West & North Yorkshire Business Magazine Q3 2023 by West & North Yorkshire Business

West & North

Yorkshire

CONNECTING, SUPPORTING & REPRESENTING BUSINESS

usiness

High flying

skills

Q3 2023

Up to 67% off † Business Breakdown Cover for Chamber members Service level

Roadside

Relay

Relay Plus

Home Start

Accident Management

Offer Price

Standard Price

Difference

Fleetwide 1

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£149.01

Fleetwide 2

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Fleetwide 3

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Fleet Europe

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Minibus Rescue

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Specialist 2

Specialist 4

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The table below gives you more details about the specific services which can be included within our Business Breakdown cover Roadside

Repair or recovery to the AA’s choice of appropriate local repairer.

Relay*

Transportation of vehicle, driver and up to 7 passengers to a UK mainland address if prompt local repair not possible.

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Extended Relay service to include one of three alternative arrangements for driver and passengers; car hire, accommodation or public transport services.

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For breakdowns at or within ¼ mile of your home address.

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For more information, please contact your local Chamber of Commerce Direct Debit. To make life easier, you can now pay for your breakdown cover by Direct Debit. Based on Fleetwide 3 Standard rates for 3-6 vehicles. All the above prices are per vehicle per year, inclusive of IPT (Insurance Premium Tax). All prices are subject to change. Fleetwide cover does not apply to: specialist vehicles, ie: taxis, mini cabs, hire vehicles, ambulances, police vehicles, vehicles on tradeplates, minibuses, privately owned vehicles (unless used for business purposes), motorcycles and courier vehicles (all of which can be covered on Specialist rates as above), or any vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gvw. Terms and conditions apply. *Relay and Relay Plus services are not provided at or within ¼ mile of driver’s home address. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer prices are only available while your Chamber membership is current. We reserve the right to review pricing at any time. Full terms and conditions available on request by calling 0800 55 11 88. Business Breakdown cover is provided by Automobile Association Developments Limited (trading as AA Breakdown Services). Relay Plus is underwritten by Acromas Insurance Company Limited. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance, Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is a member of the Association of British Insurers. Head Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered Number 88716 (Gibraltar). UK brand address: Acromas Insurance Company Limited, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3SE. Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4EA. Registered in England and Wales number 2414212. †

BSF_BCC_0360 (0217)

WELCOME

The proof is in the pudding! As we enter the final quarter of 2023, most businesses that the Chamber team engage with on a weekly basis tell us that a period of stability (both nationally and internationally) for at least the next six to twelve months would be high up on their wish list. This sentiment, however, has been the same for the past few years - with crisis after crisis rocking markets and business confidence. The worrying conflict in the Middle East is, of course, a humanitarian crisis and whilst the day-to-day challenges of running a business pale into insignificance with the plight of the many innocent people affected directly by this war, the knock-on effects are felt across the world and will be for some time. What we often see at times of such difficulty, however, is that business of all shapes and sizes come together to what they can to offer support whether in the form of financial aid, logistical expertise, or other gestures of good will. We’re aware of many of our members that, as well as running their own businesses, have reached out to see how they can help others. This in itself is admirable. James Mason Chief Executive West & North Yorkshire Chamber

08455 240 240 wnychamber.co.uk @WNYChamber

Closer to home, the UK Government’s decision to perform a U-turn on the much-maligned HS2 project dominated the headlines in October. Although Bradford looks set to be the beneficiary of a new train station, and major transport improvements have been unveiled for parts of the North of England, unfortunately it seems our part of the world has ultimately missed out, yet again, on what we hoped for and were promised. It’s hard, therefore, to look forward with any degree of confidence about revised plans when we have suffered false dawns before. Prior to any genuine optimism about long-term transport infrastructure, the government (this one or the next) will need to start delivering on existing promises. The proof, as they say, is always in the pudding. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many businesses that continue to show faith in our services through their membership. We are proud to represent a diverse range of sectors across a large geographical area. Our entry level of membership, the ‘Chamber Supporter’ initiative, is growing day by day and with each and every sign up we grow the number of businesses that we represent. With this data we can inform and influence decisions based on evidence. Your voice counts. Onwards and upwards!

CONTACTS EDITORIAL marketing@wnychamber.co.uk ADVERTISING marketing@wnychamber.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS marketing@wnychamber.co.uk WEBSITE yorkshire-business.com X (FORMERLY TWITTER) @WNYChamber

West & North Yorkshire Business is a quarterly business magazine produced by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The audience for this publication is comprised of a targeted audience of the major decision makers and senior executives across both the Yorkshire region and the wider UK business community. © 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. This magazine is published by the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Printed by Hart & Clough www.hartandclough.co.uk The Chamber group includes Chamber International, Business Enterprise Fund and West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Front cover features Chloe Beckwith from Teesside International Airport

MEMBERS’ NEWS

REGIONAL NEWS

14 15 16

News from Bradford, Leeds, York & North Yorkshire

News from across the region

SOCIAL IMPACT Drax

ENVIRONMENT Renewable energy web hosting

SOCIAL IMPACT York

SOCIAL IMPACT

PROFILE

SOCIAL IMPACT

PROFILE

York St John University

Neurodiversity

Castle Howard goes electric

Members stories

Sulzer

ENVIRONMENT

SOCIAL IMPACT

24 25

Effects of green-washing

Small business, big social value

ENVIRONMENT Mott MacDonald

SKILLS Planning for the future

FEATURE

The rise of AI and its impact on businesses

Changing the world with artificial intelligence

CHAMBER PRESIDENTS

PATRONS

REPRESENTATION

New president start their roles

Welcome to a new Patrons

Support for masterplan

SKILLS Improve the talent pool

HOSPITALITY

REPRESENTATION

ECONOMIC SURVEY

REPRESENTATION

ENVIRONMENT

INTERNATIONAL

MEMBERSHIP

MANUFACTURING

SOCIAL

MEMBER OFFERS

EVENTS

Hospitality Forum updates

News and updates

Showing signs of confidence

Charlie joins the Chamber

Celebrating Bradford

Property updates

Changes to border controls

Border model welcomed

Chamber HR Advice Line

WOMAG Weighing Ltd

What you missed online

Deals and discounts for your business and employees

Walking the walk

CONTENTS

Nurturing the lawyers of the future Matthew Kitchen Photography

11 6

York Gin wins top choice award

19 MP visits Keighley Labs 17

Castle Howard is going electric

20 Garden wins best in show

Opening up to mental health

BRADFORD NEWS

It’s going to be a transformation If you’re working or living in Bradford, you’ll be aware of the projects underway that are going to take the city and District to another level in terms of growth, opportunity and success. Those projects – whether it’s One City Park, Bradford Live or Darley Street Market, for example – can, at the time of construction, be a double-edged sword due to the disruption they cause to surrounding areas. That’s also the case just now with our Transforming Cities Fund schemes that will, once complete, make the city more attractive and welcoming and therefore enhance those opportunities referenced above. One event at which those opportunities were highlighted recently was at Bradford’s Madisson venue. While there were many familiar faces of business success in the city and District, there were also many new or infrequent visitors among the 170 guests. Senior local authority and Chamber figures – assisted by MP Naz Shah and Bradford-born Lord Andrew Mawson – were able to help shine a spotlight on the increasing investment and business opportunities here. Led by members of the Chamber’s Property Forum, I believe that the event will last long in the memories of many present that night. And that, as the Bradford Chamber President for only a matter of weeks, makes me excited, proud and intrigued about the future holds for our city and District. I am looking forward to the prospect of being a strong ambassador and ‘Bradvocate’ during my term, and am looking forward to meeting and speaking with as many businesses as possible. Mark Cowgill President Bradford Chamber

Robbie Moore MP visits Keighley Laboratories Keighley Laboratories was delighted to welcome Robbie Moore, Member of Parliament for Keighley and Ilkley. The visit serves to highlight the facilities’ contribution to local industry as well as showcase the region’s expertise in engineering. Mr Moore was given the opportunity to explore the cuttingedge facilities at the site, where he was shown the extensive range of services Keighley Laboratories offers their clientele in a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy and many more The visit also gave the platform for discussions around the crucial role played by the business in the local community, as well as showing how it is driving innovation in the industry. Speaking about this role, Mr Moore said: “Keighley is a powerhouse of talent with a manufacturing and engineering sector that has served as the backbone of our community for well over 100 years.” “Businesses like Keighley Laboratories are therefore part of the heart and soul of Keighley, providing local, highly-skilled jobs and contributing to our wider economy by supporting a range of UK-wide sectors, including Passenger Transportation, Aerospace, Defence and Rail.” The facility boasts modern state-of-the-art laboratories, equipped with advanced technology that is staffed by a team of experienced professionals. Keighley Laboratories has a proven track record of training young professionals to a high standard. The company regularly has a representative at the Bradford Manufacturing Weeks, an initiative from the Bradford Chamber of Commerce that educates young people about the career opportunities available in UK manufacturing. Speaking about his visit, Managing Director Debbie Mellor said: “Mr Moore’s visit highlights the crucial role that companies like ours play not just in the local community, but also in driving engineering growth in the UK.”

Pictureville Cinema shows the best of young Northern filmmakers In September, Pictureville Cinema showcased short films made by young Northern filmmakers as part of the DIY Filmmaking Challenge: Unbound. The event was delivered by Film Hub North, in partnership with The Unit Bradford and National Science and Media Museum.

The no-budget shorts explored stories of various topics around the central theme ‘unbound.’ The free event screened all seven shortlisted films and the winner, Noah Lei, received £1000 towards their next short.

From Income Officer to Apprentice Plumber of the Year

Bradford College ESOL Lecturer Receives Royal Invite to Meet King

With the country on the brink of an ‘alarming skills shortage’, according to the UK Trade Skills Index, Bradford-based Incommunities is taking matters into their own hands by training the next generation of tradespeople.

Esther Wilkey, a lecturer based in the Bradford College ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) department, was invited to meet the King at Windsor Castle for a day celebrating the legacy and of William Shakespeare.

The social and affordable housing provider is in the process of recruiting the next cohort of apprentices, with six roles on offer covering everything from property maintenance, grounds maintenance and cleaning operatives, all will finish with an NVQ level qualification in their chosen trade.

The event consisted of a performance followed by a drinks reception in one of Windsor Castle’s Great Halls.

One of the successes of the programme is Shauna Bramham, from Baildon, who has just been named plumbing apprentice of the year by Bradford College. After 18 years as an Income Officer at Incommunities, Shauna decided to retrain and learn on the job to become a fully qualified plumber.

Following the screenings, a

Esther said of the King: “We spoke about what we [Bradford College] do with our students; he was really interested, friendly, and very chatty.” Esther received an invite due to her day-to-day teaching efforts to keep the legacy alive of the world’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. The College’s ESOL department works with The Royal Shakespeare Company to utilise Shakespearian texts within curriculum for students who do not speak English as a first language.

discussion was held with local filmmakers, who explored the process of DIY filmmaking and offered advice for filmmakers. Bradford-based producer, Hollie Bryan said: “It’s great to see a platform in Bradford for early filmmakers see such a brilliant level of creativity in the North!”

Bradford architectural firm shortlisted for the RIBA Beacon Project FAUM Architecture, a Bradfordbased architectural design practice has been shortlisted as part of a design-led collaboration for the RIBA Beacon Project. The Beacon Project is an opportunity to design a temporary mobile event venue that will serve as an arts space during the 2025 celebration. Fatima Mejbil, Design Lead at FAUM, said: “Our philosophy centres around ensuring that the Beacon becomes a vibrant hub where the community comes alive.” James Mason, Chief Executive of WNY Chamber, commented, “We are thrilled that our Chamber members, FAUM Architecture and colleagues have been selected for the final stage of this design competition. It would be fabulous to see a local collaboration deep-rooted in Bradford design this iconic project.”

