Group 1 leeds business review jan 2014

LEEDSBUSINESSREVIEW

ISSUE #001JANUARY ‘14

ww

w.jo

urna

lism

atle

edsm

etro

polit

an.c

om

EXCITINGFIRST LOOKAT VICTORIAGATE & LEEDS’NEW FIVESTAR HILTON

RACINGAHEAD

DEVELOPMENTSPECIAL

CONTENTS

LeedsBusinessReview

January 2014 LeedsBusiness Review

PAGE 6

IS THE NHS GOING UNDER?LEEDS BUS FARES DECREASING

PAGE 9

LEEDS TROLLEY BUS

PAGE 8

NEW HILTON HOTEL TO BOOST ECONOMYTHE SOFTWARE TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE

PAGE 7

COMBATTING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENTSOLICITOR BANNED FOR TAX EVASION

PAGE 10

TRINITY KITCHEN LANDS IN LEEDS

PAGE 12

THE BELGRAVE MUSIC HALL REVIVAL

PAGE 13

MADE IN LEEDS TV

PAGE 15

BUSINESS WEEKWHY LEEDS NEEDS HS2PAGE 16

GTA: ROCKING AROUND THE GAMING WORLD

PAGE 19

KIRKGATE MARKET REVAMPWHITE ROSE CENTRE RECEIVES A FACELIFT

PAGE 18

LEEDS’ ABANDONED PROPERTIES

PAGE 22

THE IMPACT OF TRINITY

PAGE 25

LEEDS - PUBLIC VS PRIVATE

PAGE 20

THE ARRIVAL OF VICTORIA GATE

PAGE 5

PLANS REVEALED FOR DALEK WIND SOLUTIONS

PAGE 26

TOUR DE FRANCE

PAGE 27RUGBY WORLD CUP

PAGE 28LINKEDIN TOP TIPS

Photo courtesy of Hammerson

Start

LETTER FROM THE EDITORAS THE economy begins to recover, the financial

landscape is an exciting place to analyse. Leeds has

continued to thrive in the retail sector, with Trinity

Leeds shopping centre welcoming more than 12

million visitors through its doors. Plans for Victoria

Gate are already underway with the city welcoming a

brand new John Lewis towards the end 2016.

In this issue of Leeds Business Review we investigate

the economic outlook of the city with the council

aiming to be “the best city in the UK by 2030”.

Earlier this year the city played host to Leeds

Business Week with many influential figures taking

part in talks and hosting events across the city.

We sat down with D&D London to see how they

broke into the Northern market while Alex Price

investigates how Leeds Empties plans to renovate

thousands of derelict properties.

With the plans in place for High Speed 2, the city

is expected to see a rise in business with journeys to

London taking just 82 minutes. The plans would see

a new station in the city with many job opportunities.

With Leeds continuing to grow transport is seen as a

necessity. Talks are on going about the possibility of

trolleybus across the city with further talks expected

towards the beginning of next year.

The development of the Hilton Hotel near Leeds

Arena will be an exciting aspect of 2016 as it opens

its doors to the public. Georgia Sharp looks at the

impact it will have on the city.

Alice Booth talks to Ian Bowden, the Artistic

Director at Rockstar Games to see their involvement

in the new Grand Theft Auto game. Andrew Briggs

also went to see how the Rugby League world Cup

bought business to the north of Leeds.

And finally, Alice Kidd explores how the Tour De

France will be bringing more jobs to the city.

This issue has been a pleasure to compile

with so many developments in the city, and an

improvement in the economy.

| January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview

PLANS HAVE finally been unveiled for

a solution to Bridgewater Place’s extreme

winds, a lengthy seven years after the

building’s completion. It was revealed at a

council meeting last week that a proposed

£245,000 plan to resolve the building’s

wind tunnel is in the pre-application stage.

Bridgewater Place, which stands at a height

of 32 floors high, was the centre of an

inquest last month that brought attention

to the fatality and also the minor injuries

the wind tunnel has caused.

Leeds City Council ruled that during windy

periods roads around the tall building

would be closed off to pedestrians only.

The striking building, which can be seen

from 40km away has quickly become

a Leeds landmark thanks to its unique

design and evident architectural prowess

However, the building has received just

as much negative press as it has received

praise in recent years.

Concern surrounding Leeds tallest

building has stemmed back to 2007 when

the skyscraper was yet to be finished. A

warning, in the form of an email, sent

by John Bleakley stated concern about

unprecedented winds. Bleakley was still

sendingwarning emails a few months later

in April 2008, stating: “Folk are being

blown into the paths of vehicles and a

safety audit has revealed the need for some

more PGR”.

Bridgewater Place later came under

scrutiny in 2011 after Edward Slaney

was killed due to a wind tunnel caused

by the tall building.

