West & North Yorkshire Business Magazine - Autumn 2024

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James Mason Chief Executive West & North Yorkshire Chamber

Constantly changing

Recently the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce held its 173rd annual general meeting. When you pause to think about this for a moment it’s some achievement.

Such longevity should not be taken for granted. That’s nearly two centuries of business support that many generations of employees have delivered to the business community in our region and if you think of the many challenging world events that have happened during this time, it becomes even more impressive.

Longevity is based on trust and loyalty. Businesses can trust Chambers of Commerce to be their voice with local, central and national government. We are always on the side of business looking at ways policy makers can ensure that an environment exists to create business opportunities or knock down barriers. Whether we are speaking on behalf of a small startup business or big sectors like hospitality or manufacturing, our mission is the same.

Over the last 173 years this Chamber has had to adapt and change as all businesses have had to do to modernise and keep at pace with a fast-changing world. So much of our output now is digital and we are piloting an artificial intelligence programme to ensure we are offering the very best value to our members.

Businesses that don’t adapt, pivot or evolve soon get left behind. We can’t afford that. However, I maintain it will always be the people and the in-person opportunities that create the most value. This is where true trust and loyalty starts and ends. Above all else it will be the people at our Chamber of Commerce that will ensure we are still delivering business support for the next 173 years and beyond.

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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.

© 2023 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.

BRADFORD NEWS

Call for clarity

As a Chamber of Commerce in Bradford we have been vocal in calling for a swift and positive update regarding the status of the Bradford Live project. The flagship regeneration scheme is set to transform the iconic former Odeon building into a state-of-the-art entertainment venue.

Due to open this year it was on track to create an entertainment space that was anticipated to welcome 300,000 visitors a year for music, sporting and comedy events. While work is clearly still taking place at the site, a considerable amount of speculation is mounting that about the venue’s future and involvement of the NEC Group as the venue’s operator. Concerts and events that had been booked are no longer listed for ticket sales on the Bradford Live website. The venue does not appear on the operators website either (NEC).

Given the importance of Bradford Live to the city’s future, and the fact that Bradford City of Culture is now just a few short months away from taking place, the Chamber joins with many of our city’s other institutions in seeking clarity about the state-of-play with the venue, from the NEC, from leaders at Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Bradford Live itself.

With so much positive momentum currently behind the city ahead of Bradford 2025 and so much regeneration works currently underway in the city, it is crucial that we obtain clarity about the Bradford Live venue’s status. Our membership has grown restless and the lack of clarity in media

reports has been unhelpful with regards to both the morale of business and ability to attract investment into Bradford.

Bradford Live would be the latest glorious chapter for a building that has been synonymous with the city’s culture for nearly a century. This is a building in which The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Tom Jones have all performed. For thousands of Bradfordians, it has been part of their lives, whether it was that first trip to the pictures as children, meeting your partner or taking your grandchildren.

The scale of opportunity that Bradford Live presents not only for this city but for the North of England is massive and so therefore we call upon all parties to dampen speculation with a clear unequivocal backing for the project’s future.

We at Bradford Chamber are under no illusions as to the scale of the difficulties our economy is currently facing. However, communication breeds confidence and silence merely brings fear, something that our city does not need during this pivotal time in its history. It is therefore vital that we get the clarity we so desperately need.

Mark Cowgill President Bradford Chamber

James Robinson Fibres invests £750,000 in future-proofing operations as it celebrates 150 years of innovation

Yorkshire-based textile innovator James Robinson Fibres is investing over £750,000 into its head office and warehousing at Euroway Industrial Estate, enhancing operational efficiency as it celebrates 150 years of pioneering spirit in the textile industry.

The fifth-generation family business, which includes Texfelt in its portfolio, has been making significant investments across the group. This follows a £10m investment into Texfelt’s Cutler Heights facilities, positioning the company as a global leader in innovative textile fibres & fillings solutions.

JR Fibres will utilise this investment to refurbish buildings, enhance office and welfare facilities, and consolidate all business departments under one roof. The investment also extends to IT infrastructure and other operational efficiencies, improving flow and function to achieve world-class efficiency levels in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics divisions.

James Taylor, Group Chairman, said: “As we celebrate 150 years of James Robinson Fibres, we’re not just reflecting on our achievements but actively shaping our future. This investment represents our commitment to continuous innovation and adaptability –principles that have been the cornerstone of our success since 1873.”

“Throughout our history, we’ve consistently reinvented ourselves to meet changing market demands. From our origins in wool dyeing to pioneering recycled fibres, and now leading the way in sustainable products and materials, we’ve always embraced change.”

Yorkshire Building Society partners with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture has announced Yorkshire Building Society as a Major Supporter. The partnership will see the 160-yearold mutual work with the programme over three years to help support its aim of increasing employment opportunities and skills across the district.

Yorkshire Building Society has a long heritage in the Bradford area. One of the mutual’s founding

Stephenson pays it forward with support for Getting Clean social enterprise

Stephenson, a global leader in personal care and cosmetic ingredients, has pledged its support for Yorkshire-based social enterprise CIC Getting Clean.

This volunteering project was formed by recovering addicts to support those still struggling with addiction in local communities in Leeds, helping them stay clean and sober. Getting Clean’s ‘Soap with Hope’ programme assists recovering people with an addiction in therapeutic soap-making workshops.

Getting Clean founder Chris Sylvester explains, “I established Getting Clean to provide peer-topeer support to people in drug and alcohol recovery, giving them a purpose and opportunity to help others. While we are still in the early phases of setting up, we appreciate the support of local businesses with donations that allow our work to thrive.”

organisations, the Bradford Self Help Permanent Building Society, was established in the St George’s Hall Coffee Tavern in 1885, and the city remains at the heart of its operations.

The Society played a key role as a Bid Champion in 2021 when the City successfully competed for the UK City of Culture 2025 status. The sponsorship is part of the Society’s ongoing investment into Bradford.

Bradford mill demolition paves way for £17m cutting-edge future technologies centre

Newly appointed contractor Morgan Sindall Construction has commenced demolition of a derelict mill on Thornton Road, making way for Bradford College’s purpose-built Future Technologies Centre.

The demolition of Junction Mills marks the start of construction on the state-of-the-art building, which will become the home of modern automotive and digital engineering training at Bradford College.

The facility will offer students skills in new technologies, such as electric/ hybrid vehicles and advanced manufacturing. The Centre will be vital in supporting the growth of technology and low-carbon skills capability. The first phase of work is being undertaken by Morgan Sindall, a leader in the construction of UK education facilities. This includes extensive site surveys and now the demolition of the vacant Junction Mills building.

Since 2022 the mutual has supported over 2,200 individuals through programmes that help improve employability and skills in communities across the district.

Most recently, Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation announced the Building Bradford Skills fund which will provide £1million in grants to charities in Bradford’s most deprived areas to improve employability.

Regal Foods expands in chilled desserts sector with Love Cheesecakes acquisition

Yorkshire-based food group, Regal Food Products Group Plc is set to boost its chilled desserts offer with the acquisition of artisan cheesecake makers, Love Cheesecakes.

Based in Lancaster, Love Cheesecakes specialises in handcrafting over 100 premium cheesecakes for wholesale, food services and the hospitality sector. Focusing on single serve and canapé style cheesecakes, the bakery also sells directly to consumers through event catering, attending festivals and other large outdoor events.

In 2020 Love Cheesecakes appeared on the popular television show, Dragons’ Den, giving the artisan bakery a step on the online ladder. The bakery now holds a strong online presence through several ecommerce platforms in which it operates. With a strong focus on gifting, the service allows customers to indulge in doorstep desserts at home.

LEEDS NEWS

Skills shortage in manufacturing

Manufacturing plays a huge part in the U.K economy fostering innovation, productivity and growth. However, our sector now faces a pressing challenge more than ever before: a significant shortage of skills. As technology evolves and the demands of global markets shift, the need for skilled workers in manufacturing has become more acute.

The skills shortage in the UK manufacturing sector has been well publicised for decades but seems to have escalated in recent years. The rapid pace of technological innovation has transformed manufacturing processes, requiring workers with advanced digital skills. However, the education and training system has struggled to keep pace with these changes, resulting in a mismatch between the skills demanded by employers and those possessed by job seekers.

An ageing workforce is exacerbating the shortage of skills. When experienced workers retire, they take valuable knowledge and expertise with them. At the other end of the employment pipeline, we are struggling to find new recruits. Despite efforts to attract younger talent, there remains a perception gap regarding the attractiveness of careers in manufacturing among the younger generation.

There are, however, numerous organisations are fighting to dispel this. Members of the Leeds Manufacturing Alliance, Leeds City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and our wonderful schools and colleges are all aligned in trying to highlight and amplify the numerous benefits a career in manufacturing can bring.

However, it is still difficult and time consuming to fill skilled personnel, and this is resulting in most companies witnessing production delays, decreased efficiency, and higher operational costs, ultimately eroding competitiveness in the global market.

As we navigate the complexities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, addressing the skills shortage is not merely a necessity but an opportunity to shape a future where UK manufacturing remains a beacon of innovation and excellence.

Chris Black President Leeds Chamber

Blacks Solicitors supports the development of low carbon homes

Blacks Solicitors has advised Heywood Homes on the acquisition and development of a site in Holmfirth, which will boast 35 “Low Carbon” homes with a gross development value of almost £13 million. The development of the site is being facilitated and supported by the £5 million of finance from Homes England with Blacks providing advice to Heywood Homes on this funding.

The collection of new homes is nestled in the Holme Valley, close to Holmfirth and will be known as Bluebell Meadows in reference to the landscaping that will be evident in the open spaces incorporated in the scheme. The properties will be constructed as “Low Carbon” EPC A rated with high levels of insulation to achieve energy efficient operation and will be marketed under Heywood Homes new eco homes brand Hauser.

Headed up by Andrew Pedley, Partner in the Real Estate team at Blacks Solicitors, commented: “We are delighted to have supported Heywood Homes to successfully bring this housing scheme to the market alongside Homes England. It has been a pleasure to work with the team, offering advice on complex matters to ensure they can continue to offer environmentally friendly and EPC-A rated family homes designed in a manner not widely used in the sector.”

Blacks’ involvement first began in 2022 with acquiring this sought after site. Subsequently planning advice was given by Senior Associate Solicitor, Katy McPhie, including matters such as reserved matters approval, securing a further planning permission and addressing complex infrastructure agreements.

Heywood Homes was first introduced to Blacks through Andrew’s 10 year strong relationship with them and it has now been a client of the firm for more than three years. Blacks continue to support in successfully bringing sustainable and modern housing schemes to the market.

Airedale by ModineTM, the critical cooling specialists, is celebrating apprenticeships this month, with a special mention to apprentice George Hardesty who has graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering.

George joined Airedale by Modine as an apprentice having achieved a Level 3 qualification at a local technical college. George’s apprenticeship with Airedale came with a commitment from the company to support him through both the Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

Airedale agreed to fund the practical-based courses and offered one day per week study leave. During this early apprenticeship period, George was able to work in a variety of departments at Airedale, allowing him to learn about the business whilst discovering his areas of interest.

On successful completion of the HND at Bradford College, Airedale agreed to further support George through a mechanical engineering degree. George is now looking forward to moving into a qualified position within the Airedale software development team.