LEEDS NEWS

Manufacturing makes it’s mark In September we marked National Manufacturing Day. It is a subject that is incredibly dear to me. Manufacturing is a sector that thrives on SME’s that work in conjunction with large corporate businesses both of which present so many opportunities for young people and families in the region and have done so for hundreds of years. At the height of the industrial revolution, Yorkshire was a key economic epicentre thanks to its manufacturing sector. Our textile mills in West Yorkshire clothed the world, while our steel and metal mills in South Yorkshire and Teesside helped to transform it. Like all industrial powerhouses, it has had to adapt with the times and change to reflect modern economic prevailing winds. That is why the parts used by some of the largest aerospace players worldwide are being produced here in Yorkshire. It is why some of the most cutting-edge technologies and devices in the world of healthcare are being produced in the region. Manufacturing as a sector in Yorkshire is a true exemplar for British business. The region is massively outperforming the rest of the country, having seen a 19 per cent growth in its workforce over the last decade, making it the largest manufacturing employer in Britain. And, in an industry which has struggled historically to attract women into the sector, we in Yorkshire have increased the number of female entrants by 27 per cent in the last decade. We are rightly proud to be marking National Manufacturing Day and shouting about our industry. The inaccurate stereotype that a job in manufacturing is dirty, unsafe, low paid and low skilled could not be further from reality. Manufacturing is a sector that offers progression, in-house training, transferable skills, secure careers and exciting and fulfilling work that can lead to incredible places. In Yorkshire we have been doing our bit to get this message across to schools and households across the region. Chris Black President Leeds Chamber

Leeds College celebrates SkillBuild national finalists A record number of Leeds College of Building students have been selected for the national final of SkillBuild 2023 – the largest multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices. Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board, SkillBuild showcases some of the brightest talent. Highly skilled learners and apprentices go head-to-head to be crowned winners of their chosen trade. Following the conclusion of the regional qualifiers, nine Leeds College of Building students were selected for the national competition. This is the largest cohort from any single college in the UK. Competitors were tested on their technical abilities, time management, problem-solving, and skills working under pressure. The prestigious competition is proven to improve competitors’ technical and employability skills, as well as advancing career options.

JLL commits to Yorkshire market Global real estate adviser JLL has committed to move to flagship office development Wellington Place in Leeds next year. Wellington Place is amongst the UK’s most sustainable office buildings, combining low-carbon design with state-of-the-art technology. JLL is set to occupy the first floor of the building.

£2.7 million deal brings buses back to stranded communities Good news for commuters and youngsters back at school came in September, when buses returned to areas of west Leeds left unserved since April. Working in partnership with the WYCA, Transdev has secured Government funding worth £2.7 million over the next three years to deliver improvements across the region aimed at attracting more people to choose the bus while cutting congestion and pollution. The deal means that Transdev’s The Keighley Bus Company is now running a brand- new 60A route which runs every hour to provide three buses an hour between Shipley, Greengates and Leeds – while also restoring bus services to Bagley Lane, Coal Hill Lane and Calverley Lane in Rodley and Stanningley, which were withdrawn by another bus operator in April.

The firm said the move demonstrates its continued commitment to the city and wider Yorkshire market. Jeff Pearey, head of UK regional office agency at JLL, added: “Our move to 12 Wellington Place aligns with our commitment to eliminate emissions from our workplaces by 2030 and to mainstream net zero carbon buildings in the industry.”

The buildings were the first outside London to achieve a NABERS Designed Reviewed Target Rating of Five Stars or above and are forecast to save 407 tonnes of CO2 annually, running entirely on renewable electricity. JLL and Savills are the joint commercial letting agents on the scheme, with Lyons Thompson Letts (LTL) appointed to market its retail and leisure space.

Quod commits to net zero by 2050

Schofield Sweeney nurturing the lawyers of the future

We have been working hard to develop a carbon reduction strategy and are proud to announce that Quod is committed to net zero emissions in our operations by 2050. To achieve this, we have adopted science-based targets which reflect efforts to limit climate change to less than 1.5oC. As well as our direct operations, we are committed to using our skills and influence to improve sustainability within the built environment and to maintain the integrity and quality of the environments of our projects. Quod is carbon neutral! Whilst we prioritise reduction in our absolute emissions, during our transition to net zero we are offsetting residual emissions through investment in carbon-reduction projects certified to international standards. Our 2022 ‘carbon footprint’ was offset through investment in Gold Standard’s 20 MW Biomass Power Project in Chhattisgarh, India.

One of Yorkshire’s most prominent law firms is celebrating as their trainees qualify and a new intake of trainees are welcomed. Five new trainees have joined this month: Salim Al-Sabah, Alia Younis, Zoe Halliday, Victoria Boothby and Louise Morley, who moves from her paralegal role already in the firm. The trainees will gain experience across different areas of law during their 2-year contract, including, private wealth and succession, litigation and real estate. Schofield Sweeney’s training program is very popular, drawing high-quality candidates. Each of the successful trainees has earned their place at the firm and is looking forward to the opportunity to work in an engaging and inclusive environment.

YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Transport is central to growth I am passionate about this region and its business community in particular, which is why one of our key priorities at present for the Chamber is to see the region grow. We want to see the successful delivery of transport schemes so crucial to unlocking the city’s and the region’s potential. York Central is set to transform the city centre in a manner that has never been seen since the arrival of the railways. Cast that alongside plans for the gigabit city, the Castle Gateway, the redevelopment of Coney Street, the new Minster Yard and refectory, the Roman Quarter and a brand-new railways station and what do we have? A city centre that is as modern, attractive, prosperous, accessible and impressive as any in Europe. When York is talked about it is often along what happened in its history. And with good reason. How many British cities can claim a that an emperor of ancient Rome was proclaimed in its city centre? Whether it is the age of the Romans and Vikings, the English Civil War, the Reformation or the construction of the great British railway system during Victorian times – York has played a crucial role in so many of our countries most pivotal moment in history. In October I was invited to be guest speaker at the AGM of York Civic Trust. he Trust, much like the Chamber, is often unfairly perceived to be looking backwards at all we have achieved in our proud history. But the reality is we much prefer spending our time looking forwards. We both have shared areas of interest, particularly around matters such as planning and transport, as we collectively strive to make York and North Yorkshire the best place to live and to work. I do hope we can work together to achieve our shared goals. I firmly believe that York can have a future as a globally relevant city. I am convinced that York can be an epicentre for tech and creative industries on a par with anywhere in Britain. We have the universities and colleges to make this happen. We just need the housing and infrastructure to realise this potential. Sarah Czarnecki President York & North Yorkshire Chamber

York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

York Community Woodland wins award York Community Woodland won the prestigious John Boddy Award for Forestry at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. The award celebrates excellence in forestry creation, design and management, with this year’s award focusing on the best community woodland planted in Yorkshire over the last 15 years. York Community Woodland is a project led by the City of York Council in partnership with Forestry England, with the goal of establishing an extensive community woodland on a 195-acre plot of land to the west of York. In February, the project reached the key milestone of planting its 85,000th tree. Owned by the council and developed and managed by Forestry England, the woodland will support York’s efforts to tackle the long-term impacts of climate change, increase biodiversity, and promote active travel, health and wellbeing. It will also contribute to York’s new goal of increasing the city’s tree canopy cover from 10.8% to 13% by 2050. Forestry England has developed the woodland with the help of 400 local volunteers and 30 stakeholder groups with specialist skills and interests. The project was developed following a community consultation process which included woodland walks, public talks from experts and a design competition for local schools. Cllr Jenny Kent, City of York Council’s joint executive member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “I’m thrilled to hear that York Community Woodland has won such a prestigious award in the face of stiff competition from our region’s many wonderful community forestry projects. It’s great to see the skill and effort of hundreds of local volunteers rewarded – this project represents what York’s communities can achieve when we work together towards a shared goal.”

11 Q3

Rollits cements standards with renewal of accreditations Law firm Rollits LLP has cemented the standard of its services by securing renewal of two major accreditations - Lexcel and Cyber Essentials Plus. Rollits was one of the first firms in the region to achieve the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation - a government-backed cyber security standard - now it has secured renewal after a full audit with Mike Wasling, the firm’s Director of IT. Wasling said, “Cyber Essentials Plus is a critical part of our security strategy ensuring that clients can have confidence in entrusting their data, money and information to us”. Ralph Gilbert, the managing partner, added: “We are delighted to secure Lexcel re-accreditation because not every firm submits to what is a very intensive assesment, and not all of those who do are successful.”

York Gin wins TripAdvisor award The York Gin shop has won the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2023. The award recognises businesses earning consistently excellent reviews. Earlier this year the shop also won Visit York Tourism Awards Retailer of the Year for 2023. York Gin’s Head of Retail Jenny O’Hara said: “We’re absolutely delighted with this accolade. We know we have a brilliant team offering amazing service. But to have that independently verified is thrilling. We always give 100% to customers – whether they are regular customers coming back to refill their bottle of York Gin, or visitors who are brand new to us.” John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor, explains: “Earning a Travellers’ Choice Award demonstrates that you have provided great experiences to your guests. With changing expectations, continued labour shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat.’ Photo by Matthew Kitchen Photography.

City Cruises York features in the new Netflix series – Bodies

Ofsted praises council support for young people

City Cruises York features as a filming location for Bodies, a new eight-part drama series on Netflix that aired on the 19th October.

Ofsted Inspectors praised the City of York Council in August for the support it offers to care for young people.

In October 2022, filming began for the series in York featuring City Cruises York Boatyard and boat – River Prince. City Cruises York is featured in episode six ‘The World is Yours’ of the series. During this episode, viewers can expect an action filled instalment with Supt. Boothroyd, DS Shahara Hasan, DCI Jack Barber and Elias Mannix, involving a bomb detonator and shootout. From 11.30 minutes to 21.45 minutes, City Cruises York Boatyard and boat makes its debut. Chris Pegg, Commercial and Marketing Manager, City Cruises, says: “Working with Netflix on their latest production ‘Bodies’ was an absolute thrill. It’s not just a significant moment for our team but also a captivating opportunity to showcase the beauty of our cruises to a global audience.”

Inspectors noted that care leavers are well supported by staff with whom they have trusted relationships. Inspectors also identified that young people receive high levels of emotional and practical support. This helps them to make progress through significant changes in their lives and manage stressful life events. Care leavers told inspectors that the pathway team goes ‘above and beyond’. Martin Kelly, OBE, Corporate Director of Children’s Services at the council, said: “I’m particularly pleased that our young people spoke so highly of the Pathway Team. Developing trusted, lasting, and meaningful relationships helps us to provide ongoing support and mentoring that is so vital to young care leavers.”

WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Continuing engagement with stakeholders We continue to be in interesting times, even though it’s now an over-used and somewhat trite expression. Politically, we’ve recently had the party conferences at which the leaders try to bolster internal support while also reaching out to the public – with the election expected within a year. Economically, many forecasts have recently been downgraded as we still recover from the pandemic, the cost of living crisis continues.

Joshua Ellis welcomes six-figure investment into new machinery

In business, the barriers to growth remain as many struggle to either recruit or retain staff, maintain margins and fill order books – and yet…!

The state-of-the-art jacquard loom, installed last month, expands Joshua Ellis’s design capabilities with an increased capacity of 76 threads per inch, which weaves independently, allowing Joshua Ellis to create intricate designs and fulfil bespoke retail & wholesale orders.

As we’ve learned over the years, there is still plenty to be positive about. The dynamism, unflinching attitude and, yes, you might say sheer bloodymindedness of the business community here in West & North Yorkshire never ceases to amaze me. The interesting stories, plans and related activities that you will read about in this issue of the magazine once again reveal the wonderful diversity, creativity and resourcefulness of our members; thank you to you all for doing what you do! The engagement with other stakeholders that the Chamber is working with continues. Dialogue with local and combined authorities, academics and others in education, and government departments such as Levelling Up, Work & Pensions, Transport and, of course, the Treasury, show our messages are seen and noted from top-to-bottom of decisionmaking and business support. Amanda Beresford Chair of the Board West & North Yorkshire Chamber

Yorkshire-based textile manufacturer, Joshua Ellis, has taken a significant leap forward in its pursuit of growth, with a substantial investment of £130,000 into a cutting-edge Picanol jacquard loom.

