West & North Yorkshire Business Q2 2023

Innovation for the future

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

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

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

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

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

Accident Management Takes the hassle out of arranging repair, recovery and insurance claims after an accident or vandalism.

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

James Mason Chief Executive West & North Yorkshire Chamber

The future is bright

It’s been another incredible few weeks at the Chamber as life shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

With the summer officially here and some much-deserved warmer weather shining down on Yorkshire, we can look back on some very interesting times for the Chamber.

Times remain hard for our business community. Inflation is irritatingly sticky and interest rates are at a 15-year high, meaning the cost of day-to-day activities is not getting any easier. That said, as our latest Quarterly Economic Survey shows, optimism remains high in our region – a real testimony to the grit and determination that Yorkshire’s business community is famed for.

Our York & North Yorkshire Chamber annual dinner at York Racecourse set the tone for Q2, with more than 200 attendees enjoying a more informal and conversational event that really celebrated the region’s future.

While it can feel from time to time like there is so much we cannot control, the Chamber is here to support you. Whether it is debt recovery, marketing opportunities, legal advice, HR counsel or just simply the shared community of fellow entrepreneurs and managers, we will always be around to help.

Here’s hoping that the economy follows the weather and starts to brighten up soon.

08455 240 240

editor@yorkshire-business.com

www.yorkshire-business.com

@WNYChamber

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

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

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

City is a showcase of business diversity

Looking through this year’s Bradford Top 100 from the Telegraph & Argus, I was struck by how diverse our leading companies are. From financial services to retail, food and drink to manufacturing, our firms are producing goods and services that are in demand across the planet.

Despite the difficulties in the wider global marketplace, it is worth reminding ourselves that there is a huge amount going on in Bradford at the moment.

By the time Bradford becomes UK City of Culture in 2025 Darley Street Market, Bradford Live and One City Park will all be up-andrunning. These projects will transform our city centre, bringing jobs and visitors into Bradford by the thousand.

We also have the exciting news of electric vehicle giant VCS is to create 150 jobs in the city with a new factory.

And the Southern Gateway plan to transform a substantial amount of land around the city centre is gaining traction.

We have so much to be proud of and it is incredibly important we celebrate these successes as and when they come. Bradford is a brilliant city to live and work in. And it is just about to get better.

Victoria Wainwright President Bradford Chamber

‘Make Space for Girls’ outdoor space in Bradford opens

The £45,000 play space, a collaboration between JU:MP programme; housing association Incommunities and Bradford Council is the first of its kind to open in Bradford.

Created with the help of teenage girls from the area, it has been designed to create a safe and inclusive space for teen girls using practical guidelines from charity Make Space for Girls.

Research, published in May, and commissioned by the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin concluded that feeling vulnerable in parks is a barrier that needs to be urgently addressed to ensure that women and girls feel able to use, enjoy and benefit from them.

The first outdoor green space in Bradford designed specifically for teenage girls and designed with the help of local girls is now open.

The £45K project has seen a small local green space in Fagley, located in the north east of the city, transformed with parkour equipment, different areas of seating, and wild-flower planting – all designed in a way to make the area more attractive and feel safer for teenage girls.

Following guidelines from charity Make Space for Girls which campaigns for safer public spaces for teenage girls, the play space was designed after consultation and feedback from girls in the local community.

The project is a partnership between the JU:MP (Join Us: Move Play) programme (funded by Sport England and delivered by Born in Bradford (Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust); housing association Incommunities and Bradford Council.

The opening of the Fagley play space comes just weeks after research from a recent study was published, which found that more than 100 women and girls in West Yorkshire believed their local parks to be unsafe.

Engineers expanding at a pace

Empace Civil and Structural engineers, based in Bradford West Yorkshire appoints new partner Richard Colley to head their London practice as the firm continues to grow since its inception in 2016.

The recent attainment of ISO certifications in ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO45001 have put the company on equal footing with some of the larger practices in terms of the quality of their work.

Empace specialise in building projects and have a portfolio of interesting work including Pennine House, the original home of the radio station Pulse 1. Empace assisted the developers with structural engineering services to bring the building back into use as high-end

apartments, now known as ‘The Lofts’. The practice was founded by Ummer Daraz. Ummer moved to London in 2012 to study at Imperial College London for his masters after graduating at the University of Bradford with a first class degree in Structural Engineering.

In response to the recent developments, Ummer expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “We are over the moon with the recent developments at Empace as we continue to grow and win exciting new commissions. With experience both in the North and indeed in prime central London, we are well placed to deliver excellent premium level work.”

Bradford Garden Centre reaches final of regional business award

Tong Garden Centre has been shortlisted in the sustainability category in the Bradford Means Business Awards.

Tong Garden Centre’s Head of People, Culture & Sustainability, Neil BarwiseCarr, said: “We’re committed to reducing our impact on the planet and have pledged to be Carbon Neutral by 2026. The roadmap to carbon neutrality started with our Year of Waste initiative which includes converting food waste into renewable energy, harvesting rainwater from the lake to water plants and recycling waste oil for bio-diesel.

“We continue to work hard to make Tong and the other garden centres in the Yorkshire Garden Centres group as sustainable as possible and it’s great that our initiatives have been acknowledged and rewarded with a place in the final.”

Tenants rewarded after gaining digital qualification

12 Manningham Housing Association (MHA) tenants have completed a Level 1 Digital Inclusion training course covering a range of modules including customer service, digital skills, and health and wellbeing.

Each successful candidate received a certificate and a brand-new tablet –kindly supplied by Woodspeen Training – at an awards ceremony in MHA’s Bradford head office.

Sadar Uddin, MHA Community Partnership and Investment Manager, who oversaw the training course, said: “I am delighted to see the first cohort of tenants receive their certificates and tablets.”

Tassawar is one of the 12 tenants who passed the examinations to obtain her qualification. She said: “I wanted to learn about computers, gain confidence and meet new people along the way.”

Bradford Science Festival impresses before museum transformation

Bradford Science Festival returned with an unmissable line-up of handson experiences and live events. The festival was the last chance to visit the National Science and Media Museum before it temporarily closes from June until summer 2024 as part of its £6m transformation.

Headlining Bradford Science Festival were Giant Leaps, an out-of-thisworld immersive experience created by acclaimed choreographer Corey Baker, while BradLab and STEM City explored the amazing science happening locally and exciting career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Thanks to National Lottery players, the major Sound and Vision project will create two new galleries, an additional passenger lift and an enhanced foyer space.

Many routes to achievement

More than 30 years ago when I entered the world of work, I enrolled on the equivalent of an Advanced Apprenticeship. I gained experience, made new friends, obtained professional qualifications and earned money whilst I was doing it. However, in the words of my then headmaster, I was, ‘a disappointment to the school’. Apparently, getting a job was a serious error of judgement, I should have been going to university.

Universities play a vital role in our education system, but it is undeniable that the graduate path is not for everyone. There is however a shared responsibility to open the eyes of our youngsters to the variety of educational pathways, affording wider participation in a route most suited to the individual. Apprenticeships are more affordable and more inclusive and can take young people on a journey to achievement with as much success as a degree course. In our region we are blessed with many incredible Further Education Colleges. However, none of these high-performing institutions have anything like sufficient funding for outreach programmes in schools to promote apprenticeships. This is not only failing our workforce and business leaders, it is damaging our economy. We know from our members about the shortages of skills available to them.

Encouragingly there is some great work on these matters taking place across the region. I have also been impressed by the work that Chambers of Commerce are doing across the country through the Local Skills Improvement Plans. However, none of this addresses the real elephant in the room, namely that FE funding per pupil is at the same level in 2023 as it was in 2010. I cannot be the only person wondering how this can be a sustainable educational model. The shadow of my old headmaster looms once again and I cannot help thinking that, after 30 years, there remains an unwillingness to value the role of the modern apprentice and the incredible work our Further Education Colleges across the region do?

Mike Briffett President Leeds Chamber

Squire Patton Boggs announces new Managing Partner

Squire Patton Boggs is pleased to announce that Prew Lumley has been appointed managing partner of the firm’s Leeds office. She succeeds John Alderton, who has led the office for nearly 10 years, and who will continue to lead the Leeds Restructuring & Insolvency Practice.

Prew Lumley trained and qualified with the firm and was made a partner in 2002. She has more than 25 years’ experience as a commercial property lawyer, advising on complex development and strategic land work and property portfolio management. She has led the UK retail real estate team for over 10 years, acting for well-known high street retailers and restaurants. Prew and fellow real estate lawyer Karen French were the first partners at the firm to job share, one of the first arrangements of its kind within the legal industry, and a role they managed successfully for over 13 years.

Outside the firm, Prew was the first chair of the LeedsBID, an elected post she held for over five years, and she was also non-executive director of the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. She was recently recognised in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 2023, a list celebrating standout legal professionals seen to be doing the most important work in the country.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to lead the office I joined as a trainee so long ago,” commented Prew. “The strength of this office is founded on our long history in the city and a strong entrepreneurial culture which, together with our extensive global network of offices, means we are uniquely placed to serve clients wherever they have interests.”

John Alderton added: “It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to lead the office for the last decade. Prew has played an important role in our success over many years, and she will do a fantastic job as office managing partner.”

“Prew’s dynamism and drive has seen her lead the charge on many fronts at the firm,” said European managing partner Jonathan Jones. “She is rightly recognised as a trailblazer, and we are delighted that she has agreed to take up this important leadership role.”

Hitting the right notes

In his role as the Prime Minister’s trade envoy to Australia, iconic cricketing legend Lord Botham OBE visited Sound Leisure, which has exported to Australia for over 20 years.

