100 Club: Helen Hill, partner at Shulmans LLP

Helen Hill is a partner at Shulmans LLP. She is a member of the Leeds Community Foundation’s 100 Club, a patronage scheme for individuals who are motivated to make a difference in Leeds.

Here, she discusses what he loves about the city, and why she’s involved in the foundation.

What is your favourite thing about Leeds?

Leeds is fantastic and it’s difficult to single out my favourite thing about the place. I love working in such a vibrant, evolving and forward-thinking city. Shulmans is based at Wellington Place, at the heart of Leeds’ Business District, and the site is growing before our eyes – with the new offices, cafes and green spaces creating a thriving community. Channel 4’s recent decision to choose Leeds as its national headquarter should be a bit of a game changer for the city and it should offer lots of exciting opportunities to the people of Leeds, old and new.

What’s your ideal day out in Leeds?

Whilst I work in the city centre, I also enjoy spending time in the city on a weekend.  First on my weekend list would be a strong coffee and there are some great independent coffee shops in the centre as well as the suburbs.  I like shopping but not for too long, and I will often just pick out a few shops or an area to have a look around, such as Victoria or the Corn Exchange.  A favourite place of mine to relax is the Everyman cinema, I love watching films and the fact that you can relax on a sofa with a glass of wine, ticks a lot of boxes.  One of my favourite places (not in the city centre) is Golden Acre park, I remember spending time there as a child and I never get tired of a doing a circuit or two around the park. I think we are very lucky in Leeds to have a lot of green space.

What is the best lesson you have learnt in business?

Never rest on your laurels. Just because something is one way today does not mean it will be like that tomorrow. I suppose this is a roundabout way of saying that I think we all live in an extremely fast paced and dynamic world and, as a business, it can be a challenge to keep up with it.  Being adaptable and open to new ideas is essential and listening to your employees plays and important part of that. As a business, Shulmans has been on a significant recruitment drive over the past few years, in a fairly tough market and I think it is this kind of philosophy that has made us attractive to new recruits.  

What single thing do you think could help the city?

Transport, Transport, Transport. Leeds is crying out for a comprehensive public transport system. Apparently Leeds is the largest city in the EU with no mass transport system.  Whilst it is a hot topic for the people of Leeds, to date there has been no agreement or buy in from central Government to support an integrated transport system. I was working in Leeds in the early 2000s when the supertram was being progressed, although it was ultimately scrapped.  I read an interesting article recently about poverty in Leeds and how the lack of decent and reliable public transport is stopping poorer families from being able to access jobs outside of their immediate area. I think the city and its stakeholders need to work together and push for a public transport system, which will enhance the city and so that Leeds can continue to grow well and successfully.

What inspired you to join the 100 Club?

The Leeds 100 Club offers a fantastic opportunity to support the Leeds Community Foundation, which in turn offers grants and financial support to charities and voluntary groups across Leeds, addressing inequalities and creating opportunities for those that need help the most. Although Shulmans is a firm with a national and international reach, we are strongly committed to supporting Leeds, the wider Yorkshire region and its people. The Leeds 100 Club also gives us the opportunity, at their regular networking events, to meet with likeminded businesses and people with a shared commitment to the city.

What community issues are important to you?

As a firm we are currently supporting Leeds Mind as our charity of the year, we will be working together across a number of platforms including fundraising, awareness raising and training during 2019. I am also interested in the inclusivity of people from all backgrounds and ages. We live in a friendly city and it always shocks me when I hear stories about loneliness and isolation.  I remember a few years back at a Leeds 100 Club event we were told a story about how the Leeds Community Foundation had given a very small grant to a lunch club for the elderly, so they could buy knives and forks, which would allow the lunch club to continue. It really struck me that such a small grant could make such a difference to a number of peoples’ lives. I think it is important to remember it’s not just about big gestures.