Group 1 leeds business review jan 2014

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LEEDS BUSINESS REVIEW DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL RACING AHEAD EXCITING FIRST LOOK AT VICTORIA GATE & LEEDS’ NEW FIVE STAR HILTON

ISSUE #001 JANUARY ‘14

LeedsBusinessReview

CONTENTS PAGE 5 PLANS REVEALED FOR DALEK WIND SOLUTIONS PAGE 6 IS THE NHS GOING UNDER? LEEDS BUS FARES DECREASING PAGE 7 COMBATTING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT SOLICITOR BANNED FOR TAX EVASION PAGE 8 NEW HILTON HOTEL TO BOOST ECONOMY THE SOFTWARE TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE PAGE 9 LEEDS TROLLEY BUS PAGE 10 TRINITY KITCHEN LANDS IN LEEDS PAGE 12 THE BELGRAVE MUSIC HALL REVIVAL PAGE 13 MADE IN LEEDS TV PAGE 15 BUSINESS WEEK WHY LEEDS NEEDS HS2 PAGE 16 GTA: ROCKING AROUND THE GAMING WORLD PAGE 18 LEEDS’ ABANDONED PROPERTIES PAGE 19 KIRKGATE MARKET REVAMP WHITE ROSE CENTRE RECEIVES A FACELIFT PAGE 20 THE ARRIVAL OF VICTORIA GATE PAGE 22 THE IMPACT OF TRINITY PAGE 25 LEEDS - PUBLIC VS PRIVATE PAGE 26 TOUR DE FRANCE PAGE 27 RUGBY WORLD CUP PAGE 28 LINKEDIN TOP TIPS Photo courtesy of Hammerson Page 2 January 2014 LeedsBusiness Review

Start

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR AS THE economy begins to recover, the financial landscape is an exciting place to analyse. Leeds has continued to thrive in the retail sector, with Trinity Leeds shopping centre welcoming more than 12 million visitors through its doors. Plans for Victoria Gate are already underway with the city welcoming a brand new John Lewis towards the end 2016.

In this issue of Leeds Business Review we investigate the economic outlook of the city with the council aiming to be “the best city in the UK by 2030�.

Earlier this year the city played host to Leeds Business Week with many influential figures taking part in talks and hosting events across the city.

We sat down with D&D London to see how they broke into the Northern market while Alex Price investigates how Leeds Empties plans to renovate thousands of derelict properties.

With the plans in place for High Speed 2, the city is expected to see a rise in business with journeys to London taking just 82 minutes. The plans would see a new station in the city with many job opportunities.

With Leeds continuing to grow transport is seen as a necessity. Talks are on going about the possibility of trolleybus across the city with further talks expected towards the beginning of next year.

The development of the Hilton Hotel near Leeds Arena will be an exciting aspect of 2016 as it opens its doors to the public. Georgia Sharp looks at the impact it will have on the city.

Alice Booth talks to Ian Bowden, the Artistic Director at Rockstar Games to see their involvement in the new Grand Theft Auto game. Andrew Briggs also went to see how the Rugby League world Cup bought business to the north of Leeds.

And finally, Alice Kidd explores how the Tour De France will be bringing more jobs to the city.

This issue has been a pleasure to compile with so many developments in the city, and an improvement in the economy.

Page 3 | January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

Development

BRIDGEWATER PLACE SEEKS INVESTMENT OF £245,000 TO CONQUER HIGH WINDS CC picture courtesy of LBD on Flickr

To solve the problem of the high winds, Leeds City Council are now in the stages of a pre-application process for funding Bridgewater place stands proud among the orange clouds However, the building has received just as much negative press as it has received praise in recent years.

Fern Crawley Construction

PLANS HAVE finally been unveiled for a solution to Bridgewater Place’s extreme winds, a lengthy seven years after the building’s completion. It was revealed at a council meeting last week that a proposed £245,000 plan to resolve the building’s wind tunnel is in the pre-application stage.

Bridgewater Place, which stands at a height of 32 floors high, was the centre of an inquest last month that brought attention to the fatality and also the minor injuries the wind tunnel has caused.

Concern surrounding Leeds tallest building has stemmed back to 2007 when the skyscraper was yet to be finished. A warning, in the form of an email, sent

by John Bleakley stated concern about unprecedented winds. Bleakley was still sendingwarning emails a few months later in April 2008, stating: “Folk are being blown into the paths of vehicles and a safety audit has revealed the need for some more PGR”.

Residents of the controversial Bridgewater Place have been reiterating their fears for their safety amidst recent high winds. Not only has the building sparked concern from environmental experts but also Leeds locals. Claire Denver 25, who lives in a building neighbouring Bridgewater Place said: “I was walking from town with my mother last week and she knocked right off her feet from the winds near The Dalek. It was quite a shock for her as she’s an elderly woman.”

Leeds City Council has taken action on the roads surrounding Bridgewater Place.

Recently, further action has been taken on Bridgewater to ensure safety to pedestrians who simply cannot detour from the hazardous area.

Bridgewater Place later came under Building owner’s CPPI, have put forward scrutiny in 2011 after Edward Slaney plans to Leeds City Council to create was killed due to a wind tunnel caused barriers and baffles to deter the wind. by the tall building.

Three vertical The man who also screens, 20m “It was revealed at a council happened to be long baffles and a meeting last week that a proan environmental posed “£245,000 plan to resolve glass canopy have engineer was from been proposed. the building’s wind, is in the preCalderdale in West Although they have application stage.”

Yorkshire and been described suffered serious as “big and ugly” Leeds City Council ruled that during windy injuries after he was hit by a falling HGV developments they will undoubtedly prove periods roads around the tall building near the tall building. Slaney’s barrister necessary for the safety of Leeds residents. would be closed off to pedestrians only. has commented on the delay in timing to If the proposals prove to be worthwhile, The striking building, which can be seen the BBC stating: “The reality is it is seven Bridgewater residents and Leeds locals from 40km away has quickly become years since the problem was first known could finally look forward to a safe area a Leeds landmark thanks to its unique about and we don’t even have a planning surrounding the building. design and evident architectural prowess application.”

January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview | Page 5

News

FIRST BUS PRICE CHANGE COMES INTO EFFECT Niamh Hamill

Transport

Above: Bus passengers in Leeds received a boost; cheap fares announced FIRST GROUP travel, welcomed customers into the new year by slashing its fares by almost 30% on the Leeds and Bradford Bus services.

From Sunday 05 January commuters will see the new effect, saving passengers £250 a year, it is said.

Reductions include the £3.90 off-peak day ticket which is now being extended so riders can use it all day, saving morning passengers 70p a day.

Regular passengers can use the bus for £2 a day, introducing a new weekly ticket costing users £14 for seven days of unlimited travel within the Leeds metropolitan district boundary; this will be a saving of £5.50 a week for people.

The new Leeds weekly ticket

will take over from the inner city ‘Green Zone’ ticket which used to cost £13.50 a week for users. By paying 50p extra riders can get any First Bus throughout West Yorkshire.

Ian Williams, director at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We welcome Firsts step to lower a significant number of its bus fares in the Leeds area from this weekend.”

“We have seen 5% customer growth on our buses in West Yorkshire”

Last year saw First Group improve its services by adding 100 new buses to its fleet in West Yorkshire as well as using GPS technology , meaning commuters can now text to see how long their bus with be exactly. Over 94% of journeys being on time from the end of September 2013.

The new improvements saw the

passengers travelling by First Group in West Yorkshire grow by 100,000 a week.

Dave Alexander, regional managing director for First in West Yorkshire said: “I am delighted that we have seen this impressive 5% customer growth on our buses in West Yorkshire.