This substantial upgrade in machinery also significantly improves efficiency and speed, enhancing production capacity and positions the company to adequately cater to the surging demand for traditionally woven textile products both domestically and on the international stage. The company is still adjusting after the pandemic’s impact on the textile industry, but this strategic investment aligns with Joshua Ellis's overarching plan for growth. Oliver Platts, Managing Director at Joshua Ellis, said "We are thrilled to introduce this advanced machinery into our production process. It not only upholds our reputation for excellence but also positions us for growth in an increasingly competitive market. Over the past couple of years, we have witnessed a surge in demand for bespoke jacquard work, and this investment ensures that we can keep up with the expectations of our premium customer base in terms of design and speed of production.” In a nod to their rich history dating back to 1767, Joshua Ellis chose a symbolic tribute for the first weave on the new loom – an intricate image of their founder, Joshua Ellis himself. Penny Lovatt, Senior Designer at Joshua Ellis, said "Investing in this new loom is an extraordinary decision for the company. As a designer, the new loom opens up a world of creative possibilities, allowing me to experiment with designs that were previously unattainable on our older Dobby looms. It was particularly gratifying to breathe life into the image of Joshua Ellis, our founding visionary, as a fitting tribute."

13 Q3

Young recruit at home in air traffic control Darlington’s Chloe Beckwith has traded call-centre shifts with looking after Teesside’s skies as an Air Traffic Control Assistant. The 25-year-old joined the team while on a course at Teesside University. “I thought I wasn’t smart enough for it”, explains

Chloe, “but with the assistant role, you can learn on the job.”

Families enjoy summer events at Drax’s Skylark Centre

Exciting New Chinese Street Food and Noodle Bar

Drax’s Skylark Centre and Nature Reserve played host to families throughout August as part of a free programme of summer events at the site.

The Merrion Centre in Leeds announced the arrival of Mr Yang Chinese Street Food, a brand-new Chinese and noodle bar that opened its doors recently. Based on Merrion Way, this is the only branch in Leeds and the Yorkshire region, making it a unique and highly anticipated addition to the city’s culinary landscape.

Hundreds of parents and children were able to participate in a variety of activities - including making bubble art, constructing water runs, making foil boats and much more - run by Drax’s Skylark Centre visitor team. Nick Robinson, Community and Education Team Leader at the station, said: “It is fantastic to see parents and children of all ages making a splash participating in our water themed activities and enjoying the natural surrounds of the centre.” The Skylark Centre hosts free events throughout the year for the local community, the annual summer programme is a key part of Drax Power Station’s community calendar.

Air Traffic Control is responsible for guiding planes, taking requests from pilots, and working with the airport’s fire service. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen

Mr Yang guarantees to deliver an exquisite array of authentic Chinese delicacies, featuring an enticing selection of rice dishes, mouthwatering noodles, and delectable dumplings. The venture has also brought about seven new job opportunities for the local community, contributing to the growth and prosperity of the area. The team at Mr Yang is set to showcase the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Chinese cuisine to the people of Leeds and beyond.

said: “Keeping talent like Chloe in good paid jobs in our region is crucial if we want to realise our ambitions for the future. Chloe is yet another example of someone who has returned home to build a successful career, and I wish her all the best on her journey with us.”

Transdev’s offer to Wilko workers The bus operator issued an open invitation to a guaranteed job interview to anyone with a driving licence who worked at any of Wilko’s 400 stores – almost 150 of which closed recently, including several in Yorkshire. Transdev Training Manager Dale French said: “We’d like to offer all Wilko colleagues who hold a current driving licence a guaranteed interview for a driving role with us. Right now, we have opportunities to join our driving teams at all our ten operating centres, including seven in North and West Yorkshire. “We’ll teach newcomers how to drive a bus and pay for their training, on and off the road. We’re looking for people who love being the best and are ready to make a fresh start – especially those with retail experience who know how to give our customers a friendly welcome, every time.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Drax Foundation funds new £150k grant to help schools become more energy efficient The Drax Foundation, which is the corporate foundation of the renewable energy company Drax Group, has announced a new grant of £150,000 for Energy Sparks, an energy education charity that works with schools. The new funding will enable Bath-based Energy Sparks to ensure that up to 240 schools across the UK have free access to its online energy management tool, education programme and support services. This includes schools in the areas of the country where Drax Group operates: Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, East of England and Scotland. The charity currently works with more than 1,000 UK schools to help them reduce their energy use and carbon footprint. Shona King, Head of Community at Drax Group, said: “We are proud that this new grant will help Energy Sparks engage many more schools and pupils across the UK in reducing their energy use and costs as well as fighting climate change. Alongside our existing grant funding for LED lighting and solar panels, we are excited to bring Energy Sparks’ energy analysis tool and education programme to more schools in and around the communities where we operate. “It’s important to us to help children start thinking about saving energy and reducing their carbon footprint from a young age as these issues are going to be increasingly important for them in the future.”

Dr Claudia Towner, CEO and Programme Director at Energy Sparks, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from the Drax Foundation, it means we can reach even more schools and pupils, and remove financial barriers to ongoing engagement for some of the existing schools using our services. “Our work equips children and young people with the knowledge, skills, and tools to take measurable action in their school and wider community to reduce carbon emissions. We also enable school leaders, staff and communities to better understand and reduce their school’s energy consumption, save money and introduce wider measures to reduce their carbon footprint." Energy Sparks was founded in 2020 and, in the last year, through Energy Sparks’ tools, the average primary school it works with has saved at least £3,000 in energy costs and 12.8 tonnes of CO2, additionally, the average secondary school has saved at least £12,000 and 48 tonnes of CO2. Energy Sparks’ education activities encourage pupils to learn about climate change and why reducing carbon emissions is important, investigating energy use around the school site, taking action to reduce energy use and spreading the energy saving and carbon reduction message across their wider school community. Energy Sparks’ online tool presents bespoke analysis of the energy data with suggestions of actions the school community could take to save energy and reduce the school’s carbon emissions. This new funding is drawn from a pot of £1.5m that Drax Foundation unveiled earlier this year for UK schools to install energy-efficient LED lights and solar panels, and deliver energy saving monitoring and education.

15 Q3

ENVIRONMENT

Renewable energy web hosting

A path to a sustainable digital future We are all on a journey to make things better for our environment. And those journeys may all be at different stages and taking different directions, but ultimately, we are heading in the same direction – to find ways we can work together to move towards a greener future. In an ever-evolving digital landscape, millions of websites connect us to a world of information and convenience at just the click of a button. Whether it's online shopping, live auctions, educational tutorials, or collaborative work, the internet has revolutionised how we live and interact. However, this digital revolution has come at a cost, straining our environment through escalated energy consumption. The energy consumption of digital technologies is increasing each year. Research suggests that by 2025 the internet will use 20% of the world’s electricity and produce 3.5% of global greenhouse emissions, making the internet one of THE biggest polluters. With millions of websites online worldwide, every time someone visits a website, energy is consumed. Whilst the amount of energy required may differ based on the content, and in some instances be minimal, when you factor in the multitude of daily

requests, it soon adds up and the total impact is significant. As the internet continues to expand, the number of servers required to handle data increases, subsequently escalating energy consumption. Shockingly, one server's carbon footprint is equivalent to driving over 18,032 miles in a car, emitting a staggering 7,360 kgCo2e. So, what can companies do to address their online carbon footprint? We Are HA, a fully managed web hosting provider based in North Yorkshire, have a solution. Nick Bascombe-Fox, CTO at We Are HA, explained the company's position, "Transitioning to 100% renewable energy web hosting reduces a substantial 83.9% of a server's lifecycle environmental impact. We provide our clients with all the resources they need to not only ensure their websites perform optimally, but also significantly reducing their environmental impact through renewable energy web hosting. Something we are immensely proud of.” Green consumerism is gaining increasing influence as consumer expectations shift towards a more environmentally conscious world. Consumers actively want to support,

engage with, purchase from and partner with companies and suppliers who are demonstrating their commitment to making sustainable improvements. In an age where competition is fierce, companies need to be able to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices, instilling confidence in consumers that they are supporting environmentally responsible businesses. Esmond Hastings, CEO at We Are HA, emphasised, "By providing 100% renewable energy web hosting, we aim to drive positive change within our industry and offer our clients a path toward a more sustainable way of doing business. All our clients are thrilled their websites are powered by wind and hydro sources and have received praise from their consumers and partners.” The shift to greener web hosting isn’t just a choice; it’s a responsibility. We Are HA's commitment to providing 100% renewable energy web hosting underscores the urgent need for businesses to seriously consider reducing their online carbon footprint and play their part in working towards a cleaner, healthier planet for generations to come.

SOCIAL IMPACT New funding to support rough sleepers off York’s streets £265,854 has been secured by the council for the coming two financial years to increase capacity by a third to prevent homelessness. The allocation from the Government’s Rough SIeeping Initiative (RSI) for 2023/24 is £128,995 and for 2024/25 is £136,859. This is in addition to funding totalling £500,000 from DHLUC for 23/4 which is a fivefold increase in spend since 2018. This funding will be used to increase support for people sleeping rough. This is delivered by Rough Sleeper Housing Navigators, who are among a partnership which supports hundreds of people into more stable, longterm housing every year. The team has helped eliminate long-term rough sleeping in the city, and have also helped many people who just needed a quick helping hand into accommodation. Knowing where people sleep rough and the complex issues they face, the navigators work sensitively and quickly to get to know each individual and to best match their needs with suitable accommodation and an appropriate level of support.

Mansion House thanks They also provide support to former rough sleepers who have moved into accommodation and who are working towards taking on a tenancy of their own, and to help people keep their tenancy York Volunteers on and so prevent them becoming homeless. World Mental Health Day Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council, said: “Whether Volunteers involved in the delivery of mental health services and support gathered at an event in the Mansion House to mark World Mental Health Day. The early evening reception was the inspiration of the Lady Mayoress, Joy Cullwick who, together with Rev Cllr Chris Cullwick, Lord Mayor of York, invited representatives of as many organisations as possible to say thank you and to showcase their great work in the city. This year’s World Mental Health Day theme was celebrating the power of community kindness. Guests were welcomed by the Lady Mayoress, Joy Cullwick and heard from the Head of Communities at City of York Council, Joe Micheli. The event was an opportunity to hear from a range of volunteers and then the chance for volunteers to meet each other. Joy Cullwick, Lady Mayoress, said: "The contribution of volunteers to the mental health and wellbeing of the people of York is incredible and invaluable and touches all sectors of our city. Their dedication and kindness is something that we in the Civic Party want to recognise and celebrate. We were delighted to have also been joined by Mrs Johanna Ropner, Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire."

the problem is poor mental health, dealing with drug or alcohol abuse, relationship breakdown or serious financial problems, services are designed to provide the right support at the right pace for those that need it. Keira Snaith, Manager at Carecent, said: “Carecent has always been one of the first points of contact for those rough sleeping in York. Over the past couple of years, it has been great to link up with the Rough Sleeper Housing Navigators and look at ways we can work together. For more information, please visit www.york.gov.uk/roughsleeping

17 Q3

SOCIAL IMPACT

Opening doors to mental health Civic leaders join key figures in counselling and mental health for York St John Communities Centre opening celebration York St John Communities Centre has formally opened with a celebration of York St John University’s decades of work and research in counselling and mental health. Counselling has been taught at York St John for more than 35 years. In 1987, the first course was launched, making the University one of the very first in the country to offer the subject. The work in this area became public facing in 2016 with the launch of the innovative and highly successful Counselling & Mental Health Centre (CMHC). The CMHC name was changed to York St John Communities Centre in 2022 to better reflect the growing portfolio of public facing services that the centre provides. The Centre is now operating out of new expanded premises on Clarence Street in York. This new one-stop-shop of public facing services is designed to help to meet increasing need for mental health support in the community. Services are led by academics, supported by volunteers and placement students, all under one roof. It is a safe and inclusive space

and offers a portal through which mental health and wellbeing support, community projects, and a newly planted sensory garden can be accessed. The opening celebration was held this week in the York St John Creative Centre with specially curated displays reflecting the growth of the Communities Centre and the University’s groundbreaking work in counselling. Attendees included the Lord Mayor of York and the Lady Mayoress, and key figures in the fields of counselling and mental health, alongside current staff and students. Alumni were welcomed back too, including some of the very first cohort of counselling students at York St John. Tours of the Centre were conducted alongside a panel discussion featuring Dr Trish Hobman; Dr Stephen Wright; Helen Fairburn and panel chair and Communities Centre founder, Professor Lynne Gabriel, OBE. Members of the public are now being invited to hear more about the latest research coming from the team at a special research showcase next month. The showcase “It’s research but not as we know it: Advancing knowledge in counselling and psychotherapy one compassionate case study at a time” takes place on Saturday 4 November,

10am to 3pm in the York St John Creative Centre and online. Featuring world leading experts, the event will explore challenges in life, loss and relationships, drawing from real life situations to consider the complexities of being human. Speaking at the Communities Centre’s launch, Vice Chancellor of York St John University, Professor Karent Bryan, OBE said: “Over the past seven years, the Centre has worked closely with its partners in the city to become a trusted and reliable provider of mental health and wellbeing services for local people. “This work is making a tangible difference to people’s lives and is an important part of our university’s commitment to support the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve.” Founding Director of the Communities Centre, Professor Lynne Gabriel, OBE, said: “We are passionate about providing support that people value. We seek to change lives for the better. “That includes collaborative work with staff, students, volunteers, and members of the community, and seeking feedback from people we engage with. The Centre and its team members are embedded in local, regional, and national mental health partnerships and networks.