Employing more than 40 people at its Leeds head office and manufacturing centre, the £5m revenue family-owned Sound Leisure has again been named as an Export Champion for 2023 and sells 80% of its products overseas to customers in over 40 countries worldwide, including Australia, the US and Japan. Celebrities, royalty

and famous athletes are among the buyers of its retro-design state of the art vinyl and digital jukeboxes.

“Sound Leisure is a mainly export business, and anytime we can move forward our knowledge of overseas markets, and share our experiences and insights with other exporters and businesses, we grab the opportunity,” said Sound Leisure director, Mike Black.

“It was great to welcome Lord Botham to our factory today and he was really impressed to see the

levels of skill and craftsmanship that go into building these intricate and innovative machines.”

“We’re a family-run British manufacturing business and exports, including to Australia, make up a huge amount of our business. We’re proud to have been named an Export Champion for the Northern Powerhouse once again this year by the Department of Business and Trade.”

Lord Botham’s role as trade envoy is voluntary, aimed at boosting British business in Australia.

Plumbing department receives top exam results

A recent examination report for Level 2 and 3 ‘technical’ plumbing qualifications at Leeds College of Building reveals exceptional results for 2023. Overall pass rates for the exam element of the City & Guilds Level 2 Technical Certificate in Plumbing Studies at the College were 100% compared to a national average of 87%, with 40% of students achieving a Distinction grade.

Alistair Mitchell, Curriculum Manager for Plumbing Studies at Leeds College of Building, said: “We have a great team delivering these courses which, together with dedicated students, achieved these outstanding results. I am proud of all the staff and students in their pursuit of excellence.”

Students who have completed both technical and practical assessments are now finalising the employer-involvement element of their qualifications. The work is in preparation for progression in further education, moving into the workplace, apprenticeships, and other positive destinations.

A distinct welcome to Leeds

Leeds hosted the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), the BID (Business Improvement District) is ensured that visitors, including the 6,000 delegates in town for the conference, received a warm and distinct introduction to the city.

Its Welcome to Leeds platform, the official guide to the wider Leeds story, celebrating all that is great about the city, had a pop-up presence in Leeds Station and Leeds Dock as well as an interactive activity hub in Leeds Corn Exchange where people can pop in to learn more about what’s on offer in the city.

welcometoleeds.co.uk is the official city guide to the wider Leeds story and celebrates all that is great about the city. Focusing on key features of the city including architecture, culture, food, retail and sport, it showcases the world class events, organisations and people in Leeds through storytelling, podcasts, features, films, events and more.

YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE

Honouring a dear friend

It was my profound honour to launch the Andrew Digwood Award at this year’s York & North Yorkshire Annual Dinner. Set up in tribute to my friend and former York & North Yorkshire president, the award will honour businesspeople who distinguish themselves in both their actions and love for the region.

We felt it would be a fitting legacy for Andrew who loved North Yorkshire so much and was so admired and respected by our business community. The Award will be presented at all future Annual Dinner events.

Despite the rate of inflation finally beginning to fall, costs remain the principal challenge to businesses in our region, nowhere more so than in the world of hospitality. That is why it was fantastic to see our Hospitality Forum achieve such high-level engagement during a visit to the House of Commons.

The forum and Chamber staff met with Tourism Minister Sir John Whittingdale and Small Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake, as well as a raft of the region’s MPs to make the case for greater intervention into the sector’s travails. News of the Hospitality Forum’s work is already picking up attention from around the wider British Chamber of Commerce network and it really feels like we have struck a chord with our decision to champion this much-loved sector.

Finally, myself and Chamber colleagues welcome the newly-elected chamber of City of York Council. We look forward to hearing more about plans for a pro-growth, pro-business and pro-social mobility strategy that allows the whole city to be able to live and work here, as well as attract inward investment.

As a Chamber that very much is the voice of the region’s business community, we stand ready to engage in any way we can.

Laurence Beardmore President York & North Yorkshire Chamber

York celebrates diversity and equality with Pride

City of York Council joined communities across the city to celebrate Pride Month, and joined in the annual Pride parade and stand up for LGBTQIA+ residents.

The Council supported the York Pride event in June. Under a Pride banner, council staff paraded from York Minster through the city to the lively celebration at the Knavesmire. There, Council staff and partners stood in solidarity with Pride and share information.

The popular Council on a Couch stand returned with the chance for residents to ask questions about the Council, and festival goers were amongst the first to find out more about the upcoming ‘Our Big Transport Conversation’. The Council’s Health Trainers joined the Pride Festival to offer York residents free help and wellbeing support.

Information about adoption and fostering was also shared. The Council collaborates with four other local authorities to host the One Adoption North Humber regional adoption agency where that 1 in 5 of the families approved as adopters come from the LGBTQ+ community.

Greg Stephenson from the York Pride committee said: “Recent years have seen thousands of people in York standing alongside the LGBTQ+ community during Pride. The parade has been cheered by shoppers, businesses celebrating diversity and parties thrown along the route of the march.

“This is wonderful support which embraces us all. But inclusion and equality need to be a year-round norm where no-one need fear exclusion or discrimination simply because of who they love. Please, whoever you are, support all LGBTQ+ people with Pride in all you say and do.”

Laura Williams, Assistant Director of Customer, Communities and Inclusion at City of York Council, said: “Pride is a wonderful way to celebrate and support diversity and equality in York. Pride Month and the annual Pride festival helps us continue to raise awareness, stand alongside our communities and encourage inclusivity.”

York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

Going the extra mile to make customers smile

Meet our champion bus drivers – Coastliner’s Mariusz Losinski, and York and Country’s Karl Spencer – who are both celebrating after being named among parent firm Transdev’s award winners.

Transdev revived its Pride of the North Cup following the pandemic to salute its drivers who receive the most positive feedback from customers for their smooth and safe travels and friendly welcome on board.

The bus firm’s unsung heroes at depots across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester who drive thousands of people to work, the shops or an amazing day out compete for a specially created Pride of the North trophy to celebrate the best of the best.

Malton-based Mariusz was nominated by one of his customers on board Britain’s Most Scenic Bus Route, Coastliner’s 840 from Leeds and York to Whitby, for his cool and calm handling of a medical emergency during a journey over the North York Moors.

York-based bus driver Karl Spencer was put forward for a Transdev Honours award by his managers Kel Pizzuti and Adam Emmott after he was involved in a motorcycle accident on his way to work in the early hours.

Kel said: “Karl got back on his damaged bike to make it to work and open up, despite a broken ankle and pouring with blood from his other injuries. We’re impressed and eternally grateful that he put the needs of the business and its customers before himself.”

Experienced Solicitor joins Ware & Kay’s Residential Property Team

Leading law firm Ware & Kay Solicitors is celebrating a new appointment which reinforces an already strong team as it looks to the future with the arrival of Solicitor Joanne Clark to its Residential Property Team in York.

Joanne will assist clients with a wide range of residential property matters including property sales and purchases for both freehold and leasehold property for registered and unregistered land. She also has extensive experience of dealing with right to buy, shared equity leases, help to buy mortgages, new build, re-mortgages, equity release and transfers of equity. She will also support clients buying and selling at auction, purchasing buy-to-lets and property registrations.

Helping food and drink businesses to create ‘gift experiences’

Independently owned food and drink businesses from across Yorkshire attended an event to discover how creating ‘gift experiences’ can generate new business. Yorkshire food and drink provenance brand, The Yorkshire Mark and gift experience provider, Uniquely Local, discussed how spending on gift experiences has seen an upsurge in popularity, as consumers are choosing experiences over material possessions.

Uniquely Local is a ‘one stop shop’ for specialist, unique gift experiences across the county. From vineyard tours, whisky tasting experiences, guided food tours, pork pie and piccalilli making workshops, cocktail masterclasses, online cheese tasting events, it offers experiences to suit the needs of a wide range of customers.

Newly qualified solicitor embraces new role within property team

A graduate who couldn’t speak English when she arrived from her native Poland at the age of 12 has now qualified as a solicitor with leading law firm Rollits LLP.

The firm has strengthened its commercial property team with the addition of Zaneta Andraszczyk who was admitted as a Solicitor in March after completing her two year Period of Recognised Training.

Zaneta graduated in law in 2018 and then studied for her Legal Practice Course alongside a Master’s degree at the University of Law in Leeds before joining Rollits in March 2021. During her training and since qualification, Zaneta has been involved in transactions relating to buying, selling and leasing of commercial properties.

WEST & NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS

Positive outlook returns

Given the seemingly never-ending cavalcade of negative news businesses have faced in the last few months, it is very encouraging to see increasing levels of optimism are being felt in the region.

Data in our latest Quarterly Economic Survey showed that, despite a very challenging labour market, companies have been taking on new members of staff over the last three months.

Moreover, the levels of firms that are anticipating growth in terms of both revenue and profitability hints that many of our business leaders believe the worst of the storm may be over and that calmer waters lie ahead. That said nobody will be complacent. Following the easing of the pandemic restrictions we saw similar increases in optimism, only to see geopolitical events conspire to make life challenging.

Although inflation is finally starting to fall prices remain stubbornly high. While inflation is now forecast to fall to less than three per cent by the end of the year, we really need to start seeing these predictions become reality. With the cost-of-living crisis still in full swing, and energy bills still at astronomical levels, there is still plenty to be concerned about. Given all of these obstacles, it is clear that the appetite for investment remains constrained. However, the results from both our own figures here in Yorkshire, and elsewhere in the country, indicate that the mood is increasingly turning more positive and that the worst may be behind us.

