Reflections

Formed to represent the Asian business community in Yorkshire, over the last five years YABA has enjoyed solid leadership from former Presidents, Amjad Pervez Chairman of Jump Pakistan: Founder of Freeserve, Ajaz Ahmed and a steady constant direction from former Chairman Amarjit Singh MD of Powerdirect. Their skills, expertise and guidance has been greatly appreciated and  we look forward to seeing them at future YABA events.

Moving forward YABA will continue to form more strategic partnerships and our focus for 2019 will be to strengthen our membership, our reasons are taken from an in-depth  survey that we conducted in 2018. The survey indicated that with all the confusion around the economy our members are asking for more support in sustaining and growing their business, leveraging supply chain, information on work force development, digital transformation and exploring international markets.

So watch this space as the YABA leadership team will be working on building out a platform of membership benefits. To support this agenda, I am so pleased to welcome on board Dally Purewal, Director of Ideas That Work, a design, web, print and marketing agency based in Chapel Allerton, Leeds. Whether you’re developing a brand, need a logo, a website or need printed material such as business cards, flyers, folders, brochures and much more – Ideas specialise in it all. Dally will be joining the YABA team as Director of Marketing and Communications.

Also on the team are Bradford-based chartered accountancy firm, Shenward who have recently completed their acquisition of Cox Costello (Yorkshire) Limited, a Leeds based accountancy practice. Shenward has enjoyed strong growth over the past several years and this acquisition supports their ambitious plans for expansion across the North of England.

Education and Business Partnerships

Its not all going to be about business productivity partnerships, YABA is also launching a schools and engagement project with schools in Yorkshire. Our pilot projects will take place in Huddersfield, Bradford and Leeds. Through YABA, our members will engage with local schools and offer inspirational presentations, careers talks and provide work placements, preparing our future generations for the fast-changing world of work. Please contact me here if you would like to be involved.

Welcome to Latest YABA Corporate Member – Acceptcards

I am delighted to welcome our latest corporate member Acceptcards, as independent experts in all areas of card acceptance. Their service compares quotes and functionality to find the right one for your business. They offer a great personal service and  help whether it’s reviewing costs and / or finding a solution that best suits how, when and where your customers want to pay you.  Find out more at www.acceptcards.co.uk or call them on  01422 372818 and email  enquiries@acceptcards.co.uk , further information will be added shortly to the YABA  website under the corporate members section.

YABA Celebrating Vaisakhi & Easter 2nd May 2019

For those of you who missed the Christmas celebrations at the GDPA Hub you need not worry as our next Cultural event Celebrating Vaisakhi and Easter will be in partnership  Schofield Sweeny  at the  Grand Victoria Bradford on 2nd May 2019.

It will be hosted by the Former BBC Asian Network presenter Tommy Sandhu, Tommy is a great friend of YABA and has agreed to support all the YABA 2019 Cultural programmes.  Having dominated the airwaves of Breakfast radio for years and being the most listened to Asian radio show in UK history, Tommy has now joined forces with Sony to deliver a weekly podcast full of laughter and entertainment click here to listen to them.

Northern Powerhouse Tech Trade Mission

Against a backdrop of Brexit and the groundwork being set for the UK to become an independent global trading nation, YABA members have sought support and guidance, along with resources and contacts to help make strategic business decisions.  In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry the YABA team and experts from across their networks have been working together on a range of initiatives and trade missions.  A Northern Powerhouse Tech Trade Mission to India is on the 16 – 23 February 2019.  This trade mission is ideal for innovative and future-tech companies. Please contact me here if you would like further information.

Workforce Development and Apprenticeships

A YouGov survey  revealed that more than one in three GB businesses (42%) are worried about maintaining quality teams in the next two years. Findings also indicate that many businesses are doing little to improve staff retention. Nearly a third of businesses in the region (30%) admitted to offering no formal professional development for employees despite 80% of employees saying quality training is an important factor when deciding whether to leave a job. This comes as statistics show UK PLC is still lagging behind its G7 counterparts in productivity.

One factor that could explain the lack of engagement, could be a perceived cost barrier. Nearly two thirds (64%) of employers don’t offer external training to staff as they believe the cost is prohibitive. This is despite most businesses qualifying for either fully or part funded apprenticeships via the Levy.  Mohammed Mayat Intermediary Engagement Manager National Apprenticeship Service Education and Skills Funding Agency is really keen to talk to YABA members and he has also launched  a short survey about the changes to Apprenticeships and wants to help you access any additional support or advice you may need.

Please take some time out to  complete the survey. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and you may opt out of any question. All of your responses will be kept confidential. They will only be used for statistical purposes and will be reported only in aggregated form. Please click here for the survey, Please contact me here if you would like further information about apprenticeships, work force development or using the Apprentice Levy for a workforce development plan.

