On the crisp evening of Tuesday, 21st February, the We Are Wakefield networking event took flight at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance base, bringing together 40 enthusiastic members for an unforgettable experience. Against the backdrop of the sprawling air base, attendees not only had the opportunity to network but also gained insights into the vital lifesaving work carried out by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 

The evening kicked off with a unique and awe-inspiring visit to the £9 million helicopter that serves as the lifeline for those in critical conditions. Accompanied by the skilled pilot, paramedic, and crew, WAW members witnessed firsthand the precision and dedication that goes into their lifesaving missions. As Chris Whittam Photography captured the group photo, an unexpected twist unfolded – the alarm sounded, and the crew swiftly leaped into action, a stark reminder of the urgency and importance of their work.

 

After the adrenaline-filled helicopter experience, attendees were led to explore the simulation suite and dispatch desk. The behind-the-scenes glimpse into the operational hub of Yorkshire Air Ambulance provided a deeper understanding of the coordination and efficiency required to respond to emergencies swiftly and effectively.

 

We Are Wakefield members showcased their diverse services on trade stands, creating a vibrant atmosphere within the venue. The room buzzed with the unmistakable WAW family spirit, fostering connections among long-term and new members alike. Against the winter chill, a hearty stew warmed both hearts and bodies, creating the perfect setting for meaningful conversations and relationship-building.

 

The mood of the evening was nothing short of wonderful, as WAW members shared their experiences, aspirations, and insights from their respective businesses and organisations. The event not only served as a platform for networking but also as an opportunity for members to learn more about each other’s work and foster a sense of camaraderie.

 

Beyond the enriching networking experience, the We Are Wakefield community rallied together to raise awareness and funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The organisation, which had graciously hosted the event, undoubtedly left a lasting impression on attendees, garnering newfound support from those who witnessed their dedication and commitment.

 

As the We Are Wakefield networking event at Yorkshire Air Ambulance concluded, it left an indelible mark on the attendees. The shared moments, the thrilling helicopter experience, and the newfound connections forged a sense of unity amongst WAW members. The event not only exemplified the power of networking but also showcased the profound impact that collaboration and support can have on organisations like Yorkshire Air Ambulance, reminding us all that together, we can soar to new heights.

 

  Thanks to Chris Whittam Photography for capturing this memorable event:

Thank you to the following members for supporting this event:

Pink Dragonfly Consulting

Crest Commercial Finance

Dak Training

GRK-VA

Dark Cherry Creative

Diana Holden Bid Writing Service Ltd

IMS Business Solutions Ltd

Perrys Peugeot Huddersfield

Good Fundraising Co. Ltd

Wordsmiths Unlimited

Community Foundation Wakefield District

Chris Whittam Photography

Purple Pebble People Ltd

Ridley & Hall Solicitors

Cleaner Ev Ltd

KRA:FT Photo services

Sales Geek

Velway Limited

PW Creative Artwork

SPC Cars

SoluPak ltd

Affordable Accountancy Solutions Ltd

The Yorkshire Broker LTD

The LinkedIn Lady

Juice Personnel

Roth Read Photography

Camphill Wakefield

Prosura

Postify Ltd

Get Ahead VA

 

Please welcome Disability Sport Yorkshire (DSY) to the WAW family.

Disability Sport Yorkshire, legally known as the Federation of Disability Sports Organisations, was established in 1993. This organisation brought together four existing regional disability sports organisations under one umbrella. The primary mission of DSY is to address the inequality in access to sport for disabled people.

Over the years, DSY has worked tirelessly to engage disabled individuals in physical activity and enable their participation in sports at various levels. Whether it’s local settings or regional, national, and international competitions, DSY strives to create opportunities for disabled athletes. In 2014, they established their operational base in Wakefield, where they are developing the Denhale Active Recreation Centre as a centre of excellence for disability sport in Yorkshire. Their vision includes making Yorkshire the best place in England for disabled people to improve their well-being through physical activity, play sports regularly, and even become sporting champions.

As a regional organisation, DSY collaborates with leisure and sports providers to promote and deliver physical activity for disabled children and adults. Their commitment to enhancing health and well-being ensures that participants have the best possible experience. Additionally, DSY provides information, guidance, and training courses to empower disabled individuals and strengthen their voice in the sporting community.

For more info click here: Home – Disability Sport Yorkshire

Connect with Craig Shepherd (Pictured) HERE

 

Celebrating Tileyard North & Ian Wallace Podcast Winning Collaboration

Ian Wallace, IWTC Ltd & Counselling Wakefield:

For the past 27 years I have been a self-employed Counsellor, Trainer, Supervisor and Business coach and I joined WAW from its conception. As a member of WAW my company is registered as IWTC ltd, but I also own Counselling Wakefield, and deliver the work we do from our offices in Horbury. We work with both individuals and companies to deliver Counselling and well-being packages to employers in the area. I also specialise in helping to smooth the transition of change in organisations and cope with conflict in the workforce.