SOCIAL IMPACT

at Work: Understanding Businesses encouraged to learn Autism Struggles and Implementing about building a neurodiverse Reasonable Adjustments friendly business Autism at work is an increasingly important topic, as employers seek to foster diverse and Bradford Council is encouraging businesses from across the Bradford district to find out more about neurodiversity about harnessing the benefits of neurodiversity in the workforce. The belief that people experience the world in unique ways, and differences in thinking and behaviour are not shortcomings but valuable perspectives.

inclusive workplaces. Individuals with autism bring unique strengths to the workforce, such as attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and innovative thinking. However, like anyone else, they may face challenges in the workplace.

Businesses are invited to attend an event on the topic on Thursday 9 November at Bradford City Football Club

Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) may face specific challenges in a work environment due to their neurodiversity. Some struggles may include sensory overload, communication difficulties, social interactions, changes in routine, and time management.

Speakers will explain how neurodivergent people bring many positive benefits to the workplace, from thinking more innovatively, being more creative, supporting business growth as well as exploring ways to enhance understanding, support, and opportunities for neurodiverse employees and customers. The event will provide businesses with an opportunity to hear from experts in the field and understand more about neurodiversity and how it impacts people’s lives, gain valuable insights from people with lived experience, and connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about fostering neurodiversity. Throughout the event, businesses will have the chance to participate in interactive experiences and engage in thought-provoking discussion. The event is open to employers, business, arts, and culture organisation and anyone else interested in making a positive impact. We want to emphasise what a great event this is, and appeal to all businesses across the district no matter what your industry sector to attend. This event will allow you to build your business profile of becoming a neurodiverse inclusive workplace and offer employment opportunities to those who can add real value in boosting your business opportunities. The event aims to celebrate the unique strengths and talents of neurodiverse individuals and work towards creating a supportive environment that embraces and values their differences.

Reasonable adjustments are essential to create an accommodating work environment for our colleagues. Some effective adjustments that can support individuals at work with autism include flexible working arrangements, sensoryfriendly workspaces, clear communication guidelines, structured tasks and checklists and autism awareness training Autism at work is a matter of understanding, compassion, and inclusion. By recognising the struggles faced by people with ASC and implementing reasonable adjustments, employers can create an environment where every employee can thrive. Embracing diversity and supporting your colleagues not only benefits the individual but also contributes to a more innovative and inclusive workplace. If you are interested in learning more about mental health and autism or are seeking support for yourself or others, Talking Minds develops and hosts mental health and neurodiversity masterclasses and provides specialist mentoring support.

19 Q3

PROFILE

Going electric Castle Howard have installed 22kW load monitored electric vehicle charging points for use by up to four vehicles, and added two EV Transporter Vans to their small fleet of electric vehicles. The move towards electric is part of the Estate’s sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental impact. Castle Howard’s Head of Built Environment Stephanie HallStead, who has overseen the installation of the charging points, said: “As we move towards more sustainable working practices in our day-today management of the Castle Howard Estate, we’re aware that our visitors are also making more environmentally conscious choices. We’re thrilled to be able to offer a charging station in a beautiful setting for Electric Vehicle owners who are visiting us, or who live in the local community. Drivers can browse our Garden Centre, Farm Shop, Coffee Shop and Courtyard Café while their vehicles charge, or visit the House and Grounds as part of a full day out.” The EV charging points are Type 2 connectors. They are located towards the Garden Centre in Castle Howard’s main Visitor Car Park, to the right-hand side of the Stable Courtyard. Payment is via Monta, and charging costs are in line with BP Pulse and are regularly reviewed. The vehicle charging points are accessible during Castle Howard’s regular opening hours. The EV vans have a range of 82 miles, which is perfect for Castle Howard’s in-house Building Services team to travel around the Estate to complete building works via a more sustainable means of travel. The other vehicles in the fleet

include a Catering vehicle used to transport food and beverage items to Castle Howards outlets and a small passenger vehicle which is used to help visitors move around the visitor attraction. The switch to electric vehicles is contributing to reducing the Estate’s carbon footprint, plus the lower running costs mean the Estate can redirect resources towards vital maintenance and conservation works. To celebrate the new charging points, Castle Howard is offering electric vehicle owners two free takeaway hot drinks from the Coffee Shop, with a valid payment receipt of £15 or more from the day of their charge.

SOCIAL IMPACT

A garden which explores mental health in construction was awarded Best Show Garden at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. The garden’s theme was wellbeing and mental health within the construction industry and was led by Carolyn Hardern and Jon Jarvis, who received support from Leeds College of Building.

Mental health garden wins best in show

Apprentices at the college painted 700 wooden hearts - representing each life taken last year in the construction sector - to be displayed around the garden. The wall to the left of the entrance incorporates a panel perforated with 507 holes, representing the number of suicides in the UK construction industry in 2021; an average of two people die by suicide in construction each day.

Andy’s Man Club celebrates one year at Odsal

Local park receives £2000 environmental boost

Tuesday 12th September marked one year since Odsal Stadium opened its doors to Andy’s Man Club’s Bradford South Group!

Cross Hill’s based chemical company Airedale Group has celebrated its 50th anniversary with a £2,000 project in partnership with its local park.

Andy’s Man Club are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-toattend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.

The company, founded in 1973, is supporting Glusburn and Cross Hills Parish Council to make improvements to Glusburn Park. These improvements include a wildflower area and community herb garden, where residents are encouraged to help themselves!

Monday 12th September 2022 saw the first session held at the home of the Bradford Bulls, who have worked closely with the Bradford South group ever since. 892 men have come through the doors to talk, with 105 new people joining the group. 42 sessions have been held since that opening date, with an average of 25 men per night attending, with that number continuing to grow.

Stewart Anthony, parish councillor for Glusburn and Cross Hills, explains that the improvements, “Will attract bees, birds and more species to the park which we know are so important to the environment. The support we receive from businesses like Airedale Group is invaluable in ensuring the future of local facilities such as our park.”

Bulls awarded silver status Bradford Bulls have been awarded ‘Silver’ status as part of the Ministry Of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme. The ERS consists of three award levels. Each level indicates an organisation’s commitment and involvement to offer support programmes that align with the scheme’s framework. The objective of the scheme is for employers to endorse their employees who are military personnel and enable development opportunities that support their current or past duty to the forces with their civilian employment. Bradford Bulls’ Commercial Manager Ian Stafford said, “We are proud to have joined this elite selection of organisations that also recognise the excellent work that the Armed Forces do for our nation. Over the next 12 months we will be looking at progressing towards ‘Gold’ status”.

21 Q3

PROFILE

Sulzer helps foster social engagement and support for local communities Sulzer, a global leader in fluid engineering, provides cutting-edge solutions for pumping, agitation, mixing, separation, and application technologies for a wide range of industries, while also demonstrating a strong commitment to social engagement and community support. At the heart of Sulzer’s community involvement are two main committees: the Sports and Social Committee and the Charitable Giving Committee. These two groups are making impressive strides across multiple sectors. In the realm of Healthcare & Medical Research, they have raised £32,000 for The Rob Burrow Centre for MND Appeal and provided valuable support to Martin House Hospice, a charitable organisation offering palliative care for children and young people. Addressing Mental Health, they have donated £3,000 to Mind, a key charity focused on mental health support and advocacy. In the sector of Social Welfare & Poverty Alleviation, Sulzer collaborates with local food banks to help tackle food insecurity and poverty. Lastly, in the sphere of Child Welfare & Social Inclusion, they partner with Lineham Farm, an organisation dedicated to assisting disadvantaged children in the community.

Promoting STEM careers and more Sulzer has also demonstrated a keen interest in nurturing young talent and encouraging careers involving science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects. Through its collaboration with the Ahead Partnership, Sulzer works with Elliot Hudson College, offering mentorship to students and contributing to the #GirlTechLeeds initiative to make STEM jobs more accessible and raise awareness for the opportunities available in the sector. In addition to this, the company takes part in National Careers Week and has organised the Manufacturing Trek for two consecutive years, promoting both engineering and nonengineering careers within its industry. Employees at Sulzer are enthusiastic about participating in these programmes and this enthusiasm extends to more unique undertakings such as nurturing a wild garden – Manor Mill Meadow home to around 500,000 bees and other wildlife. The honey produced by these bees is sold with profits benefiting the local beekeeping community. The importance of employee involvement is recognised in Sulzer's social initiatives, allowing staff to have a say in the selection of charities and projects to support.

Continuing community support While Sulzer initially faced challenges in engaging younger employees in these initiatives, those who have participated have found the experience particularly beneficial for their development, further enriching Sulzer's commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting STEM careers. Sulzer is also aware of the decrease in donations and increase in demand that charitable organisations face due to the rising cost of living and has increased its contributions, accordingly, in an effort to help ensure that those who need assistance continue to receive it. Sulzer’s genuine commitment to social engagement, coupled with the support of its employees, has had a significant impact on the local community. From sponsoring sports teams that promote accessibility for disabled individuals to partnering with educational organisations, employees at Sulzer in Leeds are helping to foster a brighter future for all.

ENVIRONMENT

The effects of greenwashing on businesses Climate change is an increasingly present topic of discussion in the news cycle both in the UK and the world at large. Many businesses have tried to include themselves within the conversation – though not always with the greatest of intentions. ‘Greenwashing’ is a term used for a type of marketing which makes products or businesses seem more environmentally friendly or positive for the climate than they actually are. For instance, a food product could be marketed as ‘organic, eco-friendly, natural’ when, in reality, only a certain number of ingredients fall within these categories. Greenwashing is a way for businesses to capitalise on the public’s growing fears over climate change and a desire for sustainability. In some cases, companies are guilty of greenwashing when they market themselves or a product as environmentally friendly whilst simultaneously doing things that harm the climate. Ryanair, for example, had an advert claiming they had “Europe’s lowest emissions” of any airline pulled in 2019 by the advertising regulator after they found a lack of evidence to support this claim. Clearly, an airline – particularly one that chose to run empty flights during the covid-19 pandemic to avoid cancelling flights and refunding customers – is not particularly positive for the environment. Their advert, on the other hand, propertied themselves as conscious about the need to reduce carbon emissions for the sake of the environment. Although, in some cases, businesses are simply trying to show that they care about the environment and are making an effort to operate more sustainably, there are many instances of businesses using deliberately deceptive tactics to seem greener than they are. Often, it is not the products themselves that are being accused of greenwashing but the wider businesses as a whole. A fast fashion brand, for instance, could correctly advertise one of their products as being made with an eco-friendly, sustainable material but if the wider business operates sweatshops and acts as a giant polluter (as many fast fashion brands do) then this one eco-friendly product is not making any difference in the long run. So how should businesses navigate this prevailing world of sustainability and environmental consciousness? The main thing to remember is to remain honest. If your business has a large carbon footprint, then utilising buzzwords such as ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘natural’ will not disguise that footprint. Businesses in the modern age should certainly be making an effort to revise their operations to work more sustainably and environmentally friendly, but simply slapping a few key words or a picture of a leaf on some products is simply not good enough, real change must be made – and the public will be able to see through it if it isn’t. The issue of climate change and sustainability is not likely to disappear anytime soon - if anything, it will become ever more present. As such, businesses should really be thinking about ways in which they can change aspects of their operations to be kinder to the environment. Written by Ben Forrest.

