cont.......

danny page

Excellent comments by Paul Rouse above, who I fully agree with. Secondly given the fact I know of 3 companies who have already applied to FY for information on their services, product application forms and details on criteria yet not one of these businesses has received even a courtesy response by email or phone does not bode well at all - first impressions count ! Also with all due respect to the FY board whom I am sure are extremely experienced and competent in reviewing balance sheets, profit and loss accounts and business plans. It would be really nice to see some youthful [

danny page

The last time I looked, there were 28 different organisations involved in providing support to Yorkshire businesses, and now we have another one. Funds previously provided by the EU and Government for 'investment' have largely been used to fund soft loans, and sustain jobs within the quangoes responsible for their distribution. According to a MORI survey recently carried out for Yorkshire Forward, 53% of businesses think 'business support from Government' is important, but only 15% are satisfied with it. Not suprising, as 75% know 'not very much' or 'nothing at all' about Yorkshire Forward, who are the Organisation tasked with providing it. Over the past 10 years, Yorkshire has had around £4billion in 'development' money, and I for one do not believe it has been well managed. With luck, Ken Clarke will be our next Business Minister, and I hope he derails this gravy train, and gets these funds to the businesses that need them.

Paul Rouse

FY should be looking to establish an evergreen fund that is a major legacy for the region not just plow through £90m of public money (welcome as that is). With this amount of money, the opportuniities there are in the region and starting from now that should be possible.

Jonathan Oxley