The man who also

happened to be

an environmental

engineer was from

Calderdale in West

Yorkshire and

suffered serious

injuries after he was hit by a falling HGV

near the tall building. Slaney’s barrister

has commented on the delay in timing to

the BBC stating: “The reality is it is seven

years since the problem was first known

about and we don’t even have a planning

application.”

Residents of the controversial Bridgewater

Place have been reiterating their fears for

their safety amidst recent high winds. Not

only has the building sparked concern

from environmental experts but also

Leeds locals. Claire Denver 25, who lives

in a building neighbouring Bridgewater

Place said: “I was walking from town with

my mother last week and she knocked

right off her feet from the winds near The

Dalek. It was quite a shock for her as she’s

an elderly woman.”

Leeds City Council has taken action on

the roads surrounding Bridgewater Place.

Recently, further action has been taken on

Bridgewater to ensure safety to pedestrians

who simply cannot detour from the

hazardous area.

Building owner’s CPPI, have put forward

plans to Leeds City Council to create

barriers and baffles to deter the wind.

Three vertical

screens, 20m

long baffles and a

glass canopy have

been proposed.

Although they have

been described

as “big and ugly”

developments they will undoubtedly prove

necessary for the safety of Leeds residents.

If the proposals prove to be worthwhile,

Bridgewater residents and Leeds locals

could finally look forward to a safe area

surrounding the building.

“It was revealed at a council meeting last week that a pro-posed “£245,000 plan to resolve the building’s wind, is in the pre-application stage.”

January 2014 | LeedsBusinessReview |

Development

BRIDGEWATER PLACE SEEKSINVESTMENT OF £245,000 TO CONQUERHIGH WINDS

To solve the problem of the high winds, Leeds City Council are now in the stages of a pre-application process for funding

Fern CrawleyConstruction

CC picture courtesy of LBD on Flickr

Bridgewater place stands proud among the orange clouds

News

FIRST GROUP travel, welcomed customers into the new year by slashing its fares by almost 30% on the Leeds and Bradford Bus services. From Sunday 05 January commuters will see the new effect, saving passengers £250 a year, it is said.

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

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

The new Leeds weekly ticket

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

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

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

FIRST BUS PRICE CHANGE COMES INTO EFFECT

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

The report said the increase was due to local commissioners as well as exceeding their budget for drugs, blood products and medical devices by £4 million. Energy costs also exceeded plan by £1.7 million as well as cleaning and other facilities which went over budget by another £1 million.

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

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust did not comment.

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

£17.5

Million

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


Niamh HamillTransport

Alex PricePublic sector

Above: Bus passengers in Leeds received a boost; cheap fares announced

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

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

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

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

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

News

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

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

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

The benefits of this new government programme not only apply to the trainees but also the employers themselves. Chris Startling, head of Virgin Apprenticeships in Leeds said: “Traineeships are a great oppor-tunity for both parties, not only can the employer get to know the trainee but the trainee can get real exposure to the type of career that is available and make an informed decision that is best for them.” Through this scheme, employers are get-ting to know the qualities and potential of their staff before they hire them, ensuring they have the best team possible in the business. Providers and employers believe that people who take

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

The core content of trainee-ships will be work preparation training, English, Maths and high quality work placement. These are essential skills that are required in most aspects of work, without these, people may be unable to find a job. In a GOV.UK press realease, skills minister Mathew Hancock says. “Traineeships give young people the help they need to compete for apprenticeships and other jobs. The programme is off to a fantastic start with strong backing from employ-ers and trainee providers. ‘‘We have responded to this demand by providing additional invest-ment and in time traineeships will become the clear route for young people looking into get-ting the crucial grounding they need for the world of work.”

WORK PLACEMENTS PROMISED DUE TO UNEMPLOYMENT RISE

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

His Honour Judge Kaye (QC) said: “I do not say he was dishonest or lacked probity. What he lacked was, as previ-ously described, ability to ap-preciate his own actions might be wrong, or to take respon-sibility for his own decisions, instead seeking, unjustifiably, to cast blame on almost every-one with whom he came into contact.”

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

“But no one could have pre-dicted that the worst recession in 60 years would soon follow. The bank was helpful initially but I believe it acted unrea-sonably by withdrawing the overdraft facility after the bank itself ran into severe financial difficulties.”

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

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

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


Alice KiddEmployment

Alice BoothLaw

Leeds has a youth jobless rate of 15,800

Feature


NEW HILTON BOOKED IN

FOR 2016

Georgie SharpeTourism

million pound First Direct Arena and drive regeneration of the area.

Two hundred bedrooms and a signature top floor panoramic sky lounge, the impressive building will also include state of the art meeting rooms and conference facilities where potential investors and city region businesses can meet and network. Victoria Thornton, Senior Communications Officer at Leeds City Region said how the luxury hotel will “fill a perceived gap for ‘high end’ accommodation.”