AAB strengthens Virtual Finance team with new Leeds Partner

AAB, a leading professional services firm across the UK and Ireland, is pleased to announce the appointment of Leeds-based Mark Bain as Partner within their Virtual Finance Function (VFF).

Mark’s appointment is the second significant senior-level addition to the team in as many months, reflecting not just the surge in demand for Virtual Finance services, but also AAB’s reputation for providing exceptional client service.

A Chartered Accountant whose international career spans 20-plus years, Mark has an impressive track record of propelling growth-oriented businesses toward success. His most recent tenure as COO of a prominent brand has not only sharpened his capabilities in understanding and enhancing client operations, but also positioned him to harness the benefits of AAB’s Virtual Finance Function, when businesses find themselves at critical junctures.

Apprenticeship success

Cards Direct opens first Leeds store at the Merrion Centre

Cards Direct, a leading family-owned retailer specialising in high-quality greeting cards, gifts, gift packaging, balloons and partyware, has officially opened its first store in Leeds at the Merrion Centre.

This new store marks another milestone in Cards Direct’s ongoing expansion across the UK, bringing their total number of stores to 72 since the brand was founded in 2012.

The Merrion Centre, owned and managed by Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), is a well established shopping destination in Leeds, drawing a wide variety of shoppers.

The addition of Cards Direct is set to further elevate the Centre’s retail offerings, providing an essential service to the community.

The team at Cards Direct is looking forward to welcoming customers to their new Leeds store, where they can expect the same exceptional service and value that the brand is known for.

Construction project brings rooftop reading space to The Leeds Library

The final phase of capital works project The Next Chapter is underway at The Leeds Library. In the biggest expansion in its 255-year-history, completion of the project will make the library accessible for the first time, unite its collection and archive, and create a new event space and a rooftop reading terrace.

The library acquired the adjoining premises in 2022, and all major structural work is complete, with new tenant Cinnabon beginning trading from the ground floor last year.

With work on fixtures, fittings and electrics underway, activities planned for the new building include education visits from schools and community groups, an expanded weddings package, and a programme of workshops and live events. Following support from the National Lottery Heritage fund, Garfield Weston and the Foyle Foundation, fundraising is ongoing to complete this exciting project.

YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Best in class

Yorkshire has many strengths as a region but one that is perhaps under-celebrated is our universities.

As an employee at York St John University, I may be slightly biased, but I am confident that the majority of readers would agree we have first class universities in our region which attract the greatest and brightest minds from across the world. However, these institutions currently facing a significant problem.

Recent changes to the way Graduate Visas are granted are included in the previous Government’s policy to cut migration numbers. However, universities believe that this will slash Britain’s ability to benefit from the planet’s finest minds who will find coming to the UK to study to be more problematic, something that will have an impact on our economy.

Higher Education currently accounts for 77 per cent of our country’s research and innovation activity and a significant proportion of our start up community is born from joint innovation projects between the university and private sectors. The Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) generates £8.30 for every £1 of funding and the HE sector is the second largest investor in research in the UK, spending £5.6billion on research in 2021.

Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that as many as half of international students would be minded to study elsewhere owing to the graduate visa programme changes, something that PwC modelling suggested would lead to four in five British universities running deficits by 2026.

Most of this investment is generated by tuition fee income from international students. Fewer international students will mean reduced investment in R&D. As such the Chamber believes that the current Government policy needs to change. Our Higher Education sector is one of the jewels in the crown of British life and the brightest students from across the world dream of studying from our universities.

As President of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce I know how blessed we are here to have two superb universities in York which, each year, produce first class research and graduates.

This, in turn, leads to growth in our economy and attracts investment from both within the region and beyond. In order for this record of achievement to continue, we call strongly for the Graduate Visa rote to be amended to allow more students to come to our universities.

As a sector, universities are currently battling stagnant fee rates and potentially dwindling student intakes owing to tightened immigration policies. As a Chamber, we want to see the significant proportion of our workforce that relies on this influx from abroad for their livelihoods protected and allowed to flourish.

Sarah Czarnecki President York

Initiative to plug construction skills gaps and boost employment

City of York Council is investing in a new construction skills initiative, with support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Construction York aims to reduce inequality, address the construction skills gap and enable inclusive economic growth.

With the city about to embark on several key housing developments, plus retrofitting work needed to hit carbon reduction targets, there will be an increasing number of opportunities for skilled construction workers in the York area.

This initiative aims to ensure local residents are able to take full advantage of these opportunities, and can access training needed to meet employers’ skills requirements.

The council is working with leading social value enterprise CHY to manage the collaborative design, development and implementation of Construction York during its first phase from June 2024 to March 2025.

Construction York aims to equip York residents with relevant skills, qualifications and experience to progress in construction, particularly those from disadvantaged, underrepresented and underemployed groups.

The initiative will provide advice and guidance on future employment, apprenticeship and training opportunities and developing clear routes to well-paid, sustainable employment for people at every stage in their construction career, as well as improved access to opportunities across York’s development and construction activity.

& North Yorkshire Chamber

Airport records its first profit for more than a decade

Teesside International Airport has reported its first profit in more than a decade after growth in passenger numbers and successful Business Park developments helped it move back into the black.

The return to profitability is well ahead of the airport’s financial plan and came after Teesside enjoyed its highest passenger numbers due to high demand for flights to Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

Emma and Ruth lead promotions at Rollits

Leading York law firm Rollits LLP has announced its latest round of promotions with two new partners and four more lawyers.

Ruth Maltby-Sinkler in the commercial property team and Emma Hamilton in private capital have both been promoted from Associate to Partner and John Ashworth in dispute resolution becomes an Associate.

Abbie Bielby in dispute resolution has been promoted from Solicitor to Senior Solicitor along with her colleagues Enisha Ali in property and Harry Spice in corporate.

Ruth, Emma, John, Enisha and Harry are all alumni of The University of Hull, and Abbie is a graduate from Queen Mary University of London.

Ralph Gilbert, Managing Partner of Rollits, said: “We are delighted and proud to share in the success of local people who have made great progress in their careers with us, and all have strong links with our local area.

The 2023 UK and Ireland Airport of the Year also made progress on developing its Business Park, including completing construction of the first unit, a new link road and a new Northside hangar, that will house aircraft painting company Airbourne Colours.

Significant growth in property and estate development values have driven the airport’s investment portfolio by 173% to almost £50million.

Spook-tacular Halloween events at castle Howard

Iconic Yorkshire stately home Castle Howard has partnered with popular baker, writer, and Great British Bake Off star Helena Garcia to create a series of events for Halloween.

Helena starred on Series 10 of Bake Off in 2019, delighting the judges and viewers alike with her spooky style.

She has since written multiple baking and crafting books, plus her children’s book, My Mummy is a Witch.

Castle Howard has partnered with Helena to create a series of Halloween-themed events in October, from Spooky Afternoon Tea to a retail pop-up showcasing her range of gifts and homewares in the Castle Howard Farm Shop.

Helena collaborated with Castle Howard’s Executive Head Chef, Nathan Richardson-Kelly, on the Afternoon Tea menu, which includes Pumpkin Patch Cakes, Devils Fingers and Bat Scones with berried alive jam.

Construction company, William Birch & Sons celebrates 150 years

York-based principal contractor

William Birch & Sons Ltd has launched its 150-year celebrations at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington, York. Nearly 200 colleagues, retirees, and shareholders gathered for an afternoon of family fun to mark this significant milestone.

Since 1874, the company has been delivering restoration, refurbishment, and construction services across the Yorkshire region. Their notable projects include the chapel at Ampleforth Abbey, the Water Feature restoration at Studley Royal Park in Ripon, Whitby Abbey Visitor Centre, the Mansion House in York, Sewerby Hall in Bridlington, York Theatre Royal, and the Weston at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Chris Birch, Chairman, stated, “Reaching our 150th year in business is a testament to the incredible journey we’ve had as a team. I am immensely proud of our accomplishments.”

WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Change continues

We held our Chamber Annual General Meeting in September, giving me pause to reflect on how much change we have seen this past few months.

We have had a general election and a new Government is now in place. We also now have devolution in place across all of the Chamber’s geographical patch. As well as our mayor in West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, we now have a mayor in North Yorkshire in the shape of David Skaith. We look forward to working with both of our mayors to make sure our business community’s interests are served so they can create the jobs and investment that help power Yorkshire’s motor.

The Chamber made a big splash this year with a hugely successful trade mission to New York City in which we were able to celebrate the strong links between our region and the United States, and to forge new relationships in the process.

On hospitality, our partners across the whole of North Yorkshire continue to make progress, with an aim of producing a charter for the sector hopefully due to be realised by the end of the year.

The countdown to City of Culture for Bradford 2025 is coming closer to launch day and the Chamber has just agreed a strategic partnership with BD25, putting us at the heart of a yearlong cultural celebration that will very much showcase the best of Bradford to the world.

Our BAME committee made several powerful interventions in the last year, arguably most notably last month, with its commentary around the shameful rioting and violence we saw up and down the country.

Our two Local Skills Improvement Plans are functioning well in both West and North Yorkshire.

And we have carried out extensive lobbying across our three Chambers to help our members grow their businesses, benefit from improved infrastructure and achieve trading conditions that bring them the confidence needed to grow and create prosperity. Thank you to all who help us in our mission to represent our business community’s interests.

Amanda Beresford Chair of the Board

West & North Yorkshire Chamber

Yorkshire gold – Power station celebrates 50 years with train journey across iconic landmark

The UK’s largest producer of renewable power, Drax Power Station, has celebrated its Golden anniversary with the unveiling of a special rail wagon, seen for the first time crossing Yorkshire’s iconic Ribblehead Viaduct.

Renewable power pioneer, Drax Group, unveiled the golden liveried Class 66 locomotive operated by GB Railfreight to mark the 50th anniversary of its eponymous power station near Selby, in North Yorkshire.

The train hauled 25 biomass wagons, including one with a matching golden wrap, across the famous Victorian viaduct on the scenic SettleCarlisle line towards Tyne Dock, where they were filled with the biomass pellets the power station uses to generate enough reliable, renewable electricity to power four million UK homes.

Mark Gibbens, Head of Logistics at Drax said: “We are delighted to mark the 50th anniversary of Drax Power Station, and its role in keeping the lights on for millions of people in Yorkshire and the UK, through this train journey across the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct.

“Our partnerships with organisations such as GB Railfreight ensure that we can continue to contribute to the UK’s de-carbonisation objectives and energy security with power from sustainable biomass.” John Smith, CEO of GB Railfreight, said: “GB Railfreight has proudly supported Drax and the UK Government to produce low-carbon power for us all; driving jobs, warming homes and creating economic value across the country.

“To recognise the importance of our relationship with Drax and to celebrate their 50th anniversary, we gave them the perfect gift to mark the occasion – a gold locomotive.”

Drax has also commemorated its special anniversary with a series of charter trains that carried passengers around the Drax Power Station rail loop to raise money for charity.

UKREiiF brings £20.9m economic boost to region

An independent report by ARUP has highlighted that The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), a major event taking place annually in Leeds, has generated almost £21m of local economic activity in the city and the wider West Yorkshire region in 2024.