As ever we continue to work with our key partners at West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the two Local Enterprise Partnerships to make sure our region gets the support we need.

Let us aim for a summer of hope and optimism that leads to better times ahead.

Amanda Beresford Chair of the Board West & North Yorkshire Chamber

Ellis makes power as the sun shines

Ellis Patents has installed 173 new solar panels at its Rillington headquarters in North Yorkshire, meaning the cable cleat manufacturer has now invested over £400k in solar power. This investment equates to 50 per cent of Ellis’ energy bills being covered by solar generated power.

Danny Macfarlane, Ellis Patents’ managing director, said: “The solar panels have been installed in three phases since 2020, and we have a fourth planned for 2024 that will see another 128 added. This will see us produce nearly 300,000kWH a year, which for a high energy using manufacturer like us, represents an enormous cost saving.”

The company’s green thinking hasn’t been confined to solar power, with those at the helm of the business long believing that going green isn’t an optional extra for manufacturers.

This approach has seen Ellis Patents invest heavily in green initiatives over the last two decades – a period that has seen its headquarters expand by over 500 per cent to 50,000 sq. ft.

Each new addition to the building has been built to the highest specification of insulation, has featured rapid close doors, and made the best use of natural light. Ellis Patents was also one of the earliest adopters of LED lighting.

The company is also ISO14001 accredited, which demonstrates its commitment to improving its environmental performance and sustainability through a process of continuous improvement. This includes considering the environmental impact of product designs, and taking care of where raw materials are purchased from. This is possible by having a dedicated energy team assigned to look at all the ways that energy reductions can be achieved across all areas of the business.

“At a time when many manufacturers are seeing huge increases in material and energy costs, we are so grateful that those early decisions to go green have helped not only save the environment, but secure a sustainable future for the business and its employees,” added Danny.

Picking up the pace

x York-based Lindum Group hosted the visit to update North Yorkshire Council, officers and the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (Y&NY LEP) on progress at Pickering Park.

It comes two weeks after planning permission was granted for nine more industrial units at the site, which will form phase three of the Thornton Road Business Park. The council will buy and let the units once completed. Site preparations and infrastructure work began in September 2022, after Lindum was awarded £880,000 from the Government’s Getting Building Fund via Y&NY LEP.

Lindum development manager

Andy Gardner said: “It was fantastic to show how work is progressing and for the LEP to see the site coming to life. The land was contaminated, and so initial works have included remediation, as well as installing infrastructure to enable development of serviced units.

“This scheme would not be happening without support from the Council and the LEP, I would like to applaud their commitment to this development.”

North Yorkshire Council's executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, said:

“Supporting new businesses and helping to grow North Yorkshire’s economy is a key aim of our new council. I am pleased that in Pickering we will be able to provide purposebuilt units for new and expanding businesses in the local area.

David Dickson, Chair of York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Place & Infrastructure Board, said: “We committed investment from the Government’s Getting Building Fund to this scheme to unlock the economic potential of the site. Pickering Park, which will bring much-needed employment space to the area.”

Castle Howard takes home prestigious accolade at national 2023 Museum + Heritage Awards

The North Yorkshire stately home won Marketing and Communications Campaign of the Year for Christmas at Castle Howard 2022.

Iconic North Yorkshire stately home Castle Howard was celebrated at the Museum + Heritage Awards in London on the evening of May 10th, winning Marketing and Communications Campaign of the Year. The campaign was for Into the Woods: A Fairytale Christmas, Castle Howard’s much-loved Christmas experience which saw record-breaking visitor numbers in 2022.

Castle Howard came top of the category, the judges’ comment described Castle Howard’s Christmas campaign as: “Achieving a remarkable return on investment, this campaign is theatrical in approach and successful in its outcome,building both audiences and experience.”

York entrepreneurs learn routes to Start-Up Success

York’s budding entrepreneurs were given a boost as they benefited from a packed day of activities to help them pursue their goals in business.

60 ambitious local entrepreneurs attended the StartUp Saturday event in the city’s historic Guildhall, which included an address from Councillor Ashley Mason, in which he reflected on York’s rich entrepreneurial heritage and the role that small businesses play in the city’s success. The event also included an opportunity for business leaders to pitch for funding, with 10 young founders securing grants of £1000 each. StartUp Saturday is part of the nation-wide StartUp UK initiative, a partnership between Enterprise Nation and Monzo Business. The event in York was facilitated by City of York Council and Enterprise Nation to help support the diverse range of small and independent businesses in the city.

SKILLS

Plans for

West and North Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plans

We have had a very busy few months of meetings, group discussions and events which we have both hosted and attended to gather information from employers on their views and needs in relation to workforce skills. This information builds on the data gathered regionally by partners such as WYCA, North Yorkshire Council, the LEPs, local authorities and employer representative bodies as well as ONS data on employment.

The resulting Local Skills Improvement Plans for both North and West Yorkshire were submitted to the Department for Education at the end of May. During June all skills plans teams across England had an opportunity to respond to specific revision requests. We now await the notification whether the plans will be approved this summer.

Meanwhile we have started to develop the next stage of both plans. These plans focus on

• How we will continue to engage with employers on what the issues are in relation to skills needs and future planning.

• How we will work with Learning providers, colleges, and independent learning providers to support collaborative working and

• Ensuring that the alignment between the skills needed in the workforce and access to developing those skills becomes closer than it currently is.

Two thirds of respondents to our in-depth survey confirmed they have specific skills gaps in their workforce. The LSIPs are just one part of the wider skills improvement agenda for both regions. Where others are leading on issues employers have identified, the LSIP work will focus on linking to these areas and helping to promote these services. Where there are many partners with elements of responsibility we aim to maximise the impact by linking these up. For example, an issue for many people is that the timing of courses doesn’t fit around their work/personal schedule. Working to ensure all the options to undertake study flexibly are widely known and tracked will help address this.

Though there are a lot of similarities in the plans there are differences both in the target sectors and some of the issues raised.

As these are local skills plans, they exclude strategic or national issues such as the limited number of potential applicants and the ‘work readiness’ of many people who have not been in the workforce recently, which were frequently identified by employers. Also being local plans there are differences between them, though there are clear overarching areas that are similar reflecting the nature of the wider region.

Our engagement team will continue to work with partners over the next 2 years to support the delivery of the LSIP. This includes gathering feedback from employers on the progress to date, engaging with companies who have not participated before to ensure the skills areas are still current, communicating progress on the areas that employers have asked us to focus on be that accessing the courses they need at the time they need them, or supporting the efforts of others around improved bootcamp, apprenticeship or bite size training access.

What makes a successful leader or manager?

We live and work in an increasingly VUCAH (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous, and Hyper-Connected) world, and recently we have been required to navigate through an unprecedented level of change.

The expectations placed on managers are considerable, and not all feel equipped to succeed; according to Chartered Management Institute (CMI) insights, many organisations promote high-performing individuals into management roles without preparation for the challenges of building, managing, and developing a team. Managers can feel overwhelmed by the need to balance delivering in their own role, whilst managing the needs of others. This can be disengaging and detrimental to both manager and team.

In response to growing awareness of the critical role professional managers play in organisations today, significant research has been undertaken to better understand the knowledge and capabilities required to be successful in a leadership and management role.

Some of this is surprising; for example, when Google conducted research into the qualities team members look for in their managers, the most important attribute was ‘being a great coach’. The most important factor for creating a high-performing team? Psychological safety; the individual’s belief that they can take interpersonal risks within their team (Prof Amy Edmondson).

The University of York’s Management Development Programme has been developed to support new and existing managers to succeed in their role and draw upon current practices and insights that will enable them to create environments for their colleagues to flourish.

By engaging with insights, case studies, and peer to peer discussion, participants will gain an understanding of:

Current thought leadership in how to create shared accountability in the team, distributed decision making, and how to lead the team through facilitation.

Creating psychologically safe and engaged teams.

The impact of change, why people can perceive change as a threat, and how to coach different people through change.

The importance of wellbeing at work, how resilience differs for individuals, and how to influence the organisational culture to enable all colleagues to thrive.

The course is accredited by the CMI (Level 5); to book this course and find out about other leadership and management courses offered by the University of York visit york.ac.uk/cpd

Real training investment in full scale artificial street

Develop officially unveils its York training centre and fully to-scale artificial street following significant investment.

Develop, one of the UK’s leading accredited providers of compliance, technical and safety training, has officially reopened its York training centre alongside its new fully to-scale artificial JETSET street, (Joint Emergency Training Set).

The centre, which has undergone a £400k full refurbishment, is now set to provide training in tandem with the purpose-built street, named Training Terrace in a recent public competition, that Develop has recently constructed next-door.

The opening event took place on 24th May at the York-based centre and involved a day of celebrations marked by an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Guests were also given tours of the centre’s newly refurbished facilities and Training Terrace.

Training Terrace looks and appears as a regular street would, consisting of houses, apartments, and a café, but each area has been specifically designed for training purposes. This allows Develop to deliver courses in

emergency response to gas incidents, as well as excavation safety, cable avoidance, street lighting, drains, sewer jetting and confined spaces entry.

John Kerr, Managing Director at Develop, said: “This new state of the art facility will give us a fantastic base to deliver essential and enhanced training to businesses in North Yorkshire and beyond. We’re thrilled to unveil a centre that will work in tandem with Training Terrace, as this new street provides an innovative facility that we’re proud to operate from.

