If YF actually spent the funding businesses instead of their self glorifying kudos then maybe REAL jobs might actually be saved / created. Having visited their offices on many occasions it is amazing to see so many relaxed and laughing / joking members of staff there. They are obviously on easy street with their guaranteed fat salaries every month and all the other benefits they received. If they actually understood what was going on outside their office maybe they wouldnt be so comfortable. BTW £1m monthly wage bill for that office - disgusting. They should all be kicked out and those offices so it can actually be used for something productive.

danny page

Thanks to YF, in part, the centre of Bradford has been killed. Who in their right mind would sign a multi-million pound redevelopment deal with a company with no deadlines for the work to be completed. Thanks Westfield & YF for nothing.

Jonathan Forrest

I agree with many of the comments on this board. YF have been empire-building for far too long. How much can we spend and how many people can we employ.... The proposed new headquarters in Holbeck is an excellent example of waste. Their are lots of VC firms in California who manage funds of $1billion plus with less then 30 staff. YF needs to be smaller, sharper and much more aggressive.

Mark Fletcher

I agree with many of the comments on this board. YF have been empire-building for far too long. How much can we spend and how many people can we employ.... The proposed new headquarters in Holbeck is an excellent example of waste. Their are lots of VC firms in California who manage funds of $1billion plus with less then 30 staff. YF needs to be smaller, sharper and much more aggressive.

Mark Fletcher

I have found in my experience that organisations such as Marketing Leeds end up replicating and then competing with private sector businesses in the region. They also seem to compete with other Public sector organisiations so in effect they are creating a competitive market within the Public sector! It is time to shut down this gravy train of quangos and organisations that do so little to stimulate real economic growth in our region.

Bill Graham

Innovation advisers . They tell you to 'think outside the box'. Then they go home.

malcolm cowing

What are innovation advisors and what do they do?

Tim Sedgwick

Cameron goes to Bradford for his much publicised Cabinet Meeting to show him getting 'up North' and involved ....and then pulls a load of funding from the city and the rest of Yorkshire. Great PR Dave !!. At least theTories have at last come clean over the future of YF after the pre election dithering and somersaults on this issue .

malcolm cowing

My view is that these cuts should all come from overheads,It is quite rediculous to have such bodies to begin with. They even compete with the private sector. How rediculous that such empire builders are allowed to exist. Lets take the centre of Bradford as one egthample to begin with. A total failure by Yorkshire Forward! All overheads lots of hot air.

Martin Joyce

My personal experience of business 'advice' from Business Link has on the two occasions when requested been manifestly hopeless. The BL office was more interested in undertaking follow up telephone research to determine how hopeless it had been. They obviously didn't listen. This axeing is long overdue; goodenss knows at what cost to the taxpayer?

Douglas Adamson

I am an accredited supplier on the Business Link network as a part time FD to SMEs and I have been introduced to local businesses who require senior financial management support and direction. Well done Business Link, particularly David Gagen - russell@cape-red.co.uk

russell mason

If Yorkshire Forward is cutting £250k from it's marketing budget what is the total size of the budget? I struggle to see why such an organisation needs to spend so much on self publicity and marketing; I also suspect the private sector wouldn't be able to afford such expenditure.

Paul Beaumont

AT LAST... SOME SENSE! - I've always said this whole situation was 'jobs for the boys' with plenty people receiving ridiculous amounts of money at the tax payers expense and Business Link - pah! - The one thing they have NEVER done and that is actually LINK businesses. HOORAY for common sense I say.

Alexander Mullen

£50k to sponsor a clipper round the world yacht race...?

Mr B