Topicuk spring2015

ISSUE 12 FEBRUARY 2015

WAKEFIELD & DISTRICT FREE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

WWW.TOPICUK.CO.UK

CURTAIN CALL FOR THEATRE DIRECTOR POLITICALLY SPEAKING SHAPING WAKEFIELD'S FUTURE

EXPORTING WAKEFIELD DELEGATES VISIT GERMANY

PIRATES AHOY! DON'T BECOME THE NEXT CYBER VICTIM

RESERVE YOUR PLACE AT THE TopicUK MONTHLY NETWORKING CURRY CLUB FOR DETAILS VISIT WWW.TOPICUK.CO.UK Winter Issue February 2015

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Letters As we went to press, we received a letter from someone who withheld their name, so sadly we couldn’t respond directly.

Reference was made to why we often feature Wakefield Theatre and not other cultural venues.

Last issue, as the Theatre was chosen as a beneficiary of WACCL they were featured, but we are more than happy to include all cultural venues in the area when supplied with their news.

Wakefield Theatre not only pay to sponsor TopicUK, but write about the arts on our behalf because of their knowledge. And of course with the announcement of Murray Edward' s retirement this month, we have included him as a local hero due to his work within the community.

GILL LAIDLER EDITOR ROB BLACKWELL CREATIVE DIRECTOR LOCAL HEROES/CHARITY SAMGRUNDY, KIDS.ORG THE ARTS MURRAY EDWARDS, THEATRE ROYAL FASHION EMMA LELLIOTT, TRINITY WALK LEGAL MATTERS RAMSDENS BEAUTY & WELLBEING CHILL BEAUTY SALON HEALTH HELEN LAIRD, PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT FOOD & RESTAURANT REVIEW KEVIN TRICKETT, WAKEFIELD CIVIC SOCIETY RECRUITMENT ANDY TURNER, FIRST CHOICE RECRUITMENT SOCIAL MEDIA SINEAD SOPALA, RAMSDENS SOLICITORS BANKING JONATHAN ROSTRON, SANTANDER IT PAUL HEIGHAM, BELLINGHAM IT EDUCATION CLAIRE YOUNG, SCHOOL SPEAKERS MOTORING JOE WILSON, AUDI WAKEFIELD

Mothers Day at Trinity page 14

We would be delighted if other organisations contact us with their news, both cultural and otherwise, so please do get in touch so we can keep variety within your community business magazine.

PICK UP YOUR COPY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Wakefield One Business Centre Theatre Royal Wakefield Cedar Court Hotel Wakefield Trinity Walk Shopping Centre The Ridings Shopping Centre The Hepworth Ramsdens Solicitors Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors Westgate Train Station Wakefield Business Centres Wakefield Chamber of Commerce Tourist Information Centre Leeds Bradford International Airport Sainsburys, Trinity Walk Unity Hall Wakefield Wildcats

06 10 18 NEWS ROUNDUP

Local news and events from around the region

POLITICALLY SPEAKING

Shaping Wakefield's Future

LOCAL HEROES

Murray Takes a Bow

TopicUK Photographer Danny Gartside 07834 705736 www.dannygartside.com Cover Image - Local Heros Murray Walker - Amy Charles Media Arts Article - Crowd - WYP

Tel: 07711 539047 Email - editor@topicuk.co.uk - www.topicuk.co.uk

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The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those held by the publishers and therefore no responsibility can be held by the publisher for misint this magazine, the publisher/editor cannot accept any responsibility for errors in articles, advertisements or programme schedules. To subscribe to this magazi Limited. Law pages are written by Ramsdens Solicitors and TopicUK is not responsible for any advice given

EDITORS

NOTES

W

elcome to issue 12 of TopicUK spanning almost two years and to celebrate we are holding a party at John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield in April. Check your mailbox over the coming weeks for your invitation.

However, this party will not just celebrate our second Birthday, it will see the launch of our second issue, covering Huddersfield and Halifax. If your business is based in any of the areas we cover, don’t forget to send us your news and remember, we offer affordable advertising reaching thousands of local businesses, starting from just £90.

Follow the Editor @topic_uk

30 48 54 DINING OUT

A little bit of Italy in the afternoon

COUNCIL NEWS

Wakefield Explores European Markets

ENVIRONMENT

Local Firm Leads the Way in Corporate Social Responsibility

If you would like to stock copies, call us on 07711 539047 or email the address below.

Alternatively, to ensure you receive a regular copy, you can subscribe and receive your own copy direct by post for just £20 per annum. To subscribe email your details to editor@topicuk.co.uk

As we go to press, we are looking forward to the Theatre Royal Wakefield’s sell out 120th Anniversary Gala Performance of which TopicUK is a partner and we will publish the full story in our next issue.

Last month I was lucky enough to be invited

by Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Andrea Jenkyns and Chancellor George Osborne to the Northern Powerhouse drinks reception at Downing Street, alongside other Northern businesses, including TopicUK sponsor AWM. Mr Osborne showed interest in our community magazine and the businesses in Wakefield, asking if he could keep a copy to read!

As a client of our sister company Ghost Communications, we are sad to see the departure of Ridings Shopping Centre Manager, Barbara Winston, but delighted to see Eileen Holroyd, who has worked at the centre for more than 30 years stepping into the role and we’d also like to extend a warm welcome to Sara Hassan, the new centre Marketing Manager.

Wakefield Theatre Royal director Murray Edwards who features on our cover, has announced his retirement later on this year so we have taken this opportunity to write about him and his time with the theatre (see page 18).

Plans are also taking shape for a third edition launch, this time in Barnsley, so check our website for updates on all the events that are happening.

terpretation. Reproduction of this magazine without the express permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Whilst every care is taken in the production of ine, submit an article or press release please contact Gill Laidler on: 07711 539047 or email topicuk@ghost-communications.com Published by Ghost Publishing Winter Issue February 2015

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•• NEWS

ROUND UP

GOOGLEJUICE BAR a huge success The recent Google Juice Bar proved a resounding success and saw over 180 people come through the doors of Unity Works to listen and engage with one of the world’s most recognisable brands and their digital experts.

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he event began with an opportunity for attendees to network and talk to stall holders including Wakefield Business Support Programme, the Federation of Small Businesses, Superfast West Yorkshire, Wakefield Bondholders, Inspiring Skills, Unity Works, and the Council’s Apprenticeship Hub. An introduction was made by Wakefield MP, Mary Creagh who had been essential in securing the Juice Bar. Gori Yahaya from Google then delivered a lively and vibrant presentation that included a comprehensive guide to the value for business of Google’s services.

There were hints, tips and advice for everyone, from novices to experts.

Delegates can now feel more confident in understanding services like Google Trends, Adwords, Google My Business, as well as how to harness YouTube and other social media to their advantage.

Did you know that 32% of businesses were first found through social media and this percentage is growing every day? 54% of businesses are found through an online search which is increasingly replacing the use of directories and supplementing traditional marketing.

The presentation was closed by Wakefield Council’s deputy leader Cllr Denise Jeffery, who thanked Google for bringing the event to the district and for bringing so many people together.

The chance to hold a one on one consultation with Google experts was taken up straight away as attendees got ready to discuss in more detail how their businesses could harness SEO, website design, social media and compete and grow in the digital world.

Google staff were certainly kept busy!

Wakefield’s twittersphere lit up throughout the day as tweets about

the Juice Bar reached over 46,000 accounts! Attendees were all using the hashtags #Google Juice Bar, #WorldClassWakey and #DigitalBoost, which helped to raise the profile of the event. @Wakefieldfirst kept all followers up to date and retweeted throughout the day.

The Wakefield Business Support Programme is committed to ongoing assistance for local business and events like the Google Juice Bar are just one of many free events that will be delivered in 2015 that will continue to show how the districts’s businesses and entrepreneurs embrace innovation and the digital future.

For more information about the Wakefield Business Support Programme please contact: info@wakefieldfirst. com or call 01924 306008

Leeds City Region welcomes £54.6m boost Leeds City Region has received a welcome £54.6m boost to the £572.9m announced last July, for a range of projects and development across Leeds City Region.

grants programme, a housing and regeneration programme to develop key sites for housing and employment growth, and a decentralised energy programme.

Chairman of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Roger Marsh said: “This expansion of the £1bn Growth Deal we secured last summer is further demonstration of the government’s confidence in Leeds City Region as an economic powerhouse-in-the-making, capable of generating extraordinary growth for the North and the nation, and transforming us into a net contributor to national wealth.”

Roger Marsh continued: “we welcome this additional funding, which will enable us to support more local small businesses to reach their full growth potential, boost innovation and enterprise in manufacturing, healthcare, digital and other growing sectors.

It is estimated that this should create 10,000 jobs, 2,000 homes with the potential to generate £640m in public and private investment.

A key project is the proposed creation of Innovation and Enterprise centres for both the Universities of Huddersfield and Leeds, supporting advanced manufacturing, health and medical and digital and creative sectors.

Other projects this will help are an enhanced business 6

“More importantly, this investment will enable us to go further and faster in delivering the ambition set out in our Strategic Economic Plan of creating sustained good growth that benefits everyone who lives and does business here.”

Leader of Wakefield Council and chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Cllr Peter Box, welcomed the additional funds. Speaking about the significance of the work of the region he said: “We have proved in the Leeds City Region that strong partnership working between the public and private sectors delivers better economic outcomes, quicker and better value for the taxpayer than centrally administered schemes.

TOPIC UK Invited To Northern Powerhouse Event At Downing Street

ITS NOT ALL BLACK GOLD AT NCM AS ASPARAGUS GREEN MOVES IN There is a new kind of power source at The National Coal Mining Museum for England. Before you assume it's all about black gold, a new wave of energy comes in the form of Asparagus Green Catering who have been appointed contract caterer for the museum. This new business has one simple motto: to represent a fresh approach to contract catering.

This new company is led by Anthony Hegney who has more than twentyfive years experience in catering, both in West Yorkshire and across the UK for major international caters such as Elior, Centerpoint and Linsley Heritage, catering for major attractions including The Sage in Gateshead, The Science Museum in London, John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield, Nostell Priory and the National Media Museum in Bradford to name a few.

With a start-up workforce of only 10 employees, Asparagus Green is looking to sprinkle its fresh approach to the NCM Museum cafe and to build a regular customer base from its visitors. As part of this strategy, special attention will be given to providing varied and healthy menu options for

all the family at competitive prices.

With Yorkshire in mind, the company is committed to using products sourced from the county including pork from Greedy Little Pig, a selection of cakes from Proper Maid, Yorkshire Tea from Taylors of Harrogate and coffee roasted in Meltham from Grumpy Mule.

Asparagus Green’s fresh approach will also extend into developing the conferences and events side of the museum’s catering operation. With Anthony’s strong background in diverse events of all sizes, Asparagus Green hopes to build up the reputation of the NCM Museum as a premier venue for both daytime and evening events.

The cafe is open 9am to 5pm and if you would like to organise an event, Anthony can be contacted on: 07817 975854 or email anthony@ asparagusgreencatering.co.uk

TopicUK editor Gill Laidler was the guest of Chancellor George Osborne and Conservative Party candidate for Morley and Outwood, Andrea Jenkyns on 20 January, attending a drinks reception at 11 Downing Street.

Gill was just one of a number of guests attending from companies across Northern England, who were invited to give their views on business and listen to the Governments plans for the region.

“Mr Osborne, whose constituency is Tatton in Cheshire, took the time to speak to everyone and took an interest in TopicUK magazine and the community model it is based on,” said Gill, “he took a copy away with him, promising to read it on his way to Switzerland the next morning.”

As we went to press, TopicUK editor was invited to an event in Leeds, where The Chancellor, alongside the Prime Minister David Cameron was addressing an audience of business leaders at AQL. Mr Cameron unveiled a package of investment for Yorkshire to prepare the region for the arrival of high speed rail and how Leeds station can be transformed to prepare for this.

In addition, they outlined their ambitions to get 100,000 more people across the region into work by 2020, improve transport connectivity as well as backing science, local tech start-ups and creative industries.

Winter Issue February 2015

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•• NEWS

ROUND UP

INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT AGENCY NAMED BUSINESS OF THE MONTH Wakefield-based m2r Ltd, established in 2001, was judged the winner in the competition run by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith in conjunction with the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and government export support arm UK Trade & Investments.

The multi-award winning firm offers recruitment services throughout the UK and overseas. Initially, it focused on recruiting staff to a variety of sectors, but in 2013 re-branded and streamlined the business to focus 100% into education and training.

It now works exclusively with international schools, colleges, universities and private language centres handling the recruitment and expatriation of staff into China, Malaysia, and various Gulf countries including the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The judging panel was impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication shown by managing director Munir Mamujee in his efforts to seek business development opportunities in countries which are usually very difficult to operate in by making regular trips to build up contacts and clients.

Panel members were also impressed by the firm’s contribution to the region and local community.

Mr Mamujee said: ”I am extremely proud to have won this award and it is a great achievement for the whole team who work extremely hard to support our growing list of international clients.

