The pandemic created a lot of uncertainty for many businesses, not least for the hospitality sector. The challenges facing businesses
and the economy inspired Wakefield-based entrepreneur Ali Gordon to step up and make a difference.

The Eat Out Round About mobile app was created and trialled in Wakefield after Ali secured the backing of an Innovate UK Award. The idea was inspired when Eat Out to Help Out was delivered by the government in August 2020 and was unsustainable. Ali saw a way that a scheme could be funded by the private sector, help businesses to grow, reward customers and employees with the ability to dine out with 50% off,
drive revenue into hospitality and stimulate local economies.

Eat Out Round About trials generated over a 600% return on investment for the local Wakefield economy.

Ali Gordon CEO, Eat Out Round About:
“Creating an idea to stimulate dining out during a global pandemic has not always been easy. I am truly humbled to be recognised
nationally for my achievements with this prestigious award. As an ambassador for innovation, I am looking forward to raising the
profile of innovation across Wakefield, Yorkshire, and The North of England over the next 12 months, and to inspire women and girls
as we continue to innovate and expand Eat Out Round About”.

The award will be used to carry out further trials with the backing of Wakefield Council’s economic growth team and reaching out into
wider local authorities to maximise economic impact. Eat Out Round About will be working in partnership with local business
communities, high street retailers, cultural destinations, events and festivals to help make vouchers more accessible. The funding will
also be used to build a free online tool for businesses to access employee and customer reward Eat Out vouchers and a marketplace
with dining out incentives for staff and their customers when they source with local suppliers.

“As a business community we are passionate about our members supporting their local economy. We are delighted to partner with
Eat Out Round About, so that our community can connect and save as they dine out together and help the local economy” Claire
Sutherley, Managing Director of We Are Wakefield.

“With the ever-increasing challenges for the economy and rising living costs, it is ever more important to come together and think
outside of the box in ways to help everyone continue to enjoy more of their local area and have the affordability to dine out together”
Ali Gordon CEO, Eat Out Round About.

Eat Out Round About is hosting an event along with their partner Theatre Royal Wakefield at 5.30pm on Monday 4th April, where Ali
welcomes users of the app to learn more and for businesses to join us for a pie and pea supper, entertainment, networking and an
evening to learn about opportunities for Yorkshire businesses, local authorities, BIDs, cultural destinations, and hospitality arising
from the award. Tickets available https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/292206937817

Copperwire Creative are an approachable and family-run graphic design studio based in the heart of the award-winning Nostell Estate.

The central location of the studio means there is excellent network links between Leeds and Wakefield, as well as being are close to Doncaster, Harrogate, Manchester and Sheffield. Despite the UK-based location, Copperwire’s client base spans across the entire country and Europe!

Long-lasting and strong working bonds are what this business prides themselves on by giving their clients the assistance they need in their graphic design needs.

Whether your looking for logo design, flyers or leaflet design, brochure design, business stationery, label & packaging design, magazine production, digital media, roller banners, exhibition stands, adverts, posters, Copperwire Creative can help.

A no jargon approach is taken with easy to understand design work for all clients, making the company a hit with businesses who both know about graphic design, or don’t have any idea!

By understanding that not everyone find graphic design enjoyable and that it can be a daunting task for many, Copperwire strives to make you feel comfortable and offers advice and expertise where necessary to build an unbreakable bond that meets all your requirements and more.

Why not have a look at what they do: Copperwire Creative

Who is Zeld Learning Solutions?

Zeld Learning Solutions Ltd is a Learning and Development provider, offering a range of innovative blended and digital learning solutions to support growth and development.

What is Learning and Development?

In Learning and Development the goal is to empower employees with specific skills to drive business performance. This is achieved by identifying knowledge and skill gaps and developing and delivering learning interventions to bridge those gaps.

What does Zeld Learning Solutions do?

They use their expertise in learning and development to partner with your organisation and consult on your learning and development needs.  Zeld Learning Solutions carries out the design and delivery of any training required in your organisation. This could be anything from compliance modules to role-specific training right through to soft skills and leadership training. Whether it be face-to-face training, online training, or eLearning you require, Zeld Learning Solutions has it all covered.

Zeld Learning Solutions has experience working in a range of industries from Financial Services, Retail, Motor, Not-for-profit and Software Industries, to name a few.

So, if you have any learning needs why not get in touch to see how they can help.

Wakefield’s first purpose-built doggy day care centre is there to take care of your furry friend when you can’t.

Situated in the Thornes area, this 13,000sq ft facility is fun for your dog to ensure your good boy or girl is having the best day the possibly can at Barkley & Co!

Within the award-winning centre, all pooches will be expertly taken care of by the friendly, qualified and experienced staff who are always on-hand to help make sure all dogs are enjoying themselves in a safe and secure environment where they also have the chance to socialise and play on the exciting equipment.

So much more than just day care, Barkley’s offers behavioural classes and workshops to help owners continue their ever-developing bond with their breed, and assist in correcting and issue you may be having.

Each class is run by a highly-qualified instructor inside the heated arena, meaning this is something that can be undertaken at anytime during the year.

Back by popular demand, Puppy Playskool is back. These extremely popular hour-long sessions are designed to help pups and their parents interact and socialise with other dogs. Paired perfectly with 5 other puppies, you will be taught some fun games which will help you build a bond with your dog. These session will also give you the chance to chat with the trainers and talk through any issues you might want help with!