“Over the last 18 months we have invested heavily in improving our service delivery standards with new vehicles and the transformation of our business across the region.”

The fare changes in York came to light after they appealed to customers in the summer asking for feedback, about the service with the outcome being they wanted a service worth the money.

NHS OVER-SPENDING MILLIONS Alex Price Public sector

FINANCIAL EXPERTS KPMG, have been brought in to help Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust after recent figures have showed they spent millions more than they should have over the last year.

In their annual financial report in September, the Trust, which runs both Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital, said expenditure last year “increased beyond our original expectation by a total of £17.5 million”.

The report said the increase was due to local commissioners as well as exceeding their budget for drugs, blood products and medical devices by £4 million.

Energy costs also exceeded plan by £1.7 million as well as cleaning and other facilities which went over budget by another £1 million.

Page 6 | January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

£17.5 Million

If the current situation continues, experts believe the Trust could be in deficit by this coming March. The Trust has now drafted in KPMG in an attempt to save the Trust from falling under.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust did not comment.

Councillor Barry Anderson believes the public have a right to know where their money is being spent. He said: “The NHS should be completely transparent with this and tell the public why this has happened and why they have brought experts in.

News

WORK PLACEMENTS PROMISED DUE TO UNEMPLOYMENT RISE Alice Kidd

Employment

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT has hit a record high in the UK. Leeds alone has a youth unemployment rate of 15,800, which amounts to 22.8 percent of all the sixteen to twenty-four year olds in the city. The recent twenty million pound investment into the new government traineeship programme is targeting this escalating problem but how is it going to help the city of Leeds?

Traineeships are available for young people aged sixteen to twenty-four who are not currently in a job, have little work experience, and those who are focused on work or the prospect of it. More than five hundred providers and two hundred companies have pledged to take on trainees next year, many of which are situated in Leeds. These include household names like Virgin,

Siemens and BAE systems.

Leeds shop owner, Mark Eley, warned that many companies remain very reluctant to take on new trainees or staff with little experience. “There are anxious times for many employees and anyone who has lost their jobs but it is also a terrible time for graduates and school leavers entering the job market.” As businesses are refusing jobs to those people with limited experience, methods such as the traineeship programme are the only way to give people the required skills that lead onto apprenticeships and other work.

The benefits of this new government programme not only apply to the trainees but also the employers themselves.

Chris Startling, head of Virgin Apprenticeships in Leeds said: “Traineeships are a great opportunity for both parties, not only can the employer get to know the trainee but the trainee can get real exposure to the type of career that is available and make an informed decision that is best for them.” Through this scheme, employers are getting to know the qualities and potential of their staff before they hire them, ensuring they have the best team possible in the business.

Providers and employers believe that people who take

Leeds has a youth jobless rate of 15,800

part in the traineeship will have a reasonable chance of being ready for employment or an apprenticeship by the end of the course, which lasts a maximum of six months. This will see a dramatic improvement in the youth unemployment levels if people get involved in the programme. In a GOV.UK press release, Maurice Daw, chief of people officer for Virgin Media said, “Our first trainees are being taken on as full time field technicians so we are delighted with the trainee scheme.”

The core content of traineeships will be work preparation training, English, Maths and high quality work placement.

These are essential skills that are required in most aspects of work, without these, people may be unable to find a job.

In a GOV.UK press realease, skills minister Mathew Hancock says. “Traineeships give young people the help they need to compete for apprenticeships and other jobs. The programme is off to a fantastic start with strong backing from employers and trainee providers. ‘‘We have responded to this demand by providing additional investment and in time traineeships will become the clear route for young people looking into getting the crucial grounding they need for the world of work.”

TAX DODGING SOLICITOR BANNED Alice Booth

Law

A LEEDS SOLICITOR has been banned from acting as a company director after failing to pay £600,000 in tax.

John Wilson, the founder and head of Wilson’s Solicitors, was disqualified for seven years and ordered to pay £41,000 in costs by a High Court in Leeds. He failed to

pay tax on the office services arm of Wilson’s Solicitors, Lawyours LLP, of which he was the director. Lawyours, a firm designed to provide law administration support, had several branches throughout West Yorkshire including in Leeds.

His Honour Judge Kaye (QC) said: “I do not say he was dishonest or lacked probity.

What he lacked was, as previously described, ability to appreciate his own actions might be wrong, or to take responsibility for his own decisions, instead seeking, unjustifiably, to cast blame on almost everyone with whom he came into contact.”

John Wilson failed to pay £600,000 in tax.

Mr Wilson intends to continue working as a solicitor and blamed the financial recession for his inability to pay taxes. In a statement he said: “Regarding the judgment I am pleased that it vindicates my stance that I did not act dishonestly or lack probity...This business was set up in 2007, completely separately from the law firm, which is unaffected by any of this.

“But no one could have predicted that the worst recession in 60 years would soon follow.

The bank was helpful initially but I believe it acted unreasonably by withdrawing the overdraft facility after the bank itself ran into severe financial difficulties.”

January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview | Page 7

Feature

NEW HILTON BOOKED IN FOR 2016 Arena Hilton will be a destination hotel for many visitors of leisure purposes and the business population alike.

Described by chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise as a “vital inward investment” the hotel is a prime example of how the public and private sector can work together towards a goal likely to achieve further investment into the city of Leeds. Scheduled to open in 2015 the construction process will take two years and require the employment of 370 construction workers.

Georgie Sharpe Tourism PLANS FOR the five star Hilton hotel development in the arena quarters of Leeds are set to bring economic and employment growth to the city region.

Built on the derelict land of Portland Crescent, the forty-storey building is predicted to continue the success of the neighbouring sixty

The Hilton hotel is one of numerous projects taking shape around the arena; developments also include a ten-storey serviced apartment block on Merrion Way in addition to the refurbishment of the long established Merrion shopping centre. A Hilton worldwide spokesperson million pound First Direct Arena and drive said how the Leeds Arena development is ‘set to further boost the city’s position regeneration of the area. as an attractive entertainment and retail destination”.

Two hundred bedrooms and a signature top floor panoramic sky lounge, the The build is currently underway and Leeds impressive building will also include City Region have confirmed that they are state of the art meeting rooms and on schedule for the target completion date conference facilities where potential in 2015. investors and city region businesses can meet and network. Victoria Thornton, Senior Communications Officer at Leeds Yorkshire has been named best European destination at the World Tourism Awards City Region said how the luxury hotel and the region’s tourism industry is set to will “fill a perceived gap for ‘high end’ grow dramatically according to Leeds and accommodation.”

Partners “The development will complement the The Leeds Arena Hilton Hotel attraction of the new Trinity shopping development will provide luxury centre and Leeds Arena and provide accommodation for some of the estimated for those attending events” said Victoria Thornton. With world renowned acts such 1.5 million people annually who stay in Leeds overnight. The tourism sector as Elton John and Status Quo playing the arena on a monthly basis, attracting crowds generates around 2.2 billion which is from the UK and further afield, the Leeds expected to increase to be worth 2.8 billion by 2020.

Page 8 | January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

AttributionNoncommercialNo DerivativeWorks Some Rights Reserved by GB Group

The arena is proving a lucrative basis for many other developments and an ‘arena quarter’ is fast approaching reality. Independent economic impact assessments conducted by Yorkshire Forward, a regional development agency, show that the First Direct Arena which opened in July will bring over twenty-five million pounds to the local economy every year along with three-hundred full time jobs.

News

TROLLEYBUS GETS THE GO AHEAD

Niamh Hill Transport

OCTOBER SAW the end of the six week objection period for the New Generation Transport (NGT). The team at NGT have recently begun contacting each objector and responding to each arisen issue.

According to the Metro, a public inquiry was “inevitable with any transport scheme of this size.”