“It was great to welcome attendees to join us for the celebrations and explore the new facilities. We now look forward to welcoming delegates from across the region to join us and experience the unrivalled training that we provide.”

Paul Tate, Lead Emergency Trainer, Northern Gas Networks, who working alongside Develop has been instrumental in the development of the JETSET, attended the event and spoke on the panel. Paul said: “The facilities including the new JETSET will significantly improve the training opportunities for the whole team at Northern Gas Networks and provide real life scenarios. It’s been a long-term

project and it’s fantastic to see it come to life and now be used to enhance the training and development opportunities for not just Northern Gas but for the sector as whole.”

The centre has had several updates to include two fixed-learning classrooms, a hybrid centre catering for alternative energies, two HV workshops and an LV workshop. These workshops will offer Develop’s courses, including those relevant to confined spaces, gas distribution, health and safety, healthcare estates and water systems.

Malcolm Taylor, North Yorkshire Council Divisional Councillor for Huby, said: “It’s fantastic to see this new investment being made in the Huby area, and I believe this centre will be invaluable for training businesses and delegates in the region. The unique facilities that Training Terrace is able to offer will be an exciting, unique addition to the landscape of industry available here, and I look forward to seeing the new wave of professionals being produced in our area.”

For more information about Develop’s York centre, please visit www.developtraining.co.uk.

Our expert, industry-focused academics help businesses find practical and innovative solutions to enable continued business growth.

The government’s recent investment in degree apprenticeships is a clear indication of the value being placed on the importance of apprenticeships in closing the skills gap and providing alternative pathways to higher education. At York St John University, we see apprenticeships giving wider access to the transformative power of university education and providing that pathway to those who may previously have considered a degree out of reach.

We work in partnership with employers to ensure our apprenticeship programmes are right for their staff and their business. We collaborate on the content of our

programmes, support employers with the recruitment and on-boarding of their apprentices and work together to ensure a great learning experience with positive career outcomes.

Our Data Science Degree Apprenticeship is just one example of how successful these partnerships can be. As the first provider in the country to offer the Data Science Degree Apprenticeship, we work with clients including the ONS, Unilever, E.ON and the BBC who are coming back to us each year to on-board more data science apprentices. We are now training over 36% of England’s data scientists in this rapidly growing, diverse and dynamic career. Our first cohort in 2019 finished their apprenticeships this year with 100% EPA pass rate and we are clearly seeing the success of this programme in providing a pathway to a highly rewarding and well-paid career as the demand for data scientists continues to soar across many industries.

Together with the Data Science Degree Apprenticeship, our suite of management and leadership apprenticeships (CMDA, Senior Leaders and Project Manager) and biomedical science apprenticeships (particularly the NHS pathway for Healthcare Science Practitioners), are all designed to enable learners to combine theoretical learning with onthe-job experience and apply this immediately in the workplace. An opportunity to achieve a degree level qualification and career progressing at the same time!

If you would like to discuss further how we can help support with any of your skills, education and workforce development needs, please get in touch with us at business@yorksj.ac.uk

We are committed to working in partnership with our business community to address regional skill gaps.

You choose the escalator steps

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

In challenging economic conditions innovation can be the key to business success. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) are the classic vehicle for using the partnership between a business and a university to explore an issue or challenge and to develop an effective, innovative solution. The vision and any resulting intellectual property, remain with the business partner.

The dedicated expertise and support is supplied by the university through an Associate, who is an experienced graduate or postgraduate recruited through an open process, on the payroll of the university but embedded in the business.

York St John has been running a successful series of awareness raising events in collaboration with partners. Seven universities across Yorkshire, including YSJ, held a full day symposium in Leeds to demonstrate the power of collaboration and its potential benefits in fostering innovation. This was followed by a wellattended business showcase on the YSJ London campus highlighting a range of ways to engage with a vibrant, business-facing university.

Finally, throughout May, York St John

has taken the benefits of collaboration out ‘on the road’ to a series of five Innovate to Grow events held at interesting venues across North Yorkshire. These have included Eden Camp, Malton, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering, C4DI in the former Northallerton jail, the Co Lab at Harrogate and Scarborough Spa. Each event was built around a networking opportunity to discuss a variety of means of engaging with us, assisted by our partners, the Growth Hub and Made Smarter.

The Enterprise Centre is based at York St John University in the centre of the city. The centre provides office space, practical support and expert advice through their business support package. The first occupier of the Enterprise Centre was AgriSound, a business dedicated to increasing biodiversity levels.

As part of the business support package, the Enterprise Centre can connect their occupiers to YSJ’s amazing student and graduate talent pool. AgriSound created a video to support a crowd-funding campaign with the help of recent graduates.

“The crowd-funding video was created to raise funds for our investment

round. The video explained the problem that our product solves, how it works, and how it can benefit farmers and landowners and was designed to attract investors and supporters who believed in our automated pollinator monitoring product.” – said Casey Woodward, AgriSound’s founder and CEO.

“The video was instrumental in helping us exceed our crowd-funding target and generate further interest from potential customers and the wider public,” adds Casey.

The team at AgriSound have been able to reuse sections of the video to help explain how the business and the products work, the footage has been invaluable for generating commercial traction too.

“We had a really positive experience working with students who helped us create the crowd-funding video. They brought a fresh perspective and creative ideas to the project, which helped to create a compelling video that resonated with our target audience. Overall, it was a great experience and we intend to continue to work with students to provide exciting opportunities to bring their skills into industry.” – concludes Casey.

You can go as far as your business needs you to, ‘get on’ and ‘get off’ anywhere and even the direction of travel is unrestricted.

Recruit for attitude, train for skill

The Grand is considered to be the most luxurious Hotel in Yorkshire under the Splendid Group banner, providing exceptional service through its 200+ employees.

The ethos of The Grand is “Recruit for Attitude, Train for Skill” and this is implemented across all departments from point of application. Applicants are required to demonstrate a certain level of personality in order to pass the selection process for employment.

Whilst the traditional themes of hospitality are applicable to The Grand, the training received by employees exceeds the standard level of service of chain hotel groups. This is to ensure that employees have a comprehensive understanding of the whole business, as opposed to singular departments and the implications of how their own individual roles can impact on other areas of the business.

This is implemented through the variety of training schemes available as entry level opportunities, including Student Placement and Graduate schemes. The Hotel utilises these on a regular basis to introduce new employees to the business and showcases such programmes through relationships with local colleges and Universities, however this is difficult to sustain in the current climate and can prove challenging to maintain a level of consistency in terms of accurate and up to date information for tutors to communicate with students.

Formal training for employees is conducted in the form of practical, on the ground experience, team training and online modules, appropriate to departments. This is delivered through management according to department, HR, outsourced materials such as online training modules or third-party visiting demonstrations.

The current skills gaps include catering, from basic food preparation, to front of house where digital skills are lacking for standard software packages. The Hotel places a great emphasis on development from point of entry of all staff and mobility between departments is encouraged. The impact of training, specifically for areas such as junior management/supervisory roles, would enable a more efficient transition.

The Grand’s success for apprenticeships can be demonstrated through the recent appointment of its Head of Marketing, Olivia Odudu, who started her journey as a Conference Operations Assistant.

“Joining The Grand as a part time Conference Operations Assistant whilst at university, I never dreamed that seven years later I would be their Head of Marketing and Communications. Now I take ownership of all marketing activity to raise brand awareness, share of voice, revenue, direct bookings, and repeat business whilst keeping all activations in the luxury sphere, and I love my job! All of this is with thanks to wonderful mentors and support from The Grand throughout my earlier career with courses such as those with the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

“The creative freedom of my role, the ever-changing digital and consumer landscape and the opportunity to create a truly loved brand through partnerships, CSR work and more is what inspires me, but also, developing those around me to create other leaders of the future!”

Embedding skills and boosting productivity with Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett University has a key role in driving economic growth in our region, supporting SMEs to increase their sustainability, productivity and management capabilities. Earlier this year, Leeds Beckett opened the doors to The Knowledge Exchange – a professional city centre space for our regional business community to meet and connect with the university’s business support portfolio.

Located in the Rose Bowl on Portland Way, The Knowledge Exchange is an open door for businesses to begin their journey with the university and access a range of support - from embedding new capabilities to upskilling colleagues and connecting with student talent.

Natalie Allen, Head of Business Partnerships, at Leeds Beckett University explained: “With The Knowledge Exchange, we are committed to making the interaction with the university simple. This is a physical front door to the university for us to support businesses in our region to be sustainable, to innovate, and to grow strategically.”

As a university and education provider, Leeds Beckett is focused on the applied nature of its work with businesses – and on providing opportunities for students to become work-ready.

Natalie said: “We connect businesses with our talent –which means giving our students and graduates the experience of real-life projects and face-to-face interactions with businesses in a professional environment. We harness the work our academics are doing in The Knowledge Exchange back into the classroom so that students benefit from the real-life interactions and knowledge direct from the businesses we work with. It is a two-way exchange –something we wholeheartedly live and breathe.”

Leeds Beckett offers a range of programmes to support businesses to thrive. These include:

Help to Grow: Management

A 14-week programme for SME business leaders, 90% funded by the government and designed to be completed around your existing full-time work commitments.

Upcoming course start dates are: 11 September 2023 and 19 February 2024.

Business Productivity Service

A free programme of support, delivered by Leeds Beckett and Exemplas, to boost the productivity and growth of SMEs in West Yorkshire.

Businesses receive advice and support on how to boost productivity – and are supported to create a clear and achievable productivity improvement plan.