“The development will complement the attraction of the new Trinity shopping centre and Leeds Arena and provide for those attending events” said Victoria Thornton. With world renowned acts such as Elton John and Status Quo playing the arena on a monthly basis, attracting crowds from the UK and further afield, the Leeds

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

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

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

The build is currently underway and Leeds City Region have confirmed that they are on schedule for the target completion date in 2015.

Yorkshire has been named best European destination at the World Tourism Awards and the region’s tourism industry is set to grow dramatically according to Leeds and Partners

The Leeds Arena Hilton Hotel development will provide luxury accommodation for some of the estimated 1.5 million people annually who stay in Leeds overnight. The tourism sector generates around 2.2 billion which is expected to increase to be worth 2.8 billion by 2020.

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

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

Attr

ibut

ionN

onco

mm

erci

alN

o D

eriv

ativ

eWor

ks S

ome R

ight

s Res

erve

d by

GB

Gro

up

News

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

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

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

Councillor Richard Lewis says:

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

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

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

A worker at the local newsagent News and Booze said:

TROLLEYBUS GETS THE GO AHEAD

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

Trollybuses can take two hours off your weekly journey.

Niamh HillTransport


will be the first one in the UK

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

During the six week period theNGT have been backed by a number of key employers in Yorkshire, including Leeds University, Leeds Rugby and The Leeds Hotels and Venues Association who have all submitted letters in support of the Department of Transport. It is hoped that in the upcoming months more businesses voice their support for the development.

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

I can do about the situation. If the Trolleybus came tomorrow and we close, I am out of work and there is not much I can do apart from look for another job”

The negative back lash started in the summer when protestors stood outside Leeds CityCouncil holding banners,giving out leaflets explaining how people could sign the cam-paign. The next step was taken on September 24th with protes-tors standing along Otley Road in rush hour, again handing out flyers and wearing placards, explaining how many trees would be harmed if the Trolleybus scheme went ahead. One placard read ’53 trees harmed.’’

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

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

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

Picture by Tom Hacker

Development

Chris Hitchings Retail

| January 2014 | LeedsBusinessRe-

The 1million square foot development boasts the city’s retail rankings, bringing it to 4th in the CACI UK retail rankings, behind only London, Birmingham and Glasgow.

Trinity forms part of the City Council’s wish to make Leeds “the best city in the UK by 2030” as quoted from their plan for development over the next decade. With the groundwork of the Eastgate quarters bringing further investment into the city, it begs the question of how limited is the success of Leeds?

As shoppers are becoming more savvy, retail spending in the months leading up to October 2013 showed a dip of 0.7% across the UK. In addition to this, inflation has risen to 2.2%.

Exponential growth, which has been predicted by developers, overlooks that

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

Based on figures released by the Bank of England (BoE) in November 2013, it is estimated their unsecured consumer debt was at nearly £900million, a 150% increase on the previous quarter. On the whole, part of BoE figures show that lending levels are well above the average figures for 2012, where common ground lending figure lay at £160m.

Residency in the county is 2.2million, with 5.5 million people being within the defined catchment area of the Leeds city centre.

Hyde Park is Leeds’ most popular student area, with a selection of local retailers focused predominately around Hyde Park corner, to the east of the busy community. Students bring an average spend of £80bn

12M REASONS WHY

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

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

Leeds £350m shopping development

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

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

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

to the UK economy, according to figures of the National Union of Students, in fact the total nmber of people supported by student spending power is greater than the population of Liverpool.

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

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

Stuart Trevor runs Bolongaro Trevor, a boutique store in Thornton Arcade of the city centre. Trevor, -previously enjoyed success setting up the first All- Saints store in Leeds.

TRINITY LEEDS WORKS

e £350m development is

retail destination in Western Europe

Picture by Christian Bodden

Picture by EG Focus

Development

Rachel FlynnFood and drink correspondent


When Trinity Kitchen opened with a unique array of traders, worried restaurant owners wondered if their businesses would suffer

IF YOU CAN STAND THE HEAT,

DOUSED IN bright colours and buntings,

the 20,000 square foot food concept is

setting a new benchmark for Trinity’s rival

restaurants.

Separated from other restaurants in

Trinity, the idea represents what you don’t

expect to find in a brand new shopping

centre. Opened in October last year, the

open-plan inclusion of street food traders

located on the first floor isn’t your usual

shopping centre food hall. The distinctive

mix of vibrant restaurants and street food

vans offers food of the highest standards

with unique stories of where your meal has

come from.

The man behind the plan, Richard

Johnson, a Guardian food journalist

and organiser of the British Street Food

Awards, describes street food as an

‘ongoing revolution.’

