertek PLC, for the past two years, says exporting companies need more help due to increased bureaucracy, more complex procedures, higher costs and added difficulties created by rising energy and raw materials costs and sluggish post-pandemic lockdown supply chains.

Advance questions submitted to a recent Chamber International emergency online briefing, Is Brexit Working For You? show that difficulties faced by UK companies include the Northern Ireland protocol; complexities in the new TCA; VAT issues, difficulties establishing EU

fiscal representation; new rules of origin and commodity codes; additional freight costs, border controls and workforce mobility.

Bailey said: “Among issues we are dealing with include goods being inexplicably delayed at borders, long waits for reclaiming VAT from the EU countries resulting in cash flow problems in the UK and goods being inexplicably rejected by customs which are applying the new trade agreement unevenly.

“More than 18 months after the UK-EU free trade agreement, UK exporters are stuck in a poor performance rut. Much needs to be done to get UK trade to where it should be if Britain is to fulfil government aspirations to become a successful independent global trading nation or we will continue to fall behind and risk lasting harm to the economy”.

Chamber International, which has offices in Bradford and London helps hundreds of new and experienced exporters throughout the UK with a wide range of specialist services to make exporting easier and more cost effective.

New international trade qualification will help boostcompanies trading overseas

A major new nationally accredited trade award, open to West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce members, has been launched by Chamber International.

Announced at the annual Multimodal Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham in June, this latest qualification from Chamber International’s successful ‘Excellence Academy’ is equivalent to an A Level or NVQ level 3.

Chamber International director, Tim Bailey, said: “A raft of new post-Brexit trade regulations, clogged supply chains and high staff turnover have created demand for professional-level training that goes beyond what's currently available.

The new qualification, accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce, comprises six half-day online sessions, 1:1 coaching and a series of virtual assessments that can be customised to maximise alignment with the candidate’s own work situation and needs.

Each cohort is limited to 10 delegates to allow a more personal, individual learning experience. Candidates do not need any previous expertise.

Tim Bailey adds: “the Award doesn’t follow the traditional academic route. It’s tilted towards those that are doing the job, the practitioners working at the coalface who are sometimes in stand-alone roles facing complex trade issues.

“Candidates value the coaching experience and group working that forms part of the programme and become more efficient, boosting productivity and competitiveness whilst ensuring that businesses are compliant with the latest international trade regulations, all of which are critical to a company’s financial performance at such a challenging time.”

Chamber International is offering a £600 saving per candidate for WYNCC members. The second cohort of the International Trade Award will run from October 26 to November 30.

Pictured L to R: International Trade Award assessor, Katie Ivison; International Operations Manager, Nikki Clow and International Trade Award Lead Assessor and Internal Verifier, Kate Taylor.

Forty years of trade and change

By Tim Bailey, International Trade Director, Chamber International.

Before starting at the Chamber, I worked for LEP Transport, Bradford, managing import customs clearance for key accounts, as well as its Iranian export groupage service. At that time, LEP was then the world’s biggest forwarding agent; later it was acquired by Kuwaiti-based Agility Logistics, now part of the Danish global giant DSV. Little did I imagine that this experience would have a surprising relevance forty years later.

I was thrilled when an opportunity arose to join what was then the Bradford Chamber of Commerce in Cheapside and, when I started in 1982, one of the first projects I worked on was helping organise a discounted trade mission to Hong Kong that included return flights with Cathay Pacific and five nights in the 4-star Excelsior Hotel for the incredible price of just £99. Some national newspapers got wind of this and ran the story; needless to say, the mission sold out within days.

That was also the year in which a startup business came to the Chamber to talk about its proposal to manufacture set-top boxes. Located in Salts Mill, it was to become one of the most important businesses in the district, Pace PLC, later acquired by ARISS, then by CommScope, one of the world’s most advanced wired and wireless network manufacturers.

In 1982 we also hosted a reception for Bradford City FC following its success in reaching the third round of the FA Cup, and the third round of the League Cup. It was great to see an old school friend of mine, midfielder Barry Gallagher, among them.

Back in 1982, there was no internet of course – no email or websites. Instead, we had an information officer who maintained a business ‘library’ that was available to Chamber members by appointment, comprising hundreds of trade directory books.

The International Department, later to become Chamber International, our trading name for international services, was the first at Bradford Chamber to gain access to the Internet; soon afterwards the library was replaced by online data portals and specialist subscription services which put the same information just a few clicks away.

In my early days here, the Chamber had a long-standing partnership with Isfahan University, Iran, and would host incoming delegations and organise meeting programmes with local businesses.