I attended the WAW event at Tileyard North in July 2023, I met the Tileyard studio team, and had a tour of the podcast studio. I had been keen to share my considerable experience in the counselling field via a podcast project, and having met the team at Tileyard North, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to launch this new venture. I discussed my podcast idea with George Riley, studio manager at Tileyard North, and “The Messed-Up Counsellor” podcast was born.

George and his colleagues at Tileyard use their expertise and advice to help me to produce the podcast. They advise on the content and delivery, they take care of editing and distribution, and they developed a logo and branding.  I couldn’t have done it without them, and highly recommend them to anyone thinking of producing a podcast, any promotional content, or of any kind of recording. The facilities at Tileyard North are second to none, the staff are experienced and helpful, and it has been a pleasure launching my new podcast venture with Tileyard Norths help and guidance.

 

George Riley, Tieyard North:

Having met Ian at the WAW networking event at Tileyard North, Ian and I discussed his idea to launch a podcast, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity for The Tileyard North Studios team to produce a podcast with Ian. It has been a pleasure working with Ian to develop his ideas, help with branding, a logo and a production, release, and distribution schedule.

We offer a range of options with podcast production at Tileyard North: Many of our clients simply hire the studio and an engineer, and deal with the overall production themselves, but we also offer full consultation and production services, and it has been a great opportunity for some of our team to garner more production experience working with Ian.

“The Messed-Up Counsellor” is a valuable and helpful free resource for people to use to help them navigate the modern world, and it has been a satisfying creative endeavour helping Ian bring his idea to fruition. I am grateful to Ian for his trust in the Tileyard North Team, he has been a pleasure to work with. We have been discussing recording his many books as audiobooks, another service we offer at Tileyard North, and I am looking forward to developing further ways that we can work together in future.

 

George & Ian win tickets to see Featherstone Rovers RLFC demonstrate how collaboration is key on the rugby field!

 

The Podcast can be found at https://linktr.ee/themessedupcounsellor

 

Meet Natalie, a dedicated Personal Trainer and Online Fitness Coach on a mission to empower women to prioritize their well-being over societal body standards.

Natalie embarked on her own transformative journey when she realized that conventional weight loss methods weren’t contributing to her happiness. Her life used to revolve around diets, intense workouts, and her weight, a realisation that resonated with many of her personal training clients.

In the past decade, Natalie has passionately delved into topics like diet culture, mindset, nutrition, and holistic health, crafting a lifestyle that emphasizes a well-rounded approach to overall health and wellness.

Over the last four years, she has extended her expertise through both online and in person coaching services, offering free walks, fitness classes, small group PT sessions, and personalized one-on-one training in Altofts and Wakefield. For those beyond these locations, Natalie provides dedicated 1-1 online coaching.

Natalie’s mission is clear: liberate women from the restrictive diet mindset, so they can live a lifestyle aligned with their individual goals.

Click here to find out more about The Wellness Mentor.

 

Please welcome Andrew Bodle of Hygieia Group Ltd, your premier destination for professional cleaning supplies!

Founded by Andrew, a seasoned expert with three decades of experience in the cleaning industry, Hygieia is committed to offering only the finest cleaning equipment available.

At Hygieia, they understand the importance of quality and reliability when it comes to cleaning products. That’s why each item in their inventory has been personally curated by Andrew and his dedicated team. They believe in providing their customers with market-leading solutions that deliver real results.

Their extensive selection features innovative and environmentally-friendly cleaning products that are built to last. From efficient machinery to sustainable solutions, we strive to meet the diverse needs of their clientele.

We firmly believe that investing in high-quality cleaning equipment not only enhances performance but also saves both time and money. With minimal downtime, reduced breakdowns, and increased efficiency, their products ensure optimal cleaning results every time.

As the top distributor in Yorkshire for WAW Ambassadors,  Solupak, Hygieia is proud to offer sustainable products that align with their commitment to environmental stewardship. Visit their website today and experience the difference with Hygieia – where quality meets innovation in professional cleaning wholesaling.

 

Connect with Andrew HERE.

 

 

Distributor of sustainable commercial cleaning products.

In Episode 8 we are joined by Katie Hopkins, Head of Community & Marketing at Tileyard North and Dan Smith, Managing Director of DSM Productions.

We talk about the rise of Tileyard North based on its sister-site at Kings Cross and DSM’s views on the challenges faced by the events industry. 

Conversation leads to how these two businesses collaborate to create some exciting new events never seen by Wakefield audiences before!

Hear Katie and Dan’s Top Tips for 24. 

Please welcome new member of the WAW family, Graham Summerscales from All About Change.

Graham was diagnosed with ADHD aged 53 and since then has set up All About Change, coaching other adults within the neurodiverse community.

It’s not always easy for neurotypical people to understand how ADHD people think and Graham’s approach is to coach and co-coach the neurodivergent and neurotypical to encourage and help develop successful outcomes for both parties.

