Pandemic has cost many Yorkshire cities more than half a year’s worth of high street sales

Tess Egginton
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Pandemic has cost many Yorkshire cities more than half a year’s worth of high street sales
Covid-19 has cost some city and large town centres in Yorkshire more than half a year’s worth of potential takings since March 2020. This is according to Cities Outlook 2022 – Centre for Cities’ annual economic assessment of the UK’s largest urban areas. Central Leeds is worst affected, losing 39 weeks of sales between the first lockdown and Omicron’s onset. Businesses in Sheffield and Bradford city centres are also among the worst hit. Huddersfield’s city centre lost the fewest weeks of sales (12 weeks) in Yorkshire during the pandemic.
Where have city and town centre businesses lost the most potential sales during the pandemic?
Rank (Regional) Rank (National – out of 62) Place Weeks of lost sales
1 10 Leeds -39
2 25 Sheffield -31
3 28 Bradford -29
4 43 Doncaster -24
5 44 Hull -24
6 46 York -22
7 55 Barnsley -14
8 56 Wakefield -13
9 60 Huddersfield -12
  Nationally, Covid-19 has cost businesses in city and large town centres more than a third (35%) of their potential takings since March 2020, with central London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Cardiff worst affected. Across the 52 city and town centres studied, 2,426 commercial units have become vacant during the pandemic, against 1,374 between 2018 and 2020. High streets in economically weaker places have been less impacted by Covid-19. Meanwhile in economically stronger places, business closures increased during the pandemic. This suggests that the Government’s Covid-19 support successfully stalled the decline of many struggling high streets but was less effective in economically stronger places due to higher rents and a lack of custom from office workers. That said, while stronger city centres have borne the economic brunt of the pandemic, their higher levels of affluence mean that, if restrictions end and office workers return, they will likely recover quickly.
Where have city and town centre vacancy rates changed the most during the pandemic?
Rank (Regional) Rank (National – out of 52) Place Percentage point change
1 21 Huddersfield 3.3
2 26 Leeds 2.8
3 27 Hull 2.8
4 32 York 2.7
5 36 Sheffield 2.1
6 44 Barnsley 1.0
7 47 Doncaster 0.3
8 51 Bradford -0.2
  Meanwhile, while government support has sheltered weaker places, it may have simply stored up pain for the future. The report warns that many less prosperous places in Yorkshire face a wave of new business closures this year.
Where had the highest and lowest shares of vacant city centre units after June 2021
Rank (Regional) Rank (National – out of 52) Place Percentage of city centre units vacant
1 4 Bradford 27.6
2 9 Hull 23.8
3 10 Huddersfield 23.3
4 18 Doncaster 21.4
5 24 Leeds 19.6
6 30 Sheffield 18.2
7 44 Barnsley 13.5
8 49 York 11.4
  To avoid permanently levelling down prosperous places, policy makers should run campaigns to encourage leisure visitors back when safe to do so and provide part-time season tickets to encourage workers back to the office. For struggling places, policy makers drafting the Levelling Up White Paper should focus on dealing with struggling places’ fundamental economic problems to address high street decline. This means investing in skills and ways to strengthen the wider local economy to increase money in shoppers’ pockets, rather than on ‘cosmetic’ quick fixes such as hanging baskets and painting shop fronts. Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said: “While the pandemic has been a tough time for all high streets it has levelled down more prosperous cities and towns in Yorkshire. Despite this, the strength of their wider local economies means they are well placed to recover quickly from the past two years. “The bigger concern is for economically weaker places – primarily in the North and Midlands – where Covid-19 has actually paused their long-term decline. To help them avoid a wave of high street closures this year the Government must set out how it plans to increase peoples’ skills and pay to give them the income needed to sustain a thriving high street. Many of these places are in the so-called Red Wall so there is a political imperative for the Government to act fast, as well as an economic one.”

