Never underestimate or take for granted what your customer thinks about you and your business. As businesses up their marketing spend as we come out of recession, finding out exactly how your company is viewed forms an essential part of your overall strategy.
2009 was a year to forget for the property industry, and 2010 is sure to be just as tough for its leading players. This month, we take a look at the region’s biggest players to see where they will be concentrating their efforts in 2010.
Turnaround and refinancing deals are sure to continue to form a significant share of deals activity in 2010, as many companies continue to see their balance sheets crippled by the after effects of overgearing in the boom years and overhanging debt.
Our inward investment section this month takes us across the breadth of the region as we find out what is influencing business investment decision-making. We begin with an in-depth analysis of the Hull city region to find out what are the key drivers of its economy in 2010.
This month we also find out what is making the business headlines in Dewsbury, Batley & Spen.
Finally, we also take a look at latest developments in the Sheffield city economy.
After the annus horribilis of 2009, the property world will be looking for signs of the upturn at this year’s MIPIM international property fair in France. Ahead of March’s fair, where up to 20,000 property professionals from across the world converge, we will take a look at which Yorkshire property players are making the trip out to Cannes this Spring and profiling the key schemes that they will be marketing to the world.
Our monthly look at HR issues will make essential reading in February. We begin with a look at the vexed question of how businesses can retain key staff going into 2010.
Rotherham's Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) hit the headlines earlier this month when the government outlined plans for a new Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at the park. These exciting plans show that advanced manufacturing is most certainly alive and well in Yorkshire as the region takes advantage of its manufacturing skills, knowledge and heritage, staking its claim in the new world economy.
Insider’s new Success section, where we talk about the region’s successful entrepreneurs and the stories behind their growing businesses, is the home for the first instalment of our 2010 class of 42 entrepreneurs under the age of 42.
R&D is certainly one area which took a hit in 2009, as companies retrenched inwardly to focus on cutting costs. But continued investment is critical to the success of any business, none more so than investment in products and services that could become the lifeline of your business in a few years’ time.
It’s a simple question but one that is certainly vexing British industry at the moment. Namely, have our manufacturers exploited the low pound, and if not, why not?
Insider’s most talked-about feature of the year kicks off 2010 as we run the rule over who really holds the strings of economic and political power in Yorkshire.