He completed his studies in Executive Coaching and Mentoring at Oxford Brooks University and achieved the highest coaching qualification possible at the time.  He then moved into the learning and development sector, bolting on various other qualifications including psychometric profiling, having trained as a practitioner in MBTI and 16pf.

Graham has coached and trained clients from middle management to board level, conducted C-Suite recruitment programmes and led team development work that has taken him to all corners of the world such as America, Thailand, Brazil and all across Europe. He’s worked with individuals and teams across the globe, supported organisations through mergers, acquisitions and redundancies, and provided outplacement support and career coaching for employees.

When he’s not helping ADHD clients reach their potential, an avid sportsman, having played Rugby for Great Britain at amateur level, he still continues to chase perfection on the golf course.

Connect with Graham HERE 

 

Please give a warm welcome to Diana from Diana Holden Bid Writing Service Ltd, a recent addition to the We Are Wakefield family!

 

“An APMP member and educated to degree level, I am an experienced and talented Bid Writer/Manager with a demonstrable track record of success over the past twenty years. I understand the language of procurement and know how to write, structure and present information to improve the impact on bid evaluators.

 

I work across multiple sectors, however my specialism is in the areas of construction, civil engineering, social housing and transport.  My previous experience as an in-house Bid Manager for large and small companies enables me to effectively integrate with existing bid teams.

 

A strong team player with excellent communication skills, I am able to converse with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.  Enthusiastic and extremely outcome focused, I ensure that all tasks are always delivered to the highest standard and to deadline.  I work closely with subject matter experts to fully understand business activities to help create compelling and persuasive tender responses.

 

I am a proactive individual who strives to not only continuously improve bids, but self-development as I have recently achieved APMP Foundation Level certification. During 2023 I attended BPC Orlando and BIDx in Birmingham which included keynote speakers, interactive sessions and informative presentations.”

 

We’re thrilled to have Diana on board, bringing her skills and know-how to expand our network!

 

Connect with Diana HERE

🌟✨ Rise and shine, Wakefield District! 🌟✨

What an incredible morning we had at the We Are Wakefield breakfast networking event on Friday, 2^nd February, hosted at the stunning Wakefield Cathedral!

Over 200 members and first-timers gathered for a record-breaking morning, making it the largest networking breakfast in West Yorkshire (if not the world)!

 

 

The highlight of the breakfast was the inspiring talk by our key speaker, Steve Judge, who left everyone feeling empowered and ready to conquer the day. His message on not leaning on excuses and finding your “golden gang” resonated with everyone in the room!

Our We Are Wakefield “golden gang” continues to thrive, with members supporting each other and fostering incredible collaborations over breakfast!  The positive energy in the room was wonderful, setting the tone for an amazing year ahead!

 

🎥 Watch the fantastic video below capturing the lively atmosphere of our first morning event in 2024, thanks to the talented Antony at KRA:FT Photography. 📸 Watch it now to relive the breakfast buzz.

 

And that’s not all! 📷 Explore the full photo gallery for more stunning morning moments captured by KRA:FT Photography.  Click here for the visual breakfast journey:

We Are Wakefield · Representing diverse sectors around Wakefield and Five Towns

 

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Friday, contributing to making We Are Wakefield’s first breakfast event of the year truly unforgettable!  Click HERE for more exciting gatherings and opportunities to connect in the coming months. Let’s continue to grow and support each other on this incredible journey!

Thank you to the following members for collaborating on this event:

We Are Wakefield members came together for a heart-warming volunteer day at Wakefield Hospice on Tuesday, January 23rd!

 

Eleven dedicated members rolled up their sleeves to support the hospice’s mission at their distribution centre. They worked tirelessly, sorting, tagging, and bagging donated clothing.  These items will soon be hitting the rails of the hospice’s shops, generating vital funds for patient care.

 

The day was more than just a volunteer effort; it was an experience filled with fantastic teamwork, laughter, and a chance for our members to connect on a deeper level.  Getting to know each other while making a positive impact was truly special.

 

A big shout out to the incredible Hospice staff and volunteers who made us feel right at home!  Hospices play a crucial role in our community, but did you know they need support to cover 75% of their running costs?  Your contributions, whether time or resources, make a significant difference in providing essential care in our district.

 

Let’s continue to stand together, support our local hospices, and make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need.

Huge thanks to the following WAW members for giving their support:

Judy Parsons, The LinkedIn Lady

Cameron Mosley, Hickory’s Smokehouse

Helen Byram, Buzz Safety

Kelly Smith, Juice Personnel Ltd

Claire Mouzer, Prosura

Amanda Shearman-Webb, Simul Digital

Emma Wicks, Thornton Jones Solicitors

Mark Rowbottom, Photoneg

Mark Laycock & Reece Limbert, Solupak

Claire Sutherley DL, We Are Wakefield

Here’s some snaps from the day!