“We are looking forward to a great 2015 where we can really stamp our authority on the overseas education sector.”

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WAKEFIELD SUCCESS LEADS TO TOPIC-UK LAUNCH IN KIRKLEES AND CALDERDALE Due to the phenominal success of TopicUK in Wakefield since its launch in 2013, we are now launching a second magazine covering Kirklees and Calderdale.

TopicUK Wakefield began in April 2013 and has grown considerably both in pagination and distribution thanks to the fantastic companies in Wakefield with their contributions, advertising and sponsorship. Without this support, this social enterprise would not have flourished. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed.

Work has now begun on our second issue and we are asking companies in both Huddersfield and Halifax to send us their press releases for free publication ahead of our launch in April. We are also looking for companies who would like to make regular contributions on specialist subjects as regular guest editors.

Topic’s still available are: •

The arts

•

Fashion

•

Recruitment

•

Information Technology

•

Education

•

Commercial Property

•

Wining and Dining

If you would like to cover any of these subjects, submitting generic stories bi-monthly, please let us know. This new edition will feature all the business news in Huddersfield and Halifax and all companies are welcome to join us.

Sponsorship opportunities will be available as will affordable advertising packages starting at just £90 for a quarter page.

It is envisaged that the launch party will take place in April, coinciding with TopicUK Wakefield’s second Birthday. Invitations to the launch will be issued in advance, but if you would like to take part in this special event, which will also offer great networking opportunities, please let us know.

Plans are also underway to launch a third issue in Barnsley and District where we have received a huge amount of interest. As with the two other editions, this will feature everything that is happening in business in Barnsley.

For information about any of the TopicUK editions, call Gill now on 07711 539047 or email editor@ topicuk.co.uk

FAKE FESTIVAL COMES TO OSSETT The Fake Festival tour rolls into Ossett town on 6 June promising to be one of the biggest community music events in recent years.

Blondie, Coldplay and Greenday will headline as the UKs top three tributes, supported by five local bands to be announced nearer the time.

The event will take place in a giant marquee on Green Park playing fields with gates opening at 12.30pm until late.

“We chose the town as it has a great community spirit,” organiser Gary Hunt told TopicUK, “and we are expecting a large crowd, creating a great atmosphere.

Tickets are available online at www.fakefestivals.co.uk

RGS CELEBRATE INTO 2015 Yorkshire success story, Rogers Geotechnical Services (RGS) will celebrate the arrival of 2015 with a full order book, plus a 23 percent boost in turnover during the last financial year.

The family run business, which recently marked ‘a decade of drilling’ after 10 successful years, has emerged from the recession in a stronger position than before and now employs 19 staff, compared with just 8 in 2010.

During 2014, RGS also secured investment from Finance Yorkshire which led to the purchase of new vehicles, drilling rig and laboratory equipment.

This has paved the way for the company to start the process for obtaining UKAS accreditation for its soils laboratory.

Other major achievements include continued involvement in major flood alleviation schemes in Hull, building on the success of large contracts securing during 2013.

They have sustained growth across the business, which now has three crews undertaking window sampling and rotary drilling, in addition to other aspects of site work, plus a 5-strong team of engineers.

They have ongoing development with local schools, colleges and universities to offer work placements. Many young people ask to return to secure further experience during holidays.

RGS Managing Director Emma Rogers said: “We have come a long way since we set up the company as a family business in 2004, with one just rig, a small lab and just one engineer. The good news is that we have weathered one of the longest-lasting global recessions for nearly a century and emerged in a stronger position than before.

old-fashioned family values including honesty, consistency, competitiveness and straightforward pricing and first class service. We are driven by a team of directors who work in the business every day, supported by highly motivated and loyal staff. It is very much a team effort.”

Looking ahead, Emma said RGS had every confidence that 2015 would be an even better year than the last and the company anticipates a further 20 percent growth.

Summing up she said: “We are in a strong position and have a full order book for the beginning of 2015 as we continue to strengthen our position in the market place and our ability to create new jobs for local people. So it is good news for us and also the local employment market.”

“We attribute RGS’ success to our emphasis on expertise and professionalism, combined with good Winter Issue February 2015

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•• NEWS

ROUND UP

WHO WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE O TOPIC-UK APPROACHED TWO LOCAL POLITICIANS, ANDREA JENKYNS AND ED BALLS, TO ASK THEM W H AT T H E Y W I L L D O FO R T H E I R C O N S T I T U E N C Y O F OUTWOOD AND MORLEY SHOULD THEY BE ELECTED I N T H E G E N E R A L E L E C T I O N S I N M AY. H E R E I S W H AT T H E Y H A D T O S AY…

P

oliticians often make the right noises about recognising the importance of businesses in creating wealth and jobs, but all too often then demonstrate that they have no real understanding of what they are talking about. I have spent over 15 years in management in the private sector including running my own business and I hope I will not make that mistake. My priorities are to support in sustaining a strong local economy in the short, medium and long term. My plan has included being a voice for local businesses, trying to establish strong links between schools, educational institutes with businesses. To address the skills shortage by establishing what businesses need and that schools equip their students with the right skills making it an easier transition for school leavers to find employment.

EFFORTS In October 2014 the claimant count rate in Morley and Outwood was down by 48.3 per cent (2.3 percent) compared to the month before the last election when the rate was 3.0 percent. This is down to the efforts of local businesses and I want to do all I can to provide a support network for businesses in the area. In February 2014, I formed the Morley and Outwood Business Association (MOBA) which has provided a voice for local business people to make their views known to local and national politicians, this has been attended by Francis Maude, William Hague and Chris Grayling who have all spoken 10

with businesses to hear our views and I want this to develop into a support and mentoring platform for businesses. In October 2014 I organised a Jobs and Skills Fair in which 30 businesses exhibited and over 300 people attended and recently I launched the Business Skills survey that establishes the skills that local employers are looking for. Finally I want to set-up an executive panel of local business and educational leaders and other organisations to develop a business and economic plan for the constituency in the short, medium and long term.

Andrea Jenkyns Conservative Prospective MP for Morley & Outwood

FAIRER

Figures released in November show that 1,000 businesses in Morley and Outwood are benefiting from the Government’s Employment Allowance since its introduction in April 2014, making it easier for businesses to hire staff and create jobs, however, there is still a lot more to do and I personally want to become a strong voice for businesses and to stand up and fight for fairer business rates, support for business start-ups, less red-tape and employment law bureaucracy.

By focusing locally on a strong economy we can ensure the future prosperity of our area and I believe that by open communication, collaborative working and joined-up thinking, we can go from strength to strength. Our future economy is in your hands and I want to become a helping hand of support.

WAKEFIELD’S NEWEST ‘OLDBUILDING’ RE-OPENS THE ART HOUSE’S AMBITIOUS £3M PROJECT TO CONVERT THE CITY’S D R U RY L A N E L I B R A RY I N TO FU L LY ACCESSIBLE ARTISTS’ STUDIOS IS STA RT I N G TO TA K E S H A P E A N D A P P L I C AT I O N S FO R S PA C E A R E N OW BEING ACCEPTED.

The construction teams have been onsite since mid-May 2014 and are on schedule to complete refurbishment. Works carried out to date have included stripping out the building’s interior, digging out foundations for a new entrance and working closely with the city’s Conservation Officer to ensure that many of the library’s original features are retained.

OF BUSINESS IN WAKEFIELD?

W

akefield is a business hub for the north of England. Nestled between the M1 and the M62, businesses come here because of our brilliant location at the cross-roads of Britain. At Junction 41, international giants like Coca-Cola sit alongside distribution centres for Morrisons and Yorkshire Purchasing as well as dozens of smaller firms. Collectively the business community across our district employs thousands of local people.

Many local companies choose Wakefield because of its great location and the help and support they can get from the Council to set up and source local suppliers.

As the local MP, I’m in regular contact with companies in Morley and Outwood and I know how tough things have been in recent years.

SKILLS

Thankfully, the economy is finally now growing again. But I’m worried that growth is patchy and hasn’t yet translated into enough well-paid jobs for people in our area. Too much new investment and growth is still concentrated in London and the South East. One in five young people under the age of 24 are not in work or training. And for those who’ve

had their working hours reduced or who lost their jobs over the last few years, there has been little in the way of support to retrain in the skills they need to move into new jobs.

Local companies tell me that with more support they would be able to start more apprenticeships, develop their export market, and invest in infrastructure.

EQUIPPED

We are in a great strategic location in the north of England. We’re close to great road networks and other large cities. But despite the best efforts of our Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward (scrapped by the Government in 2010), the region doesn’t get its fair share and the new Local Economic Partnerships haven’t been equipped to meet the big challenges our regional economy faces.

I want to see more of our national resources devolved to areas like West Yorkshire so that people see more benefit here in Wakefield. That way big projects for things such as transport, housing, skills and infrastructure could be decided locally.

Labour has set out a clear plan for regional growth to redress the balance.

Once complete 34 artists’ studios will be housed within the 1042 m2 of refurbished space. The Old Library will be connected to the existing Art House building by an impressive double-height, glazed extension.

To date five new team members have been recruited to The Art House to support the project and - once complete - 23 additional jobs will be created for the creative and digital sector through the provision of new studio space.

Work to breathe new life into the Grade II Listed building, which dates back to 1905, is being project managed by Turner Townsend and carried out by Yorkbased William Anelay, specialists in the conservation and restoration of listed and historic buildings.

The project which will build on the work of The Art House – to provide time, space and support for visual artists – has been supported by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Arts Council England and the European Regional Development Fund.

Ed Balls Shadow Chancellor and MP for Morley and Outwood

At the moment the gap between London and the South East, and the rest of the country is growing by the day. Now we’ve finally got some growth back in the economy, the whole country should be benefiting. By devolving power – and resources – to local areas, we could start to see growth in every area. That really would be good news for local businesses and the local workforce.

Angela Galvin, Capital Project Director for The Art House comments: “The build is progressing well to date, with some interesting historical finds adding further excitement to the project. We’ve unearthed hidden and unknown features including hand-painted arts and crafts, tiling dating back to 1905 and beautiful parquet flooring, which had been hidden under the library carpet for years.

“Once complete the Old Library will be an invaluable resource for local artists. Accessible and central, the building will also benefit business and members of the public and will play an integral role in the district’s growing cultural offering.

It is a real privilege to be bringing this beautiful building back to life and to be creating a vibrant and engaging environment that will be enjoyed for many years to come.”

Interested in taking space?

Contact the Art House on 01924 312000.

Winter Issue February 2015

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Theatre Royal Wakefield, Drury Lane, Wakefield WF1 2TE - www.theatreroyalwakefie 12

THEATRE AUDIENCES

at the heart of the matter Murray Edwards A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE STAGE MADE SOME VERY IMPORTANT POINTS, AND ALTHOUGH I DIDN’T AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM I THINK ONE IN PARTICULAR RESONATED WITH ME .. AND THAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TICKET PRICES AND ATTENDANCES.

The author was arguing that a price revolution is needed to put venues back at the heart of their communities, and to do so he was advocating a new mantra – pay what you decide. In essence he was inviting people to see a performance and then, at the end, pay what they think it was worth. His argument was that a theatre network should offer inspiring, provoking live entertainment to all members of society, regardless of their financial status. Now this is a thesis with which I, and I hope many others in our industry, wholeheartedly agree, but is this the way to go about it?

ACHIEVE We hear a great deal about affordability these days, but the more I think about it, the more I realise that this is less about the amount of money you have and more about how you chose to spend it .. in essence, individual priorities.

We are assailed from all quarters with marketing messages about how we should spend our hard earned cash - what we ‘need’ to achieve a particular objective. The trouble is that most of it is related to the acquisition of assets, many of which are almost worthless

the moment we’ve bought them. Much less is said about ‘experiences’ which if course is exactly what happens when you attend a theatre performance, or visit an art gallery, or go to a concert.

Theatres like ours have to be relevant for their communities, accepting that people are where they are in terms of a theatre-going experience, but recognising that there are opportunities to push the boundaries – but only when they are ready for it.

ACCESSIBLE The Arts are always experiencing one crisis or another. We were told many years ago that live entertainment was dead once cinema arrived, then it was TV, DVD, Smart Phones and so on and so on. Currently its cuts to public funding that appear to be threatening many organisations, particularly those who rely on it, often for more than half of their operating costs. Yes, ticket prices are rising, but much less so in the provinces than in London, and here in Wakefield we are always conscious of offering a range of prices and discounts to ensure that we are as accessible as possible.

GROWTH During my seventeen years in Wakefield I have seen audience numbers rise year on year and despite the difficult economic climate over the last 5 years we are seeing steady growth both in numbers and ticket yield. In fact in 2013/14 Theatre Royal Wakefield was

the only theatre amongst our peers in the county to increase both elements. I put this down to a concerted campaign over the past eighteen months to engage the businesses and communities of this area in what we do and how we do it; to encourage them to take a stake in our work and, for our part, to recognise what they enjoy and find ways of providing it.