Leader and Business Development workshops

In partnership with Leeds Beckett, we are delighted to offer YABA members access to the following free  workshops:

Leeds

Prosperous Planning To Develop Your Business Workshop

Date: 23/01/2019                                                                                                                                      

Location: 26 Whitehall Road, No1 Leeds, Leeds, LS12 1BE  |  Time: 09:30am-16:30pm

Prosperous Planning To Develop Your Business. Learn the essential steps to transform your business with our expert-led masterclass that will leave you inspired. Come along to focus, plan, and fully develop your business ideas. Please click here to book

Halifax

Digital Skills Workshop -30/01/2019

Your website is your online shop window – learn how to create a great first impression with your potential customers and how to get your website found by Google.

Introduction to Social Media Workshop – 13/02/2019

A social media presence on at least one of the platforms be a great benefit for many small businesses. This introductory course is a great overview for people new to social media or new to using social media for business.

Advanced Social Media – 27/02/2019

This advanced social media course is designed to help you optimise what you’re already doing and take it to the next level. Whether that is audience growth, better engagement or more productivity.

Understanding your Business Finances Workshop -13/03/2019

We will demystify the accountancy process into simple to understand concepts helping you to make sense of your numbers and grasp the basics of taxation.

Planning for Business Success Workshop -27/02/2019

Understand the importance of practical business planning, financial management and planning for the future of your business (including succession planning).

Location: University Business Centre Halifax, Piece Mill, 25-27 Horton Street, Halifax, HX1 1QE    Time: 16:00pm-18:30pm

This is part of a series of workshops organised by Halifax BID and Leeds Beckett University, to book on the other workshops please click here

Prosperous Planning To Develop Your Business Workshop

Date: 24/01/2019            

Location: University Business Centre Halifax, Piece Mill, 25-27 Horton Street, Halifax, HX1 1QE      

Time: 09:30am-16:30pm

Prosperous Planning To Develop Your Business. Learn the essential steps to transform your business with our expert-led masterclass that will leave you inspired. Come along to focus, plan, and fully develop your business ideas. Please click here to book

Wakefield

Start Up Business Basic Workshop

Date: 22/01/2019

Location: University Business Centre Wakefield, ASIC Building Room WU010, Wakefield College, Wakefield City Campus, Margaret Street, Wakefield, WF1 2DH

Time: 13.30pm-16.30pm

Our Business Basics workshop will support you in making your business idea happen. Our trainers will introduce you to the key things you need to know when starting-up…from research and marketing through to legal set up and financial planning. We will give you help and advice to turn your idea into reality and get your product or service into the market place quickly. Our workshop is free to attend, for more information and to book your space click here

Fantastic New Year Offer on Workstations at the University Business Centre – Wakefield

The University Business Centre – Wakefield is currently offering an amazing deal with workstations to hire for only £15 per week for the first 3 months and thereafter only £30 per week.

The  Business Centre has 14 offices ranging in size from 1-7 person offices. Businesses can hire a private office or a single workstation with space to expand and grow.  Working in a community of entrepreneurs can help to provide morale, friendship and an ideal environment for exchanging ideas and sharing knowledge.  Co-working works very successfully across our University Business Centres in Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax and has led to some great longterm business relationships and friendships, and even new joint business ventures.

This special New Year offer will help anyone looking to start up in business or who is already in business and trying to keep their costs down.  We understand how important it is to help businesses in the early days therefore our offices all come with a free programme of Business Support including training in topics such as business planning, finance, sales and marketing and free finance, accountancy and legal advice clinics. Businesses can also benefit from regular free meetings onsite with our expert business mentor. Plus we also provide a year’s free membership with the Mid-Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

If anyone would like more information please contact  01924 640136 / ubcwakefield@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

For more information and a full list of office benefits please click here.

If anyone is still in the very early stages of their business and just needs a business address, these are available from only £18 pcm. There are also tailored packages for anyone requiring additional services such as Mail Forwarding, Meeting Space and Business Support and meeting space is  available for external hire – for more information please click here to visit the website

“Up Your Game” Last Chance to Register for International Business Matchmaking Event in Yorkshire

Bradford will welcome local, national, and international cutting edge digital creative companies to a business ‘speed-dating’ event on 7 & 8 February 2019, as part of the hugely popular Yorkshire Games Festival at the National Science and Media Museum. The aim is to support SMEs, entrepreneurs and other organisations in finding partners for a variety of collaborations such as commercial or licensing agreements, subcontracting, or transfer of know-how, technology or expertise.

“Up Your Game” will offer a unique local opportunity to meet with UK and international companies in sectors as diverse as  digital, animation, games, motion graphics, special effects, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) sectors, alongside a whole host of industries looking to learn about new technology and form potentially game-changing global collaborations.

Location: National Science and Media Museum, Bradford

Date: 7 & 8 February 2019

Find out more and register here or contact: 0300 123 3144

BECOME A MEMBER

There are many benefits of joining YABA, from brand building to international opportunities, reaching new audiences and networking business-to-business. To find out more about YABA or to become a member please contact me here

For any observations, comments or further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sharon Jandu
Director
Yorkshire Asian Business Association