Yorkshire's News & Events
The doom and gloom of the credit crunch seems to be everywhere around us, but Mr. Yorkshire is keen to point out that there is actually much to get excited about in the Yorkshire business world.
It is very easy for the media to focus solely on the negative side, and for this reason we bring you Mr. Yorkshire's business News & Events blog, highlighting what is going right for companies in Yorkshire.
Here you will find Yorkshire business news and events, particularly related to the companies profiled by Mr. Yorkshire. We update this page regularly, so please come back soon.
About The Yorkshire 1% Club
Mr. Yorkshire, Keith Madeley, the newly appointed Chair of The Princes Trust, has truly commenced his new role with a groundbreaking initiative. The Yorkshire 1% Club is a new charity initiative bringing together business and “communities in need” in a tangible way.
As Chairman of many charitable organizations, including The Princes Trust and The Duke of York’s Community Initiative, Keith has been a tireless driving supporter of charitable initiatives for the benefit of Yorkshire for many years.
Keith has convinced some of the Financial and Communications firms, with which he is associated as a shareholder, to deliver exclusive regional launch initiatives in Yorkshire and to donate 1% of the net profits of these firms to the Yorkshire 1% Club for the good of the Yorkshire region on a permanent and recurring basis.
Keith will be working with all charities in the region to form a Yorkshire 1% Club Trustee Board which will be responsible for ensuring that the contributions made by corporate supporters are distributed fairly across all sectors.
The first series of companies Keith has convinced to contribute resources in hard currency to the Yorkshire 1% Club initiative include a number of investee firms owned by The Private Equity Gateway Group, (PEGG)….www.peggeu.com
PEGG has made a corporate commitment to Keith and the Yorkshire 1% Club to deliver business launch initiatives and resultant donation revenues from its investment companies on an ongoing basis.
New Prince's Trust Chair Announced
Tuesday 24th November 2009
Financial Services leader Keith Madeley has been appointed Chair of Regional Council for leading youth charity The Prince’s Trust.
As a Company Chairman and Financial Management Professional with a successful track record in the Financial Services Industry, Keith is highly respected in the sector for innovative product development, facilitated by demonstrable business acumen.
Keith takes over the role following the departure of the previous Chairman, Kevin Lavery, the former Chief Executive of Serco Solutions and current Chief Executive of Cornwall Council.
Peter Branson, Regional Director for youth charity The Prince’s Trust in Yorkshire and Humberside said:
“The Chair of Regional Council is a pivotal role for The Prince's Trust in Yorkshire and The Humber. We are facing difficult times and the need for our services to support unemployed youngsters is increasing whilst our income streams face particular challenges.”
He added: “Keith will lead and support the reinvigoration of our committees which will involve inspiring, motivating and influencing individuals from the public and private sectors – collectively, these groups can help us to change more young lives across the region. We are delighted that Keith will bring his energy and enthusiasm at such a critical time for us.”
Last year in Yorkshire, The Prince’s Trust supported more than 3,000 14- to 30-year-olds - young people who have struggled at school, are unemployed, care-leavers and ex-offenders. Eight in ten moved into work, training or education.
As Chairman of the Yorkshire Society for the past seven years, Keith has presided over a period of significant growth in corporate and individual members, with membership increasing five and ten fold respectively. He then became Chairman of the Duke of York's Community Initiative, which engages with local communities in political, non-religious discussions, to promote harmony and understanding.
Keith's vision is to bring the financial services sector and regeneration together for the benefit of the integrated community. Using his financial services expertise and background, his desire is to attain achievement in regeneration in the widest possible sense. He is deeply committed to assisting the disadvantaged, facilitating improvements in schools, local schemes and contributing to community affairs in general.
Wakefield Energy Services Group Announce £25m Contract Renewals
Friday 23rd October 2009
Energy services group Cape have announced a trio of contract renewals worth more than £25m.
The wins are with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, National Grid and Novartis.
Martin May, chief executive of the group, said: "Contract renewals such as these demonstrate Cape's ability to win repeat business from some of the world's leading companies."
"Some of these contracts are an expansion of existing services provided by Cape, reflecting the quality of work delivered to our clients. We are delighted to continue our provision of services to the energy and industrial sector in the safe, reliable and intelligent manner that Cape is reputed for."
Provident Financial sees full-year growth
Friday 23rd October 2009
Sub-prime lender Provident Financial said it would deliver further profitable growth this year thanks to cautious lending during the economic downturn and the collapse of rivals.
The Bradford-based company, which lends small sums to borrowers who cannot get credit from mainstream banks, said on Friday that the "sound overall condition" of its loan book meant the company was well positioned ahead of the busy Christmas season.
"As we enter the peak trading period, we are well placed to deliver further profitable growth for 2009," said chief executive Peter Crook in a statement.
The group said it had deliberately slowed the rate of new customer growth in 2009 in its Consumer Credit Division and said customer numbers were around 4 percent higher than the same period in 2008.
It added only around 17 percent of card applications were being accepted at its Vanquis Bank.
Provident Financial said its senior bond launched in October and tender offer had raised additional facilities of around £160 million and said it was sufficient to fund the group's organic growth plans into 2011.
The company said its focus on lending small sums of money to consumers with low debt levels had also increased its resilience but cautioned it saw no prospect of a quick economic rebound.
"The group's current planning assumes that there will be no material improvement in the rate of increase in unemployment until next Spring, and that a cautious approach to new lending will remain in place until then," the company said. (story courtesy of Yorkshire Post)
The team at Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (YABA) would like you join us for a
Business Angel Awareness Breakfast
27 October 2009
08:00 to 10:00
5 Carrwood Park
Selby Road, Leeds LS15 4LG
The event is being supported by the British Business Angels Association (BBAA) and Yorkshire Forward and aims to raise awareness of business angel investing and encourage new members to join YABA.
Places are limited so potential Business Angels, High Net Worth Individuals and the professionals who advise these clients are invited to request a ticket by 23rd October 2009.
Agenda
- 08:00 Registration & breakfast
- 08:30 The Case for Angel Investing delivered by Anthony Clarke, Chairman of BBAA
- 08:45 The Regional Perspective delivered by Alex McWhirter, Head of Enterprise at Yorkshire Forward
- 08:50 The Benefits of Being Part of Yorkshire Association of Business Angels
- 09:05 Q & A with a YABA investor panel, Chaired by David Parkin of TheBusinessDesk.com
- 09:30 Networking
RSVP by Friday 23rd October to Charlotte Atkinson charlotte@yaba.org.uk or call 01423 810149