With over 15 years combined experience, Kaminski Industries can take care of any fabrication or welding needs you possibly have.

Thriving off a commitment to provide outstanding service, it has ensured that all of Kaminski’s clients have been taken care of to the highest standard, right from the very start of their journey.

From the moment that a quotation is given, all the way through the process to the final installation of the product, Kaminski will take care of you ensuring all your worries and concerns are met and the highest quality standard of finish is given.

With a 24/7 emergency call out and by using the latest state-of-the-art technology, outstanding service is guaranteed with clear and upfront pricing given to ensure a no-nonsense approach.

Whether you’re looking for gates, bespoke products, fences, catering equipment, garden furniture, or anything else – Kaminski can get the job done!

Mark James Hypnotherapy is a solution-focused hypnotherapist and psychotherapist based in the heart of Wakefield.

Following a tough time when Mark was struggling to focus on the many positives in his life, he visited a hypnotherapist himself to see if it could help. Although feeling nervous and sceptical over not knowing what to expect, he was shown how to quieten the negative voice that was draining his positives.

So, from this, he decided he wanted to make that sort of difference in people’s lives an enrolled himself to the prestigious Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training in 2019, where he later that year qualified.

Mark’s main aims are to lower client’s anxiety levels, which in turn enables them to think more positively about themselves and find solutions to their problems. By understanding that the first step is often the hardest to getting help, Mark is empathetic towards people who have doubts and will put your mind to rest with any questions you may have about trying this for the first time.

He understands that change is a scary thing, but being brave and picking up the phone could change your life for the better.

Every business should have an accountant.

Do you have an accountant:

• You can trust?
• Build a relationship with?
• Who works WITH you?
• Who understands your chosen software?
• Who doesn’t speak gobble-de-gook?
• Who is fully qualified?

Ultra Accountancy Limited are our latest member to join the We Are Wakefield membership group. They provide a jargon free, friendly and personal accountancy service to service-based, limited companies, proactively advising on your upcoming tax responsibilities well in advance, ensuring you don’t have any nasty surprises!

Aimee and Martin, are two qualified Chartered Certified Accountants, who set up Ultra Accountancy because they are passionate about helping growing, service based business owners, like you, to understand their finances.

You will speak to Aimee and Martin, the firms’ directors, so you can be rest assured that you won’t be passed from one staff member to the next or be dealt with by junior, unqualified members of staff.

As a digital firm of Accountants who use technology to deliver their excellent, award-winning service, resulting in the firm being one of the top rated in the local area.

So if you’re looking for a new accountant – look no further than our latest member Ultra Accountancy Limited who are “Going Beyond The Usual”!

Rhubarb Radio is Your Station Your Music for the Wakefield District and South Leeds, broadcasting online, on your mobile and tablet with their free app, and on smart speakers by saying “play Rhubarb Radio on tune in.”

Now the official station of We Are Wakefield, make sure you’re tuned in to Rhubarb for all the latest Wakefield news and a great mix of music!

The station will be attending our First Friday events and recording with our members as well as broadcasting live from some events in the future.

Claire will be talking all that is Wakefield business in regular appearances on the business update with lots more exciting projects to come.

Rhubarb Radio was named after the rhubarb triangle, famous for growing forced rhubarb across the area and we are at the heart of community.

The station launched in 2017, and is based at a superb studio complex in Ossett, and is all about the community. From news, information, community features, business news, and the latest advice and support, whatever is going on across the area, you will hear it on Rhubarb Radio.

Rhubarb broadcasts 24/7 playing the biggest songs from the 70’s to today, with a team of around 20 dedicated presenters who are all volunteers and have a passion for the Wakefield District and South Leeds. They broadcast great entertainment, competitions, chat and features in their shows.

Unless you’ve just recently renovated, I think a lot of people can agree that there’s certain parts of their home that needs some TLC, some decorating that you’ve been meaning to do but never have the time to. Well, why not check out McLeans Decor?

Priding themselves on customer satisfaction means you will always get the highest quality specification finishes and exactly what you want. With no job too big or too small, McLeans Deocr can help with any job you may have!

By having over 10 years in the commercial and private sectors, this company has seen it all and can use their expert knowledge and experience to ensure you are given all the information you need when it comes to decorating.

This International Women’s Day we’re supporting the wonderful women we have in the We Are Wakefield family!

It’s time to support the women we have in the community, and this year we’re standing with all the other ladies in the world by helping to #BreakTheBias whilst we celebrate this global movement for women everywhere.

The year is 2022, and it’s hard to think that we live in a world where women still aren’t treated the same as men, but the sad reality is that is true.

All over the world there is an unfair advantage which needs to be stopped so we can all live together in a gender equal society. A lot of women can probably agree that a perfect world for them would be free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable and inclusive. One where no one is treated better than the other, and we can all come together in solidarity and harmony.

For this to happen, we can all make a small change which will create a big difference. That’s why we’re #BreakingTheBias and showcasing all of the amazing women we have in our network.

Female-led businesses in the We Are Wakefield family are being showcased throughout the week through our social media, so make sure to check out all our lovely ladies who are changing the world together!