Ware & Kay's Peter Kay is signed up as one of North Yorkshire's 'Business Ambassadors'
Their first activity is an open letter (see below) to all regional media, urging businesses to continue investing in skills through the downturn and to use the free business support available.
The open letter, signed by 19 of the Ambassadors, focuses on skills and business support and includes well known names such as John Anderson, regional director of BT; Mark Andrews, chief executive of NG Bailey; Andy Bond, President & CEO, ASDA; Jan Fletcher, chairman of Montpellier Estates; Richard Gregory, chairman of Yorkshire Bank and Andrew Palmer, regional director of the CBI.
The letter highlights that these business leaders have successfully survived a number of recessions and are pooling their experiences to identify what they believe are the priorities now for Yorkshire and Humber’s businesses. They urge businesses to continue investing in skills.
“A big issue for many businesses right now is cost cutting – and training budgets are often the first to go. But it is a false economy. Even in these difficult times, there are real opportunities we should seize. In many businesses, it may be easier now to release staff for training. Larger businesses could strengthen their supply chains by developing training in partnership with suppliers.”Other areas they highlight include a focus on marketing and the pursuit of excellent customer service as well as ‘good and timely financial information, particularly daily cash reporting’.
The Ambassadors stress that there are still businesses doing well and new opportunities even in difficult times – and urge businesses to make use of the funding and support to help innovate and develop products and services, as well as find new export markets.
Rosie Winterton said: “I am extremely grateful for this commitment by Business Ambassadors to support the region in whatever way they can. A number of Ambassadors want to pool their experiences of having successfully survived a number of recessions to help other businesses in the region. They are particularly keen to stress the importance of continuing to invest in skills through the downturn.
“They are also urging businesses to use the free support available and to contact Business Link to maximise every opportunity.
“Other Ambassadors are keen to support us in our plans for inward investment and promote the region as a great place for business both nationally and internationally.
“My priority as Regional Minister is to work with regional partners to ensure businesses and the wider community have the help they need to get through difficult times.”
Yorkshire Forward is supporting Rosie Winterton’s plans and helping to focus areas where Ambassadors’ skills and experience can add most value to existing plans in the region.
The Ambassadors mention that the initiative - 'Train to Gain' - has been extended to cover most employees in job-related skills and that apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to train people.
Business Link can help in all these areas, from skills and financial health checks to innovation and increasing sales - http://www.start-my-business.co.uk/ or 08456 048 048.
List of Business Ambassadors by regional areas:
East Yorkshire and the HumberJohn Fitzgerald, Port Director, ABP Grimsby & Immingham
Ian McIntosh, President, AAK UK
Neil Turton, Chief Executive Officer, Nisa-Today’s
West Yorkshire
John Anderson, Regional Director, BT plc
Mark Andrews, Chief Executive, NG Bailey
Andy Bond, President & CEO, ASDA Stores Ltd
Richard Gregory, Chairman, Yorkshire Bank
Julie Hanson, joint Managing Director, Brahm
Linda Pollard, Regional Chair, Coutts & Co
Kevin Whiteman, Chief Executive, Kelda Group
Brian Whittington, Dean of Leeds Business School, Leeds Metropolitan University
Margaret Wood, Managing Director, ICW (UK) Ltd
North Yorkshire
Alan Blackwell, Principal, Craven College
Jan Fletcher, Chairman, Montpellier Estates Ltd
Peter Kay, Partner, Ware & Kay LLP
Graham Ward, Chief Executive, Stockbridge Technology Centre Ltd
Gordon Bridge, Chief Executive, Aesseal plc
Nick Cragg, Chairman, Nicholas Associates Ltd
John Foster, Managing Director, Fosters Bakery
Rob Hannon, Managing Director, Sureguard Energy Services Ltd
Julie Kenny, Managing Director, Pyronix Ltd
Tracey Lally, Managing Director, Talent Services Ltd
Regional organisations
Michael Oughtred, Senior Vice President, Yorkshire & Humber Chambers of Commerce
Andrew Palmer, Regional Director, CBI Yorkshire & Humber
Nimble Thompson, Regional Chairman, Institute of Directors Yorkshire and the Humber
Open Letter to regional media editors
Dear editor
As a group of business people, passionate about Yorkshire and the Humber, we have made a commitment to support the region’s business community in whatever way we can.
Having successfully survived a number of recessions, we have pooled our experiences to identify what we believe are priorities for Yorkshire’s businesses.
A big issue for many businesses right now is cost cutting – and training budgets are often the first to go. But it is a false economy.
Even in these difficult times, there are real opportunities we should seize. In many businesses, it may be easier now to release staff for training. Larger businesses could strengthen their supply chains by developing training in partnership with suppliers.
Marketing needs to be more focused and with it the pursuit of excellent customer service. Good and timely financial information is vital, particularly daily cash reporting.
All of us recognise that there are businesses doing well and still new opportunities even in difficult times. There is funding and support to help innovate and develop products and services, as well as find new export markets.
We would urge businesses to make use of the free and flexible support available to help them. The initiative, Train to Gain has been extended to cover most employees in job-related skills and Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to train people.
Business Link can help you with all the above, from skills and financial health checks to innovation and increasing sales - www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk or 08456 048 048.
We all need to maximise every opportunity.
Signed
John Anderson, Regional Director - Yorkshire & The Humber Region, BT
Mark Andrews, Chief Executive, NG Bailey Ltd
Alan Blackwell, Principal, Craven College
Andy Bond, President & CEO, ASDA Stores Ltd
Gordon Bridge, Chief Executive, Aesseal plc
Nick Cragg, Chairman, Nicholas Associates Ltd
Richard Gregory, Chairman, Yorkshire Bank
Julie Hanson, joint Managing Director, Brahm
Julie Kenny, Managing Director, Pyronix Ltd
Ian McIntosh, President, AAK UK
Michael Oughtred, Senior Vice President, Yorkshire & Humber Chambers of Commerce
Andrew Palmer, Regional Director, CBI Yorkshire & Humber
Nimble Thompson, Regional Chairman, Institute of Directors
Neil Turton, Chief Executive Officer, Nisa-Today’s
Graham Ward, Chief Executive, Stockbridge Technology Centre Ltd
Brian Whittington, Dean of Leeds Business School, Leeds Metropolitan University
Margaret Wood, Managing Director, ICW (UK) Ltd
Posted: February 2nd, 2009
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