News in brief: Insurance group celebrates, networking record and more
INSURANCE broker and independent financial adviser Denney O’Hara has celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The company, which has been based at the Lawnswood Business Park since 2002, was founded in Leeds in 1958 by Brian Denney and Terry O’Hara.
The business was initially rooted in Yorkshire-based textile and building firms but today supports a variety of companies in Yorkshire and across the UK.
Following rapid expansion, Denney O’Hara (Life & Pensions) was formed in 1966 to separate the financial services consultancy from the general insurances brokerage to meet increasing client demand.
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EAST Yorkshire business networking group Business Network International (BNI) is celebrating after setting a number of records.
The group has set records for business referrals, the number of visitors attending events and the number of businesses applying to join.
In the past year, membership has swelled from 19 to 29 and the meeting venue has moved to Beverley Racecourse.
BNI allows only one person from each trade or profession to join one of its groups.
Over the past six months, the Beverley group has passed more than 800 business referrals between its members, who are on track to generate more than £300,000 of business for each other this year.
The performance has placed the group in the top 10 of BNI groups across the UK.
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HOUSE of Fraser is planning a significant investment in its Leeds store as part of the retailer’s £150m store improvement programme.
The chain, owned by Icelandic investment group Baugur, also outlined plans to introduce a number of new brands to its stores including Versace, Hugo Boss and Lauren, Ralph Lauren’s new womenswear line.
Mango will also be introduced for the first time to the Leeds store.
In a trading update for the six months to July 26, House of Fraser said total sales rose by 2.9 per cent.
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YORKSHIRE Building Society is to close its East Parade branch in Leeds in early November.
At the same time, the Society is re-designing its branch on Briggate to provide a larger, more modern customer area and increase the number of private interview rooms.
All accounts held at East Parade will be transferred to Briggate.
There will be no job losses as a result of the move as staff currently alternate between the two city centre branches and will in future all be permanently based at Briggate.
A spokeswoman said: “The majority of the Society’s customers who transact in Leeds centre choose to do so in the Briggate branch. Briggate is a five minute walk from East Parade and is a location that is popular with both shoppers and office workers.”
Work on the refurbishment of the Briggate branch will begin this month and will be completed by the end of October.