INCREASES I read another interesting article recently in which there was a key phrase “New doesn’t have to mean radical” and it struck me how true this is. What we have done is to take our public on a journey, introducing them to a range of experiences which they can chose to take or leave, but which provides a broad spectrum of what the performing arts has to offer.

Yes, there I T H AS A LWAYS S E EMED TO are still M E T H AT W E D O N’T PLAC E those who AS MU C H I M PORTA N C E O N have never T H EAT R E AUD I E NC ES AS been to W E S H O U L D, BUT W ITHO UT the theatre, T H EM , W H ER E WO ULD W E but slowly B E? and surely we are finding ways of breaking down the barriers to attendance, encouraging people to pay their first visit and, very importantly, working with increasing numbers of young people to use the performing arts to develop themselves as human beings.

BELIEVE I started by saying that we should be providing inspiring and provoking live entertainment and I think we do. But at the same time we must also promote the concept of value without which we are all on a hiding to nothing. Most of us who work in the Arts do so because we believe in it, not for the money, but it still costs money to provide a quality experience.

I think people understand that and for those who don’t yet, it is our role to find ways of helping them to do so.

eld.co.uk - tel: 01924 211311 - mail@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk Winter Issue February 2015

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•• FASHION

Sainsbury's Home, In Bloom Home Accessories

Prices From £2.00

Debenhams Floozie by Frost French

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Treat Mum this Mother’s Day at Trinity Walk TopicUK has teamed up with Trinity Walk to bring you a selection of special gifts and ideas for you to treat your Mum this Mother’s Day, March 15th.

With a large selection of retailers, hairdressers and beauty counters, you’re sure to find something special and with a variety of restaurants, why not also treat her to lunch or dinner out?

Debenhams Betty Jackson Black

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Necklace at Debenhams Debenhams B by Ted Baker

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Winter Issue February 2015

15

•• LEGAL

MATTERS

Each issue Ramsdens Solicitors will share with TopicUK readers information to keep us all within the law.

If you have a legal question, or need to know about a particular subject email editor@topicuk.co.uk and we'll get Ramsdens to answer it for you.

HOW TO MINIMISE THE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN children that you can maintain a positive relationship during this time can help them through these tough times and minimise any further stress or disruption.

Divorce proceedings need not be hostile and can be dealt with in the most amicable way possible avoiding costly, stressful and difficult Court Proceedings.

The Ramsdens family department

230,000 people in England and Wales go through divorce proceedings each year and a large proportion of these people have children of their marriage.

Due to the substantial change in everyone’s life that getting a divorce carries with it, understandably this can significantly effect a child or children whose parents are going through divorce.

There are a number of ways that the effects divorce can have on children can be minimised. Whilst divorce is a difficult time for all parties involved especially children, the way in which the divorce proceedings are handled can reduce the effects.

Ramsdens ensure that the welfare of children of the family are at the forefront of our minds in all of the work that we do. We work in line with the Family Law Protocol and the Resolution Protocol to avoid any unnecessary hostility between parents.

It is important to maintain an amicable relationship for the future, as parents will need to attend engagements and occasions together for their children such as birthdays, parents evenings, graduations and weddings. It can be extremely difficult for a child when their parents separate as they are likely to worry and carry a burden on their shoulders prior to their parents attending functions together. No matter how old the children are, if the parents can be amicable following separation and maintain some form of a relationship and communication this will benefit children immensely.

Sometimes, separations can occur during important times of a child’s life such as exam periods. Showing 16

We actively encourage approaching a breakdown of a marriage in an amicable way and we advise our clients in relation to Dispute Resolution. Parties can participate in Dispute Resolution to resolve all dispute relating to children and the financial consequences of a marriage breakdown such as: mediation, collaborative law, arbitration and round table meetings.

If divorce is dealt with in an amicable way this promotes communication between the parties which can minimise the effects of a marriage or relationship breakdown on children. The children will see that despite a parents separation they are still working together with their best interests at heart.

Four In Five Deterred

By Employment Tribunal Fees New evidence has revealed that nearly 50 percent of people with employment issues would have to save for six months to afford tribunal fees of £1,200.

New evidence has revealed that nearly 50 per cent of people with employment issues would have to save for six months to afford tribunal fees of £1,200.

The research by Citizens Advice shows that workers are being put off holding unfair employers to account by too-high fees and a lack of awareness about support.

In July 2013, HR Director reports that the Government introduced fees to access the employment

HAVE YOU GOT A WILL? In the last two months we have seen an influx of distraught families coming to see us where a loved one has passed away intestate, that is, without making a will, causing their loved ones even more anxiety at a time of already enormous grief.

If you die without making a will, your estate, that is all of your property and money (different rules apply to jointly owned property), pass under the intestacy laws to certain people prescribed by the law. Therefore, your estate may not pass to the person or people you would wish to inherit on your death. Furthermore, if you wanted to leave any specific gifts to people or causes, these will not be legally binding unless stipulated in a valid will.

By making a will, you can be sure that your estate goes to the people or causes that you care about. It removes any doubt and can often avoid unnecessary family disputes and further upset.

will for your own personal needs. More often than not, after our clients have signed their wills, they say “well that wasn’t as morbid or difficult as I thought it was going to be”!

We have offices throughout West Yorkshire and we are happy to see clients at a location that is most suitable for them. We are also delighted to be part of the Law Society’s Will and Inheritance Quality Scheme, another mark of our expertise in this area #WIQS and our Private Client team are recommended in the Legal 500 2014/15.

If you already have an existing will, we offer a “will checking service” to go through your will with you and ensure that it still meets with your needs. A will is a document that should be constantly monitored and updated as situations and relations change, which inevitably in life they do!

For more information on wills please contact Jodie Gajic, solicitor in Ramsdens Private Client team on 01484 558054 or email jodie.gajic@ramsdens.co.uk. You can also tweet Jodie @JodieRamsdens

A will is also an extremely important document if you have children as you can nominate guardians to look after your children in the event of your passing.

We pride ourselves on our expertise in drafting the perfect

tribunal but the latest official figures released last week show a 66 per cent reduction in applications.

The Government introduced fees in order to incentivise earlier settlements, ease the cost to taxpayers and bring the employment tribunal in line with other justice systems.

Based on a survey of 361 people, the Citizens Advice report revealed: More than four in five (82 per cent) said the current fee prices would make them less likely to claim or deter them from claiming altogether.

The income of people with employment troubles highlighted the problems with the level of fees. Over four in ten (43 per cent) had a household income of less than £46 a week after essential bills.

Only three in ten (30 per cent) were aware of eligible financial support for those on low incomes. Half who thought they weren’t eligible actually were.

Over half (53 per cent) did not know what they could get out of making a claim and therefore

whether it was financially worth their while.

Despite people being put off by too-high fees, 90 per cent said they would not be put off by a £50 bill.

The research also showed that whilst people were put off by too-high fees, a clear majority of 90 per cent said they would not be put off by a £50 fee.

Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said the employment tribunal system is imbalanced against claimants.

“Fees are pricing people out of basic workplace rights and a justice system that is supposed to protect them,” she said.

“Unfair dismissals, employers withholding wages and discrimination are problems that Citizens Advice is unfortunately hearing about all too often.

“Many claims go unheard as people simply can’t afford to pursue it and there’s a real risk that if they do employers still won’t pay up.

“The Government needs to take an urgent look again at how the fee system benefits those workers who feel the prices are a barrier to justice.”

Winter Issue February 2015

17

Local Heroes

PERFORMING ART IS THE HEART OF OUR CITY O N T H E E V E O F T H E A N N O U N C E M E N T T H AT T H E AT R E R O YA L’ S E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R M U R R AY E DWA R D S I S T O R E T I R E A F T E R 1 7 -Y E A R S AT T H E H E L M , T O P I C U K R E P O R T E R S A M G R U N D Y C AU G H T U P W I T H H I M FOR A COFFEE IN THE STYLISH CAFE BAR ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF T H I S I C O N I C B U I L D I N G , T O T A L K A B O U T H I S R O L E A T T H E T H E A T R E AND H IS PART IN THE DEV E LO PM E N T O F O U R CI TY. The Local Heroes i nt erviews a re undert aken by Sa m G r u nd y f ro m K i ds . o rg.

M

urray is a great advocate for the theatre and under his tenure it has gone from strength to strength, he will be sorely missed in the autumn when he retires.

Although not originally from Wakefield Murray has become well known and loved in the district for his passion of the arts and believes that art is the heart of the city. “It reflects the cultural development both leading and being informed by people. It has a duty to reflect the cultural heritage and taste, but also lead creativity and inspire economic development,” Murray told TopicUK. “The theatre has a significant role to play within the local economy and audiences have not declined over the recent economic downturn, they have actually grown!”

The programme at the theatre is evolving and Murray explained that its direction was rooted in the taste of the local community, this in turn creates new audiences. One of the most exciting developments in recent years has been the creative and touring work that the theatre is producing. In 2011, thanks to Murray, playwright John Godber made the theatre his home showcasing his work not just here in Wakefield but around the country, putting our city firmly on the map. He has also helped to bring in new opportunities for young people through the theatre’s Performance Academy.

For the third year in succession, the theatre has showcased contemporary dance and year on year audiences have grown for these performances.

So in a time of austerity and cuts to art grants, TopicUK asked Murray why we should offer our support?

“The theatre has the ability to build pride back into our community. It is entertaining, truthful and

18

inspirational. Culture helps to drive the economy and we are lucky in Wakefield that the arrival of The Hepworth has really put us on the arts map!

We need to be stating proudly - ‘locate to Wakefield as it’s a great place to live and work’.

Murray, who is married to Barbara arrived in Wakefield 17 years ago via Edinburgh University. He began his theatre career with the Oxford Playhouse, courtesy of an Arts Council Bursary before heading to other theatres around the country including Exeter, Chesterfield, Newark, Bolton and Stratford-uponAvon. As well as his position at the theatre, Murray is a member of the City Centre Partnership (WCCP), a board member of Unity Works and Vice Chair of the Community Foundation for Wakefield District.

Wakefield has clearly got under his skin. “The city still has a vein of coal at its heart and the relationship between the coal industry and the district cannot be ignored. The people are a reflection of that past relationship and that history is important. It is a great place to live and boasts fantastic new places such as the Iris restaurant, the re-development of Westgate and of course, The Hepworth.

As the theatre prepares for its 120th anniversary celebrations, it seems a fitting time to hand over the baton. We have achieved so much in what feels like such a short space of time and I look forward to seeing this success continue.”

In conclusion, Sir Rodney Walker, life president of the theatre, said: “It is with thanks to Murray that we have seen the theatre’s fortunes and reputation strengthen over the last 17 years.

“He is well regarded for introducing young talent to the stage in West Yorkshire and his passion will be greatly missed.”

“

It has a d cultural h also lead econom

duty to reflect the heritage and taste, but d creativity and inspire mic development

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Winter Issue February 2015

19

1975?

Do you remember

IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR ONE WAKEFIELD BUSINESS 1975 was a great year! Jaws, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Rocky Horror Picture Show were all released. The Rubik’s Cube was invented and Britain saw its first lady party leader Margaret Thatcher, David Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Will.i.am and Jamie Oliver were all born, as was Copiserv, the Wakefield based print management company.

Things were a lot different then from a technology point of view and in the last 40 years we have seen print equipment such as photocopiers and printers move from being a luxury to a necessity for all businesses.

“As a business that prides ourselves on service levels, Copiserv have strived to maintain very high standards over the last 40 years. We have never

been one to follow the ‘herd’ when it comes to industry standards of service, and have now taken an even more proactive approach through our Managed Print Service,” explained Managing Director Gareth Hunt.

One of the biggest savings that an organisation can make relative to its size and with virtually no change in procedures is by introducing a Managed Print Service.

As we start 2015 Copiserv have recognised changing needs of their customers and have positioned themselves to meet the growing needs of businesses. As well as providing award winning photocopiers and desktop printers, there is now a full range of complementary Print Services available such as Managed

Print Services, Remote Monitoring, Print Software, Mobile Device Printing & Document Management.

In 1975, this kind of technology would have been what dreams were made of and George E. Pake, who was the head of Xerox Corporation’s Palo Alto Research Centre at the time was probably right with his prediction...

“There is absolutely no question that there will be a revolution in the office over the next 20 years. What we are doing will change the office like the jet plane revolutionized travel and the way that TV has altered family life.”

The revolution he predicted continued for a further 20 years. Who knows what the next 40 years will bring?

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Copiserv are quick to respond to queries & quick to send out replacement cartridges Excellent company to deal with & provides suitable products for our business demands Local company quick to respond if there are any problems

T: 01924 298926 www.copiserv.co.uk Follow us on:

20

www.facebook.com/copiserv

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•• HAIR

Sluggish bodies and weary minds can signal the need for a detoxifying cleanse, both inside and out. While an overhaul of diet and exercise will immediately detoxify and cleanse the body, extra assistance can dramatically aid the process.