Women Empowered through Coaching and Networking (#WECAN)

Leeds Beckett’s #WECAN programme offers fully funded leadership and management support and training to SMEs and their women employees. Part-funded by the European Social Fund, the project has supported over 700 women from across the Leeds City Region to build their leadership skills, capabilities and opportunities.

Find out more about The Knowledge Exchange at Leeds Beckett University: visit leedsbeckett.ac.uk/tke

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

KTPs are part-funded by the government to drive business innovation and strategic change using university expertise. Projects range from 12 to 36 months in duration.

A KTP is a three-way partnership, connecting a team of academics who are specialists in their field, an organisation wanting to evolve, and an associate – a talented individual recruited to deliver the project.

Natalie said: “We take a holistic approach to supporting businesses, and this all sits under The Knowledge Exchange. It is important to us to create long-term meaningful relationships with our businesses and support them through their growth journey.”

Paul Kenny, Sales Director at Aquatrust Water and Ventilation Ltd in Cleckheaton, first began his relationship with Leeds Beckett University by enrolling on the Help to Grow: Management programme.

Paul said: “Our first Help to Grow module was around strategy and innovation. I had an innovative idea for the business in my mind for some time and discussed this with Olga and George at Leeds Business School. They then put me in touch with the KTP team. Our idea to develop digital, remote solutions for taking water temperature, as well as creating our own software platform, was ideal for a KTP project. I have met such a range of new connections who are working in the areas I am interested in, who I never would have met without first stepping into the university.”

Jonathan Wright, Managing Director at Colchester Machine Tool Solutions based in Elland, Halifax, joined the Small Business Leadership Programme at Leeds Beckett during the pandemic – the government’s pilot programme for Help to Grow: Management.

Jonathan said: “After completing the programme, I discussed some of the topics that arose during the course with Natalie. Two of the major opportunities from my perspective centred around market penetration and succession planning. Our discussions lead onto KTPs and, having scoped out the basis of what a potential KTP would look like and how it could drive the business strategy, we embarked on the application process.

“We are now eight months into our two-year project and already several key outputs have been established and actions implemented. Since making initial contact with the university, we have also had other senior members of staff take part in Help to Grow and I recently took part in a pilot programme for the new Business Productivity Service.”

To find out more about Leeds Beckett’s business support programmes, visit leedsbeckett.ac.uk/business-services or contact tke@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

SKILLS

Connecting skills for growth

Leeds manufacturers team up with Leeds Beckett University to achieve strategic growth plans

Leadership and marketing experts at Leeds Beckett University have teamed up with a Leeds-based manufacturing company to bring academic knowledge and innovation into the business – supporting them in their ambition to enter new markets and achieve continued longterm, sustainable growth.

A team of Leeds Business School academics will work with Moulds, Patterns and Models Ltd (MPM) on the two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), which is partfunded by the Government through Innovate UK.

Founded in 1978, MPM is a family-owned business specialising in manufacturing and supplying composite fibreglass tooling and products to key sectors including automotive, leisure and renewable energy. The company has a strong reputation for quality and reliability.

Dr Julia Morgan, Head of the Leadership Centre at Leeds Beckett and project supervisor, explained: “MPM’s leadership team is very forward-thinking and highly motivated – they have already achieved impressive growth and made many operational changes over the last ten years,

and they are now looking to work with us to achieve the next stage of their ambitious growth plan.

“The KTP will support MPM in their goals to enter new markets and develop new products and services. We will do this by using innovative solutions to challenge their existing practices and create strategic change in the business.”

The KTP will focus on two areas: sales, marketing and strategic insights to grow market share; and strengthening leadership skills and ensuring a high-performing and engaged team are retained within the business to facilitate this growth. Ben Wilson, Managing Director of MPM, said: “Sometimes, you don’t know what you don’t know, and we’re excited to have a fresh pair of eyes, ears and insight into our plans and vision whilst developing the team and business for a more successful, sustainable and enjoyable future.”

Dr Julia Morgan has 20 years’ experience of working in Human Resource Management and Leadership Development consultancy. Project leader, Dr Catherine Ashworth, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, has extensive experience of working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on knowledge exchange projects and has led multiple KTP projects.

A skilled graduate will be recruited to carry out the project, as a full-time member of staff within the business, and with the full support and input of the academic team at Leeds Beckett.

MPM’s relationship with Leeds Beckett University began in 2021 when Ben Wilson took part in the Small Business Leadership Programme – the government’s pilot course which has now become the successful Help to Grow: Management programme – supporting senior managers of SMEs to boost business performance, resilience, and long-term growth.

Through the partnership with Leeds Beckett, MPM staff members will have access to a range of development opportunities through the University’s wider business support programmes and services, including Help to Grow: Management, the #WECAN (Women Empowered through Coaching and Networking) programme – building the

leadership skills, capabilities and opportunities of women in SMEs in the Leeds City Region, and student consultancy projects and placements.

Jo Griffiths, Head of KTP at Leeds Beckett University, added: “The team at MPM are very engaged and want to scale their business sustainably for the benefit of their employees as well as the regional economy. This aspiration aligns directly to the UK government’s Build Back Better and Levelling Up agendas, which are focused on economic growth, improving skills and spreading opportunity more equally across the UK.”

Leeds Beckett University is now number 14 out of 106 providers in the UK for the size of its KTP programme.

The KTP has received financial support from the UK government department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through Innovate UK.

Innovation leads the way

Kate Drury a winner of the 2023 Women in Innovation Award celebrates her achievement. Kate is the founder of Sustainable Rope Ltd a company that produces rope, fabric and other products made with 100% British wool. Kate believes that wool is overlooked when considering sustainable alternatives to plastic-based products, and this is what drove her to create her wool-based ropes. She hopes her innovation will increase demand for wool and, in turn, increase the return to British farmers whilst establishing the place of wool in the natural materials market.

“It’s a huge accolade to be one of the 50 women in innovation awardees. Innovate UK plays a vital role in allowing people like me to take a concept and grow to a consumer facing product. It is a very exciting time for both me and the company. The mentoring is as valuable as the

financial package, as well as the exposure to industry and other innovators both past and present.”

Kate is currently a PhD scholar at the Royal Agricultural University, with her work directly investigating the properties of her rope made from wool. The gathering of data around the product means that its properties will be fully understood and backed up by a wealth of research. Her PhD is titled - “Investigating what happens to wool in a marine environment? Measured against the requirements of seaweed farming in the UK.” She has written an academic paper on the viability of wool rope in the seaweed industry where her rope is currently being trialled, and supporting the repopulating of the seabed with Kelp on the south coast. The wool rope is ideal for seeding as it provides a hospitable environment for the kelp seedlings to grow. The rope is then placed into the

sea, creating a new ecosystem and attracting marine life that had long vacated.

As a woman in innovation awardee, Kate receives mentoring support from one of the Innovation Growth Specialist’s with the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, one of the delivery partners for the region. Innovate UK EDGE is a key part of the UK’s Innovation agency’s investment in innovative businesses that drive economic growth. It is a publicly funded service available to all high potential small to medium sized innovationdriven companies, including Innovate UK grant winners.

Kate is receiving business mentoring from Senior Innovation & Growth Specialist, Tsitsi Chinyandura. They are working one to one to identify the best strategies to grow and scale her business. Tsitsi is experienced in supporting businesses to utilitise approaches such as

value proposition, business model canvas, lean methodologies and strategic planning. The role of innovation and growth specialist is to support businesses to exploit their business innovation, source funding & finance and access new markets.

Innovation is an integral part of business growth and responding to market opportunities and is not just technology, it is the design and implementation of new ideas. These new ideas are not only designing new products or services but also include improvements in systems, processes, marketing and business management that can be commercialised for growth.

Innovation driven business interested in receiving business support can email innovation@wnychamber.co.uk

Chamber Innovation

In the dynamic landscape of today’s business world, staying ahead of the curve is important for longterm success. One key driver of success is business innovation. But what exactly does business innovation this mean? WNY Chamber’s Innovate UK Edge team are here to demystify the concept of business innovation and help companies thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace.

What is Business Innovation?

At its core, business innovation is about finding new and improved ways of doing things. It involves introducing fresh ideas, processes, or products that bring value to a company and its customers. Business innovation is not limited to technological advancements or ground-breaking inventions; it encompasses any change that leads to positive outcomes and keeps a business relevant and competitive.

What types of business innovate?

Innovation is not just reserved for large corporations or tech companies; it is a vital ingredient for the success of any business, regardless of its size or industry. By embracing business innovation, companies can adapt to changing environments, deliver exceptional products and services, and forge a path towards sustainable growth. So, unleash your creativity, embrace change, and let innovation be the driving force behind your business’s journey to success.

How can the Chamber InnovateUK Edge help you?

The team is here to help businesses and their key decision makers to bring their innovations to life, whether you are in the ideas stage of a new product or change in your business, we have a team of Innovation Growth Specialists to provide advice and guidance with specialisms in Business Strategy, Intellectual Property and Internationalisation. They work with you on a 1:1 basis to understand your business needs, can meet with you on a regular basis to work through your strategy, bringing in specialisms as and when required and introducing you to relevant partners if required. We also have access to partnership databases to help you find relevant suppliers or distributors across the world, and finding specialist research, funding and resources in the UK Innovation ecosystem.

Why

is

Business Innovation Important?

Innovation fuels growth and sets companies apart from their competitors. By embracing innovation, businesses can:

1 Stay Ahead: In a rapidly changing market, businesses must continuously adapt to remain relevant. Innovation allows companies to anticipate and respond to customer needs, industry trends, and emerging technologies, giving them a competitive edge.

