Following the successful re-launch of We Are Wakefield, we are now proud to present our newest appointment…

Managing Director – Claire Sutherley!

Since the company has been going from strength to strength, we are now in a position where growth within the company is vital to continue connecting local businesses in the area and helping them within their own growth, and so appointing Claire to the role given her extensive experience within the sector is a great acquirement for us.

Formerly the Business Engagement Officer within Wakefield Council’s Wakefield First, Claire had helped to support thousands of businesses in the district over the last 18 months in her role, and she can now continue to do so, all whilst growing the We Are Wakefield businesses!

“I am extremely excited to be joining the We are Wakefield team as Managing Director in January,” explains Claire.

“I will be looking to build on the great relationships that already exist between Wakefield businesses and provide a firm footing for a business community that engages, has value, and inspires.

“I realise the importance of a support network when running a business as it can be a very lonely place indeed, I look forward to being part of that network and working districtwide to help our businesses thrive.”

Everyone at the We Are Wakefield HQ are excited to welcome Claire on-board, her skills, expertise and knowledge of the industry, along with the contacts and experience she has can only strength the company leaps and bounds.

Chair, Craig Shepherd, is no exception. He said: “In line with our strategy for growth, we have recruited a Managing Director who will be able to drive the business forward and provide the members of We Are Wakefield with consistency.

“Our ‘GrowIN’ strand is now on track to launch in 2022 and with Claire’s considerable experience of supporting key leaders to grow their businesses and develop we have a clear opportunity to make a difference across the district.

Everyone you speak to has nothing but superlatives to say about Claire and we are very lucky to have her onboard. Roll on January!”

Claire is all set to start her new role after the festive season on January 4 – and we can’t wait to welcome her with open arms.

Fancy having a chat with her to talk about how she can help your business through We Are Wakefield? Drop her an email at [email protected].

November’s Meet Our Members are global brand Elis!

With their Wakefield factory based on Portobello Road, this worldwide company which has some fantastic opportunities, is accessible locally.

So, what do they do? Well, maybe the question is what don’t they do…

The Elis brand offers a wide range of laundry and hygiene services to number of different sectors, to name but a few they offer cleanroom services, flat linen, floor protection, surgical solutions, washroom and work wear to small to large companies across the globe.

After hosting one of our events, our members were treated to a tour of the Elis facility which they were shown what the company can do for small, local businesses, as well as the larger, nationwide companies.

We caught up with General Manager at Elis, Jonny Parkinson, who explained what the main focus of the company is.

“At Elis we pride ourselves on our core values of Respect, Integrity, Responsibility and Exemplarity, these are at the forefront of our business model and a focus of all our customer partnerships,” he explains.

“Elis are a multiservice provider offering Workwear, Floorcare, Washroom and Wipers on industrial scale, serviced from one location and one supplier.

We have a wide knowledge base and scope to offer bespoke commercial packages to suit individual needs, these can range from local, independent businesses through to large national or European organisations.”

Elis have been members of We Are Wakefield for some time now, and Jonny tells us how it has helped the company in a local capacity:

“Our site has operated in the same location over many decades, employing local people but has never had a real presence in the community.

We want to work with local organisations to share best practise, become aware of how we can support the community of Wakefield businesses commercially and operationally by building strong relationships and connections.

This is out first year and already we have made some good connections, utilising fellow WAW members services to support our organisation.

As a business Elis UK have now entered the washroom market offering washroom and hygiene solutions across the Yorkshire region from it’s plant in Wakefield.

We have invested in our service delivery capability, products and services and have capacity to work with organisations to find a fit for purpose solution.

If you are interested in a no obligation site survey our team are contactable on (01924) 240250 – Quoting FreeWashroomSurvey.”

Did you miss out on the We Are Wakefield networking event at Elis and wondering what you missed? Take a look at this video that Elis have recently recorded for more information on what they do:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnc1vX9p_7k

We all need signs promoting our businesses – let’s give you a couple of examples…

You’ve built the brand, got a good client base, now you’re finally moving in to your own office… maybe a shared working space, or maybe even your own building. People need to know who you are, how do you do that? With a sign!