23 Q3

SOCIAL IMPACT

Small business, big social value Putting social value at the heart of the fabl

Social contribution: the fabl’s out of office

Social value is often used as an umbrella term used to describe the difference an organisation, business or project can make to the community they are operating in.

As a creative agency the so-called four Cs – critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaborative problem-solving – are second nature to the fabl. It’s therefore no surprise to find the team bringing these skills into the communities they live in away from the office. From a choreographer at the local drama group, lead violinist in the local community orchestra, to cycling and running addicts, the team is proud to raise money for charitable causes tackling dementia, food poverty, cancer research and more throughout the year at events, concerts and through regular donations.

By putting greater emphasis on social value there is sometimes a misconception that this increases costs. However, this ignores the broader, longer term outcome benefits that social value can bring. For example, employment of people who have been long term unemployed leads to a reduction in the cost of welfare benefits and an increase in their personal spending power. It could also have a beneficial effect on health services, strengthen community cohesion and foster a greater sense of happiness and wellbeing. Social value provides greater value for money and can help to mitigate the impact of negative external factors. Marketing agency, the fabl, operates using what they describe as the ‘Three Pillars of Sustainability’: social, economic, environmental. Delivering outcomes in these three areas inspires a move beyond delivering only profit and loss outcomes, and a move towards producing a “Triple Bottom Line.”

What does social value look like at the fabl? The fabl supports an increased awareness and application of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are 17 different social and environmental agendas for businesses, governments, and the wider international community to work towards, including zero hunger, gender equality, clean water, quality education and climate action, to name a few. First introduced in 2015, the SDGs are basically a Social Value Charter for the planet, and they are rapidly being adopted by the biggest companies around the world.

Jobs: Upskilling workforce At the fabl, a team has been built that brings together the perfect balance of youth and experience. The team includes young people working in design, editorial, digital and social roles, all learning from the experience of colleagues who have worked at some of the most high-profile creative agencies in the world. Photograph: Mark Oulson-Jenkins, StudioRTR

Let’s talk about trees… There’s a global focus on being carbon neutral by 2030, and with just eight years left to achieve this the fabl is committed to playing their part. The office team car-shares and the company arrange office working hours around the bus timetable to promote the use of public transport to and from the office. The office is based on the Broughton Hall Business Estate, the fabl have chosen to support The Broughton Sanctuary Nature Recovery Programme. Around 250,000 trees have been planted so far and the rewilding project will help reduce water run-off into local rivers and help protect communities in the Aire river valley, from Skipton down to Leeds City Centre, from the risk of future floods. The project is also strategically important within the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme. In 2022 – the fabl celebrated its 16th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the company planted a tree for every year of our operations and further pledge to plant a tree for every print publication they create for their clients – currently around 20 per year. This takes the fabl’s contribution towards the national scheme to 36 trees this year. Through this project the marketing agency are helping to grow White Rose Forest, the community forest in North and West Yorkshire, and the larger Northern Forest, which will stretch from Merseyside to the Yorkshire coast.

ENVIRONMENT

Mott MacDonald reinforces commitment to sustainability Management, engineering, and development consultancy firm Mott MacDonald is a global company with employees in 150 countries around the world. Recently, the company has expanded its operations in Leeds and the wider North of England; having moved into a new office at Wellington Place. Lisa Littlefair operates as the Cities Director for Leeds and West Yorkshire at Mott MacDonald. Speaking with Lisa about her role within the company, she said, “We’re a very multidisciplinary office here with lots of different services. My role is to link what the city needs to our services, and also highlight what is happening in Leeds and West Yorkshire in the context of our global business”. In addition to her role as Cities Director, Lisa was recently appointed Chair of the Chamber’s Leeds Property & Economic Forum. Asked about this appointment, Lisa replied: “I’m really delighted to have been appointed to the position and will endeavour to continue all the good work that previous chairs have achieved.”, continuing, “It’s part of my job to be engaged in the city and in the property industry, and this role with the Chamber is a great opportunity to drive impact and make positive change alongside all the fantastic people who contribute to the Forum.”

says Lisa, “both in terms of services we deliver, and as a business. We’ve got a strong plan to get us to net zero. ” This message is echoed by the company’s ‘Environment and Sustainability’ statement, which reinforces the idea that “Environment and sustainability are embedded in our culture through governance, operations, and delivery. We are committed to reducing our direct carbon emissions and use our Moata Carbon Portal modelling tool to identify carbon savings on our projects, while also minimising costs. We promote recycling, reuse, and energy conservation in our offices and on our projects. We have reduced the use of single-use plastics in our offices, and we seek to procure products and services from suppliers whose environmental sustainability policies are aligned with our own.” This is the global policy of Mott MacDonald, but Lisa underlines that the company think about the environment on a local scale too, “In Leeds, we have our local environmental practice plan, which sets out everything that we do as an office. As well as operating as sustainably as possible, we also deliver sustainability services to our clients, making sure their projects deliver in terms of environmental, social, and economic outcomes.”

Optimism appears to be the key word for the future of Leeds. Working on a number of local projects, the future of the city is looking bright!

So, what makes Leeds a focus for the company? “What we see for Leeds and West Yorkshire”, explains Lisa, “is that there’s a lot of opportunity for us – there’s investment coming through, and a mindset amongst local leadership that is about ambition and growth, while setting good priorities for the future in terms of sustainability and social impact. Also, the inclusivity message here is really strong. We have been pleased to become part of that whole narrative, for example by being one of the first wave of Leeds Business Anchors.” With the growing conversation surrounding climate change and sustainability, Mott MacDonald are firmly committed to sustainable practices and goals. “It’s central to what we do”, Interview by Ben Forrest

On the topic of commitments to the local area, there has been a great deal of discussion about infrastructure in the North recently in the wake of Phase 2 of the HS2 programme being cancelled during the political party conference season. One project being talked about is the longplanned mass transit system for West Yorkshire. Speaking about this, Lisa said, “What I would like to see is certainty. Sticking to decisions and seeing them through so that the industry can respond by investing in the skills and resources needed to help the government (central, local, regional), to deliver new infrastructure. So, it was pleasing to hear the continued commitment to mass transit in West Yorkshire, I’m quite optimistic”. Optimism appears to be the key word of Mott MacDonald’s message for the future of Leeds and the surrounding region. With the company working on a number of local projects and programmes, the future of the city is looking bright!

25 Q3

SKILLS

Planning for skills Chambers of Commerce in both West and North Yorkshire have won approval from the Secretary of State for Education for their plans to improve skill levels in the region. West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is leading on two Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) for both North and West Yorkshire, with the latter done in partnership with Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The UK Government has now officially approved both proposals. LSIPs are designed to put local employer need at the heart of skills development by helping businesses and employers engage with learning providers. For the past 12 months, both West & North Yorkshire and Mid Yorkshire Chambers have been working in partnership with the mayoral authority, local authorities, further and higher education and other training providers to engage with business and other business representative groups to build on the existing data, strategic plans and collaborative working to bring together the key themes that will support skills growth for a 21st century Yorkshire workforce. This work saw the Chambers’ LSIPs team engage with hundreds of businesses around the region via roundtables, surveys, questionnaires and other face-toface meetings. This has led to the identification of a number of specific sectors on which each individual LSIP would focus. For North Yorkshire these are: Construction, Health and Social Care, Digital, Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-skills and the Visitor Economy. For West Yorkshire the sectors identified are: Construction, Health and Social Care, Digital, Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Industries, Education, Financial and Professional Services, Low Carbon and Logistics & Transport. The preparatory work has also identified areas for review, regarding potential enhancements to optimise access to skills development, leading to career progression or change. This lays the foundations for developing these in a range of formats. Now that the Secretary of State has signed off both individual LSIPs for North and West Yorkshire, the plans will move to implementation stage, setting in train a process to make the most of the support and training options on offer, increasing the networks and ease with which businesses, staff and individuals can get to the right support. The plan will run at least until early 2025 and will be reviewed annually. Meanwhile, both Chambers will continue to engage with both employers and learning providers to deliver consistently up-to-date information. Martin Hathaway, managing director of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Local Skills Improvement Plans will help build on the excellent work delivered by learning providers around the region. “Rather than rewrite curricula or re-invent the wheel, they will serve as convening points between employers, educators and trainers to ensure that regional economic need is both understood and met. “One of the key learnings that our fieldwork has yielded is that employers want to have a relationship-based approach to learning providers, rather than simply a transactional one. LSIPs are now ideally placed to deliver just that.”

The rise of AI and its impact on businesses Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been in the news cycle on an increasing basis as of late. What was once a far-fetched idea featured in sci-fi B-movies is now a reality. Many experts and ordinary people alike are engaging in debates on what this means for the future of businesses and employment.

27 Q3

FEATURE The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in business operations has ushered in a new era of efficiency and productivity. With AI-powered tools, businesses can automate routine tasks, minimize errors, and optimize processes, freeing up more time and resources for highervalue tasks. AI systems also enable businesses to gain valuable insights from vast amounts of data, enhancing decision-making capabilities, and driving revenue growth. Additionally, AI can improve customer service by providing personalized experiences and round-the-clock support. While AI adoption may result in job displacement, the benefits are undeniable, and it's crucial for businesses to embrace this disruptive technology to remain competitive. The above paragraph of this article was written entirely by a free AI text generator created by DeepAI. Whilst you may have not realised anything was different upon initially reading it, upon closer inspection there is a definite lack of humanity within this text. Not only does it often utilise a needlessly formal tone, but it also tends to be quite repetitive and overall, very unengaging - in addition to providing quite a biased view in favour of AI. So, what is artificial intelligence? In Layman’s terms, AI is a branch of computer science which uses and collates readily available data in order to mimic human intelligence and complete tasks. Thanks to advanced programming from the likes of ChatGPT, and various platforms such as Spotify and Snapchat implementing AI-based features to their services, AI is now more relevant than ever, and can be used to perform a plethora of tasks from creating ‘photographs’ to writing essays. In terms of what these means for businesses; whilst many are currently utilising AI to cut costs, improve efficiency and remove chances of human error, others point out flaws within current, often primitive, AI programmes and argue that the rise of AI will lead to a loss of jobs. In the recent Quarterly Economic Survey, carried out by the Chamber, it was found that a quarter of businesses in the region said they were worried about the impact of AI, whilst 31% of businesses claimed to have taken steps to mitigate against the impact of AI. Within the context of a cost-of-living crisis, it is clear to see why many are worried about the impact of AI. Kevin Baragona, co-founder and CEO of the previously mentioned DeepAI, said in an interview that AI could be, “capable of replacing a wide range of jobs, and […] would potentially surpass human intelligence. […] It has the potential to render all human professions obsolete”. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the impact of AI can be seen as very worrying. It is certainly worth noting that AI is, at present, far from perfect. Humans are inherently emotional, and AI lacks emotional intelligence thus rendering it useless for certain tasks such as HR management or personal communications. Moreover, AI only functions using the

data that is inputted into it and can only give answers based on information and resources that are readily available to it. Hence, if you were to use an AI chatbot to write about a quite specific event without much preexisting content surrounding it, the results are much less likely to be accurate. If, for instance, you were to ask AI to write a report on the Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting, which took place at The Great Victoria Hotel in Bradford in September, this is what the output would be: “The West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce held their Annual General Meeting with members gathering virtually to discuss the organization's achievements in the previous year. The meeting included updates on membership growth, international trade and investment, policy advocacy efforts, and events. The keynote speaker was Sir John Timpson, who shared his insights on employee engagement and building a positive company culture. The meeting concluded with the election of new board members and a call to continue supporting businesses and promoting economic growth in the region.” Whilst the paragraph does give basic, general information on what goes on at an average AGM, it is very vague and littered with inaccuracies. The AGM did not take place virtually, Sir John Timpson was not a keynote speaker, nor was he present at all – though he has been to a Chamber event previously, circa 2008. The AI is clearly using information from previous AGM reports and articles to influence its report of the latest meeting, which then leads to inaccuracies and confusion. It is fair to say, therefore, that AI in its current form is no replacement for human involvement in this case. A further issue with the functionality of AI using previously inputted data to create an output is that it is fairly easy to corrupt. Some will remember back in 2016 when the Microsoft AI chat boy, Tay, was forced to be shut down after it consumed data from the internet and users that caused its output to be extremely racist and antisemitic. Whilst there have been many advances in controlling AI in the years between the Tay debacle and the present day, there is every possibility that this could occur again. Ultimately, there is no telling what the next developments in the world of AI will be, or how quickly these will occur. Regardless, though, businesses should certainly be starting to think about how AI could impact their businesses. Whether businesses embrace or neglect AI is up to them, there are positives and negatives for each option. However, regardless of what those businesses decide, it is almost inevitable that some changes will have to be made in the wake of the AI revolution to deal with its impact. The future is now, whether we like it or not. Article written by Ben Forrest.

