Today marks a huge day for We Are Wakefield, we officially have our 100th member! This is a great milestone for our hard-working team & our members alike…

Since January our not-for-profit has grown from strength to strength, and it is now marked by the welcoming of our 100th member, but this is so much more than that too. We are a community, we are a family, we are a collection of like-minded businesses, we are a support system… We Are Wakefield.

Our First Friday events are now populated with more than 100 attendees at every event, each hosted throughout different locations across Wakefield and the Five Towns with specially-selected key speakers who inspire & innovate each event.

Behind the scenes, we are currently working with multiple businesses to bring an awards ceremony unlike any other. These are being curated to celebrate and recognise all of the key people and businesses that make Wakefield the cultural and exciting hub it is.

To celebrate our 100th member, we are officially announcing our latest business support offer, our Masterclass Sessions which will be held at our 100th member’s premises Hodroyd Hall.

Starting in September, this catalogue of classes will be hosted by business professionals, where they will teach and pass on their knowledge and skills set so you can upscale your business and build your brand. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled on the Events page of our website & our social media for full details of our Masterclass Sessions.

Every year, hard-working business owners lose wealth to hardball tactics, transaction expenses, and deal failures. And Valloop plan to change that.

They blend impact investment with a range of innovative financial products and market expertise to unlock prosperity for all. The company is not interested in short-term gains, and they forge lasting partnerships that help you release sustainable, long-term value while stimulating and supporting local communities.

Founded in 2003 with a single goal: to give businesses the right blend of financial products and support they need to grow.

Working with some of the world’s best advisory firms, they support their partners by delivering a people-centric, socially inclusive platform that empowers business growth. But this is just the beginning as they continue to refine their products so they can create a brighter future for everyone.

With over 30 years of experience cooking in the finest restaurants, the multi award winning Chef Patron, Craig Gallimore, along with his team & family are excited to present their vision to you.

The caring and committed staff make sure you have a fantastic experience, wanting to return for more!

Gallimore’s menus, both wine & food change regular insuring they are not tied to one menu meaning they can use what is fresh, sustainable & excellent quality.

Their dishes are inspired from classics from Craig’s travels & expansive culinary repertoire, given a modern twist, paired with quality, carefully selected, award winning wines, beers & spirts.

 Through social media you can tell a story, create dialogue and speak with an authentic voice in a way that truly resonates with your customers. It has never been more important, but it’s not easy to get right. That’s where Sociability Group can help.

Their business is to craft your social story and then to tell it in the most engaging way possible, creating a strategy that achieves your objectives, be it through organic social, paid social advertising, digital events or experiential – ensuring people engage with your business, taking it from strength to strength.

The company is compiled of digital experts, content creators, social strategy specialists, experiential alchemists.

Wether you’re looking for social media strategy & implementation, content creation, social advertising or digital events, Sociability Group can help, check out their website now!

With more than 300 of the finest craft beers from across Yorkshire and the UK, Yorkshire Craft Beer located in Castleford, can make sure you are fully equipped with the best beers.

It’s so much more than just a shop, Yorkshire Craft Beers hosts and supplies numerous events through the city, a mobile bar hire is available, beer subscription boxes can be purchased and you can gift beers to your loved ones.

You can now have a pint of fresh craft beer at their bar inside the shop with gin, wine and spirits for non-beer lovers. With the 8 beer taps changing on a regular basis to showcase all types of beers.

YCB are located inside the historic Queens Mill in Castleford which has been painstakingly refurbished into a community asset by the Castleford Heritage Trust. The work to turn this world famous Mill into spaces that can be used by businesses and community groups has been carried out in a way that has preserved many original features.

In keeping with the nature of the Queens Mill the unique shop and bar has been created with the same industrial feel using many recycled materials.

Check out their website here for more details.

Bellingham IT

Founded in 2008, Bellingham IT are a friendly and proactive technology business based in Yorkshire. They offer peace of mind to their clients, safe in the knowledge that all their technology needs, and more importantly, problems, will be taken care of in an efficient and timely manner.

They offer a wide range of managed IT services such as; hardware, software, cyber security, disaster recovery, and support that can help businesses achieve their goals and transform them into a more agile, modern workplace.

As a team, Bellingham IT have continually evolved to meet the changing needs of their customers and their businesses and strive to deliver a service that takes the technology headache away from business owners and allows them to focus on the day-to-day running of the business. It’s not enough to just make technology work and fix the issue, they care about how you use your technology to support your business and look after your current needs and help you to plan for the future.

Although they never originally set out to support any specific industry sectors in particular, it is clear, over the years, that they have built up quite a knowledge base and expertise within some.

Today over 80% of Bellingham’s client base will come from one of the following sectors…

• Manufacturing
• Professional Services
• Education Services
• Property and Estate Agents
• B2B Services

They also believe in old fashioned values:

• We will always provide you with the best possible advice
• We value our customers and their business
• We take time in understanding your wants and needs
• If we promise you something we always deliver

Bellingham IT takes pride in the long-standing partnerships it has with several clients, which is testament to the consistent professional service they offer, and ensuring they are always putting their client’s interests first.  Bellingham know that if they help their clients grow, it is only going to help themselves to grow alongside them. As a Yorkshire business, primarily servicing Yorkshire SMEs, a direct, honest, and straightforward approach is the natural way they deal with our clients.

 

Whether it’s in your professional or personal life, GAP Coaching will work with you to identify your goals, then build a plan to achieve them.

Gareth has a wealth of experience across many industries. Having occupied senior management roles in retail and banking, he now runs his own business and helps others to achieve their potential.

He takes a ‘whole life’ approach to coaching, helping people to achieve their goals within the context of their wider world, rather than just focusing on one small area at a time.

What does GAP Coaching offer?

Leadership Coaching

Unlock the potential of your team. Do you feel that you could support your team to achieve better results? Are there people within your team who take up a lot more of your time and attention than others? Do you spend too long carrying out tasks that could be delegated? Would you like a more positive culture within your team?

Since Copiserv started back in 1975, they’ve been building a team of specialists – people that know and understand print equipment and document solutions, inside and out.

This team allows them to deliver competitive pricing, flexible contracts, quick response times and exceptional service to schools and businesses across Yorkshire.

Copiserv are already the preferred supplier for over 60 schools and businesses in Yorkshire, and it’s easy to see why:

• Hassle-free switching
• Local company
• Full technical support
• Flexible contracts
• Quick response times
• Personal service
• SIMS connection

Make sure to check out their website here!

Originally set up in 2013 by founder Cathy Burns, this Digital Marketing Agency helps SMEs build their brand and grow their business through organic social media and paid advertising, on and offline media with some great results.

Behind the scenes of Your Story is an experienced team of marketing experts who have gained experience across the private, public and charity sectors in organisations large and small. These include retail, logistics, oil & gas, the Police.

When you work with Your Story, you will benefit from their business knowledge and marketing expertise which really add value to your business.

Whether you’re looking for social media management, Facebook & Instagram advertising, web design, social recruiting or SEO support, the team can help!

Make sure to look at their site to get to know who they are and how they can help you: Your Story site.