The proposed route would be 14.5km (9 miles) long and run from Holt Park, through Headingley, the City Centre down to Stourton and is said to take two hours off your weekly journey.

Councillor Richard Lewis says: “NGT is essential for Leeds and the City Region’s future economic growth. The application for a Transport and Works Act Order is the next stage in delivering this important scheme.

The case for NGT and the benefits it will bring have been extensively tested and intergrated by leading transport and engineering consultants, Department for Transport advisors and independent experts. I am therefore confident that the business case will more than stand up to inspection.”

One of the main concerns people are opposing, is that over 500 trees will have to be cut down for the track to be put down. Also shops in Hype Park including Occasions and News and Booze will be demolished.

A worker at the local newsagent News and Booze said:

Picture by Tom Hacker I can do about the situation. If the Trolleybus came tomorrow and we close, I am out of work and there is not much I can do apart from look for another job” The negative back lash started in the summer when protestors stood outside Leeds City Council holding banners, giving out leaflets explaining how people could sign the campaign. The next step was taken on September 24th with protestors standing along Otley Road in rush hour, again handing out flyers and wearing placards, explaining how many trees would be harmed if the Trolleybus scheme went ahead.

One placard read ’53 trees harmed.’’

Transport chiefs have explained they will replace the trees on a three for one basis, and replant any that die in the next five years; this will add more cost to the project.

NGT are said to now be looking into adjustments that could be made to the design.

From 1911 to 1928 Leeds had Trolleybuses and if the plans for

will be the first one in the UK

Trollybuses can take two hours off your weekly journey.

“If the trolleybus came tomorrow, I am out of work and there is not much I can do about it apart from look for another job.”

Councillor James Lewis, Chairman of West Yorkshire Metro, said: “Transport has long been a major issue for Leeds. It remains one of the few big European cities that does not have a modern, integrated transport system and over the last two decades all political parties have called for Government investment in a modern transport system for the city.”

During the six week period the NGT have been backed by a number of key employers in Yorkshire, including Leeds University, Leeds Rugby and The Leeds Hotels and Venues Association who have all submitted letters in support of the Department of Transport.

It is hoped that in the upcoming months more businesses voice their support for the development.

With the new project moving forward the NGT team are looking into working with businesses along the route, and are keen to continue building working relations with people that help the city.

January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview | Page 9

Development

12M REASONS WHY

Leeds £350m shopping development

0LOOLRQV ÁRFN WR FLW\·V ÁDJVKLS VKRSSLQJ FHQWUH The 1million square foot development boasts the city’s retail rankings, bringing it to 4th in the CACI UK retail rankings, behind only London, Birmingham and Glasgow.

Chris Hitchings Retail

DRAMATIC CHANGES in the retail street-scene of Leeds are afoot.

Trinity Leeds, a £350million development was the only outlet of its scale to open in 2013, bucking the trend of slow redevelopment in the wake of the global recession.

the economy of the UK is still operating in ‘safe mode’, with many predicting a debtfuelled recovery.

Based on figures released by the Bank of England (BoE) in November 2013, it is Trinity forms part of the City Council’s estimated their unsecured consumer debt wish to make Leeds “the best city in the was at nearly £900million, a 150% increase UK by 2030” as quoted from their plan for on the previous quarter. On the whole, development over the next decade. With part of BoE figures show that lending the groundwork of the Eastgate quarters levels are well above the average figures bringing further investment into the city, for 2012, where common ground lending it begs the question of how limited is the figure lay at £160m. success of Leeds?

Residency in the county is 2.2million, with As shoppers are becoming more savvy, 5.5 million people being within the defined retail spending in the months leading up to catchment area of the Leeds city centre.

October 2013 showed a dip of 0.7% across the UK. In addition to this, inflation has Hyde Park is Leeds’ most popular student risen to 2.2%. area, with a selection of local retailers focused predominately around Hyde Park Exponential growth, which has been corner, to the east of the busy community. predicted by developers, overlooks that Students bring an average spend of £80bn

Page 10 | January 2014 | LeedsBusinessRe-

TRINITY LEEDS WORKS

DV /HHGV SRZHUV LQWR IRXUWK UHWDLO VSRW to the UK economy, according to figures of the National Union of Students, in fact the total nmber of people supported by student spending power is greater than the population of Liverpool.

However, despite those in education having such huge spending power, local economies are struggling.

A business owner, who asked to remain anonymous said “In the past few years I’ve seen this area change a lot. There have been a lot of businesses close down, as people move away from Hyde Park and want to be closer to the centre. When we first opened up shop here there was a thriving community. ” Stuart Trevor runs Bolongaro Trevor, a boutique store in Thornton Arcade of the city centre.

Trevor, -previously enjoyed success setting up the first All- Saints store in Leeds.

Trevor commented, “Trinity has been great for Leeds, it has brought real confidence to the city, and a lot more people are coming here than ever before.” On opening a store out of the city centre he said, “I’d consider it, I think a brand like ours would do well in the affluent areas of north Leeds. We’ve had real success in Leeds, and we hope to open a further 50 stores across the UK in the next 5 years.”

Whilst the 120 store centre be seen to have brought a small amount of economic bleakness to inner city suburbs, for the most part the investment in the city and success it has brought is something admired and appreciated by retailers small and large.

Despite regeneration projects outside the inner ring road, consumers are still sticking to the city centre, whether that for convenience or the array of amenities the city centre brings.

Picture by EG Focus

Picture by Christian Bodden

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Development

Trinity Kitchen is proving popular with the people of Leeds

IF YOU CAN STAND THE HEAT, When Trinity Kitchen opened with a unique array of traders, worried restaurant owners wondered if their businesses would suffer

Rachel Flynn Food and drink correspondent

DOUSED IN bright colours and buntings, the 20,000 square foot food concept is setting a new benchmark for Trinity’s rival restaurants.

Johnson, a Guardian food journalist and organiser of the British Street Food Awards, describes street food as an ‘ongoing revolution.’

Separated from other restaurants in Trinity, the idea represents what you don’t expect to find in a brand new shopping centre. Opened in October last year, the open-plan inclusion of street food traders located on the first floor isn’t your usual shopping centre food hall. The distinctive mix of vibrant restaurants and street food vans offers food of the highest standards with unique stories of where your meal has come from.

The man behind the plan, Richard

Curator of Trinity Kitchen, and ITV judge on Taste the Nation, Richard Johnson said: “I think the people who own Trinity Kitchen very wisely thought that the food concept inside shopping centres was a bit tired, people wanted more dynamics, something that changed and evolved.

The idea of crazily lifting vans, trucks and trailers onto the first floor and rotating it every 28 days works for the punters, works for the traders and works for Trinity Kitchen”.

Page 12| January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

Development

Crepe Affaire: One of Trinity’s cafes

GET DOWN TO TRINITY KITCHEN Gary Dockerty, director of Reality Drinks, hopes to be chosen for Trinity Kitchen “Street food is a great way to try new things, both for someone that is looking to start a small business and for the customer that wants to try something different.

People have more expectations to what they’re buying on the markets and they realise the quality of the food has risen.

Customers are willing to pay more for quality while on the go, especially in more fast paced areas like Trinity.”

Nick Freeman, marketing manager of Crepe Affaire featured inside Trinity, worried when a crepe van first arrived within Trinity Kitchen. “The food court as a whole hit us during its opening weekend, when it attracted a lot of attention, but since then it hasn’t had a noticeable negative impact. According to our manager on site, we’ve had some positive comments about the quality and speed of our crêpes in relation to the new competition.”