Skills

Chambers of Commerce in both West and North Yorkshire have won approval from the Secretary of State for Education for their plans to improve skill levels in the region. West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is leading on two Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) for both North and West Yorkshire, with the latter done in partnership with Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The UK Government has now officially approved both proposals. LSIPs are designed to put local employer need at the heart of skills development by helping businesses and employers engage with learning providers. For the past 12 months, both West & North Yorkshire and Mid Yorkshire Chambers have been working in partnership with the mayoral authority, local authorities, further and higher education and other training providers to engage with business and other business representative groups to build on the existing data, strategic plans and collaborative working to bring together the key themes that will support skills growth for a 21st century Yorkshire workforce. This work saw the Chambers’ LSIPs team engage with hundreds of businesses around the region via roundtables, surveys, questionnaires and other face-to-face meetings. This has led to the identification of a number of specific sectors on which each individual LSIP would focus.

Changing the world

For North Yorkshire these are: Construction, Health and Social Care, Digital, Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, Agriskills and the Visitor Economy. For West Yorkshire the sectors identified are: Construction, Health and Social Care, Digital, Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Industries, Education, Financial and Professional Services, Low Carbon and Logistics & Transport. The preparatory work has also identified areas for review, regarding potential enhancements to optimise access to skills development, leading to career progression or change. This lays the foundations for developing these in a range of formats. Now that the Secretary of State has signed off both individual LSIPs for North and West Yorkshire, the plans will move to implementation stage, setting in train a process to make the most of the support and training options on offer, increasing the networks and ease with which businesses, staff and individuals can get to the right support. The plan will run at least until early 2025 and will be reviewed annually. Meanwhile, both Chambers will continue to engage with both employers and learning providers to deliver consistently up-to-date information. Martin Hathaway, managing director of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Local Skills Improvement Plans will help build on the excellent work delivered by learning providers around the region. “Rather than rewrite curricula or re-invent the wheel, they will serve as convening points between employers, educators and trainers to ensure that regional economic need is both understood and met.

with artificial intelligence

“One of the key learnings that our fieldwork has yielded is that employers want to have a relationship-based approach to learning providers, rather than simply a transactional one. LSIPs are now ideally placed to deliver just that.”

Bradford joins UK University network on AI

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FEATURE The University of Bradford has joined an expanding network of higher education institutions aimed at ‘changing the world for the better’ through data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Big Data Science and Technology, which cover the increasingly important topics of Big Data, Cybersecurity and Machine Learning alongside AI and data science.

The university is one of 29 new members that have been added onto the Turing University Network, which offers all UK universities with an interest in data science and AI the chance to engage and collaborate both with the Alan Turing Institute and its broader networks.

University of Bradford’s Digital Health Enterprise Zone (DHEZ), the SAFI consortium, which designs and develops courses and workshops for the automotive and aerospace industries, and Renduchintala Centre for Space AI are flagship concepts and spaces for developing world leading research, teaching and knowledge transfer in AI for areas including healthcare, sustainable manufacturing and satellite engineering.

The network first launched as a pilot in April 2023 with an initial 36 universities from the Turing’s university partners and Turing Network Development Award recipients. A call for new members was then opened in early summer 2023. A total of 65 universities now makes up the network, with The University of Bradford part of the expanded group, which was officially announced in October 2023. The Turing University Network is a key part of The Alan Turing Institute’s strategy and supports the Institute in achieving its three ambitious goals: advance worldclass research and apply it to national and global challenges, build skills for the future, and drive an informed public conversation. The University of Bradford’s vision for championing responsible AI aligns with those goals, being focused on excellence, diversity and equality, internationalisation and sustainability. Joining the Turning University Network creates the chance for collaboration across research and innovation, skills and engagement within higher education, industry and policy. It is an opportunity for the University of Bradford to showcase its pioneering work on data science, fundamental and applied AI in all disciplines – including engineering and computer sciences, healthcare, social care, life sciences and heritage – the Turing University Network will support the University in further developing its teaching, research and innovation, and business and community engagement in responsible AI to engage with and benefit the communities of Bradford. The University’s School of Management runs three fulltime MSc programmes in Applied Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (and two part-time courses) – all have been designed in response to a shortage of AI and data analytics specialists in the UK and course enrolments nearly tripled between the last two academic years. The Faculty of Engineering and Informatics offers further postgraduates programmes like MSc Applied Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, MSc Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and MSc

The University has established partnerships and networks, with the likes of Bradford Council, the World Technology University Network, the Wolfson Centre for Applies Health Care Research, and the Centre for Pharmaceutical Engineering Science, through which the University’s data science, AI and high performance computing specialists collaborate with government, business, healthcare professionals and patient communities, enabling the university to make a diverse societal impact. Harris Beider, the University of Bradford’s Pro ViceChancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement, said: “I am delighted to announce the University of Bradford’s affiliation with The Alan Turing Institute, a national centre for excellence in data science and AI, through their network of universities. “Our research, innovation and teaching strengths in data analytics and AI are highly multi-disciplinary, and no UK university teaches more applied AI and data analytics postgraduate students than Bradford. “Embedded as we are alongside Bradford’s NHS and Council in one of the world’s most researchengaged populations, joining the Turing University Network provides an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate with data science leaders across the UK and drive progress for academic, local, national and global communities.” Dr Jean Innes, Chief Executive Officer of The Alan Turing Institute, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome our new members to the network. “We hope that they will benefit from being part of our data science and AI group and find opportunities for new, meaningful collaborations across the data science and AI landscape.” The Turing University Network is named in honour of Alan Turing, a mathematician and computer scientist, who was highly influential in the development of theoretical computer science. He is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and AI. He died aged 41 in 1954.

CHAMBER PRESIDENTS

New Presidents Three key business people in the region are taking on new and senior positions within the business community. West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has three new ‘president-elects’ for Bradford, Leeds and York & North Yorkshire. The business representatives will lead and campaign for their respective areas on behalf of the local Chamber membership. Mark Cowgill will represent Bradford; Sound Leisure’s Chris Black will cover Leeds; and Sarah Czarnecki of Gray’s Court Hotel takes on York & North Yorkshire. Each has extensive knowledge and expertise in their own field, with years of experience of working with stakeholders and dealing with key decision-makers. They will represent their members at high-level meetings and chair internal Chamber groups as part of the info-gathering and policy-making process in the business organisation. Chair of the Board of West & North Yorkshire Chamber, Amanda Beresford – herself a past president for Leeds – said: “This is an exciting time for the Chamber and for the

wider business community. Yes, there are some tough decisions being taken in many businesses and life is a bit tricky for many, which is why it’s as important as ever that our politicians and other decision-makers are fully aware of relevant business issues. We have another great team stepping up and an expert policy and representation team supporting and continuing our lobbying activities – and so I’m very confident for the future.” Mark said: “I’m looking forward to following on from some of our recent great business figureheads, and confident about taking Bradford forward.” Chris added: “Leeds is already a great location in which to do business but I’m sure that we continue the good work with other stakeholders to push on to another level.” Sarah noted: “It’s a privilege for me to take on this key role right now. We’ve a great support team helping the local business community, so we’re in good hands.” Outgoing presidents Victoria Wainwright, Mike Briffett and Laurence Beardmore have all been thanked and praised for their sterling service over the past couple of years. The votes were passed at annual election meetings in each of the three areas covered by the organisation, and are expected to be ratified at a general meeting later in the year. Aqila Choudhry of Love in Care is to take on the role of Leeds Chamber Vice-President.

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Welcome to our new Chamber Patrons West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce three more businesses who have become patron members. Adams Foodservice, PIB Insurance and Arup have all upgraded to the Chamber’s highest level of membership. Bradford-based Adams Foodservice is a family-run food and drink giant servicing the country’s hospitality trade while PIB Insurance, located in Leeds, is a national leader in its field. Finally, Arup, which employs hundreds of people in the region across its offices in Leeds and York, is a global collective of designers, consultants and experts with a focus on the built environment. The developments come hot on the heels of Teesside International Airport becoming patrons earlier this year. James Mason, chief executive of West & North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “We are delighted to welcome such impressive companies to our patron tier of membership.

“The work these firms do is cutting edge and they are wellrespected in the region. We look forward to working with them even more closely as we strive to make the region everything it can be as a place to do business.”

Mohammed Kola, Finance Director at Adams Foodservice, said: “We are delighted to be a patron member of the West and North Yorkshire Chambers. We have already experienced the phenomenal work the Chamber does both nationally and internationally. “As patron members we hope to add value by helping promote the growth of local businesses and the surrounding communities.” Arup’s upgrade comes at an exciting time for the business as it prepares to relocate its Leeds offices to state-of-the-art new premises in the city’s Wellington Place development. Tom Bridges, the firm’s Leeds and York Office leader said: “Arup’s vision is to collaborate with our clients and partners, using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world. That is why we are proud to be a patron member of the West and North Yorkshire Chamber. “Our teams work with local businesses and regional partners across our City Regions to reshape and generate our communities, helping to influence a greener, healthier and more prosperous future for Yorkshire.” A spokesperson for PIB Insurance said: “We are delighted to be patrons of West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. “Supporting businesses at a local level is very important to us, as is the commitment of the Chamber in the region. “We are pleased to be listed amongst other businesses and look forward to working with you all.”

REPRESENTATION

Support for masterplan

York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has publicly pledged its support to Helmsley Group’s Coney Street Riverside masterplan. The leading business support organisation, alongside its influential York & North Yorkshire Property Forum lobby group, have urged York City Council to approve the planning applications submitted by the York-based property specialist for the scheme. The positive comments have been formally submitted to York City Council as part of the planning process. Proposals for the major regeneration project include the creation of 250,000 sq. ft of mixed-use retail, leisure, commercial, residential and extensive public realm. The vision also supports the introduction of a boutique, independent retail experience, alongside the creation and rejuvenation of the historic lanes and passageways joining Coney Street and the River Ouse together, helping to make the riverfront accessible to all. Laurence Beardmore, president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “As the Chamber of Commerce, and the York & North Yorkshire Property Forum, we would like to state our support for the exciting and innovative plans that the Helmsley Group is proposing for Coney Street.

“We believe these plans will help to regenerate this part of the city centre in a manner sympathetic to the environment and heritage of our city. It represents a major investment in York that will benefit residents, visitors and businesses alike. “The new riverside access along with retail and leisure destinations will contribute to the continued improvement of York city centre and vastly improve the public realm in the area. “These plans will also provide significant economic benefits to the city including the creation of both jobs and increased

economic opportunities and will act as a catalyst for further investment and improvements throughout the city centre. “They will also fully utilise currently underutilised buildings and we would urge York City Council to support these ambitions proposals and approve these planning applications.” Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, said: “We are grateful to both York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and York Property Forum for pledging their backing and public support to our vision for Coney Street Riverside. “Both are influential groups within York and across the wider region as well as being representative of hundreds of leading organisations and people. “Their support, alongside the extensive consultation work we have undertaken, is further evidence of the positive way our proposals have been received in the community. “As we have previously stated, Coney Street Riverside offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver the city’s long-held ambition to reinvigorate a loved but sadly underappreciated area, reconnect Coney Street with its riverfront, create much-needed public realm of national standing and improve both connectivity and accessibility within central York. It builds on our vision to honour the area’s rich heritage while sensitively taking the necessary strides required to secure its long-term future.” Coney Street Riverside is the latest project from Helmsley Group, which has been responsible for delivering landmark schemes across the city for the last 42 years, including the Old Fire Station, Westgate and Merchant’s Exchange on the Riverfront. Feedback on the proposals can be provided via the City of York Council planning portal.

