Ref: First
Date: 03/12/08

Details of a major ‘Let’s Work Together’ Business Networking Event to help local and regional businesses through the current global economic slowdown have been announced. 

December’s first Friday ‘Let’s Work Together’ event will take place at the Cedar Court Hotel, Wakefield on December 12th, and will bring together a high level panel of guests in a question and answer forum, so businesses can ask the questions and find out the answers that matter most to them. 

Local MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper; will lead a panel including; Malcolm Johnston, Director of Business Competitiveness Business Link Yorkshire; Wakefield Council Leader Peter Box; Wakefield first Chief Executive Mohan de Silva and Theresa Lindsay, Yorkshire Forward’s Assistant Director of Marketing and Business Development. 

In addition delegates can find out more about the help on offer at a range of partner stands, including from Business Link, Federation of Small Business, Yorkshire Forward and others. Lunch is included, and most importantly the event offers a great opportunity to network and generate business with up to 200 contacts. 

Local MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper said:

“Businesses across our district are starting to feel the pressure from the global credit crunch and rises earlier in the year in world oil prices. We have a lot of great and successful local enterprises and its really important we work together to help them through tougher times. That’s why this meeting is so important so we can talk with local businesses about the pressures they are facing and how the Government, Yorkshire Forward, first and Wakefield Council can help at a difficult time.” 

first Chief Executive Mohan de Silva said: “At times like this its important to re-examine everything you do and ask yourself if you can make it work better and harder. That’s what all businesses are doing right now, and first are no different. That’s why in partnership with Business Link we are offering this major one off event and making it absolutely FREE to attend. We want to draw together national, regional and local representatives to look at practical ways we can work together to keep our economies moving. I believe this is the first event of its kind to take place, certainly in the region if not nationally, and I would encourage all businesses, large and small to come and find out in a lunchtime exactly what help is available to them and from whom”. 

Business Link Yorkshire Chief Executive Helen West said: “Although there is a wealth of publicly available information, finding practical advice that is up-to-date, accurate and relevant can prove costly and time consuming. Our support is targeted where we know it will have the most impact. 

Our knowledge and skills cover everything from the new legislation which may affect the way a business works, through to avoiding pitfalls when starting out, or how best to exploit new opportunities, including exporting. We can open doors for our customers which can give them the business results they need, fast.” 

Simon Hill, Yorkshire Forward’s Executive Director for Business said: 

“We are clearly experiencing challenging times for business. I believe strongly that this is an opportunity for all businesses to re-evaluate their operations and see if there are things they could be doing to improve their chances of success over the next 18-24 months. There is a lot of support available to make these changes and I urge businesses to take full advantage of what’s on offer.”  

Wakefield Council leader Cllr Peter Box, a member of the Regional Economic Council established by the Prime Minister in October to meet the challenge of an uncertain financial climate, is pleased to take part: 

“Working together with partners is key to the success of the district – the many regeneration schemes across the district are proof of that.  

“Clearly we are doing everything we can to support local businesses, and citizens, through these difficult economic times and this event is part of a wide range of support schemes. It is encouraging to see that despite the current economic downturn, Wakefield district continues to strive to be a vibrant and successful place to do business.”  

To book your place at the FREE December event please PHONE: Faye Yarrow on 01924 302080 or EMAIL: fyarrow@wakefield.gov.uk.