Curator of Trinity Kitchen, and ITV judge

on Taste the Nation, Richard Johnson

said: “I think the people who own Trinity

Kitchen very wisely thought that the food

concept inside shopping centres was a

bit tired, people wanted more dynamics,

something that changed and evolved.

The idea of crazily lifting vans, trucks and

trailers onto the first floor and rotating

it every 28 days works for the punters,

works for the traders and works for Trinity

Kitchen”.

Trinity Kitchen is proving popular with the people of Leeds

GET DOWN TO TRINITY KITCHENGary Dockerty, director of Reality Drinks,

hopes to be chosen for Trinity Kitchen

“Street food is a great way to try new

things, both for someone that is looking to

start a small business and for the customer

that wants to try something different.

People have more expectations to what

they’re buying on the markets and they

realise the quality of the food has risen.

Customers are willing to pay more for

quality while on the go, especially in more

fast paced areas like Trinity.”

Nick Freeman, marketing manager of

Crepe Affaire featured inside Trinity,

worried when a crepe van first arrived

within Trinity Kitchen. “The food court as

a whole hit us during its opening weekend,

when it attracted a lot of attention, but

since then it hasn’t had a noticeable

negative impact. According to our manager

on site, we’ve had some positive comments

about the quality and speed of our crêpes

in relation to the new competition.”

And it appears people are latching on

to the fresh food aspect. Matt Gough,

a Kirkgate Market trader, said: “Since

Trinity kitchen opened we have seen a

noticeable increase in sales of fruit and

veg. Obviously people don’t come to us to

Crepe Affaire: One of Trinity’s cafes

“Street food is a great way to try new things”

eat, they come to take home fresh

fruit and veg and I think with the

fresh food coming out of Trinity

Kitchen this has encouraged people

to buy fresher produce.”

It seems that you don’t need to have

a big establishment to provide quality

products, and through time consumers

have started to question that as they try

out new markets and new food. Trinity

Kitchen is a prime example offering

shoppers every kind of cuisine whilst also

helping independent food traders.

Development

Features

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

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

Leeds has always been known for a pulsating music scene and the addition of a new venue aimed at contemporary musicians is only likely to increase the opportunities that are available to new talent.

Leeds promoters Ash Kollakowski and Simon Stevens will now operate the club as it opens its doors to the public again. The Belgrave has all the makings of a great music venue that could very well be the next small setting to carry the flag for all new musicians.

Local guitarist Phil Holland, who has

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

The Belgrave has now also created a new area that has been converted into two kitchens and a canteen where fresh food can be purchased. One of the kitchens will be run by the famous Dough Boys who pride themselves on creating the ultimate festival pizza and proved themselves this year at the Beacons Festival.

David Barman, who went to the Beacons Festival this year, commented:“You don’t go to a festival expecting to be eating top quality food, you just kind of look for the cheapest food that sounds

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

As well as the festive feel inside the club, The Belgrave also prides itself on having a spectacular roof terrace. To make sure that the club maintained its purity as a Leeds venue the club enrolled the assistance of graphic design students at Leeds Metropolitan University to help design the layout of the garden terrace.

Conner Kingdom, a student at Leeds Met, commented on his trip to the see the terrace: “It was the highlight of my night there. You could tell that there had been a lot of hard work put into the design and construction of the area. I think it was a really cool idea for a bar to have a garden on the roof and I think they have pulled it off great. I’d definitely go back there again”.


The new roof terrace at the Belgrave.Picture courtesy of Liting Lil

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

LATEST ADDITION TO THE LEEDS MUSIC SCENE

Dave PurcellArts & entertainment

“pull quote goes here and is in 12pt font size and 10pt leading. Note that the quote marks are now regular text and that it is placed in the dead centre of the


Features

LEEDS’ VERY OWN TV CHANNEL

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

As well as building a strong on screen and web presence, Made TV will be pioneers in second screen technology: “We are

developing an app for all the devices you can name which will enable viewers to find further content when they’re watching

our shows as well as enable them to shape the narrative of our programmes.

“Made in Leeds will offer unprecedented opportunities for the SME sector in Leeds and the wider West Yorkshire region by providing low cost, affordable air time slots and sponsorship opportunities. We aim to see the SME sector, currently underrepresented in TV, benefit from this new exposure in advertising local products and services, generating business growth and boosting jobs and well-being in the region.”

that in our own communities.

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

Made are planning to launch the ‘Hyperlocal’ channel early this year. John Baron the stations news editor, says: “The back end of March is the penciled date for first transmission.” John spoke with pure lyricism of how it is “exciting to have a station dedicated to Leeds and that it is going to be wonderful partnering up and getting reporters on programs in collaboration with the BBC…It is going to benefit not just Leeds but also engage the minds and ideas of people all over.”