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SKILLS

Help improve Bradford’s talent pool “We need to improve the systems in place to both give better career and employment advice and opportunities, and also to drive higher educational attainment levels.” Mark Cowgill, President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce

Businesses based in Bradford are asked to consider helping with the development of the district’s talent pool and careers education. A local approach known as ‘Industrial Centres of Excellence’ is being applied to help young people become aware of their options upon leaving education. Former business leader and entrepreneur, Andrew Laver, is leading this work for Bradford, bringing a great wealth of employer-led input into the district’s employment and skills programme. Fifteen sectors have been ear-marked to help deliver a school curriculum and ensure students are future-ready. Various pathways of learning experiences and activities will then lead to and underpin viable career options. To get involved or simply learn more about this work, contact Bradford’s SkillsHouse team on bradfordcte@bradford.gov.uk or …add phone here Mark Cowgill, President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “We need to improve the systems in place to both give better career and employment advice and opportunities, and also to drive higher educational attainment levels. The ICE programme is just one of several in Bradford that is helping to do that, and we ask and encourage more businesses to find out more and get engaged.” For more information on the ICE programme and Bradford’s Careers & Technical Education Partnership, visit https://www.skillshouse.co.uk/ directory-of-services/skillshouse-careers-and-technical-education-cte/

HOSPITALITY

Tariffs too high for hospitality

Small and medium sized firms in the hospitality sector should be released from high cost energy tariffs in the face of falling costs, said the President of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Sarah Czarnecki, director of the Grays Court Hotel in York, has written to energy regulator Ofgem to call for intervention on behalf of an estimated more than one million firms nationwide stuck in high tariff deals. Research from the British Chamber of Commerce estimates more than a quarter of the UK’s small businesses signed new energy contracts when prices were at their peak at the end of last summer. However, in the months following that peak, prices have begun falling leaving a huge amount of businesses paying over the odds for their utilities. Ms Czarnecki said: “My ask, in writing to you as the industry regulator, is that you listen to the voice of the SME sector and work with energy suppliers to reflect on the declining cost of energy and allow those firms stuck in high tariff contracts to be offered more favourable terms. “The notion of a ‘blend and extend’ arrangement has been mooted and would allow SMEs to combine their existing rates with those which reflect current trading reality. “A number of hospitality businesses have already closed their doors citing the inability to survive in the face of unmanageable energy bills. If no action is taken we run the risk of losing more crucial businesses which form the bedrock of high streets in every city, town and village in our country. “Hospitality was a sector so dearly missed during lockdown. The businesses who are its lifeblood have faced challenge after challenge after challenge and are, as yet, unable to gain any respite. With your intervention, they can get a fair crack of the whip and move towards more stable and prosperous times.” In North Yorkshire, the hospitality sector is worth a Gross Value Added (GVA) contribution of £865m and is responsible for some 48,500 jobs across 4,035 businesses. However the sector has faced innumerable challenges in recent years. It was the first sector to close and the last to open during the pandemic lockdowns. Since the restrictions have eased, its position has remained acutely challenging owing to labour shortages, supply chain disruption, inflation and the war in Ukraine.

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HOSPITALITY “Hospitality was a sector so dearly missed during lockdown. The businesses who are its lifeblood have faced challenge after Hospitality forum chair challenge after York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome Andrew Pericleous as the new chairman of its Hospitality Forum. challenge and are, Mr Pericleous, well known in the city of York as the managing director of successful takeaway Mr Chippy and the director of Loopy Scoops icecream parlour, took up the role last month. as yet, unable to Prior to this Mr Pericleous has spent a stellar career in the hospitality sector, having served as managing director of A&R Enterprises as well as gain any respite.” general catering manager of Milburn’s Restaurants, the latter of which saw him providing catering and banqueting services to York Minster and St William’s College.

Mr Pericleous said: “It is a great honour to take up this role. Hospitality is the life blood of North Yorkshire and a significant employer in the region. Since the Hospitality Forum was launched, we have been taken aback by the huge levels of interest it has generated. “We have a number of high-profile engagements and announcements in store so watch this space.” The forum is the first of its kind to have been organised by any Chamber of Commerce in the country. Established to champion the industry, it aims to both give a voice to the sector and ensure that it is heard regionally, nationally and internationally.   Sarah Czarnecki, president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “We are delighted to welcome Andy onboard. As someone who has been involved in hospitality in North Yorkshire all his life and who continues to work in the sector on the ground, he is ideal to head up the forum. “His drive and passion make Andy the perfect choice for the role of Chair. Also, his role as Ambassador for York Lord Mayor’s fund will prove to be a positive force to compliment his appointment.” Hospitality accounts for some 50,000 roles across North Yorkshire and is a cornerstone of the region’s economy whose impact runs far and wide in terms of its supply chain benefits, employment impact and supporting services. However, the sector is currently experiencing unprecedented challenges following the pandemic, with rising costs, recruitment and retention issues, access to finance and inconsistent demand all making life very difficult.      West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce thanks previous chair Philip Bolson for his support and service to the Forum.

REPRESENTATION

Business Council

HS2 cancelled

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce welcomes the attendance of both the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary and the Shadow Chancellor at the inaugural meeting of the new British Chamber of Commerce Business Council.

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has reacted with disappointment to the cancelling of HS2 to the North of England.

The Rt Hon Michael Gove and the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves were among those at the first meeting of the new body, comprising some of the most prominent names in the world of British businesses. Set up to work in partnership with politicians to drive the future of the economy, the Business Council will focus on five key challenges and will develop policy proposals that will help transform the future of the UK economy. Its initial recommendations will feed into a Business Manifesto in the new year that will aim to influence political party manifestos ahead of the General Election. The Council will then work to develop follow-up papers - to help the next Government set a business-backed agenda from day one and establish a long-term strategy for growth. Business Council members will focus on at least one of the challenges. The challenge themes will all be chaired by five experienced business leaders, working with commissions of businesses, experts, Chamber representatives and academics. Among the founding members is energy giant Drax which operates a huge power station in North Yorkshire and is a patron member of West & North Yorkshire Chamber. They will begin meeting in the coming weeks and will produce their first policy recommendations in early 2024. James Mason, chief executive of West & North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “The need for the voice of business to be heard at the highest level could not be more of an imperative for the UK economy and so it was wonderful to see such high-level engagement from Westminster at the inaugural Business Council event. “We look forward to feeding into the Council’s work and making sure our membership is able to make their views known.” BCC President and Business Council Chair, Baroness Martha Lane Fox, said: “Now more than ever, businesses must come together to tackle the challenges facing the UK economy. “In the face of economic disruption and with a general election looming, our new, national Business Council will help the voice of business to be heard loud and clear by policymakers.”

At the Conservative Party Conference in October, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that the high-speed rail link would stop at Birmingham, confirming weeks of speculation on the matter. The move follows the scrapping of the HS2 route to Leeds in 2021. James Mason, chief executive of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The scrapping of the HS2 link to Manchester is the final nail in the coffin for high-speed rail in the North of England. “After more than a decade of promises, lifechanging infrastructure upgrades which would have done so much to boost productivity and investment into the North have now been done away with at the stroke of a pen. We are now left with the same Victorian rail network that will simply not have the capacity to deal with demand over the coming decades. “While a commitment to local connectivity is welcome, they follow very similar pledges made over the last decade. Scrapping HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester also removes the crucial piece of infrastructure to making Northern Powerhouse Rail viable – leaving us with the worst of all worlds. “Business investment decisions in the North for more than 10 years have been made with HS2 in mind and vast swathes of employment land left undeveloped owing to their being earmarked for development for the line.

“All in all, this is a dark day for the North’s economy.”

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REPRESENTATION

Shadow transport minister Members of the Chamber’s Policy and Representation team were invited to attend a speech by Shadow Transport minister Louise Haigh at KPMG’s Leeds office. Ms Haigh was speaking at an event organised by the Labour Party’s Yorkshire and Humber Labour Business Forum which also saw Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchliffe and West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin speak. The shadow transport secretary lamented the UK’s relatively poor standing when it came to its railways and pledged that, if elected, Labour would seek to reverse this by committing to large scale infrastructure improvements such as Northern Powerhouse Rail. There then followed questions including about how a Labour government would ensure tickets on services remained affordable.

York station revamp York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the news that John Sisk and Son has been appointed to carry out part of the revamp of York’s railway station. City of York Council confirmed the news this week that the firm had been awarded the contract to deliver a key wing of the York Station Gateway project. John Sisk & Son has been awarded a contract for the £7.8m highway works which will include the removal of the Queen Street bridge, a realignment of Queen Street, the creation of Station Square and improvements to the cycle and pedestrian routes.

Northern Research Group West & North Yorkshire Chamber was given the opportunity to attend the Conservative Party’s Northern Research Group conference in Doncaster. Arranged by the Northern Assembly of chambers across the north of England, WNY Chamber was able to attend the event at Doncaster Racecourse which saw Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver the keynote speech. The Prime Minister was speaking after touching down in the UK from a visit to meet with US president Joe Biden in Washington. He used his speech to refer to himself as “a Prime Minister for the North”. Elsewhere there were contributions from Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and rail minister Huw Merriman who spoke positively about the need for a new railway station in Bradford.

The £25.73 million project is to be delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and Network Rail. Project partner LNER will go out to tender for the remaining station works phase of the project later this year. Sarah Czarnecki, president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “This is a pivotal step in the journey to give York a world class railway station. “As one of the most important railway cities in the world, it is right and proper that we should have a station to match our heritage.   “We all wish John Sisk & Sons the very best in this important piece of infrastructure provision.”

Economic survey show signs of improved confidence A strong rise has been seen in both the performance and confidence of Yorkshire businesses, new data shows.   The latest Quarterly Economic Survey showed both service sector firms and manufacturers reporting an increase in overseas sales.   Both sectors expect to increase their profits in the coming three months and to take on more staff.   And, after months of stagnation, appetite for investment appears to be creeping back – both into staff training and in capital projects.   However, progress is still being impeded by cost pressures, with inflation and interest rates placing a significant drag on performance.   In addition to this, the Chamber asked Yorkshire firms about the impact of artificial intelligence on their operations. We found that just one in four companies were concerned about the potential impact of AI on their business while just under a third had taken steps to mitigate against it.

Among service sector firms there was a 15 per cent increase in those firms expecting to swell profits in the coming three months. Meanwhile the number of manufacturers expecting the same result grew by two per cent.   A big growth area was that of overseas sales. Manufacturers who export posted a 15 per cent increase in activity while service sector firms saw sales abroad increase by 11 per cent.   While the labour market remains tight, both sectors are looking to increase their headcount in the run up to Christmas with service sector businesses seven per cent more likely to take on staff and five per cent more manufacturers looking to do the same. After months of decline, manufacturers looking to invest in plant and machinery rose by 22 per cent, while those seeking to invest in training rose by 15 per cent. However, the fieldwork did show that pressures remained. The cost of labour and energy continue to pose headaches while interest rates and

inflation remain the principal cost pressures facing business. Finally, artificial intelligence is causing concern for just 25 per cent of businesses, with 75 per cent said it was of no consequence to them. Just 31 per cent of firms had taken steps to mitigate against any potential impact it may bring. Mark Casci, head of policy and representation at West & North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “While there have been signs of cautious optimism in Yorkshire’s business community for several month, this is the first time there has been broad consistency of both strong performance and outlook in quite some time.   “Investment, on pause for most firms for more than a year, looks to be returning. Overseas sales are up, as are expectations for profits. “One swallow does not a summer make, and only when we experience a sustained period of consecutive quarters of growth that we can begin to say the worst is behind us.”

