Year Ahead 2016: Seven views on what is in store for the region

TheBusinessDesk.com has assembled its own seven sages to look ahead to what Yorkshire should look forward to – and look out for – in the year ahead.

Leading figures from the region’s professional services, property, engineering, digital and education sectors have put forward their thoughts on what lies in store for the next 12 months.

Click on the Read more links to

Rob Darrington, CPP

“A firm decision on the Sheffield Retail Quarter. Sheffield needs a strong retail core. Everything else builds on this. Increased visitors > increased residential population > increase in money spent > improved economy > new development and services…”
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Jonathan Filewood, Enjoy Digital

“There are endless possibilities for entrepreneurs to grow a thriving online business from scratch and follow in the footsteps of so many other digital success stories in the region.”
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Tony Hallwood, Leeds Bradford Airport

“Agreement to deliver improved road access to LBA and cross regional support to secure a rail link to Leeds Bradford…and Leeds Rhinos to win the World Club Challenge.”
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Chris Hearld, KPMG

“Traditional retailers continue to face intense competition, while also battling to transform their operations to an omnichannel model and respond to rapidly shifting consumer behaviour. It is hard to see when the sector will ‘turn the corner’ and 2016 might be too soon for some.”
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Jonathan Jones, Squire Patton Boggs

“I think the Leeds LEP led by Roger Marsh and Leeds City Council led by Tom Riordan will have a successful year. Both are very sensible individuals, doing the right things and helping Leeds remain, and become, dynamic, vibrant, interesting and relevant. All it needs now is a premiership football team.”
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Leeds Beckett University Enterprise Services

“Confidence this year has been mixed – we would not want to see a continuation of this, but rather a consolidation of the innovation driven growth across multiple sectors.”
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Jane Robinson, Cutting Technologies

“I’d like to see oil prices becoming sensible again.  Whilst I like paying less at the pump, when key areas that affect the world economy are in a state of flux it’s rarely good news.”
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