The event, which brought together over 13,000 official attendees in

Yorkshire IT company gets boost from Theo Paphitis

A Cross Hills based firm has received recognition and a business boost from retail guru Theo Paphitis. Last week, Sara Haggas, Sales and Marketing Manager at Comprendo, posted about the business on the former Dragon’s Den star’s Instagram account during ‘Small Business Sunday’. As a result, Comprendo became one of six weekly winners to receive a repost to his half a million Twitter and Instagram followers.

Theo Paphitis, Chairman of Ryman Stationery, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue, said, ‘’We are thrilled to welcome new #SBS members every week to highlight just how important it is to support small businesses here in the UK. My vision is that everyone who has ever won an #SBS re-tweet from me becomes part of a friendly club of like-minded individuals who can share successes and learnings. The website also gives a valuable profile to the winners chosen. I wish Comprendo every success.’’

2024, has now generated £38.5m since its inaugural event in 2022.

Nathan Spencer, Director of UKREiiF, said: “We’ve always wanted UKREiiF to be more than just an event – year round we’re looking at ways UKREiiF can benefit the local community in West Yorkshire, and part of our marketing activity before the event was looking at much more

We wanted to get it right

On Thursday 12 September in Leeds, we are holding the inaugural Yorkshire Business Fair at the Holiday Inn Conference Centre in Garforth. Working in the advertising, marketing, networking and business event arena for over 4 decades, if I have learned anything, it’s the value of facilitating the opportunity for people to communicate transparently together to develop trusting and long-lasting new business relationships.

As a proud member of The Yorkshire Society, and partly due to my own long-standing relationship with Philip Bell, CEO of The Yorkshire Society, I am delighted and excited to have been asked to manage this new event. Philip and I have a wealth of experience and our sole purpose of working together is to create a truly phenomenal opportunity for business owners across the region to come together to cost effectively generate new relationships with a brand-new audience so they can grow their business.

than just growing the attendance in terms of numbers, we were reviewing how to get people spending more time in the region, and how we can get them to return more frequently.

We’re delighted to showcase the incredible results UKREiiF is having on the local economy, and we look forward to hosting the event in the city in 2025.”

Azets takes Pride in diversity

Top 10 UK accountancy firm Azets in Yorkshire has strengthened its support for the LGBT+ community with backing for this June’s Pride celebrations.

The company has a long-standing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity for its 3,000 staff in 70 offices and the clients they serve. Azets’ Yorkshire region has led the way by backing York Pride – one of the biggest LGBT+ celebrations in the county – for the first time.

It was a headline sponsor of the twoday event when staff from the firm’s York, Leeds and Bradford offices joined in a colourful city centre parade and manned a stand in its vibrant festival village. Yorkshire is the first Azets region to officially support a Pride event.

Claire Needham, office managing partner for Azets in York, said: “We were thrilled to play our part in the fantastic Pride celebrations and help champion the LGBT+ community.

An Overview of Branding Inc.

Launched in May 2022, Branding Inc are a Bradford based company who specialise in the branding, printing and embroidery of a whole range of clothing items, including t-shirts, hats, polos, gilets and more. Having recently acquired tenancy at the Bradford Chamber Business Park, our team met up with the company’s founder, Mac Rai, to discuss his experience of settling into the facilities there. With over 20 years’ worth of experience in the industry, Mac deals with business development for Branding Inc, finding new clients to work with. We wanted to learn his story and understand why he chose to base his company here at the site.

What are Branding Inc’s aims for the future?

The company has experienced steady growth over the past year, with a vision to continue this journey of expansion after settling into a new home at the Business Park. Mac was always eager to return to the facilities with Branding Inc, having previously worked there several years earlier, where he initially acknowledged the benefits that the Business Park had to offer.

Proud of the fact that all of their clothing is sourced from UK suppliers, the company has managed to avoid any importing or exporting complications. As a result, they are now looking to achieve larger corporate orders moving forward, having already enjoyed working alongside some major firms such as Jet2, NHS (Birmingham Trust), and a host of well-known food brands including Jinnah, MyLahore and Howdens.

A further aim for Branding Inc is to expand their workforce. Mac believes that the central location of the Business Park can help the company accomplish this. With excellent transportation links to the city centre and generous workspace for additional staff, he remains confident that this new home can really help drive further growth and expects that vacancies would likely be filled quickly once advertised to the wider community.

Why the Chamber Business Park?

With ample opportunity for growth, the Business Park is both spacious and convenient for the tenants working there. Mac informed us that the friendly environment and shared working space has helped him to develop strong relationships with others, which has often led to further business for his company. Collaboration like this is perhaps best exemplified by Branding Inc’s recent transition here, whereby Mac and his workforce have been temporarily sharing space with a friend’s organisation, until their own workshop space becomes available next month.

The facilities offer excellent security and flexibility too. With a reception service to assist with various business needs, there’s always a friendly presence to greet customers on arrival and provide help where possible. Mac explained how he is able to leave parcels for collection with the receptionists, whilst also having access to meeting rooms when required, outside of his private office space. His eagerness to return to the Business Park, is perhaps the best compliment for the services provided by the Chamber staff, as Mac admits he is there to stay.

Mac’s message to other businesses…

Aside from the friendly staff presence, which also takes away the worry of having to staff a receptionist for his business, Mac also explained that the Business Park provides the perfect space for developing and expanding a business. Offering easy-in and easy-out terms at a reasonable rate, Mac expressed the opinion that the benefits you receive from working there simply cannot be matched by other private or landlord facilities. The Business Park is designed to help your business function and flourish, which is why Mac views it as the ideal place for developing Branding Inc. He hopes to remain a long-term tenant at the Business Park, mirroring companies like the West Yorkshire Learning Providers who have built their presence here at the facility over the past 17 years.

To learn more about the Business Park or other Chamber properties, contact our team by email at property@wnychamber.co.uk,

No likeplacehome

Speaking to a returning tenant at the Bradford Chamber Business Park.

Constantly changing

In a time of such rapid and often all-consuming change, the role of the Chamber of Commerce in supporting and aiding businesses has never been greater.

As all entrepreneurs know, the greatest challenges are those which come out of nowhere when least expected.

However, thanks to our region’s extraordinarily high levels of resilience and determination, we can once again look back on a year of successes and innovation.

What makes the Chamber network unique is that we represent all employers, from both the private and the public sector, meaning we learn of the challenges and opportunities faced across the entirety of the region’s economy. It is this network that allows the Chamber to influence and support the decision makers, both regionally and nationally so that the interests of employers are heard and understood. It is a network for which we are truly grateful. We are only as good as our membership and, fortunately for us, we represent the cream of Yorkshire business.

This year has seen our region flourish internationally. The post-Brexit world that businesses are navigating has meant our firms are in the hunt for new markets in which to trade their goods and services. Our international division has never been busier and there is no sign whatsoever that this pace of interest will slow any time soon.

We may have had a change in Government this past year but one thing that has not changed is our membership team’s commitment to delivering first class services for those who support us. Our Supporter level of membership has very much come into its own and seen us diversify our

already rich seam of members, representing all walks of commercial life.

Whether it is lunches, netwalking events or dinners, the Chamber continues to put on highly successful and soughtafter events which inform and entertain those in attendance, as well as connecting them to new contacts and foster greater levels of transacting.

Our property network continues to deliver for the business and the team behind this portfolio are often the unsung heroes of the business.

Our representation and policy team continue to make sure that the voice of our membership is heard by those who need to hear it the most, and that the work we do receives the maximum amount of exposure.

I must at this stage pay tribute to the incredible contributions of our board, chaired so expertly by Amanda Beresford. The guidance and knowledge they supply us as a business with is extraordinary and we are very grateful to have them.

I must also place on record our gratitude to our presidents and vice presidents. Mark Cowgill and Rebecca Fitzgerald (Bradford president and vice president), Chris Black and Aqila Choudhry (Leeds president and vice president) and Sarah Czarnecki (York & North Yorkshire president) represent the best of Yorkshire business. Their leadership is invaluable, and I am sure everyone reading this will agree that the region is so much the better for having them. All are now one year into their two-year terms and I cannot wait to see what they achieve in the months ahead.

Finally, I wish to thank all of our members without we would not exist. We will continue to work tirelessly to serve you and the region we all love and call home.

173 years of support for business in Yorkshire

The 173rd Annual General Meeting of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce took place on Thursday 12th September 2024. Hosted at Cedar Court Hotel, Harrogate, we were joined by various members and supporters to establish directors of the three representative groups within our region (Bradford, Leeds, York & North Yorkshire), whilst also agreeing which individuals should sit on our Chamber Board.

The meeting saw the acceptance of the 2023-2024 Annual Report, outlining the key work that the Chamber has been involved in over the past 12 months, leading up to March 2024. With lots of exciting projects to look back on, you can now find a summary of our business involvement by reading this report online – please visit our website for further information.

Following the AGM, proceedings continued with our Annual Lunch, which was held in the exquisite Queen’s Suite. After a delicious two-course meal, guests were welcomed by Amanda Beresford, Chair of the Board, and James Mason, CEO of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. It was then over to Richard Hall, Managing Director of Harrogate Spring Water, who took to the stage to speak openly about sustainable growth and some of the ongoing strategies and developments that his company are involved in.

Thanks again to all those who attended our AGM / Annual Lunch. It’s businesses like yours who continue to play a crucial role in championing our region. We look forward to enacting further positive change together over the forthcoming year.

INTERNATIONAL

In international business, it is increasingly rare to meet someone who has dedicated their whole working life to mastering just one thing, but Roy Broadhead has done exactly that.

Roy began as a junior clerk in an export shipping department in Bradford - his employer was a leading textile manufacturer at the time, employing more than 600 people in spinning and weaving. He soon found himself drawn to the details of export paperwork and, specifically, how companies get paid. This brought him into contact with the “Letter of Credit”, an international payment method which might look a bit old-fashioned in today’s world of fancy fintech solutions, where money can be sent anywhere by the touch of a few buttons on the phone in your pocket, but which continues to be the gold-standard in terms of security, in the ever-changing global trade arena.

As West Yorkshire’s textile industry declined, fabric manufacturers went through major restructuring, and, having worked his way up to the responsibility of Export Shipping Manager, Roy was saddened to hear that he was being made redundant. However, the company soon realised that they couldn’t do without his expertise, and he was reengaged on a freelance basis to handle their export documentation and letters of credit arrangements. At the same time, other exporting companies approached him for similar help, and Roy found himself managing letters of credit for multiple businesses in different fields.

Unsurprisingly, Roy had already developed connections with Chamber International by that time. He had referred exporters to CI when they needed certificates of origin, for instance. But things took a new course when CI’s long-time director Tim Bailey phoned Roy one day to refer a business to him – the light bulb producer Sylvania, whose factory was in Shipley, and which had become part of the Osram electrical empire. “The businesses of exporting had been transferred to them, but they had no idea what to do with all the paperwork thrust upon them”, Roy recalls. “I explained that if they didn’t get it right, they would have boxes of light bulbs piled up in customs accruing storage costs. So, they asked, ‘Can you help?’ – and I did!”