39 Q3

REPRESENTATION Annual General Meeting Cautious optimism was the theme of the Annual General Meeting of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Held at The Great Victoria Hotel in the heart of Bradford city centre, the event was attended by a plethora of different businesses and organisations from throughout the region to reflect upon the challenges and successes of the past year. Chaired by Amanda Beresford of Schofield Sweeney, the thirty-minute meeting delved into how the Chamber has performed over the past twelve months – both in a financial sense and the physical work performed by Chamber members. The annual report, produced by James Mason – chief executive of the WNY Chamber –, discusses the many achievements of the Chamber and the progress which has been made over the past year. This report was adopted by the Chamber members at the AGM unanimously and Amanda further noted that, despite recent challenges arising from political upheaval, interest rates and inflation, “optimism levels remain higher in Yorkshire than the national average and businesses are showing little sign of looking to reduce head counts.” Elsewhere within the meeting, sixteen individuals, nominated by local representative groups were appointed as non-executive directors of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber. These individuals included Amanda and James, in addition to Laurence Beardmore, Chris Black, Mike Briffett, Aquila Choudhry MBE MBA, Mark Cowgill, Sarah Czarnecki, Rebecca Fitzgerald, Kerry Hope, Scott Jenkins, Nasreen Karim, Dan Murray, Craig Thomson, Victoria Wainwright and Suzanne Watson. Following this appointment, Chamber members were asked to accept members of each of the three area representative groups (the Bradford Chamber Leadership Group, the York & North Yorkshire Chamber Leadership Group, and the Leeds Chamber Leadership Group). Following the Annual General Meeting came the Annual Lunch, held in the dining room of the Great Victoria Hotel. Members got an opportunity to listen to three guest speakers: Zulfi Karim DL, West Yorkshire High Sheriff, David Kerfoot CBE DL and Alison Lowe from West Yorkshire Combined Authority and then take part in an informative Q and A session.

Charlie joins the team West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the appointment of Charlie Lavemai-Goldsbrough as Policy and Representation Executive covering York & North Yorkshire. Charlie will be the Chamber’s principal point of contact for its activities and stakeholder engagement in York and North Yorkshire. Her role will be a wide-ranging position that will involve dealing with entrepreneurs and leaders of businesses of all sizes, as well as councils, the Local Enterprise Partnership and from this coming Spring, an elected metro mayor for the region. Charlie has previously worked for Thames Valley Housing where she was a key policy driver. Prior to this she was employed by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea where she led on the transformation of housing management in the Grenfell Housing Service. Mark Casci, head of policy and representation at West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Everyone at the Chamber is delighted to be welcoming Charlie to the team. “Her track record, experience and temperament are exactly what the Chamber and the region needs during this pivotal period of North Yorkshire’s history. “She will be joining a first-class team that is intent on continuing its proud track record of delivery for the region.”

Celebrating Bradford The great and the good of Bradford’s business community was out in force to celebrate the city’s economic future. Circa 150 people attend the event held at the Maddison venue in the city was sponsored by Barratts and Incommunities and organised by members of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce’s Property and Economic Forum Steering Group. Attendees were welcomed by the Madison’s owner Danny Malik and heard further speeches from Bradford Council’s strategic director for place David Shepherd and West and North Chamber of Commerce chief executive James Mason. A panel session was also held featuring the likes of Bradford West MP Naz Shah, Asma Iqbal from Chadwick Lawrence, Lord Andrew Mawson and Gavin Birch, MD with Barratts. The event comes as Bradford sits on the cusp of becoming UK City of Culture in 2025. Ahead of this a number of high-profile regeneration schemes are nearing competition such as the Darley Street Market and Bradford Live.

41 Q3

REPRESENTATION

New chair for forum The Leeds Property and Economic Forum has welcomed a new chair and vice chair following the stepping down of Gerald Jennings from the role. Mr Jennings, a former Leeds Chamber president, has held the chair’s position for the last year, during which time the Forum’s Steering Group has grown substantially in size and a raft of the city’s leading civic and business leaders have presented to its membership. Taking over will be Lisa Littlefair, Mott MacDonald’s cities director. She will be joined by the vice chair, Gurminder Sanghera – director at AHR. The change was officially confirmed at the latest meeting of Property and Economic Forum, held at BDO on Wellington Street. Presentations were heard from Andrew Cooper from Leeds BID and Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer, Highways &Transportation, Leeds Council. A further panel session took place with Alan Powell of Den Architecture, Leah Stuart of Civic Engineers and Tom McWilliams from JLL.

Site visit to Darley Street Market With the opening of the new Darley Street Market getting closer, members of the business community in Bradford, attended a site visit hosted by Kier Construction and planned by the Bradford BID team. Kier Construction highlighted the successes and challenges so far and provided a detailed account into how the remaining months of the project will look. A thorough visit included, plans for all the levels of the market, with food and drink providing plenty of excitement. Local and independent businesses are being prioritised, highlighting the importance of having homegrown businesses at the heart of the city. The inclusion of a large public realm to the front of the market, allows it to have a modern versatility. Something a city the size of Bradford deserves. A completion date is yet to be confirmed but there’s plenty of optimism that it won’t be too long until we see the doors open to the public. It promises to be a development that will prove to be a real asset to the city centre and the surrounding community.

ENVIRONMENT

UK exporters must act now

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) started coming into effect on the 1st October, concern is mounting that UK companies have been ill-prepared to deal with it. CBAM is an environmental policy instrument designed to apply the same carbon costs to products being imported into the EU, as would be incurred if they were produced inside the EU. As such, it has had a particularly big impact on the UK’s exporters of carbon-intensive goods such as cement, electricity, fertilizers, iron and steel, aluminium, and even hydrogen. It applies not only to raw materials, but also to derivative products. In the case of cement, for instance, CBAM goods include calcinated clay, cement clinker, cements (white Portland, other Portland, and other hydraulic), and aluminous cements. Affected goods are identified according to the “combined nomenclature” classification system (based on the HS codes used in international trade). These charges, the first of their kind anywhere in the world, are being phased in gradually, with a “transition period”. CBAM has significantly increase red tape, and has added costs for importers of carbon-intensive products into the EU, as well as adding important reporting obligations and carbon charges. CBAM impacts UK producers, who may well have to share in the added charges with their importers. Chamber International is developing a detailed workshop to help British firms plan effectively for CBAM – dates for this will be announced soon.

43 Q3

INTERNATIONAL

Final BTOM broadly welcomed The final version of the government’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) was released on 29 August, and has been broadly welcomed by British importers, particularly importers of fresh produce. Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks will come in on 31 January 2024, with physical checks and other requirements coming onstream later that year. This new date represents a fifth delay in implementation.

New checks and controls will be introduced for Irish goods moving from Ireland directly to Great Britain. Northern Ireland businesses will retain unrestricted access for NI goods to their markets in Great Britain, whether they come directly from Northern Ireland or indirectly through Irish ports. William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

The Cabinet Office said: “Having listened to the views of industry, the government has agreed to a delay of three months for the introduction of remaining sanitary and phytosanitary controls, as well as full customs controls for non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods, which will now be introduced from January 2024.”

“Businesses will be pleased with this clarity as they prepare for the challenging shift to a digital trade system. The focus must now be on delivering the Single Trade Window to the timescales set out. The new approach to digitalising borders for goods movements could bring real benefits to the SMEs we represent, to trade, and to the economy.

Importers of fresh fruit and vegetables from Europe are pleased that these will not be subject to pre-notification requirements, or inspections at the UK border.

“The critical thing is preparedness. Businesses are making investment and supply chain decisions for the long term and need to be confident that the physical and digital infrastructure around the GB border is going to be in place on time."

The final BTOM says that import controls will be implemented in three main steps, during 2024: 31 January – introduction of health certification for imports of medium-risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU. 30 April – introduction of documentary and risk-based identity and physical checks on medium-risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU. Imports of Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods from the rest of the world will begin to benefit from the new risk-based model. 31 October - Safety and Security declarations for EU imports will come into force, along with a reduced dataset for imports.

Chamber International’s trade director, Tim Bailey, said: “Even with this delayed implementation, some importers will struggle to get ready for 31 January. It seems that the government has listened to the concerns of importers, particularly with regard to streamlining procedures for fresh produce coming from the EU. UK businesses need to learn about their obligations and prepare thoroughly, with respect to BTOM – we’re helping companies do that already, and recently announced some targeted workshops to help”. THE BORD ER TARGET OPER AT MODEL ING

August 202

Read the final BTOM https://shorturl.at/arzCZ

Can an employer cancel pre-approved annual leave due to staff shortages? Failure to follow correct process could lead to claims of constructive dismissal. Find out what you can and can’t do and understand the risks involved.

Any questions…any doubts? Call the Chamber HR Advice Line on 08455 240 240

45 Q3

MANUFACTURING WOMAG Weighing Ltd (WOMAG) has opened an office in Huddersfield as part of ambitious growth and expansion plans. The additional site will be focused on providing a full end-to end weighing service for companies in the north of England. Located at Park Valley Business Park in Huddersfield, the office is conveniently linked to all major motorways routes and will be the hub for WOMAG in the north of the country. Daniel Egan-Sheath, director at WOMAG, comments: “Our new Huddersfield office is an exciting part of our expansion plans at WOMAG as we look to grow our presence in the UK. The location is a superb fit, offering a fantastic location for our growing team. Our company has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and with us now working with more customers in the north of the country, opening an additional new site in Huddersfield was the perfect next move.” With more than 50 years in the weighing industry, WOMAG supplies, services, and calibrates weighing equipment and systems from micro-analytical laboratory balances to heavy industrial systems such as weighbridges, vessels and silos, both in the UK and globally. WOMAG partners with key weighing manufacturers and distributors including Minebea Intec, Dini Argeo, Giropes, Radwag and OHAUS.

Adding weight to expansion plans

Daniel comments: “We work closely with our weighing manufacturing partners and distributors to provide affordable weighing equipment and bespoke weighing solutions, plus calibration and preventative maintenance services. Our mix of weighing services allows us to work as a partner to our customers, providing them with a full end-to-end weighing service that’s underpinned by years of experience and driven by the latest innovation and technologies. “With the opening of our new site in Huddersfield, we’ll be able to offer more of these services in the north of the country. As we expand, we look forward to recruiting locally and growing the WOMAG team in Huddersfield, plus becoming an integral part of the regional business community.” To learn more about WOMAG’s products and services visit womag.co.uk.

SOCIAL

What you missed online The Chamber has seen great activity across all social media platforms in the past several months. The selected posts below are examples of some of the valuable information and discussions shared by the Chamber and our members on a daily basis. We would love to know your thoughts on this quarter’s magazine and your local Chamber. What would you like to know more about or see more of in the future? Did any articles stand out to you? Get involved with the regional business discussion on X (Formerly Twitter) by tagging us @WNYChamber and mentioning #YorkshireBusiness.

Our profiles X ( Formerly Twitter) @WNYChamber

LinkedIn West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Facebook West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Instagram @WNYChamber

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49 Q3

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Walking the (net)walk For many, Chamber of Commerce events are one of the most inviting aspects of joining the Chamber. These provide opportunities for local businesses to meet with each other, network and discuss business trends. Phoebe Rawlings, the Events and Marketing Coordinator at the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, spoke openly about the efforts that have been made to innovate Chamber events and how new employees have helped that goal to be achieved. One of the ways in which the Chamber have tried to balance the modern and traditional styles of events is their recent Net-walking events – blending traditional networking with scenic Interview by Ben Forrest

walking routes around picturesque areas of the region. “We’ve had great feedback on Net-walking”, explains Phoebe. “This year, we have been ‘testing the waters’ with different things to see what works and what doesn’t work”.

As well as creating new kinds of events, like Net-walking, the events team at the Chamber has also been working hard to update their existing events to keep them relevant. “With the Executive Lunches, we’ve been working with different venues and our annual dinners have been more informal. We’ve had tapas style food and a smart casual dress code (rather then black-tie)”. From the sounds of things, this modernisation seems to have been a roaring success for the Chamber, “we’ve had really great feedback on a lot of our recent events”, says Phoebe. One of the biggest changes to be implemented by the Chamber

events team as of late was switching to Eventbrite to advertise and ticket Chamber events. “It’s been really smooth, we’ve had a lot of great feedback from our members on it”, comments Phoebe. “We’re on Eventbrite, because it’s a smoother process for the member a smoother customer journey.” After a year of ‘testing the waters’, as Phoebe puts it, what is next for the events team? “Well, with numerous exciting events currently on the horizon it is likely that the Chamber events team will continue to go from strength to strength. We are always asking for feedback and ideas from our members, so we can be innovative and deliver what our members want.”

Follow the Chamber on Eventbrite to get updates and view our upcoming events. wnychamber.eventbrite.com

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