The BBC will be working actively with the channel, as they are contractually obliged to buy a certain amount of air-time from Made in Leeds during the first year of transmission. Made in Leeds also has a partnership with Bauer Media who own the brand Radio Aire. Mark O’Brien spoke of how it will be utilised: “Throughout the day…we will be broadcasting top-of-the-hour news and info updates from our Bauer Media partners 96.3 Radio Aire, and we will have opportunities for short local films too, so that whenever you’re watching, the flow of the schedule will be entirely local.”

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

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

Charles EngwellMedia correspondent

Whenever you’re watching, the

entirely local.

““

“

Business Week


LEEDS BUSINESS WEEK

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

LEEDS HELD ITS FIRST BUSINESS WEEK, WITH OVER 60 EVENTS TAKING PLACE

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

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

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

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

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

To counter the lower food business the company also operate Angelica, a bar situated just upstairs from the restaurant. Angelica offers cocktails and wine as well as high-end bar food to ensure the company caters to the Northern clients requirements.

John Morrison described the opening as “a huge success” noting the launch of Leeds Trinity was hugely beneficial for local exposure, which tied in with the unveiling of the restaurant itself.

In March a party was held in Leeds by D&D London that saw local celebrities, including Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, sample the menu before the general

public.

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

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

In 2012 the company saw growth of 2.5% in revenue while London branches rose 4%. Although launching in Leeds may seem a risk for the company, the business model and tailored menu seem to have helped the brand grow beyond its high-end London clientele.

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

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

The Labour MP said the rail network is an “investment in the city” when answering a question at the Leeds City Summit posed by David Israel. He said HS2 is necessary “if Leeds wants to remain as a European city and is aspiring to be a global city.”

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

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

Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, argued that Leeds needs investment. He talked about the “£30 billion” Crossrail project in London and said there are only ever debates about cost when money is being spent in the North.He said: “It’s more of a political decision than an economic one.”

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

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

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

AttributionNoncom

mercialN

o Derivative W

orks Some rights reserved by O

penStreetMap

Business Week

Business Week

IAN BOWDENROCKSTAR GAMES


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

LEEDS BUSINESS WEEK

Images courtesy of Rockstar Games Inc

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

These statistics go some way to explaining why the 43 year old’s presentation for the Youth Festival of Business, part of Leeds Festival of Business, is so well-attended. The 349-person capacity auditorium of the Carriageworks is packed with Leeds City College students, both those who want to go into the gaming industry and those who just love Grand Theft Auto. The art director for Rockstar Leeds’ discussion, entitled ‘How (not) to get into the Games Industry’, is a meandering account of Ian’s career path interspersed with anecdotes and chatting with the audience.

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

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

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

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

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

A History of Fine Art and English Literature graduate from Leeds University, Ian is inspired by a miscellany of things from theatre design and architecture to people in the pub. He carries his sketchbook everywhere and his drawings of drinkers in Leeds’ locals have featured in a London gallery alongside works by Banksy.

“Weird-looking people inspire me”, he says. When he works on something he uses details from people he’s drawn “There’s the nose from that weird-looking guy in that pub who was shouting, there’s the eyebrows from that bloke on the bus who was just sitting there reading his paper. Just steeping yourself in details of

people allows you to pop things out.”It’s this method which caused him to accidentally draw the ex-Marine protagonist of Vice City Stories as himself. “We built him and he looked good and we had him playing in the game for quite a while until someone pointed out that it just looked like me...and I suddenly went, ‘Oh god yes it does. Gotta change that character.’”

Ian is passionate about details, he describes himself as, “...inspired by the minutiae”. “If you want to make something that looks real you have to have the detail in your head”. This zeal for detail can be seen in his love of the “fun” architecture of his adopted city of Leeds. He says the architect who designed the Town Hall meant it to be a “neoclassical box” and then, launching into a Leeds accent, “The good burghers of Leeds said, ‘We don’t want no neoclassical box. Give us a bloody big tower.’”

One of his favourite buildings in Leeds is Templeworks. His infectious smile broadens as he emphatically proclaims his love for the “amazing” Grade 1 listed, Victorian flax mill in Holbeck. “I feel very at home in Leeds because of this idea of a city that was at one stage quite deprived and, through the self-confidence of the people, has this vibe to it...Leeds has something very special.”

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

“Be brave,have fun, dosomething different.”Ian Bowden,artistic director

Business Week

Business Week

EMPTY HOUSES ARE BEING TURNED BACK IN TO HOMES

| January 2014 |Leeds Business Week

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

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

They are now asking for local contractors to get involved with the refurbishment and help bring some of Leeds’ most desolate houses back to life.

With over 20,000 people on the social housing waiting list in West Yorkshire - and some properties remaining empty for up to 13 years - the team at Leeds Empties believe it is a highly important scheme with “fantastic outcomes”.