Workplace stress and anxiety leads to productivity drop, reveals new employee wellbeing report from Champion Health

Eleonora Gallina
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Workplace stress and anxiety leads to productivity drop, reveals new employee wellbeing report from Champion Health
A study of 2,200 UK employees has revealed that two thirds of people (67.2%) are experiencing moderate to high levels of stress and that 28% have seen their productivity negatively impacted by high stress levels in the last two years. Data released today by national workplace wellbeing provider Champion Health gives an insight into the mental health and wellbeing of the country’s working population between April 2020 and December 2021. Champion Health provides an evidence-based wellbeing platform and personalised support to more than 4,000 employees across the UK. Worryingly, 8% of people shared that they have experienced self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts. The data, which has been published in Champion Health’s annual report also revealed that:
  • Around 60% of workers feel anxious and females are more likely to feel anxious (62% female compared to 37% male);
  • Almost 60% of workers are experiencing musculoskeletal pain. Of those suffering, 70% are home or hybrid workers, whereas office workers make up just 17% of the sample;
  • Workers aged 25-34 are most likely to experience anxiety, depression and financial stress;
  • 52% of UK professionals are experiencing symptoms of depression, with around a quarter (22%) being identified as experiencing clinically significant symptoms;
  • More than half of respondents say that they feel ‘fatigued” and 53% report that tiredness was impacting their productivity at work;
  • The survey showed that people feel most energised to work at 10.22am and are least energised at 3.31pm.
In addition, a total of 56% of respondents said they had the “perfect amount of stress to allow them to thrive” but 34% said that stress was negatively impacting them. The top factors causing stress at work are workload, lack of control, less support and senior staff. More than 600 people (28%) said high stress was impacting their productivity. Harry Bliss, CEO of Champion Health, said that while the findings were worrying, business leaders could learn a lot from the information. He added that it presented a wake up call for businesses and organisations who needed to take the wellbeing and mental health of their teams seriously. Bliss comments: “It’s no surprise that the last two years have been extremely tough on employees and I’m really concerned about the findings of this report. What we’re seeing here is a workforce feeling the huge effects of the changes to workplaces and the heightening expectations placed upon them as individuals. “To address this, we need to see a quantifiable, significant step-up in the amount of investment companies make in employee wellbeing strategies so that employees are supported to overcome the struggles that they’ve faced throughout the pandemic. This latest insight shows the clear link between productivity and mental health and wellbeing. Companies can help turn this dangerous pattern around by taking several steps; and doing so goes much beyond having much happier employees. It will enable employers to retain great people who are motivated to complete brilliant work day in, day out.”    

Helmsley Group and Mulgrave Properties complete on luxury residential development

Eleonora Gallina
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Helmsley Group and Mulgrave Properties complete on luxury residential development
All units at Mount Vale Gardens in York, a joint venture between Yorkshire-based property development specialists Helmsley Group and Mulgrave Properties, have been sold. The development, comprising 12 four- and five-bedroom family homes, is located within easy walking distance of York train station, with each unit benefitting from high-specification kitchens and bathrooms, advanced security systems and landscaped gardens. Mount Vale Gardens is just a short walk from The Knavesmire, home to York Racecourse, providing plenty of green space for leisure and exercise. Residents are also within walking distance of a selection of outstanding local primary and secondary schools, including Scarcroft Primary, The Mount, St Peter’s, and Bootham School. Max Reeves, development director at Helmsley Group, said: “We are delighted to have further developed our partnership with Mulgrave Properties through our work on this development. As developers who intimately understand the York property market, we understood that while they are sought-after, high-specification homes of this size and quality are often difficult to come by. “The speed with which all units were sold demonstrates the continued resilience of York’s luxury property market in spite of the pandemic, and we look forward to developing similar residential schemes in the future.” David Smith, sales director at Mulgrave Properties, added: “It’s been very gratifying to see how quickly the development has sold, which is testament not only to the Helmsley and Mulgrave’s strong working relationship, but also to both developers’ understanding of the wider market in which they operate. “The feedback from residents so far has been overwhelmingly positive, with many already seeing significant return on investment through reduced maintenance costs and increased energy efficiency, without needing to compromise on space.”  

Department for Transport’s new ‘Active Travel Unit’ to be located in York, creating new jobs

Tess Egginton
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Department for Transport’s new ‘Active Travel Unit’ to be located in York, creating new jobs
The Department for Transport has announced that its new ‘Active Travel Unit’ will be located in York.
The Leader of City of York Council, Councillor Keith Aspden, welcomed the announcement: “This is very welcome news for York. This is an important win the for the city which will mean new jobs, boost our economy and further raise our profile. “Today’s announcement recognises York’s influential role in bringing to the fore innovation that blends carbon-negative ambition with healthy communities and transport options. “York is the natural centre of gravity for a decarbonised national transport infrastructure, and is already preparing for that future. This is a fantastic city with a highly skilled population and in this announcement we can see reaffirmation of our reputation as a destination of choice for inward investment. “It is a credit to all those involved in securing this investment, and I’d like to thank all who worked to make it happen. This is another success story for the city and with work ongoing to progress York Central, one of the most important and attractive regeneration sites in the country, this is an exciting time to live, work and invest in York.” Councillor Andy D’Agorne, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Transport, added: “This is an important endorsement of York’s longstanding expertise in sustainable travel, and a welcome development for our city. “It builds on our expertise as a centre of rail expertise, successful park and ride and growing network of cycle routes, and of balancing our transport infrastructure needs with the challenges of climate change and decarbonising transport. For example, we have led the way with introduction of e-scooters and e-bikes, grown the largest electric bus fleet and delivered hyperhubs as a demonstration of our commitment. “My thanks go to all those involved in delivering this opportunity. We look forward to welcoming the Active Travel Unit to York and working with them to further increase active travel in the city.”