Or, like so many others, you’ve adapted so well to working from home that you’ve decided to stay remote and have finally turned a corner of your house into a fully-functioning office space. You’ll still be taking part in remote meetings over Zoom or Teams, so what better way to look professional and promote yourself than by having your company logo in lights above your working space!

It just so happens that one of our members, Project Group, are a Wakefield-based, market leading company within the signage industry!

From the second you enquire, the team at Project will consult with you right from the very start, helping you and guiding you through the signage process from installation all the way through to maintenance.

We Are Wakefield caught up with Managing Director at Project, Liam Fletcher, he said:

“We are a full turnkey solution to anything signage related, offering the design, supply, installation and aftercare of signage and graphics to a wide range of businesses and sectors.”

Despite being a nationwide firm and having worked across the country, Liam is wanting to help businesses in the local area with their signage needs.

“I am part of the We Are Wakefield network to try and gain more local custom, as a lot of our clients are based further afield, it would be nice to showcase what we can offer more locally,” he explains.

“We are expanding yet again with the creation of another two positions in our installation teams and a growing list of existing and new customers.”

Why not get your signage needs sorted through a local and trusted company like Project.

Members of We Are Wakefield were treated to a delightful tour and talk within the Elis factory, located on Portobello Road in Wakefield.

General Manager of the laundry cleaning facility, Jonny Parkinson, gave members an exclusive insight into the world on cleaning and how the company is so successful, by having numerous facilities across the globe.

Despite being a worldwide company, there were many benefits that were on offer to We Are Wakefield members, showing that the company not only cares about global growth, but local relationships too.

Breakfast butties, tea, coffee, juice and pastries were served up for all attendees and were a lovely treat for everyone there! Everyone was then seated and shown a presentation, explaining how this global company can help small, local businesses.

Following the Q&A, everyone was offered the chance to take at tour of the factory facility – which of course, no one declined. Highly knowledgeable members of staff walked the group through the site and gave immense detail into every section of the cleaning process, which was an eye-opener to see how this process works.

Feedback from all attendees was amazing and we would just like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Jonny, and the entire Elis team who gave us a warm welcome, and an amazing day!

Following the roaring success of our first roadshow launch events, we are absolutely delighted to have secured a limited-space tour of a local Wakefield factory facility.

Our members over at Elis have kindly agreed to give a limited number of our members a tour of their local facility located on Portobello Road. With the chance to not only have an exclusive visit, there will also be chance for you to get to know fellow members and have a chat about how you can all work together.

After seeing the amazing turn out and been given some brilliant feedback from out attendees, we have taken everything on board, and are we are so thrilled to offer you the chance to come to this event.

Starting at the factory doors at 9.30am, there will be chance to grab a cup of tea or coffee to get the day started, meeting with fellow We Are Wakefield members and having a chat to one another.

We will then be treated to a speech from our Chair, Craig Shepherd, who many of you will have already had the pleasure of meeting through our other events. General Manager at Elis, Jonny, will then be presenting to us, letting us know what Elis does and what their plans for future growth look like.  A Q&A will follow, making sure that all questions will be answered for all members.

At around 10.40am, the site tour will begin, taking around 20 minutes, which will then be followed by more networking opportunities. This will be the prefect chance for you to have a chat with Jonny and discuss how your business can work with Elis – or other fellow members to see how you can grow your businesses together!

Elis is a pan European textile and hygiene service provider in the Hospitality, Healthcare and ICS (Industry, Commerce and Service) sectors. The Wakefield plant is one of only nine in the UK, which employs more than 100 people and provides workwear, laundry and mat and washroom services to around 1,500 on a weekly basis.

This is a truly unique opportunity that we have been given and due to the fact the tour will be on a working site, we have had to cap numbers on this event and they are very limited – so make sure to get your tickets soon!

