YABA helps businesses see the future at 2020 conference

YORKSHIRE firms looking to grow their business heard how the world may look in 2020.

Entrepreneurs and business owners who attended the one-day business conference held by the Yorkshire Asian Business Association (YABA) in Leeds yesterday, heard from experts from Microsoft, Barclays and UKTI on how business is changing and how they can adapt their own businesses to take advantage of new opportunities.

Clare Barclay, general manager of Microsoft’s Small, Medium Enterprises & Partner Group, told the audience of 150 people at the Everyman Cinema in Trinity Leeds, that businesses that will be successful in the future will be those who break down the barriers between people, workplaces and technologies and empower their employees to be productive and creative wherever they are.

She said that businesses should take advantage of the advent of social media.

“The way that information evolves is so quick. People used to get power from keeping things to themselves, now you get power from sharing information.

“Companies need to embrace social media. We are very excited about what technology can do as the region comes out of recession.”

Other speakers at the event included UKTI regional director Mark Robson who highlighted the opportunities availble across China, Asia and the Indian sub continent for UK firms.

Andrew Parmenter, senior business manager for Barclays Business, spoke about what firms looking for funding to grow their business should be focusing on.

His colleague, Petr Krpata, foreign exchange strategist with Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, looked at how world markets will perform in the years between now and 2020.

Clare Barclay of Microsoft, said: “This is such an interesting time for businesses. They need to think where the next opportunities are coming from. Where do they place their bets?

“We believe that technology can play a really important role in fuelling business growth.” She said that Microsoft is partnering with 1,000 technology companies in this region alone.