FCA’s go-ahead for CPP subsidiary
THE BEST of the region’s corporate community was celebrated at this year’s Yorkshire Business Awards, which saw winners and speakers talk about the importance of reaching for the best.
The annual business lunch event, held in support of children’s charity Variety, raised a fantastic £111,200 to aid the vital work that it does with some of the region’s most disadvantaged young people.
Guest speaker Sir Chris Bonington, the UK’s most accomplished mountaineer, spoke about his inspirational 60-year career and Rosemary Shrager was named winner of the Yorkshire Legend Award, as well as being named an ambassador for the charity.
Elsewhere, Huddersfield Town FC owner Dean Hoyle was named businessman of the year, supermarket giant Morrisons won board of the year, pest control firm Pelsis won best SME award and Heck! Food ltd won best young business.
Speaking after receiving his award for business leader of the year, Mr Hoyle, who founded The Card Factory and now helps run retailer The Works, said: “It’s not about individuals, it’s about the team.
“I had a wonderful team there (at the Card Factory). They really helped me deliver. I couldn’t have done it by myself.
“Football is very similar. You can have the best players on the pitch, but if you don’t have the leadership, and we have the magnificent David Wagner, then I wouldn’t be standing here today.
“You’ve got to believe in yourself. Luck will come to those who work hardest.”
Speaking of Huddersfield Town’s promotion to the Premier League he said: “It’s put the town on the map, it’s put Yorkshire on the map.”
Accepting the award for board of the year, Julian Bailey, PR director of Morrisons, said: “We’re really known for being a Yorkshire company, so it’s great to win an award in Yorkshire.
“It’s a team effort; we’ve got 100,000 people working every single day to deliver customers brilliant food at a fair price.”
Speaking to prior to his keynote speech Sir Chris spoke about the day he reached the top of Mount Everest.
“When I finally got to the top I could not help of think of all my friends who had lost their lives,” he said.
“So when I got to the top I broke down and cried. And then I slowly became aware of where I was and what I had done. So then there was a feeling of deep satisfaction.”
He added: “You need to find something that you are really passionate about and then really follow it through.”
The Financial Conduct Authority has granted permission for a subsidiary of credit card insurance firm CPP to start trading as a regulated insurance intermediary business.
Blink UK, which was bought by the York-based firm earlier this year, is developing digital assistance insurance software for the travel sector. Its main product alerts customers and rebooks flights at no cost if they are cancelled or delayed.