Follow this three step routine to cleanse, exfoliate and detox your body and clear your mind:

Step 1: Body Brush.

Start with a ten-minute body brush to help clear away dead skin cells and open pores, so that toxins can escape. Dry skin brushing can also help to soften hard fat deposits below the skin while distributing fat deposits more evenly.

This can help to diminish the appearance of cellulite.

Try to use a natural brush and work all over the body in long sweeping strokes. Brush legs, arms, front and back, always working towards the heart, this will improve the skins appearance whilst stimulating the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins from the body.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Try using an exfoliating products a few times each week, to remove dry skin. Use a salt and oil scrub, such as the Detoxifying Salt and Oil scrub

by Espa. This is a simple way to exfoliate, moisturise and detox with the use of only one product.

Step 3: Moisturise with Aromatherapy Oils

Aromatherapy body and bath oils are great products to use when moisturising skin, as oils can penetrate deeper into the skin than creams or lotions.

The essential oils used in these products can help relax and destress, or revitalise and uplift.

Trying adding a few drops of a detoxifying aromatherapy oil into your bath water as part of your detox regime, to counteract the effects of an irregular diet or hectic lifestyle.

& BEAUTY

TIME TO DETOX

BODY&MIND

The most important thing to remember when applying or using detoxifying products is to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water to flush away toxins.

To give you a kick start into your detox regime why not book yourself in to a salon for a detoxifying or stimulating treatment.

Chill Beauty offer: An Epsa Detoxifying Algae Wrap £49.50 (70mins). This treatment combines a body wrap and massage using specific oils to help improve circulation, speeding up the elimination of toxins and excess fluid.

Following body exfoliation, an Algae wrap is applied and the scalp gently massaged.

Once you have taken a refreshing shower, a full body massage with Detoxifying Oil takes place. This is the ideal treatment to help cleanse the body and improve the appearance of the skin.

A Stimulating Hip and Thigh Treatment £39.50 (60mins). A highly effective, stimulating treatment to target cellulite, fluid retention and uneven skin texture.

Using potent marine extracts, iced mitts and a deep detoxifying massage to achieve great results.

Ideal for people concerned by the appearance of cellulite.

Includes: Skin brush – detoxifying salt and oil scrub – detoxifying massage to specific area – reflex zone pressure points to the feet See advert for our special offers on these treatments.

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Book an Espa Detoxifying Algae Wrap or Stimulating Hip and thigh treatment in February or March and receive 20% off PLUS receive a complimentary Detoxifying Salt & Oil Scrub treatment to use at home.

tel: 01924 873000 Chill Beauty, The Old Co-op Building, Cooperative Street, Lofthouse Wakefield, WF3 3NQ

Winter Issue February 2015

21

•• BANKING

& ECONOMY

COULD THIS YEAR BE THE ONE WHERE YOU BUY OR SELL A BUSINESS? D E P E N D I N G W H E T H E R Y O U OW N I T, O R W O R K I N I T, Y O U M I G H T C O N T E M P L AT E O N E O F TWO Q U EST I O N S – “ H OW D O I S E L L I T ? ” O R “ I T H I N K I CO U L D TA K E T H I S B US I N ES S TO N E W H E I G H TS – B U T I WA N T TO OW N I T F I R ST ! ” - T H E L AT T E R I S K N OW N A S A M A N A G E M E N T B U Y O U T ( M B O ) .

T

here are several circumstances that can arise, the management team might decide that buying the business is too expensive, or they are not prepared to take the risk either financially, or quite simply they prefer being an employee. If the above applies then an owner has several other options including gradually selling to management with a staged plan (which hand holds the new team along the way) or exit via a trade sale.

RESOURCES Trade sales would include sale to a competitor, a supplier or a customer.

This can sometimes mean the vendor (owner) can achieve a bigger sales price because the other company has more cash and resources to deploy than the management team in the business. The deal might also be worth more to a trade party for strategic reasons, if for instance it gives them access to new markets.

Another variant on this can be the BIMBO – a Buy In & Management Buy Out – essentially it’s an MBO plus the introduction of a third party (or parties) who bring skills, capital and customers.

FA M I LY However, for a business owner it’s often not just the cash sum that is important, it’s also the ongoing health of the business they leave behind. The staff and team will have been built up over time and many view them as family and want to see everyone “looked after” - which doesn’t necessarily happen when trade sales take place. So how do you ensure that the deal makes sense for everybody? Well that’s where a good banker, accountant and solicitor come in to form a deal team.

Each deal takes on it’s own dynamics and typically both the acquiring party

22

and the vendor will need separate input and advice from a specialist accountant and solicitor. For the vendor the professionals might not be the ones the company uses for day to day matters, you need to have people who specialise in this area. The whole process is a really interesting area of funding, so here’s a few pointers to think about: Management teams might not realise that if they don’t buy the business when the opportunity arises, they run the risk that whoever does could be the boss from hell!

Be prepared and be realistic. People enter into negotiations trying to achieve a price that they and their mate in the pub thinks is the right price, but in reality is totally unrealistic – this applies equally to both buyer and sellers.

A far better strategy is to properly calculate the right figure with the aid of an accountant who specialises in corporate finance. This way you go into MO R E I M P O RTA N T LY T H E Y KNOW WHICH CUPBOARD ALL THE SKELETONS ARE IN!

bat with a figure that can be justified.

From a lenders perspective, an MBO is typically a more favourable event than backing a group of individuals buying a company outright. The reason being that the existing management team probably has the best understanding of that business and more importantly they know which cupboard all the skeletons are in!

Getting a business ready for sale, even to existing management takes time.

The team has to be able to run the business when the existing owners are not around. Lenders take additional comfort when there is not only an agreed

and managed handover period but also an element of deferred consideration with both an upside and downside for the vendor at a set point in the future.

Back in 2006/7 there were some really racy deals constructed where lending was based around high (over 5 times is high) multiples of earnings before interest tax and depreciation (EBITDA), based on both actual and projected figures. The lesson we all learnt from this is that “stuff” happens post deal and what was cooked up by the vendor and their finance team as a sustainable figure quickly becomes unrealistic. If the business under performs there is the risk of not being able to service the debt, and before that happens it’s likely the financials will breach covenants set by the lender as a warning and control mechanism for all parties.

SENSIBLE There is funding available and Santander find structures that work. Typically, in the first place, the purchase is funded by borrowing against the company’s assets – the property, the debtor book and any capital assets are good places to start. It might be that you could raise 70% of the property value and 80% of a suitable debtor book, plus a sensible amount on any plant and machinery. On top of this Santander would also look at what the management team could introduce in terms of contribution – this is vital for an MBO, there must be some risk capital. However at the same time, it’s no good the management team raising a lot of personal debt and then having to draw too much out of the business to pay for it – so it’s important for a funder to take a holistic view.

If you’d like more information please feel free to get in touch jonathan.rostron@santander.co.uk

Every eight minutes we help a business take on the world

Whether building your local network or a global presence, we could help your business achieve its next breakthrough.

To find out more visit santandercb.co.uk or contact Jonathan Rostron 07850 640 600 jonathan.rostron@santander.co.uk

Source: Internal data 2014.

Santander Corporate & Commercial is a brand name of Santander UK plc, Abbey National Treasury Services plc (which also uses the brand name Santander Global Banking and Markets) and Santander Asset Finance plc, all (with the exception of Santander Asset Finance plc) authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Our Financial Services Register numbers are 106054 and 146003 respectively. Credit cards are provided by Santander UK plc. In Jersey, Santander UK plc is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission to carry on deposit-taking business under the Banking Business (Jersey) Law 1991. Registered office: 2 Triton Square, Regent’s Place, London NW1 3AN. Company numbers: 2294747, 2338548 and 1533123 respectively. Registered in England. Santander and the flame logo are registered trademarks. Santander UK plc is a participant in the Jersey Bank Depositors Compensation Scheme. The Scheme offers protection for eligible deposits of up to £50,000. The maximum total amount of compensation is capped at £100,000,000 in any 5 year period. Full details of the Scheme and banking groups covered are available on the States of Jersey website (www.gov.je/dcs) or on request.

CCBB 0580 NOV 14 HT

Winter Issue February 2015

23

•• INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY

THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA PROTECTION AND SECURITY IN 2015

DON’T LET YOUR COMPANY BE THE NEXT CYBER VICTIM From Russian gangs hacking 1.2 billion user names and passwords in August last year, to a hacker group disabling leading online gaming services on Christmas Day, data protection and security has never been so important.

of some of the biggest companies in the world and leak its personal data shows there is little option for every size of business other than to get adequate protection.

Paul Heigham, Director of Bellingham IT, talks about the importance of data protection and why, without adequate security in place, businesses are leaving themselves open to an attack.

Businesses that store data in the cloud need to encrypt data to provide protection for data stored in virtual environments.

Without adequate firewalls in place, organisations using cloudbased servers are lending themselves to potential threats.

Data hacks are becoming alarmingly more common.

I mean try telling the millions of Xbox and PlayStation gamers who couldn’t use their device at Christmas that cyber-attacks aren’t real.

It is essential that companies understand and take measures to ensure their data is protected so it is in accordance with data protection laws. As we have seen with the recent attacks on Sony and Microsoft – no company is exempt from being the next cyber victim, act now and make sure it is not you and your business.

Yes we’ve read the news, thanks to a group, which goes by the name Lizard Squad, carrying out a distributed denial of service (DDOS) which overloaded the systems of Sony and Microsoft’s gaming networks, millions of people could not use their game consoles for several days over Christmas.

This recent cyber-attack followed on from an equally prolific attack made by a Russian group in August 2014. The Russian hacking organisation hacked 1.2 billion user names and passwords which belonged to over 500 million email addresses. The hack has been described as the “largest data breach known to date.”

Unlike the Christmas Day attacks, the Russian group didn’t just target large companies, but every site their victims visited.

These are just two examples of the alarming rising rates of cyber-attacks, which certainly prove that no company, big or small, are immune.

DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998 In 1998 the Data Protection Act (DPA) was implemented in the UK as a means of governing the protection of personal data in Britain. The DPA stipulates that the appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data.

In general, the DPA applies to all companies, including the self-employed, that hold or use personal data.

As Sony celebrated its gaming console’s 20th anniversary, hackers leaked into Sony Picture’s systems and leaked personal information of 47,000 people, including its security staff.

The fact the cyber criminals can hack into the systems 24

PROTECT CLOUD-SERVERS WITH FIREWALLS

Paul Heigham of Bellingham IT

The Star that shines bright in Kirkhamgate TopicUK was recently invited to pay a visit to a newly refurbished Star public house in Kirkhamgate which is under new management, to sample their fine cuisine and review the new decor.

Situated on the Batley Road this large pub with ample parking and a large beer garden, is easy to find and in our opinion a real gem, well worth the 5 minute drive from the centre of Wakefield.

The Star is run by husband and wife team Dan and Linsey who only took over in November, explaining that as locals themselves, they believed there was a need for an excellent pub with great food and as they couldn’t find one, decided to take over themselves.

We arrived to a very warm welcome from Dan who showed us to our table in the

If you are looking for advice on Accountancy and Taxation matters...

OR HAVE THE NEED FOR SPECIALIST SERVICES SUCH AS

• • •

Inheritance Tax Planning, Business planning, Mergers or Acquisitions.

dining area situated to the rear of the pub. Lunch was served promptly and as it was Sunday, the menu consisted of three types of roast; beef, chicken or lamb.

“I have to say it was delicious, served piping hot and just the right amount to leave us full, but not overly,” said TopicUK editor Gill Laidler, “so we managed to squeeze in a slice of Bakewell tart for dessert, all washed down with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.”

Open 6 days a week (closed all day Monday) serving both lunch and dinner, we can highly recommend The Star to take clients for lunch or dinner and the whole family at weekends.

Watch out for a full review of the restaurant later this year in TopicUK.

Spawforths Architects Established Wakefield 1988 Specialists in the Design of Residential, Commercial and Primary Care Buildings

Call Adrian Spawforth RIBA MRTPI or Dawn Jenkins RIBA

01924 873873

www.spawforths.co.uk

Contact Chris Dix or Carolyn Harman for your free initial consultation

Chris Dix Accountants

Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors Unit 3 Silkwood Court Wakefield WF5 9TP Telephone: 01924 263766

Winter Issue February 2015

25

•• HEALTH

+

BAD BACKS AND MORE Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace

People spend the majority of their adult life at work, so it is important to make sure that employees are happy and healthy whilst they are in the workplace and importantly injury free! It is surprising that the main cause for working days lost in 2013 was due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) such as back and neck pain, leading to 31 million days lost in the UK. HELEN LAIR D & CARO L MARR - WAKEFIE LD P U B L I C H EA LT H D E PT

MSD represent one of the most common and most expensive occupational health problems in the work-place. MSDs are injuries that affect muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints or spinal discs. Causes may be due to repetition, exertion, awkward posture, contact stress or vibration. You can imagine the cost involved in lost work days to businesses is pretty steep so there are things that you can do to try and reduce this burden.

