Build on strength

Business legacy vital to success

THE changing face of business in our region is illustrated not only by the proposed takeover of Morrisons, but also by the plans to transform the fortunes of North Yorkshire by focusing on the green economy.

In both cases, new investment and looking to the future hold out the prospect of allowing businesses to thrive and create more prosperity and jobs.

Equally, both are illustrative of how important a continued commitment to tradition is to building a brighter tomorrow.

For Morrisons, the £6.3bn takeover deal by Fortress Investment Group would bring much-needed new investment.

Yet it is essential that the legacy of Sir Ken Morrison, who built the Bradfordbased business from a small family firm into Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket, is maintained.

Its Yorkshire HQ must remain, and there have to be cast-iron guarantees that staff jobs are safe.

There must also be an unswerving commitment to the supply chain of British farmers.

And for North Yorkshire, working with tradition and the area’s residents are equally important. Capitalising on the green economy means investing in people by ensuring there are enough affordable homes for the young to live in the communities where they were born, and in doing so helping them prosper by creating new businesses and jobs.

Our region’s businesses can never stand still if they are to succeed. New investment and ideas are always welcome.

But they are all the more effective for building on existing strengths.