And it appears people are latching on to the fresh food aspect. Matt Gough, a Kirkgate Market trader, said: “Since Trinity kitchen opened we have seen a noticeable increase in sales of fruit and veg. Obviously people don’t come to us to

“Street food is a great way to try new things” eat, they come to take home fresh fruit and veg and I think with the fresh food coming out of Trinity Kitchen this has encouraged people to buy fresher produce.”

It seems that you don’t need to have a big establishment to provide quality products, and through time consumers have started to question that as they try out new markets and new food. Trinity Kitchen is a prime example offering shoppers every kind of cuisine whilst also helping independent food traders.

Features

LATEST ADDITION TO THE LEEDS MUSIC SCENE

The new roof terrace at the Belgrave.

Picture courtesy of Liting Lil

WHEN IT first opened in 1934 the venue was a three storey nursery and day care centre, designed to support working families in the Leeds area.

Now is the time for The Belgrave to reopen its doors under the name, The Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen. It is providing the public with up and coming music and artists a unique and independent venue to perform in. Located in the heart of Leeds’ Northern Quarter, and with three stories of concert hall space, The Belgrave has all that it needs to become one of Leeds’ prime music venues.

Dave Purcell Arts & entertainment

played at The Cockpit and hopes to play The Belgrave in the near future, said: “Cockpit is a great venue, I loved playing there. I’ve been to The Belgrave on a night out and had a look around the place and it looks like the kind of place that would be a great place to perform.”

“It was the highlight of my night there. I think it was a really cool idea for a bar to have a garden on the roof.”

relatively edible, but Dough Boys were well worth the money and they were good quality pizzas as well”.

As well as the festive feel inside the club, The Belgrave also prides itself on having a spectacular roof terrace. To make sure that Leeds has always been known for a the club maintained its purity as a Leeds pulsating music scene and the addition The Belgrave has now also created a new venue the club enrolled the assistance of a new venue aimed at contemporary area that has been converted into two of graphic design students at Leeds musicians is only likely to increase the kitchens and a canteen where fresh food Metropolitan University to help design the opportunities that are available to new can be purchased. One of the kitchens will layout of the garden terrace. talent. be run by the famous Dough Boys who pride themselves on creating the ultimate Conner Kingdom, a student at Leeds Leeds promoters Ash Kollakowski and Met, commented on his trip to the see the Simon Stevens will now operate the club as festival pizza and proved themselves this year at the Beacons Festival. terrace: “It was the highlight of my night it opens its doors to the public again. there. You could tell that there had been The Belgrave has all the makings of a great David Barman, who went to the Beacons a lot of hard work put into the design and music venue that could very well be the Festival this year, commented: construction of the area. I think it was a next small setting to carry the flag for all “You don’t go to a festival expecting to really cool idea for a bar to have a garden new musicians. be eating top quality food, you just kind on the roof and I think they have pulled of look for the cheapest food that sounds it off great. I’d definitely go back there Local guitarist Phil Holland, who has again”.

January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview | Page 14

Features

that in our own communities.

The channel will also bring with it a personal touch that will engage local communities and business’s right in the heart of Yorkshire. Mark explained: “It will enable local people to share their stories and come together. I think some of the biggest problems in our world today are down to a failure of different groups of people to properly understand one another and how they live and think. Made in Leeds is a chance to change

Made are planning to launch the ‘Hyperlocal’ channel early this year. John Baron the stations news editor, says: “The As well as building a strong on screen and back end of March is the penciled date web presence, Made TV will be pioneers for first transmission.” John spoke with in second screen technology: “We are pure lyricism of how it is “exciting to have developing an a station app for all the dedicated you can to Leeds Whenever you’re watching, the devices name which will and that enable viewers ÁRZ RI WKH VFKHGXOH ZLOO EH it is going to find further to be entirely local. content when wonderful they’re watching partnering our shows as well as enable them to shape up and getting reporters on programs in the narrative of our programmes. collaboration with the BBC…It is going to benefit not just Leeds but also engage the “Made in Leeds will offer unprecedented minds and ideas of people all over.” opportunities for the SME sector in Leeds and the wider West Yorkshire region by The BBC will be working actively with providing low cost, affordable air time the channel, as they are contractually slots and sponsorship opportunities. obliged to buy a certain amount of We aim to see the SME sector, currently air-time from Made in Leeds during underrepresented in TV, benefit from this the first year of transmission. Made in new exposure in advertising local products Leeds also has a partnership with Bauer and services, generating business growth Media who own the brand Radio Aire. and boosting jobs and well-being in the Mark O’Brien spoke of how it will be region.” utilised: “Throughout the day…we will be broadcasting top-of-the-hour news and info updates from our Bauer Media partners 96.3 Radio Aire, and we will have opportunities for short local films too, so that whenever you’re watching, the flow of the schedule will be entirely local.”

“

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MADE IN Leeds television will bring sustained business to the region with producers creating original content for use in West Yorkshire. As well as producing original content the channel will also act as a platform for business advertising and commercial marketing. Mark O’Brien, a producer for Made Television which will soon be airing on a screen in the north, said: “Many different producers have been in touch with us about programmes that they want to develop with us, because they’ve spotted already the amazing potential of a broadcasting platform that can reach as many as three million people across the area we cover. They include everything from a rugby talk show, a sketch comedy show and a nightlife showcase through to a sitcom set in the local building trade. As long as we believe there is an audience and we can help them find the sponsors for it, we are always open to ideas for future programming.”

Despite the slight issues with the construction of the transmitter – which caused the initial delays - Made are confident about being ready with lots of original content for launch. “Our plans for making content always entailed that we would hire our staff and go into production on in-house programmes two to three months before our on-air launch and that’s still the case. We will have all the content to fill our 24-hour schedule and our commitments on original locally-made programming from day one”.

“

Charles Engwell Media correspondent

“It will change the terms of political and social debate too, with local reporters dedicated to covering local events, especially the millions of pounds spent in our names by local councils, which too often goes under-reported. And most importantly, all our shows are gonna be a lot of fun for Leeds and West Yorkshire simply to watch and take part in!”

“pull quote goes here and is in 12pt font size and 10pt leading.

Note that the quote marks are now regular text and that it is placed in the dead centre of the

LEEDS’ VERY OWN TV CHANNEL January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview | Page 15

Business Week

LEEDS BUSINESS WEEK

LEEDS HELD ITS FIRST BUSINESS WEEK, WITH OVER 60 EVENTS TAKING PLACE Page 16 | January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

D&D London announces sales of over £90k a week in new Northern restaurant.

Business Week

D&D LONDON REPORTS SALES OF OVER £90K A WEEK. HENRY ARNOLD REPORTS...

D&D LONDON have announced a huge success in the north with their first venture outside London reporting average weekly sales of over £90,000.

Crafthouse has been open just nine months, but has made a huge impact in the city after an extravagant launch in the Trinity centre. With 24 restaurants around London and a growing international presence, the company has learnt to tailor the dining experience to a range of customer needs.

John Morrison, the head of sales, said: “Leeds is a completely different market, it’s a much smaller city and we have to work harder to drive customers through the door.” With local produce and a unique menu the company continues to grow a presence outside London.

The restaurant has proven popular at weekends. During the week Crafthouse largely caters to corporate clients while the weekend is exclusively for leisure.

Unlike London based branches, working lunches are not as popular in the North due to businesses having smaller budgets for corporate hospitality. Crafthouse is generally a lot busier in the evening particularly with customers visiting the city for special occasions.

To counter the lower food business the company also operate Angelica, a bar situated just upstairs from the restaurant.

Angelica offers cocktails and wine as well as high-end bar food to ensure the company caters to the Northern clients requirements.

public.

Food from the region is often more expensive than foreign alternatives such as Canadian lobster. With exclusive food contracts to suppliers such as meat supplier Ginger Pig, Crafthouse ensures customers get a unique experience.