It isn’t possible to prevent all cases of MSDs but there are things you can do, at work, to help prevent symptoms occurring or getting worse. Surveying your workforce for symptoms of MSDs can enable you to be aware of health problems and intervene to prevent problems being caused or made worse by work activities.

By talking to people you work with and finding out what problems they may have, you can make jobs physically easier, e.g. by moving loads on wheels, providing better handles on loads, adjusting heights of worktops etc.

If you work in an office and use a computer, your staff can improve their posture by sitting in the right position and arranging their desk correctly. Workstation factors that can affect their back include: •

26

Chair height/seating posture – Adjust the height of your chair so that when you put your fingers on the middle row of the keyboard your hands and forearms remain horizontal, your elbow joint should be at 90 degrees.

Adjust the angles of you back rest and chair seat or seat pan to ensure that you back is supported in your work position. Adjust the back rest support so that it supports the small of your back (or use a back support).

Ensure that your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are at about a 90 degree angle or greater.

•

Computer screen position - Adjust the height of the monitor to ensure that you are looking horizontally at it; your eyes should be level with the top of the screen. Tilt the screen as required and distance it at approximately an arm’s length away.

•

Keyboard position - The keyboard should be tiltable and separate from the screen to allow the user to find a comfortable working position avoiding fatigue in the arms or hands. The space in front of the keyboard should be sufficient to provide support for the hands and arms.

•

•

Mouse position - Position the mouse within easy reach, so it can be used with a straight wrist. Sit upright and close to the desk to reduce working with the mouse arm stretched and aim to use your mouse with your elbow vertically under your shoulder and right by your side.

Desk equipment layout - The work surface should have a low-reflective surface and should be of a sufficient size to provide space for the screen, keyboard, documents and related equipment. Try to ensure that you are sitting directly in front of the monitor and keyboard (not twisting or sitting at an angle). If you have to refer to documents whilst typing, you may benefit from a document holder.

Make sure there is space under the desk to move legs.

For further information visit http://www. hse.gov.uk/msd/msds.htm

Prolonged sitting in the workplace is a hot topic at the moment and studies are revealing that the sedentary lifestyle can lead to serious health issues including back and neck pains, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer. Office workers spend an average of 8.9 hours a day sitting with 60% of this being at the workplace, this give employers a fantastic opportunity to have a positive impact on their employees health by encouraging them to be more active in the workplace and take regular breaks away from the desk.

Active opportunities such as: •

Stand and take a break from your computer every 30 minutes

•

Stand during phone calls

•

Use the stairs rather than the lift

•

Have standing or walking meetings

•

Stand at the back of the room during presentations

•

Eat your lunch away from your desk

•

Walk to your colleague’s desk instead of phoning or emailing them

•

Use the photocopier/bin/toilet that is further away.

If you would like further advice on workplace wellbeing please contact the Health Improvement Team at healthimpovement@wakefield.uk .

Links to sources for help. http://www.getbritainstanding.org/index.php http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/ workplacehealth/Pages/Backpainatwork.aspx http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/ employers.htm http://www.backcare.org.uk

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Veri ty T h on 42 11 6 11

For m ore info rm ati on ,p

Our Match Sponsors also have the opportunity to distribute products and information around the stadium on the day.

2 9 1 0

CONFERENCE AND EVENTS WAKEFIELD TRINITY WILDCATS HAVE A RANGE OF FACILITIES TO CATER FOR ANY BUSINESS EVENT. WE CAN OFFER TEN SEATER CORPORATE BOXES TO LARGER ROOMS THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 150 GUESTS. WITH FREE ON SITE PARKING AND IN HOUSE CATERING FACILITIES SERVING BOTH 3 COURSE MEALS OR HOT & COLD BUFFETS, THE CLUB HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO FIT YOUR REQUIREMENTS.

New 2015 shirts and season tickets are available to order online now.

Winter Issue February 2015 For details visit: www.wakefieldwildcats.co.uk

27

•• CHARITY

Sainsburys Trinity Walk support local community

Sainsbury’s Trinity walk has donated £100 to St Georges at Lupset as part of its support for the local community.

Colleagues PR Ambassador Steve Scriven and store Manager Sean Higgins are pictured handing over the donation to Freda Jackson from St Georges at the store in Trinity walk, Wakefield.

The donation was used to buy all the food and trimmings for the Christmas lunch at the church. Funded through the Sainsbury’s Community Budget scheme, it was set up to help charitable groups in the local community and is partially funded by sales of the retailer’s ‘Bag for Life’. So for customers at Sainsbury’s Trinity Walk, this means that they are not only making an environmental choice, they are also contributing

TopicUK board directors are on the run!

Five TopicUK board directors will be taking part in the Wakefield Hospice 10k in March, to celebrate the Hospice’s 25th Anniversary, starting at Clarence Park for their RUN for FUNds. Andy Turner from First Choice Recruitment; Tim Welton, Chadwick Lawrence; Claire Young, School Speakers, Martin Hopkins, Leeds Bradford Airport and Sinead Sopala, Ramsdens Solicitors will join the race at 9am, on 29 March, sponsored by Richard Kendall Estate Agents, and follow a straight out and back route. More than 1400 entrants took part last year.

Entry is £16 and includes

Trinity walk Store Manager Sean Higgins, said: ‘Our store is at the heart of the local community and it is important we can play our part to support it. When we heard about St Georges and their story, we just wanted to help to help out as much as we could”.

This year, Sainsbury’s has donated over £600,000 to local charities and community groups as part of the Community Budget scheme.

Last year, colleagues at the Trinity Walk store helped several local charities and groups through the scheme.

For more information, contact Steve Scriven on 01924 301420 or prl. wakefieldmarshway@ sainsburys.co.uk

WAKEFIELD

running number, timing chip and finishers t-shirt.

The mini run is 3k in Thornes Park and is just £4 for children and £6 for adults, or £17.50 for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children).

We’ll let you know how they get on in our April issue, but in the meantime if you would like to sponsor any of them, raising funds for their respective charities, please let us know.

run for funds Thornes Park, Wakefield Sunday 29th March Entry Fee: Mini Run - Adults £6 I Children £4 Register at: wakefieldhospice.org I 01924 213900 Sponsored by:

For more information about the event or to enter: http:// www.wakefieldhospice.org/ Events/Wakefield-10k2015#sthash.Q65W8s0G. dpuf

The Government and ACE have acknowledged the imbalance, but argue that it is because the major national institutions are based

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

OF SHARING THE CARE

TopicUK proud to be working with...

28

to their local community.

Registered Charity No. 518392

or who can afford it. The report also points out that had Londoners won a comparably disproportionate number of Lottery prizes compared to people in the rest of England, equivalent to

MORE THAN A MATCH Whilst professional Rugby League has been played here at the Post Office Road since 1921 the Big Fella’s Stadium is home to more than Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club.

The facilities we have here mean that whether you are looking for a venue for business or pleasure we can offer a bespoke package to meet your needs at a price that we believe represents outstanding value for money.

We have various spaces that can cater for a business meeting for four to a wedding reception for 120 with the added bonus of your business helping our community Club progress as we tackle the challenge of the 2015 season.

We can offer

• Conferencing

• Christenings

• Training

• Wakes

• Meeting Rooms

• Lunches

• Weddings

• Parties

• Dinners

• Ample free parking

Along with the opportunity to utilise our partners County Caterers who have over 45 years experience in the business and provide the catering for many venues in Yorkshire.

For details of our prices and facilities please contact our Commercial Manager Paul Taylor on 07584 684 329 or via paul.taylor@featherstonerovers.net

Winter Issue February 2015

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Dining Out

A LITTLE BIT OF ITALY IN THE AFTERNOON

VALENTINO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO

CHILDREN

W RITTEN BY KEV IN TRI CKETT Fo llow h im o n t w i t t e r @ M r Tr i c ke t t

It was rather cold when my partner and I called into Valentino’s for lunch one Friday in the middle of January – in fact, so cold that there was snow on the ground!

So it was lovely to step inside and be met with a warm welcome from manager Sigita Pikturnaite. We’d only been to the restaurant once before, and that was on an evening when we had eaten a very good meal, so we were looking forward to seeing how it all came together at lunchtime.

For those of you who have not yet tried Valentino’s, the first surprise is just how deceptively large it is inside! The eye is immediately drawn to the large mural of the unmistakable Florentine skyline and its magnificent duomo. This mural completely covers the wall at the far end of the room and it was next to this that Sigita had reserved a table for my dining companion and me. Despite the cold weather, a number of people had ventured out to enjoy the lunchtime experience and it was nice to see this local restaurant being well supported.

BEAUTIFULLY Many of you will probably be familiar with this well-established restaurant, either because you’ve already eaten

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at 5 pm until 10.00 pm for the evening service. At weekends, Valentino’s is open all afternoon from noon onwards ‘until late’. On Mondays, the restaurant is closed all day except for bank holidays when it is open as for weekends.

there or because you’ve passed it as you travel along the A61 Leeds Road between Outwood and Lofthouse.

Opened some sixteen years ago by owners Afy Butt and Shahid Tarer, who wanted to provide locally-sourced food at affordable prices, the restaurant offers a comfortable environment in which to enjoy beautifully prepared food. The interior décor and furnishings certainly capture the look and feel of a typical Italian-style restaurant. To the left as you enter, there’s a well-stocked bar and seating area where people can relax and order a drink while they are waiting for their table at busy periods, and then, to the right is a spacious dining area with tables configurable for intimate dining à deux or for family and party groups.

OPEN Lunchtime opening is a relatively new facility in Valentino’s history, having been introduced only a couple of years ago. It is open Tuesday to Friday lunchtimes from 12 noon until 3 pm (last orders at 2.45 pm) and then re-opens

There are two main menus – a full à la carte menu which is available any time and a shorter lunchtime menu made up of lighter meals. Dishes on the lunchtime menu are very reasonably priced with starters costing around £3 to £4 and main courses from £4.95 to just over £8 with a selection of vegetables and salads available as side orders. Prices on the à la carte menu are a little higher, but with more generous portion size, but it’s still possible to have a threecourse à la carte meal for around £20.

You can, of course, choose courses from both menus if you wish. A children’s menu is also available. As you would expect, there is an extensive selection of wines and beers to choose from with bottles of wine starting at £13.95.

FAVOURITE Not forgetting that we were there to sample the food, my partner and I agreed to try out both menus between us – my partner testing the lunch menu while I focused on the à la carte. I began with Warm Goats Cheese. This consisted of a flat cap mushroom topped with goats’ cheese and served with cherry tomatoes and basil dressing, one of my favourite dishes, and it was very good.

My partner went for the simpler but no less appetising Insalata Caprese, a traditional dish of mozzarella cheese, sliced tomatoes and basil. To follow this, I plumped for the Porcini Ravioli while my partner had the Spinach and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli. Yes, you’ll notice we both had ravioli, but the dishes were very different as you might expect – my ravioli, from the à la carte menu was priced at £10.95, while my partner’s, ordered from the lunchtime menu, was just £5.65. There was no difference in quality but there was a difference in portion size and ingredients. However, we both professed ourselves very satisfied with our choices.

Opening Times Monday: Closed Tuesday – Thursday: 12 noon- 10.00 pm Friday & Saturday: 12 noon - 11pm Sunday: 12 noon - 10pm 699 Leeds Road, Lofthouse Gate, Wakefield, WF3 Telephone: 01924 210 310

Actually, I had a wobbly moment just before my plate arrived! Making notes for this review, I spotted that, as well as a small ‘V’, there was also a small ‘H’ against my Porcini Ravioli on the menu.

This apparently indicated that the dish would be hot and spicy – and I’m not keen on either hot or spicy! I went back and read the menu again and realised I should have paid more attention – the full description showed that I had just ordered “Pasta filled with porcini mushrooms with a creama truffle sauce – and chilli flakes”.

In the end, I decided to stick with what I’d asked for and I’m pleased I did. Yes, I could taste the chilli, but it wasn’t so hot to be appreciable. I suppose that, had I wanted something truly hot and spicy, I could have been a tad disappointed so it might be worth discussing just how hot – or not – you want your pasta when you place your order.

ENJOYED To conclude our meal, we were tempted by the dessert menu (there’s one

dessert menu, whichever menu you are eating your main courses from) with me choosing the Homemade Tiramisu and my partner the Crème Brûlée. Again, we both really enjoyed our choices. The Crème Brûlée was light and creamy, while the Tiramisu was rich and smooth. We rounded off with coffee, both in full agreement that the meal had been delicious.

Now, for those of you who like a bit of meat with your meal, both menus do, of course, offer a good range of meat and fish dishes, with the à la carte menu in particular providing a good selection of beef steaks as well as chicken dishes.

The beef, we were told, is sourced from carefully selected farmers in the Yorkshire Dales, the Yorkshire Wolds, and The Vale of York, while the chicken comes from Harome, near Helmsley.