Sheffield solicitor appointment boosts private client team

Michael Fisher
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Sheffield solicitor appointment boosts private client team
Sheffield’s Wake Smith has boosted its busy private client team with the appointment of experienced solicitor Stephanie Chung. Stephanie joins the established 8-strong team lead by director and head of department Suzanne Porter and is hoping to take advantage of her language skills to further links in the city. Alongside her day to day role advising on Wills, Trust and Probate matters, Wake Smith hopes that as a fluent Cantonese speaker she can offer high quality legal advice to the growing Chinese community in Sheffield. Stephanie said: “As a firm rooted in Sheffield, Wake Smith has acknowledged the need to offer quality advice to the Chinese community in Sheffield. Elderly issues including mental capacity, Power of Attorney and Wills can be a sensitive issue within this group, so I am keen to get referrals and show how Wake Smith can help. “This is a really strong, enthusiastic team with some fantastic initiatives going on and long standing links to Sheffield. I have previously worked with two team members here already, Colleen Dooney and Annie Wright, and am really looking forward to teaming up with them again, and developing my role further.” Suzanne Porter added: “Stephanie is a valuable appointment to our team and her dual language skills are an additional asset to Wake Smith.” Stephanie joins from a niche private client practice in Sheffield where she assisted clients with estate administration, Inheritance Tax Planning, Wills and Powers of Attorney matters. She completed a law and French degree at the University of Birmingham, and passed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the College of Law in Birmingham before qualifying in 2010. Wake Smith’s Private Client team was highlighted in industry guide The Legal 500 as handling the full spectrum of non-contentious work with particular expertise in probate applications, estate administration, inheritance tax planning and will drafting. It also specialises in elderly client issues, power of attorney mandates and Court of Protection applications.

Hull City Council supports local jobs, businesses and investment with new framework

Eleonora Gallina
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Hull City Council is awarding a new procurement framework contract to provide ease of access to the professional services it requires to facilitate investment into infrastructure within the city. Of the initial 14 suppliers being appointed onto the contract, 12 are based in Yorkshire and 9 of these are in Hull and the East Riding. Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council and portfolio holder for economic investment and regeneration, said: “It is vitally important that we are able to access quickly the professional skills we need to maintain investment in our city, support growth and shape a better future for ourselves and future generations. “This new framework will support our investment, across a number of areas including highways, construction and conservation projects, will be efficient and will support the local economy, businesses and jobs.” The contract will start on February 1 2022 and will run for three years with the option to extend for a further year.

Profit warnings issued by listed Yorkshire and North East companies fell by 76% in 2021

Tess Egginton
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Profit warnings issued by listed Yorkshire and North East companies fell by 76% in 2021

The number of profit warnings issued by Yorkshire and North East-based listed companies decreased significantly to 14 in 2021, compared with 59 in 2020, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report.

Warnings issued by listed companies based in Yorkshire and the North East peaked in Q2 (5) and Q4 (5).

The majority of warnings issued in the region were in the FTSE Consumer Discretionary and Industrial sectors, as supply chain disruption and rising costs affected many businesses in the final quarter of the year.

Tim Vance, EY-Parthenon Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy Leader in Yorkshire and the North East, said: “In 2021, the number of profit warnings issued by Yorkshire and North East-based businesses peaked slightly in the second and fourth quarter, although were significantly down on 2020 figures.

“Sporadic growth made it a difficult year for many companies to navigate, despite healthy headline figures. Companies bounced back well from the pandemic in the first half of 2021, but during the second half an increasing number of companies were issuing profit warnings as forecasting and earnings challenges evolved and multiplied.”

Total UK Profit Warnings

Profit warnings issued by UK listed companies increased by 19% year-on-year in Q4 2021, with record levels of warnings citing supply chain disruption and rising costs in the final quarter of the year.