D&D London has been hugely successful since it bought Conran Restaurants in 2006. The company looks to further their success after a £50m management buyout by LDC earlier this year. The key to the company’s success seems to be allowing each branch to operate with a John Morrison described the opening as “a unique identity. John Morrison described Leeds as “A completely different market huge success” noting the launch of Leeds altogether.”

Trinity was hugely beneficial for local exposure, which tied in with the unveiling In 2012 the company saw growth of 2.5% of the restaurant itself. in revenue while London branches rose 4%. Although launching in Leeds may In March a party was held in Leeds by seem a risk for the company, the business D&D London that saw local celebrities, model and tailored menu seem to have including Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, sample the menu before the general helped the brand grow beyond its high-end London clientele.

LOCAL MP SAYS HIGH SPEED 2 IS “VITAL TO LEEDS’ FUTURE”. ALICE BOOTH REPORTS...

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HILARY BENN, MP for Leeds Central, has said High Speed 2 is “vital to Leeds’ economic future”, despite splits within his party.

The Labour MP said the rail network is an “investment in the city” when answering a question at the Leeds City Summit posed

by David Israel. He said HS2 is necessary “if Leeds wants to remain as a European city and is aspiring to be a global city.”

The controversial rail network will cost an estimated £42.6bn, plus £7.5 billion for trains.

Ed Balls told a fringe event at the Labour conference that his party must consider whether HS2 is “the best way to spend £50bn”. He then speculated whether the money would be better going to health or education. However Maria Eagle, the shadow transport secretary, said the Labour party “supports” HS2.

Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, argued that Leeds needs investment. He talked about the “£30 billion” Crossrail project in London and said there are only ever debates about cost when money is being spent in the North.

He said: “It’s more of a political decision than an economic one.”

Hilary Benn says the rail network is an “investment in the city”.

David Israel, fundraising and development manager for Leeds Museums and Galleries, HS2 would be great for the city and bring many “economic benefits”.

Business Week

IAN BOWDEN ROCKSTAR GAMES As art director for the company that made $1bn in three days, Ian Bowden’s job is more than just a game. Alice Booth spoke to him

LEEDS BUSINESS WEEK Page 18 | January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

Business Week ROCKSTAR GAMES broke numerous records with their new game; Grand Theft Auto V. Chart-Track reported that in its first week, nine out of every ten games sold in the UK were copies of GTA 5.

These statistics go some way to explaining why the 43 year old’s presentation for the Youth Festival of Business, part of Leeds Festival of Business, is so well-attended.

The 349-person capacity auditorium of the Carriageworks is packed with Leeds City College students, both those who want to go into the gaming industry and those who just love Grand Theft Auto. The art director for Rockstar Leeds’ discussion, entitled ‘How (not) to get into the Games Industry’, is a meandering account of Ian’s career path interspersed with anecdotes and chatting with the audience.

Whether he’s talking about his foray into Barbie Horse Adventures, explaining Optichallenge™ or pretending to be a game character running around a corridor in a space station, Ian Bowden is constantly full of energy and truly passionate about what he does. Whatever he’s discussing - his love of Leeds and its architecture or one of his favourite games, Ico - his fervour and vitality are infectious.

When he’s inundated with appeals for autographs after the presentation, it’s easy to see that his connection to the game, which seems to have broken more records than the invention of the Compact Disc, isn’t the only reason Ian’s event is one of the most popular of the festival.

Despite the title of the presentation, Ian is perfectly happy to offer advice to those wanting to enter the gaming industry.

When asked what he would say to someone who wants to set up their own gaming business his answer is categorical “Do it, do it, do it, do it. There’s nothing ventured, nothing gained. If I hadn’t gone down that line I would not be doing what I’m doing today...Starting up that company set me on this track.” He says the crucial points are to “Be brave, have fun, do something different”.

Ian is brutally honest about the amount of luck it takes to get to his position and

Images courtesy of Rockstar Games Inc

says anyone who is in a similar role and doesn’t appreciate that shouldn’t be there. “I know lots of people in the games industry who have worked as hard as me, who’ve had similar backgrounds, who’ve started up their own companies and haven’t progressed as far as I have.” He mentions Angry Birds and says for those developers that game was like having their lottery numbers drawn. But, he says, “... you’ve got to buy a ticket, you have to try; if you don’t try you don’t get.”

people allows you to pop things out.”

It’s this method which caused him to accidentally draw the ex-Marine protagonist of Vice City Stories as himself.

“We built him and he looked good and we had him playing in the game for quite a while until someone pointed out that it just looked like me...and I suddenly went, ‘Oh god yes it does. Gotta change that character.’”

Ian is passionate about details, he describes himself as, “...inspired by the A History of Fine Art and English minutiae”. “If you want to make something Literature graduate from Leeds that looks real you have to have the detail University, Ian is inspired by a miscellany in your head”. This zeal for detail can be of things from theatre design and seen in his love of the “fun” architecture architecture to people in the pub. He of his adopted city of Leeds. He says the carries his sketchbook everywhere and his architect who designed the Town Hall drawings of drinkers in Leeds’ locals have meant it to be a “neoclassical box” and featured in a London gallery alongside then, launching into a Leeds accent, “The works by Banksy. good burghers of Leeds said, ‘We don’t want no neoclassical box. Give us a bloody “Weird-looking people inspire me”, big tower.’” he says. When he works on something he uses details from people he’s drawn One of his favourite buildings in Leeds “There’s the nose from that weird-looking is Templeworks. His infectious smile guy in that pub who was shouting, there’s broadens as he emphatically proclaims the eyebrows from that bloke on the his love for the “amazing” Grade 1 listed, bus who was just sitting there reading his Victorian flax mill in Holbeck. “I feel very paper. Just steeping yourself in details of at home in Leeds because of this idea of a city that was at one stage quite deprived and, through the self-confidence of the people, has this vibe to it...Leeds has something very special.”

“Be brave, have fun, do something different.”

Ian Bowden, artistic director

As one of the art directors for a multinational video game company and as an artist whose work has hung in the same gallery as Banksy’s, Ian Bowden is eminently enviable. His career path has had as many highs and lows as a walk through the Yorkshire Moors and he’s reached a peak many would like to climb with his job at Rockstar Leeds. Whether he’s perching, cross-legged on the edge of the stage, launching into an accent or explaining that Rockstar Leeds’ offices are definitely, categorically nothing like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, he’s always down to earth and reassuringly unpretentious. Therefore it’s not much of a surprise when at the end of the presentation the first hand raised is by a student in one of the front rows who wants to ask, “Can I get a job?”

Business Week

EMPTY HOUSES ARE BEING TURNED BACK IN TO HOMES

Local business, Leeds Empties, are on the case of hundreds of empty properties with the help of the Council. Alex Price reports...

LEEDS BUSINESS WEEK SOCIAL BUSINESS brokers Leeds Empties, are urging new contractors to join the fight to bring 7000 empty properties in Leeds back to life.

Leeds Business Week hosting Leeds Empties to raise awareness of the cityies empty buildings

They are currently invested in 75 empty properties, with funding from Leeds City Council, and help owners refurbish the houses before placing them back on the market.

90% of the 7000 empty properties are privately-owned and council tax on empty properties is now 150%. He said: “Many owners don’t know what to do next. They are stuck with a long-term empty property with no clue we are just around the corner, ready to help.

Gill added: “In Hyde Park, we had a fourbed property with poor furnishing, very small bedrooms and bad décor. It had been empty for four years.

“We decided to change it to a three-bed and it let out within four weeks of us finishing the property.”