WELCOMING After our meal, I chatted to manager Sigita, who hails originally from Lithuania but has now been in the UK for ten

years. With co-manager Lewis Jeffels, Sigita and her team want to provide a relaxed, welcoming environment for their customers and lunch can either be a leisurely affair or served a bit more quickly if you have to get back to work afterwards. Just make sure you tell the staff if you are short of time. Sigita told me that the restaurant employs around 20 staff. While it is usually busiest in the evening, the decision to open at lunchtime was an obvious move for the owners; staff were working in the restaurant during the day anyway, prepping for the evening service, and they had the capacity to serve meals at lunchtime, taking advantage of the passing trade as well as providing somewhere to eat for the many local residents. Although about two and a half miles outside Wakefield city centre, the restaurant is easy to reach by car and public transport and there is ample free parking in front of the building.

If you’ve not tried Valentino’s yet, do give it a go – you’ll not be disappointed.

Winter Issue February 2015

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•• EDUCATION

REWARDS OF BUSINESS MENTORING

Claire Young runs School Speakers, a business connecting educational establishments with the UK’s most inspirational business people and experts.

I always feel humbled when I am asked to mentor somebody and I enjoy being involved in other peoples projects aside from my own business. It helps my learning and avoids me getting bored!

“Mentoring should take an altruistic approach. To have a thriving UK economy is important. But how do you do that without helping people? Not all the value is in finance, it is in time too.

Most people could spare an hour a week or fortnight. This time could literally transform someone’s life and business.

Having mentored more than 30 people herself, and is an Ambassador for ‘My Mentor’ scheme run by Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Claire told TopicUK: “Mentoring is a two way relationship. As a mentor it is a very rewarding experience to see raw talent flourish and blossom.

“Mentoring can change people’s lives.

I recently mentored a girl who was in care from age 13. I spotted her in a school during an enterprise days and she stood out for being very bright. Despite challenging home circumstances now she has gained her GCSEs and gone on to further education. That is so rewarding.”

But Claire warned: “I have found it is important for those employing a mentor for their employees to take a holistic approach. Ensure that staff member is happy in all areas. It has

NEW MURAL CAPTURES CITY The Ridings Shopping Centre has unveiled its latest addition to the mall – a large scale mural of the city, created by local artist Ryan Baxendale.

The mural, which measures approximately 11.5m wide x 2.5m high, can be found on the lower floor just outside of Morrisons. It is the latest arts based project commissioned by the centre and follows the success of ‘Pillars of the Community’ that saw five structural pillars transformed into unique pieces of art.

Capturing the city’s history, landmarks and many of its iconic buildings in the brightly coloured, modern painting Ryan, who is 24 and has been coming to the centre since he was a child, has used 32

his own unique style to create a focal point for shoppers.

Eileen Holroyd, Centre Manager comments: “Ryan created some fantastic tributes to the city when he created ‘Pillars of the Community’, shoppers enjoyed watching him work and loved the results. So, when we looked at adding some colour to our lower mall we asked Ryan if he could help.

“Over recent years we have been using art to attract shoppers, from commissioning art projects through to launching our own gallery. This latest piece is a wonderful example of how art can be used to enhance the centre and improve the aesthetics of the malls in a fun and engaging way.”

been known that a mentored employee will suddenly feel empowered enough to leave and find another role.”

Claire Young’s Top Three Tips for Mentors and Mentees 1) If you want a mentor then just ask someone you respect. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Be clear of your needs and wants so they know exactly what you expect from them and vice versa.

2) If you want to be a mentor, get some training. To mentor is quite a skill. Speak to the local Chamber of Commerce for guidance or look for an organisation that takes on mentors and matches them to the right mentee.

3) Remember, as a mentor there is no risk in saying ‘I don’t know the answer and I’ll come back to you’. You don’t have to know it all. Take time to research things and provide the right solution or piece of advice.

for all your legal needs call your local solicitors Ramsdens with 10 offices across West Yorkshire we’re never too far away

#knowyourlawyer #askRamsdens

01924 669510 www.ramsdens.co.uk Winter Issue February 2015

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•• RECRUITMENT

Dear boss.... I’m leaving! 2015 and Beyond!

How will that statement affect your business? Will it fill you with dread or give you the opportunity to refresh your team to be even stronger?

Andy Turner-First Choice Recruitment Our recruitment industry experts stated last month that ‘up to 37% of staff will be looking for a new job in 2015’. Whilst I believe this figure was designed as a ‘headline grabber’ and will be considerably lower nationally and certainly regionally (Yorkshire folk are more loyal after all!) there will definitely be more staff movement in 2015 than in previous years.

worth of their time. This rises to almost £7,600 for owners aged between 18 and 24 and falls to just under £1900 for owners aged 55+ suggesting that younger business owners tend to spend more time on recruitment and staff training.

These costs will only increase in a busier recruitment year like this, never is the saying more true, “time is money”.

At First Choice Recruitment we noticed a real uplift in permanent vacancies from early in 2014 which has increased dramatically since the turn of the year. So why will there be more people looking for a new job?

Obviously depending on the size of an organisation to lose a key worker impacts on the performance of your company to a certain degree so maybe now is the time (if you haven’t already) to sit back and analyse who you couldn’t do without and specifically what tasks that individual does that could cause the company hardship if they go. The solution is to train others in your organisation to cover these tasks, as well as ensuring your staff are motivated and not one of the above statistics…

Quite simply over recent years we’ve all been having a tough time - the economic climate has given everyone such a shortage in confidence, that most people in work have simply ‘got on with it’ but workers have started to raise their heads above the parapet once more - Is there a better job out there, can I improve my circumstances?

Any job change causes a domino effect and refuel, or speed up, the recruitment treadmill considerably. To a level of 37%?

In my opinion no, but if it was ‘only’ 20% that’s 1 in 5 of your team and remember the law according to Sod – it will always be the best people, never the ‘dead wood’.

So how robust is your business? How do you cope with that resignation or is it better to be one-step ahead?

The length of time it takes small firms to recruit is costing the UK economy around £18b each year - on average it takes a small business owner 100 hours in a normal year searching for suitable staff, training new employees and developing the skills of the existing workforce, equating to almost £3200

34

I do subscribe to the theory that ‘noone is irreplaceable’ and that no-one is ‘bigger than the company’ but this exercise has proved invaluable to us, do it today…….oh and if you do need a job or a new recruit – I do know an excellent local recruitment agency!

So what does the next 12 months have in store for commercial property? Well the last 12 months were better than the 12 previously and it is hoped that this time next year it will be the same again.

While the market remains challenging there remains an air of quiet optimism within the business world and this is in turn being reflected in more property deals both on a sale and letting basis.

Good quality modern industrial property remains in short supply, particularly space available to buy and with the cost of construction rising we are beginning to see some growth in capital values in this sector. Office take up has increased particularly on out of town office parks and again we are seeing increased demand amongst owner occupiers. The retail sector is perhaps the most difficult to predict and it is clear that retail patterns continue to shift with even the big supermarkets feeling the pain of shoppers changing habits, however, spending overall isn’t falling and therefore other opportunities are presenting themselves and it remains difficult to see just where these will be and what they will mean to the retail property market.

Speculative Development is rare, even in the industrial sector there are few developers considering schemes without the benefit of an end user, however, more interest is anticipated in commercial and industrial sites coming to the end of their economic life; from residential developers, there is continued pressure to provide more housing and whatever the outcome of the general election, this pressure won’t go away.

Jonathan Kidd, Partner at Holroyd Miller M.R.I.C.S. www.holroydmiller.co.uk Tel: 01924 299494

BUSINESS CENTRES

B E A U T I F U L R A N G E O F F U L LY S E R V I C E D O F F I C E S

I N WA K E F I E L D

unfurnished or virtual with a friendly unrivalled service with tailor made packages to suit all needs. We have safe gated car parking with CCTV Westgate train station offering a high speed service to London in

•

secretarial service

•

telephones

•

all utilities

•

free resilient, fast broadband

•

manned reception

•

Conference room hire

Winter Issue February 2015

35

Farewell to Centre Manager

After six years at the helm of The Ridings Shopping Centre, Barbara Winston has handed over the reins of Centre Manager to Eileen Holroyd.

Born in Liverpool, Barbara’s retail career started in 1989 when she secured a role in centre management, helping with the opening of the Corn Exchange and The While Cloth Hall in Leeds city centre. Her career in retail took her to Birkenhead and Nottingham before she was drawn back to West Yorkshire to manage the day-to-day running of The Ridings and to chair the Wakefield City Centre Partnership (CCP).

During her time at The Ridings Barbara has addressed the challenges and the opportunities presented by the many changes to shopping habits, to the high street and to Wakefield’s retail landscape; she’s also overseen refurbishment work and helped the centre to celebrate 30 years at the heart of the City.

...and two new appointments

Barbara comments: “We know that retail is not for the faint hearted but I have to say that I have enjoyed over 25 years dealing with the high and the lows of the high street. It’s been a wonderful time at The Ridings and I’m extremely sad to say goodbye to the team, to the retailers and also to the many shoppers.”

Eileen, who was previously Centre Co-ordinator, has worked at The Ridings for more than 30 years having joined the management team in 1981 when the foundations for the centre were first excavated.

The Ridings Shopping Centre has appointed Eileen Holroyd as its new Centre Manager.

Eileen comments: “I started my career with the Ridings as a Secretary and during my time here I have been involved in a variety of roles; so to head up the team is a real privilege and one I am really looking forward to.”

Eileen will be supported by the centre’s new Marketing Manager Sara Hassan.

Sara, who has joined the team from Ellandi-owned Castlegate Shopping Centre, will manage all aspects of marketing, events and communications.

Speaking about the appointment, Eileen said: “Sara is a great addition to the team, she’s joining us at a really exciting time. We’re starting to count down to the launch of Primark’s extension and have a jam-packed schedule of events

36

including a Vintage Fair, craft markets, style events and car boots, which will reinforce the centre’s position at the heart of the city and as a familyfriendly shopping destination.”

Eileen adds: “Barbara has been an integral part of The Ridings and has played a leading role in supporting the city’s retail landscape, she will definitely be missed but we wish her all the best for the future and we look forward to carrying on her good work.”

www.ridingscentre.com

Winter Issue February 2015

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SLEEP ROUGH with Simon & John Smith’s Stadium

H U D D E R S F I E L D ’S J O H N SM I T H ’S STA D I UM H AS P L E D G E D I T ' S S U P P O R T T O R O U G H S L E E P E R S ’ C H A R I T Y, S I M O N O N T H E S T R E E T S W I T H T H E A N N O U N C E M E N T T H AT THE FIRST SPONSORED SLEEP OUT IN HUDDERSFIELD – # S L E E P W I T H S I M O N – W I L L TA K E P L A C E AT T H E S TA D I U M O N T H U R S DAY 2 3 A P R I L .

The event, which will be sponsored by local company Yorkshire Payments, is the first part of a charity partnership between the Stadium and the charity, which has been supporting street sleepers in Huddersfield since 2010 and currently has two workers delivering support to around 20 people in the town.

Managing Director Gareth Davies said: “We are delighted to be supporting Simon on the Streets, not only to help raise awareness of their role in the community but to support them in their efforts to make positive changes to the lives of these vulnerable people in West Yorkshire.”

#SleepWithSimon is Simon on the Streets’ biggest annual fundraising opportunity. The charity offers street-based support for those in need in Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford, providing front-line emotional and practical support for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

General Manager of Simon on the Streets, Helen Beachell explains: “We are delighted to be partnering with The John Smith’s Stadium and have already been overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm of the Team there.

Following the success of the fundraising event that challenged supporters to spend a night sleeping in the open air in Leeds, the charity is aiming to attract more than 100 people to take part for the first time in Huddersfield, whether it’s teams of business colleagues or individuals.

Commenting on the partnership, John Smith’s Stadium’s

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“Whilst it’s impossible to accurately re-create the feelings of vulnerability and despair that sleeping rough every night can create, we’ve found that the sponsored sleep out is a real eye-opener for anyone who takes part. Our team are there to give advice about how to build a shelter and keep your possessions safe, sharing their own experiences of sleeping rough.”