In 2012, Roy accepted an invitation to join Chamber International formally, and this has led to him regularly arranging letter of credit payments for engineering companies, including a large diesel generator manufacturer. Others he has assisted include: a company with a £3 million order for railway sleeper pins; an order from California for more than 20 shipping containers of poultry processing equipment; even one with a £4 million order from Saudi Arabia for top-rope climbing adventure equipment.

“They are all interesting in their own different ways”, he says. “Some countries have long lists of requirements for letter of credit. Getting paid by customers in Bangladesh will need you to prove the use of Bangladesh-approved shipping vessels, Bangladesh-approved crates, and that’s just the start of it”.

Getting paid by documentary letter of credit involves sending certain proof documents relating to the order, to the customers bank for approval – if those documents are not accepted by the bank as correct and fulfilling the requirements of the letter of credit in every way, then payment will not be released. That’s why UK businesses seek out Roy and ask him to do “pre-presentation checks” on those documents, to ensure they are correct in all details before they get sent to the bank. Then, if the letter of credit is “irrevocable”, payment will be released, whether the customer likes it or not. “To get an order worth £40,000, companies soon find it’s worth a few hundred to make sure they understand and can meet the LoC requirements, and get paid”, he says.

When managed well, letters of credit provide a guarantee of payment, including staged payments. They also enable governments to track capital outflows –which is why countries such as Egypt and Pakistan have mandated the use of letters of credit for all import purchases, except those of low value.

These are the reasons why it looks like letters of credit will be with us for a good many years to come, even though the landscape of international trade has changed in many ways since Roy started his career. With so few real masters around, we can all be glad he shows no sign of hanging up his hat just yet.

Removing trade barriers

The UK’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is moving forward apace, and will now take place by 15 December 2024.

CPTPP currently includes Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam, with a combined population of half a billion people, and a total GDP of £12 trillion in 2022.

This group, which includes some of the most vibrant and fastest-growing economies in the world, represents an important export market for UK goods and services. By joining CPTPP, 99% of those goods exports will become tariff-free, giving the UK a significant competitive advantage over non-members.

Britain is the first nation to successfully join CPTPP since it was founded in 2018. Its membership comes into force, first with Japan, Singapore, Chile, New Zealand, Vietnam and Peru, and will be

extended as the remaining members each ratify it in turn.

As well as cutting tariffs on goods exports, Britain will benefit from access to new markets for services. CPTPP is a very modern agreement, with strong provisions for trade in services, and for data transfer. Joining CPTPP will help remove the barriers that some UK companies face, including data localisation requirements, ensuring data can flow between the UK and CPTPP members.

By joining CPTPP, Britain will have a trade deal with Malaysia for the first time ever, an important step forward for a number of key industries: British whisky is currently subject to 80% tariffs – these will be eliminated over time; British car producers will also see tariffs of 30% removed in stages.

Engaging with the opportunity

As part of the West Yorkshire Business Boost initiative, on 4 December Chamber International will deliver a one-day masterclass for businesses from the region, focussed on CPTPP and Latin America.

Delegates will receive an overview of Latin America’s market landscape –social, digital and regulatory. As a result, they should be better placed to develop a robust strategy for collaborating with partners across the region; grow sales; avoid pitfalls; and estimate costs and incomes. Up-todate information will be shared, with real-life illustrations from a range of sectors. The workshop will provide an excellent foundation for companies to start, develop and grow their business with Chile, Mexico and Peru.

Contact the team International team for more information.

Women-led businesses to the fore during Africa Trade Mission

In June, a UK trade delegation to Kenya brought British buyers face-toface with African corporations and businesses from all corners of the continent.

Chamber International’s head of international trade Nikki Clow was invited to be part of the delegation, together with the Chamber’s CEO James Mason, and businesses from the West and North Yorkshire region.

Ten buyers from the UK met with and 23 African corporations, and over 60 women-led businesses from seven African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and The Gambia). The schedule was a practical one, giving priority to B2B networking sessions and company visits. Several business deals were generated as a direct result of the trade mission, which was organised by the United Nations’ International Trade Centre (ITC).

One textiles and apparel company from the UK signed deals with two companies during the B2B networking meetings, and is in negotiations with two more women-led businesses as a result. The two initial orders are

estimated at around £15,000 in total, with the overall value of deals expected to increase significantly as trust deepens further.

Another UK company selling handicrafts, home décor and women’s accessories, is co-developing products with seven different women-led businesses, with an estimated value of nearly £200,000 over three years.

Inspiring business

Describing the experience as “truly inspiring”, one delegate said, “In my entrepreneurial journey we have never looked at Africa as a supply source. This trip has changed all of that, for sure. We have made some very useful contacts in which we will be starting to negotiate with in the coming weeks. It was very helpful having other African nations there as we are looking at supply sources from South Africa, Mauritius and Ghana”, and indicated that the Trade Mission may also be leading to a new partnership with one of the other UK buyers.

The Kenya Trade Mission followed hoton-the-heels of one in late May, in

which seven UK businesses visited Rwanda in late May, with estimates of around £1.5 million per year of new trade resulting. A few of companies have already begun shipping produce to the UK, from their new suppliers. Nikki said, “It was a real privilege to be invited to be part of the British delegation for this exciting trade mission. This was my first visit to Kenya, and it opened my eyes, in a new way, to all kinds of exciting opportunities for UK businesses. To see such a strong contingent of women business leaders was great for me, personally”.

Growing exports

James is committed to seeing increased trade between the West and North Yorkshire region and emerging markets overseas. It is a mark of his commitment that already this year he has joined with the Kenya Trade Mission and also ITC’s trade mission to Pakistan, which connected over 60 Pakistani businesses with 15 delegates from the UK during the B2B networking sessions, generating an initial total of £545,000 in trade leads.

Wasteshark

The River Aire in Leeds is set to be a far cleaner place thanks to a new “litter eating’ robot.

The drone, called a WasteShark and influenced by the whale shark, which swims along with its wide mouth open to feed, can scoop up to 500kg of waste from the surface of the water per day.

Powered by electric motors, it will be operated by remote control from the riverside, although it can also work autonomously on a set route, similar to a robot vacuum.

The idea was generated by the Leeds Waterfront Group, a sub-group of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s Property and Economic Forum.

As well as using technology imported from Rotterdam, the project will be the first of its kind to systematically record the volume and types of waste collected, and the very first use of this technology to be approved by the Canal Rivers Trust on its UK waterways.

Partnering with social enterprise Canal Connections means this is the first use of this device to bring both environmental and social benefits.

The group’s chair, Paul Ellison, said: “We are very pleased to have put this innovative project together with support from local businesses as well as Leeds City Council and Leeds Civic Trust.

“We’re confident it will generate real benefits to the city and also draw attention to the need to keep our waterways clean and attractive for all to enjoy.”

Real policy impact

West & North Yorkshire staged a successful fringe event at this year’s gigantic UK's Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum conference in Leeds.

An invitation only event saw British Chamber of Commerce’s Policy Director Alex Veitch speak with members about the impact the region is having on national Chamber policy. There was also some discussion about the UK general election – a poll that the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would call just a few hours later.

Chamber staffers also attended a showcase for Bradford City of Culture 2025 over the course of three-day event, the launch of Caddick Construction’s South Village scheme and a live Rest is Politics event with Alistair Campbell, Rory Stewart and Baroness Blake among the panelists.

Vision of the future

Bradford’s Property and Economic Forum looked into the city’s future at its last event. Based around the theme ‘How City Centre Development can improve the Economic and Property landscape’, the event at The Light cinema drew an impressive crowd.

There was a session from Bradford Council’s Darren Badrock and Richard Hollinson on city centre development, followed by Counter Context/ Muse’s Simon Dew outlining the next stages of City Village.

Chamber backs expansion plan

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has leant its strong backing to Harrogate Spring Water’s plans to extend and improve its facility. The Chamber’s view is that Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans will bring significant benefits to Harrogate’s economy, ecology and society.

The firm is one of Yorkshire’s best-known brands and takes the Harrogate name to a global audience thanks to its strong export markets. In order for Harrogate Spring Water to enter its next phase of sustainable growth it has become necessary for it to expand its premises and is therefore submitting a multi-million-pound plan to North Yorkshire Council for approval.

The 4,800 sqm extension will bring an estimated £2.3m per year into Harrogate as well as creating 50 full time roles once completed and an additional 20 during the construction period. The new site is 30 per cent smaller than a previous application made to the then Harrogate Borough Council in 2019.

Owing to its expansion encroaching into local woodland, Harrogate Spring Water has ambitious plans to create an entirely new woodland, one that will deliver three new trees for every one lost during the construction phase, if the plans are given the go ahead, aiming to achieve a biodiversity net gain of 10 per cent.

The new community woodland will be created in partnership between Harrogate Spring Water, experts and the local community to create a space which provides the maximum benefit for the public in order to become a significant community asset.

Sarah Czarnecki, president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “This expansion plan from Harrogate Spring Water is hugely exciting for North Yorkshire.

“As well as creating much-needed jobs and generating millions of pounds for the region the new woodland will offer a fantastic asset for the community to enjoy.”

“Harrogate Spring Water is a Yorkshire success story and a product that graces some of our most beloved institutions such as Ascot Racecourse and onboard the world’s most reputable airlines

“I trust that planning officers will recognise the substantial contribution it plays to the region and back its expansion plans in full.”

For information on the work the Chamber’s representation team does to support business in the region, call 0113 247 0000 or email mark.casci@wnychamber.co.uk

Bringing business & culture together

West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to confirm a strategic partnership with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Starting today and due to last until the end of Bradford’s tenure as UK City of Culture, we want to help celebrate the very best of the region and help businesses participate in a once in a generation event. The Chamber is thrilled to be able to be a part of this significant moment that will have a lifelong impact on the district.

Bradford 2025 will provide the district with a chance to celebrate all that is good, about Bradford. Bradford’s already thriving identity will increase, with a year of culture promising to bring in over ten million visitors.

Mark Cowgill, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “Bradford has a business mindset like very few destinations, one that attracts new ideas, a togetherness and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Visitors spend in the district is expected to increase, with over £100 million in overall economic activity.

This will have a positive impact on the economic outlook for the region and speed up investment opportunities for the district and its businesses, along with showcasing itself

BRADFORD 2025

as a proactive and business friendly region. Bradford 2025, along with many other exciting projects, is shaping the legacy of Bradford, continuing to make it one of the best places to start a business in the country.”

Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture states: “Our partnership with the West and North Yorkshire Chamber is about more than just business; it’s about creating a legacy that speaks to the spirit of Bradford. This collaboration is key to ensuring that the opportunities we’re creating in 2025 are felt far and wide, from the bustling streets of the city centre to the local enterprises in every corner of our district. The Chamber’s reach allows us to engage with businesses that are as passionate about Bradford as we are, helping shape a year that’s not just for the history books but one that leaves a lasting impact on our economy and community.”

Information on Bradford 2025’s programme will be announced in September, along with webinar forums to assist with West and North Yorkshire business engagement throughout the year.

Waving the flag for Bradford

Proud Bradfordians and Chamber members, Crysp headed to the windy city, Chicago to attend the Digital Twin Consortium Conference. The agenda was full of keynote speakers, group sessions, case studies, panels, presentations and plenty of networking. It provided Crysp the chance to expand their network, showcasing their great product and wave the flag for Bradford.