In the final quarter of 2021, UK listed companies issued 70 warnings, up 19 from the 51 issued in Q3, with a record 44% blaming supply chain disruption (compared to just 2% between 2009 and 2019), and a further 27% citing rising cost pressures.

In total, 203 profit warnings were issued in 2021, down from the record-breaking 583 warnings witnessed in 2020 and the second lowest by number since EY began tracking warnings in 1999. The low total is due to the strong post-lockdown rebound and exceptionally low levels of profit warnings in the first half of the year, which gave way to extensive supply chain disruption and rising costs in the second.

EY-Parthenon’s report found that one-in-five listed consumer-facing companies issued a warning over the last year. The most affected sectors were FTSE Aerospace & Defense with 57% of companies issuing a warning in 2021, followed by FTSE Personal Care, Drug & Grocery Stores (39%) and FTSE Retailers (34%), all of which experienced supply chain headwinds in the second half of the year.

However, not all profit warnings were due to supply chain issues. The FTSE Software & Computer Services sector issued 11 warnings in H2, the joint highest for any sector along with FTSE Retailers, underlining the increasingly evident structural change and uncertainty that is causing many companies to delay or alter their investment decisions.

Tim Vance continued: “The biggest driver of warnings in 2022 is likely to be the rise in inflationary pressures and its impact on disposable incomes and margins. We have already recorded profit warnings relating to rising energy prices. Labour shortages and wage increases are also beginning to feature more in company concerns, especially in logistics, hospitality and healthcare – including care homes.”

He added: “We expect to see more restructuring activity in 2022 as the last government support measures fall away and businesses feel the full force of, not only economic and structural pressures, but the increasing focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics, as funders increase their focus on supporting ‘sustainable’ businesses. The ability to demonstrate purpose and long-term value has never been so vital.”

Retail sales rebound but challenges ahead

The reopening of the economy post-lockdown led to a rebound in sales for FTSE Retailers but also created significant cost and supply chain issues in the run up to Christmas. In what is traditionally known as the ‘golden quarter’, all seven FTSE Retailers’ warnings cited these pressures. In total, 34% of FTSE Retailers issued a warning in 2021 (21 warnings in total) with over 70% of sector warnings in H2 2021 coming from online retailers.

Despite this, most retailers still experienced a successful Christmas trading period – data from the British Retail Consortium shows that non-food sales in December 2021 were 2.2% higher than 2019. However, the predicted consumer income squeeze in 2022, the rebalancing of spending from goods back to services, and the constant need to adapt to changing consumer behaviour will pose new challenges.

Silvia Rindone, EY UK&I Retail Lead, said: “Whilst supply chain issues are likely to continue this year, the biggest unknown for the retail sector in 2022 is how much consumers will spend and what they’ll spend it on. EY’s latest Future Consumer Index, which has been tracking consumer behaviour since the start of the pandemic, revealed the increasing desire of consumers to find a balance between sustainability and affordability. Consumers now rank planet and cost equally in terms of priority. These factors combined will make 2022 a tough year to navigate. To be successful, retailers will need clear strategic direction paired with strong operational and financial agility.”

Silvia added: “We have yet to see any major wave of retail restructurings, but there are certainly retailers that would have failed in the last two years without government assistance – even in the absence of COVID-19. The end of the rent moratorium in March removes the final layer of government support and it will be interesting to see how the arbitration process plays out – and how other stakeholders react to any increase in sector distress.”

Elsewhere, travel and hospitality sectors faced another challenging year, starting with a lockdown and ending with the Covid-19 Omicron variant. The hospitality sector also faced continued staffing problems, compounded by Brexit’s impact on the labour market. However, despite these challenges, just 16% of FTSE Travel & Leisure companies issued a warning in 2021 reflecting the positive impact of government support, as well as the sector’s management of its operations and investor expectations.

Looking ahead, pent-up demand for summer holidays together with record levels of personal savings make for a positive outlook for the sector. However, pressure on consumer incomes, the slower return of international business travel and the impact of cost rises could hinder the sector’s recovery in 2022.

Brighter future for local cultural and creative industries in South Yorkshire

Eleonora Gallina
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Brighter future for local cultural and creative industries in South Yorkshire

Cultural and creative industries in South Yorkshire are set to receive £1 million central government funding to support their work in the region.