As the site is an industrial laundry facility, we do need to make it aware that all attendees will be asked to wear steel toe shoes/boots for anyone wanting to participate on the full tour. If you have your own, please do feel free to bring them along, if not don’t worry as they will be provided.

Wanting to book your ticket now? Just follow this link: A Journey Through Elis Tickets, Fri 15 Oct 2021 at 09:30 | Eventbrite

It is no surprise that HR & Recruitment go hand-in-hand. But have you ever found a company that can take care of both to the highest possible standard? Usually hybrid companies excel in one aspect and fall in another, so when you realise that Tribe go above and beyond in both services – it is quite hard to believe! But they really do…

Tribe HR & Recruitment Services prides themselves on their ability to provide SME’s with expert and affordable HR services. After realising that quality HR was something that few small companies could afford, often with owner-managed businesses falling foul to an arena out of their expertise, it lead them to seek pricey outsourced work which they could neither afford, nor wanted.

Whilst there are plenty of HR agencies on the market at the moment, Tribe is one of the few that offers their customers with fully bespoke services. Hate dealing with call centres and scripted people on the other end of the line? Well, Tribe doesn’t work like that – and instead all customers are assigned their own personal HR Manager who will act as their very own port of call for all their needs.

“We believe that working with Tribe is the closest a business can access to having their own HR Manager without the internal costs,” explains CEO of Tribe, Vicky Huthart.

“Being based a few miles from Wakefield and being personally committed to supporting local businesses, we felt that our services were something that could enhance and support the employment and employability of Wakefield.”

Tribe is currently working with developers to create an all-new employee management system which will soon be available for all clients! Alongside this, they also off a price-match promise on all like for like HR or Recruitment services, so why not get in touch with them to see what they can do for you!

If you were lucky enough to get tickets to our SOLD OUT Wakefield City Centre Roadshow Launch Event, then you will understand this headline.

There was no other term of phrase to describe our event at The Art House as a resounding success; drinks flowed, people chatted, networking galore.

Mike Denby opened the event and thanked all members and non-members for coming, then followed his beautifully worded and heart-warming speech by showcasing our brand-new re-launch video. Applause filled the room. He then welcomed on to stage the our guest of honour, all the way from London, Head of Marketing for Tileyard, Lucy Macieira. She treated us all to an insightful about Tileyard’s plans and how their plans for the north are booming.

After everyone was uplifted and in good spirits thanks to our two amazing speakers, everyone networked and chatted away, exchanging business cards and discussing how they can help each other’s businesses – a sure delight to watch and be a part of.

Behind the scene we have been dealing with the generic issues that come with a worldwide global pandemic; How can we be safe? What happens if someone tests positive? How can we use the pandemic to our advantage? We have had to deal with it all!

Late and sleepless nights, last-minute pull togethers, endless fidgeting thinking that we have forgotten something – our team have had to endure it all. But we can honestly say that when everything finally comes together and we get to see the joyous occasion of a networking event after over a year out, it really does make all of the hard work worth it – so thank you to our past, present and future attendees for making our first two events such a success.

We still have two more events taking place next week:

Monday 20th September 2021 @ 10am at Junction 32 Outlet

Wednesday 22nd September 2021 @ 10am at Ossett Town Hall

And remember, you don’t have to be a We Are Wakefield member to attend!

See you there…

After delays and postponements due to the global pandemic, we were so thrilled to be able to welcome our members back face-to-face for the first official launch of We Are Wakefield!

This city is filled with beauty spots and picturesque scenery, and that was exactly what we showcased during our first roadshow event at Rogerthorpe Manor in Pontefract. Well kept, excellently maintained and beautiful gardens were the backdrop as we greeted our guests face-to-face for the first time in over a whole year…

A truly inspiring and welcoming speech opened the event by our Chair, Craig Shepherd, thanking everyone for coming and celebrating our event with us. All eyes soon turned to the huge screen at the head of the room where we aired our brand new re-launch video where we were introduced to like-minded business people who love the Wakefield area. Our Agency’s and We Are Wakefield Board member Lanie Green, We Are Wakefield’s Business Support Manager Victoria Fox, Economic Growth and Service Manager, Mike Denby and Managing Director of DSM Productions Daniel Smith all spoke about their love for the Wakefield area and the potential it has to be bigger and better than it al ready is.