Purpose of the visit

As we transform our economies and society with more and more technology, the idea of a digital twin (a simple definition of a digital twin is that it is a virtual representation of an object or process) has powerful implications for how we design, build and maintain a whole host of things from school buildings to space satellites. By being a member of the organisation and pushing the concept we at Crysp are putting ourselves at the forefront of this thinking with other global leaders.

Our presence will give us some recognition from the other companies and public institutions that will be in the room with us but also it is our

opportunity now as a Bradford based business to take advantage of opportunity in the US marketplace.

We hope to develop new relationships and create new potential customers from our visit.

Your thoughts on internationalisation

At the heart of Crysp we have a technology platform that could look after a school building in Birmingham, Alabama, as much as it can in Birmingham UK. So we need to export our product and services and we see the US as a key market for growth. We have already started doing that with companies such as Showcase Cinema (which is US owned) and a Spanish

business that is also a customer, Pronovias, an international wedding dress company with a large US footprint.

Post brexit we must work even harder as a nation to capitalise on our innovation and export it. I also think it is up to private enterprise to drive this forward and make it happen. We actually look up to our investor, Twinkl Global Holdings, a wonderful business started by Jon and Susie Seaton in Sheffield who now operate in over 100 countries and have proven that with a great product and great customer experience you can build a truly international business. That inspires me every single day and they personally encourage us to think like that.

So you learn how to trade with US companies and is this something you hope to share with others in time

Absolutely yes. Everything I do today is part experience but also heavily led by taking on mentorship and advice at the right time. In preparation for our Chicago trip I had a coffee with my former boss and mentor, a gentleman called Robin Johnson who is an M&A partner for the law firm Eversheds Sutherland (where I trained many years ago). Robin has made some fantastic introductions for us and has given me some advice for when I am out there. So anyone reading this one day if we can share our knowledge I would be delighted to do so.

A Bradford businessman putting the city on the map in the US. You are showing this is possible?

I am a glass half full guy to be honest. Since being a child growing up in Bradford I have been inspired by the fabric of our city – the commercial buildings in our city centre, the great houses and parks – all of it funded and created by the economic growth that put Bradford at the heart of the industrial revolution. Our offices are in Salts Mill, Saltaire where a 150 years ago by all accounts a very quiet man (Sir Titus Salt) found a way of turning alpaca wool into a silk substitute and then exporting it globally. The past can teach us a lot about the future and our heritage can serve as the blueprint for our next growth story. So yes, if I, the son of a fish and chip shop proprietors, can build a product with a group of like minded people and export it, I want to show this is possible.

Who have you contacted / collaborated on the mission?

The DTC has been great as has the West & North Yorkshire Chamber led by James Mason. Also as I mentioned we have been very fortunate to have the support of some good friends who want to see us succeed and have shared contacts and network.

We have also reached out to the consulate and hope to meet them when we are over there.

How can the Chamber help?

We recently joined the Chamber because having attended a few events as a guest I realised that they were as an organisation progressive and actually a solid voice representing businesses of many sizes. So there is a natural amplification of message – by sharing this it may catch the eye of another chamber member who might want to collaborate, it may attract new customers but honestly it’s also us feeding back into the narrative to say look we have gone out to the US on our steam but the Chamber has supported us on that journey too.

About Crysp:

Crysp has a digital platform and service provision that proudly supports professionals across property, facilities and estates management, risk and compliance within private and public sectors throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and Internationally. For more information please visit www.crysp.co.uk

Yorkshire’s most ethical and caring businesses were celebrated at the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s Raising the Bar Awards.

Now in its 11th year, Raising the Bar recognises the hard work that the region’s businesses put into supporting the wider community and measuring their social impact in their local area.

Staged at the offices of Flutter in Leeds city centre, the awards saw categories listed across three key areas of Environment, Education and Community, and subdivided to recognise small, medium and large-scale businesses in each area.

Broadcaster Andrew Edwards, awards show host,

said: “Tonight, we will be sharing with you how businesses empower and encourage employees to go the extra mile in the Bradford, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire region.

“The nature of these awards is not just about the accolade. It’s about giving recognition to all those businesses who strive to improve the places where we live and the lives of people that live here.

“Congratulations to all the winners.”

Sponsorship for the event came from headline partner Vanquis Banking Group who have played a vital part in the success and growth of the Raising the Bar initiative, with further support from Drax and Flutter.

FLUTTER

Dan Colton

ENVIRONMENT SMALL

Rance Booth Smith Architects

COMMUNITY SMALL

SVH Inc

EDUCATION SMALL

UKREiiF

RAISING THE BAR AWARDS

DRAX

Jane Breach

ENVIRONMENT MEDIUM

ACS Group

COMMUNITY MEDIUM

Talk Straight Group

EDUCATION MEDIUM

Medicines Management Team

WNY CHAMBER

James Mason

ENVIRONMENT LARGE

First Bus

COMMUNITY LARGE

Yorkshire Garden Centres

EDUCATION LARGE

Robertson Group

SOCIAL IMPACT

Rising to the challenge

Redcentric have been supporting Children’s Heart Surgery Fund since 2022 when they took on their first Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge. They have raised over £20,000 in the last few years, which is an incredible achievement and has helped the charity to support every baby and child born with a heart problem in Yorkshire. This year Redcentric gathered their team again to go the extra mile for young heart patients and their families by climbing Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England.

The challenge was lead by, Ben Stead, New Business Sales Executive, who was a personal trainer for 8 years before he joined the team at Redcentric. Ben told us: “I enjoy leading our charity challenge events because it gives me the opportunity to use my personal training skills to help individuals achieve their goals. It really struck home for me this year on the direct impact of our fundraising efforts.

I posted a message on a group asking for support and was surprised to hear from a friend who said CHSF was a charity very close to their hearts, because of the care they’d received at the hospital when their child was born. This was a powerful reminder of the impact our challenge events have on supporting CHSF in the local community, and how those that we are close to may need those vital services.”

Ben said: “These challenges also help us to get out of the office and do something different to everyday business. Having a shared experience helps us work together as a team. Part of my role on the challenge was ensuring everyone’s safety, and due to the mountainous terrain there were some scary moments for the team which involved scrambling on rocky grounds, so we had to support each other to push through our comfort zones.”

This year Redcentric were excited to be joined by clients, partners and industry peers in the challenge, including Charterhouse who also helped raise funds for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

Georgie Abbott, Corporate Partnerships Manager at CHSF said: “We are incredibly grateful to all the team at Redcentric who keep going above and beyond to support Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. They have done so many amazing challenges as a team and it’s fantastic to hear it creates a positive camaraderie atmosphere for their employees in and out of the office. The funds they have raised could cover the cost of 1000 hours of care for heart families in our region with a CHSF Family Support Worker.”

Excellence in education celebrated at Bradford College STAR Awards

Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford was filled with excitement and anticipation for the firstever Bradford College STAR Awards.

The prestigious event celebrated outstanding achievements and excellence in education, honouring College students and employers for their remarkable contributions over the past academic year.

The new Awards recognise those who have gone above and beyond in their educational pursuits and support roles. Proceedings kicked off with a welcome address from Bradford College CEO & Principal, Chris Webb, who emphasised the importance of hard work and perseverance in education.

Chris said: “Tonight we celebrate the stars of Bradford College, whose dedication and passion for learning inspires us all. These awards are not just about individual achievement but also about the collective spirit of our community.”

One of the evening’s highlights was the ‘Principal’s Student of the Year’ award, which went to Olivia Sparkes – an Early Years student who has been exceptional throughout the last two years of her course. Her nomination said:

“Olivia has been a key project leader as part of the Ambition [HUB] programme, showing outstanding leadership and collaboration. She has consistently attended classes, despite her own personal challenges.

“Olivia has always shown a collaborative spirit and willingness to share her expertise.”

Employer Partner of the Year went to Kids Planet. Cherelle Webster accepted the award on behalf of the organisation.

Over the past two years, Kids Planet has accommodated 24 students for work experience. The organisation has built a strong partnership with Bradford College, taking on more students than planned and has now agreed to become our industry partner for the next cohort of Early Years T Level students.

The Adult Student of the Year award was given to Hedian Al Babesi who has transformed from a shy, nervous student to a confident young woman able to perform Shakespeare in front of hundreds of people.

“Hedian knows that education is key to a better future, so she focuses in every lesson and takes her work home and completes extra tasks. Her positive attitude means she sees obstacles as opportunities to grow.”

Apprentice of the Year went to James Bland, working in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning.

“James has consistently demonstrated outstanding practical and theoretical skills, marking him as an exemplary apprentice in our programme. His exceptional talent and dedication have earned him a place in the prestigious WorldSkills competition, where the most skilled apprentices in their fields compete nationally.”

Making international connections

The West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce hosted the German Ambassador to the United Kingdom as part of a high profile visit to Leeds.

Held at juke box manufacturing business Sound Leisure, Chris Black, President of Leeds Chamber and also managing director of Sound Leisure greeted Ambassador Miguel Berger alongside selected members of the Chamber’s Leeds Leadership Group were part of a discussion about the city’s economy, the trading opportunities between West Yorkshire and Germany whilst also enjoying a tour of the factory.

Mr Berger’s’ visit to the region followed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s trip to Germany last week with meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, marking the beginning of the reset of relations between the UK and EU post-Brexit. One major topic of conversation today was the key economic pillars uniting the two economies: energy, research, climate change and manufacturing.

Other topics discussed by business leaders included manufacturing, the skills shortage and freedom of movement, opportunities from devolution and trade. They also compared Chambers of Commerce in the two countries, with different models but a shared goal of supporting businesses of all sizes.

The Chamber hopes that this visit will pave the way for future trade opportunities for businesses in the region, to export to Germany and beyond.

Other business leaders and representatives in attendance were: Max Breitling, Deputy Head of Culture at the German Embassy; Aqila Choudhry, from Love in Care and Vice President of Leeds Chamber; Warwick Andrews, from WACS; Bolu Fagborun, from Fagborun Ltd; Lucy Sturrock, from Addleshaw Goddard and James Mason, Will EvansJones and Charlie Lavemai-Goldsbrough from West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

MANUFACTURING

Ambassador Miguel Berger – German Ambassador to the United Kingdom said: “We have around 50 German companies operating in Leeds and in the surrounding areas and, as an embassy, we are working hard to foster and further strengthen our economic relationship. Now, with the UK government aiming for a reset between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and also with Germany, I think that there is even greater potential for bringing our business communities together.”

Chris Black – President, Leeds Chamber: “Visits like this help us learn from each other and work together as nations to address key issues in our economy, especially around education, manufacturing and skills shortages. As the Chamber, it shows that we are looking beyond our own region and into international trade, which is growing more important by the year. For my business, the largest country we export to currently is Germany, so it was a privilege to show the ambassador what is being made in this region.”

Businesses in Yorkshire are showing confidence levels higher than they have been in 12 months, new research from West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce shows.

The Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey has shown optimism on profitability over the coming three months to have soared, up by 11 percentage points for service sector firms and six per cent for manufacturers.

The survey also shows appetite for investment to be largely moving in the right direction, particularly when it comes to capital investment. Our manufacturing sector reported a 25-point increase in investment plans while service firms also rose by 14 points.

However, while there is positive sentiment looking forward, the third quarter of 2024 was far from a great period for business.

