Video Report: Business leaders focus on the future
EXECUTIVES running some of the region’s biggest businesses, including Arla Foods, UK Coal and Leeds Bradford Airport, are looking positively to the future despite growing uncertainty over the economy.
Key figures from a range of Yorkshire businesses gathered to discuss the way forward for their firms at a keynote event hosted by Barclays in association with TheBusinessDesk.com.
The filmed discussion, highlights of which are shown below, saw representatives of York group CPP, North Yorkshire-based R&R Ice Cream, law firm DLA Piper and well known Yorkshire entrepreneur Mike Firth of the Yorkshire International Business Convention, discuss how their businesses are reacting to current issues.
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The event, held at Thorpe Park Hotel in Leeds, was chaired by David Parkin of TheBusinessDesk.com and was part of a nationwide series of round table discussions involving key business figures being hosted by Barclays Commercial.
The Barclays Commercial Bank Forward Thinking Report – a groundbreaking research project that will offer real insight into how smart businesses in the UK are
planning for the future – will be launched in October.
Developed in partnership with the Institute of Directors, the report will reveal the most progressive and outstanding business decisions made over the past year and will offer in-depth comment and analysis from some of the country’s leading business thinkers.
The event was hosted by Lee Collinson, Barclays Commercial’s head of corporate banking in Yorkshire and the Humber and the panel included John Parkin, chief 
executive of Leeds Bradford International Airport; David Brocksom, finance director of UK Coal; Jan Pederson, finance director of Arla Foods; Craig Parsons of CPP; Richard Crofton of R&R Ice Cream; Sarah Day of DLA Piper and Mike Firth of the YIBC.
The panel included Barclays Commercial representatives Sarah Shay, Graham Holland and Ben Andrews.
