New Yorkshire Bank partnership provides support to West Yorkshire SMEs

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27/09/2018

Leeds Beckett University and Calderdale Council have launched a new initiative to drive growth amongst early-stage and growing businesses in Halifax and the broader Calderdale area, with Yorkshire Bank as a key partner.

The University Business Centre at Piece Mill in Halifax, offers office services and meeting spaces to early-stage and growing businesses, as well as access to professional business lounges and meeting facilities across the local area. This hub is the fourth Leeds Beckett University Business Centre to be established, joining two other hubs in Leeds and one in Wakefield. The University Business Centres provide a range of support to the area’s companies, including Leeds Beckett business advice and mentoring, professional training and development, access to graduate talent and research expertise, and high speed broadband from partners Exa Networks.

As a corporate partner, Yorkshire Bank will be playing its part in the initiative by offering bespoke support to businesses based in the University Business centre. The Bank will offer regular free advice clinics to business clients in areas including loans and investment as well as growth and business planning, to help them realise their ambitions.

Paul Grace, Head of Customer Banking for Yorkshire Bank in Leeds said: “Yorkshire Bank is delighted to be working in partnership with Leeds Beckett University and Calderdale Council on this new initiative. SMEs are the lifeblood of the UK economy, providing crucial jobs and opportunities for local communities. We’re looking forward to spreading the knowledge we’ve gained through supporting thousands of SMEs cross the UK to early stage and growing businesses in Halifax, where Yorkshire Bank was first founded back in 1858.”

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have consistently shown support for Britain’s small and medium sized businesses. CYBG (Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banking Group) pledged to lend £6 billion to SMEs across the UK in the 3 years to 2019, with around 90% of that lending going to region’s outside London. Indeed, Yorkshire based SMEs have been some of the biggest beneficiaries of the pledge, with £900 million set aside for the region’s smaller firms in the 3 years to 2019. In April this year, CYBG announced it had surpassed its commitment for 2017, with £305 million in lending for Yorkshire and the Humber, £5 million above target.

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have a wealth of experience in dealing with micro, small and medium sized firms across sectors including health and social care, retail, agriculture and renewable energy.

Find out more about Leeds Beckett University Business Centres

Find out more about Yorkshire Bank’s offerings for small businesses