The funding is in recognition of the value the cultural industry has to the local economy and the key role the sector will play in recovery and renewal, by creating jobs, enriching the lives of local people and reinforcing South Yorkshire’s reputation as a tourism destination.

£280,000 has been allocated to Sheffield, with £120,000 added to the Freelancer Fund Round 2, initiated by the Sheffield Culture Consortium in the Spring and administered at no cost by Sheffield Museums and Site Gallery. 75 creatives will be supported directly along with 5 organisations working on collaborative projects.

Film exhibition from Sensoria festival

The remaining £160,000 has been divided equally between the four artforms of film, performing arts, live music and writing. The funds will be given to local organisations that aim to bolster Sheffield’s cultural and creative sector through their strong networks and commitment to reaching a wide range of creative businesses and audiences:

Film – Sensoria: an open call of small grants will be announced for film productions and events. The grants will help to sustain and increase film screenings and diverse exhibition projects in the city; stimulate new film/video production projects by local filmmakers and companies; enable completion of new film/video projects; support new film project releases including assistance with marketing and audience development or to support film release strategies. The project will include an independent assessment panel.

Performing Arts – Theater Deli: £20,000 will be made available in small grants of up to £4,000 to Sheffield-based performance companies and artists hit hard by lockdown and coronavirus-related restrictions, as well as local businesses that support them. Theatre Deli will directly commission Sheffield-based performance companies and artists to develop and perform new and existing work for its 2022 artistic and community outreach programmes.

Independent writing and publishing – Off the Shelf Festival of Words: through a steering group including And Other Stories and The Poetry Business, the fund will support writers and poets who are seeking to develop their creative practice, to support diverse artists in their development.

Live music – The Leadmill: the project will involve multiple grassroots, independent music venues to programme a series of free and diverse music trails for the public.  19 venues will be part of ‘Sheffield Winter Music Trails’, a replica of the hugely popular ‘Sheffield Music Trails’ that were carried out in the Summer of 2021.

One of this summers’ ‘Leadmill in the Square’ events in Tudor Square

This funding, provided through South Yorkshire Mayor, Dan Jarvis, will be independently evaluated, to demonstrate the value of economic recovery funding to creative and cultural organisations.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Sheffield City Council’s Executive Member for City Futures: Development, Culture and Regeneration, said: “I welcome this opportunity both to support creative freelancers in Sheffield who underpin the sector, and to build on some of the many strengths of the city’s cultural and creative industries – music, film, performing arts and independent publishing.

“We want Sheffield’s creative businesses and freelancers to recover and thrive after the difficulties brought about by Covid, and as the challenges continue, this much needed funding will support that recovery.  Our diverse and eclectic sector make us proud of our city and have such an important role in our future.”

South Yorkshire Mayor Dan Jarvis, said: “There is no doubt that South Yorkshire is home to a wealth of creative talent.  The arts, culture and heritage sectors have been hit hard by the impact of the pandemic and investing in these areas is an essential part of their recovery and renewal.

“If supported and nurtured, the Creative Industries can help drive growth in our region and realise untapped potential. Culture adds colour to people’s lives and I hope this funding will help make our region a great place to live, study, work, visit and invest in.”

An ‘Off the Shelf’ event from the 2021 festival

Research by the University of Sheffield has revealed that the sector in South Yorkshire is one of the most affected by Covid-19 across the UK with an estimated sector output loss of 22 per cent – five per cent more than the UK average. This is thought to be because South Yorkshire has the highest share of jobs in the hardest hit sub sectors of arts, culture and heritage.

Findings from the study captured the experiences of venues, freelance workers and audiences in Sheffield in particular throughout the pandemic. A major finding from the research revealed that lockdowns and restrictions have had a profound impact on the economic circumstances and wellbeing of freelance workers.

 

Guildhall Restoration Project nominated for a prestigious engineering award

Eleonora Gallina
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Guildhall Restoration Project nominated for a prestigious engineering award

The Institution of Civil Engineers has revealed a shortlist of pioneering projects that will be recognised at the Yorkshire and Humber Awards in February.