2 Drive Efficiency: I Innovations can streamline operations, automate repetitive tasks, and optimise resource allocation. This leads to increased productivity, reduced costs, and improved overall efficiency, benefiting both the company and its customers.

3 Enhance Customer Experience: Innovation allows businesses to create better products or services that meet or exceed customer expectations. By understanding and fulfilling customer needs, companies can build loyalty, attract new customers, and foster long-term relationships.

4 Open New Opportunities: Innovative ideas can uncover untapped markets, identify unmet needs, and create fresh revenue streams. By exploring new avenues, businesses can diversify their offerings and expand their reach, maximising growth potential.

How Can Businesses Foster Innovation?

Creating an environment that encourages and nurtures innovation is essential for businesses. Here are a few key strategies:

1 Cultivate a Culture of Innovation: Foster an organisational culture that values creativity, encourages collaboration, and embraces calculated risk-taking. Encourage employees to share ideas, experiment, and learn from failures.

2 Listen to Customers: Actively engage with customers to understand their pain points, desires, and emerging trends. This valuable feedback can drive innovative solutions that address real needs and desires.

3 Embrace Technology: Leverage technology advancements to streamline processes, automate tasks, and uncover new opportunities. Technologies like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud computing can revolutionise business operations.

4 Foster Collaboration: Encourage crossfunctional collaboration, both internally and externally. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, businesses can spark innovation and generate out-of-thebox ideas.

5 Invest in Research and Development: Allocate resources to research and development efforts, allowing dedicated teams to explore new ideas, test prototypes, and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

SKILLS

Are you looking to access new talent to support and boost your business goals?

Whether you have part-time openings, permanent positions, or other roles, we can connect you with our diverse students and graduates who will bring their unique insights and skills to your business.

Leeds Trinity University is a career-led university where our students are supported to develop academically, professionally, and personally. As one of the UK’s top universities for employability* we understand the value of working in close partnership with employers to support our students at every stage of their learning and beyond. We are ranked 18th in the UK and top in Yorkshire for student experience in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

As part of our commitment to the region we recently announced our new city centre location at 1 Trevelyan Square, Leeds. This site will complement our Horsforth campus and is part of a strategy for growth which also includes launching new nursing and built environment courses in a response to national and regional workforce needs.

We are also introducing new programmes built for the digital era, including the MSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence – a postgraduate conversion course for those interested in moving into data science – which put industry experience and technical skills at the heart of learning.

In our professional-led Careers+Placements service, we’ve developed over 3,000 relationships with employers that have provided our students and graduates with a wide range of opportunities including:

• Professional Placements

• Negotiated projects for final year students

• Graduate Schemes and Jobs

• Meet The Employer Networking Events

• Careers Fairs

• Recruitment Days

• Student Mentoring Programme

• Paid Summer Internships

• Part-time Jobs

Careers and Enterprise is one of the four Strategic Pillars of Leeds Trinity University’s Strategic Plan and to support this we want to strengthen and deepen our relationship with industry by developing Employer Partnerships. Our team are looking to form partnerships that will be unique and tailored to the needs and requirements of the employers, and we’ll be starting with employers in the Legal and Digital sectors.

If you would like to explore how your business can work with us and access our talent, please get in touch at careers@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

*Graduate Outcomes, Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), published 2022

Talent to boost your business

Boost your career with Higher Technical Skills

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are practical programmes, developed with business, that can help you get ahead in your career.

HTQs help people achieve professional qualifications that can lead to a degree, delivered around life commitments, on a step-by-step basis. They help individuals over the age of 18 get the right training and skills to succeed at work.

They can be studied full or part-time and don’t all need to be completed one after the other, when life gets in the way.

Why choose HTQs?

HTQs are ideal if you are already on a career path and wish to gain a hands-on qualification to progress at work or switch direction completely. Bradford College takes into account life experience as part of your prior learning as well as any qualifications to date.

Many courses offer practical experience through workshops, labs, or site visits, giving you the edge. Once you have completed your qualification, you can stop or continue to the next level at any point in the future. You could even achieve a degree around your life and work commitments.

Iqra Sadiq, a Bradford College student who opted for a HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said:

“I did a broader course on engineering and that helped me pinpoint which branch I enjoyed the most, which was robotics and electronics. I went on to the HNC hoping to get more information about my specialist area before I went onto uni, and it was a great decision.”

What qualifications are available?

• Higher National Certificate (HNC)

a Level 4 vocational qualification equivalent to the first year of a degree. It takes one year to complete full-time or two years part-time.

• Higher National Diploma (HND) a Level 5 vocational qualification equivalent to the first two years of a degree. It takes two years to complete fulltime or three to four years if you study part-time.

• Foundation Degree (FdA)

a flexible qualification that combines academic study with work-based learning and can be studied full-time, parttime, or by distance learning. It is equivalent to the first two years of a degree and can be topped up to a full honours degree later.

To discover the full range of HTQs on offer, visit the Adult Courses section of the Bradford College website: www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/adult-courses/higher-technical-qualifications

Latest international trade developments unwrapped

Chamber International has added 16 new training events to its schedule to help businesses deal with the latest developments in importing and exporting.

A total of 28 are now planned between July and September, including new technical seminars on how to export highly regulated products, such as lithium batteries and other so-called “dual use” components that may require special export licences.

The program also includes a series of new workshops to help businesses export to countries and regions that are challenging in various ways: there is a special focus on middle-Eastern markets - the UAE, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia; and also, nearby markets to which trade has been made more complex as a result of Britain’s exit from the EU – Shipping to and from Northern Ireland, for instance, and exporting to the EU in general.

For exporters seeking help to increase volumes and margins, there’s a new online workshop “How to Sell More Overseas – Whatever You Sell”, which

will be delivered by a government advisor on exporting. And for those who are experiencing hassles getting goods through UK customs, there are two new seminars about the Customs Declaration Service: one for importers, and another for exporters New exporters sometimes prefer to focus on fun aspects, such as marketing and product development for new markets, and forget that getting VAT right can be the difference between healthy profit and disappointing loss. A new seminar on VAT for International Business will help firms make sense of their international VAT issues, protect their margins and avoid nasty surprises.

Chamber International’s export controls specialist, Vincent Taylor, is preparing to deliver “An Introduction to Export Licensing”.

He said: “Businesses, including small tech and engineering companies, are running into problems because they don’t realise that their products, software and technology may need special export licenses. Our aim is to help them understand the principles behind export controls, and be properly prepared, so that they can access profitable overseas markets effectively”.

Chamber International director, Tim Bailey, said: “Our training offer is continually under review. We plan ahead of new trade regulations such as the EU’s customs risk management programme ICS2 and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

Customer feedback has also created a need to divide some existing workshops to create beginner and advanced sessions.”

Former Volvo and Vodafone customs manager joins Chamber International, bringing benefits of unique experience to exporters

A top UK customs manager with decades of experience from household names including Volvo and Vodafone has joined overseas trade specialist Chamber International, to bolster trade advisory services for the region’s exporters.

Vince Taylor managed customs strategy for Volvo UK during Britain’s exit from the EU, ensuring a constant supply of cars and parts to UK dealers while many other firms struggled to deal with new cross-border protocols and delays.

Vince Taylor is also an expert regarding export licences and the shipping of military and so-called “dual use” goods – items which may have unintended military or international security applications. “Dual use” is a complex aspect of international trade, and penalties for infringement can be high – one UK company was fined more than £745,000 earlier this year, for breaching the rules.

As well as lengthy stints with Lockheed Martin, the Ministry of Defence and the French defence giant, Thales, Vince Taylor served five years on a national technical committee which influenced EU and UK legislation by lobbying the government on behalf of manufacturers. Known then as the Joint Electronics and Telecommunications Security Export Control Committee (JETSECC), the Trade and Customs Compliance Group is organised by TechUK, a trade association with more than 940 member companies in the technology sector.

By joining Chamber International, the international trade division of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Vince Taylor is making his experience available to businesses, including small and medium-sized firms who might not have the resources to employ a specialist directly. Dual-use rules are not just an issue for companies in the defence sector, which according to government figures accounted for £8.22bn of exports in 2022 and supports more than 100,000 highly-skilled jobs in the UK, it is also a potential minefield for others who don’t realise that the components they make may potentially have a military use.

Arriving at Chamber International’s headquarters from his most recent role as compliance manager for Oxford-based cybersecurity and cryptography firm PQ Shield, Vince Taylor said, “I am pleased to have this opportunity to provide support for SME exporters. International trade expertise should be available for companies of all sizes. After all, when it comes to customs issues, small companies have to deal with all the same regulations that large ones do.”

Chamber International director Tim Bailey said, “At a time when global instability is affecting international supply chains, Vince’s unique mix of experience and skills, including his expertise in the difficult area of dualuse goods, will be of great value to exporters as they seek to grow their business in overseas markets. People with his breadth of knowledge are hard to find, and we are excited that he is joining Chamber International.”

“At a time when global instability is affecting international supply chains, Vince’s unique mix of experience and skills, including his expertise in the difficult area of dual-use goods, will be of great value to exporters as they seek to grow their business in overseas markets.”

“When it comes to customs issues, small companies have to deal with all the same regulations that large ones do.”

Vince adds value, vision & vigilance

Opportunities in a growing tourism sector

Yorkshire marketing agency sheds light on new opportunities for MICE tourism businesses/

A marketing agency in Skipton has highlighted exciting opportunities for business tourism across Yorkshire, with a new white paper.