When it comes to external pressures, taxation is now taking the top spot for business concern, having overtaken interest rates and inflation.

Sales, both domestic and abroad, remain on shaky ground. While service sector firms increased their exports by an impressive 15 per cent during Q3, sales as a whole declined during the period, with order books looking flat.

On job creation, there was once again a mixed bag. Manufacturers are more bullish, having posted a 12-point increase in hiring rates. However, the service sector fell back by 12 points and neither sector seems optimistic about job creation over the next three months.

Labour costs remain the top concern for businesses of all sectors, with energy costs still impacting manufacturers negatively.

Mark Casci, head of policy and representation at the chamber, said: “It is great to see so many firms out there anticipating increased profitability and the surge in investment plans is great news for the region.

“However, businesses still face myriad challenges. The fieldwork was carried out when both the headline rate of interest had fallen to target levels and the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee cut interest rates for the first time since the pandemic, having been steadily raising them since the start of 2022.

“However, much as with consumers, these reductions are yet to filter through to day-to-day reality for many businesses.

“It is also interesting to see taxation now taking the top spot in terms of external cost pressures.

“ With the Budget due at the end of the month, it is now imperative that we see a programme of measures that give businesses the confidence to grow our economy and mitigate against the challenges which are holding them back.”

The report also looked at attitudes to remote working among employers.

It found that 22 per cent of businesses allowed unlimited working from home, just under half allowed it on a limited basis and 28 per cent did not allow it full stop.

When asked what impact this was having on their business, around 33 per cent of business reported either positive or very positive impacts while just under 20 per cent reported negative or very negative impacts, a significant number of businesses.

With many major employers, such as Amazon, beginning to row back on remote working, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the market behaves going forward.

Making connections with young learners

Bradford Manufacturing Weeks has welcomed its official launch with a massively expanded programme of events and a clear plan to bring young people and manufacturers together.

Run by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and SkillsHouse, Bradford Manufacturing Weeks brings manufacturers, schools and young people together through tours, work experience, seminars, exhibitions and learning events held at manufacturer premises and key locations across the district.

The programme was launched in the same week as National Manufacturing Day and, this year, the timetable of events has been massively expanded, beginning in October and running through to March 2025. Sponsorship for this year’s events comes from Azets, NatWest, Solenis and the University of Bradford.

Firms have been offering factory tours, panel discussions, competitions and mock interviews to showcase the industry to a selection of young minds across the city, establishing a clear path for students to pursue a career in manufacturing.

Mark Cowgill, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “Bradford has one of the finest manufacturing sectors in the country and Bradford Manufacturing Weeks has done so much good work in giving it new blood.

“Manufacturing can give you a well-paid, secure and incredibly interesting career that can take your work across the planet.”

A spokesperson added: “Since its inception in 2018 Bradford Manufacturing Weeks has gained real traction and is now very much an important part of the school year for many.

“Your involvement secures a strong relationship between the manufacturing industry and the future workforce coming through the education system. By offering your support, you can help guide students into a specific line of work, educating them on the various career path options available and the skills required to do certain jobs within the industry. Who better to provide information and create discussions with the next generation!

“Administered by Bradford Chamber of Commerce and the Bradford & Airedale Manufacturing Alliance for the past six years, Bradford Manufacturing Weeks has connected 15,000 students in the region to the manufacturing sector, helping to launch many a career in the sector.

“Now is a great time to showcase the outstanding manufacturing companies we have in the region.”

To learn more about Bradford Manufacturing Weeks, please visit wnychamber.co.uk/bradford-manufacturing-weeks

“Manufacturing can give you a well-paid, secure and incredibly interesting career that can take your work across the planet.”

Privilege Executive Cars

Privilege Executive Cars were set up in 2005 by its founder and Managing Director Paul Watson with the aim of providing Chauffeur Services to the people of Leeds. With 1 man and 1 car, Paul quickly saw the potential in the market and that there was a real appetite for a luxury standard of vehicle and service.

By 2024 Privilege now employs 38 staff and drivers and has a fleet of 27

Premium Executive Mercedes V Class, E Class and S Class cars and prides itself in offering the highest standard of chauffeur services to some of the UK’s largest blue-chip companies, global travel agencies and stars from the world of TV, sport and film. Once quoted “Leeds best kept secret” Paul and his team find it very hard to shout about their success as client discretion is a part of what makes them so successful.

We have an excellent working relationship with the team at Leeds City Council Private Hire Licencing department ensuring all our drivers are fully licenced with Executive Private

Hire badges. The stringent requirements of Leeds City Council, enable us to recruit the highest standard of driver to complete our inhouse intensive training programme. This gives us the edge within our industry making our standard of customer service consistently high, resulting in the best customer experience for our clients.

As with so many businesses in the travel industry we are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic which saw our fleet grind to halt but with major investment, hard work and determination we are confident that the future is looking bright.

Over halfway through the year already and we have so much left to do. 2024 so far has seen the launch of our new website with a video including some of Yorkshire most amazing scenery, the acquisition of Elite Voyager Chauffeurs, sponsorship of Rudding Park’s prestigious annual Firecracker Ball in November raising money for the children’s charity Barnardo’s and so much more.

Investment has been a major focus for this year and with such a large fleet of vehicles, our relationship with Mercedes Benz UK has never been so important. We aim to replace our vehicles every 2 years to ensure we have the latest technology, lowest carbon emissions and to enhance our brand identity.

The Privilege brand has never been so important to our future and is what give us our individuality, in a subtle way. We pride ourselves on our attention to every detail from the smart navy blue 3 piece suit our drivers wear to the Harrogate Spring bottled water, lifestyle magazine and branded umbrellas we carry.

Many people notice our vehicle registration of “P XEC” on all our fleet and often acknowledge with a wave as we pass.

Expert boosts growth at Freight Agency

International marketing experts at Leeds Beckett University have joined forces with Baildon-based Freight Agency Limited, to support the business’s ambitious plans for overseas market growth.

The project is a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK. A team of Leeds Business School academics will lead the project to boost Freight Agency’s strategic marketing and management capabilities. They will create a bespoke internationalisation strategy to drive growth in existing and new international markets.

Dr Catherine Ashworth, Senior Lecturer in Strategic Marketing Management at Leeds Business School, explained: “For more than 30 years, Freight Agency’s primary market has been West Africa. The business has already started to diversify the range of goods they ship and penetrate some new geographical markets. Our KTP will support their ambitious plans to grow their international market presence and diversify further.

“The Leeds Business School team will work with Freight Agency to embed innovative, strategic marketing and decision-making capabilities. We will underpin the growth strategy by embedding a new market-oriented culture and establishing fresh and streamlined processes throughout the business. As part of the cultural change agenda, we will also strengthen internal and external marketing communications capabilities and boost partnership management competencies. Key to success will be to boost coordination between the different functions within the business to support the international growth – and set up the necessary infrastructure and frameworks to support the development and changes across the target international freight network.”

Andrew Dickson, Commercial Manager at Freight Agency Limited, said: “We are excited to begin the collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, which will foster a more market-driven culture right across the business, enabling us to achieve our strategic growth ambitions and improve our service capabilities in our target international markets and sectors.

“The KTP will allow us to embed the skills and capabilities needed to develop, test, and transform our international market access and entry modes, and to improve our service level capabilities – which will be a new and innovative, intelligence-led approach for us. With a new, more agile and proactive business model, we will be able to respond to different, and evolving, market needs. As part of this more strategic approach to growth, we will also be able to increase our work with existing customers – and enter new markets and territories to sustain the business over the longer term.”

The project will be managed by a KTP Associate – a skilled graduate who will be recruited as a full-time member of Freight Agency, with the full support of the Leeds Beckett academic team. Alongside Dr Ashworth will be a team of experts including Stratis Koutsoukos, Course Director and Principal Lecturer at Leeds Business School.

Leeds Beckett students will have opportunities to benefit from the collaboration with Freight Agency through student projects, learning through teaching and real-life case studies.

Leeds Beckett University is in the top 10% of universities in the UK for the size of its KTP programme. It is home to a highly skilled team supporting small business development and growth in the region.

Launching natural pet treats into national supermarkets with university experts

In 2023, Leeds Beckett University joined forces with Halifax pet treats company, Sniffers, to develop a project to deliver a bespoke marketing and new product development strategy to support the company’s roll-out of its new, natural dog treat brand – NAW. Guided by a team of Leeds Beckett marketing experts, Sniffers Pet Care has created a robust strategy for continued business growth and reaching new markets with their own-brand products.

The project is a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) – part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK.

With more than 40 years’ experience in the trade, Sniffers Pet Care has grown from a small family-owned distribution business into a leading provider of all natural pet treats. In 2023, Sniffers established a new brand, NAW, to meet a gap in the market for high quality, value-led, natural dog treats.

Teaming up with Leeds Beckett University, Sniffers Pet Care are harnessing the academic expertise within Leeds Business School to launch the NAW brand, and to support the company’s continued growth and ambitions – including entering new markets and becoming recognised as the UK’s leading natural dog treat supplier.

The project began with the recruitment of a KTP Associate, who manages the KTP project as a full-time member of the business. James King graduated from Leeds Beckett University with both a BA (Hons) degree in Marketing and Advertising Management and an MSc in Marketing and Digital Strategy and is leading the Sniffers Pet Care KTP with the support of marketing academic and industry experts David Andrews and Helen Hepworth.

James said: “Since the start of the KTP, NAW has grown and reached some major milestones – the biggest one being the launch of 10 NAW products into 309 Sainsbury’s stores across the UK. This is reinforcing NAW’s goal of disrupting the dog treat sector by providing a truly natural treat in a mainstream environment. We have also established a presence for NAW on Amazon, which has boosted brand awareness and provides customers with the convenience of fast delivery in a familiar and trusted environment. I am now continuing to develop this channel through advertising and pricing strategies.”

Dr David Andrews, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Leeds Beckett University and lead academic of the KTP, said: “The Sniffers KTP has seen rapid progress in driving the strategic aims of the company using our academic knowledge. As well as supporting Sniffers with their launch of new ownbrand NAW into Sainsbury’s, we have worked with James to explore alternative channels and routes to market.

“We are putting in place the building blocks for sustainable growth for Sniffers, including a product development and innovation strategy, channel strategy, thought leadership strategy, and an integrated strategic marketing roadmap. The transfer of knowledge to Sniffers is the key element of the KTP - enabling Sniffers to continue to drive the growth of the company beyond the two years of the project.”

Going into the second year of the KTP, James is continuing to develop and implement communications strategies across both traditional and digital media – working with influencers to establish NAW as a leader in the pet treat category. The team are now investigating new markets and distribution channels, and exploring the viability of other digital channels including TikTok shop. Another key area of focus is new product development - allowing NAW and Sniffers Pet Care to stay agile through adapting to changing market and customer needs. Since the beginning of the project, NAW has already introduced a number of new products to its range.

James said: “I am happy that I am able to gain valuable experience working on a fast growing, disruptive, national brand, whilst being supported by Leeds Beckett. It is also a great experience being able to give back to the university by incorporating NAW into assignment briefs and case studies used in marketing teaching.

“As a new brand NAW has made an impactful entrance to the market and I am excited to help NAW grow and see how far this project can go.”