Our team, just four in number, would organise six training courses a year, two or three trade missions and issue trade documents almost entirely to wool and textile exporters, and engineering companies.

Ten years later, in 1992, Britain entered the EU Single Market with some trepidation about possible threats posed to the UK by competition from EU businesses, rather than the massive export opportunities this would create.

Today it is hard to imagine that we employed just one temporary trade adviser to support local businesses through this major change. Up to 120 forms, previously required for a single shipment leaving the UK for the EU, became obsolete overnight.

Freighting a consignment to Paris was suddenly as easy as delivering goods to Newcastle!

Since then, we have grown alongside the increasing importance of international trade, advising the ever-

growing number of businesses and business types able to export to the EU – when the UK withdrew at the end of 2020, we had six trade advisers working flat out during the first three months to support them. Britain’s exit from the EU is still keeping us busy eighteen months later.

My early experience gained at LEP Transport, was always handy, but I never expected that, forty years later, this direct experience of customs work would be needed to meet the extraordinary increase in demand for customs advice that followed Brexit.

INTERVIEW

Take, for instance, the complex challenge that the UK faced in 2001 when a blanket ban was imposed on exports of animal by-products because of foot-and-mouth disease. Chamber International was granted a unique government concession to issue Export Health Certificates to the wool, hides and skins trades at the height of the outbreak, following a desperate plea from traders who faced ruin. Working alongside a production line of DEFRA vets based at the Chamber who scrutinised production data for each consignment and carried out countless cargo inspections, we issued certificates that enabled 400 consignments to be exported within a month of the concession being granted.

In 2003, a senior customs colleague mentioned that HMRC were looking to cut costs by outsourcing services. I made a speculative call to the head of HMRC national services at Kings Beam House, London, which prompted a flurry of emails to set up a meeting with their senior policy team.

The pilot for issuing customs forms that followed was led from Bradford and later rolled out across the British Chambers of Commerce Network. In the first eighteen months of providing the service the Network issued over 140,000 customs certificates to traders who also benefited from an increase in the number of access points for the documents. The move positioned the Network as a trusted HMRC partner and paved the way for further collaboration.

Chamber International is now ranked among the top six Chambers in the country for trade support, with an ever-expanding range of capabilities and services delivered from Bradford and London to more than 3,000 company clients across the length and breadth of the UK.

Our digital strategy has been essential to this - something we could never have imagined decades ago.

Chambers of Commerce were global long before ‘globalisation’. They are more powerful than ever today, and governments recognise this fact.

In 2022 the government is committed to creating a nation of exporters again and Chambers are helping with this. Businesses are encouraged to seek opportunities with fast growing economies, often far away, or risk decline. The golden era when export orders would drop through our letterboxes is long since gone, but they are still available to dynamic, agile businesses.

Though the challenges change with the years, our goals remain the same –firstly to see more and more British businesses competing at the very highest level, on the world stage and secondly, to help business fulfil orders by facilitating trade.

“International trade is now far more complex than forty years ago, when we exported significantly more than we imported. The balance tipped in 1984 and the UK has run a trade deficit ever since.”

Showcase yoursocial impact

The Raising the Bar Awards 2022 are now open for applications!

After a difficult couple of years, we are bringing the Raising the Bar Awards back to celebrate the fantastic work that businesses have done to improve their social impact

We are accepting applications in four categories:

The role your business has played in being a good corporate citizen.

The steps you have taken to reduce your business’s impact on the environment.

The time your business has committed to supporting educational development.

How much support your business has given to local causes.

The Raising the Bar Award Ceremony will be taking place on Wednesday 9 November at the Civic Hall in Leeds.

The Ceremony has been a key date in the regional business calendar since the initiative’s inception ten years ago, and provides an opportunity for businesses to come together and celebrate their efforts to make the region a better place!

keep them

Your membership of The British Chambers of Commerce gives you access to innovative, afordable health cover with an exclusive range of benefts.

Together, we’ve developed the Chamber Primary Health Plan that will work harder to make your staf feel more valued and motivated, and encourage them to be more proactive about their health.

The plan helps policyholders to access essential healthcare, diagnosis and treatment, provides money back towards selected medical expenses, and can be combined with our hospital treatment insurance to provide truly continuous cover.

As a leading provider of corporate health insurance, nobody works harder to keep your employees at their ft and healthy best than Westfeld Health.

discover the full benefts of harder working health cover, contact

The business of sport

The best of Yorkshire sport was celebrated when West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce staged its first ever Business in Sport event at Headingley Stadium.

Designed to bring together Bradford, Leeds and York Chambers of Commerce, the event heard from owners and managers of some of Yorkshire’s preeminent sporting institutions.