Eighteen projects from the region were shortlisted in the awards programme across two categories: the Centenary Award and the Smeaton Award, in recognition of achievement, excellence or innovation in civil engineering. The Guildhall restoration project has been nominated for the Centenary Award, which is for projects with a total cost in excess of £5 million. Factors taken into account when determining the nominations include value and impact on society, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, health safety and welfare, quality of design, innovation and best practice, difficulty and response, collaboration and excellence in delivery. Progress is continuing at pace with significant repairs and transformation of the Guildhall, helping to safeguard one of York’s most historic buildings. Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Finance and Performance at City of York Council, said: “It is fantastic news that the Guildhall restoration project has been recognised alongside other innovative and excellent achievements in the region. “Through the project, our ambition is to safeguard the future of one of York’s most historic buildings for everyone in the city. By working closely with partners, we have been able to preserve the historic character of the building, whilst also redeveloping the building for business, social and civic uses. “Despite the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project teams adapted to new ways of working to maintain progress on the significant project. “This nomination is a great recognition of to the work of the Council and partners in restoring and redeveloping one of York’s most significant buildings.” Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said: “The Guildhall has been at the centre of York’s social, business and civic life for centuries. This nomination is a testament to the success of bringing new life into one York’s historic and well-loved buildings and the excellent work of all those involved in this project. “Working together with partners, we are bringing one of York’s most historically significant buildings into the 21st century. These works will see this historic building provide innovative space for businesses, civic and council events, as well as improved access for residents and visitors, through the creation of a new restaurant, public space, and events space.” Rick Lee, Principal Structural Engineer at Arup, said: “Arup, Vinci, Burrell Foley Fischer, SGA Consulting and the City of York Council have worked collaboratively to successfully deliver this challenging project refurbishing the Grade I listed Guildhall complex. The team worked together to overcome many challenges including river deliveries, arresting significant structural movement and last minute adaptations to design to co-ordinate with archaeological discoveries. The project repurposes the iconic complex by addressing the previous site access constraints by the incorporation of new build elements with complex interfaces with historic fabric. The project secures the future of this site for York, providing new business events and commercial use whilst retaining its civic, community and council use.”

York City Council celebrates the success of the Connect over Coffee initiative

Eleonora Gallina
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York City Council celebrates the success of the Connect over Coffee initiative

City of York Council is running ‘Connect over Coffee’, a bi-monthly business support forum to connect and support York businesses to prosper.

The last 19 months have changed the way businesses operate, interact and network. The shift to working remotely not only restricted networking opportunities but also created unprecedented challenges and questions for many businesses. Connect over Coffee first began in May 2020 by Louise Saw, City of York Council’s Business Growth Manager, as a response to the various challenges faced by York’s business community during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, over 36 meetings have taken place with 130 different businesses participating, and many returning for regular attendance.  The business support forum continues to meet twice a month, generally every second and fourth Wednesday of the month via a mixture of Zoom and in-person events. Chaired by Louise Saw, each Connect over Coffee session starts with a special guest speaker talking about a chosen support topic. The meeting is then followed by an open discussion where attendees are encouraged to share their views and experiences with fellow businesses to build and develop an effective peer-to-peer support system. The sessions conclude with a Zoom breakout room which allows businesses to network. Connect over Coffee meetings aim to provide businesses with a collaborative and inclusive safe-space to discuss and address their challenges. Previous speaker themes have included sales, marketing and social media, SEO, skills, start-up support, R&D tax credits, investment, HR, furlough, legal, data protection, and working remotely, among others. Adam Gill, Vidaveo, said: “Connect over Coffee is the most genuine and worthwhile example of business networking that I have had the privilege of being part of. Particularly since the first Covid lockdown I have relied on Connect over Coffee and Louise’s advice and guidance to help me navigate my business, not only towards discovering what support is out there, but also following her indications of how I might best ‘pivot’ my business as the new landscape emerged. I would highly recommend any York business to attend the Connect over Coffee sessions, it’s an open and friendly platform where you can talk frankly with other business owners and ask questions about the latest updates regarding support, business strategies and new opportunities. I always learn something new at each Connect over Coffee session and come away feeling positive and energised.” Councillor Andrew Waller, Executive member for Economy and Strategic planning, said: “The council recognises the unforeseen hardships that York’s local businesses have had to face since the pandemic. We understand that networking plays a vital role in the growth of any business which is why we are keen on continuing to create as many networking opportunities as possible. The Connect over Coffee initiative intends to help local businesses connect with their peers and receive all types of support that is available for them from the council and our partners. I encourage businesses to attend these bi-monthly sessions and use all available resources for their growth and resilience.” City of York Council recognises that these are challenging times for business owners and entrepreneurs as they continue to face obstacles, pressures and questions around running a business during a pandemic. The council is determined to help them access the business support they need in order to survive and thrive by providing a wide range of support from grants, legal advice, training to HR through initiatives like Connect Over Coffee.  
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