Simon Brown, CEO, and son of the founder of Sniffers Pet Care, said: “We've made fantastic progress in the first year of our partnership, with the KTP playing a key role in our journey. Our entry into the grocery sector is clear evidence of this success, but the continued work behind the scenes on our channel strategy and market understanding will be critical to our ongoing growth. We look forward to achieving even more milestones in the future!"

Visit leedsbeckett.ac.uk/business-services to find out more about KTP at Leeds Beckett, or contact the team at ktp@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

SKILLS

Impressive work between learning providers and the private sector

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce praises some of the impressive work going on between the region’s learning providers and the private sector.

As the Chamber continues its management of the Local Skills Improvement Plans for both North and West Yorkshire (the latter alongside Mid Yorkshire Chamber) it is coming across fantastic examples of the education and private sector working together to achieve common goals.

In one instance, Shipley College had collaborated to offer T-Level students the opportunity high level on the job learning at Bradford Royal Infirmary via an integrated learning experience.

The college has also accessed Local Skills Improvement Funding (LSIF) to train students and health and social care professionals on how to use world-class simulators. This has seen them work with machinery created by Gaumard on full suite of four programmable simulators, including a newborn baby, paediatric model, pregnant female and male simulators, allowing them to create a wide range of clinical or care conditions or tasks.

The partnership enabled the College to invest in ICT equipment to support remote learning, as well as state-ofthe-art engineering equipment and a series of events on green energy.

In 2021, Selby College and Drax further enhanced its partnership with a brand-new training programme in Carbon Capture and Storage technologies.

After securing funding from the Department for Education’s Strategic Development Fund, Selby College worked with Drax to develop the programme, which will enable Drax’s employees to develop the skills needed to operate the vital climate-saving technologies of the future.

The course is currently underway, providing both current and future Drax employees with the vital skills needed to operate critical negative emissions technology, ensuring the region is at the forefront of the green industrial revolution.

An impressive collaboration between Selby College and Chamber patron members Drax is ensuring students are developing the skills needed in innovative clean technologies which will help to drive a zerocarbon economy.

Ben McKay from Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said: “The aim of offering the industry placements within Bradford Royal Infirmary is to get the T Level cadets employment ready, so with this in mind, Bradford Teaching Hospitals will be offering interviews for Health Care Assistant posts to our T-Level students from Shipley College towards the completion of their course.”

This is the UK’s first educational programme in carbon capture and is available to other organisations and individuals interested in developing their knowledge and understanding about carbon capture and storage. The course is being designed as an introduction to the subject, with the aim of adding more modules and units over time.

Bruce Heppenstall, Plant Director at Drax, said: “It’s critical businesses like Drax have access to a skilled workforce, with the knowledge and expertise to operate negative emissions technologies that will be vital in enabling the UK to reach its legally binding net zero targets.

“Through our partnership with Selby College, we are able to future-proof our workforce, ensuring we are at the forefront of the green industrial revolution, creating and protecting thousands of jobs here in the North. Deploying BECCS at Drax will not only deliver for the environment, but it will also deliver for the economy. It could kickstart a whole new sector of the economy and be the catalyst for a post-covid economic recovery.”

Skills publishedreport

A year of collaboration on future skills development and business engagement across West and North Yorkshire is now fully underway, thanks to the actions set in motion by the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).

Designed to align the needs of local employers with the education and training provided by colleges and learning providers, LSIPs are beginning to make significant progress.

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is delivering on both LSIP’s, with the West Yorkshire plan being delivered in conjunction with Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, who have this week published reports showing the progress that is being made across both geographies, ensuring businesses and their current and future needs are at the heart of local delivery .

The reports show that employers are developing a better understanding of their skills needs, overcoming barriers to accessing suitable provision and becoming more actively involved in influencing curriculum development, as well as being more proactive in planning and investing their workforce development activities over a longer period.

The reports further demonstrate how learning providers too are increasingly aligning and developing their teaching

and training to respond to identified needs, as well as collaborating amongst each other to jointly address curriculum areas that are niche and may not be feasible for a single organisation.

There are also increasing examples where demand is significant in several areas and may benefit from each organisation taking a specialism to ensure provision is available locally.

Martin Hathaway, managing director of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “These reports reflect two years of collaboration, hard work and shared expertise, all of which is now delivering on the ground for both businesses and learning providers.

“ It is fantastic to see the reports lay out in black and white how all of our partner organisations are working together to identify and address skills gaps across the region. LSIPs are working, as has been evidenced both regionally and nationally.”

“The evolution of skill requirements in our country is moving at fast pace but the collaborations formed as part of the LSIP programmes are well-placed to deal with these developments.”

Minister for Skills, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, said: “I welcome the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report for

West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.

“These reports set out progress made on meeting the skills needs of local employers. As well as being a valuable source of information for local skills deliverers, employers and stakeholders, the reports along with the LSIPs themselves, will provide important intelligence for the newly established Skills England.”

In developing the LSIP plans, several key sectors were identified.

For West Yorkshire, these were health and social care, engineering and advanced manufacturing, financial and professional services, low carbon, digital and technology, creative industries, education, construction and logistics.

Meanwhile for North Yorkshire, the themes identified were digital and technology, agri-skills, engineering and advanced manufacturing (including rail), construction, health and social care and the visitor economy.

“I welcome the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report for both West Yorkshire and York & North Yorkshire. These reports set out progress made on meeting the skills needs of local employers.

“As well as being a valuable source of information for local skills deliverers, employers and stakeholders, the reports along with the LSIPs themselves, will provide important intelligence for the newly established Skills England,” said the Minister for Skills, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern.

5 Reasons Why Businesses Need to Conduct an SEO Audit

We know that any task containing the word “audit” earns a fast-track ticket to the bottom of the to-do list. However, doing regular SEO audits for your website is vital if you want to keep performing well in the SERPs.

What is an SEO audit?

An SEO audit is a comprehensive website analysis that reviews the site’s likelihood of ranking on search engines. These audits can help you identify any issues preventing your site from ranking higher, such as broken links, slow page-load times and poor use of keywords.

Why is an SEO audit important?

SEO audits are important because they help uncover issues that might be preventing your website from performing well on the search engine results pages.

If you’re using an online SEO audit tool, these will often provide some recommendations you can implement to improve your website’s search rankings. It’s important that you conduct regular SEO audits for your website as search engines such as Google frequently roll out algorithm updates that could cause your website to have a dip in traffic if left unmonitored.

Still not convinced? Here are our top 5 reasons why you should do an SEO audit today! (well… this month at least).

1. Auditing will help improve user experience

Everytime Google releases another update it places further emphasis on user experience.

An SEO audit can reveal issues such as problems with your website’s navigation, confusing site structure and poor layout/ design.

Fixing these issues can improve user experience and will ensure that visitors can find the content they’re looking for and, in turn, stop them from leaving your website and visiting a competitor instead.

2. Allows you to build a solid backlink profile

SEO audits can help you assess the quality and relevance of the links pointing to your website.

Use the audit results to analyse highquality links you’re currently receiving and identify any opportunities for building more valuable links. You can also assess if there are any low-quality links that may be harming your SEO efforts.

3. Helps identify on-page SEO problems

Audits help you identify on-page SEO issues, such as missing/poorly optimised meta tags, headers, and image alt attributes. These are all easy fixes that can make a big difference to page rankings.

On-page aspects can also cover the more technical elements of SEO. Use the audit

to review broken links and errors with your sitemap and robots.txt file. Addressing these issues will help ensure that search engine bots can crawl and index your site efficiently.

4. Improve the mobile-friendliness of your website

SEO audits can reveal whether your site is mobile-friendly and optimised for mobile devices, which is increasingly important for SEO. Google utilises a mobile-first indexing approach, meaning it primarily uses the mobile version of a site for ranking and indexing. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it may not perform well in search results.

Mobile-friendliness is also considered a ranking factor by Google and they will often prioritise mobile-friendly websites in their search rankings (especially for mobile search results).

5. Strengthens off-page SEO SEO audits are also a great way to look beyond your website. You can ensure that your business information (name, address, phone number) is consistently and accurately listed across online directories. Audits can also help you optimise your online presence for local search, including creating and managing Google Business Profile listings, local directories, and customer reviews.

These are all important factors for building trust, not only with Google but with potential customers who might be researching your business.

Packaging often plays a pivotal role in competitive business-to-business (B2B) commerce. While its primary function is to protect products, premium packaging goes beyond mere protection, serving as a strategic tool that can significantly enhance a company’s customer retention and profitability. This article delves into the benefits of high-quality packaging and how it can drive business growth and profitability.

First Impressions and Brand Perception

The adage “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” is especially true in the business world. Packaging is the first physical touch-point between a product and a customer, making it a important aspect of brand perception. Premium packaging conveys quality, professionalism, and attention to detail.

For instance, consider a tech company that traditionally shipped products in plain, generic boxes. The company upgrades its packaging to sleek, modern designs with high-quality materials. The new packaging features bold graphics, a refined logo, and a cohesive colour scheme that aligns with the company’s brand identity. This change can elevate the entire brand, making it appear more innovative and reliable. When clients receive a product encased in such thoughtfully designed packaging, their perception of the company’s commitment to quality and excellence is significantly enhanced. This impression can be a powerful differentiator in a crowded market, attracting more business and fostering client trust.

Moreover, premium packaging can set the tone for the customer’s overall experience with the product. The psychological effect can positively influence how customers perceive the product’s value, leading to higher satisfaction and stronger brand loyalty.

Branded Boxes

Good quality and branded boxes significantly contribute to a better customer experience, without the need for a brick and mortar store. Being able to impart a connection to your brand is hugely important for e-commerce businesses, where physical interactions are limited. For online businesses the packaging becomes an essential touch-point between a business and its customer base.

Branded boxes can help e-commerce companies differentiate themselves in a crowded online marketplace. They provide an opportunity to convey brand values and personality, creating a memorable experience that encourages repeat purchases and fosters customer loyalty. When customers receive a package that is not only secure but also visually appealing and thoughtfully designed, it elevates their overall purchasing experience. A branded box, adorned with the company’s logo, colours, and distinctive design elements, creates an immediate connection between the customer and the brand. This visual and tactile experience reinforces brand recognition and loyalty.

Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Customer satisfaction is closely tied to the quality of packaging. An exceptional unboxing experience can leave a lasting impression, increasing the likelihood of repeat business. When customers receive their orders in pristine condition, wrapped in thoughtfully designed packaging, it enhances their overall satisfaction and loyalty.

The improved packaging also included practical benefits, such as tear strips for easy opening and robust materials that protected products during shipping. Customers no longer had to struggle with hard-to-open boxes or worry about receiving damaged goods. This attention to detail in packaging design increased customer satisfaction and reduced the hassle and inconvenience associated with product returns.

By creating a memorable and positive unboxing experience a business can foster a stronger emotional connection with its customers. This connection translated into increased customer loyalty, with many customers sharing their unboxing experiences on social media, further promoting the brand. The investment in premium packaging thus directly contributed to customer retention and long-term profitability, demonstrating the significant impact that thoughtful packaging can have on a business’s success.