Rob Greenland, social entrepreneur at Leeds Empties, said: “We held an event at Leeds Business Week with the hope of attracting new businesses, contractors and even empty home owners.

“We work on houses ranging from one-bed back-to-backs, right up to Grade II listed manor houses and so far we have had a great response, but the more contacts, the better.”

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

“The council will send out letters to empty home owners on our behalf, urging them to come forward, but we now need more contractors who are willing to go that extra mile for these customers.”

Gill Coupland, also a social entrepreneur at Leeds Empties, added: “We have worked in some of the most challenging areas and one empty property can really impact the rest of the street it sits on.”

After getting in contact with Leeds Empties, the company first try to understand why the property is empty and how they can address the issue.

Gill added: “In Hyde Park, we had a four-bed property with poor furnishing, very small bedrooms and bad décor. It had been empty for four years. “We decided to change it to a three-bed and it let out within four weeks of us finishing the property.”

Over the Christmas period, Leeds Empties shared 12 of their success stories on their website sharing their experiences of working with a variety of people, from professional rental companies to families with inherited properties.

The council started funding the project in May 2012 after the government’s New Homes Bonus incentive was announced.

The council now receive a cut of up to £10,000 of the bonus for each empty property that is restored.

Owners are able to apply for interest free loans to help cover the cost of the refurbishment but in many cases, Leeds Empties and their contractors offer discounts to customers.

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

“20,000 people on the social housing watiting list in West York-shire and some properties remain-ing empty for up to 13 years, ”

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

LEEDSBUSINESSWEEK

Development

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

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

Barry Anderson, a local conservative MP, said: “It’s exciting to see the White Rose Centre getting some attention. It’ll give Leeds’ surrounding areas a chance to keep up with all the fast-moving development going on in the city centre.”

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

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

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

within the city centre will have a tougher time attracting new retailers and clients.”

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

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

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

“We see it as an entirely separate establishment which offers totally different services to its customers. When a consumer goes to the White Rose Centre, they’re not looking for the same experience as someone who visits Trinity and the city centre.”

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

Joan Lancaster, 74, is a resident in the Leeds suburb of Beeston. Lancaster explained that many residents have to travel into the city centre for many things that the White Rose features will have.

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

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

WHITE ROSE CENTRE TO GET A GRAND MAKEOVER IN 2014


Charles ClarkDevelopment

“Estimates project up to 1,000 jobs will

be created”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Newsbite

Development


MCALPINE BAGS VICTORIA GATE

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

Victoria Gate plans have been released by developers Hammerson, showing

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

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

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

Fern CrawleyConstruction

“The development is expected

Leeds’ status as a top shopping destination”

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

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

Victoria Gate, describing itself as “a

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

Ahmed, a discount health and beauty store owner in Kirkgate market was unaware of the Victoria Gate developments: “This should be great for my store and every store in Kirkgate market; times have been very hard since Trinity opened.” Unsurprisingly, Ahmed’s store has seen a slight decrease in profit after Trinity opened, most likely due to a change in footfall patterns. Victoria Gate will not only be beneficial to Kirkgate storeowners but

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

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

www.victoriagate.co.uk

www.victoriagate.co.uk

Health

Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust

has increased its annual

turnover by just over 15 per

cent from 2008 to 2013,

bringing in just over £1 billion

in 2013.

G

Darius Taylor-McCallHealth


Leeds takes pride in being host to the

largest teaching hospital in Europe.

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

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

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

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

The huge sector has given way to over a hundred medically related businesses such as Medipex and Brandon Medical, which has created thousands of job opportunities for the residents of Leeds. With an ever-ageing population, the health and medical sector is a guaranteed factor for internal growth within the city. In its Leeds base, Medipex has already proved to be very highly successful as part of the NHS Innovation Hub and since 2002 has brought in £500,000 of income.

Brandon Medical, a company specialising in medical technologies, use Leeds as their headquarters. They are known for developing new, innovative products such as the world’s first fully integrated medical tele-video system for health care. To further add Leeds to the spotlight, Brandon Medical is recently celebrating their success of being National Finalists for Chambers of Commerce’s annual awards in 2013. An award from the British Chamber of Commerce sits well on the city of Leeds’ profile as they are highly recognised for helping businesses grow across all sectors, by sharing their profound awareness and capability up and down the country for the past 150 years.