Anyone interested in taking part in #SleepWith Simon can visit the dedicated website www.sleepwithsimon.co.uk to find out more

FIELD DISTRICT IS ONE OF THE

MOST ACCESSIBLE PLACES

THE SCULPTOR BARBARA HEPWORTH WAS BORN IN WAKEFIELD

70%

OF THE DISTRICT IS URESQUE GREEN BELT

THE WAKEFIELD FIRST BONDHOLDER SCHEME IS A PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVE TO BRAND AND PROMOTE THE WAKEFIELD DISTRICT TO A LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WAKEFIELD FIRST, THE MEMBERSHIP SCHEME AIMS TO SECURE SIGNIFICANT INWARD INVESTMENT BY PROMOTING A POSITIVE IMAGE, RAISING THE PROFILE OF THE DISTRICT AND ALL IT OFFERS TO THE BENEFIT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

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Become part of the Wakefield Wallpaper

PEOPLE IN THE WAKEFIELD DISTRICT

HEART OF THE UK

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PEOPLE LIVE WITHIN A 20 MILE RADIUS

LOCATED AT THE

20/11/2014

2.7m

WAKEFIELD HAS A PROUD MANUFACTURING HISTORY, WITH COMPANIES SUCH AS BURBERRY AND GROUP RHODES HAVING OPERATED IN THE DISTRICT FOR DECADES IN A SECTOR THAT EMPLOYS SOME 15,500 PEOPLE

1

9 square the ‘Rhu Triangle’ (Protect Designat Origin) s

LOGISTI

£

THIN

Bondholder advert – Topic Dec 2014.pdf

2ND

HIGH PEO EST NU WAR PLE EM MBER EHO PLOY OF USIN ED I G IN N GB

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THE NATIONWIDE IS THE

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E PART OF SOMETHING BIG. WAKEFIELD WE’RE ON A ROLL With your support we can make Wakefield District the go-to-place for inward investment.

To find out how to become a bondholder and how your business can help shape the future of the Wakefield District contact us on 01924 306498, email onaroll@wakefieldbondholders.com or visit www.wakefieldbondholders.com Winter Issue February 2015

39

30

•• COUNCIL

NEWS

Wakefield Explores European Markets

international visitors with over 130,000 visitors attending the shows from the UK. Karen Cartwright and Mark Lambert for Bags & Covers Direct, who provide bespoke covers made and manufactured in Wakefield, using British materials, said trade shows would provide excellent entry to a huge market in Germany.

Be British!

We all know Germany has a fantastic reputation for quality, we trust their reputation and appreciate the fantastic workmanship they deliver. Did you know Germany feels the same about us Brits!!

High quality is essential for the German Market and the UK has a well-deserved reputation as a leader in excellence.

Wakefield Business Support Programme recently led an introductory trade mission to Berlin.

The delegates gained much from the trip and wanted to share this knowledge with the Wakefield Business community.

There are a number of factors that you need to consider when considering trading with Germany: •

Is there a market for you?

•

Knowledge is Key!

•

Agents and Distributors

•

Why your business in Germany?

•

Exhibitions are King!

•

Be British!

•

Communication and marketing

•

Speaking the language

Is there a market for you?

Conduct some research to identify whether there is a market for your products or services. Just because your product sells in the UK, doesn’t mean it will sell in Germany. For David Jones of Bier Huis and Mark Seaman of local brewery, Revolutions Brewing, the experience gave them an overview of the kind of UK products currently on the market and the potential for the sale of specialist British Beer’s in Germany.

Knowledge is Key! Delegates were given some intense 40

presentations by organisations involved in a range of services from PR through to tax advice. All of them emphasised the importance of knowing your market and knowing you have the right product.

Agents and Distributors Delegates learnt a popular way to enter the German market initially is through use of agents and distributors. Murray Angus of Proton Group is in discussions with a German distributor who will help him with the information needed to distribute specialist hygiene chemicals to the German food and drink industry.

Why your business in Germany?

Do you understand why your products sell or whether they would sell in the German market?

Delegates who had limited experience with trade in Germany gained a fuller picture as to why they their businesses were chosen by German customers.

Graham Howarth, of Sarcophagus is planning to investigate which of their range of products has the best appeal for the German market. Understanding what attracted his current German customers will be a great gauge for how to proceed.

With the help of a German based agent there are plans for Sarcophagus to measure the interest in his products and services within this growth market.

Exhibitions are King!

German trade shows are internationally recognised as leaders across all sectors, attracting a staggering 2.7 million

Communication and marketing All businesses appreciate that communication is vital and if you can build up a network of personal contacts in the press and media locally then you will have the best chance of exploiting any opportunities out there for you.

Planning your media and press strategy is very important and having someone with local knowledge will improve the perception of your business.

Speaking the language If you are holding a conference or delivering an event, presenting in English is acceptable. Any material for websites, promotions, publicity and product information must be in German. Accurate translation is vital to get your message across and to get access to the market. If you can’t speak German or have only a little knowledge of the language it’s a must to get professional assistance.

We learnt that Germans love the British sense of humour and have a particular fondness for Mr Bean and Blackadder! In summary the group were welcomed wholeheartedly by the German people. They learned that Germany is a very friendly and supportive place to do business with and is a place of great beauty and culture.

Contact info@wakefieldfirst.com to find out how we can support your business.

Find out more at www.trinitywalk.com

Winter Issue February 2015

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•• MOTORING

PHEV’s are here to stay

P LU G - I N H Y B R I D CA R S O R P H E V ’ S ( P LU G - I N H Y B R I D E L ECT R I C V E H I C L E S ) E S S E N T I A L LY O F F E R MOST OF THE BENEFITS OF CONVENTIONAL HYBRIDS, WITH THE ADDITIONAL OPTION OF B E I N G A B L E T O O P E R AT E I N Z E R O - E M I S S I O N , E L E C T R I C - O N LY M O D E .

PHEV’s can now be considered a real option for buyers. In hybrid or Electric vehicle mode, plug-in hybrids perform particularly well in urban areas where start-stop driving conditions are likely.

to recharge your vehicle overnight.

Recent research suggests that around 80% of UK car-owning households already have access to a garage or other off-street parking facilities.

When driving in “Electric vehicle mode only” these types of vehicle also offer zero-emission driving. For company car drivers, cars like these can also present a saving in Benefit In Kind contributions with some vehicles like the Audi A3 ETRON currently sitting in a 5% company car tax banding.

There are also numerous offers available for the installation of residential charging points.

Prices for these charging points range from £100 to £300.

Although some On The Road prices may seem initially high, a number of the vehicles available within the market place also currently qualify for a Government Grant of £5,000.

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Within Yorkshire there are also noticeable changes to infrastructure, with a number of public charging locations now available.

The anxiety of having an “Electric Car” is also no longer a problem, if you have no charge you can utilise the petrol engine meaning you can still travel long distances.

The ever-growing pressure and need for us to focus on our carbon footprint means that cars and technology like this is not going to go away but instead, it will develop. My suggestion would be, if you haven’t already, test drive a PHEV, they are the future.

For further information, telephone: 01924 241400

In order to get the most out of the PHEV, ideally you will need access to a garage, drive or other off-street parking

Joe Wilson Local Business Development Manager Wakefield Audi

Joe Wilson

Audi

Wakefield

Winter Issue February 2015

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LOCAL CHARITY AIMS TO BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES IN A TIME WHERE THE COUNTRY IS SEEING A DISTINCT CLASS DIVIDE W I T H T H E W E A LT H Y B ECOM I N G W E A LT H I E R A N D T H E P O O R E R B ECOM I N G P O O R E R , WA K E F I E L D FA I R S B E T T E R , W I T H T H E D I S T R I C T B E C O M I N G LESS DEPRIVED, BUT THERE ARE SOME AREAS AND GROUPS OF PEOPLE W H O CO N T I N U E TO E X P E R I E N C E H I G H L E V E L S O F D I S A DVA N TAG E A N D P O V E R T Y.

Lack of work is the key driver of poverty and exclusion. People out of work for some time are more likely to have lower levels of self-confidence and resilience and poorer health. In turn, these become fundamental barriers for people trying to re-enter the labour market and the chance to improve the quality of their life and life chances.

To change this, Wakefield District needs to address lifestyle-related health issues.

Did you know: • 22.8% of children aged 0-15 live in a household where a parent or guardian is claiming out of work benefits (2012) • 25.0% of adults smoke (2013) • 34% of children aged 10-11 are classified overweight or obese (2012/13) • There were 20,763 crimes recorded across the district in 2013/14 • 28% of people say there are problems with drug use and drug dealing in their local area (2014) Wakefield Council is facing a further

£38 million in cuts for the financial year 2015/16. This will result in a significant and noticeable impact on local services to citizens.

With your help, The Community Foundation for Wakefield District (CFW) can help build a better Wakefield.

CFW’s goal is to create a healthier, happier district where hardship and inequality are words of the past. The foundation connect people who care about the area and form partnerships between community groups that are making a difference.

“Now more than ever, individuals and businesses are thinking carefully about their charitable giving and are looking for ways to give back to the community,” says CFW Chief Executive Shona Walsh.

“As a credible and well governed charity, we can work with you to help meet all your charitable aims and can add our expertise to yours, providing added value to your current activities or create new opportunities.”

The charity work closely with more than

1000 community groups and understand the needs of the district. They can take the administrative hassle out of giving in a cost effective way and as specialist independent grant makers, can help make a lasting impact on the specific issues which matter to you or a specific geographical area.

To find out more about what CFW can do for you call Shona Walsh on 01924 239181 or email: swalsh@ communityfoundationwakefield.co.uk More information can also be found on the website: www.communityfoundationwakefield.co.uk

Summer networking, music and Pimms on the lawn!

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Join Community Foundation Wakefield and District for the fabulous Summer Networking on the lawn event and enjoy a glass of Pimms or bubbly along with some delicious summer food.

Full details of the event will be in our next issue but if you want to secure your place (these will be limited) call Shona Walsh on 01924 239181 or email:

Tickets for this exclusive event on Friday 10 July, will be on sale shortly but we are reliably informed it will be an event not to be missed!

swalsh@communityfoundationwakefield.co.uk Alternatively, contact TopicUK editor on 07711 539047 or email: editor@topicuk.co.uk

The Community Foundation For Wakefield District •

Our goal is to create a healthier and happier Wakefield district where hardship and inequality are things of the past.

•

We want local grass-roots projects to flourish.

•

We connect those who care passionately about the district and its people. We form partnerships between community groups that are making a difference and the people who wish to invest in a better future for our district.

•

We do this through:-

-

Raising money from the Wakefield district (local philanthropy).

-

Distributing money to Voluntary and Community Groups based in the Wakefield district (through grants programmes)

If you want to help make a difference locally, please contact us on: T: 01924 239 181 E: swalsh@communityfoundationwakefield.co.uk

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Winter Issue February 2015

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Murder at Wakefield

Cathedral

“WAKEFIELD BUSINESS

GOLF SOCIETY”

WA K E F I E L D C AT H E D R A L A R E T O HOLD THEIR FIRST MURDER MYSTERY E V E N I N G , A P T LY N A M E D M U R D E R I N T H E C AT H E D R A L , O N F R I D AY 2 0 T H M A R C H AT 7. 3 0 P M .

FOLLOWING ON FROM THE INAUGURAL YEAR WE NOW HAVE PLEASURE IN CONFIRMING THE FOLLOWING DATES FOR 2015 - The first Tee Offs will be at 2.00pm

S DATE HE FOR T Y DIAR

Thursday May 21st, Low Laithes Golf Club

Tuesday June 16th, Woodsome Golf Club

A professional team of actors will provide both victim and suspects and there will be lots of audience interaction for the Jack Frosts, Morses and even Kojak’s out there!

Thursday July 16th, Waterton Park Golf Club

Thursday August 20th, Hatfeild Hall

Tickets are priced at £20 each and teams are encouraged but not essential. A supper is included and a cash bar will be available.

Thursday September 17th, Woolley Golf Club

THIS IS A NIGHT NOT TO BE MISSED!

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE EVENTS….

For further information or to reserve a place contact Terry Rigg: terryrigg42@googlemail.com

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Winter Issue February 2015

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WDHCS ANNOUNCE DATE FOR SPECTACULAR

ANNUAL BALL

WA K E F I E L D & D I S T R I CT H E A LT H & COMMUNITY SUPPORT HAS A N N O U N C E D T H E D AT E O F T H E I R 3 R D ANNUAL CHARITY BLACK TIE BALL ON F R I DAY 1 7 T H A P R I L , 2 0 1 5.

Tickets are selling fast for this prestigious event that takes place at Cedar Court Hotel, Wakefield from 7pm until late. As well as a delicious fourcourse meal, a host of entertainment awaits guests, including Billy Idol and Madonna tributes, magicians, disco and auction and raffle with fantastic prizes on offer, all proceeds of which are shared by Co-Active and Wakefield Community Trust Co-Active is an arts organisation that exists to realise and celebrate the creative potential of people with learning

difficulties. They provide classes and courses that develop the skills of their members, create and perform original artistic works and provide training opportunities. Co-Active members will be performing at the event.

The Wakefield Community Trust was established in 2013. The major objective of the Wakefield Wildcats Community Trust is to provide education, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle support for the children, young people and disadvantaged youth of Wakefield.

Sponsored this year by Yorkshire Telecommunications Limited tickets cost £49 or £490 for a table of 10 and are available at the WDHCS charity shop Flutterby’s on Kirkgate or from WDHCS, tel: 01924 373500. Raffle tickets are on sale now with a chance to win £1000 cash, a TV or a holiday and will be drawn on the night. Tickets cost just £1 per ticket or £5 for a book and are available through event partner TopicUK magazine. Email editor@topicuk. co.uk or call Gill on 07711 539047.