The fabl, has drafted the white paper to inform businesses of new opportunities in a growing niche tourism sector known as MICE. The acronym - for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions - caters for groups of people who come together in a particular place for a particular reason.

The launch of the fabl’s white paper coincides with the government’s Business Events Growth Programme accepting new funding bids from businesses for 2024. Through the programme, VisitBritain supports organizations in developing, marketing and hosting international business events in the UK.

Mags Walker, founder of the fabl, said: “The changing ways people are working has created a whole new range of opportunities in tourism and hospitality. Businesses are now looking for an offer that combines the mixed characteristics of a tourist product and a business event.

“In the wake of almost three years of Zoom windows, Teams meetings, and remote working fatigue, businesses

and employees have a new-found appreciation for inperson events. Meetings and events that encourage connection are well-positioned for success in the future.”

A well-considered MICE offer will become an increasingly important source of business for most hotels. The April 2023 sentiment tracker from VisitBritain revealed that 20 per cent of UK adults in employment plan on taking an overnight business trip in the next three months. Conference is the leading reason for taking one (30 percent) followed by ‘Team building’ (at 25 percent).

A recent Gallup report on Customer Centricity found that guests who are fully engaged with a venue will spend an average of 46 per cent more than disengaged guests. That's the difference between a guest spending £300 and spending £438 during their stay.

Mags continued: “The benefits are very clear, there’s a real opportunity here for businesses. To maximise the potential, a specifically tailored marketing strategy is needed based on the mixed components of MICE tourism. At the fabl we have a wealth of hospitality expertise. We are keen to share that with businesses, who are all welcome to read our white paper and we’re always happy to help if they need any further support.”

To view the white paper visit: thefabl.com/mice-tourismessentials-and-new-opportunities/

Representing hospitality to government ministers

York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s Hospitality Forum journeyed to Westminster this week to meet with Government ministers and a cross party group of the region’s MPs to discuss the sector’s future.

The Chamber delegation met with tourism minister Sir John Whittingdale and business and trade minister Kevin Hollinrake, as well as York Outer MP Julian Sturdy, York Central MP Racheal Maskell, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones and Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith in the House of Commons to highlight the sector’s challenges and strengths.

In particular, the Chamber impressed the need for businesses large and small in the hospitality sector to be able to hold on to more of their cash in order to preserve and invest in their companies, through a more progressive VAT tax structure and interventions in utility overheads.

Having spent the past several weeks engaging in roundtable events and market analysis, the Chamber has accumulated a real sense of what the prevailing mood in the region’s hospitality sector looks like, with overheads such as tax and utilities being the chief concern.

Hospitality is a key sector for North Yorkshire, employing more than 45,000 people and with GVA valued at more than £970 million.

The combination of the pandemic, inflation and economic instability have taken a heady toll on this muchvalued sector.

York & North Chamber of Commerce earlier this year took the step of forming a Hospitality Forum specifically designed to champion the sector’s strengths and highlight its challenges. It is the only forum dedicated to the hospitality sector in all of the 53 Chambers of Commerce nationally.

It is our view that, in order to survive and thrive, the hospitality sector needs a stable and well-run economy. Inflation is making forward planning and investment decisions almost impossible, particularly for smaller businesses. And while forecasts predict inflation is likely to fall sharply in the coming months, increased costs are likely here to stay for the sector.

For these reasons, York & North Yorkshire Chamber is preparing a series of asks for both national and local Government so that the industry does not face insurmountable challenges.

Sarah Czarnecki, vice president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “West and North Yorkshire Chamber is proud to have established the first Chamber Hospitality Forum in the country.

“We are looking forward to continuing these discussions and have commitment from Westminster representatives to this.”

Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, said: “The meeting was a great opportunity to discuss the aims and objectives of the York Hospitality Forum and allow the Chamber of Commerce’s representatives to raise their core concerns with the Minister’s responsible for the health of the sector and other North Yorkshire MPs.

“I am grateful for the time and insight provided by the Ministers and representatives from the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, and I look forward to many more conversations in the future, especially as York’s devolution deal is enacted next year.”

“ Being given the opportunity to take hospitality business views to Westminster to meet with ministers and local MPs has been a crucial step in our quest to ensure that the industry is being represented.”

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The very real threat of cyberattacks

Imagine waking up one day to find out that your business has fallen victim to a cyberattack and sensitive customer data has been stolen. This nightmare scenario has become a reality for a growing number of businesses.

In 2021/22, ransomware attacks affected 73% of UK organisations according to the 2023 Cyberthreat Defence Report, while Digit News2 reports that in 2022, new data shows ransomware attacks in the UK rose by 17% and early data for 2023 shows signs of an uptake in UK ransomware activity. The trend is clear to see: ransomware attacks are on the increase.

Latest ransomware attacks

In February 2023, GOV.UK reported that Conti and Ryuk ransomware strains had targeted 149 UK individuals and businesses, including hospitals, schools, businesses and local authorities, extricating an estimated £27 million. And just 12 days into 2023, a high profile cyberattack took place on the UK’s Royal Mail, with international parcel and letter deliveries affected for nearly six weeks, after it refused to pay a £67m ransom.

Over the past year, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) part of GCHQ, dealt with more than 60 nationally significant cyberattacks5, including ransomware attacks against the NHS 111 helpline service and the water utility company, South Staffordshire Water.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is described by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as a type of malware that prevents you from accessing your device and the data stored on it, usually by encrypting your files. A criminal group will then demand a ransom in exchange for decryption. The computer itself may become locked, or the data on it might be encrypted, stolen or deleted. The attackers may also threaten to leak the data they steal.

The reality is that cybercrime impacts users across the world and, as individuals and businesses become increasingly reliant on internet-connected devices,

attackers will continue to take advantage with ever-more sophisticated threats, including ransomware attacks, data breaches and online fraud.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity measures vary, depending on the size and nature of your business. With the general rule ‘you’re only as strong as your weakest link’ a good place to start, it reinforces the need for staff training, particularly with so many workers now operating remotely, ensuring employees understand how phishing attacks work and the need to be vigilant at all times.

Mitigating risk

Businesses can protect themselves by transferring risk through an appropriate cyber insurance solution.

A good cyber insurance policy will include:

• Advice in relation to the payment or non-payment of any ransomware demand

• Statutory obligations in notifying customers of a data breach

• Public relations advice

• IT forensic investigation costs

• The costs associated with responding to regulatory bodies

It can also provide for the rectification of your computer systems, any resultant Business Interruption and the defence of any claims brought by third parties resulting from the attack, subject to policy terms, conditions and excess.

Cyber insurance is one of the key mechanisms a business should have in place to help deal with a cyberattack because, unless you’re very lucky, it really is a case of ‘when, not ‘if’.

For further information contact PiB Insurance.

YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE CHAMBER

York Vice President

York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Czarnecki as its new Vice President.

Sarah is a well-known and respected business leader in and sits on the York and North Yorkshire Chamber Leadership Group as well as being vice-chair of its Hospitality Forum.

The appointment will see Sarah join the wider West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce board, working alongside current York & North Yorkshire president Laurence Beardmore until his time in office concludes this summer, after which she will assume the office of President.

Outside of the Chamber, Sarah is best known as Director of the award-winning and prestigious Grays Court Hotel & The Bow Room Restaurant in York city centre. She is also a director at York’s Business Improvement District and an advisory board member of York St John University’s business school.

Commenting on her appointment, Sarah said: “Becoming Vice President of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is both an honour and a privilege. I have dedicated much of my life to business in this region and am looking forward to devoting my time and passion to make York and North Yorkshire as successful and prosperous as it can be.

“North Yorkshire is a gem of the United Kingdom with a strong footing in the industries that have made us the county we are. Working with, and championing, these industries and businesses will be a prime focus for my role with the Chamber.

“I look forward to shepherding the county into the next chapter of its illustrious history and to working with the region’s stakeholders for its advancement.”

Laurence Beardmore, president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “I am delighted to welcome Sarah as our new Vice President for the Chamber.

“Sarah is a passionate advocate for this region and a hugely well-respected business leader.

“She will be an outstanding leader for the Chamber.”

Amanda Beresford, chair of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sarah to the Vice President’s role.

“Her knowledge, leadership and passion for the region will make her an outstanding addition to the team.”

Projects pipeline showcased at forum

Bradford businesses heard recently how to help showcase the city’s opportunities at the local Property Forum event. Questions were also put to the local authority’s strategic director, with responsibility for such activities.

Chaired by Matt Rudman of Vectos, the breakfast event at Great Victoria Hotel heard about a range of developments currently in the pipeline around the city, and the investment, jobs and wealth creation that they will bring in. These projects – including Bradford Live, Darley Street Market, One City Park and City of Culture 2025 – were highlighted at a three-day international property convention in Leeds.

David Shepherd, Director of Place at Bradford Council, addressed a quizzical audience with an enthusiastic zeal about the potential future that the District has. Supported by his colleague, Bev Foster, the then new-in-post officer fielded questions from the 50-plus gathering of propertyfocused business representatives from Bradford and Leeds.

Matt, the Chair of Bradford Chamber’s Property Forum, said: “Our Property Forum events continue to be popular, and it’s easy to figure out why: they are informative, interesting and provide an opportunity to both quiz key movers and shakers, and to convey to policy-makers what matters to our members. Not forgetting the chance to make new contacts locally and sub-regionally.”

Sustainability aims: Hero, or Zero?

While the principles of the ‘net zero agenda’ are to be welcomed, applying them in practice needs careful consideration. This was the view of attendees at a recent Leeds Property Forum gathering.