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

Brandon Medical also won ‘Best Innovative Product or Service’ at the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management 2013 awards, promoting their already highly successful track record of products and expertise.Medipex and Brandon Medical are just a few of the 100 businesses established due to the demanding healthcare sector, which employ close to 3,500 staff.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

NHS Medical Sta�. Photo courtesy of www.cla.co.uk

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

A spokesperson from BUPA said: “BUPA supports and has worked closely with the NHS for many years. We partner with more than 200 NHS Hospital Trusts to provide healthcare

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

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

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

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

The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust conference

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

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

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

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

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

“BUPA’s

purpose

is longer,

healthier,

happier

lives”

Health

Sport

WHEELS IN MOTION TO CHANGE THE FACE OF COUNTY JOBS

Alice KiddRecruitment and Employment


The START of the 2014 Tour de France will take place on The Headrow outside Leeds Town Hall on the morning of Saturday the 5th of July. The Grand Depart will then see 200 of the world’s leading riders follow a route out of the city centre, through various towns, before a loop through the Yorkshire Dales on the way to the finish of stage one in Harrogate. It is thought that over 680,000 people will gather in Leeds to watch the first stages of the tournament bringing huge amounts of tourism to Leeds.

Many new job opportunities will be provided in Leeds from this great sporting event. The Tour involves moving, accommodating and feeding thousands of people each day. The starting and finish infrastructure has to be quickly taken down, transported to its next location and set up again. This alone will create a large amount of job opportunities in the hotel and catering industries, as more staff will be needed to ensure the best service for the tournament. Hotel receptionist Andrew Kelly said: “We are already seeing

a large increase in the amount of bookings for around the time of the tournament. Even though the tour is six months away, there is a real excitement for what is it going to bring to the City. “

Leeds is considered one of the UK’s fastest growing cities, with the second highest employment rate outside London. The Leeds City Region has a workforce of 1.3 million with over 110,000 people commuting to work from outside the district every day. In a press release from GOV.UK, Nick Clegg stated: “I want 2014 to be another great year for growth in Yorkshire. And the eyes of the world will be on us as the Grand Depart of the Tour de France takes place here, bringing millions of pounds of investment to help the region thrive.” A two million pound government investment has just been made to a Leeds business, from the Regional Growth fund, creating 150 new jobs.

Organisers want to recruit 10,000 people to act as Tour Makers – the event’s equivalent of the Games Makers from the 2012 Olympics. Over 20,000 people had volunteered for Yorkshire’s leg of the tour de France by December 2013, more than double the amount needed. This highlights the need for jobs in Leeds and also the interest and passion that the Tour is generating in the area. The volunteers will now be cut down to a 10,000 person group who will be given uniforms and trained by Leeds based supermarket Asda.

Hosting the Grand Depart in 2007 generated an estimation of 73 million pounds of economic benefit to London and £15 million for Kent. A further £35

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

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

On your marks, get set, ‘grand depart’

I want 2014 to be another great year

““

Picture credit: Johan Vandamme

RUGBY WORLD CUP BOOST FOR HEADINGLEY

Andrew BriggsSport & Leisure

THE RUGBY League World cup

has recently come to a head with new

champions being crowned. After a

surprising result in the final between

Australia and the former holders New

Zealand, the green and golds reigned

supreme.

Headingley stadium played host to

some fantastic games, entertaining the

Hakka sporting All Blacks on numerous

occasions. As Leeds is already renowned

for its Rugby League side the Rhinos, each

spectacle was no disappointment. Holding

17,500 fans at capacity it came as no shock

that the roof was blown off when the

ground was in action. Bringing thousands

of fans together a cold Friday evening saw

a packed out event.

The match concluded and the favourites

came out victorious by a considerable

margin and leaving the huge influx of

happy fans pouring out onto Headingley

streets.

But how does this affect the businesses

of Headingley? Having not just this, but

regular sporting events such as cricket,

football and rugby union being just the

pinnacle. As supporters of sports are often

preceded by their reputation of consuming

large quantities of alcohol, the student

orientated Headingley should be more

than capable of handing these demands.

With countless places to eat and drink the

local businesses reap the benefits of being

within close proximity. Arc Inspirations

run a handful of bar/restaurants across

Headingley. The Arc is the busiest of

these seeing the most traffic through it’s

doors. Jason Lake, General Manager of

The Arc said “Sport in the area boosts

trade somewhat dramatically, three hours

prior to kick off time noticeabley increases

the amount of cars and people in the

area. The number of people entering the

premises increases from five for a game

kicking off at eight, peaking at about half

past six for both food and drink.” From

the weekly average of a Friday nights take

a sporting event sees a huge increase, the

game between New Zealand and Papua

New Guinea saw a 55% rise of food

and drink sales. To cope with this Jason

explained double the amount of staff have

to be on shift, on both the floor serving

drinks and in the kitchen, making the large

quantity of food being ordered.

However it depends on what is on that

evening. The World Cup match had a

good fall out of fans as they had come to

witness the spectacle on show and were

not overly bothered by the result. But if

the Leeds Rhinos are playing the numbers

can vary depending on the result. Jason

finished “when forecasting targets for the

next years sales the first thing I will do is

to look at what sporting events are taking

place in close proximity and know every

big thing that is likely to attract a number

of fans in to the area”.