Held in the stadium’s corporate suite overlooking the cricket ground where Yorkshire County Cricket Club played their final game of the season against Gloucestershire, members and guests from around the region were able to learn what makes sport tick from a commercial perspective.

Among those speaking included Gary Hetherington and Rob Oates from Leeds Rhinos, Andy Dawson from Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Clint Goodchild from York City Knights, Warwick Andrews from Leeds Knights hockey team, Ryan Spark from Bradford City Football Club and Ian Stafford from Bradford Bulls.

Mark Casci, head of policy and representation at WNY Chamber, said: “With the Rugby League World Cup coming to Yorkshire this autumn and a T20 cricket world cup just around the corner, this was the perfect time to examine what makes sport work from a commercial point of view.

“The event was well attended and well received, with the passion that Yorkshire holds for sport palpable for all to see.”

What you missed online

The Chamber has seen great activity across all social media platforms in the past several months. The selected posts below are examples of some of the valuable information and discussions shared by the Chamber and our members on a daily basis.

We would love to know your thoughts on this quarter’s magazine and your local Chamber. What would you like to know more about or see more of in the future? Did any articles stand out to you?

Get involved with the regional business discussion on Twitter by tagging us @WNYChamber and mentioning #YorkshireBusiness

Our profiles

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Don’t just join, join in

Members and non-members joined the Chamber team at Headingley Stadium on the 27 September for an early evening of networking.

The Chamber exists to serve its members, so it is important that we deliver these events to give businesses the opportunity to understand what is included in membership and how to access these services. Our membership Manager, Liz Wood has a saying, “Don’t just join, join in,” this event is a perfect example of just that.

There were introductions to member services and benefits from Chamber staff, including ways to save money, access legal and HR advice lines and the various ways the Chamber can help you promote your business.

Mark Casci, the new Head of Representation, outlined the many groups, forums and committees the Chamber is involved with and the impacts it has both locally and regionally.

James Mason, the recently appointed Chief Executive of the Chamber, had an informal chat with Warwick Andrews of Leeds Knights, the hockey club based in the ice rink next to Elland Road, Leeds. Warwick spoke about how hockey is great family entertainment and also an opportunity for businesses to connect and collaborate.

As we plan for 2023, watch out for more of these events across the region.

mail@c80solutions.co.uk

Calderdale College vicky.wright@calderdale.ac.uk

Ceyx Ltd matt@ceyx.uk

Children Today info@childrentoday.org.uk

Your membership of The British Chambers of Commerce gives you access to innovative, afordable health cover

CHS Events jenny.cross@chsgroupuk.com

Civcon Civil Engineering info@civcongw.com

Core Chartered Accountants ramen@coreaccountants.com

Croft Cargo Ltd accounts@sabreoceansolutions.com

developed the Chamber Primary Health Plan that will work harder to make your staf feel more valued and motivated, and encourage them to be more proactive about their health.

Derby Business College Ltd krishan@dbc-training.co.uk

Display Maintenance Ltd mlamont@dmndesignbuild.com

Docuflow leeds@docuflow.co.uk

niki@larkhillpr.com

Lean practise Ltd aaron@leanpractice.co.uk

The plan helps policyholders

Little Vikings York For Kids hello@little-vikings.co.uk

Marks & Clerk LLP gmurray@marks-clerk.com

Morfa Architecture morfarchitecture@hotmail.com

access essential healthcare, diagnosis and treatment, provides money back towards selected medical expenses, and can be combined with our hospital treatment insurance to provide truly continuous cover

MPCC (UK) Ltd thomas@mpcc.co.uk

NO 1 York beverly.booth@guesthousehotels.co.uk

a leading provider of corporate health insurance, nobody works harder

North Core Creative Ltd michael@northcorecreative.co.uk

keep your employees at their ft and healthy best than Westfeld Health.

NORTH STAR ENGINEERS admin@northstar.engineer

Park Inn By Radisson York dinesh.kunder@parkinn.com

Parsons Acccountants York Ltd york@parsons.co.uk

Participate Projects info@participateprojects.org.uk

UK Curriculum and Accredidation Body

bradford.sta @scholarsschool.ac.uk

Visbody Uk LTd sales@visbody.co.uk

WGN james.forrest@wgn.co.uk

William lea derek.mcculloch@williamslea.com

YorGuest Ltd hello@yorguest.com

York City Knight c.goodchild@yorkcityknights.com

York Gin Company natalie@yorkgin.com

Yorkshire Asian Business Association sharon@yaba.uk.com

Yorkshire Dough Company Ltd accounts@greatballso our.com