Product Protection and Reduced Returns

One of the primary functions of packaging is to protect products from damage during transit. Robust, well-designed packaging reduces the risk of damage, decreasing the rate of returns and associated costs. For instance, a manufacturer who switches to high-quality packaging materials and designs can see a notable reduction in product damage and return rates. This not only saves money on replacement costs and shipping but also improves customer satisfaction, further contributing to the bottom line.

Power of premium packaging

Efficient Supply Chain Management

Premium packaging can also optimise supply chain processes. Efficiently designed packaging that maximises space and minimises weight can reduce storage and transportation costs. For example, a logistics company that adopted stackable, lightweight packaging solutions reported significant savings on warehouse space and shipping expenses. Over time, these cost savings contribute substantially to the company’s profitability, proving that investing in good-quality packaging can yield long-term financial benefits.

Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility

In today’s market, sustainability is a key factor for consumers. Environmentally friendly packaging helps the planet, attracts ecoconscious clients, and can reduce regulatory risks. Companies that align their packaging strategies with sustainability goals can benefit financially by tapping into the growing market of environmentally aware consumers.

Investing in high-quality packaging might seem costly upfront, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment. Premium packaging is more than just a protective shell for products; it is a strategic asset that can enhance a business’s bottom line. The benefits are extensive, from creating a positive first impression and improving customer satisfaction to protecting products and optimising supply chain efficiency. Ultimately, the long-term financial gains from investing in high-quality packaging make it a wise and profitable business decision.

By taking proactive steps to improve packaging, businesses can meet and exceed customer expectations, paving the way for sustained growth and success in a competitive market.

Article by ASC Cartons

Ukrainian refugee awarded scholarship at inaugural York Hospitality Awards

Mariana Kachun, a Ukrainian refugee and Chef de Rang at Middlethorpe Hall and Spa has been presented a scholarship from York St John University.

Mariana was a finalist in the inaugural HAY Hospitality Awards on Thursday 5th September at the Radisson Hotel in York. The application for her award moved the judges when they learned that Mariana sought refuge in the UK after escaping the Ukrainian war. She was hoping to return to Ukraine and pick up her studies, but her university has since been bombed and destroyed. With a clear passion for hospitality, Mariana won gold in the Rising Star Award category, but when discussing the application, HAY Chair Adam Wardale and the judging panel wanted to do more to reward the remarkable journey Mariana has been on and sacrifices she’s had to make.

Brendan Paddison, Associate Professor at York St John University and one of the HAY judges explained why this was so important: “As a judging panel, we were incredibly moved by Mariana's story. Mariana has had to make significant sacrifices because of the war in Ukraine. During the judging process we learned that Mariana was halfway through her degree when her university was bombed.

At York St John University, we believe in the transformational potential of education and our ethos is built on providing access to educational opportunities.

We are delighted to offer Mariana the opportunity to join York St John University to complete her degree studies.”

Adam Wardale, Chair of HAY commented: “Hospitality is an industry for everyone from all walks of life, a key aim of HAY is to champion the people at the heart of our hotels and find ways to open up opportunities for those who deserve it most. Through our collaborations within the community, we’re delighted to have been able to pull this together for

Mariana and we can’t wait to see the amazing things she will go on to achieve.”

Lionel Chatard, Director & General Manager at Middlethorpe Hotel & Spa submitted the nomination form for Mariana and said: “The inaugural HAY awards ceremony was a unique opportunity to recognise and celebrate the many talented people who form our teams and the positive impact they have on the success of our businesses.

Not only are we thrilled and proud of Mariana receiving a gold award, but we are very moved by the kindness and generosity displayed by York St John University represented by Brendan Paddison in granting her a scholarship.

Mariana is a true ‘rising star’ and we couldn’t be more proud, watching her shine and progress her life goals and passion.”

Once she’d had time to come to terms with her surprise, Marianna told us: “Last night’s ceremony was very emotional for me.

I was pleased to watch my colleagues from Middlethorpe Hall and many others working within the hospitality industry, be recognised & receive awards for their hard work and passion.

I was personally thrilled to be awarded the ‘rising star’ award and I am grateful to the team for their continued training and support since I joined Middlethorpe Hall, after I was evacuated from Ukraine at the time of the Russian invasion.

Earlier this year I was shocked to be informed that the University I was intending to return to had been bombed and I was heart-broken that I would not be able to continue my studies.

I therefore would like to express my gratitude to Brendan Paddison and to York St John University for the golden opportunity and generous gesture of a scholarship.

An industry leading aircraft painting company has welcomed its first aircraft for the opening of its new base at Teesside International Airport.

Airbourne Colours unveiled its new aircraft painting facility at Teesside Airport for an opening ceremony in October following a £6.5million investment.

The first aircraft to be painted at the facility – a Jet2 Boeing 737-800 – was unveiled at the event attended by hundreds of senior business leaders and existing customers.

Teessider Steve Darbyshire is founder and Chief Executive of Airbourne Colours and the 50-year-old’s company is creating 40 jobs in its expansion.

The Jet2 aircraft will undergo a full strip and repaint into the distinctive Jet2.com livery. It will take nine days to complete and will be the first of around 35 aircraft to be re-painted each year at Teesside.

Airbourne Colours has annual turnover of more than £12million – and works for many of Europe’s leading airlines including Jet2, EasyJet, Loganair, Smartlynx, SAS, TAP Portugal, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines.

Airbourne Colours is Europe’s only privately-owned aircraft painting company, with only one other competitor in the UK. Steve said: “It is an absolute honour and of great pride to me to be able to play a key part in what is to be the newest and most advanced paint facility to be built at Teesside Airport. This really is a dream come true to be able to return to my roots and bring employment back to the area where I grew up.”

The launch follows completion of the 27,000sq ft aircraft paint facility - the first of its kind built in the UK this millennium. Barnard Castle-based S&A Fabrications was the main contractor on the development, which took less than a year to build

More than 230 tonnes of British steel was used in its construction and the development includes car parking, offices and a concrete apron to access the hangar from the taxiway. Phil Forster, Teesside International Airport Managing Director, said: “With our fantastic transport links, unique location and the benefits of Freeport status, Teesside Airport Business Park offers major advantages for companies in sectors ranging from logistics to manufacturing.

“We are delighted to welcome Airbourne Colours to Teesside Airport and the company further help us achieve our ambition to be the first choice one-stop shop for airline maintenance, repair and operations overhaul.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It is fantastic to welcome a global name like Airbourne Colours, which is also an outstanding Teesside success story.

“This is another example of how we are delivering the jobs and investment that is driving our airport forward and ensuring its future success. However, this is just the beginning and we won’t stop the hard work in bringing fantastic businesses to Teesside Airport alongside providing the destinations our passengers want.”

The progress follows recent significant investments from the private sector at Teesside Airport, including a multi-million pound investment from Willis Aviation to create a new engineering base, which will create over 200 jobs.

The first 25,105sq ft unit of the £200million Business Park South has now been built alongside a mile-long link road connecting the development to the A67. The southside business park will ultimately create 4,400 jobs when fully operational. he growth in commercial operations helped the airport deliver its first profit in more than a decade.

For further information on development opportunities and available property at Teesside International Airport, contact commercial agents Colliers or AREA

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?

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Chamber Legal is an essential tool for businesses of all sizes, but it is particularly beneficial for small businesses and sole traders who may not have access to in-house legal expertise. Whether you are just starting out in business or are an established company looking to address

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who are these services for?

Everyone! Individuals operating as sole traders may use legal services, while small businesses with employees may utilize HR services. For larger companies, HR services are there to give support.

Who are Quest?

Quest is a national provider of comprehensive HR and Health & Safety services, training solutions, and consultancy. With over 30 years of expertise, we are the preferred supplier for over 80,000 members, as recommended by the BCC and TAF.

How can unlimited access be free?

The service is subsidised by the Chamber as they pay us a fee. It's a national scheme for all British Chambers.

I have internal resources - do I need them?

Yes - these services should be used as a resource by your HR Manager, both for documents and advice. Book a One2One Discover meeting to show them the service value.

We outsource our HR / HS - why do I need these services?

Because they could save you a lot of money. If you are outsourcing HR or H&S services you may not need to. A One2One Compare meeting will show you how much you could save.

We never have any issues to manage - why do we need these services?

Our services go beyond crisis management or problem-solving. They are designed to address any questions or concerns you may have, as staying informed in a constantly evolving world can be challenging.

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Call the membership team on 08455 240 240 or visit www.chamberhr.co.uk and select West & North Yorkshire Chamber

Chamber HR

An employer focused service

Chamber HR is a valuable resource for businesses of all sizes that employ people. For small businesses without in-house specialists, it provides access to expertise that is essential for managing the employment of their staff. For larger SMEs with in-house resources, it serves as valuable support for their HR department. Even large companies may use HR to assist with complex cases.

How can you benefit?

• Resolve any employment-related issue

• Understand your HR responsibilities as an employer Reduce costs from in-house or external HR support Immediate answers to any questions/concerns

• Stay compliant by ensuring you're up to date with all legislation

• Operate with full peace of mind

What's included in the service?

Advice line access - Talk to an experienced HR/Employment Law specialist for any queries or guidance on finding documents Website - Use over 450+ HR template documents which cover the lifecycle of an employee. In addition to reading our latest articles in the Newsroom, you can also take advantage of a HR Health Check One2One

Common Call Enquiries

• Disciplinary Issues

• Persistent Absence

• Workplace Disputes

• Disability and Capability issues

• Redundancy

• Equal Pay Grievances

Popular Documents

• Redundancy

• Maternity & Paternity

• Employee Contracts & Handbooks

• Disciplinary

• Recruitment

HR Update National Minimum Wage increases in 2024

The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation to increase the current National Minimum Wage rates in April 2024. As this is a legal obligation, employers must be aware of the new rates of pay and plan to adjust their payrolls accordingly.

While these changes will grant 2.7 million low-paid workers higher pay, the changes could also cause financial uncertainty for many small employers. The new rates are set out below.

National Minimum Wage Rates from April 2024

• National Living Wage (21+) - £11.44 per hour

• 18-20 Year Old Rate - £8.60 per hour

• 16-17 Year Old Rate - £6.40 per hour

• Apprenticeship Rate - £6.40 per hour

This new increase will represent the greatest ever increase to the National Minimum Wage. The new rate is factored by the pay growth across the economy.

How does this Compare to Current Rates?

The minimum wage will increase above £11 in April. This rise represents a 9.8% increase for over-23s on the previous year, and a 12.4% increase for workers aged 21-22. Currently, the existing minimum wage for those aged 21-22 is £10.18 per hour.

The National Minimum Wage for 18-20 year olds will also increase to £8.60 per hour, with current rates sitting at £7.49 per hour. What’s more, apprentices will get an hourly pay increase of more than 20 per cent, with rates rising from £5.28 to £6.40.

Why are the Rates Changing?

The decision for this rise has been made due to the increase in the cost of living squeezing household budgets. Low income individuals and families have been hit the hardest due to higher food, water, and energy costs.

However, many employers will also feel the effect of the pay increases in other ways. Many have voiced concerns over higher wage bills and the risk of financial uncertainty for smaller businesses.

Employers should now update their payroll systems and documents to reflect the new rate increases. They should also assess the impact this will have on their business. If necessary, consider your ability to keep staff on, and the need to restructure or make redundancies to make savings now.