Over the Christmas period, Leeds Empties shared 12 of their success stories on their website sharing their experiences They are now asking for local contractors of working with a variety of people, from to get involved with the refurbishment and professional rental companies to families “The council will send out letters to empty with inherited properties. help bring some of Leeds’ most desolate home owners on our behalf, urging them houses back to life. to come forward, but we now need more The council started funding the project contractors who are willing to go that extra in May 2012 after the government’s New With over 20,000 people on the social mile for these customers.” housing waiting list in West Yorkshire Homes Bonus incentive was announced. and some properties remaining empty for The council now up to 13 years - the team at Leeds Empties Gill Coupland, also receive a cut of up “20,000 people on the social believe it is a highly important scheme with a social entrepreneur housing watiting list in West York- to £10,000 of the at Leeds Empties, “fantastic outcomes”. shire and some properties remain- bonus for each added: “We have empty property that ing empty for up to 13 years, ” worked in some of Rob Greenland, social entrepreneur at is restored. the most challenging Leeds Empties, said: “We held an event at Leeds Business Week with the hope of areas and one empty Owners are able to attracting new businesses, contractors and property can really impact the rest of the apply for interest free loans to help cover street it sits on.” even empty home owners. the cost of the refurbishment but in many cases, Leeds Empties and their contractors After getting in contact with Leeds “We work on houses ranging from oneoffer discounts to customers.

Empties, the company first try to bed back-to-backs, right up to Grade understand why the property is empty and II listed manor houses and so far we how they can address the issue. have had a great response, but the more contacts, the better.”

Page 20 | January 2014 |Leeds Business Week

Development

WHITE ROSE CENTRE TO GET A GRAND MAKEOVER IN 2014 within the city centre will have a tougher time attracting new retailers and clients.”

Charles Clark

Development

PLANS TO redevelop parts of the White Rose Centre have been approved by city planners.

The scheme will see the shopping centre receive some muchneeded attention, with a cinema, more food outlets and extensions to current shops being added.

“Estimates project up to 1,000 jobs will be created”

Barry Anderson, a local conservative MP, said: “It’s exciting to see the White Rose Centre getting some attention.

It’ll give Leeds’ surrounding areas a chance to keep up with all the fast-moving development going on in the city centre.”

However, the plans have previously been opposed by contractors and construction companies who are also working in the Leeds area.

Hammerson, who have developed shopping centres in London and Paris, are currently overseeing the Victoria Gate development in Leeds city centre. The developers have previously been vocal over their concern over the White Rose centre development on the outskirts of the city.

A spokesperson for Hammerson said: “There’s a possibility that added retail and leisure facilities to the White Rose Centre will mean new developments

Four new restaurants, a new Debenhams, a new car park and an extension to the current Primark will be added during the construction, meaning the total size of the shopping centre will be increased by a third once the construction has completed.

Martin Plocica, Hammerson’s director of UK shopping centres attended a recent council meeting on the matter and addressed other companies’ concerns that have been in the press in recent months: “We’re aware that more central projects have concern over the effects of the development of the White Rose centre.

“However, Leeds city centre has established itself as one of the North’s retail heavyweights, and will feel little, if not no strain at all from our project with the White Rose.

“We see it as an entirely separate establishment which offers totally different services to its customers.

When a consumer goes to the White Rose Centre, they’re not looking for the same experience as someone who visits Trinity and the city centre.”

The scheme is also said to be economically viable. Estimates project up to 1,000 jobs will be created by the new facilities.

Joan Lancaster, 74, is a resident in the Leeds suburb of Beeston.

Lancaster explained that many residents have to travel into the city centre for many things that the White Rose features will have.

“I have to get the bus into Leeds if I want to go to the cinema or if I want to do a big shop. When you reach my age you don’t want to have to be trekking into town so I, along with many other people that I know, have welcomed the news of a redevelopment.”

News bite DETAILED PLANS to revamp the dated Kirkgate Market in Leeds City Centre will go to the council’s executive board early next year, it has been revealed.

The plans, which were announced earlier this year, will cost approximately £12 million to carry out and will see the Victorian indoor-market receive much needed attention.

Kirkgate Market’s overhaul, which will be carried out by IBI Taylor Young, a national architecture firm, will see the interior completely renovated as well as the outside.

A fresh food zone will be created by combining fresh meat and fish sections, as well as an increase in the amount of pedestrian walkways throughout the establishment.

David Gardner, from IBI Taylor Young, expressed the firms excitement to be undertaking the project, explaining: “The Kirkgate Market has really been beckoning for some TLC for years, so to hopefully inject a bit of life into the market is a great opportunity for us, and we think Leeds will get behind us and embrace the change.”

Gardner continued on to say how the development would be carried out: “We intend to carry out the work in stages, so we don’t disrupt the local area too much. We’ll start on the main hall and move onto smaller areas such as the toilets and other facilities. It’s a complete overhaul.”

The redevelopment of Kirkgate Market will coincide with the further retail development of Eastgate, which will lie adjacent to the historic building, with the contractors planning to have completed the project by 2016.

Work on the retail destination is due to start later this year.

January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview | Page 21

Development

MCALPINE BAGS VICTORIA GATE Fern Crawley Construction

McALPINE CONSTRUCTION has recently won the bid for constructing the first phase of the brand new retail development Victoria Gate.

The development will include a much needed 800 capacity car park, a flagship John Lewis and 110,000m squared of retail space that could provide up to 1,500 retail jobs. The accepted proposals for the new development is expected to compliment Trinity Shopping centre and will likely bring pedestrian footfall back to high Briggate.

“The development is expected WR UHDIÀUP Leeds’ status as a top shopping destination”

Victoria Gate plans have been released by developers Hammerson, showing

Page 22 | January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

an architecturally stunning design for two phases of construction. The project, which will be carried out by the construction firm responsible for the London 2012 stadium, will cost £130m and is expected to open late 2016.

The development is expected to reaffirm Leeds’ status as a top shopping destination, leap-frogging Manchester in the shopping stakes. Victoria Gate will also bring shoppers back to the top of Briggate where the city has suffered recently due to the opening of Trinity shopping centre. Up to 40 shops and restaurants have been planned alongside a mammoth John Lewis store spanning across five floors.

Victoria Gate, which will neighbour the historic Kirkgate market, is hoping to reinforce Leeds as the third best shopping city, following the successful opening of Trinity shopping centre. The two phases of Victoria Gate will include three major plans to the project: Harewood Quarter, Eastgate and Templar Arcade. Templar

www.victoriagate.co.uk Arcade is the heart of Victoria Gate and will include 74,000m squared of retail and leisure space with well over 100 stores.

An estimated 6,000 construction workers will be employed throughout the construction of Victoria Gate. Gareth Talby, a builder from Harrogate who hopes to secure a site manager position on the new development, says the project will help boost Leeds’ reputation: “Hopefully Victoria Gate will work alongside Trinity as a slightly more upmarket retail destination… Visitors to Leeds will then hopefully see there’s more to the city than big messy Primark stores and Greggs.”

Victoria Gate, describing itself as “a

www.victoriagate.co.uk

unique and exciting addition to Leeds’ vibrant shopping centre” will extend from the Victoria Quarter and span towards Kirkgate market, hoping to bring day trippers and tourists alike up towards the more forgotten side of the city.

also beneficial to stores in Victoria Gate and the top end of Briggate. Proximity to Leeds Bus Station is a key aspect of Victoria Gate as this will enable people from outside the city centre to daytrip to the retail development with ease.

Ahmed, a discount health and beauty store owner in Kirkgate market was unaware of the Victoria Gate developments: “This should be great for my store and every store in Kirkgate market; times have been very hard since Trinity opened.”