The audience, made up mainly of Leeds and Bradfordbased property representatives, heard how environmental sustainability needs to be accompanied by social and economic sustainability for it to be successful. One speaker, Robert Hopkins of AHR, challenged the perception that social sustainability is less measurable than environmental sustainability in a thought-provoking yet stimulating presentation. BDP’s David Rudlin noted how the race is on to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city. While Nick Kealey of Arcadis had earlier asked the audience to think about redefining prosperity, and produced an ‘index’ – or league table, if you like – of the world’s top 20 most sustainable cities.

Would you like to know which city is ‘top of the pops’, and where in the index Leeds is? Well, you should have come to the event!

Current Leeds Property Forum Chair, Gerald Jennings, said: “While the net zero objectives are understandable and need serious and careful consideration, they need to be balanced with the social and economic factors that are also important. This event was able to look in the round at the various effects on the property sector, and I’m sure that we’ll re-visit this topic again in the future.”

9-20 October 2023

Bradford Manufacturing Weeks 2023 takes place between 9 and 20 October with the aim of introducing the district’s manufacturers to young people and boost apprenticeship numbers by creating more inspired, informed and ‘work ready’ applicants into the sector. Following on from the success of the previous five years

MANUFACTURERS

We look forward to working with you all.

of Bradford Manufacturing Week the initiative will be taking place in the City again over 2 weeks. Since 2018 over 17,000 students from schools and colleges across the district have experienced the world of manufacturing.

EDUCATORS

If you work for a school, college or university we would be delighted for you to get involved.

wnychamber.co.uk/bmw-registration

Shape the future of Bradford’s manufacturing industry and open the door of opportunity for our district’s young people.

Helmsley Group demonstrates further high street commitment

Property investment and development specialist, Helmsley Group is a proud supporter of the Big Tent Ideas Festival in York.

The Big Tent Ideas Festival, in June, invited political representatives and prominent names in media, business and academia to take part in a wide range of discussions on subjects including devolution, social equality and sustainability.

Helmsley Group, one of the event sponsors, alongside City of York Council, York Minster and the York BID, and its involvement included Ed Harrowsmith, Helmsley’s investment director, taking part in a panel discussion entitled: “How can we revive our flagging high streets?”.

Helmsley Group has already made a commitment to regenerating York’s high streets through its Coney Street Riverside masterplan, with a planning application set to be determined later this year.

If approved, it will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore Coney Street and its adjoining riverfront to its former glory through enhanced connectivity, increased public realm and the establishment of a riverside walkway.

As part of the Big Tent festival, representatives from Helmsley took policy makers and influencers on a walking tour of Coney Street, showcasing their ambitious development plans as a template for reviving high streets elsewhere in the country.

Ed Harrowsmith, investment director at Helmsley Group, said: “The Big Tent Ideas Festival is committed to improving inequality within society and better understanding how we can work together to create lasting change, regeneration and renewal. It perfectly aligns with our vision for Coney Street Riverside, which seeks to create a vibrant, welcoming community that offers opportunities for all.

Ben Rich, CEO of Radix, which organises the Big Tent Festival, added: “Big Tent is all about providing a platform for innovators and original thinkers in York to influence national public policy for the better. Helmsley's plans for York’s riverside are an excellent example of the creative thinking that has the potential to revive not just Coney Street, but other high streets up and down the country. We are proud to have their support.”

“We’re excited about sharing ideas with a number of leading industry figures as to how we can create societies that work to empower those most in need, both in York and across the UK.”

PIB Insurance Brokers CEO takes on 10km charity walk

PIB Insurance Brokers CEO Steve Redgwell embarked on a 10km walk from Headingley Stadium to Leeds to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research. Steve is an MND sufferer, a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Despite his condition, Steve is determined to make a difference and raise awareness of the disease.

The charity walk, took place in June, raised funds for Challenging MND, a charity that provides financial support and assistance to those living with Motor Neurone Disease to complete any lasting memorable challenges or experiences, and for The Francis Crick Institute to support research into finding a cure for MND.

Steve has already completed a similar walk, in London last year, which raised almost £140,000. This has been transformative for Challenging MND as it has enabled them to increase their support from one family a month to as many as five families a week.

Speaking about his motivation for taking on the challenge, Steve said, "Living with MND is incredibly tough, but I want to use my experience to make a difference and help find a cure for this devastating disease. I'm grateful for the support I've received from PIB and the wider community."

The PIB Insurance Brokers team is fully behind Steve's efforts and joined him on the walk. "We are incredibly proud of Steve and his determination to raise funds and awareness for MND research," said Brendan McManus, CEO of PIB Group. The walk is part of a wider fundraising campaign by PIB Group, which is also supporting the event through the PIB Community Trust.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Baul music reaches new audiences in Bradford and Keighley

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has secured funds for a project to revive, preserve and promote the writing of Baul music in Bradford and Keighley.

As well as a form of folk music, it is a distinct philosophy of life embedded in music. Bradford district is home to numerous writers of Baul music, but most of their work has never been published.

The grant support from the Leap Pioneer Programme, Bradford Council Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund will now enable this to happen. More than 100 original songs will be promoted in local communities by translating the lyrics into English and incorporating them and the accompanying sheet music into a book due to be launched in Bradford later this year.

Sadar Uddin, MHA Community Partnership and Investment Manager, said: “Baul music writers who live and work in Bradford district class themselves as ordinary people. At Manningham Housing Association, we see them as talented people who deserve recognition.

“This project will increase greater awareness of Baul music and motivate individuals to learn, write and perform at public events in venues easily accessible by local communities.

“I have met with several highly qualified Baul song writers who have published some of their works, but there are many others in the communities of Bradford and Keighley who have spent most of their lives writing Baul folk songs which have never been shared publicly. We want to put that right.”

Ulfat Hussain, MHA Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations, said: “This is a non-housing added value project with major cultural value The project will target beneficiaries living in hard-to-reach neighbourhoods which face multiple deprivations and disadvantages. Almost 99% of the targeted participants are from poor economic or unemployment backgrounds or low-income families.

“Long term, we would like this project developed into a learning hub for Baul music, creating a vibrant forum for writers and enthusiasts.”

Barrington Billings, MHA Chair, said: “MHA likes to do things differently. We warmly welcome the faith the Leap Pioneer Programme, Bradford Council and National Lottery Heritage Fund have shown in our ability to deliver by providing these funds.”

York & North Yorkshire Chamber Annual Dinner

More than 200 business leaders from across the region gathered at York Racecourse for the Annual Dinner.

Staged on a glorious summer’s evening, the event attracted a huge cross section of the region’s business community, as well as representatives of North Yorkshire’s civic, sporting, cultural and media institutions. In a break with tradition, the old formal black-tie rules were jettisoned in favour of a more casual and inclusive tone. And rather than opt for a formal speaker, attendees instead were entertained by a panel of some of York’s leading figureheads.

The most emotive moment of the night came when Mr Beardmore announced the creation of the Andrew Digwood Award, set up to honour the memory of the much-loved former Chamber president who so tragically passed away last year. The award will honour business people in the region who have demonstrated commendable leadership in the region and, in its inaugural year, was awarded posthumously to Mr Digwood, an announcement which drew a standing ovation.

Elsewhere there was top notch entertainment from students at York St John University and from legendary party band HUGE who had the crowd dancing into the wee small hours. The event was presented by compère par excellence, John Hammond DL.

YORK & NORTH YORKSHIRE CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER

Cherie Federico from Aesthetica, Clint Goodchild of York Rugby League Football Club, Nigel Poulton from The Island charity and Simon Mahon from The Grand Hotel were quizzed on what makes the region so special by Chamber president Laurence Beardmore and CEO James Mason.

What you missed online

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

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

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

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Excellence Academy announces new high-profile sponsor

Cardinal Global Logistics is to sponsor two cohorts of Chamber International’s Excellence Academy, the two parties announced recently.

The Academy is a practical export training programme for international trade professionals. It was launched in September 2022 to strengthen the skills of British exporters, and help them adapt to the challenges posed by today’s international trade environment. It is accredited by British Chambers of Commerce, and run by Chamber International in partnership with Germany-based training and assessment provider Fidelitas Training.

Cardinal will sponsor two cohorts of ten industry-based delegates this autumn, for the six-week course.

One of Cardinal’s logistics experts will join the Academy’s panel of guest speakers to share tips with delegates on how to “get the most out of” their freight forwarders. Furthermore, the delegates, who come from a wide range of exporting businesses, will be hosted for a day at one of Cardinal’s logistics facilities, where they will get to experience how an international logistics company manages its operations.

The company has been invited to present awards to delegates at a graduation reception, to be held at the Mayfair headquarters of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, next April.

Cardinal is the UK’s fastest-growing logistics services provider, currently serving more than 6,000 clients, from more than 25 offices around the world.

Cardinal’s sales director Gareth Sumner, said: “We believe in educating exporters, to help them understand the challenges that international logistics providers face. We have never sponsored a training programme before, but when the opportunity came up to partner with Chamber International, we didn’t hesitate.”

Chamber International’s director Tim Bailey, said: "We are thrilled to have Cardinal on board as our official sponsor; their support will allow us to take the Academy to the next level and provide an even more engaging experience for our attendees. Cardinal is a well-known market leader with a reputation for innovation and excellence, which makes them a perfect fit for this partnership.”

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West and North Yorkshire Chamber membership saving of £600 plus VAT per candidate

Learn more

When: 6 September – 19 October 2023

26 October – 28 November 2023

Format: 6 x half day modules

Where: Videoconference via Zoom

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Visit: www.chamber-international.com

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