Pastries, tea and coffee flowed all around as networking began with business cards exchanged and potential meetings arranged. This was not just any networking event, everyone chatted and mingled, and the entire day was a huge success! We cannot wait to welcome you back to networking and we hope to see you all soon at our remaining upcoming roadshow re-launch events.

 

 

Are you a We Are Wakefield member? Or are you thinking of becoming one?

Well, we have just the event for you! We have recently just announced five roadshow events for the launch of We Are Wakefield where we will be travelling around the Wakefield district and visiting Wakefield Centre, Ossett, Featherstone, Pontefract and Castleford.

This is the perfect opportunity for your business to come and see what we are about, meet our expanding team, and get to know other members. We will be serving refreshments, and this is an excellent chance for you to meet like-minded businesses and entrepreneurs in the area.

Kicking things off at 10am, this will be the first chance you have to grab something to drink and get chatting to all members. All of the We Are Wakefield team will be there too so make sure to grab one of them for a chat! At 10.30am there will be a panel of guest speakers, as well as our brand new launch video which hasn’t yet been released! Following this at around 11am, a guest speaker will take to the stage to talk about all things Wakefield. From 11.15am onwards, you will have the chance to carry on networking and meet everyone who you didn’t have chance to have a chat with.

Our guest speaker will be different at each of the five events, along with who will be at each event. Some people are coming to every event to give them a chance to network with as many people as possible, others are just coming to one – the choice is yours!

Whilst social distancing has now been lifted, please note that we will try to still adhere to social distancing guidelines where possible and if you feel more comfortable wearing a mask to these events, then please do.

We are slowly getting back to a new normal way of networking. Some people are happy with hand shaking, others aren’t – so please respect each attendees decision and let’s all make everyone feel comfortable and enjoy this exciting event!

A personal invite has been sent to all of our members, but if you haven’t got one and would like one – please email [email protected] and she will send one over to your inbox!

See you all soon…

To kick-start our new initiative of Meet Our Members, we caught up with Andrew Barraclough, the Sales and Marketing Director at Abbey Industrial Solutions to talk all things about the company and how they are leading the market for being independent providers of quality power tool systems and engineering innovations.

By working with multiple intelligent tooling specialists such as Cleco and Sturtevant Richmont, Abbey provides industry 4.0 ready bespoke solutions to improve the quality and efficiency in the manufacturing industry.

Having over 35 years of navigating the industry, Abbey’s experience has meant that they hold exclusive trading relationships with a number of different tool-leading manufacturers.

Andrew said: “The specialist manufacturer-trained teams at Abbey are uniquely and specifically placed to not just provide detailed product knowledge and tailored solutions, but to also suit each individuals’ particular needs and to oversee implementation of tooling and perform comprehensive maintenance services and repairs on all tooling assets.

“Abbey Industrial Solutions are known for being relied upon to provide solutions to help both maximise and optimise the manufacturing processes to take away the stress and concern for the consumer.

“Each and every person in the Abbey team are highly skilled specialists who are trained with the latest knowledge in engineering innovations from a variety of leading manufacturers.

“The team can provide bespoke tooling solutions to suit individual site requirements alongside complete end-to-end implementation and maintenance guidance to ensure that the consumer has all the knowledge and tools they need to get the most out of their experience.”

Advance your manufacturing processes and maximise the potential of tooling assets, with the experts at Abbey. Offering comprehensive service solutions combined with full traceability from our asset management systems, the lifespan of your tools is prolonged with product care plans developed to suit your individual needs.

Like what you hear and want to get in touch with the Abbey team to talk about your tooling needs? You can head over to their website https://abbeyis.co.uk/arrange-a-chat/ and use their live calendar system to pick a date and time that best suits you for either a product demonstration or a consultation.