Unsurprisingly, Ahmed’s store has seen a slight decrease in profit after Trinity opened, most likely due to a change in footfall patterns. Victoria Gate will not only be beneficial to Kirkgate storeowners but

Victoria Gate is another well-anticipated development in the heart of Leeds that will further Leeds’ reputation as a prime destination. Not only will the project create 1000s of job opportunities but it is also expected to increase business to more forgotten parts of the city. A promising development for a promising city, Victoria Gate will be a welcomed addition to the growing city of Leeds.

G

Health

Leeds takes pride in being host to the largest teaching hospital in Europe.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE works closely with University’s, NHS and commercial partners as well as the City Council to boost the profile of the city and attract extra funding.

Darius Taylor-McCall Health

IN FACT, both the public sector and the private sector can take place in the trophy cabinet as they are two of the highest employers in the city. Over 44,000 people are currently employed within the healthcare sector (meaning nearly 13 per cent of all employed people in Leeds are within healthcare). The industry is contributing highly to the city with a slow and steady increase of two per cent since 2008 and an expected increase to 59,600 by 2023.

Andrew Bannister, head of media relations, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Leeds is a recognised and growing centre for health treatment, research and technology, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT)

“Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, is itself the largest employer in the city with around 15,000 employees and we make a significant contribution to the economic prosperity of the city and help encourage inward investment and jobs. We have recently started developing international ties with hospitals in Jordan, Egypt and Malta and intend in the future to capitalise on the international reputation of many of our services to develop additional partnerships and attract income.”

Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust has increased its annual turnover by just over 15 per cent from 2008 to 2013, bringing in just over £1 billion in 2013.

The huge sector has given way to over a hundred medically related businesses such as Medipex and Brandon Medical, which has created thousands of job opportunities for the residents of Leeds.

With an ever-ageing population, the health and medical sector is a guaranteed factor for internal growth within the city. In its Leeds base, Medipex has already proved to be very highly successful as part of the NHS Innovation Hub and since 2002 has brought in £500,000 of income.

NHS Medical Staff. Photo courtesy of www.cla.co.uk Page 24| January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

Brandon Medical, a company specialising in medical technologies, use Leeds as their headquarters. They are known for developing new, innovative products such as the world’s first fully integrated medical tele-video system for health care.

To further add Leeds to the spotlight, Brandon Medical is recently celebrating their success of being National Finalists for Chambers of Commerce’s annual awards in 2013. An award from the British Chamber of Commerce sits well on the city of Leeds’ profile as they are highly recognised for helping businesses grow across all sectors, by sharing their profound awareness and capability up and down the country for the past 150 years.

The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust has worked in partnership with Brandon Medical on the new Bexley Wing of the St James University Hospital. The state of the art building is home to some of the most recent technologies which have both been supplied and installed by Brandon Medical.

Brandon Medical also won ‘Best Innovative Product or Service’ at the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management 2013 awards, promoting their already highly successful track record of products and expertise.

Medipex and Brandon Medical are just a few of the 100 businesses established due to the demanding healthcare sector, which employ close to 3,500 staff.

Health

The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust conference LEEDS TEACHING Hospital Trust has increased its annual turnover by just over 15 per cent from 2008 to 2013, bringing in just over £1 billion in 2013.

Not only does the city benefit from one of the best teaching hospitals in the country, it also reaps the rewards of hosting one of the biggest Medical Physics departments within the United Kingdom. The department boasts a turnover in excess of £5 million, with 20 per cent relatable to the outsourcing of contract work such as the servicing of the specialist equipment.

The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust employs 2,000 doctors treating over a million patients a year, across the six different hospitals in the city.

In a bid to increase the amount of clinical research taking place in Leeds, the Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust and the University of Leeds have committed to investing £13 million in an effort to create a Biomedical and Health Research Centre.

Alongside this, the Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust has put forward an additional £1million to contribute towards profoundly recognised academic research taking place at the University’s Institute of Health Sciences and clinical Trials Research Unit. Over 332 clinical trials have already taken place, and 11,000 patients have signed up, showing how the investment has paid off.

“BUPA’s purpose is longer, healthier, happier lives” However, it’s not just the public side of the healthcare sector which contribute highly to the economy within Leeds. The private healthcare group BUPA, is another of Leeds’ most employable companies, creating over 2,000 jobs in the city. BUPA along with the NHS in Leeds, have often been partnered for the benefit of the public’s health.

A spokesperson from BUPA said: “BUPA supports and has worked closely with the NHS for many years.

We partner with more than 200 NHS Hospital Trusts to provide healthcare

services to over 19,000 patients in their own homes or in a community setting rather than in a hospital. This can help the NHS to manage the rising cost of care by providing a cost effective alternative to being treated in a hospital, as well as improving patient satisfaction.”

We provide health coaching to NHS patients with long-term illnesses to help them manage their conditions and provide nursing and dementia care to 18,000 residents in our care homes across the UK. 70% of our residents are state funded.”

BUPA on a whole is seeing revenue increasing by 8 per cent in the first half of 2013, to almost £5 billion, and Leeds is seeing a direct impact of this. As part of a plan to become the country’s leading dental provider, BUPA opened two clinics in Leeds in 2013, as their research showed that 41 per cent of people in Yorkshire said they would benefit from teeth realignment and 68 per cent wanting whiter teeth.

With the city planning to be the ‘best city in the UK by 2030’, it does right to have health and medical at the top of the seven core priorities which the City’s Council plan on being the infrastructure of the economy. It is clear that the health and medical sector is a sure fire way to keep driving the city forward, bringing in more money, and keeping the city a hot spot for many key businesses and employers.

Sport

WHEELS IN MOTION TO CHANGE THE FACE OF COUNTY JOBS

Picture credit: Johan Vandamme

On your marks, get set, ‘grand depart’ Leeds is considered one of the UK’s fastest growing cities, with the second highest employment rate outside London.

The Leeds City Region has a workforce of 1.3 million with over 110,000 people Recruitment and Employment commuting to work from outside the district every day. In a press release from GOV.UK, Nick Clegg stated: “I want 2014 to be another great year for growth The START of the 2014 Tour de France in Yorkshire. And the eyes of the world will take place on The Headrow outside will be on us as the Grand Depart of the Leeds Town Hall on the morning of Tour de France takes place here, bringing Saturday the 5th of July. The Grand millions of pounds of investment to help Depart will then see 200 of the world’s the region thrive.” A two million pound leading riders follow a route out of the city government investment has just been made centre, through various towns, before a to a Leeds business, from the Regional loop through the Yorkshire Dales on the Growth fund, creating 150 new jobs. way to the finish of stage one in Harrogate.

It is thought that over 680,000 people will Organisers want to recruit 10,000 people gather in Leeds to watch the first stages of to act as Tour Makers – the event’s the tournament bringing huge amounts of equivalent of the Games Makers from the tourism to Leeds.

2012 Olympics. Over 20,000 people had volunteered for Yorkshire’s leg of the tour Many new job opportunities will be de France by December 2013, more than provided in Leeds from this great sporting double the amount needed. This highlights event. The Tour involves moving, the need for jobs in Leeds and also the accommodating and feeding thousands of interest and passion that the Tour is people each day. The starting and finish generating in the area. The volunteers will infrastructure has to be quickly taken now be cut down to a 10,000 person group down, transported to its next location who will be given uniforms and trained by and set up again. This alone will create a Leeds based supermarket Asda. large amount of job opportunities in the hotel and catering industries, as more staff Hosting the Grand Depart in 2007 will be needed to ensure the best service generated an estimation of 73 million for the tournament. Hotel receptionist pounds of economic benefit to London Andrew Kelly said: “We are already seeing and £15 million for Kent. A further £35

Alice Kidd

Page 26 | January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

“ I want 2014 to be another great year

“

a large increase in the amount of bookings for around the time of the tournament.