YORKSHIRE’S LEGAL PEOPLE Grow Family Department Qualified as a Solicitor since 2007, and with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of Family Law, Rebecca Payne joins Chadwick Lawrence exclusively to conduct the matrimonial and family work at the Wakefield Office.

Since joining in 2013, Rebecca has developed and expanded the department with an increased volume of work. This looks set to continue with her vast experience dealing with a wide range of family claims, advising on the financial issues arising from divorce and separation, and her proficiency in cases involving business assets, trusts and pensions.

Rebecca cites her modern and pragmatic approach as key to her success: “I am passionate about law and I am committed to providing firm and robust advice, which secures the best possible results for my clients, whether by way of negotiation or through the court process.”

Rebecca continued, “As well as achieving successful outcomes at trial, I am also a trained collaborative lawyer. Collaborative law is a form of alternative dispute resolution which enables parties to meet face to face with their lawyers to negotiate, an area that we now specialise in here at Chadwick Lawrence.”

FO R M O R E I N FO R M AT I O N O R T O A R R A N G E A N I N I T I A L C O N S U LTAT I O N E I T H E R AT O U R O F F I C E S O R Y O U R P L A C E O F B U S I N E S S P L E A S E C A L L : 0800 387 747

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1/26/2015 Winter Issue February 2015

9:14:25 AM 49

Wining

Wining & & Dining

Dining

GREEN FARM VENISON W E LC O M E T O O U R T H I R D W I N I N G A N D D I N I N G F E AT U R E W E R E TO P I C U K H AV E T E A M E D U P W I T H T H E I R I S R ESTAU R A N T A N D SA I N S B U RYS T R I N I T Y WA L K TO B R I N G Y O U A R E C I P E A N D W I N E R E V I E W.

This issue we bring you another fabulous recipe sent to us by Liam Duffy from The Iris Restaurant, of Green Farm Venison with roasted onion mash, curly kale, bacon and chestnuts, red wine jus.

As usual we have asked a member of our business community to make the dish, reporting back to our readers their verdict and telling us what they thought of the two bottles of wine kindly donated

by Sainsburys Trinity Walk. These are

Taste the difference Barbaresco, rich and complex. Powerful red berries, black cherries, an uplifting acidity and notes of liquorice and truffle, perfect for game and just ÂŁ10*.

The second is a Taste the Difference St Emilion. Rich and complex, silver medal winner, international wine and spirit competition 2014. Again ÂŁ10*.

Rachel Rowling and Phill Burke from

Yorkshire Telecommunications have kindly agreed to take part and next issue will let us know how they got on.

For those of you who would like to have a go at making this for yourself, we have listed all you will need below.

If you would like to take part in our wining and dining feature, drop us a line at editor@topicuk.co.uk or ring Gill on 07711 539047.

What you will need: Roasted onion puree 2 onions 50g butter 100ml cream

Thinly slice the onions and fry off in a sauce pan with butter until caramelised. Add the cream and boil before blending into a smooth puree. Set aside for later.

For the mash

5 large red rooster potatoes 50g butter 100ml cream 1 batch of onion puree Bake the potatoes just like a jacket potato until soft. Cut in half and scoop out the potato then pass through a sieve. Return to the pan and add the butter, cream and puree, mix together and season to taste.

The Government and ACE have acknowledged the imbalance, but argue that it is because the major national institutions are based

TopicUK proud to be working with...

*Prices correct at the time of going to press. Adults over 18 years should drink responsibly 50

or who can afford it. The report also points out that had Londoners won a comparably disproportionate number of Lottery prizes compared to people in the rest of England, equivalent to

Kale, Bacon and Chestnuts

400g curly kale 150g diced smoked bacon 150g peeled cooked chestnuts 100g butter In a frying pan, melt the butter and add the bacon and chestnuts. Blanch the kale in boiling salted water for 30 seconds. Drain off and add to the bacon and chestnuts. Cook until tender and season to taste.

Venison

Venison haunch portions (250g each) Sear the venison in a smoking hot pan, transfer to a pre-heated oven at 180c for 7 minutes until cooked. If you have a temperature probe it should reach about 55c. Rest for 5 minutes in a warm place before carving. The venison should still be pink.

Red wine jus

4 shallots 4 cloves of garlic 1 sprig of Rosemary 400ml red wine 400ml beef stock 50g butter Slice the shallots and garlic. Sweat down in a pan with the Rosemary until golden brown. Add the red wine and reduce by two thirds. Add the beef stock and reduce by half. Finally, whisk in the butter and serve.

Barbara Paterson Puts Her Mind To Yorkshire Parkin We decided to make this dessert on Burns Night which would enable us to quaff both the red and white wines as an accompaniment to the meal – Haggis, neeps and taties as the main and Iris’ Yorkshire Parkin as the desert.

We had some debate about the oat flakes in the recipe, but needed the internet to reassure us that they were the same as Quaker Oats!

We began with some trepidation since the recipe seemed to produce rather a large amount for two people.

Nevertheless we stuck to the weights and measures and it was true – it would have made enough for 10!

We followed the recipe to the letter very sticky! The sponge was fine but I may have put too much mixture in each ramekin so the texture was fairly dense. I personally would have used less ginger.

The toffee sauce looked a little darker than the illustration and despite a trek

around a variety of supermarkets, off licences and pubs we couldn’t find Ossett Brewery’s Treacle Stout, so we had to make do with Marston’s instead. The final result was a beautifully presented dessert with all the taste sensations that we associate with Parkin.

Dessert wines can be overpowering but this one wasn’t at all, an excellent accompaniment to the parkin.

This was a Burns Night to remember!!

Frankly, I didn’t need the haggis as well as Yorkshire Parkin as it was very filling!

Next time we go to Iris we will have to try Liam’s version and debate the difference.

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pic Saint Loup was a beautifully rounded and very smooth red wine from the Eastern Languedoc. It is produced from vineyards in the foothills of the Cevennes and is obviously the product of southern sunshine as well as having an earthiness reminiscent of the French soil. The dessert wine – a Winemakers’ Selection Muscat St Jean de Minervois - was a delicious dessert wine, with luscious caramel and sweet notes of candied orange peel.

Winter Issue February 2015

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Apprentices wanted Do you know someone interested in becoming a bricklayer, plasterer, electrician, plumber, joiner or gas fitter?

Our 2015 apprenticeship programme launches on 23 February and this year we’ll be recruiting 20 apprentices.

Visit our website for more information about the day, application hints and tips, case studies, videos and more. www.wdh.co.uk/apprenticeships www.twitter.com/wdhupdate

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www.facebook.com/wdhupdate

Join us...

...to make a difference together.

Find us under Wakefield and District Housing

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Enjoy a three course carvery and after we’ll entertain the family in our fun room with bouncy castle & colouring activities Sittings available 12 – 3pm *FREE gift for all mum’s*

0 under 12’s, £18.50 adults, £9.5 FREE under 2’s Please call 01924 261 294 or visit www.cedarcourthotels.co.uk/wakefield

Winter Issue February 2015

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•• ENVIRONMENT

LOCAL FIRM

LEADING THE WAY IN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 2 0 1 2 S AW T H E I N T R O D U CT I O N O F T H E P U B L I C S E RV I C E S ( S O C I A L VA LU E ) ACT A N D W I T H I T C H A N G E D T H E WAY T H AT P U B L I C B O D I E S A R E R E Q U I R E D T O C O N S I D E R H OW T H E S E R V I C E S T H EY E N G AG E M I G H T I M P R OV E T H E ECO N OM I C , S O C I A L A N D E N V I R O N M E N TA L FO CUS O F T H E AREA.

Looking beyond price to determine the most appropriate service provider the Act asks the question, ‘For every £1 spent on services what is the value spent to produce a wider benefit to the community?’

For organisations that have a strong community focus the increased opportunity to be considered for public body contracts is significant.

With 10 sites in the Yorkshire region, Associated Waste Management embarked upon a project to formulate a workable and sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme that is community centric.

But in a commercial world how does an organisation embark upon a programme that isn’t just about ticking boxes to improve public body tendering?

It's important to highlight specific needs within communities and to bare in mind that each neighbourhood will 54

have very different opportunities.

Being able to commit and sustain activity is vital - losing momentum loses confidence.

Having clear objectives of what you want to achieve or work towards prevents deviation and focusses concentration and attention to the cause.

Tenacity and the ability to overcome adversity; often trying to implement change takes time even when it directly benefits the stakeholder.

Two years down the line and with a variety of initiatives ongoing, the AWM CSR programme continually evolves to meet the needs of its stakeholders.

To maintain ground level buy-in and continued success it's important that the direction is heavily influenced by direct beneficiaries.

As a business; aside from the obvious natural benefits such as networking,

attracting, retaining and enhancing workforce experiences and raising the level of understanding and integration of your business; the programme has brought about some unexpected channels of positiveness - employee engagement, teamwork and improved communication.

The benefits are obvious and a recent study by the UK Small Business Consortium suggests that 88% of consumers were more likely to buy from a company that supports and engages in activities to improve society.

Associated Waste

Management YORKSHIRE’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT WASTE MANAGEMENT BUSINESS TRADE WASTE AND SKIP/RORO SERVICES ZERO WASTE TO LANDFILL DEDICATED ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

Associated Waste Management Limited St Bernard’s Mill Gelderd Road Leeds West Yorkshire LS27 7NA Tel: 0845 4567128 Web: www.awm.uk.com

Winter Issue February 2015

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ARTHOUSE ON A ROLL WITH BONDHOLDERS

The Wakefield Wallpaper, a visual campaign launched

by Wakefield Bondholders to put the spotlight on what makes the district unique, rolled out last month when it appeared at The Art House Taking pride of place on the perimeter hoarding that protects the development of the Old Drury Lane Library, the large scale wallpaper showcases visual icons that represent the many legends that are associated with the district.

From reminders of the city’s rich heritage through to examples of nationally recognised businesses and products that call Wakefield their home, the infographic acts as a strong example of why the district is a great place to invest and do business.

Heidi Waddington (pictured above), Marketing Manager for The Art House comments: “We share the bondholder vision to promote the district and are really pleased to be supporting their campaign.

“The hoarding is a great place to feature the Wakefield wallpaper,

56

especially as it is so close to Westgate Railway Station and there is no doubt that it will attract attention from visitors to the city.”

Ian Winterbottom of Our Agency comments: “We have great plans for the Wakefield Wallpaper. It will be used to attract bondholders whilst also promoting the district nationally and internationally.

“We’ve all got a story to tell or a quirky fact to shout about so what better way to express it than with pictures, it’s timeless and limitless.

We’re looking forward to capturing the hidden gems from across the city and decorating even more places with Wakefield’s story!”

If you are interested in becoming part of Wakefield’s story, by featuring on the Wakefield Wallpaper, contact onaroll@wakefieldbondholders.com

Bondholders Grow Membership Base The Wakefield First Bondholder Scheme, the membership group which has been developed to support and promote the growth and success of the Wakefield District, has welcomed The Art House, Open Communications, Ghost Communications and Copiserv to its team of members.

Representing the growing creative and IT sectors, each business will play an important role in supporting the Bondholder objective, which is to raise the profile of the Wakefield district, demonstrating why it’s a great place to invest and do business.

Adrian Spawforth, Chair of Wakefield First Bondholder Scheme comments: “Our ultimate goal has always been to brand, market and promote the Wakefield district nationally and internationally but it is also really important that we expand our membership base too.

“We are really pleased to welcome our newest recruits and would like to invite more forward thinking companies, who are committed to creating a successful, prosperous and energetic region, to share our vision and join The Wakefield First Bondholder Scheme.”

Why Join Bondholders?

• As a bondholder you can help to shape and grow the Wakefield district whilst also investing in your own brand and business.

• Our district is a key investment destination; through Bondholders the public and private sector can support growth by promoting a positive image that will increase the region’s profile.

• 100% of Bondholder membership fees are re-invested back into promoting the Wakefield district.

• As a bondholder you enjoy access to business links and opportunities that help you to grow and, by association, support the development of the Wakefield District too.

• We are Wakefield, but together we are world-class wakey!

• Whatever your size or sector, your organisation can become a bondholder.

To find out more or to arrange a meeting simply email onaroll@wakefieldbondholders.com

Winter Issue February 2015

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58

DAY DELEGATE RATE PACKAGE ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE £27.50*

Photo John Jowett

With 4 fabulous conference rooms of various sizes, all in a central city location with ample public parking and 2 minute walk from Wakefield Westgate station

Day Delegate Price Includes: • • • • •

Room Hire from 09:00 – 17:00 Arrival Tea/Coffee Mid Morning Tea/Coffee Conference Buffet Lunch Afternoon Tea/Coffee

• • • •

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applies to new bookings only in conference rooms 1 & 5, other rooms available on request. Max capacity 70 people.

For more information contact Cat or Holly on 01924 831114 or email hello@unityworks.co.uk Winter Issue February 2015

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Ghost communications Graphic Design; Marketing; PR; Event Managment; Magazines; Branding gill@ghost-communications.com - Tel: 07711 539047 60