Trio, another popular bar in Headingley

just seconds walk from The Arc also sees a

huge increase from sporting events. It saw

a 60% increase on average takings when

New Zealand were playing in the World

Cup Fran Haliday, General Manager

explained. “These events are excellent for

us as a business, it gives more hours to staff

to cope with the high demand and means

we have to purchase more too. Fruit for

example which we get from local supplier

R.K Harris just around the corner for

garnish and for juice to go in to cocktails.”

Bar Manager Callum Freeman had a

difference in opinion though “the fans

want to drink pints, we are predominantly

a cocktail bar and serving pint after pint

isn’t what me or the other staff applied to

do.

Although the shear number of people

coming into the bar clearly does increase

profit it decreases gross profit of certain

drinks due to the offers that we tailor

towards the supporters coming in for

example cheaper pints.” Pints on a

weekend usually cost £3.60 but when

rugby is on the offers mean it is dropped

to £2.60 which is a loss of £1 per pint, this

is pretty much halving the profit made on

each pint.

Lee Irving, Head doorman of The

Arc shed some light, “ the number of

people who come through the doors is

far larger than your average Friday night

say, with the extra numbers it would be

impossible for just the two of us to keep

an eye on the whole building. And in the

unfortunate event of trouble we could be a

considerable distance away.”

This shows the extent of businesses

affected by just one sporting event, it is

aparant how much of an impact these

occasions can have on the area. The extra

few thousand people are more than happy

to make the most of their outing and

spend money on food and drink in the

bars meaning profits for not only them but

also the businesses around them too.

Sport in the area boosts trade somewhat dramatically

“

“


Sport

England International Jamie Jones-Buchanan with Rugby World Cup

On the back

| January 2014 | LeedsBusinessRe-

WITH MORE than 10 million unique users in the UK, LinkedIn has quickly become one of the most powerful business tools. For both employers and those seeking to explore new opportunities, understanding the job market and visualising potential competition is an invaluable resource. Aimed exclusively at professionals, the service allows people to network and build a rapport with ‘connections’ as LinkedIn describes them.

Many recruitment specialists have turned to LinkedIn, seeking the best candidates. Michelle Beckett, a LinkedIn Specialist and Managing Director of Skill Will, says: “While it may sound controversial, I believe LinkedIn is more valuable than any CV as it gives employers a more human view of candidates.”Beckett suggests your profile picture is the most important element of your profile, stating: “You should present yourself in a professional manner with a simple head shot.” As obvious as this may seem, many users use casual photographs of themselves on holiday or out drinking, subsequently portraying an unprofessional image to potential employers. It is essential to use an image with a smile as this subconsciously shows the viewer you are likeable and trustworthy. Beckett explains: “It is basic human psychology.”

In your profile you should summarise your skills and experiences in a way other users can quickly absorb. “Make your profile as full as possible, use bullet points and list your skills, always think who am I appealing to?” Beckett explains. It is also important to use recommendations that coincide with endorsements, as this backs up your claims and shows others that you are a reliable employee. A clear succinct summary of who you are and what you do should be your main aim. Only opt for the premium service if you are operating as a business; the free account is more than adequate for most users. Adding your personal interests including other elements of your life helps make you more appealing. “Although it is not Facebook, you still want to make yourself appear as a rounded individual, as it will enable you to forge relationships quite quickly.” It is important to make yourself appear as ‘colourful’ as possible.

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

as these contacts may help you in the future. Beckett says: “Even connect to your neighbors, don’t just think how is this person useful to me, but how useful could their network be to me?” You should also be using the advanced search function to find people who may be able to help progress your career. Beckett continues: “You should virtually shake hands with people.” By sending brief messages you are able to forge stronger relationships, which may lead to meeting on a work basis. Looking at groups and joining them is a great way to find and network with people of a similar interest. One of the best features of LinkedIn is the distance and connected feature, showing where both you and they are based, as well as contacts in common.

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

engage with, even if you never meet in person.

“I would much rather use LinkedIn having coffee with

people, than firing out my CV” Beckett said. Unlike a

CV you are not necessarily looking for a specific

job, but by networking and building relationships you have a greater chance of getting a position when one arises. LinkedIn is changing business allowing people to interact in a professional manner, proper use can get you the career you

want.

“While it may sound controversial, I believe LinkedIn

is more valuable than any CV as it gives employers a more human

view of candidates.”

GET CONNECTED, GET

Words by Henry Ar-noldPhoto credit to Michelle Beckett

Group 1 leeds business review jan 2014

Documents

Transcript of Group 1 leeds business review jan 2014