Even though the tour is six months away, there is a real excitement for what is it going to bring to the City. “

million was generated in publicity. As a result of the success of team GB in the London 2012 Olympic games, it is anticipated that Yorkshire will surpass the benefits of London tour in 2007. A Leeds City Council report on the 2014 Grand Depart explained that the key areas of visitor expenditure include up to £1.8m on accommodation, £6m in retail and up to £6.2m in food and catering. A high number of jobs will be created from the cultural festival where a wide range of activities will be spread across Yorkshire in the 100 days leading up to the Tour and on the day itself. A £1m Arts Lottery has been awarded to fund the festival across Yorkshire.

Leeds will benefit from the Tour de France long after the cyclists have left the city. The need for more staff and investments to different businesses will ensure that jobs in a variety of work places will be available. People who are currently unemployed that are interested in the tournament may find themselves applying for a range of work and further gaining experience that could benefit them in finding other jobs.

Sport

RUGBY WORLD CUP BOOST FOR HEADINGLEY drinks and in the kitchen, making the large quantity of food being ordered.

However it depends on what is on that evening. The World Cup match had a good fall out of fans as they had come to witness the spectacle on show and were not overly bothered by the result. But if the Leeds Rhinos are playing the numbers can vary depending on the result. Jason finished “when forecasting targets for the next years sales the first thing I will do is to look at what sporting events are taking place in close proximity and know every big thing that is likely to attract a number of fans in to the area”.

Trio, another popular bar in Headingley just seconds walk from The Arc also sees a huge increase from sporting events. It saw a 60% increase on average takings when England International Jamie Jones-Buchanan with Rugby World Cup New Zealand were playing in the World Cup Fran Haliday, General Manager preceded by their reputation of consuming explained. “These events are excellent for us as a business, it gives more hours to staff large quantities of alcohol, the student to cope with the high demand and means orientated Headingley should be more we have to purchase more too. Fruit for than capable of handing these demands.

With countless places to eat and drink the example which we get from local supplier local businesses reap the benefits of being R.K Harris just around the corner for garnish and for juice to go in to cocktails.” within close proximity. Arc Inspirations Bar Manager Callum Freeman had a run a handful of bar/restaurants across difference in opinion though “the fans Headingley. The Arc is the busiest of want to drink pints, we are predominantly these seeing the most traffic through it’s a cocktail bar and serving pint after pint doors. Jason Lake, General Manager of isn’t what me or the other staff applied to The Arc said “Sport in the area boosts trade somewhat dramatically, three hours do. prior to kick off time noticeabley increases Although the shear number of people the amount of cars and people in the coming into the bar clearly does increase area. The number of people entering the THE RUGBY League World cup profit it decreases gross profit of certain premises increases from five for a game has recently come to a head with new drinks due to the offers that we tailor kicking off at eight, peaking at about half champions being crowned. After a towards the supporters coming in for past six for both food and drink.” From surprising result in the final between the weekly average of a Friday nights take example cheaper pints.” Pints on a Australia and the former holders New weekend usually cost £3.60 but when a sporting event sees a huge increase, the Zealand, the green and golds reigned rugby is on the offers mean it is dropped game between New Zealand and Papua supreme. to £2.60 which is a loss of £1 per pint, this New Guinea saw a 55% rise of food is pretty much halving the profit made on and drink sales. To cope with this Jason Headingley stadium played host to explained double the amount of staff have each pint. some fantastic games, entertaining the to be on shift, on both the floor serving Hakka sporting All Blacks on numerous Lee Irving, Head doorman of The occasions. As Leeds is already renowned Arc shed some light, “ the number of for its Rugby League side the Rhinos, each people who come through the doors is spectacle was no disappointment. Holding far larger than your average Friday night 17,500 fans at capacity it came as no shock say, with the extra numbers it would be that the roof was blown off when the impossible for just the two of us to keep ground was in action. Bringing thousands an eye on the whole building. And in the of fans together a cold Friday evening saw unfortunate event of trouble we could be a a packed out event. considerable distance away.”

Andrew Briggs Sport & Leisure

“Sport in the

“

The match concluded and the favourites came out victorious by a considerable margin and leaving the huge influx of happy fans pouring out onto Headingley streets.

But how does this affect the businesses of Headingley? Having not just this, but regular sporting events such as cricket, football and rugby union being just the pinnacle. As supporters of sports are often

area boosts trade somewhat dramatically

This shows the extent of businesses affected by just one sporting event, it is aparant how much of an impact these occasions can have on the area. The extra few thousand people are more than happy to make the most of their outing and spend money on food and drink in the bars meaning profits for not only them but also the businesses around them too.

January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview | Page 27

On the back

GET CONNECTED, GET

WITH MORE than 10 million unique users in the UK, LinkedIn has quickly become one of the most powerful business tools. For both employers and those seeking to explore new opportunities, understanding the job market and visualising potential competition is an invaluable resource.

Aimed exclusively at professionals, the service allows people to network and build a rapport with ‘connections’ as LinkedIn describes them.

Many recruitment specialists have turned to LinkedIn, seeking the best candidates. Michelle Beckett, a LinkedIn “While it may sound Specialist and controversial, I believe LinkedIn Managing Director is more valuable than any CV as of Skill Will, says: it gives employers a more human “While it may sound view of candidates.” controversial, I believe LinkedIn is more valuable than any CV as it gives employers a more human view of candidates.”

Beckett suggests your profile picture is the most important element of your profile, stating: “You should present yourself in a professional manner with a simple head shot.” As obvious as this may seem, many users use casual photographs of themselves on holiday or out drinking, subsequently portraying an unprofessional image to potential employers. It is essential to use an image with a smile as this subconsciously shows the viewer you are likeable and trustworthy. Beckett explains: “It is basic human psychology.”

In your profile you should summarise your skills and experiences in a way other users can quickly absorb. “Make your profile as full as possible, use bullet points and list your skills, always think who am I appealing to?” Beckett explains. It is also important to use recommendations that coincide with endorsements, as this backs up your claims and shows others that you are a reliable employee.

A clear succinct summary of who you are and what you do should be your main aim. Only opt for the premium service if you are operating as a business; the free account is more than adequate for most users.

Adding your personal interests including other elements of your life helps make you more appealing. “Although it is not Facebook, you still want to make yourself appear as a rounded individual, as it will enable you to forge relationships quite quickly.” It is important to make yourself appear as ‘colourful’ as possible.

While your personal profile is very important, using LinkedIn for networking makes it an indispensible tool. You should aim to connect as wildly as possible even if individuals are in a different sector

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as these contacts may help you in the future.

Beckett says: “Even connect to your neighbors, don’t just think how is this person useful to me, but how useful could their network be to me?” You should also be using the advanced search function to find people who may be able to help progress your career.

Beckett continues: “You should virtually shake hands with people.” By sending brief messages you are able to forge stronger relationships, which may lead to meeting on a work basis. Looking at groups and joining them is a great way to find and network with people of a similar interest. One of the best features of LinkedIn is the distance and connected feature, showing where both you and they are based, as well as contacts in common.

Another effective method of networking is post updates; this feature allows you to share articles and links with your connections. This can help start conversations and show your contacts you are an interesting individual. Beckett says: “They don’t necessarily have to be business articles, you should look to find articles that engage your following.”

This shows others you’re approachable and easy to engage with, even if you never meet in person.

“I would much rather use LinkedIn having coffee with people, than firing out my CV” Beckett said. Unlike a CV you are not necessarily looking for a specific job, but by networking and building relationships you have a greater chance of getting a position when one arises. LinkedIn is changing business allowing people to interact in a professional manner, proper use can get you the career you want.

Words by Henry Arnold Photo credit to Michelle Beckett