Yorkshire Forward is taking action to strengthen business in
the region and never more so than now, as inForm discovers.
tough action
in tough tiMES.
Businesses can be assured that Yorkshire Renewable energy is also flourishing
Forward is using all its muscle to retain abroad and at home, and a raft of civil
MonEY WhERE
jobs and boost the regional economy in engineering projects, such as York’s school
these tough times, and to great effect, building programme, should provide work
it’S nEEDED.
says chief economist, Patrick Bowes. for the construction and IT industries.
Yorkshire Forward is pumping millions
Bowes also highlights Yorkshire
of pounds into the region, providing
“The scope of Yorkshire Forward’s work Forward’s work on sustaining employment
companies with opportunities when
is vast and gets real results. During this in the region, citing high profile events
they need it most. this includes:
slowdown we are making maximum use such as the recent 27-strong European
of our power to voice business concerns Commission delegation to Leeds and the
l a £1.4 million package offering
to the heart of Government.” Cabinet’s visit here as a way of keeping
a free financial health check up to
Every month, Yorkshire Forward’s senior the region on businesses radar. “Yorkshire
the value of £2,000 by a professional
economist lobbies the Treasury on key Forward is also lobbying hard behind
accountant. Delivered through
issues from empty property rates to skills the scenes to ensure we retain a strong
Business Link Yorkshire
shortages, and the RDA played a part in financial sector in the region following the
l £9.7 million in venture capital funds
shaping the recent Pre-Budget Report Lloyds TSB/HBOS merger.”
from Partnership investment Finance
changes. Yorkshire Forward also feeds into Yorkshire Forward boosts the Train
(PiF) and South Yorkshire investment
the Department for Business, Enterprise to Gain service to the tune of almost
Fund (SYiF). these are available to
and Regulatory Reform (BERR) on a £10 million, providing a 60 per cent
SMEs which might otherwise struggle
regular basis. subsidy to business training costs and
to secure finance for growth through
“We made a lot of noise to the key support to the job market (see page
traditional banking methods
Chancellor about the cash-flow crisis 21). The agency also works closely with
l a new region-wide venture capital
facing hundreds of thousands of our transport organisations to improve
and loan fund worth up to £120
SMEs and take some credit for the commuter journeys.
million being developed by autumn
measures taken to free up working Bowes adds: “We are still reporting
that will continue the work of PiF
capital,” says Bowes. almost 35,000 vacancies in the region,
and SYiF
Yorkshire Forward is gathering despite job losses having increased over
l £30 million pumped into tourism to
and disseminating information on an the last few months. The challenge is
help the region’s hard-hit hoteliers
unprecedented scale. Using a combination to match the labour market with the job
l the Manufacturing advisory Service
of in-depth surveys, databases, individual vacancies, which is what we will continue
helping businesses to maintain a
contact with trade organisations, the new to do. Compared with the national picture,
competitive edge
Regional Economic Council and events the region is slightly more optimistic -
such as the recently popular Going Global 84 per cent of employers expect to retain
Conference (see page 9), the agency is in or even increase their number of staff
touch with up to 2,000 companies at any over the next 12 months. The current
one time. economic conditions provide distinct
While times are hard for those in opportunities for companies
manufacturing, there are opportunities looking to expand market
in the still-growing tiger economies of share as it’s much easier
China, India and Brazil. “The companies to recruit the skilled
doing well are those that spot these labour required for
opportunities, innovate and adapt,” companies
says Bowes. to grow.”
“
THE

COMPAnIES DOInG
WELL ARE THOSE THAT
“
SPOT OPPORTUnITIES,
InnOvATE AnD ADAPT
page 5
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